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Over the past few years Schwalbe has been steadily overhauling its performance mountain bike tyre range. The arrival of updated tread patterns, new rubber formulations and redesigned casings has seen it evolve into one of the most comprehensive tyre lineups on the market. The only problem? When it comes time to choosing the best mountain […]
The Trek Fuel EXe debuted last year to considerable fanfare. As the first lightweight e-MTB on the market to be built around the incredibly quiet and compact TQ-HPR50 motor, the Fuel EXe turned heads with its gorgeous looks and stealthy on-trail performance. At the time of launch Trek only offered four models, all of which […]
Jack reviews the Marin Rift Zone E1 The Marin Rift Zone E is a brand new electric mountain bike for 2023. Joining Marin’s existing e-MTB lineup alongside the longer travel Alpine Trail E, the Rift Zone gets a little a less travel and a lighter weight build kit that makes it a more approachable all-rounder. […]
Dan reviews the Polygon Siskiu TE The Polygon Siskiu TE is a brand new e-MTB for 2023. Joining the existing Collosus NE (formerly known as the Mt Bromo), the Siskiu TE utilises a simpler suspension design and features a little less travel. Along with the new Shimano EP801 motor and a value-oriented component package, the […]
Wil reviews the Ergon SR Pro Carbon Saddle In addition to producing grips and shoe insoles, Ergon also offers a wide range of saddles designed to cover everything from touring and gravel riding, through to e-MTB and enduro racing. I’ve used quite a few different Ergon saddles over the years, with the E-Mountain the SM Pro […]
Today sees the official introduction of the Bosch Performance Line SX motor. Purpose-built for the lightweight e-MTB market, the hotly-anticipated Performance Line SX motor is the German brand’s first foray into this fledgling category that includes popular bikes like the Specialized Levo SL, the Trek Fuel EXe and Orbea Rise. Ready to take on the […]
VANA Collective, new Australian women's mountain biking brand
Along with some of the highlights from the men’s apparel range, we’ve recently been trying out some of the latest women’s riding gear from Kenny Racing. Sold in Australia through KWT Imports, Kenny Racing is a French moto brand that has a surprisingly comprehensive range of riding gear for mountain bikers, which includes women’s specific […]
Roz rides the new Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite Today sees the dual arrival of the 2023 Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite and Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite. Boasting updated frames, a trendy mullet wheel setup, and a never-see-before battery, these brand new e-MTBs are said to be the lightest yet from […]
We’ve got big news out of Japan today with the announcement of the brand new Shimano CUES groupset. Or to be more accurate, groupsets. An abbreviation of the cheesy tagline “Creating Unique ExperienceS”, CUES represents a complete overhaul of Shimano’s entry-level component lineup. The aim here is to simplify the range, while trickling many of […]
After a long wait, the Quad Crown MTB series is finally kicking off with The Wild Penguin. Set to run April 28-30, the race will take riders to an area of Tassie that is often overlooked by riders coming off the ferry who are laser-focused on heading east to Derby and St Helens or south […]
The Flow team reviews the Thok TK01 R If you’ve not heard of Thok e-bikes before, we won’t blame you. Established in 2017, Thok is a small Italian-based company that only produces electric mountain bikes. Currently there are just three models in its lineup. There’s an e-Hardtail called the MIG-HT, a 140mm travel trail bike […]
Welcome to the first Fresh Produce of twenty-twenty-three! We trust you’ve all had a marvellous break over the festive period, filled with awkward family get togethers, regretful amounts of booze and disappointing presents. With all of that now mercifully behind us, it’s time to embrace the summer season and the glorious riding adventures that entails. […]
The Scott Lumen has just arrived on the scene as a brand new lightweight electric mountain bike. How light exactly? According to Scott, the Lumen weighs as little as 15.5kg, which is an astonishing figure for a bike equipped with a motor and battery! Of course if there was any brand that was going to […]
Wil reviews the Scott Patron No doubt about it, the Scott Patron is the most striking electric mountain bike we’ve ever come across. Not only is the Patron an entirely new model for 2022, it’s also the first e-MTB we’ve seen from the Swiss brand to integrate its rear suspension into the frame. This follows […]
