mountain bike magazine
Issue 10 | July 2012 | Free Download www.freeridermag.in
EDITORIAL I’ll be having a much deserved beer and planning my next ride while you are checking out the 10th issue which we are really proud to release. Staying away from the bike and stretching working hours was painful after coming from 2 months of mountain biking camps in the beautiful mountains. But this hard work is definitely worth it and it means a lot to us. That’s why we are not just a regular online magazine. Our team members even after doing their regular jobs are dedicated and are doing their best to contribute while having fun. We’re at the ongoing mountain bike and BMX events in the country and exposing more trails to the riders and checking out what’s new in the market. We are very happy to see more and more mountain biking and BMX events happening in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Not just that, the insane number of talented riders that are emerging are overwhelming! We have also been observing the events happening around. Chandigarh witnessed its first dedicated flatland BMX show. Riders in Shillong are having fun while the X-Jam is still going on. The Turahalli Downhill race is coming soon while the riders in Pune are preparing to dig out dirt and are all set to prepare some wicked kickers! Check out our great 10th issue. We’ve got trail stories from Uttarakhand (India), Mustang (Nepal) and great interview of new BMX star. Don’t forget to check out the single speed dirt jump bike battle and coverage from the international scene and more. Enjoy issue 10 and thanks to everyone that made it happen.
Vineet Sharma Editor-in-Chief
COVER - Rider: Brian Lopes|Photo: Michael Overbeck | Location: Crankworx 2011 EDITORIAL- Photo: Vineet Sharma | Location: Chhatra (Uttarakhand) Contributing Editors and Photographers Michael Overbeck, Michael McLean, Jibin Joy, Madan Rawat, Dharminder, Allan McVicar, Eric Nussbaumer, Martynas Makaras, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Dipak Panchal, Kabir Dhillon, Navi Singh, Duncan Philpott, Andi Wittmann, Dre Hestler, Downhill Mike, Rahul Thomas, Rocky Khatra.
CONTENTS EXCLUSIVE STORY
Riding Free in Pindari| 3 INDIAN TRAILS
Tons| 12
INDIAN TRAILS
Uroli Undiscovered | 24 FRAMED
Epic Crashes| 29 RIDER PROFILE
Hassu| 35
TWENTY INCH
Fun On Wheels | 37 HOT STUFF
FyTwelve| 42
The Team: Editor in Chief: Vineet Sharma vineet@freeridermag.in Deputy Editor: Vinay Menon vinay@freeridermag.in Contributing Editor: Vaibhav Nijhowne vaibhav@freeridermag.in Trail Correspondent: Kevin Pabinquit Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine #2434-A, Sector: 39-C Chandigarh. 160036 INDIA. ........................................................ This magazine is intended for free distribution and is only available through our web portal www.freeridermag.in ........................................................ Feel free to write or contribute. E-mail at: vineet@freeridermag.in
BIKE BATTLE
Trek Vs Mongoose| 50 FRESH JUICE
New Hot Toys| 58 WHATS UP
BC Bike Race & More| 64
NOTE: We have done our best to make sure that all content in this issue of Freerider mountain bike magazine is accurate, but would emphasise that we at Freerider mountian bike magazine accept no responsibility for any errors in the magazine/content or any errors caused to your computer while reading our magazine.
E E R F G N I D I R
In PINDARI
Text by: Michael McLean | Riding: Chippy and Pankaj http://www.mountainbikekerala.com/ 4.30 a.m. The sun is an hour away from lighting the sky and in this country of early risers we are surprised to be the first on the road. We cycle in silence, three mountain bikers climbing gently in the cool pre dawn air to the village of Song and the trails to Kaphne and Pindari Glacier. With work commitments and late snowfalls delaying the start date we are full of enthusiasm (even at 4.30 a.m) hoping that recent sunshine will clear the trails and let us make the first ever descent from Kaphne Glacier.
