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The Landing and Initial Flight The Ibis HD6 debuted at Flow HQ amidst the anticipation of a ‘big bike park summer’ and quickly proved to be more than just an ordinary enduro bike. Assembled with a mix of components borrowed from other bikes and projects, the HD6 was prepped and ready for rowdy riding. Weighing […]
Gone are the days of Forrest being but a speck on the Victorian Mountain Biking map of classic riding destinations. It’s one of the oldest mountain bike parks in Australia the network has had a facelift. Newly refurbished trails, a pump track the kids (adult kids included) can’t step away from and a backdrop of […]
Flow Mountain Bike acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Kempsey and Kalateenee State Forest, the people of Thunggutti/Dunghutti Country. We recognise their connection to lands, waters and communities and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Looking forward, looking back, NSW’s Mid-North Coast has come a long way with mountain bike tracks. Just inland […]
Where the Bass Strait meets the Apple Isle, George Town is a sleepy industrial town on the northernmost edge of Tasmania. On the banks of the Tamar River, George Town is one of the oldest settlements in the country, but despite the spectacular beaches at Low Head, the penguin colony and its proximity to Launceston, […]
Hitting Mogo, Glen Innes and Gundy, goodnessgravel 2024 calendar is underway, exploring the best country roads NSW has to offer. And there is a new Oranged-tinted addition to the series! Born out of trying to get folks out of the city and exploring back roads, goodnessgravel has evolved into a four-event series taking in a […]
After having a taste of the new 12-speed GRX groupset in Bend, Oregon, last year, Shimano sent one out for us to test, and after a long wait, we finally have it bolted onto a worthy testing steed, the Scott Addict Gravel Tuned. While there were a few hiccups involving headset parts, we finally had […]
The Tranz X EDP01 is a wireless dropper post with more drop and a smaller price tag than the veritable RockShox Reverb AXS.
The Akta MTB kit getup we’ve been trialling is packed with impressive technical features subtle, and unique and has a competitive price tag
Who can forget the Hoverbar, Canyon’s bizarre attempt to reinvent the gravel cockpit? It definitely started a conversation, but not really the one the German outfit was hoping for, as the memes lampooning the biplane double-decker created significantly more noise than any talk about what it actually felt like to ride them, much less how […]
Flow Mountain Bike acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Blue Derby, the people of Palawa/Pakana Country. We recognise their connection to lands, waters and communities and pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging. Sitting on the shuttle bus with the Blue Derby trail map open on your phone, trying to figure out where to […]
Flow Mountain Bike acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country through the areas surrounding Melbourne and Geelong. We recognise the connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging. You’ve been cooped up in the office all week, and you’re champing […]
Flow Mountain Bike acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Kempsey and Kalateenee State Forest, the people of Thunggutti/Dunghutti Country. We recognise their connection to lands, waters and communities and pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging. About 20km from Crescent Head on the NSW Mid-North Coast, Kempsey is probably best known for being the […]
Is camping mostly just completing everyday chores, in a less convenient way? Perhaps…but man it’s fun! Take camp cooking, for example: you’ve got 1/100th of a kitchen to work with, but somehow in this inconvenience of cooking pasta on a one-burner stove, you often find a sense of fulfillment that isn’t there normally. Bikepacking is […]
Michael reviews the 2023 Norco Optic With a modest 125mm of travel out back, the Optic slots into the shorter end of the enormous trail bike segment, but this bike is about as far from a leggy XC rig as you get. And with that short rear travel figure, the Optic could be overlooked by […]
Wil takes us through his custom-built Canyon Lux World Cup Earlier this year we reviewed the Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team. Totally revamped for 2023, the German brand’s flagship XC race bike features an all-new frame with significantly improved geometry. As well as being very light, we were impressed with its powerful pedalling, sharp […]
