"Let's Ride!" MTB Magazine 01/2015

A TRUE FREERIDER IN INTERVIEW 4 PLATFORM PEDALS IN TEST RIDING IN URAL MOUNTAINS WINTER CLOTHING HANDRACFTED SNOWBOARDS BIKE LIGHTS IN TEST ...and much more!

gallery short reviews

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FLAT PEDALS IN TEST

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RIDING IN URAL MOUNTAINS "GULLY" IN INTERVIEW VAUDE WINTER CLOTHING TEST

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CHERRYBOMB VIDEO SERIES

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MTB CENTER MAESTRAZGO

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BIKE LIGHTS TEST

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COVER

PHOTOGRAPHER: Alexej Fedorov RIDER: Jakub Reichhart LOCATION: Palatinate Forest, Germany

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Andrey Shevtsov RIDER: Dmitriy Egorov LOCATION: Cheget, Russia letsridemag.com | 7

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Jens Staudt - facebook.com/jensstaudtfoto RIDER: Lennart Keck LOCATION: Reutlingen, Germany „Sometimes the next powder track is closer then you think.

After a blizzard the hill behind the house changed into a playground for the big ones. Lennart doesn’t need his skis for carving - he just takes his mountainbike."

- Jens Staudt letsridemag.com | 9

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Hoshi Yoshida - whyex.com RIDER: Frank Schneider LOCATION: Germany letsridemag.com | 11

PHOTOGRAPHER: Evgeny Statsenko RIDER: Lex Averyanov - facebook.com/acidcrewmtb LOCATION: Kazan, Russia

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Andrey Shevtsov RIDER: Nic Pukhir in Cheget, Russia

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Nikolay Gulyaev - flickr.com/photos/koshika123 RIDER: Kirill Andreev LOCATION: Magnitogorsk, Russia letsridemag.com | 15

Dear Friends!

Winter is not yet over, but it’s hard to deny that sun is more often out and seem to stay longer each day! Although the cold and snowy weather’s days are numbered, we still would like to show you some interesting gear which you could find useful in a challanging later winter/early spring conditions. We also picked some exciting European enduro events and presented them in our 2015 race calendar. Among few other exciting articles and stories, we have an interview with a true freeride star Geoff Gulevich!

Have fun with browsing and have a great the upcoming season!

Alexej Fedorov

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TRAILS DE LUXE

Offering you 4 rounds with more than 20 km of MTB singletrack fun in the Ore Mountains: Taster Loop » 5,7 km · Border Trail » 15,8 km · Two Mountains » 16,2 km · Black Raven » 26,2 km

WWW.TRAILCENTER-RABENBERG.DE start of the season on April 4th 2015

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Lezyne Tool Rap 21 This functional multitool from Lezyne apart from the most wanted and useful tools like hex and Torx keys, flat and philips screwdrivers, spoke wrenches, chain breaker and tire lever has one more, really cool feature - an integrated mini 1 lumen LED light. Its body is made of CNC machined aluminum and is powered by two AG1 button cell batteries providing just enough illumination to make late evening emergency repairs easier to tackle. How often were you using your smartphone flashlight for that? Lezyne RAP 21 LED will get you sorted and save your phone's energy for more important things... like uploading your Strava activity.

Price: 35$ www.lezyne.com

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Alpinestars Stratus When it is cold outside and you don't have much desire to go biking it is very important to have appropriate clothes, no doubt about that. A pair of warm, wind and waterproof gloves are "a must have" piece of gear which can significantly improve your riding comfort and safety when conditions are nasty. We got a chance to try Stratus winter gloves from Alpinestars. Moisture wicking inner liner makes them really warm and comfortable to wear, but make sure you get the correct size - ours were slightly too small what caused our fingertips to freeze. Looser fit will create an "air pocket" which will work like another isolation layer. Reinforced material as well as palm tips covered with sticky silicone provide really good grip and control, whereas external microfiber fleece will come handy when wiping off dirt and sweat.

Recently enduro star Jerome Clementz has signed with Alpinestars, so you can surely expect new & improved products in their coming lineup.

Price: 40 $ www.alpinestars.com

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ION Ledge They are very unusual not only on the outside but also inside. All seams are externally set, which aims to improve the feel and comfort. Indeed, during our first ride we could notice a different feel than the one we were used to - in fact, it nearly felt like wearing no gloves at all. Apart from that, Ledge have a pretty tight fit so finding the right size can be tricky. They also proved to be pretty warm, even at temperatures oscillating around 0 degrees, making them a good choice for early spring riding.

Price: tba www.ion-products.com/bike

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KlickFix Phone Bag When going for a long, GPS assisted tour this all-weather proof phonebag from Klickfix can come very useful. It fits devices up to 7x12,5cm and is sturdily fastened on your handlebar using flexible steel band protected by rubber strips. Its quad adapter makes it easy to release with just a push of two buttons and also allows the position to be adjusted from horizontal to vertical in 10 degrees increments. Touchscreen worked flawlessly while in a bag, but the glossy finish caused light reflexes which notably reduced the visibility, even with a smartphone screen set to a highest brightness.

Price: 42â‚Ź www.klickfix.de

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Vaude Gravit Shoecover They are our first shoecovers. And they are great! While biking in the winter, it is OF COURSE extremely important to keep the body warm AND HAVING WARM FEET PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN YOUR OVERALL COMFORT. If you have no special winter shoes, then the warm shoecovers are a VERY good SOLUTION. Even if the feet were already cold, after you've put them on, YOU WILL SLOWELY START TO FEEL MORE COMFORT AND WARMTH. Yes, we admit, they are not THE MOST stylish ACCESSORY, especially IF YOU ARE A RESPECTED LOCAL DOWNHILLER, but it's better TO MAKE YOUR BUDDIES LAUGH THAN get sick or EVEN STAY HOME "because IT'S cold OUTSIDE". the ONLY drawback WE FOUND WERE too short VELCRO STRIPS which QUICKLY GOT DIRTY AND NO HOLDER HELD. Price: 55 € www.vaude.de

Lezyne Zecto Auto No matter if alone or together with friends, backlight is always necessary. With Zecto Auto you will be seen not only on the trail but also in traffic. It has 3 LEDs with performance of up to 20 Lumens and it can run for up to 7 hours. With a useful “clip on” system it is easy fixed on backpacks or clothes. You can save energy with the motion detector, which switches the light off after a few minutes standstill and reactivates in again when back in motion.