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The trail starts in Song with a tough 6 km climb gaining over 600 meters in height to the trekking huts in Loharkhet. From here the path becomes narrow, steep and rocky as we ascend through forests of Rhodedendrum. The carry is a tough, sweaty and breathless affair punctuated by a few tea shops that serve the donkey caravans that come this way. Everyone in the tea shops and on the trail are more used to trekkers carrying backpacks than mountain bikers carrying mountain bikes. Everyone including the seen it all before donkeys think we are mad. We climb and climb until we reach a stone carved memorial to a trekker who died on this spot of a heart attack. We pause, reflect on our own mortality and conclude that if you had to die anywhere it’s a good spot to breathe your last. One km on and we reach the Dhakuri Pass at 3000 meters, an 1800 meter height gain for the day. In the distance we can see the snow capped peaks whilst below us the path winds its way down through the forests. It is steep and super tech with rock after rock and super tight switchbacks. It is brutal. We batter our way down the near 1000m drop descent to the almost indescribably beautiful village of Khatti. Bodies and minds numb but elated after nine hours on the bikes.
With two of India’s best young riders with me, one from the Hindi speaking north and one the Malayalam speaking southern state of Kerala we speak in the only language we all understand, English, about what ahead. Climbing. Kaphne and its neighbour Pindari Glacier lie in the remote Indian Himalayan state of Uttaranchal over 400km northeast of the capital Delhi. The state is the home of India’s highest mountains the near 8000m giants peaks of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Maktoli we need to reach half that height.
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In Khatti we settle round the fire. The talk is about our failure to bring some booze to make a night of it and the record snow falls over the winter, which will make for some testing riding conditions on the trails above 3400m. The few trekkers who have made it so far this year have found things eventful. We meet an American trekker who had slipped off the path catching his head on a rock resulting in a nasty gash. Another walker appears with an iodine smeared broken nose, a result of a fall in an earthquake the previous day. No one else sat round the fire had felt the tremor and a conflicting account emerges, the man, they say, smashed his nose after demolishing 3 bottles of rum the previous night. Another man we encountered was covered in dirt and mud which he said was a result of coming face to face with a Himalayan black bear on the trail, a tale, I would not have believed had I not seen one myself a few months before and almost fallen off my bike in a manic escape effort.
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From Khatti we ride high above the Pindari river along a path straight out of Tolkien novel. Branches of huge towering trees overhang the thin ribbon of trail that hugs the side of the valley. The Himalayan peaks appear then disappear as the track drops down to the glacial water and then up and up through to the tiny settlement of Malyador and on to Dwali at 2700 meters in height. From Dwali the trail splits. The right track climbs 14 km to Kaphne Glacier whilst the well worn trail to the left leads to Pindari. With the Kaphne valley being more exposed to the sunshine we head right hoping that the extra day would be enough tomelt a bit more of the snow that remained on the Pindari trail. We climb towards Kaphne, riding the smoother sections and pushing up the tech bits which gives us achance to weigh up the lines for the return ride.
4 hours of stunning scenery follow and we reach a ridge of rocks that give us a view of the glacier and the huge snowbound peaks. We pause for a while to watch a small avalanche then ready ourselves for what promises to be an hour of magical descending. The top section is all flowing singletrack carving through the grassy meadows with the odd patch of recalcitrant snow keeping us hovering over the brakes.
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We start to descend more steeply and the switchbacks, tech sections and rock gardens build up as we drop over 1200 and 14km of breathless trail to Dwali. Riding trail amongst massive peaks at near 4000-meter altitude is a surreal experience. Your oxygen starved brain makes you feel fluid and loose like having had a couple of pints, great, but your lungs feel like its had the accompanying 20 cigarettes, you are breathless, pushing your bodies limits, another part of your mind is politely asking you to stop and just take in the view.
