We here at Spoke.ie are champions of all things Niner bikes so we were thrilled to learn that they now have an XS size available for their excellent entry level EMD9 frame.

The 14″ seat tube opens this bike to not only a whole host of small adults but also most importantly kids. [Read more →]

It seems Sram’s R&D guys have been busy with an answer to Shimano’s XTR Shadow Plus system.  This pic was posted on Facebook yesterday and shows a rear mech with an added knuckle just above the cage which is presumably an extra tension spring.  A sign of things to come!

Chris Akrigg is gradually getting back up to speed following a horrific crash last year where he fell of a cliff…

Step by step from chris akrigg on Vimeo.

Wexford will again host the opening round of the Leinster League Cross country series at the excellent Kilbrannish Woods venue, just outside Bunclody, on the shoulder of Mount Leinster.

The race has beome something of a highlight of the calendar [Read more →]

So true!  Happy Monday.

Chain Reaction Cycling Club are pleased to announce they will be holding two winter series events in Bigwood Forest, Newry on 29th January and 26th February 2012.

Both of the events will be held on the downhill track in Bigwood Forest and the events will both be pre-registration only. [Read more →]

Biking.ie are hosting their annual charity bike ride at Ballinastoe mountain bike trails, just outside Roundwood, this sunday.  The aim is to celebrate the lives of those who have battled Cancer. [Read more →]

25 years after producing the first hydraulic brake for a mountain bike, German manufacturer Magura has produced a fully hydraulic rim brake for the road, specifically Time trial or triathlon.

As this is a triathlon or TT application there was no need to integrate the lever into a brake and gear setup [Read more →]

World Champion Mark Cavendish has moved to Team Sky for 2012.  Here in a video with Shimano the talks a little about the  new set up.

[Read more →]

OC Tuning, the Irish Fox forks and shocks servicing centre, have launched an unlimited annual servicing product.  For €150 they will service your forks or shocks throughout the year with a 3 day professional turnaround including postage within Ireland.  There is even a package for both shocks and forks at €250.

Regular servicing can make a huge difference in the performance of your fork [Read more →]

The racing season is starting to feel a little closer but in the meantime here is an edit from the first round of the Australian downhill series.

Atherton Racing have released pictures of the initial build of former World Champion Gee Atherton’s new GT Fury.

All the teams sponsors carry over from 2011 with the exception of Animal and obviously Commencal.  Fox and Shimano are the core of the bike with Pro components and Continental tyres.  Looks fast already!

Some pretty cool Northshore from Bikepark Winterberg.  Check out the spiral around the tree!

Cherry Orchard BMX Track Opening from TwentyInch on Vimeo.

Last week we brought you a maddeningly brief video from Magura that suggests they are moving into the road market at least in braking.  Speculation has been growing with some sites suggesting that they may also be developing an electronic groupset too due to the integration between brakes and shifters on road bikes.  This has taken a further development with the announcement that the Garmin-Barracuda team will feature Magura as a sponsor for 2012.

[Read more →]

The Offroad Commission have released details on the grading for cross country racers for 2012.  This is based on the riders performance in the preceding year, new riders will need to assign themselves to categories.  For those who raced in 2011 you can see where you have been assigned here.  If you upgraded during the year your grading should reflect the higher category.

Upgrade has been assigned based on rider performance (ie; race times, lap times) and NOT on overall points/league positions so the Commission have designed a tool to allow you to see how you would have done in a higher category here.  All riders are encouraged to self-promote where possible! [Read more →]

Training on your own?  No problem with a Garmin.

Winter Training - The Climb from Garmin EMEA on Vimeo.

Make sure and check out the Garmin Winter training website for tips and training plans from the pros.

Canadian rider Darren Berrecloth heads to Utah to find the perfect spot.

It was the worst kept secret in mountain biking this year but finally we can officially announce that the Athertons have joined forces with GT for 2012 and beyond.

