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The Port to Port MTB stage race is one of the best events of the year, rolling its way through the gorgeous Hunter Valley and Lake Macquarie region before winding up in Newcastle – we love it. This year, we jumped out from behind the cameras to race it! To tackle the job of four […]
The number of riders swelled today, with loads of savvy locals joining the action, as the course sampled many of the best trails in Newcastle region. This stage has evolved into something really cool; it’s not just Glenrock network that’s the standout, but there’s loads of brilliant, twisting singletrack in the Redhead and Whitebridge region […]
Today was the big one; 60km long, over 1200m of climbing, coming at you after you’ve already put two days of hard racing into your legs. Despite those somewhat confronting numbers, it’s also a superb stage, thanks in part to the awesome Awaba MTB Park which accounts for most of the first 20km of the […]
“I’m normally in Europe at this time of the year,” laughed stage winner Holly Harris. “But tell me, where would you rather be? In the mud and cold of Germany, or here in a vineyard, in the sun, watching the hot air balloons drift over the Hunter Valley?” Good point, Holly, it doesn’t get better. […]
We’ve been a part of Port to Port MTB since it began and has been a thrill to see this race grow and evolve every year to become the east coast’s premier stage race. With new event owners, Ironman, at the helm, 2018 sees the biggest jump yet for the race. They’ve taken on board feedback […]
Weekend Warrior Packages: The full event spans fours days, but for 2017 Port to Port MTB are offering a two-day Weekend Warrior package, which includes entry into the event’s two finest legs, stages 3 and 4, on Saturday and Sunday. It’s the ideal way to do Port to Port MTB if you can’t take weekday time […]
As the cliche goes, it ain’t over till you’re towelling off and reaching for the talcum powder. And wasn’t that old adage reinforced today, with the supposedly comfortable lead of Tristan Ward practically dissolving before his eyes in a spray of tubeless sealant! It was brilliant, desperate racing, and we loved every minute of it. Finally, […]
The Watagans are a rabbit warren of trails, and today a few riders saw more of them than was intended! Day three of Port to Port MTB was certainly eventful, in both a positive and troublesome way. We saw some amazing racing, wicked new trails, and a few disoriented, exhausted riders too. At almost 65km in […]
A crisp, clear Autumn morning is a pretty amazing thing, and today the Hunter Valley delivered an absolute stunner for 500 stoked Port to Port’ers. Day 2 of Port to Port has been a tough slog in previous years, wet weather making the long climbs fast descents a real test of grit and guts, but […]
Today, for the third time, Port to Port MTB rolled out of Nelson Bay, with over 500 riders embarking on a full-throttle 33km sprint through the National Park surrounding Port Stephens. It’s a hell of a way to kick off the race – blasting past beaches, ripping into seriously unique trails, the loose go-with-flow sandy […]
For full event details, head to porttoportmtb.com It all gets underway a couple of hours north of Sydney in beautiful Port Stephens, where riders take on the shortest stage of the event. It’s a 35km loop out of Nelson Bay, through the loose sandy trails of the National Park, with plenty of coastal views along the way. […]
Our friends at Port to Port MTB are looking to make one mountain biker’s Christmas a bit more merry this year, with the Port to Port Experience prize pack. If you’re thinking about racing Port to Port MTB in 2016, then get in quick and register before Christmas and you’ll go straight into the draw […]
In its second year, the Port to Port MTB was a bloody great time. Four days of racing from Port Stephens, around the Hunter Valley, through the Awaba MTB Park and Glenrock MTB Park and finishing in the port of Newcastle. Watch the fantastic documentary here, and perhaps we’ll see you at the start line […]
Andy Blair’s Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 29 World Cup. Coming into Port to Port MTB as the defending champion, and a veteran of countless marathons, Andy Blair’s setup is a well-dialled XCM muncher. Position: Given how long this man has been racing cross country, it’s no surprise that Blair’s setup is of the traditional XC mould, […]
“You bastards,” laughed Peter Selkrig as he slid on his arse in the mud, “get that camera out of my face!” He needn’t have been so self-conscious – there were plenty of other riders making less-than-graceful descents on their chamois on their way out of Wallarah National Park. The final leg of the Port […]