Rohin Adams and Madi Russell were crowned overall champions with the fastest total times across the six stages of racing; with both impressed by the riding on offer in the heart of Australia. “It’s always great to come up here because the single track is better than you would expect!” said Adams. “To be able […]
Wil reviews the Canyon Spectral:ON Released earlier this year, the new Canyon Spectral:ON arrived with the promise of both lower weight and improved range over its predecessor. To achieve this, Canyon has developed an all-new carbon frame that will accommodate either a 720Wh or 900Wh battery. There have also been a number of updates to […]
Being one of the fastest growing segments of the market, electric mountain bikes (e-MTBs) are evolving at a rapid pace. New generation e-MTBs are delivering more power, less weight, reduced drag and better efficiency. The result is a more natural ride feel on the trail, with the ability to pedal further than ever before. It […]
Mick & Wil review the Trek Fuel EXe Following two years of development, the Trek Fuel EXe launches as a brand new electric mountain bike for 2023. Aiming to straddle the gap between the Rail (Trek’s full-powered, big travel e-MTB) and the regular Fuel EX, the Fuel EXe is built around a unique, never-before-seen motor […]
While Merida may not be the first brand that comes to mind for high-performance e-MTBs, the designed in Germany and manufactured in Taiwan bikes, have been leading the evolution of the category. They were the first brand to launch a bike with Shimano’s EP8 motor and were an early adopter of the previous E8000 drive […]
Over the last 18-months, the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination has undertaken an Environmental Effect Statement. This process is usually reserved for projects like mines and highways, and Warby is the first mountain bike development subjected to this level of scrutiny. After submitting the 3,500-page report in October, the EES has passed another milestone in the […]
The Port to Port is a mainstay of mountain bike stage racing on the east coast, guiding riders through the Hunter Valley and iconic singletrack around Newcastle. The event hasn’t run since May 2019, with the 2020 and 2021 editions forced into hibernation because of Covid-19 restrictions in NSW. The event team did its best […]
Trek Australia has just wrapped up its first-ever women’s freeride MTB progression camp, Momentum. At the beginning of March, a group of young lady shredders descended on Mansfield, VIC, to work with coaches and mentors, and in the process building the foundation for a women’s freeride movement in Australia. Momentum is the brainchild of Harriet […]
The GOAT rolled into Victoria’s High Country over the weekend, a four-day stage race showcasing some of the best trails in the country. With just over 400 riders taking up the challenge across e-bike, xc, and enduro categories, The GOAT had all the right ingredients for an epic weekend and would leave riders bleating for […]
When Santa Cruz launched the original Heckler e-MTB (not the OG Heckler), the bike wasn’t quite what many were expecting. We loved the light-hearted attitude, playful ride quality and unflappable suspension, but some noted the bike was equipped with a four-year-old (at the time) Shimano E8000 motor, and the low capacity 504Wh battery and 27.5in […]
The Giant Trance X Advanced E+ has arrived as a new carbon fibre variant of the alloy Trance X E+ that we tested last year. It follows a hot year of bike launches for Giant that includes the overhauled Reign E+ and the new Anthem race bike. As the freshest cab off the ranks, the […]
Fashionably late to the party, Yeti has launched its first e-MTB, the 160E. The brand tells us we haven’t seen a turquoise e-MTB sooner because it has been working on an entirely new suspension layout since 2016, specifically designed to cope with the added weight and speed achievable with pedal assist. While this is probably […]
Bosch has been providing e-bikes with their extra oomph for more than 10-years now, and these german motors can be found mounted to bikes from Trek, Scott and Focus to name a few. For 2022, there are a few new products, a few updates, and a lot of Bluetooth connections. The newly launched Bosch ‘Smart […]
Dan & Wil review the 2022 Norco Sight VLT After a great deal of anticipation, the brand new Norco Sight VLT has finally arrived. Forming a key part of Norco’s three-pronged attack on the electric mountain bike market for 2022, the Sight VLT is flanked by the new Fluid VLT (the 130mm travel trail bike) […]
Wil reviews the Orbea Rise Launched at the tail-end of 2020, the Orbea Rise is part of an emerging trend for lightweight, low-powered electric mountain bikes. Arguably kicked off by the Focus JAM² back in 2016, this fledgling niche has since been joined by the Lapierre eZesty, Specialized Levo SL, Trek E-Caliber, and Specialized Kenevo […]
