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Few things in mountain biking are as soul-crushing as when you feel your rim take a wallop. The ping reverberates through your limbs, and then there’s the secondary assault on your ears when an aluminium rim makes contact with a rock. Or that dead thud and crunch of a carbon rim receiving a pile driver […]
It’s quite rare for GoPro trail previews to pique my interest, unless they’re filmed by a particular set of French riders living in Canada. However, one such video did grab my attention this week. A YouTuber had come to a little loop near my home on the Gold Coast called Glossy Black Reserve. The title […]
Pirelli Scorpion Race tyre review
German outfit Deuter makes everything from frame packs and sleeping bags to paniers and kid carriers. The Mondego series is the brand’s latest offering of budget-friendly, bike packing bags, designed to increase the capacity of what you can haul on the bike, without draining your bank account. Mondego HB 8 Priced at $129.99 AUD, Deuter’s […]
We have a load of prior experience with the original version of the Sendhit Nock MTB Handguards, which offered a welcome degree of protection for riding scrubby and overgrown singletrack. The mounting system left a little to be desired though, especially when pairing them with Shimano brake levers. Taking on board that feedback, Sendhit went […]
After stepping out of the gondola at the top of the hill come track walk day, the full force of a looming World Cup hits you square in the face. A strange instinct to run in the other direction and hide in a darkened room clashes with an overwhelming impulse to put tyre marks on […]
Flow reviews the new SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission The new SRAM GX Eagle Transmission arrives hot on the heels of the XX SL, XX and X0 groupsets that launched earlier this year. As you may have seen in our SRAM XX Eagle Transmission review, we’ve been mega impressed with the robustness and ease of […]
In late 2022, the wrath of La Nina was thoroughly unloaded on Victoria. Coming after what was already an extremely wet year, this latest atmospheric river left the State underwater. La Larr Ba Gauwa/Harcourt Park was battered, and the trail committee had to make the hard decision to close the park. “We had tunnel erosion […]
Tyre levers have had more or less the same design for as long as we’ve been riding bikes, but UK outfit Tru-Tension has a unique take on this essential tool. The premise behind the Tyre Monkey is rotating the handle 90 degrees, to allow a dual-sided head profile aiming to offer better ergonomics. One side […]
There is no doubt about it. We have entered an exciting age in the world of enduro bikes. The sport is growing exponentially with self-perpetuating momentum. Technology available on bikes is more refined and capable than ever, which is leading to a boom in the expanse and quality of trails exploding all over the world, […]
Get excited folks, because here we have the brand new 2023 Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite! Featuring an all-new frame and battery design that’s resulted in a huge weight reduction, this new electric mountain bike represents the biggest evolution yet since Giant first introduced the Trance X E+ in 2018. We’ve ridden all three […]
Manly Dam is one of the busiest bits of singletrack in Australia. Back in 2014, when Trailscapes did an upgrade, there were reports of up to 500 rides in a single day and about 150,000 per year. What’s even crazier is the vast majority of what has become known as the Manly Dam loop, takes […]
I first met the Flow team on a little escapade to Lake Mountain, having recently moved to the Victorian High Country, and since moving my life to Bright, Victoria I have fallen head first into the riding scene. I do seem to regularly fall victim to the “let’s see how much we can pack into […]
Back for its fourth running, the Reef to Reef is a four-day stage race taking in some of the best trails and hugely varied landscapes in Tropical North Queensland. Starting in Smithfield, the race runs up to Davies Creek, goes exploring around Mount Molloy and then returns to the coast via the infamous Bump Track. […]
As the little cousin to Reserve’s 30 SL carbon wheels, we’ve just received a set of their less expensive alloy hoops. Made from 6069 Aluminium with a 30mm internal rim width, they come in two versions, the HD, which have 32 holes, and the SL, which have 28 holes — these are the latter. Reserve […]
Sydney is a hard place for beginner mountain bikers to learn and gain confidence. Most of the terrain is steep, techy and slabby, and many of the existing trails are narrow, which can feel pretty daunting if you’ve never ridden off-road before. The new Wyatt Ave Bike Park on Sydney’s Northern Beaches has been designed […]