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To make sure we had great fun on the descents we traveled light with just a small day bag each. Our luggage was transfered by donkeys and porters, which were in short supply as most of the areas men folk had headed to the Bugyals, the high altitude meadows, some near 5000m in height to collect Lawa a caterpillar fungus worth some ÂŁ6000 a kilo. The month long Lawa season is a dangerous and painstakingly slow work, involving crawling on the ground for hours on end hoping to sight the dirt encrusted little finger sized fungus. Each one, worth near ÂŁ3 is collected and then sold on to middle men on the Indo-Chinese border before making its way to Tibet and on to China were it is used as an aphrodisiac. Not only do the pickers risk their lives on the remote and exposed slopes but the trade is more lucrative if government officials are by passed but in doing this arrests are common with pickers facing prison sentences and massive fines. The absence of porters was a boon for government employed trail builders, tea boys and anyone else who was heading in our direction. Each day our bags where packed early, men came and men went, weighing the bags in their hands before deciding it was worth the effort and cash reward to cart them to the next village. From Dwali it is 7km to Phukiya at around 3200m and a further 6 km to Pindari making it the best place to overnight for an early start to reach the Glacier. The climb up is quite gentle but demanding on legs and lungs as the altitude kicks in. The trail is breathtaking, the peaks of Maktoli, Trishul and Nainda Devi are all visible. Waterfalls cascade down into the valley as the sun melts the snow that sits like a blanket on the higher ground. Phukiya itself is best described as an ice-cold hut in the shadow of a 7200-meter peak. We move to the soot-black walled kitchen a result of the smoke of countless wood fires. The caretaker screws up his eyes up as he rolls out mountains of chapattis before toasting them on the fire in preparation for an evening meal of vegetable curry. From Phukiya the 6 km early morning ride is beautiful, patches of snow and ice pack the gullies and riverbeds. We crest ridge after ridge before the valley opens up onto a vast Bugyal with the trail leading to a stone temple that houses both a cave and the holy man Pindari Baba who is famed for his hospitality. With the holy man away on a pilgrimage we ride the last km of the trail up to Zero Point without the benefit of a cup of tea inside us. We take a few pics then descend what could be 25km of the best trail on earth. 1600 meters of vert and seemingly endless singletrack to play with. An hour of continuous descent and we are back in Dwali insanely giggly and euphoric from endorphins and oxygenated air and a simply cracking trail.
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In Dwali we meet some lawa pickers who are on their way back to their village after a month away in the high meadows they are both carrying infections and fevers and ask us if we have any medicines. Another foreigner is here so we ask him for a second opinion and to pool our 1st aid kits. The imposing 6-foot plus trekker looks studious and grave as we show him our medicines and the ill man. The crowd swells as we wait on the prognosis of the white haired trekker, a man who appears to hold the gravitas of a learned doctor more and more. After a pregnant pause he speaks, he has not traveled with a 1st aid kit for 15 years he says and furthermore he is against all conventional medicine claiming they are “cancer pills”. He recommends month long detox programmes as the way to avoid getting ill which seems a perfectly legitimate view point to hold if you had a month to spare and no pre-existing illnesses. We dish out our pills and thank him for his advice without bothering to translate his ideas to the “patient”. We wind our way down through the forests and meet a small party of government trail builders escorting a black goat to what looks like inevitable death. We are invited to breakfast. We arrive at a newly constructed wooden bridge where it is explained to that it is auspicious to slaughter a goat to bring fortune and good luck for the bridge and those who built it. We are presented with goats testicles for starters then plates of mutton curry which provide for an unusual but tasty mountain bikers breakfast that sets us up for the stunning 12km of trail through the valley to Khatti. From Khatti we head away from the mountains into warmer, richer air past a village where the donkey caravans start and the road finishes. It gets busier here a jeep, and then a sign by the road that reads “impatient on road, patient in hospital”, we all laugh and peddle on slowly and patiently reflecting on the past weeks riding.
Riders: Nilesh Dhumal and Ignatius Chen Chin Fa Photography: Rahul Thomas
TONS
AILSVineet Sharma R T T N E I der & ANC F O awat, Dharmin R n D a d a N M : y A b L ineet Sharma | Photography THRE g idin by: V
Text &
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After returning from the hot region of Southern India, it was time to hit the Himalayan region of ‘Uttarakhand’ for more mountain biking and to teach basics of mountain biking to the school kids from various parts of the country. Our camp was located in Mora village next to the Tons River, also known as Tons Valley, which is one of the major destinations for water based adventure sports like white water rafting.Tons river is the biggest tributary of the Yamuna River and carries more water than the Yamuna itself. The Tons River is made up of two tributaries, Rupin and Supin, and is supposed to be made of the demon ‘Sarupnakaha’s tears. Flowing from alpine into a tropical region within a span of 40 KM’s, it is one of India’s most scenic, yet demanding class 4 river runs.