66 kilometres is a big old ride, but when it finishes with a wicked singletrack descent, you tend to forget the pain. Overall race leader Mark Tupalski echoed what we heard time and time again: “The moto stuff was awesome, you could just keep pumping it like a big BMX track, and that fresh new […]
“I normally find the second day a lot easier,” Pete Hatton told us yesterday after bagging second place in Stage 1 of Port to Port MTB.. Well, sorry Hatto… in the case of Port to Port, day two is a whole lot harder! One of the neat things about this stage race is the diversity of the […]
Hello sunshine, hello dolphins, hello wine, hello sweat, dirt, blood and good times. Hello Port to Port MTB. Back for the second year, this four-day stage race is roving affair, taking in some of the more stunning parts of NSW on a journey from the sea at Port Stephens, to the Hunter Valley and finally […]
Port to Port MTB, NSW’s stunning four-day stage race, is back again this May with some great course revisions. After racing the inaugural event last year, Flow headed north to take a look at what’s in store this time around. Check out all the coverage from last year’s racing: Day 1: https://flowmountainbike.com/post-all/port-to-port-mtb-stage-one/ Day 2: https://flowmountainbike.com/post-all/port-to-port-mtb-day-2/ Day 3: https://flowmountainbike.com/post-all/port-to-port-mtb-stage-three/ Day […]
Registrations have now opened for the 2015 Port to Port MTB, returning to the Newcastle region across the newly announced dates of Thursday 28 – Sunday 31 May, 2015. Following on from the success of the inaugural event held earlier this year, which saw 300 recreational and professional riders participate, Port to Port MTB is […]
Port to Port MTB 2014 – Day 2 – Hunter Valley Lindemans Winery. The most grueling of this four day stage race. Starting from the picturesque Lindemans Winery in the Hunter Valley NSW, wet conditions over night had left the course holding a huge amount of water. Andrew Blair and Jenny Fay of Swell Specialized […]
Day 1 of the Port to Port MTB 2014 – Four day stage race. Starting from the beautiful back drop of Nelson Bay, Port Stephens. Andrew Blair and Jenny Fay of Swell Specialized battle it out against Australias best marathon racers. Drift Bikes provided comprehensive mechanical support to all riders bikes participating over the four […]
The Pacific Ocean has a lot going for it. It’s very beautiful, full of fish and it keeps our east coast beaches nice and wet. It doesn’t, however, make great chain lube! Still, it wouldn’t be right to race in this part of the world without a bit of beach riding. And just like in […]
No matter how much you think you’re used to it, getting woken up by an alarm clock is always a bit horrible. The sudden shock as it bursts rudely into your slumber is never pleasant, reminding you that you’ve got somewhere to be, something to do. As much as we’d all love to sleep until […]
No one remembers the easy days. The days when your legs feel fresh, the weather is beautiful and nothing hurts – those days are soon forgotten, merged into the blur of day-to-day rides. But for the 200 or so riders who tackled stage two of Port to Port MTB, this was a day that will […]
Sapphire waters and sky so blue it looked painted on greeted riders today for day one of the Port to Port MTB stage race, kicking off at Port Stephens on the NSW mid-north coast. Pelicans, dolphins, retirees and over 200 nervous, pumped up riders – it was one hell of a scene, with the race […]
Now it’s the east coast’s time, the same crew will bring us four days of racing, from Port Stephens, to the Port of Newcastle, NSW in May 2014. From the rolling sandy trails around Nelson Bay, out to the rugged mountain ranges above the Hunter Valley and the fast run into Newcastle, it’s sure to […]
The 2014 Port to Port MTB, a new four day stage race across the Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter region has altered the previously published dates. The 2014 Port to Port MTB will now run from Thursday 29th May to Sunday 1st June 2014. The change of dates have resulted because of unforeseen clashes […]
**This story has been updated on April 11 with a new option for Aussies to watch the racing. With the first UCI Mountain Bike World Series event kicking off with the XC in Mairipora, Brazil, on April 12, there were plenty of questions about where to watch the World Cup in 2024 following the closure […]
The final day of Reef to Reef 2018 is upon us and the effects of three days of onerous racing are unequivocal as riders slowly pull themselves up the two steps on to the shuttle buses headed for Wetherby Station, up in the mountains west of Port Douglas. The coffee line is far reaching and […]