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Flow’s Fresh Produce! We’ve had a busy couple of weeks, chasing the latest news on bikes, trails and everything else! The news has been breaking faster than sets at Snapper Rocks, with AusCycling announcing its selections for this year’s World Championships in Val Di Sole, Italy, and […]
Wil & Mick review Shimano EP8 First revealed to the world in September of last year, Shimano EP8 finally arrived on the e-MTB scene as the successor to the very popular Shimano E8000 motor. As well as being smaller, lighter and more efficient, the new EP8 drive unit also packs more punch with up to […]
Waking up in a hospital outside of Prague, Harriet Burbidge-Smith had crashed at a Red Bull Revelations four-cross event. Layed up and severely injured, she was hungry. “I still have no memory of the crash or about 24-hours before or after, but I lacerated my liver and had a pretty severe concussion. I spent about […]
Wil reviews the Specialized Kenevo SL No, that ain’t an Enduro with an extra-large SWAT compartment. This folks, is the brand-spanking new Specialized Kenevo SL. Hot off the heels of the release of the 2022 Levo, the Kenevo SL is an all-new electric mountain bike from Specialized. It takes the existing Kenevo, the Californian brand’s […]
Wil reviews the Canyon Spectral:ON Earlier this year, Canyon delivered some exciting news for electric mountain bike fans when it announced that its entire e-MTB lineup would finally be available to the Australian market. About bloody time eh? The German brand also marked the occasion with the official launch of its 2021 e-MTB range, which […]
Wil reviews the new Polygon Mt Bromo If you were to visualise what Polygon’s first full suspension electric mountain bike would look like, we’ll take a punt that it wouldn’t have looked anything like this. Far from being the Siskiu-E that we expected, the Polygon Mt Bromo is a big and burly e-MTB with forward-thinking […]
Mick & Wil review the new Specialized Levo Hold onto your hats folks, because Specialized has just unveiled the brand new 3rd generation Levo! This is huge news for electric mountain bike fans, with the Levo having long been one of the dominant forces within the e-MTB market ever since the original arrived in 2015, […]
With Derby and St Helens now offering world-class trails in close proximity to one another, North-East Tasmania is the prime location for a MTB stage race, and that precisely why the singular Dragon Trail MTB Ride has attracted over 300-riders from all over Australia. The new three-day stage race will take advantage of trails in […]
Dan tests the 2021 Trek Rail 9 First introduced to the world for 2020, the Rail is Trek’s premium long travel electric mountain bike. As the natural successor to the Powerfly LT, the Rail offers significantly improved geometry, and it’s built around the latest generation Bosch motor with a 625Wh battery in the downtube. Equipped […]
In case you hadn’t heard already, Canyon Bicycles has just announced that its full electric mountain bike range is now available in Australia. As part of that announcement, Canyon is also launching a brand new platform called the Torque:ON. As the German brand’s biggest travel e-MTB to date, the Canyon Torque:ON follows in the footsteps […]
That’s right folks – for the first time ever, Canyon Bicycles is now offering its electric mountain bike range to the Australian market. That’s big news, because up until now Canyon hasn’t been able to sell e-MTBs into Australia due to constraints around shipping bikes with a big ol’ battery inside the downtube. Thankfully those […]
30 years ago, someone thought it might be a bright idea to take a mountain bike up the Thredbo chairlift and ride down the enormous mountain. And as it turned out, not such a bad idea at all, and the beginning of brake-melting history. In this three-part series and videos, we reflect on three decades […]
30 years ago, someone thought it might be a bright idea to take a mountain bike up the Thredbo chairlift and ride down the enormous mountain. And as it turned out, not such a bad idea at all, and the beginning of brake-melting history. In this three-part series and videos, we reflect on three decades […]
30 years ago, someone thought it might be a bright idea to take a mountain bike up the Thredbo chairlift and ride down the enormous mountain. And as it turned out, not such a bad idea at all, and the beginning of brake-melting history. In this three-part series and videos, we reflect on three decades […]
The brand new Orbea Rise has arrived, and gosh is this one of the finest electric mountain bikes we’ve ever laid eyes on! Sitting alongside the bigger travel Orbea Wild FS, the Orbea Rise is a full suspension e-MTB that’s designed to be as lightweight as possible, and as natural-feeling on the trail as possible. […]