After a kickoff for the ages, the Quad Crown set sail in search of warmer weather, docking in South East Queensland with the promise of sunshine and rad trails. Lovingly named The Sunny 80, the Quad Crown team lined up three days of racing on the Sunshine Coast. With a stacked field of elites and […]
Mick recounts his epic week at the Reef to Reef “Who’s that silly guy wearing long pants? He must have juuuust stepped off the plane.” I arrived in Cairns for the third running of the Reef to Reef MTB, and I was delighted to be there. Leaving a very damp and dreary wintery Newcastle behind […]
Wil chats with Chris Cocalis about the new Pivot DH prototype During a recent trip to the US to test out the new Pivot Mach 4 SL, I had the opportunity to visit the Pivot Cycles HQ in Arizona. Located in Tempe, just outside of Phoenix, this new building became home to Pivot back in […]
Fresh off the press from the Specialized Turbo crew, the Levo Pro now comes with the latest and greatest SRAM Transmission. Since we first gave the 2022 Levo Pro a whirl on the cracking trails of Mount Buller, it’s become a solid part of our long-term test team, hanging out with Mick and acting as […]
Spanning just about from Devonport Esplanade— where the Spirit of Tasmania docks — most of the way to Mount Roland, The Wild Mersey trail network is finally complete. Located only about an hour from Launceston, Wild Mersey is a wide-ranging network with nearly 100km of varied trails and what amounts to three trail networks across […]
Not quite 19 years old, Lia Ladbrook is not one for half-measures. Her first race? She won it. First injury on the bike? She doubled the number of bones in her foot. First trip to Queensland? Brought home an Oceania Champs Jersey. What book is she currently reading? That would be Tolstoy’s War and Peace. […]
Westleigh, a suburb in Sydney’s North, is probably best known for being home to the house from the 1976 film Don’s Party. The sleepy suburb is surrounded by bushland and one of Sydney’s better-known trail centres, H2O. With about 9km of community-built trails, mountain bikers have been coming here since the 1980s, and it’s become […]
When it comes to off-road night riding, Exposure Lights has been around longer than most. An offshoot of USE (Ultimate Sports Engineering), Exposure Lights is well-known for its high-powered bike lights that utilise a fully self-contained design. There are no cables or external battery packs, and that keeps things compact and tidy, with less chance […]
At the end of October, Canyon revealed its KIS steering stabiliser. Designed in collaboration with Liteville and Syntace, founded by Jo Klieber. A widget anchors inside the top tube and uses steel springs and a high-stretch polymer cord that connects to a specially designed cam that clamps onto the fork steerer. At rest, it holds […]
After a successful kickoff in Tassie with The Wild Penguin, the Quad Crown is rolling into Queensland for its second stop, The Sunny 80, from June 9-11. Taking to the trails on the Sunshine Coast, the Quad Crown is looking to build on the success of its first event, course guru Liam McGuire gave us […]
Well-designed, trail-ready kids mountain bikes are few and far between. While the selection is getting increasingly better than even a few years ago, what’s on offer from Specialized, Trek, and Merida is limited to hardtails. Others like Giant, Commencal and Canyon have a few dual suspension options, but selection below a 26in wheel is slim. […]
Flow Mountain Bike is a small but mighty organisation bursting with enthusiasm and fresh ideas. As a rider-owned and independent mountain bike media outlet, we pour our hearts into creating engaging, inspiring, and authentic content for our readers. We are passionate about mountain biking and want to expand our reach, diversify our content and engage […]
Mobile phones are powerful computers these days. Combined with the right app, they can be a great tool for mountain biking. For those who want them, there are dedicated mounts like those from Quad Lock that make it easy to position your phone on the handlebars. But while that might be fine for commuting and […]
Wil reviews the 2024 Specialized Levo SL It was in early 2020 when the Specialized Levo SL made its thunderous debut. Purpose-built around a low-powered motor and a smaller battery, the Levo SL broke headlines thanks to its sleek looks and incredible sub-18kg weight. Sure, it wasn’t the first lightweight electric mountain bike on the […]