This place is definitely an ideal getaway if you are looking for a relaxing weekend in the midst of picturesque, natural surroundings or for the adventure enthusiasts coming on a tour to India. It has many options for white water rafting, kayaking, trekking, rock climbing and of-course mountain biking. We have been coming to this place for the last four years and have explored a variety of trails that are fun to ride and are also a good way to explore the beautiful alpine area.
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Reaching Mora village is not difficult by road. There is bus service from Dehradun to a small town called Purola via Mussoorie. One can hire a jeep to reach Mora village from Purola. Reaching from Shimla to Tuni is another option but it can be very tiring and dusty if you are coming by bus as the roads are in really bad shape. After reaching the camp site I opened my bike box to ensure nothing was broken. I could not wait to assemble the bike and get ready for a month full of action! Tons valley is famous for its notorious weather conditions. The upstream and downstream winds can become nasty without warning. After a mild rain everything looked and smelled fresher and I could not resist going out for a short spin to the grave of the tallest pine tree in Asia. What makes this pine tree special is that it was the tallest pine tree in all of Asia and towered at 60.65 meters and the circumference measured at 2.70 meters. The tree is approx 235 years old and is named Mahavriksha by Ministry of Environment and Forests. This tree holds special importance for the people of Kiroli Tappad village as it is considered sacred by the local people and as a ritual to this wonder of nature they offer coins to the tree. The tree fell because of a heavy storm back in May 2007 and is now preserved by the forest authorities. It continues to be a source of tourist interest, courtesy the forest authorities.
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The varieties of trails in and around the Mora village area are good for weekend warriors and for endurance freaks. Riding towards the nearby town ‘Tuni’ is a good trip. Which is famous for its trout fishes and one can buy them at great prices. On the way I met my old friend, Suresh, who showed me more riding options around three years back. His family moved to Tons from Nepal and he runs a small shop at Chhatra and lives happily. After a 3 Km climb you can check out a nice view of the valley from the village. The people are really friendly and will always offer you water and tea.
Later I decided to descend and head towards Hanol. Hanol is famous for the ancient temple of ‘Lord Mahasu’ (Chief deity of the area) which was built around the 9th century. The road to the temple is luckily not paved and is a fun gradual ride mixed with slush, rocks and dirt. Hanol has lots of stories attached to it since the Mahabharata days. Centuries ago the place was known as Chakrapur, and it is said to be the place to which the pandavas escaped from laksha graha or the Lakhmandal on River Yamuna.
The most unusual aspect of the temple is the two spherical rocks about one foot in diameter and heavy as hell. The fun part is to lift these rocks on your shoulder and head and then throw them to the ground. It is believed that only a person with a pious heart can lift up these rocks. Many people visit the temple to prove the strength of their devotion by lifting these rocks, which weigh around 80 and 100 Kgs. It’s all about technique; you have to roll the rock up in stages along your body. Strength alone can’t do it.
Riding back to campsite was even better. We had a really good time riding a sweet trail that flows to Chhatra from Hanol. This single track trail is fast and also has some small drops and technical section. The trail also connects to the Thadiar range that connects from a bridge known as “Jhoola Pul”. The last part of the trail is a 150m hike which leads to the shop located at Chhatra. The next day I decided to ride all the way to Tuni and back which turned out to be a nice 50 Km ride. Though coming back was bit tiring as a long climb and no shade sucked out a lot of my energy. The ride became flowy again once I reached Chhatra.