Roughly tracing the path of the Mersey River, from which the network takes its name; the $4.5 million Wild Mersey network, when finished, will span across Latrobe, Railton, and Sheffield with over 100km of trail. Situated just 15 km from the ferry port, it is far and away the most accessible a riding in the […]
A warm welcome to all of you wonderful Flow Frothers who have come to join us for the crispest edition of Flow’s Fresh Produce! We must apologise since it’s nearly been a month since our last instalment. But, well, things have been busier than a mosquito on a nudist beach here at Flow HQ. There’s […]
Wil reviews the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 While it’s sometimes easy to forget down here in our corner of the globe, Cube is not only of the world’s biggest bicycle brands, it’s also one of the biggest producers of e-Bikes. The German brand’s e-MTB range alone is staggering – we literally counted 100 of them […]
We’ve got big news for all you e-Frothers, because today Santa Cruz is unveiling its first ever e-MTB. Answering years of anticipation and rumours from both Santa Cruz fans and e-MTB enthusiasts from all around the globe, the Heckler CC represents Santa Cruz Bicycles’ first jump into the world of electric mountain bikes, and we […]
The New 2020 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Has Arrived! Today Specialized launches the latest addition to its Turbo electric mountain bike lineup. Called the Turbo Levo SL, this is a brand new full suspension e-MTB that joins the existing Levo and Kenevo models. Upon first glance, the Levo SL looks pretty much identical to the […]
Fresh to the rapidly growing and exciting e-MTB segment is the new Trek Rail, we spend a few days riding the new 2020 Trek Rail 9.8, here is what we thought of it. We made no secret that we didn’t particularly gel with the frame geometry that defined Trek’s previous long travel e-MTB, the Powerfly […]
Fresh to the rapidly growing and exciting e-MTB segment is the new Trek Rail, we spend a few days riding the new 2020 Trek Rail 9.8, here is what we thought of it. We made no secret that we didn’t particularly gel with the frame geometry that defined Trek’s previous long travel e-MTB, the Powerfly […]
August sucks to be a bike rider in Australia unless you live way up north or you’re into those weird indoor things where you ride around going nowhere, through an artificial landscape in a fake hyper-coloured world with lots of numbers and computer-generated people that look like robotic mannequins from Alex The Kid. Everyone is […]
Australia currently has seven riders across both disciplines ranked in the top 20 in the world. Eleven-time National champion Tracey Hannah (Polygon UR) is one of the favourites in the elite women’s downhill after claiming two World Cup wins so far this season in Leogang, Austria and Les Gets, France. Hannah is also the current […]
We’ve been riding the Jam for nearly one year, becoming a handy addition on our Mission Impassable adventures series where we plotted rides that required e-bikes to make the most of it; big mountain passes, moto trails, self-shuttle descents and back-country missions. Watch the Jam doing its thing in the vid below: This 2018 model […]
We’ve been riding the Jam for nearly one year, becoming a handy addition on our Mission Impassable adventures series where we plotted rides that required e-bikes to make the most of it; big mountain passes, moto trails, self-shuttle descents and back-country missions. Watch the Jam doing its thing in the vid below: This 2018 model […]
An e-bike may seem like the last thing a professional Enduro rider needs – after all, Josh Carlson has a level of fitness and stamina that makes most of us just shake our heads. Surely he doesn’t need any help getting up the hills? Well, no. But that’s not what inspired Josh Carlson to build […]
This news is hot off the press! Late yesterday we received a exceptionally excited phone call from a Wollongong local, Josh Carlson. What Josh told us, in between bursts of uncontained froth, made our day. In a nutshell, tireless years of work by the Illawarra MTB Alliance, NPWS and many more folk have brought the […]
“It is great to string the three races (Port to Port, Reef to Reef and Cape to Cape) together in the one calendar year,” Johnston said. “Winning the Triple Crown, going back to back at Cape to Cape and winning the final individual Cape to Cape before it moves to the exciting pairs format is […]
A fantastic $450,000 grant will go to the Hunter Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) from the State Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund. Awaba Mountain Bike Park is part of N.S.W. Forestry Corporation owned land and HMBA holds an occupation permit to conduct club events & make Trails available to both members & the general public. Upcoming […]