Price: 50§ www.lezyne.com

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29.03. - Sulistrowice (PL) 6.06. - Mieroszów (PL) 12.07. - Szklarska Poręba (PL) www.emtb.pl

29. - 31.05. Latsch/Südtirol (ITA) 20. - 21.06. TT to be confirmed (GER) 11. - 12.07.2015 Breitenbrunn (GER) 31.07. - 02.08. Kronplatz/Südtirol (ITA) 5 11.-13.09. Lenzerheide (CH) www.trailtrophy.eu

12.04. - Dabo (FR) 19.04. - Belfort (FR) 17.05. - Mollau (FR) 06.09. - Guebwiller 13.09. - Saint-Die (FR) www.cannondale-endurotour.com

15. - 17.05. - Maribor (SLO) 19. - 21.06. - Schladming (AUT) 10. - 12.07. - Les 2 Alpes (FRA) 24. - 26.07. - Pila (ITA) 14. - 16.08. - Spicak (CZE) 18. - 20.09. - Leogang (AUT) www.ixsdownhillcup.com

09.05. - Glencoe, Scotland (UK) 13. - 14.06. - Vallée D'Aure, Pyrenees (FRA) 19. - 20.09. - Delémont, Jura (CH) 17. - 18.10. - Castelbuono, Sicily (IT) www.bluegrasseagle.com

18. - 19.04. - Treuchtlingen (GER) 02. - 03.05. - Riva del Garda (ITA) 13. - 14.06. - Willingen (GER) 18. - 19.07. - Samerberg (GER) 01. - 02.08. - Schöneck (GER) 19. - 20.09. - Leogang (AUT) www.enduroseries.net

28.03. - GIANT To a Rotorua Enduro, Crankworx Rotorua (NZ) 24.05. - Chain Reaction Cycles Enduro, County Wicklow (IR) 30-31.05. - Tweed Love, Tweed Valley (SCO) 18-19.07 - Samoens Enduro World Series driven by Urge Bike Products (FR) 31.07-02.08 - Yeti Cycles Big Mountain Enduro by Shimano, Crested Butte (USA) 09.08 - SRAM Canadian Open Enduro, t Whistler (CAN) 25- 27.09 - Enduro Festival Zona Zero, Zona Zero Ainsa Sobrabe (ESP) 03-04.10 - Superenduro powered by SRAM, Finale Ligure (IT)

20. - 21.06. Bad Endbach (GER) 04. - 05.07. Wildschönau (GER) 08. - 09.08. Dünsberg (GER) 22. - 23.08. Ochsenkopf (GER) 05. - 06.09. Wipperfürth (GER) www.enduro-one.com

www.enduroworldseries.com

11. - 12.04. Enduro 3 Camini, Trst (ITA) 16. - 17.05. Enduro Cerkno, Cerkno (SLO) 27. - 28.06. Enduro Bovec, Bovec (SLO) 24. - 26.07. Black Hole Enduro, Prevalje (SLO) 05. - 06.09. Kamplc Enduro, Ajdovščina (SLO) 17. - 18.10. Enduro Grožnjan (CRO) www.sloenduro.com

01. - 04.05 - La Endura, Krasnodar (RU) 09. - 10.05 - Alushta Super D#1, Alushta (RU) 21. - 23.05. - Velogearance Cup, Moscow (RU) 04. - 06.06. - Igora Bike Weekend , St.Peterburg (RU) 23. - 25.07. - Jalgora Race, Ptrozavodsk (RU) 29. - 30.08. - Raspberry Enduro, Nizhniy Novgorod (RU) 05. - 08.10. - Alushta Cup D#2, Alushta (RU) www.enduromtb.ru

TESTED BY: Alexej Fedorov & Robert Lieske LOCATIONS: tours, trails, local DH-Tracks PHOTOGRAPHERS: Alexej Fedorov & Phil Sauder

Choosing flat pedals, OR ANY pedals aCTUALLY seems to be a very personal issue. Weight, price and looks are the main criterias to be considered, but the multiplicity of available options make the final choice really hard to make.

We tested four completely different sets in order to answer what makes “the ultimate flat pedal”.

Each pair have been ridden by both of our testers and to make things more interesting we will confront below their final opinions.

ALEXEJ "I started riding with flat pedals and switched to clicks only in 2014. The real difference I experienced at enduro races where flats are a really rare sight. Starting this test it was very surprising and strange to put my feet on flats again, I was constatly trying to “click out” and couldn’t instantly get used to being so easily “disconnected” from the bike. It was however also a great experience which showed me how significantly pedals influence the riding style. I rode with the 5.10 Dirtbag shoes.

ROBERT "I’m riding MTB for over 10 years now and I never used something different then flat pedals. All the models I tested provided satisfying level of grip when paired with my 5.10 Elements VXi shoes, so to pick the best one I had to really look into the details.“

XPEDO SPRY WEIGHT (measured): 260g (264g)

PLATFORM SIZE: 106x100x11mm

PINS PER PEDAL: 14 (exchangable)

COLORS: GOLD, black, red, white, silver

BODy/AXLE MATERIAL: MAGNESIUM/Cro-mo

INSTALLATION: 8mm allen key or 15mm wrench

BEARINGS: 2 sealed cartridge

price: $80 www.xpedo.com

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ALEXEJ

ROBERT

Visually they look - at least to my taste - pretty neat, however, maybe due to the tender red color at first impression they looked like made of plastic. Of course they aren’t, and thanks to their magnesium body they are very light, but this material has its drawback which should not be ignored, especially by aggressive riders - relatively lower stiffness and durability than the aluminium. Despite good properties on paper, compared with the other pedals in the test Spry proved to have the weakest grip. I would recommend them for tours and light enduro riding where grip and rigidity could be sacrificed for the sake of light weight. Relatively simple construction makes XPEDO easy to maintain. However, to disassemble we had to shorten our allen key, otherwise we wouldn’t get to the main bolt fixing the body to the axle.

Of all the pedals I tested XPEDO along with HT are the flattest, which is a good thing. When it comes to looks, the red option looks appealing but the paint right from the very first ride started to peel off. An anodic coating would be here definitely a better, more durable solution. When riding in easy terrain Spry provide sufficient grip, but when trail is getting more rough and bumpy they come close to their limit, due to few broadly located pins.

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REVERSE BLACK ONE WEIGHT: 309

PLATFORM SIZE: 100x100x14.5mm

PINS PER PEDAL: 20 (exchangable)

COLORS: black / pins: gold, red, blue, green, orange, purple

BODy/AXLE MATERIAL: ALLOY/Cro-mo

INSTALLATION: 8mm allen key

BEARINGS: 2 sealed INDUSTRIAL

price: €120 www.reverse-components.com

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ALEXEJ

ROBERT

I have ridden other models from Reverse - Escape and Trail Seeker, but the Black ONE definitely have better grip out of them all and also look more impressive. Grip is provided by continously threaded pins, which as I learned from experience may cause some difficulties when replacing. On the trail they offer perfect amount of grip, but also allowing a little margin for hassle-free foot position adjustment. In my opinion the Black ONE are the best allrounder, offering a very good compromise between price, weight and grip. Their axle and bearing design is relatively uncomplicated making all needed maintanance hassle free.