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The following day the ride session was towards another small town called Mori. The 9km stretch from Mora is all tarmac. In between one will come across many spots from where the water from natural springs is flowing out and is super cold and absolutely clean to drink. I never miss the opportunity to fill my hydration bag with this natural mineral water. On reaching Mori I could not resist to try some of the local made snacks and then headed for a tiring 7 Km off road climb towards another temple called “Nanai�. The temple is located in a very isolated place and is studded with coins. It is also believed to be built in ancient times and has lot of importance in the area.
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The area is also full of single track trails flowing through the dense pine forest. After spending more than 2 hours riding and chilling in the trails it was time to descend back to Mori. The jeep track was fast and one can also see the valley and farms moving along.
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While heading back to the campsite I could not resist checking out another trail that was recently built towards the village called “Mohtaad�. It was full of farms and more pine trees. I also observed lot of construction going around and decided to turn back and rode all the way to the camp site. During the next couple of weeks I was scouting the area and found many trails where the climb was inevitable but coming back down was super fun. The whole month was spent riding these beautiful trails and rafting in between.
A high altitude trek nearby called Kedar Kanta at around 10,000 feet is the target for next visit. Nobody has taken bikes to this trek but it looks attractive and has possibilities to ride. While I was thinking and planning about this, the month had already passed quickly, the weather has started to become hotter during day time, and it was time to pack the bike and return to civilization with fond memories of Tons and the people that keep the place alive.
Uroli Undiscovered
by Vaibhav Nijhowne
My destination this summer was Uroli, a village located in the Ranikhet Tehsil of Almora district. A mere 25 kms from Ranikhet, this village is set in the midst of thick pine jungle. But it also has a variety of fruit orchards like plum, pear, peach, walnut, apricot, apple etc.
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I had the opportunity to spend an entire month in a campsite just below the Uroli village, busy teaching children mountain biking in and around our environs. This summer we ran a new Mobile program, wherein we tour the surrounding area over a period of 5 days before heading back to base camp. So we would cycle to the temporary camp, pitch our tents, collect water and firewood, cook our own food, and wash our dishes and clean up the campsite.
Next morning, we’d pack, clear up and leave and get to the next designated camping spot and get down to setting up camp. So it was an all rounded experience but there was still a huge component of mountain biking involved. The trails around here are varied – some jeep tracks, some rocky sections, some tarmac, loads of trails carpeted with dry pine needles, and some really steep and technical downhills too!
We head out on Day 1 from Uroli and ride along the (sort of) main jeep track all the way to Dwarson village. The trail is basically flat and slightly undulating at times. But it’s winding and reasonably fast paced. Excellent for a quick 10km dash and back if you’re in the mood for some high speed offroading. From Dwarson, we hit a tricky downhill section as it’s laden with dry pine needles. Even a moment’s loss of concentration will send you sliding around and bathed in pine needles. But that adds to the challenge of this section.
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At the base of the valley, we reach Banarghat – our campsite for the first night. It’s the base of a very narrow valley along a sweet little stream flowing down the centre. So our water source was taken care of! The next day, we ride up this steep pine needle ridden climb which later transforms into a rocky uphill which is impossible to ride up. So we do a bit of a bike’n’hike before we hit the road at Deoli Khan. From there , it’s a quick tarmac downhill and then a nasty uphill all the way to Sitlakhet village. Much to the dismay of the kids, the climb does not end there and the only change is in the surface, from tarmac to jeep track. We reach our second campsite Dev Bani and pitch up camp in the compound of an apple orchard cum hunting lodge from the days of the British Raj. This area has a very interesting jeep track that leads on towards Matila village. The track is again very speedy and undulating – so it has just the right mix of downhills, uphills, tight corners, pine needles, roots and rocks. Everything an offroad rider would love! Day 3 is spent climbing up all the way to Syahi Devi temple at an altitude of 6000 ft above sea level. There is basically a trekking path made of cobble stones and it is quite a task trying to climb it on a bicycle. But once you get there, the view is equally worth the pains taken to get there. Also, the downhill on the way back is memorable to say the least. We take an alternate route which circles around the ridge and is very technical with rocks, shrubs, singletrack, small drops – you name it, it’s there – so bring it on! The following day, we proceed back to our Banarghat campsite. But we avoid the tarmac and take an interesting jeep track though the pine forests. This is another tricky downhill almost all the way till we get back onto the Tarmac a few kms before Deoli Khan. Everyone reaches the road-head with a big grin on their face.