Around a week ago, a rather innocuous looking email arrived in the Flow inbox, letting us know that Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA), the peak Australian MTB body, had gained official National Sporting Organisation status. “So what?” you might ask. Well, there’s quite back story here! For a long time now, MTBA has operated in the […]
Crofto is an Australian-owned and operated clothing brand born on the Central Coast of NSW. Its core philosophy aims to lower the overall cost of riding gear while prioritising functionality, comfort, and providing a quality alternative to the flashy expensive clothing commonly seen on the trails. Crofto offer a broad range of gear spanning from […]
Roz & Wil review the 2024 Focus JAM² 6.8 Some of you may recall that earlier this year we reviewed the Focus JAM² SL. We thoroughly enjoyed its well-balanced handling and plush suspension, and the Fazua Ride 60 system impressed us with a surprising amount of power and range for such a lightweight e-MTB. As […]
Krischan from the Aus MTB Museum brings us the highlights of this year’s Show’n Shine. Retro MTB SA, in partnership with the Australian Museum of Mountain Bike, organised their annual Show’n Shine in March. This event marked the third Show’n Shine in South Australia, held at O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park, and did not disappoint! The […]
Born in the foothills of the Beskydy mountains in the Czech Republic, Superior have been building bicycles since 1993. With options ranging from high-performance roadies and XC bikes to e-MTBs and commuters, the brand hasn’t been seen much outside Europe until now, with BikesOnline bringing them into Australia for the first time. The brand’s heritage […]
Events in New Zealand are always going to be full of crazy new experiences. Being one of the greatest riding destinations in the world, how could they not be? The NZ MTB Rally is one of those kiwi events which keeps New Zealand’s reputation for holding legendary mountain biking events alive. With not just one, […]
The Norco Fluid VLT is the first lightweight e-MTB to come from the Canadian brand. That’s exciting news given how popular Norco’s existing e-MTB range has been over the last few years, and it’s doubly exciting because it’s also one of the first bikes to be built around the brand new Bosch Performance Line SX […]
Remember when e-MTBs looked like DIY jobs with a motor and battery crudely bolted onto existing frames? This is quite a contrast from some of the latest models like the Scott Lumen, Trek Fuel EXe, Santa Cruz Heckler SL and Focus VAM² that could just about pass as analogue mountain bikes, until you look closely. […]
Wil reviews the 2024 Scott Voltage The Scott Voltage is a brand new lightweight e-MTB for 2024. It follows in the footsteps of the Lumen that we reviewed last year, but ups the travel and capability to create what is essentially an electrified version of the Genius. It’s quite the eye-catching machine, and it’s purported […]
Mitch Docker’s life changed on one particular Sunday in Hell. He’d spent 13 years racing on the World Tour, working as a domestique and riding in support of his teammates to help them pursue a result. But this rainy October Sunday in Northern France, the Covid era Paris—Roubaix would be his last. He’d ridden the […]
Fresh out of Germany is the brand new Focus VAM2 SL. The lighter and snappier cousin of the Jam2 SL, with 125mm of rear squish, it’s claimed to weigh just 16.2kg. Take that figure with a grain of salt, but that puts it in the same ballpark as the Scott Lumen we tested last year. […]
Wil reviews the Focus JAM² SL The Focus JAM² SL is claimed to be the first lightweight e-MTB from the German brand. Though strictly speaking, that isn’t entirely true. Cast your mind back to 2016 when the original JAM² was launched. e-MTBs were still very much in their early stages, though Focus had already recognised […]
Finding the right bike under $2,000 AUD can be a challenge. Many in this price range bikes will look similar, with key differences hidden a little deeper under the surface. Primarily targeted at first-time mountain bikers, the sub $2,000 AUD category includes an interesting mix of well-known brands and some that aren’t as commonly seen […]
Buying your first electric mountain bike can be quite an intimidating process. Not only do you have to contend with a sea of different bike brands, there’s a huge variance in prices from the cheapest through to the most expensive options. How much money do you actually need to spend to get a decent e-MTB […]
