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Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) is excited to announce that downhill superstar Mick Hannah will be attending the 2014 Australian AIS Development Camp from 10-13 October, to act as a mentor and assistant coach. “Sik Mik” Hannah is one of Australia’s leading downhill riders with countless wins at both national and world cup level. Mick will […]
DHaRCO is a new mountain bike clothing company born out of a desire to make products suited to Australian conditions. The result: custom fabrics suited to a warm climate, designs that riders will still reach for off the bike, and a functional simplicity, which comes into its own on the trails. Impressed with the cut, […]
Merriman and English win race elite titles, Richardson takes over series lead at Ourimbah Four-time World Enduro Motor Cross Champion Stefan Merriman took out the four-hour Elite Men’s race at the SHIMANO Mountain Bike Grand Prix (MTB GP) near Wyong on the weekend, winning against series leader Paris Basson. With 14 completed laps Jason English […]
Welcome to the Soapbox – a place where we invite you to express your opinion, no matter how well or ill-informed. A chance to vent your spleen, sing your praise, or chuck a tantie. Got something to blurt about? Send it to crew@flowmountainbike.com, and we might put it online. All Soapbox submission must be […]
Member for Port Stephens, Craig Baumann yesterday launched the Port to Port MTB (Mountain Bike) Classic to be held for the first time from 1-4 May 2014. The event will attract top Australian riders, as well as a selection of international riders and is open to all serious recreational riders from across Australia and the […]
It’s no secret that John Jacoby from Rapid Ascent goes to great lengths to deliver the goods. But rumours about John’s possible involvement in securing the unusual weather conditions in Alice Springs during this year’s Ingkerreke Commercial Mountain Bike Enduro (ICME) have yet to be confirmed. It never rains in Alice The ICME […]
As one of Australia’s leading mountain bikers, Sid Taberlay has had more involvement with MTBA than most. He wrote to Flow recently explain his views on where things have gone wrong and, more positively, how riders and MTBA are now working on a path forward. Please note: These are Sid’s opinions and thoughts – […]
Take a look around the ranks of the elite National Series cross country field and you’ll see S-Works shoes on an inordinate number of feet. It’s not without reason – these are fantastic shoes, and not just for racing either. We’ve been running these shoes for almost six months now, and in that time they’ve established […]
The last few years have been difficult for event organisers, but things are beginning to look up, and it is a damn good time to get into mountain bike stage racing here in Australia. With a range of new events popping up for 2022, and some classics returning after the 2020/2021 forced hiatus, there are […]
Mick joins three lunatics on a mighty adventure, to ride three iconic disused downhill racetracks before lunch, deep in the extensive trail network around Mt Sugarloaf in the Lower Hunter Valley, NSW. Watch the mayhem unfold here. Since moving to Newcastle from Sydney, each ride was a first experience in a new city. Newcastle has […]
Those who have ridden a lightweight 100mm travel 29er will know what we’re talking about when we say there’s nothing quite like it. Aside from efficiency from the small amount of travel, the connection between the rider and the trail is so close, you feel entirely engaged, and every piece of effort you put in is rewarded with […]
For years, we’ve ridden past entrances to mysterious singletracks in the Pokolbin State Forest, high above the Hunter Valley. Normally we’re here as part of the Port to Port MTB race, and so heading into the forest, chasing fresh trails, isn’t an option. Not to mention that we’re usually way too buckled after climbing all […]
Intense Cycles aren’t exactly synonymous with cross country racing; these disruptive Californians have traditionally dwelled in the world of downhill and long-travel shredding. But here we are, looking at a full-blown XC race weapon, the Intense Sniper XC Elite. The name might say XC, but you don’t have to dig deep to find the Intense […]
Ah, Intense. How can you not love this brand? Maybe its just a product of our rapidly advancing years, but Intense Cycles pulls at our heart strings. We would’ve joyfully given a kidney to ride an Intense back in the day. This is a brand with such heritage, presence, such cool – it oozes out, […]
It’s Saturday morning and the familiar smell of glove funk and chain lube is wafting in the air. You’re out on your local ride feeling indestructible. Unfortunately you come to realise that you are not. Frustratingly it’s not your fitness that gives out but that recurring injury that has plagued you for what feels like […]