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From Deoli Khan, we take the downhill track all the way back down to Banarghat. This trail is as tough on the downhill as it was on the uphill 2 days ago! There are many technical sections with roots, rocks and drops. Needless to mention, there are loads of dry pine needles that threaten to send you skidding off down the hillside! Perfect! Our last night out camping is celebrated with a chicken dinner! On Day 5, we head back up to Dwarson (3493) and then on to Uroli. It’s good to be back at base camp and have a proper shower after 4 days! But we don’t ignore our bikes and give them a bath too! All in all, I did this loop 3 times in the 4 weeks that I was there, and I have to admit – I did not get bored of the trails there. There is a lot of wonderful riding to be done there and I am sure there is even more that is out there, waiting to be discovered. So if you wanna get away from the heat of the city, you may want to head in that direction and scoop out Uroli and its surrounding areas. You shall not be disappointed – I assure you of that!
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PHOTO: Allan McVicar | RIDER: Ian Killik | LOCATION: Sunpeaks B.C
FRAMED
Epic shots by professional photographers from around the world
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PHOTO: Eric Nussbaumer (NUSS)| RIDER: Emile Pressager | LOCATION: “Tour Du Faudé” beside the city of Orbey.
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PHOTO: Vineet Sharma | RIDER: Karan | LOCATION: Chandigarh
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PHOTO: Martynas Makaras | RIDER: Dainius Ageravicius | LOCATION: Siauliai, Lithuania
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PHOTO: Vinay Menon | RIDER: Mrigendra Mainkar (Mugoo) | LOCATION: Pune
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PHOTO: Krzysztof Kwiatkowski | RIDER: Gregory Bak(Mugoo) | LOCATION: Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland.
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RIDER PROFILE By Dipak Panchal
HASSU
Mumbai has a good amount of street riders, but the most notorious one is this young lad. This thin looking tattooed kid has some serious skill when he’s mounted on his bike. You can determine by looking at his bike that he’s been doing some serious stuff around. Riding brakeless in Mumbai streets is well mastered by this guy, n if u see a kid on a pink BMX in Bandra doing some neat tricks, then don’t forget to ask him to show you some sick feeble grinds, he’s pretty good at it. So we thought to say hi and throw some questions at him and here’s what he had to say. Name: Hasmukh Parmar “Hassu” Age: 20 Hometown: Mumbai Style of riding: BMX street,dirt Riding since: 2000-present Q: A very common first question, what made u ride a BMX? A: My family & my friends who made me ride a BMX Shahjad Khan, Dipak Panchal & Rajas Naik, Because of them I’m here now. Q: We saw your videos; you have a riding style that is a mix of a couple of different riders. Do you look up to riders from the videos you see? A: Yes I’m influenced by Matt Hoffman, Nigel Sylvester, Sean Burns, Alex Liiv, and Garret Reynolds. Q: Like every sport BMX has a certain level of injury to, how do your folks react? A: It doesn’t bother me anymore as I’m used to it and my family too. Q: If we slapped you and woke you up one morning and told you to do a trick what would it be? A: Bunny Hop 180! Q: We have no parks or a dedicated place to ride, how does that affect you riding a BMX? A: Yeahhh it effects a lot on my riding as we don’t have much places to ride in Mumbai, So finding a spot to ride and not get busted is tough, it limits progression. Q: Tell us about your bike, setup n stuff. A: Well I have an Eastern frame with Odyssey Hazard wheel set, Eastern rear hub, We The People Handel bar, Haro stem, Odyssey cromo pegs, Eastern crank, Million Dollar sprocket.