Roz reviews the 2023 Liv Embolden E+ 2 With the fast-paced development of electric mountain bikes, there’s been a strong focus on the premium end of the market over the last couple of years. Progress is no doubt a good thing, but with an alarming number of e-MTBs approaching, and indeed even exceeding the $20K […]
Flow reviews the Husqvarna Mountain Cross Husqvarna might be a name that we normally associate with lawn mowers and chainsaws, but the Swedish brand is looking to change that with its range of electric mountain bikes. Having made motorbikes since 1903, Husqvarna decided to dive into the e-MTB market back in 2019. While it may […]
Flow reviews the 2023 Giant Stance E+ 2 If you’re looking to get your first electric mountain bike at a reasonable price, there’s a very good chance you’ll have eyed up the Giant Stance E+ 2. Totally redesigned for this year, the new Stance E+ is the cheapest full suspension e-MTB that Giant offers. It […]
The King of Willunga Hill, Richie Porte, is a household name among roadies — and mountain bikers who follow the World Tour — but he’s not a rider we ever expected to be writing about here on Flow. Hailing from Launceston, he’s won the General Classification at Paris-Nice (twice), Volta a Catalunya, Tour de Romandie, […]
On the back of SRAM’s Powertrain e-MTB system breaking cover, we now have details on one of the first bikes to have the new motor, Transition’s Repeater. As far as we know, this will be the first Powertrain equipped bike available in Australia. A burly big hitter, the bike has a bit more travel, the […]
Flow reviews the Orbea Wild The Orbea Wild has been completely redesigned for 2023 with an all-new frame, updated geometry and the latest Bosch Smart System. It’s still a burly long-travel e-MTB that’s designed to conquer the highest peaks and the gnarliest descents, and that puts it into direct competition with fellow big-hitters like the […]
Shoes are an often overlooked piece of gear for mini-shredders and can make all the difference in their comfort and enjoyment on the trails. A proper set of MTB kicks will protect their piggly wigglies from trail debris, help their feet stick to flat pedals, and provide an order of magnitude more support than flexible […]
After years of spy shots and speculation, SRAM has finally unveiled its e-MTB system — Eagle Powertrain. Unsurprisingly, it’s designed to leverage everything that’s already under the Eagle AXS umbrella, like the T-Type Transmission, the wireless protocol and the app, into a slick, highly integrated system — for better or for worse. There’s plenty to […]
Ever wondered what the best Maxxis tyres are for your e-MTB? Wonder no more, because the tyre giant has unveiled a fresh lineup of rubber badged with ‘E-50’ certification. Aaaand what exactly does that mean? According to Maxxis, models wearing the E-50 label have gone through an additional testing protocol to ensure they’re rated for […]
Undoubtedly, we find ourselves amidst an electrifying epoch in the realm of e-MTBs. The category is undergoing an explosive surge, with the generation of these bikes becoming more capable and extending their range. These bikes offer a much-appreciated helping hand on the uphill, but don’t detract when the trail points back down. There are few […]
Wil reviews the Scott Lumen eRIDE The Scott Lumen eRIDE caused quite the stir when it debuted at the tail end of last year. Featuring a striking carbon chassis based on the excellent Scott Spark, the Lumen doesn’t just hide its shock inside the frame, but a compact TQ motor and a slim 360Wh battery […]
Wil & Roz review the Giant Trance X E+ Elite Now don’t be confused, but the Giant Trance X E+ Elite is actually a brand new electric mountain bike for 2023. It’s the ‘Elite’ part that differentiates this bike from the existing Trance X E+ that we reviewed last year, though there’s a bit more […]
It’s been a wild year in the Mountain Bike World Cup so far. Nino became the winningest rider in history in Switzerland, at Lenzerheide — the last time this destination will feature on the calendar. Rachel Atherton made a comeback after having her first child, igniting the Women’s DH. Jackson Goldstone won his first World […]
Val di Sole, Leogang and Lenzerheide; the giants of World Cup destinations. Providing danger and speed, making memories and crushing dreams, these tracks have been at the forefront of gravity riding for years, but how did they become world-class material in the first place? With the 2023 season marking the last time some of the […]
New for 2023, the Leatt MTB Enduro 3.0 helmet is designed as a versatile lid for trail riding and enduro racing. It features a convertible three-in-one design that allows it to morph from a lightweight open-face trail helmet, into a half-shell with ear guards, and then into a proper full-face with a chin bar. Convertible […]