Neatly and precisely crafted, lightweight and with low profile. Good looking too, especially our black body and red anodized pins option. On trail performance is top notch - the level of grip is very secure and confidence inspiring even on really rough trails, but when needed they also provide a little bit of margin allowing you to adjust position without lifting your foot from the pedal. In my opinion Reverse is the best allrounder in our test.

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HT KA01 (Kevin Aiello Signature) WEIGHT: 430G

PLATFORM SIZE: 106x111x11mm

PINS PER PEDAL: 22 (exchangable)

COLORS: GREEN, BLUE, SILVER, BLACK, RED

BODy/AXLE MATERIAL: ALLOY/Cro-mo

INSTALLATION: 8mm allen key

BEARINGS: 2x DU Bushing/Pat.Bearing

price: $190 www.ht-components.com

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ALEXEJ

ROBERT

Beautifully CNC machined, low profile, wide, quite heavy and surely indestructible! At least that’s the impression they make right oout the box. Looking at their platform size you can assume tthat Kevin Ailello has a huge feet. As a result HT’s provide unreal amount of grip, their sharp pins once pounded in your sole won’t let your foot slip even by a milimeter.

Visually it's my absolute favorite, but weight and especially enourmous grip are a bit too much for the “average Joe” riding some enduro. Good choice for downhillers and freeriders though. HT’s built is more complicated and regular service can be tricky, watch out for many small parts! For this assembly you need 8mm allen key.

With 430g per pair they are the heaviest option in our test, but it also one with the biggest body and definitely the most original looks. Beautifally CNC machined details and flashy anodized blue color makes you want to keep them safe and home and present rather as a piece of engineering art. However, when put into nasty trail conditions they prove to have way more to offer than just the looks. Thanks to their big platform the grip is just enourmous, but any position adjustments can’t be done without lifting the feet. Unfortunately, the HT’s price tag of 190€ sets them way above the reasonable price I would consider spending on a pair of pedals which suffer nothing but a hard beating on the trail.

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ACROS A-FLAT MD WEIGHT: 342g

PLATFORM SIZE: 100x98x18mm

PINS PER PEDAL: 16 (exchangable)

COLORS: black, red, blue

BODy/AXLE MATERIAL: ALLOY/Cro-mo

INSTALLATION: 6mm allen key

BEARINGS: R2 SEALED

price: €75 www.acros.de

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ALEXEJ

ROBERT

For the first time I heard about Acros pedals few years ago when they came out to the market, but until now I have only seen them on the pictures. They appear to be quite bulky and their arrow shape doesn’t really convince my taste. Despite the smallest body they proved to have a very good grip and performed really well on the trail. I wish however for for more narrow profile, a bit more sophisticated look, ideally without fully threaded pins - but that’s just a personal preference. All in all they are a good pedals for hard allmountain riding. Simple construction makes them easy to service and to break them apart you only need allen keys in size 6 & 8. To our surprise we haven’t found “Left/Right” markings on them!

A really “spartan” looking option with its arrow shape and simple built. To my not much appealing. Despite relatively small number of pins (8 per side), they provide a good grip you can trust. However, finding that “sweet spot” for your feet is not instinctually achieved, what can be annoying when you are often going “foot out-flat out” and then try to step hard on the pedals.

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CONCLUSION All of the tested pedals offer a STEADY platform for having fun but also playing safe on your bike. For many riders THE price is the deciding factor, but with plenty options on the market it is really not hard to find a one which offers good compromise between the pricetag and performence.

From our test “the best value for money” is offered by Acros and Reverse, but when we would have some extra money to spend and wanted to give our machine that uniqe “bling-bling” effect we would go for HT. The XPEDO, although offering a reasonable price, in our opinion is a perfect choice for trail riding and someone with smaller feet.

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Mรกs allรก del cielo.

Beyond the Sky

Adventure story by Daniel Rodriguez

My name is Daniel Rodriguez and I am from Argentina, born in the city of Avellaneda, a province of Buenos Aires. I am a passionate cyclist of abandoned places and great challenges that must be faced when traveling alone in unexplored surroundings. During the year I travel adventure-seeking with my friends, but in order to get my time off work, I sit down at the map and start my search for a new challenge, which can last more than 20 days riding. That’s how this story starts ...

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I had heard many stories about a place called Altas Cumbres located in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, an amazing place where you feel dwarfed by the immensity of the mountains, with a maximum height of 2400 m (7874 ft). The imagination of being there alone gives me creeps. Frankly, I had no experience in shooting in such heights and seeing the route on the map - I’m not going to lie - I was afraid but I’d never renounce to fulfill this dream of touching the sky with my hands.

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I did not want to head off just seeing that one place, so I decided to go to the province of San Luis after making my way through Córdoba, enlisting my faithful companion, a Vairo 8.5 XR, and without hesitation got myself on that track. The sun, rain, wind and cold were my companions throughout this trip, my luggage, about 35 kg (77 lbs), made it even more challenging.. I rolled for 12 hours straight to reach the highest point. The clouds over the road reduced visibility to less than 10 meters. Wet and cold, weariness came over me, I had to get off my bike and walk for a few miles. No combination could make the climb easier and more comfortable. The rising tiredness and the view of a road reaching endless into the clouds made it hard to not renounce.

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I thought it would never end and when the sun set and the night rose, I felt a bit despaired. The environment of the mountains passed by, being covered in mist as if I was in a ghost town. By nightfall, I finally reached El Condor and was faced with the abandoned historical hotel “El Condor� built in 1939 on the old dirt road of the high peaks. That’s when I remembered the history of Antolin who walked like a ghost and took care of each aisle of the old hotel, receiving nostalgic and curious looking to relive a bit of the history of this giant.

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I stayed in the hostel over night to get some rest and on the next day I went to the hotel to see the inside of it. I could not leave this amazing place without seeing the 24 giant rooms. Everywhere were thick walls, marble and stone stairs.

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I can recommend you to listen to the story told by the only person living there. Regardless of these more than 70 years of neglect, he still takes care of the hotel like in the times he worked there. I can just invite you to visit this old historical hotel that looks a bit lost in between the immensity of the Pampa Achala. With a heart full of beautiful memories I moved on to my next destination, beginning a new exciting story of my travel adventures.

I invite you to follow me on my second part of my adventure on: www.ruedaaldestino.blogspot.com

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TEXT: Alexander Sherbakov PHOTOS: Artjem Valeev

Most people think that a bike is not for the winter, however we are convinced that the opposite is true.

With good endurance and appropriate weather conditions you can be at least as fast on two wheels as on a pair of ski. Unfortunately, we were not lucky in terms of “appropriate weather conditions” as you will soon find out.