Q: Are you a big bar and slammed seat follower? A: Yes now I am, my hops are higher now. Q: What are the first 5 songs on your playlist? A: 1. Cold Play - Fix You, 2. Slade - My Oh My, 3. Netsky - Iron Heart, 4. Nilandri Kumar - Forever 5. Full Power - No toilet no shower. Q: What are your favorite places to ride? A: Bandra Kurla complex and Carter Road. Bandra is a place where you get noticed. Q: What’s the one trick you can do all day? A: Bunny hop table top Q: You have been riding since almost a decade now, what’s the different now to then? A: I ride a pink bike now!! I used to ride flatland until the new school style became difficult to master. Now I like going fast and bunny hop everything that comes at me. I’m brakeless, and now I ride for Dipak Panchal’s team Sharptune. Q: Whats next? A: I want to 180 a set of stairs in Lavassa. Q: If you were given a chance to build the BMX scene in your city what would you do to help it grow? A: First of all I’ll open a BMX shop then a skate park, this is my dream. Q: How long do you practice? A: 2 hours in a day, everyday Q: Who cuts your hair? A: Faruk the barber Q: Besides being a totally awesome BMX dude what do you do? A: Well I don’t do much besides BMX now days. I mostly spend my time hunting for a new place to ride. Q: Last words? A: BMX BMX and more f**kkin BMX!
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TWENTY INCH
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The flatland contest consisted of two runs, a 90 seconds one andanother of 2 minutes, which was judged on a riders bike control, difficulty and completion of tricks. The riding area was mopped with cola to make the shiny glass like surface flatland friendly each time before both the runs and making sure the competitors don’t lose grip on tight spins. The bunnyhop contest was pretty simple and was judged with the trusty old bunnyhop bar, each rider got 3 attempts to clear a given height, the ones who cleared advanced to the next round. The crowds were amazed by the flatlanders and we could hear ‘’how did he do that” the ooooh’s and ahhhh’s and the most amusing “MarttiKuoppa -MarttiKuoppa’’ well just for the record Sir Martti Kuoppa is a flatland rider from Finland, and the Mumbai clan was cheering Bharat Manjrekar who is a look-alike and follows his riding style. Both the flatland runs were power packed and the competition was building up rider after rider.
As for the bunnyhop the boys were killing it jump after jump, kudos to all the jumpers to manage in a short run-up. The competition proved to be a huge success and the participants were stoked just for witnessing this epic contest. The audience was thrilled and blown away to see kids from India doing tricks that they see on ESPN. The sponsors were happy with the turnout of the event and promising to have many more events in the near future. Mumbai bagged most wins and Chandigarh was close next, these were the results.
FLATLAND:
1st: Rajas Naik, (Mumbai). 2nd: Shahbaaz Khan, (Mumbai). 3rd: Navi Singh, (Chandigarh).
BUNNY HOP:
1st: Hasmukh parmar and Papias d’souza, (Mumbai). (TIED) 2nd: Kabir Dhillon and Abhishek Diwan, (Chandigarh). (TIED)
The Mumbai BMX clan and I travelled about 1700kms to be part of this comp,well the whole experience was remarkable. The train journey, the last minute ticket booking, the bunk beds, fellow Chandigarh riders, everything has left abright memory in our minds and I hope to be a part of more contests like these in the future.
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What is the future of BMX in India? I feel BMX has always existed in India, in every city and town, all it needs is a little recognition and exposure. Chandigarh has an absoflippinloutly amazing bmx/mtb dirt jumping scene. The last time I came to Chandigarh not many people knew about this discipline of BMX called flatland and now riders from Chandigarh are finishing on the podium at National level flatland comps, which is growth for BMX in its own way. It’s very simple; one inspires the other, so as long as people ride a BMX someone or the other is going to get hooked onto it forming the links of an ever spinning chain called BMX. As far as the future for this sport in India is concerned, I think it’s going to be much better than what it was earlier, mainly because now we have access to good bikes, components, people, knowledge. The internet plays an important role, it’s much easier to watch a video online and learn a trick v/s looking at a picture in a torn magazine and trying to figure out nothing. The future of BMX in India, are the riders themselves. I would just want the whole BMX community to be united no matter which part of the country you come from; when we are seen as a pack it makes a big impact. Things will change for the better of BMX. Maybe a few more events or competitions in a year.If we stick together and make a strong number, the authorities will open their eyes beyond cricket and maybe we could be allotted a dedicated place to ride in every major city, but hey it can’t be predicted so just stick to doing what you love to do and have fun on your bike with a bunch of friends.
