Garmin have just announced their latest fitness tracker the Garmin® vívosmart® 3, a wrist based smart activity tracker with built in heart rate monitor and a wealth of fitness tools built in.
For the fitness oriented consumer who wants a product that won’t look out of place on their wrist, can be worn all day (try wearing a heart rate chest belt all day) and can monitor things like reps in the gym, stairs climbed etc. this appears to answer all those and more. We’ve a long history with Garmin products and while this isn’t a solution for cyclists on the trail in the same way as a traditional bike computer, it can be very useful for monitoring your fitness and (perhaps more importantly) activity levels all the time. Check out the full press release below. [Read more →]
This Sunday sees the second round of the Ulster Cross-country Mountain Bike Series take place at Craigavon Watersports Centre.
Round 1 was held in Tollymore Forrest Park where racers unperturbed by heavy rain the night before tackled a predominantly single track course that was tough given the conditions. Craigavon continues the series and racers will tackle a shorter lap than in previous years but consequently more of them. Full details below including pre-registration link. [Read more →]
Almost two weeks ago the 2017 Enduro World Series kicked off in New Zealand. As the first race of the season, everyone was eyeing up the competition to see who had trained correctly but the weather played another card. Heavy rain fell on the last 30 riders as they approached stage 1 turning it into a quagmire and scattering predictions to the wind. However come the end of the day Irish riders were at the business end with some excellent performances. As attention turns to Tasmania for round 2 let’s take a quick look back at what may be a hugely influential day for the series.
After what can frankly only be described as an enormous success the Enduro World Series is coming back to Ireland in 2016 for a repeat on Carrick mountain. The world’s best will again face off over a one day format that this year saw Greg Callaghan crowned as winner in a fairytale ending that brought down the house. The series has 8 stops for 2016 including 2 in South America and Ireland will again host the first European round before Italy, the US, Canada, France and Italy. Full press release below.
Enduro World Series unveils 2016 Calendar
The Enduro World Series continues its proud tradition of uncovering the world’s best riding destinations as it reveals its 2016 calendar. [Read more →]
Many of you have been wondering what’s going on so it’s time I filled you in a bit on our plans. After seven years of writing almost daily content for Spoke.ie and with a workload that has only increased it was time to take a short break. I was heavily involved in the Enduro World Series in Ireland and it required my full attention. It was without a shadow of a doubt the highlight of my media career so far, I hope you agree!
Since it ended I’ve been a little burnt out, feeling that there was too much time pounding a keyboard rather than the trails. I’ve been using the time since the Emerald Enduro to address this a little but I’m not quite there yet. I do have big plans for the future though including a website refresh and some new content ideas. Spoke.ie has and will continue to be a home for all things Irish mountain biking and the odd bit of road too. We will be back! Bear with me a little longer and thanks for all the support over the years.
Last weekend saw an epic opening to the 2015 DH World Cup from Lourdes in France. This was a real mountain bikers course with thrills and spills a plenty and here is the Red Bull highlights video for your viewing pleasure. Next up is Fort William in 4 weeks time.
It’s everyone’s favorite part of the Downhill World Cups – Claudio Caluori’s track preview! Here is his spin down an awesome track in Lourdes chasing Loic Bruni courtesy of Red Bull Bike.
Back on the Pro-Tour with Orica GreenEdge this time at the iconic Tour of Flanders. Before the race we get a bit f a chat with legend Eddy Merckx, then it’s off to the cobbles where the team are gunning for a good result. Watch out for the kamikaze Shimano neutral service cars!
Last weekend saw the opening round of the 2015 Enduro World Series in Rotorua, New Zealand. It was a good start for Irish riders with Grag Callaghan in 11th and Dan Wolfe in 38th in Elites. Conor Lavelle now riding for the Ibis team continued his good form from last year taking 6th in the highly competitive new Under 21 category. It’s setting up to be a great season with round 2 hitting Ireland in May!
Saturday sees the first round of the 2015 Enduro World Series take place in the glorious surroundings of Rotorua, New Zealand. The worlds best riders are currently training on the course ahead of racing this weekend. Here we take a ride down some of the trails in the company of BMCs Francois Bailly-Maitre.
The Classics season got under way last weekend with Milan-San Remo. Here is a piece from Shimano on the winner John Degenkolb filmed before during and after the race.