Flow Mountain Bike acknowledges the Traditional Owners of West Coast Tasmania, the Toogee People. We recognise their connection to lands, waters and communities and pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging. Prelude: The Gathering in Maydena, the Adventure Begins, so Press Play Our adventure began in the bustling Maydena Bike Park following a […]
Flow acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Narooma and Bodalla Forest, the people of Yuin Country. We honour the Yuin Elders of the past, present and future and their connection to lands, waters and communities. Derived from the local Yuin dialects spoken by the Traditional Owners of the area, Narooma roughly translates to clear blue waters, […]
Flow Mountain Bike acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Mt Buller, the people of Taungurung Country. We recognise their connection to lands, waters and communities and pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging. Mt Buller; a true veteran of alpine sports. Winters filled with snow and summer months uncovering a vast network of mountain […]
Unfortunately, things happen out mountain biking. As I’m typing this, my hand is sore because a bit of leaf litter on the crux of a feature I’ve ridden millions of times sent me careening off trail and over the handlebars. While I came up laughing this time, it could have been a whole lot worse […]
Flow Mountain Bike acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout the Alpine Region of Victoria. We recognise the connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging. One of the giants of Australian Mountain biking destinations, Falls Creek has had […]
Flow acknowledges the rolling hills and forests around Creswick hold significant cultural importance to the Dja Dja Wurrung First Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land.We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. There have been informal trails in Creswick […]
Upgrading your bike can be a fun and addictive process, whether it be performance-driven or just to make your pride a job look better. Many of us have, at some point, been down this rabbit warren, and deciding when to stop is almost as tricky as deciding where to start. When looking at upgrades for […]
To say last season in Derby was a big one, would be an understatement. Hitting the highest of highs with Cuddles, Hazy Days, the Enduro World Cup and the trails being handed over to the community through the Blue Derby Foundation. There were also some lows with the landslide at the start of the riding […]
We have just had word that the Victorian Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, has signed off on the Planning Scheme Amendment for the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination, allowing the project to move forward. Situated in the forest around Mount Donna Buang, the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination has proposed 160km of singletrack about 90-min from Melbourne […]
Wil reviews the CushCore inserts on his Giant Revolt X gravel bike Hold on a moment, CushCore on a gravel bike? I’ve been using CushCore inserts across a load of test bikes for quite a few years now. That’s included the original Pro inserts on numerous trail and enduro bikes, the big Plus inserts on […]
It might not be the largest state in our great island nation, but the variety of terrain that Victoria has on offer is nothing short of astounding. From lofty alpine vistas to dense rainforests, there is something here for everyone. And the best part? The mountain biking scene in Victoria is alive and booming, boasting […]
The Kuat Pison Pro brings hydro-pneumatic auto opening arms to a rear hitch rack. Is it a gimmick or does it make your life easier?
Wil reviews the Ergon SR Allroad Core saddle German brand Ergon has taken a unique approach to saddle comfort in recent years, drawing on an innovative material called Infinergy. Made by BASF, this springy E-TPU material forms a thick, vibration-absorbing layer that is sandwiched in between the saddle’s firm base and soft upper. Being suited […]
Bluegrass is an offshoot of Italian outfit MET, arguably best known for armour, pads and full faces; the Rogue Core is its only open-face trail lid. Built around a fully in-moulded polycarbonate shell, it offers deep coverage around the back of the head and over your temples. We appreciate that the shell cover wraps around […]
*This story has been updated on 28 November following the Alpine Shire Council’s vote on taking over the governance of the park. A little over 12 months ago, we broke the news that Mystic Bike Park in Bright was facing closure, because it was unable to meet key terms of its lease agreement with Hancock […]
Aeroe is a Kiwi brand re-inventing the way we carry gear on our beloved bicycles. These racks take a new approach to solving a problem we’ve been battling since the beginning of time.