Taganai - the most beautiful National Park in the Ural Mountains, located near the city Chelyabinsk. We have been here before dozens of times. It's a place you want to go back again and again and the weather station is our favorite spot there. A wonderful area with unique nature! Mountains, tundra, stormy wind, meadows with blueberries and cranberries in the fall. There, you are always very welcome, because few other people ever get there, let alone riders. Especially in December!

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Meteo Station - the most distant resting place in Taganai.

You “only” have to manage 25 Km. At first glance it’s just a little something for experienced riders but when it comes to riding in rough terrain, you start to count the distance not in kilometers but in seconds. We expected the ride to last around 3 hours - twice as fast as by foot. But the weather had other plans for our “light” trip.

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We started very motivated, kept good pace, drifting in the snow, enjoying the trail and brilliant warm weather. We quickly caught up with the skiers who started half an hour ahead of us and could not understand their benefits because they were slow and were wasting a lot of strength and energy. With this in mind, we rode about 6km and the further we came into the forest, the deeper and deeper the snow became. At that moment we remembered the skiers! Kept on going became more difficult with every meter. We constantly struggled with our bikes. we were barely moving , but suddenly we had a brilliant idea that actually worked very well - We let some air out of the tires. Suddenly everything was a lot easier, the bike ran much more safe and efficient. While finding the right air pressure, we were overtaken by the skiers. What a heavy blow for a biker’s self-esteem! But soon after the trail went downhill so we were able to enjoy ourselves again. Especially as we passed the skiers again!

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Now we went to the hardest and longest ascent of the mountain called “Wide Overhead Taganai”. The meteorological station was reached only with the lamplight. “Far lying Taganai” greeted us with a blizzard and the lamplight barely reached for a maximum of 3 meters. The host Pavel had been informed by radio that two “cool” bikers would arrive and he welcomed us with the traditional hot tea. Our first day was over.

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It was snowing all night long! Guess what we saw when we came out the door the next morning!? The path was gone!

Buried under snow! You could only guess where it had been the day before. We were standing in snow that reached up to our bellies. Here the sad part began - we had to slide downhill.

Up to half of the way back, everything was very bland and we could barely move. Suddenly out of nowhere a snowmobile came along! “You are our savior!� - we shouted. On the hard snow it was much easier to ride and up until the exit of the National Park, we were able to enjoy it again.

Eventually our little snow adventure came to an end.

There are still a lot of interesting routes left to discover, but one thing we know for sure - we will be back at the weather station, if not by bike, then by foot!

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Lively design, sophisticated engineering and high-quality boards have been their passion for over three years now. Steinboc develops their snowboards in the north of the Black Forest near Calw. Their team consists of a designer, three engineers, a medical student and an artist, who contribute their diversity of skills making Steinboc a very special brand.

Âť

Their team is brought together by the passion for nature, engineering and snowboarding itself. The reference to the animal ibex (Steinbock) illustrates not only the fact that their snowboards will prove themselves in difficult terrain and under extreme conditions but also emphasizes their connection to the mountains. Design, science, art and handcraft are combined due to our different fields of study while comprehensive skills form new ideas and solutions. The results are creative products with personality – made especially for unforgettable adventures in the mountains. They think outside the box by creating extraordinary and undiscovered paths – not only in the design but also by staying true to their philosophy: Break out and discover new paths!

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At the end of 2011 the six friends came together for the first time with the intention to build their own snowboard. In their workshop they milled and glued, they bended steel edges, soaked carbonfibers and built forms until they finally held their own prototypes in their hands. They are constantly testing and improving their snowboard always aiming to offer an innovative and very light product. This is and will be their concept – now and in the future. They didn’t change anything of this principle until today. Their snowboards are produced in small units in cooperation with a quality manufacturer from Austria focusing on every little detail to create perfection.

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They are proud to present you the first Steinboc Board this winter 2014/2015.

For more info follow them on Fb: https://www.facebook.com/Steinboc Engineered in Germany - Produced in Austria! www.Steinboc.com

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Breakout 27.5" USAGE: All Mountain / Enduro CONDITIONS: Dry to Wet / Hardpack to Loam

Big, All Mountain fun. The Breakout’s large and in charge casing rides far faster than its girth suggests. Fast rolling belts of center tread meet oversized side knob incisors for a harmonious pairing of speed and cornering. Want to end every ride with a smile undeniably plastered to your mug? Slap on a set of Breakouts, fun comes in size large.

wtb.com

It‘s all about the ride...

Despite his still young age he is an absolute legend, at least for us. Young generation of riders may not know much about the origins of freeriding documented by classic movies like "North Short Extreme" or "Kranked", but Geoff has been there all along, LEARNING FROM STARS LIKE WADE SIMMONS. HE GREW from the roots of freeride to become one of the most photographed and filmed allaround riders in the sport.

PHOTOS: ALE DI LULLO

ABOUT

10-15 years ago we experienced a boom of freeriding which brought many new talents like Steve Romaniuk or Tyler Klassen into the spotlight.

Now you are one of the very few which are still active on the scene and manage to live from the passion for bikes. How did you do what? Was it a pure luck or hard work and well thought out plan?

Yes, a lot of very talented people have come and gone… I don’t think it was so much luck or a plan. I am

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truly passionate about riding and sharing my experiences and I think people can see that. The consumer enjoys seeing people who are truly passionate about there careers being on the front lines for the industry.

This passion definitely worked in my favour.

Did you want to be Pro Rider from the very beginning?

I knew I wanted to ride bikes all my life. The fact I am able to do it as a profession is just the icing on the cake.

Do you still feel like a true

freerider after all those years?

I absolutely do feel like a true freerider. Nothing gets me more excited to get out and explore new terrain on my bike… aside from when my lady tells me to get home right away… that makes me pretty happy also…

What is freeride for you anyway?

Freeride is an individuals interpretation of any terrain. They way they choose to ride it on their terms.

Does Slopestyle in your opinion has still something in common

with the “original Freeride”? Do you find its development good?

Competitions need structure to make judging fair. I think SS has taken on its own identity and doesn’t relate too much to freeride anymore. However, Freestyle/ Slopestyle is unreal and i enjoy it, it is not freeride anymore. I can’t deal with set dates and drop in times….

That’s not me anymore. I’ve always wanted to ride when I wanted to ride and that’s that…

What is Red Bull Rampage for you?

Rampage is ferried. Having the freedom to truly create your own track is pretty awesome. It is the hardest 10 days of the year. Find it,

build it, test it and conquer it in 10 days.

What has changed there since your first start in this event?

It is becoming too commercialized in my opinion. It is a good thing for the sport to be broadcast worldwide but the cooperation with TV, media and weather definitely creates a tense atmosphere that can be unnerving.

What form of competition or event find you the most attractive these days?

I’m pretty stoked on the whole FEST series and Nine Knights events. Big jumps and chill vibes definitely attracts my style.

Well, you are not getting any

younger and recently we can see you more and more often on the all-mountain bike. Are you intentionally getting more calm or do you still intend do push your limits as long as it is possible?