The opening round of the Vitus First Tracks Enduro Cup is this weekend in Castlewellan Forest Park in the Mournes. A long time MTB venue Castlewellan has something for everyone. Registration closes this Thursday so make sure you’re signed up in advance. Full details of the opening round and series details below.
Round 1 – Castlewellan – 28/29th March 2015
Castlewellan Mountain Bike Trails are set in a beautiful Forest Park with the Mourne mountains as a back drop. 6 x 3-5min stages, 25km loop on trail centre and natural singletrack, fitness rating 6/10, skill rating 7/10. [Read more →]
Defending Enduro World Series Champion Jared Graves is out of the opening round of the Enduro World Series at least following a crash 12 days ago. The anouncement came on Graves’ Facebook page this morning. We wish him all the best in a speedy recovery. No news yet on when he will return to racing.
Photo Matt Wragg / EWS
So….time to let the cat out of the bag, to cut a long story short, 12 days ago while back home training I had a big crash where I wrapped myself around a tree and ended up with both shoulders seperated and significant muscle tearing around my shoulder blade in my back. Ive bee out and about riding lightly and slowly, but its not possible for me to race this weekend for EWS#1 in Rotorua. Been a very rough 2 weeks and pretty gutted to miss my first major race as world champ. Unfortunately it isnt April 1st either
This isn’t the first time that the number 1 ranked rider has suffered from a crash. 2013 World Champ Jerome Clementz crashed in training after the first round of the EWS last season and had to sit out all but the last round with a broken collarbone. Fingers crossed Graves can return to racing quickly.
The longest one day race of the road calendar took place yesterday with John Degenkolb taking the win for Giant-Alpecin. Here are the highlights courtesy of Cyclingnews.com
Last weekend saw the opening round of the 2015 Scottish Enduro Series in Innerleithen. Ireland’s Greg Callaghan had a spectacular start to the season with his new Cube team taking the win from Ibis cycles Gary Forrest. We’re all looking forward to seeing Greg on Irish trails for the EWS which is creeping ever closer!
Let’s go behind the scenes with Orica GreenEDGE and Orica-AIS at the Strade Bianche in the Tuscan hills. No wine or sausages for the riders though on what is one of the most underrated races of the season and marks the start of the season for a whole bunch of pros. The dirt roads always cause carnage., Enjoy.
Watch this inspiring short featuring Italian racing driver Alex Zanardi who suffered a horrific crash in 2001 racing Indy Car losing both his legs. He returned to racing and took up the Paralympic sport of Hand cycling winning 2 Olympic Golds and 5 World Championship Golds. Definitely worth a look.
Purveyors of the finest cycling gear money can buy Rapha have announced a new Pro Team collection. We’ve some experience with Rapha clothing and while it ain’t cheap it is among the favorite pieces in our wardrobes, certainly the most comfortable and stylish.
The 2015 Pro Team collection features a special ‘Data Print’ pattern that creates art from the science of modern road racing, London-based design studio Accept & Proceed used the ride data from an individual racer’s entire grand tour to make a very special graphic. [Read more →]
Fancy a long term goal? Want a late season break to the sun with a biking focus? Look no further. The annual Roc d’Azur bike festival registration has opened. Four months ago, 20,035 participants and 150,000 visitors came to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the biggest mountain-biking event in the world.
Now boasting some 28 different events during the festival there is something for everyone here. The Roc is based in the town of Frejus on the Mediterranean coast near Nice. Full info below from the press release.
Registration for the final two rounds of the 2015 Enduro World Series opens today Wednesday at 4pm Irish time. Last year we visited the final venue in Finale Ligure and it was a highlight of the year. The trails are perfection and the ability to fall into the Med after a long day in the saddle is not to be underestimated. October is a perfect time to visit as it’s not too hot to ride (it’s plenty warm enough! – you’ll need sunscreen).
Matt Wragg/EWS
The Zona Zero round in Spain is an unknown quantity but excitement levels are high and I know that internally in the EWS they are very excited about this location in the Pyrenees.
Ahead of the opening of registration for the final two rounds of the Enduro World Series tomorrow, here is an intro video from the penultimate round in Spain. Zona Zero is based high in the Pyrenees. Registration opens at 5 and if previous rounds are anything to go by will be gone quicksmart.