The Quad Crown finally received the kickoff it deserved, with riders from all over the country descending on Northern Tassie to take in the trails of Penguin and Wild Mersey. “The decision to postpone the race was not an easy one, and we definitely had all those little voices in our head,” says Event Director […]
So, what’s a gravel fondo, you may ask? Well, it’s basically a cycling event that takes place on unpaved or gravel roads in rural or remote areas. It’s not really a race unless you want it to be. It’s more about the experience of riding together in a safe and social way, with a mix […]
Colin and Jena review the 2023 Avanti Gran Durance 3 The Avanti Grand Durance is the Kiwi outfit’s answer to a drop bar bike that is ready for just about any adventure, and won’t require you to remortgage your house. The recently revamped frame sees tweaks to its geometry, leaning on well-established trends proven to […]
“Outside of World Tour Racing, the Life Time Grand Prix is probably the next most talked about series,” says Tasman Nankervis, one of three Aussies headed to the US to race the six-event series. Now in its second year, the Life Time GP has combined the most iconic off-road races on the North American racing […]
The landscape was black. A recent back-burning operation at First Turkey Mountain Bike Reserve had jumped its containment line, leaving the trails in an otherworldly state. As the sun started to peek over Mount Archer, soft morning rays began to trickle through the unburned canopy, bathing the ground in shades of yellow, orange and green. […]
At the start of March, the calm and quiet of Tenterfield in Northern NSW was upended when more than 800 riders headed for the small town for the second running of the Gravel n Granite. With seemingly endless empty country roads and fire trails, the event is run by the local mountain bike club, and […]
Derby has become the epitome of success in Australian mountain biking, and in 2023 played host to an exhilarating week of enduro racing, characterized by unpredictable weather maddening crowds and loose partying. I’m deeply fond of this town, not just for its spectacular trails, but also for the tight-knit community that pulsates within it. It’s […]
Italian brand Fizik has been manufacturing mountain bike shoes for well over a decade, but up until recently the range has been decidedly more focussed on the XC and trail side of the spectrum. That changed with the introduction of the Gravita shoe line, which as you can probably guess, is designed for gravity riding. […]
Trev & Jono review the 2023 Giant Reign Completely overhauled for 2023, the new Giant Reign is no doubt the most forward-thinking iteration yet. Featuring a new frame with internal storage, adjustable geometry and mullet compatibility, the Reign has received a lift in travel to better suit the demands of modern enduro racing. How does […]
Mick & Wil review the new SRAM XX Eagle AXS T-Type transmission After much teasing with plenty of planned and unplanned leaks, today sees the long-awaited arrival of the new generation SRAM XX Eagle AXS T-Type drivetrain. Well to be a bit more specific, there are three new drivetrains; X0, XX and XX SL. Oh, […]
Stage Racing has returned to Northeast Tassie with the Dragon Trail taking riders on an adventure following the Trail of the Tin Dragon. This path was travelled by Chinese immigrants who came to Tassie in 1870 to mine precious metals. Stretching from Branxholm to St Helens, the Trail of the Tin Dragon also happens to […]
The Great Ocean Road technically starts in Torquay, but you don’t actually see the ocean until you get to Anglesea. This coastal seaside town is working to add over 100km of singletrack. Anglesea currently has about 30km of existing XC trails and has hosted a stop of the Shifty Fifty series for a number of […]
Dramatic and stunning in every sense, the tiny island state of Tasmania has earned a global reputation as an adventure-lover’s playground. It’s home to some of the country’s — if not the World’s — most remarkable mountain biking destinations. Don’t let the small matter of the Bass Strait scare you away either. Just over an […]
Who doesn’t love taking a walk down memory lane? Even better — riding your bike really fast down memory lane. The Victorian High Country is built on the history of hunting for gold, nostalgic cross-country trails and just a nibble of that new-age machine-built flow. Connecting the renowned mountain bike towns of Beechworth and Yackandandah, […]
Wil reviews the Specialized S-Works Recon shoes The Specialized S-Works Recon is a brand new lightweight shoe that’s purpose-built for XC racing and gravel riding. Joining the existing S-Works Recon MTB and S-Works Vent EVO Gravel shoes, this latest model is no doubt the sleekest and lightest option out of the three. It’s also the […]