Definitely intend to still push the limits. All Mountain bikes are just becoming so so capable and gas prices are becoming so so expensive, it has become more fun to pedal to the destination to descend the gnarly terrain. Because I am getting older and wish to keep this sexy body as is! hahaha How do you see the future of Freeride? What would you change there if you could have a bigger impact on it?

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I

enjoy seeing where freeride is going.

Turning into adventure stories and create content that the consumers could try to reach one day, opposed to the world’s biggest move that the viewer would see and be like “that’s cool, I’ll never do that… so whatever…”

What can we expect from you in 2015? have you got some exciting movie projects or trips planned for this year? or maybe some contests?

Lots on the plate already…

Shooting my “builder” seggy, will be traveling a ton but i need to keep some projects under wraps as of now.

You can definitely expect to see me at Crankworx, Bearclaw’s, Nine Knights and Rampage.

Not long ago you have visited Czech Republic. How did you like it there? Whose idea was to go there?

I loved the Czech, great food, beer and people. The riding was incredible… It was Gaspi’s idea to do the trip and I would love to come back and do it again!

It was not your first time in Europe. How do you like it in general? What is your favourite spot to ride?

I’m in Europe for a few months every year. I wasn’t used to it and didn’t enjoy that much when i was younger, however, i have grown to love Europe and thoroughly enjoy my visits over seas. Honestly, I don’t think I can pick a single spot in Europe. I am always taken to new zones and love it.

What is the biggest difference in your opinion between riding here and in Kanada?

Not too much. When you’re on the bike, it’s all pretty similar aside from

the languages you hear.

We really like the video “Couples’ Ride” with Darcy Turenne. How did this project came about? How was it to work with Darcy?

Hahaha we were on a Dakine shoot and kept complaining about riding with spouses. We came up with the rough idea together but in the end Darcy scripted and produced the project. It was a delight to work with Darcy again, she is a gem!

Which in your opinion is the best film project you took part in?

I don’t know… Definitely great working with FreeRide entertainment and AntHill but working on projects with Friends like Gaspi or the Chasing Summer crew also can’t be compared to anything.

What was the craziest thing you did for your sponsors? Maybe some crazy photoshooting or dirt jumping naked?

There have been some silly shoots that have gone down before.

Nothing naked, i hope to keep it that way…

How did you start riding bikes anyway?

My older Brother and his friends were all into riding and I always wanted to hang out with the big boys. Then it went mental from there.

Which role models you had at the early stage of your career?

For sure it was Simmons, Schley, Tippie, Watson and Shandro.

Are there any riders you still admire?

Absolutely. All of them are still very active riders aside from Watson…

He just fell off the face of the planet a few years back.

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at home?

There are a lot of good folks to ride with at all. If I am even home… I usually go with whoever calls me first that day! …and with whom you would love to ride but had no chance so far?

Heidi Klum. Our schedules just haven’t lined up… such a shame…

Which was the hardest jump or trick you’ve ever done? What made it so difficult and where was it?

I think the hardest jump to wrap my head around was a big drop on the shore. 35ft down through the trees and a completely blind take off.

Called the Toonie drop.

What was your most scary moment on the bike?

Rampage 2013 when i was coming short off of the Oakley sender and had to bail off the bike from 45 ft. up. Was not my favourite moment…. I had accepted that i was dead…

Have you got any tips for us, simple mortals how to overcome the fear? i always say, trust your gut. No one knows you like yourself.

Did you have moments when you wanted to give up MTB? If so, how often and what at the end kept you on the bike?

I think everybody has had these moments… It is definitely not often.

When things got to stressful or a stupid injury hits you start feeling negative and bad thoughts like “why do i even do this” start going through your head. When that happens, often the best call is to step away or take a breather until you get that desire to ride again.

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felt.

Why do you grow beard? Face protection? Aerodynamics?

I think it’s because I am Canadian… I just love being outside and I hate shaving…. I have a beard because I dislike shaving… makes me think of office slavery, in a suit and in front of a computer…. ewww…

Rocky Mountain Flatline has been discontinued but we know that new prototype is being developed.

Do you have any input in the design process?

I would give majority of the rider input to Thomas Vanderham. He is a particularly picky individual.

That’s what it takes to design the best weapon. It’s a gift that Vanderham has, to feel out a bike and know exactly what is happening and how to change it.

How close is your relationship with Rocky Mountain?

I have a beautiful relationship with RMB and love the people i get to work with. In fact, as soon as I am done this interview, I’m going to go down to the office to have a coffee with the Marketing crew. …and how did it happen that you ride for them? have they picked you or did you have to convince them to take you on board?

Funny story, I actually approached them when I was 14-15… They declined then but when I was 19, Simmons and Hestler actually approached me for RMB because there was no Team Manager at the time. Honestly, I think that was the greatest phone call I have ever received. Changed my life and I owe Andreas Hestler and Wade Simmons my career for giving me a second chance in the industry after

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I injured myself at 18 and Gabe Fox at Cove bikes flicked me.

RM has with you, Wade, Brett and Thomas a real Dream Team. How often do you guys ride together?

Are you also friends “outside of biking”?

We all get along very well outside of biking. All sports enthusiasts and fun people. We don’t get to ride as much together on our own time as we would like. The Boys have families and schedules of their own so its undertandable but when we do get together….. oh boy, watch out!

How many bikes do you own and which one is your “weapon of choice”?

I have 5-6 bikes running at all times. I’d say the Altitude is my bike of choice… It’s just so capable…. If I had only one….. Altitude!

What is the most special thing about it/them?

It’s perfect.

Do you have any special preferences about components or the frame? Are there some secret tweaks on your bikes?

I like a big stiffer of a setup than your average joe, for jumping.

How tall and heavy are you?

180cm tall and 79kg.

Are you often recognised by strangers or challenged by young guns in the bike parks? Is it annoying?

Yeah I get noticed pretty regularly, I don’t find it annoying at all. I think back to when I was a young guy running into people I looked up to. If they took the time to say hi, sign an autograph or just chat, they were a hero to me. I don’t really get challenged when I show up to bike parks… Usually the kids letsridemag.com | 81

just get quiet, sit and watch until you crack some dumb joke or start conversation.

What are you up to when you are not riding?

I snowboard and ski, hike a ton, lots of yoga… name a sport, I love to do it…

Do you have a girlfriend? Does she ride too?

I do have a girlfriend. She does not ride and I think I prefer it that way…. I would be too nervous to see her crash…

What would you do if you wouldn’t be a Pro Rider?

I would be an athlete for sure… no doubts…

Can you make music or play some instrument?

Hahaha only thing I play is my iPod. Your favourite drink?

Stout beers or Scotch.

Where does your surname come from?

Gulevich is very Ukranian.

Would you consider a bike trip in Russia?