We caught up with Dean after Stage 1 of this year’s Port to Port MTB and asked him all about the best strategies for recovery, so you can back up to race day after day. You’ve just done your first stage, you’ve come out of the gates super hard, and now you’ve got another three […]
It has now been over six months since we stepped into the world of GPS and fitted the Magellan Cyclo 505 to our mountain and road bikes, ready to track our riding with a level of detail that we’d never encountered before. The 505 boasts an absolutely massive array of features, some of which we […]
Maxxis Ardent Race 29 x 2.2″ 3C/EXO/TR This latest offering from Maxxis is a winner for those technical XC courses or just general trail riding. The Ardent Race kind of blends the best bits of the regular Ardent and the Ikon, it features closely spaced centre knobs for great rolling capability paired with angled and […]
If you’re an avid racer, tech head, or if you’re the kind of rider who’s fond of a shave down and a macchiato at the local café while talking about carbon and KOMs, then you’re also probably familiar with Watts, power-to-weight ratios and functional threshold power. But if you’re like most mountain bikers, the world of ‘power’ […]
You can almost envision the meeting at Pivot HQ, amongst the rocky mesas of Arizona: “Guys, I really think we should make a hardtail.” “Whaddaya mean a hardtail? We’re called Pivot – can you tell me where the pivot is on a hardtail? And what the hell would we call it anyhow, this pivot-less Pivot […]
What do you get when a high end suspension frame manufacturer releases a hardtail? The Pivot Les. Pun intended, this aptly named carbon hardtail is a unique take on a 29er cross country hardtail with its convertible dropouts to allow for a single speed setup if you wish. 1.13kg for the frame puts it squarely in […]
What do you get when a high end suspension frame manufacturer releases a hardtail? The Pivot Les. Pun intended, this aptly named carbon hardtail is a unique take on a 29er cross country hardtail with its convertible dropouts to allow for a single speed setup if you wish. 1.13kg for the frame puts it squarely in […]
FACT: There are almost as many bikes in the Avanti range as there are sheep in New Zealand. This well-regarded Kiwi brand has options from some of the sweetest beach cruisers going, through to triathlon, road and of course mountain biking. They’re very much the big little brand. The Ridgeline Carbon 2 is Avanti’s peak […]
Avanti is a brand we’ve somewhat neglected here at Flow. Despite the popularity of the bikes both here in Australia and in New Zealand, this is the first Avanti we’ve actually had on test! Shame on us. Avanti’s dual suspension range has three bike lines to suit your flavour of riding. There’s the all-mountain 27.5″-wheeled […]
Avanti is a brand we’ve somewhat neglected here at Flow. Despite the popularity of the bikes both here in Australia and in New Zealand, this is the first Avanti we’ve actually had on test! Shame on us. Avanti’s dual suspension range has three bike lines to suit your flavour of riding. There’s the all-mountain 27.5″-wheeled […]
*This story was last updated on April 24 Grab some sunscreen and your best party shirt because Crankworx is returning to Cairns May 22-26, 2024. Yes, that means it’s only a few days after the UCI Masters World Championships, which also descends on Cairns from May 16-19. Oh, and did we mention that Crankworx is […]
Visualise this; In the heart of winter, when the outside world is chilly and rain has saturated the trails, there exists a tropical oasis up north in Cairns. Here, the thermometer reads a delightful 26 degrees, the sun reigns supreme, and the trails await, dry and ready for adventure. Picture yourself with a cold beer […]
The Quad Crown will once again roll into The Sunshine Coast June 7-9. Exploring Sugarbag, Parklands and Dularcha National Park, Ewen Maddock Dam and Ferny Forest over a Prelude and 2.5 stages, it’s the second time the series has landed in Queensland. We caught up with Race Director Jason Dover and Course Designer Liam McGuire […]
Roz reviews the Silverback Stratos AL Pro Silverback Bikes is relatively new to Australian shores, so we’ll forgive you if you’re not familiar with the name. Based out of Germany since 2010, Silverback is actually a large company that produces a broad range of mountain bikes, kids bikes and e-MTBs that place a keen focus […]
Trek has just lifted the veil on a nifty tail-light/bike radar combo. In the same vein as the Garmin Varia or Magene L508, it combines a powerful daytime visible light with a rear-facing radar that picks up cars as they approach, showing a representation of the distance and speed on your head unit, smartwatch or […]