Zoe Cuthbert is a jack of all trades, and somehow, also master of them all. Cuthbert is taking podiums across every discipline in the mountain bike game, and she’s only just getting started at the sprightly age of 22. Taking out silver at the 2022 Commonwealth games XC and she’s the current Pump Track National […]
Jon Odams is fast. Like really fast. It doesn’t matter whether it’s on a big burley enduro bike, a svelte XC rig or even something with curly bars and skinning tyres — if it has two wheels and pedals, Odams is going to make it go fast. He’s a permanent fixture on the pointy end […]
Flow reviews the Merida One-Sixty No doubt about it, the Merida One-Sixty is one of the most exciting new bike launches for 2023. Why exactly? The latest One-Sixty has received some huge updates thanks to a brand new frame with a redesigned suspension platform. There’s a fresh approach to geometry and sizing, and it also […]
Although Kenny Racing is a brand that’s new to us here at Flow, the French company has actually been making performance apparel for the motocross market since 1991. More recently it’s stepped into the world of mountain biking, and currently offers a broad range that includes knee pads, goggles, full face helmets and riding kit. […]
When it comes to tubeless repair kits, Dynaplug is one of the most well-known names in the game. And for many good reasons. Featuring a high quality construction with metal tips, Dynaplugs are far easier to insert than a traditional tubeless tyre plug, and in our experience, they tend to be more reliable too. We […]
*This story has been updated with STT’s response to our request for comment We’ve known for a while that Sustainable Timbers Tasmania has been planning to log coupes near Maydena Bike Park. The coupe in question runs up against Maydena’s shuttle road but does not enter the bike park. Late last week, Simon French announced […]
Wil reviews the Giant Revolt X The Giant Revolt first arrived back in 2013, long before Gravel™ was really a thing. It was a progressive bike for its time, featuring disc brakes, wide tyres and dropped seatstays that made it a comfortable and practical road bike for riding across different surfaces. Fast-forward a decade, and […]
Justin & Dan review the Trek Rail Since it was introduced back in 2019, the Trek Rail has joined the likes of the Specialized Levo, Merida eOne-Sixty and Norco Sight VLT as one of the stalwarts of the Aussie e-MTB scene. Available in alloy and carbon across a wide range of price points, and powered […]
Flow reviews the Hope Tech 4 E4 brakes With over 25 years of experience manufacturing disc brakes out of its Barnoldswick factory in the UK, Hope Technology is well known for producing beautiful CNC machined components that place a strong emphasis on serviceability and long-term durability. Hope also anodises those components in-house, allowing it to […]
The EWS is back! Well, actually, it is now called the EDR, and it’s a part of the UCI World Cup. Regardless of the name, it means some of the world’s best gravity riders will descend on Tasmania to duke it out at Maydena from March 25 – 26 and Blue Derby from March 31 […]
Grab your curly bars and stretchy pants because the Beechworth Granite Classic is back from April 28-30. With four distances on courses designed by locals, there’s a range of extracurricular activities, a relaxed vibe and some great brewskis — an excellent way to spend a weekend in the Victorian High Country if you ask us. […]
Mountain biking around NSW, there is a huge variety of terrain, riding styles and trail networks. Sifting through the pile and figuring out where to go is a tough job, especially when trail gradings aren’t always apples to apples between locations. So we’ve put together a trusty guide on some of the best mountain bike […]
It seems like just yesterday we got the first teasers of Maydena Bike Park. Cryptic social media posts spoke of stepping into the wilderness with scenes of wild Tasmania terrain. That was five years ago. Crazy! And to celebrate its fifth birthday, Maydena Bike Park has released an ambitious Master Plan outlining its path for […]
What’s my ideal sag? How do I set up rebound damping? What volume spacers should I be using? There are a lot of questions when it comes to setting up the suspension on your mountain bike, and truth be told, there are a lot of answers out there. Of course every rider is different, and […]
Lithgow has always been known as a bit of an industrial hub, but the small town at the base of the Blue Mountains sits in the heart of some of Australia’s most beautiful terrain. It has a long history of 4WD and dirtbike adventuring, but despite the epic terrain, it hasn’t typically been a hot […]