Having enjoyed five long years of success with Commencal bikes including two World Championships and over 50 victories, [Read more →]

Robin Seymour claimed his 18th National Cyclocross title last weekend on a fantastic course in Dublin’s St. Annes Park against a stacked field.

Image courtesy KingdomBike.com

[Read more →]

Magura have been undergoing something of a renaissance of late.  Their products have always been really dependable and very well made along the lines of DT Swiss and Hope in our estimation. The new MT series of MTB disc brakes being a case in point of how to redesign your brake line.  They have just released a teaser video for their latest product which will hit the market shortly.

Okay so that didn’t show much but the video would suggest that this is a road product and possibly the first commercially available full disc brake system for a road bike?  See what you make of it.

We don’t often get to feature female riders in videos.  Here is a refreshing change.

Miranda Millers Segment from ‘You Like This’ from Art Barn on Vimeo.

It’s January, it’s wintry, it’s wild and windy.  So what?  Just get out and ride.  Here is Darren Berrecloth riding at the Red Bull Rampage.

Ritchey Design have sold Synros components to Scott Sports in a move that was announced today.  Syncros was seen as the more durable end of Ritchey’s product lineup with lots of products aimed at the free-ride and downhill end of the market.  The move allows Ritchey to focus on growing its own product lines. [Read more →]

Today being the first day of the new season, riders are free to ride in the gear of their new teams.  This includes World Champion Mark Cavendish who has moved to Team Sky from the now defunct HTC-Highroad.

Cavendish tweeted this photo before heading out on his first training ride of 2012.  The World Champ has big goals for this year and it will be interesting to see how Team Sky is set up for him given the overall hopes for his former Olympic partner Bradley Wiggins in the Tour.  We may get to see more of the battling Cavendish in this years Tour.

The World Champ isn’t the only one on the move though. [Read more →]

A very Happy Christmas to all our readers.  Hope Santa brought you something bike related and you get a chance to get out and shred over the holidays.  Remember “Ride like you stole it!“

Stuck for a last minute Christmas gift for the cyclist in your life?  Look no further.

Inside the Peloton is a no holds bared window into the life of a professional cyclist.  Roche has been riding and racing at the highest level for a number of years now and has been simultaneously working out his role in the sport rising to become the team leader for French outfit Ag2R.  The book lays out his early life and how he got into cycling before turning attention to the professional world.  At its core are the excellent diaries that Roche wrote for the Irish Daily Star and Irish Independant that outlined his day in some of the worlds top races and the book builds upon these, giving the highs and lows of life in the fast lane.  Team tactics, orders and decisions are discussed and outlined including the infamous incident with team-mate John Gadret in the 2010 Tour de France and the accident ridden 2011 season where he crashed heavily in the Dauphine, destroying his Tour de France hopes.

A fantastic read, Inside the Peloton will delight both cyclists and non-cyclists alike with its uncompromising view into sport at its highest level.  Roche is not afraid to say it like he sees it and that makes for great reading.  Available nationwide in all good book sellers.

Okay so it’s Winter outside and therfore wet and muddy.  Eliminate all the crud from your face with this handy mudguard from Neoguard.  The neoprene is quick and easy to fit and it deflects everything from your face.

RRP is €16.50 and there are models to fit everything from short travel XC forks to full on Downhill forks.  See the nice folks in OC Tuning for more.

We love New Zealand.  Now we love it even more…

Trail Notes - Official Trailer from Cadre Productions on Vimeo.

The dust has settled after one of the driest Irish cyclocross seasons in the past few years. Fast racing in the Supercross Cup saw new venues, variations of old venues and a surge in the number of riders including bringing cyclocross to the masses with the addition of the B category race. The Ulster Cyclocross League brought a different set of challenges to riders with plenty of racing to be had across numerous venues.

After the success of the fourth round of the Supercross Cup in St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, Supercross Racing are proud to announce a return to this venue for the National Championships in January. With this venue proving to be a spectacular venue for both riders and spectators we are aiming to get even closer to the Superprestige and GvA feeling with barriers, frites and anything else we can find. [Read more →]