Flow Mountain Bike acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Mackay Region, the Yuwi, Widi, Barada Barna and Birriah peoples. We recognise their connection to lands, waters and communities and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. *This story has been updated on 17 April 2024 with new information When we spoke to Iain […]
Gone are the days of getting phone calls from unknown numbers to find out if that pristine Yeti ACR you’re selling is still available, or endless emails asking if you’re willing to knock 50-dollarbucks off that dropper post you’re trying to get out of the parts bin because they saw the same model, but in […]
For 2025, RockShox has rebuilt it’s lineup of entry -evel mountain bike forks with a simplified model range, a new damper called Isolator, and an updated Debonair air spring. The gravel crowd hasn’t been forgotten, with and updated Rudy gravel fork and Charger Race Day 2 damper. Rockshox has previously offered multiple entry-level, trail-focused MTB […]
As a reader of Flow, you probably ride a lot and have bought a lot of bikes and P&A (which is what the industry calls parts and accessories) over the years. But how much do you know about who actually makes your gear and who distributes and sells it? This will be the first of […]
Jack reviews the SRAM Maven Bronze brakes The SRAM Maven brake was only rolled out a couple of months ago, but already it’s proven to be a big deal for the US component brand. Standing as the most powerful brake that SRAM has ever produced, the Maven has kicked the Code down the pecking order […]
Wil reviews the TQ HPR50 motor system The TQ HPR50 motor debuted to considerable fanfare back in 2022 when it first appeared on the Trek Fuel EXe. As the lightest motor in its category, the HPR50 drive unit blew everyone away with its astonishingly compact form and whisper-quiet performance, changing our expectations of what a […]
Hailing from the Czech Republic, Superior Bikes isn’t exactly a well-known name in Australia. Or at least, not yet. Bikes Online has just announced it’s the new local distributor for Superior, and as with Marin and Polygon, these bikes will be sold online direct-to-consumer. Of course that means the pricing is comparatively sharp compared to […]
Mick & Wil ride the 2025 Fox 34 & 36 This year Fox Racing Shox celebrates its 50th anniversary. That’s a big deal, and the suspension brand is set to go all-out with a range of limited edition forks that feature a glossy gold finish to match the iconic Kashima coating. Expect to see a […]
Neck braces do not have the same popularity in the MTB world they do in Moto, despite broken collarbones and neck injuries being a fairly common consequence after a big off. Leatt is now offering a range of braces at different price points, with several features that help make wearing a neck brace as easy […]
Colin reviews the Shimano GRX RX820 Back in 2019, Shimano announced GRX, the first gravel-specific groupset. Following the clutched Ultegra RX rear mech launched in 2018, Shimano borrowed bits and pieces from its road and MTB components to create a system designed to cope with mixed terrain riding. Five years on, Shimano has given GRX […]
With a trio of riders from across the country, the all-new Forbidden Albek Racing team is here and ready to test themselves against the world’s best. Consisting of up-and-coming young names in Aussie DH, William Pope, William Hynes, and William Ireland are riding their new Forbidden Supernoughts around the nation and the world this year […]
Emma and Andy’s Merida One-Sixty 6000 & 8000 long-term review We reviewed the Merida One-Sixty in March 2023 and praised it for its mullet-ability, modern build kit, and progressive geometry. We even went as far as to say it’s evolved to become one of the best enduro bikes on the market. That’s a big call, […]
Pirelli is a brand name that is synonymous with modern Formula One, MotoGP, and Motocross racing at the highest level. However, early 2019 saw the launch of its Scorpion MTB range, bringing decades of experience in designing high-performance tyres to mountain bikes. Since the launch, the range of compounds and casings have undergone minor revisions […]
Are you thinking about making the leap to ride your very first bikepacking overnighter? Bikepacking and human-powered travel is life-changing. The feeling of complete autonomy, challenging yourself physically, and being in nature are tremendously liberating experiences. But, preparing to go bikepacking can also feel deeply overwhelming. Packing your bike with camping gear, food, clothes, toiletries, […]
Without a doubt, Merida’s eOne-Sixty is one of the most popular e-MTBs in Australia, and for 2024, it’s getting an update, along with its slightly shorter sibling, the e-OneForty. The latest generation eOne-Sixty is actually two separate bikes. The eOne-Sixty CF is a lighter, sleeker carbon option, while the eOne-Sixty Lite is the heavy-duty alloy […]