The Quad Crown Black Pearl in Newcastle marked a thrilling end to the 2023 series. This event evolved from the popular Port to Port race and offered an opportunity to explore the diverse trails in the area, blending challenging races with a strong sense of community and social events. Newcastle is also the home of […]
The financial squeeze is being felt across the country – the cost of living is up the proverbial, and the RBA is pushing interest rates higher than the elevation of Maydena. The need to be frugal with spending has become critical, and finding cost-effective holiday options may seem out of reach in the current environment. […]
Nestled on NSW’s Sapphire Coast, Eden has long been a destination for those looking to trade the big smoke for a bit of surf and sand during the warmer months. This should not come as a revelation to anyone because…well…just look at the place. While comparisons to the seemingly apparent biblical reference of the town’s […]
The Peaty’s Complete Bicycle Cleaning Kit has just landed on our doorstep and it is overflowing with bike-cleaning goodness. Whether you’re after a self-contained travel kit, just need some new cleaning brushes and more bike wash or a gift for your favourite mountain biker, this kit from Peaty’s bundles all the basics and gives you […]
*Editors Note: Since we visited Melrose about 12-months ago, the trail is now complete and open to the public. We’re very much looking forward to heading back down to ride the whole thing. But in the meantime, here’s a refresher what Trailscapes has been working on up in the Flinders Ranges. Melrose is a storied […]
With multiple MTB mini-shredders running around, the Flow team have owned all manner of balance bikes, kids bike seats — including the Kids Ride Shotgun child seats — and still regularly use their MTB tow rope. So when the Kiwi outfit announced it was launching a balance bike designed in-house, we were excited to see […]
Hardtails for kids live a hard life. They get ridden to and from school, at the pump track in the afternoon and taken for big adventures on the weekend. The Yama Jama is Spawn’s response to this category of bike, and we have had Flow’s Junior Test Team shredding trails and skills parks around Sydney […]
Hailing from the North Shore of British Columbia, OneUp Components has always made clever products. It started out with a 42T crawler cog, which expanded the range of the 10-speed cassette of the day. From there, the trio of former Race Face Engineers have launched pedals, pumps, dropper posts, chain guides and, of course, a […]
Wil reviews the Roval Control Alloy wheelset The Roval Control Alloy is an all-new wheelset for 2023. Pitched at XC racing and trail riding, these wheels feature a brand new alloy rim that manages to be both wider and lighter than the previous version. Combined with a set of bulletproof DT Swiss 350 hubs and […]
The 15th edition of the Cape to Cape has been run and won, with a massive field, packing plenty of firepower. With four days of the best trails in the region lined up, quite a few familiar faces were vying for the pointy end of the race. But some young guns had other plans, well […]
When it comes to flat pedals for mountain biking, Funn offers three different options. The cheapest model is called the Black Magic that uses a composite body and sells for $89.95 AUD for the pair. Then there’s the Funndamental flat pedal that uses a CNC machined alloy body and retails for $159.95 AUD for the […]
Last year saw the arrival of the 2nd generation Maxxis Forekaster tyre. Featuring a revamped tread pattern and a burlier construction, the latest Forekaster sits squarely in the ‘aggressive XC’ category. We first tested the 2.4in wide version and came away impressed with its blend of rolling speed and cornering grip across loose and dusty […]
When it comes to tubeless tyre inserts, few brands are as well known as CushCore. The Oregon-based company has been specialising in tubeless inserts since it was founded back in 2017, and has steadily grown its range since then. In addition to the original Pro inserts, CushCore now has specific options for gravel, XC, and […]
Just before the third stop of The Quad Crown, The Orca, pedalled into Eden, NSW, the team behind the event had announced a change in venue for the finale. Newcastle would host the fourth and final event of the 2023 Quad Crown season from 10-12 November. Initially, the final stop on the Series was headed […]