I have considered it and would love to come. The opportunity just hasn’t come up yet.

Any wise words for our readers?

You need to do what makes you happy. Life is too short to entertain everybody.

Follow Geoff on Facebook: facebook.com/GeoffGulevich

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FOOD Ingredients: chinese noodles, fresh broccoli, half onion, fresh parsley, some mushrooms (we used frozen porcini), salt, pepper, olive oil.

Preparation: while the noodles are being cooked, fry the onion, broccoli and mushrooms in the olive oil. After 3-5min the noodles should be done and can be mixed with all other ingredients. Don't forget the salt and pepper and let everything cook for 3-5 more minutes. Before serving, scatter the parsley over ever everything.

This dish is not only quick to be made after riding your bike, but also great to bring along on your next trip.

The broccoli contains a lot of protein whereas the noodles cater for the calories. In only 15 minutes you can prepare this tasty and healthy dish!

DRINK Coke and other soft drinks are so yesterday!

There's a Hamburg-based company putting emphasis on natural ingredients as well as Fairtrade. Moreover, they support many social project. The tasty lemonade called "Lemon-Aid" comes in three different flavour - lime, blood orange and passion fruit. They also have in offer "Chari Tea" available in four different flavours - black, green, red and Mate which contains caffeine. We liked the refreshing lime LemonAid, as well as the Chari Tea Mate most! www.charitea.com | www.lemon-aid.de

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TRAINING Right after getting up in the morning or when having a break during the day, we recommend doing some push-ups! This simple excercise trains your breast and shoulder muscles which you use a lot when riding your bike. Depending on how far your spread your arms, yout train different groups of muscles. The way you move while doing your push-ups resembles the way you absorb the bumpy terrain while riding.

MUSIC Music play an important role in our life and can influence us a lot. There are two records you should definitely listen to, either while riding or just chilling on the sofa. We especially loved them while riding!

"Smoke + Mirros" von Imagine Dragons www.deezer.com/album/9659728 "My Type" von Saint Motel www.deezer.com/album/8887693

VIDEO Darcy Turenne played and active role in the bike scene for a long time. Only recently she became more and more absent. Now we know the reasons behind this - Darcy occupies herself with filming great videos! have a look at them and see for your self! www.hellodarcy.com

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ACTION PICTURES BY JOHANNES GAUDER - WWW.NACONA.DE

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WINTER TROUSERS & JACKET We recently were given the chance to test some winter clothes from the German manufacturer VAUDE. Some time ago we already tried some light shorts and a jacket FROM them and were quite happy with it, now this time around we tested the Qimsa Softshell Pants and the Takeshi Softshell Jacket.

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QIMSA TROUSERS At first glance, the clothes make a very good impression. With regard to the finish there is little to complain. The pants have two side pockets which offer space for small items or simply for warming your hands a bit. The size (we tested 50 / M) can be adjusted without any problems thanks to the hip velcro. The Qimsa generally fits pretty tight without feeling uncomfortable. Another benefit are the abrasion-resistant reinforcements at the inner leg and butt which protect you quite well from dirt and moisture. Down to -2 degrees (luckily it was not much colder when we tested the pants) I wore some long johns under the Qimsa Softshell Pants without freezing and was able to do tours up to 1000 metres of height without sweating . In addition, reflecting safety stripes are placed on the sides of the pants thus you can be seen well in the traffic.

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TAKESHI JACKET It has two zipped pockets which are perfectly adequate for gloves and your mobile phone.

I liked it pretty well but on the inside I missed a pocket for the music player with a headphones cutout. At the end of the sleeves extra inlays made of neoprene can be found. This little feature will protect you from snow and cold wind. In the hoody there is a hidden face mask a very useful gimmick we liked a lot. Down from both sides are cords to make the jacket tighter and thereby more comfortable. Just like the pants the Takeshi has reflecting safety stripes on the back. While testing it, a seam on the pocket zipper unfortunately ripped open leaving us a bit concerned about the rigidity of used materials.

TROUSERS The pants fit very pleasantly and do not interfere with the biking. Unfortunately in our opinion there is a huge disadvantage: the pants leave no space for knee protectors. Another drawback is the ventilation - it could be much better. On a positive note the material as well as finish proved to be very robust surviving few harsh crashes with no damage at all.

JACKET For me personally the sleeves were a little too long and now and then they we're getting caught on handlebars. The hoody fits over a helmet which is awesome when it's raining or when it is colder, but still, the hoody could be a one tiny bit bigger. The jacket itself indeed is windproof, but not really breathable. Proper ventilation holes or the possibility of extracting zips to ventilate it would be nice.

If you sweat while going uphill and then take a short break before going down again you immediately start to freeze in colder weather. Otherwise the jacket would be optimal for longer winter trips.

However,I am sure that it will work pretty well on colder spring and autumn rides.

Presented Vaude clothing thanks to the good finish and wearing comfort can safely be recommended as reliable and good peforming winter gear, although some features such as ventilation, space for kneepads or the size of the hoody are up for discussion. Durable materials give the confidance that hard AM or Freeride riding with occasional crashes will not do much harm to them. The jacket thanks to its casual look is also suitable for everyday use.

- hoody little too small - not enough space for kneepads - ventilation is not sufficient + high quality finish + robuste Material + very good in keeping warmth + perfect length sleeves + abrasion-resistant reinforcments in the pants Qimsa trousers: 130 €, available in blue or grey Takeshi jacket: 150 €, available in blue, grey, gold www.vaude.com

Wade Simmons

BEST BIKE BACKPACKS www.evocsports.com Photography: Margus Riga

Brett Tippie

THE NORTH SHORE

Cherry

BOMB Pavel "Vishneviy" Alekhin dropping new video series

Words: Pavel "Vishneviy" Alekhin Photographer: Alex Bivol

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Back in the days together with my good friend Alex Bivol we started shooting our first home videos. A lot of time has passed since then and this time around our plan was to produce something different, something more extraordinary. You can come across very simple clips on the internet day by day, however our plan was to produce clips that tell the full story and let you glimpse behind the scenes of a rider’s life telling about his adventures in greater depth. This can rarely be found online and that’s why Alex came up with the idea of shooting the first episode at one of the most extreme shows called “Masters of DIrt”. Our first video received lots of views as well as much positive feedback by an avid audience which encouraged us to continue shooting. So far we successfully published three episodes.

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The upcoming episode 4 tells all about my heavy hip injury and some curiosities in my life that came along with it. This episode is one of my favorites; working on it was so much fun, especially for me since I only had to be myself whereas Alex was always working on the shootings with some seriousness. From February 22nd on, the new episode 4 can be found online!

Follow Pavel on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PavelVishneviy Follow Pavel on Pinkbike: www.pinkbike.com/u/alekhin There all episodes of the Cherrybomb Series can be found!

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Text: David Cachon Pictures: Ismael Ibáñez

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Sometimes we don’t have to go far to make great discoveries.