At this stage, Rocky Trail Entertainment is running out of weekends throughout the year to put on its events. The relaxed racing format of the Fox Superflows is a unique take on enduro racing that sees a handful of trails marked. You can ride them up to five times, in any order, and only your […]
Tom and Lia review the 2024 Scott Ransom We may not have hoverboards or flying cars readily available in 2024. What we do have, however, is Scott’s all-new Ransom. This futuristic machine is full of the latest tech, forward-thinking engineering, and an aesthetic to match. Watch out, Elon Musk—Scott is coming for you! From Thredbo […]
Fox Racing has released its 2024 mountain bike lineup that includes updates to its helmets, shoes and riding gear. We’re loving the new season vibe, which includes bright and bold options, as well as more subtle pastel colours. There is a tonne of new kit across both mens and womens product lines, and here we […]
When Michael Ronning was in his heyday in the ’90s — when this writer was still learning how to read — he was mixing it up with the likes of Shaun Palmer, Brian Lopes, Tomas Misser, and Steve Peat — and beating most of them, too! One of Australia’s early pro-Downhillers, his career at the […]
Wil reviews the Specialized Epic 8 EVO The Specialized Epic EVO was first concocted in 2018 as a spicier offshoot of the Epic race bike. It featured the same frame and shock with the Brain damper, but added a 120mm travel fork, dropper post and chunkier tyres to create a more approachable XC bike. In […]
Wil reviews the Specialized Epic 8 Cast your mind back 22 years ago, when the Specialized Epic debuted on the race scene with its iconic Brain shock. The clever inertia valve formed an integral part of the bike’s automatic-lockout schtick and it’s been a defining feature of the Epic ever since. Two decades and many […]
Revamped and rejigged, the Quad Crown is set to take off at full speed for 2024. Guiding mountain bikers around destinations they may never have ridden before, this year’s venue line-up will feed the adventurous soul. Designed to be a mini version of large-scale events like Cape to Cape or Port to Port, the Quad […]
Grant Allen is a rowdy mountain biker. One of the early Red Bull Rampage riders, Allen, sustained a spinal cord injury in 2011 overshooting a roughly 20m road gap. But the injury hasn’t stopped the Adelaide local from pushing the limits of what he can do on a bike. Aside from being a multi-time Australian […]
Discovering that the place where you parked your e-MTB is now vacant is a nightmare scenario for any rider. What’s even worse is that this gut-wrenching situation has occurred to many of us, and it’s closer to reality than we might care to acknowledge. In the ever-evolving world of e-Bikes, Bosch has proven itself with […]
When you think of National Championships, the riders that come to mind are your Bec Hendersons, your Luke Meier-Smiths, your Sam Foxes and your Sian A’Herns. The elite riders who are riding for green and gold stripes to wear all year long as they chase the World Cups in Europe. But Nationals isn’t just for […]
The Quad Crown hit the ground running in 2023 with its inaugural four-event series, aiming to take riders to places they wouldn’t have raced before. The series is back for 2024, kicking off in northern Tasmania with the Wild Penguin event. Coming in hot, this event is set to take place on the 8-10 of […]
This year is off to an exciting start for Norco. First, there was the huge announcement that the GOAT Greg Minnaar had signed on to their factory DH team. Then over the weekend, Gracey Hemstreet put on an incredible show to take the win in the first-ever Red Bull Hardline women’s category at Maydena. This […]
After a bumper year in Thredbo, hitched onto the Cannonball Mountain Bike Festival in 2023, the AusCycling MTB Nationals roadshow is headed for Lake Macquarie. Awaba will play host to the 2024 GWM National Championships, covering off XCO, short track, XC relay, pump track, e-MTB and adaptive categories. The Hunter Mountain Bike Association has been […]
Thredbo sits on the traditional land of the Monero–Ngarigo people, who have looked after this land, water and community for over 60,000 years. We thank them for all they have done and continue to do to look after their country, a special place which we all love and respect. Cannonball Festival = A Good Time. […]
No, this is not a reshare of an old news story! We have just had word that Sea Otter is again trying to bring its festival Down Under, this time under the tutelage of Juliane and Martin Wisata and Rocky Trail Entertainment. Scheduled to land in late October 2025, Rocky Trail Entertainment is bringing Sea […]