Fidlock’s Push Saddle Bag leverages its patented magnetic mounting system to offer a solution to carry your spares under your seat that is dropper post-friendly. Using a plastic mount that bolts onto your saddle rails, the bag clips in using the magic of magnets and a latch which is released with the press of a […]
Flow reviews the new Continental tyre range Earlier this year, Continental pulled the wrappers off a completely new range of mountain bike tyres. Consisting of five brand new tread patterns, the lineup is designed to cover everything from trail riding on dry and rocky singletrack, through to high-speed downhill racing over loose and muddy terrain. […]
Wil reviews the Cervelo ZFS-5 Following its debut on the World Cup XC race circuit earlier this year, the Cervelo ZFS-5 is finally ready for its official release. As the first full suspension mountain bike from the North American company, the ZFS-5 is a big deal for Cervelo. It follows the introduction of the ZHT-5 […]
The Cape to Cape turns 15 this year, can you believe it! The little stage race in Margaret River has come such a long way over the years, and now it’s almost old enough to drive — crazy! Following Reef to Reef, there was some big news: Ironman — who own Reef to Reef, Port […]
Trail bikes are one of the most popular and crowded segments in mountain biking and cover a broad range of travel and geometry numbers. Bikes that fall in this niche range from short travel shredders offering as little as 120mm at the back, all the way up to 150mm of rear squish. All of this […]
Michael reviews the 2024 Fox Float X2 The first-generation Fox Float X2 (2016-2020 model) was known to be one of the most robust and reliable shocks for downhill and enduro bikes, with many regarding it as the best gravity-oriented air shock available. It won countless Downhill World Cups and stops on the Enduro World Series. […]
Panzer began offering tubeless tyre inserts in 2016, back when the concept was still relatively new to mountain biking. Alongside the likes of CushCore, the original Panzer inserts became popular thanks to their low weight and ease of installation. Panzer decided to overhaul its tubeless inserts earlier this year, with the latest design introducing new […]
Back in 2020, a group appeared on Facebook called Save Our Nerang Forest Trails, born out of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service closing two gravity trails in the Park without consultation. The folks behind the group and the local mountain bike club had learned of a broader scheme to shut down a substantial amount […]
The new mountain bike park in Eden, NSW isn’t quite open to the public yet, but the third event in the Quad Crown MTB series — The Orca — gave riders an exclusive first ride on the trails here. And riders from all over the country flocked to the Sapphire Coast for the mini-stage race. […]
Started by a family of four living in NSW’s Snowy Mountains, Sendy is a kids-specific mountain bike brand aiming to keep your grommets comfortable and shredding in style. Kids have a way of being extra hard on kit, so we engaged our mini-testers-in-chief to see if the Sendy Gear is up to scratch. Related: Fresh […]
Getting ready for the Cape to Cape and not sure where to start? You’re not alone. That’s why we sat down with Tali Lane Welsh, the speedy guy who just bagged a win at the Reef to Reef, to get some real talk on how to prep. Tali isn’t just a local hero; he’s also […]
Colin and Jena review the 2023 Focus Atlas What happens when mountain bikes and gravel bikes collide? You get the Focus Atlas. Updated for 2023, the German outfit has employed a number of mountain bike-inspired design elements in the frame of this drop bar adventure machine. First launched in alloy, Focus has added a carbon […]
Press Release: Debut winners and defending champions stood on the top step of the podium as the 2023 Reef to Reef finished on the iconic Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas. Riders started the final day at Mount Molloy, making their way through the stunning Tropical North Queensland scenery before hitting the famous Bump Track […]
Coming out of BC’s storied North Shore, Spawn Cycles is a new name in Australia, aiming to elevate kids bikes from clunky, heavy behemoths to well-thought-out platforms to build confidence and skill. With a range of hardtails and full suspension kids bikes, they’re not the only players in this field, but Spawn has done things […]
After experiencing what may have been the best weather in Queensland, if not Australia, for The Sunny 80, The Quad Crown now turns its attention to Eden, NSW, for The Orca. Folks who sign up for this race will be some of the first in the country to ride the trails at Gravity Eden because […]