We always try to look as far as our eyes or pocket allows us, but often we do not realize that there are great places within our own borders. This is it like in the area of Maestrazgo, a very interesting spot to lose yourself on the bike and explore beautiful surroundings, reservoirs and trails. For all this, the guys from BTT Maestrazgo Center have prepared everything to successfully tackle what Teruel area has to offer.

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The Comarca del Maestrazgo boasts an enormous and varied natural heritage where you can learn much from the two wheels of your bike rolling through the paths that exist there.

Much of this land is declared a Site of Community Interest (SCI) and Special Protection Area (SPA), in addition to four natural monuments. An extensive network of footpaths or small routes (PR) will approach highlights of this landscape: the source of the River Pitarque, The Crystal Caves Molinos, The Natural bridge Fonseca, The Way of the pylons, The route of the Dry Stone or Winter Camino del Pozo. On top of that nature highlights you will find some ancient bridges, mills, chapels, farmhouses, fortified towers, monumental trees, etc.

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Among the 16 municipalities of the region, 8 have a Historical statement. Walking through the streets you will find beautiful places with renovated palaces, churches, walls and gates, cobbled streets, castles, and other elements of architectural and cultural heritage. Those who know the burdensome history of our people, marked by two important historical periods: Templar's time domain during the XIII century and the Carlist Wars of the nineteenth century will know how to appreciate these contemporary witnesses.

When you need to rest, you can choose between different types of accommodation in the region. Starting with comfortable hostels up to 4 star hotels, you can find anything to suit your needs. A real “must do� before you leave is to try the delicious cuisine prepared by the local restaurants. Traditional dishes will let you taste the ancient recipes and quality ingredients produced in the area around.

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What is a Centre BTT? A Mountain Bike Centre is a free access space for practicing "bicicleta todo terreno" (BTT) or Mountain Bike (MTB), with a minimum of 100 km of sign-posted routes, starting from a point center with tourist information and services for the bicycle.

The BTT Center Maestrazgo first Aragon, provides: Over 100 km of marked paths, mapped by a degree of difficulty.

Two Points of Reception (Fortanete and Caves Ca単art) that offer services for bicycle and tourist information. There you can also find feature cartographic and technical material.

Complementary services to facilitate the practice of cycling: bicycle rental, parking area, washing points, showers and toilets, etc.

Several Points of complementary information (Cantavieja, Castellote, La Iglesuela del Cid, Mirambel, Mills) located in tourist offices, which provide information about routes, tourist resorts, lodgings and restaurants.

A quality standard: Signaling Mountain Bike Centre follows the same format parameters and the rest of the country mountain bike centers.

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10 magical Routes The ten routes that make up the BTT MAESTRAZGO Centre run by a varied terrain and strong contrasts, where large treasured natural attractions are complemented by a great historical and cultural wealth, fruit of intense human activity that has known throughout history . These routes adapted to different levels of difficulty, invite visitors to discover all these values with leisurely pace that allows the use of mountain bike.

POINTS OF RECEPTION All routes of the Center BTT Maestrazgo start at the Points of Reception located in Fortanete and Caves Cañart except for 5 and 6, which began in Points of Information Iglesuela del Cid and Cantavieja, which do not have the status of an reception point.

SOUTH:

Punto host FORTANETE Hostel "The Tiñada" C / San Ramon, 32, 44143 Fortanete (Teruel) 617 23 42 87 T. Email. info@alberguemaestrazgo.com Web. www.alberguemaestrazgo.com Hotel "Mercadales" Calle Loreto S / N, 44143 Fortanete (Teruel) T. 77 81 25 978 Email. info@centrobttmaestrazgo.com

NORTH:

Punto host CAVES CANART PENSION CAVES CANART · Restaurant · Bar San Blas 7 Cañart Caves (Teruel) T. 978 88 75 34 Email. pensioncuevas@terra.es Web. www.lascuevasdecanart.com/hosteleria.htm

Information points: Tourism in the region of Maestrazgo Tel: 964 18 52 42 Health Center (Cantavieja) Tel: 964 18 52 52 Health Center (Mas de Las Matas) Tel: 978 84 89 45

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facebook.com/LetsRideMTBMagazine

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BICYCLE LAMPS TEST TEXT AND PHOTOS: ALEXEJ FEDOROV

NIGHT RIDERS AND EVEN RACES ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR RECENTLY. UNLESS YOU DEVELOPED ECHOLOCATION YOU NEED A GOOD, RELIABLE LAMP. We tested four very different types of bike lightS FROM Lupine, Lezyne, MyTINYSUN and Knog.

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Lupine PIKO 4

PACKAGING / FINISH

USAGE

The smallest of all Lights in our test comes in the largest Box. Included are an external 3,3Ah Li-Ion-Battery, one extension cable, one charger and a hexwrench for fitting. 2 LED manage it to 1400 Lumen with 6 different Levels and SOS-Function. One additional Battery can be ordered separately. Piko is high quality processed and makes a very good impression. Handling is easy with just one button and quick to learn with the user guide. Available In black, red and blue.

With Velcro fastener the Light is easy to fix on an open helmet. For Fullface you will need a special adapter. The externAL Battery can be either fixed on the Frame or carried in Backpack thanks to the long extension cable.

Piko is freely programmable for personal Light modes.

WEIGHT

CONCLUSION Lupine Piko 4 is a GREAT, HIGH PERFORMANCE Light for REAL NIGHT TRAIL RIDING, but UNFORTUNATELY COMES WITH NOT MANY, WhAT CAN BE DISAPPOINTING CONSIDERING ITS PRICETAG.

LAMP - 64g / Set - 252G Price: from 268€

OUTPUT / BATTERY LIFE

www.lupine.de

40 – 1200 Lumen / 2 – 8 HOURS

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h

MYTINYSUN FOLKSLIGHT

PACKAGING / FINISH

USAGE

Folkslight comes in a simple looking carton box. InSIDE you find an USB cable, Helmet mount with fitting belt and one with glue PAD, a cnc machined handlebar mount with hex-wrench and useful long bolts. everything IS GoPro-compatible.

The Lamp offers 2 Cree XM-L-LEDs, which can be controlled separately, prolonging battery life if only one OF THEM is used.

LAMP LOOKS REALLY HIGH QUALITY and WEARS trustworthy “made in Germany” BADGE. IT IS weather proof, has slot for external battery aND SOS-Function. IT IS OPERATED BY TWO BUTTONS.

OPERATION IS A BIT COMPLICATED AND WE COULDN't DO IT WITHOUT CHECKING USER MANUAL. The GoPro mount is fantastic and we hope all Producers will decide for this SOLUTION in future. 2 LEDs GIVE a VERY WIDE angle BEAM, which IN OUR OPINION scatters the light too much highlighting the area which IS NOT SO CRUCIAL WHEN RIPPING A FOREST SINGLETRAIL AT NIGHT. The left LED WITH CORRUGATED LENS is GOOD for Uphills, THANKS TO ITS SOFTER AND WIDER BEAM. The Right ONE GIVES a STRONG, MORE FOCUSED BEAM COMPARABLE TO LUPINE PIKO. WHEN IT COMES TO THE ERGONOMICS, We would like to see a more flat and square form WHICH WOULD EQUALLY DISTRIBUTE THE WEIGHT. Fitting the handlebar mount is possible ONLY with hex-wrench.

WEIGHT Lampe - 230G

OUTPUT / BATTERY LIFE 2000 Lumen / 3 - 7 HOURS

CONCLUSION A VERY DECENT LAMP WITH GREAT PricePerformance Ratio.

Price: FROM 150€ www.MYTINYSUN.COM

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KNOG QUDOS

PACKAGING / FINISH

USAGE

KONG HAS THE MOST FANCY PACKAGING - a NICE, HIGH QUALITY metal box. INSIDE, BESIDES THE LAMP YOU FIND a mount for GoPro, AN ADAPTER FOR FLASHLIGHT OR A tripod, USB cable AND FEW STICKERS. The 1000mAh Li-Ion Battery is easy to change. The robust cnc metal case holds 3 XB-D LEDs which offer different light modes. The Performance IS between 70-400 Lumen with duration up to 4 hours. On THE Backside of Qudos you find A display WITH Battery LEVEL and CURRENT Light mode. The UNIT is waterproof up to 40m, thereforE it is suitable for WATER SPORTS. IT IS available in black or silver.

LIGHT Modes: Action sport (wide angel), Target spot (narrow angle), Ambient (ultra wide angle).

On Trail it becomes clear that Qudos is, AS ADVERTISED, MADE ONLY FOR LIGHT ASSISTANCE IN POV VIDEO RECORDING. AS ALONE STANDING LIGHT IT DOES NOT OFFER ENOUGH PERFORMANCE TO CATER TECHNICAL NIGHT RIDING, HOWEVER, WE ARE CONVINCED IT COULD DO THE JOB ON EASY TOURING TRIPS OR URBAN TRAFFIC. THE FINISH QUALITY IS VERY HIGH AND ONE BUTTON OPERATION VERY EASY AND INSTINCTIVE.

WEIGHT LAMP - 150G

CONCLUSION Qudos is aN INTERESTING OPTION AND WOULD DO WELL AS A SECOND, ASSISTING LIGHT, but its TRUE POTENTIAL IS REVEALED WHEN SUPPORTING VIDEO FILMING IN THE EVENING, not yet PITCH BLACK LIGHT CONDITIONS. Price: 100€ www.KNOG.COM.AU

OUTPUT / BATTERY LIFE 70 – 400 Lumen, 1 – 4 HOURS

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Lezyne mega drive

PACKAGING / FINISH

USAGE

The cnc machined Mega Drive comes in a very stabile Plastic box. Included are 2 Li-Ion Batteries 5200mAh each, which NEED 6 or 12 HOURS TO FULLY RECHARGE. One single Battery can be ordered separate for 40$. Also included are AN USB cable and two aluminium handlebar mountS FOR 31.9 and 24.4mm BARS. Unfortunately no Helmet mount is included. DEPENDING ON THE model it costs between 10-20$ extra.

3 LEDs bring a luminosity of up to 1400 Lumen, which lasts little bit over an hour. With 265gram As per producer (we measured 274 gram) the Mega Drive is the heaviest Light but as WE FELT, ALSO THE MOST robust in our test.

Fitting on the Handlebar is easy and quick. Just pay attention when you insert the Lamp - Push until you hear the “click”, otherwise you will loose the Mega Drive on the trail as it happened to us the first time. OPERATING with just one button IS EASY. BUT DUE TO BUTTON'S SIZE DIFFICULT WHEN WEARING GLOVES. In comparison to other Lights Lezyne has a warm and pleasant Luminous colour, a lot more NATURALLY yellow than the others.

Although not as strong as Lupine and MyTinySun the Mega Drive is sufficient for NORMAL trail RIDING. The Feeling on the Head is heavy but well balanced.

Unfortunately the Helmet Fitting costs extra.

WEIGHT LAMP - 265g

OUTPUT / BATTERY LIFE 200 – 1400 Lumen, 1:15 – 14:30

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CONCLUSION WELL DESIGNED AND WITH HIGH QUALITY FINISH, THE MEGA DRIVER WILL HELP YOU STAY SAFE WHEN HAVING NIGHT FUN ON TRAILS AND IN TRAFFIC.

ALL LAMPS BEAM COMPARISON

LUPINE PIKO 4

MYTINYSUN FOLKSLIGHT

KNOG QUDOS

LEZYNE MEGA DRIVE

OUR CONCLUSION IS THAT all TESTED lamps except FOR Knog are well suited for A PROPER NIGHT RIDING and won't let you down if you choose the right model for your needs. When IT COMES TO Knog IT WILL WORK WELL AS a supplementary lighting, OR WHEN FILMING IN THE DUSK, check this video to see it in action vimeo.com/119991697

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SKIPPING ROPE

REINVENTED?

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Sophia

SMART SKIPPING ROPE We redesigned the skipping rope for the 21st century: lock the two handles together to carry it around, grip the ergonomic leather padding for the most comfortable jumping you have ever experienced.

We also added a built-in display to show how many jumping cycles you have completed, so you don't have to check your phone while you are in your zone. You can also check the battery, which lasts up to one month on a single charge. Jumping redesigned for the modern life. Portable and smart, Sophia brings together data and action to find a healthier, happier you.

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The smart skipping rope, Sophia counts how active you are and makes it easy to get more exercise during the day.

Sophia is: • The beginning of a new category of smart devices: not just tracking, but making you active.

• Uniquely designed: to be portable, functional and comfortable to use.

• Quality-made: sophia has a leather grip and a highly resistant cord, to give you the best feeling when you exercise.

• An Irish story: inspired by a painting to redefine a classic exercise tool.

We know you'll love it.

FitFox Ltd. SUPPORT THE PROJET ON: www.kickstarter.com/ projects/1308849595/sophiathe-smart-skipping-rope

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130 | Let’s Ride! MTB Magazine | Issue 1/2015

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: EDITORS Alexej Fedorov Phil Sauder Alexej Ivanov LAYOUT Jakub Reichhart PHOTOGRAPHER Dmitriy Vakulka ADVERTISING Phil Sauder

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SPECIAL THANKS

Ale Di Lullo - www.aledilullo.com, Pavel Alekhin, Andrey Shevtsov, Johannes Gauder - www.nacona.de, Evgeny Stazenko, Jens Staudt, Marcel Rick, Carsten Fuhrmann, Nikola Becker

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