BMX is like a call, I got a call and I was judging the contest, I find every aspect of BMX to be fun, so just stay dedicated and keep on riding, inspire someone to ride.
HOT STUFF
FyTwelve Text by: Vinay M eno
n | Riders: Vinay
Menon & Gauta
m Taode
The month of May and its scorching temperature was boiling the fork oil on my bike, So I decided to fly out to Nepal for a few weeks of big mountain shredding and catching up with old buddies. Landing into Kathmandu in two hours from Mumbai was FAST! Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine | 42
Something that hadn’t changed from my earlier visit was the chaotic traffic system, something that is pretty close to what we have here in India. Old cars as taxis, moto bikes blazing through the city streets, people walking all over the roads like possessed zombies, armed cops (thanks to the bandh due to political issues). It’s an interesting hit once you enter Kathmandu city. After meeting up with the KBS (Kathmandu Bike Station) clan, building my bike, I headed to a buddy; Tangi Rebours’ house who was hosting my stay in Kathmandu. Tangi, a French bikaholic who calls Nepal his home now is an All-Mountain wizard and is responsible for spreading the good word of mountain biking across Nepal’s interiors. Day one of my visit, Tangi and I decided to ride some flowy descents on the outskirts of Kathmandu city. An hour of road riding and some climbing later we were ready to ride down some very dense trails down into paddy fields. The natural features on the trails here are tons of fun to roll on. Steep faces, tight switchbacks, narrow walk ways; good start for the trip for sure. Post ride we landed at ‘Epic Bikes Store’, one of the leading bike shops in Nepal catering to the high performance mountain bikes market. After swiping plastic money for some new tyres and swag for my bike it was time to make room for Gautam Taode, as he was flying in later that day. I wanted to visit the Mustang region of Nepal and ride its deserted mountain slopes this summer. As Tangi knew this area unlike anyone else, I gathered some important information and packed out in a Bus to Pokhara with Gautam. A quick drive through the evening and a halt at a preplanned hotel was part of the intended flow. Next day we hooked up with Pokhara’s local shredders to hit some fine trails around town. This ‘Pokhara Unit’, could bomb down the leech infested descents even if it were late into the dusk. After couple of runs down the walking trail it was time to head back to our hotel and pack our bags for the Mustang trip. Come morning we had a flight scheduled for Jomsom. After a two hour delay due to bad weather we took off from Pokhara in a fifteen seater. While the wind hit our dodgy scale craft pretty tight, a sunny Jomsom greeted us with stable landing. A forty five minute Jeep ride later we were in Kagbeni (2800m), a little village where we planned our stay through the week.
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The following day Gautam and I opted to hike up to Muktinath (3710m) and scope some action zones along the hike. Five Hours into the walk we finally reached the Muktinath Temple before sunset. The temple premises with bells, flowers and monks around was surreal. The fragrance of incense and lit lamps would surely send anyone into a meditative state, especially after a five hour noon hike with a twelve kilo backpack! After a quick agreement with lord we decided to stay back in Muktinath area for the night. With abundance of lodges catering to numerous Indian pilgrims and other tourists who come visiting this divine place, it wasn’t difficult to find a room to crash for the night. Once the sun was peeping in from the east side window, we cranked down the hiking trails from Muktinath to Kagbeni. Previous days five hour hike up was now transformed into an hour of “on the saddle” decent. Fighting strong head wind through the noon spin, we were delighted to hit the pillow at “The Red House” Lodge in Kagbeni. This is one of the better places to bunk while you are moving across this deserted kingdom. Not to mention the tongue happy food. Next sunrise and oat porridge lead us to some wandering in the Mustang regions spell bounding mountain scape. With some quick tripod assisted video clips on the CF Card we continued our ride. Within an hour of cruising around we reached our zone with old school chute lines and drops.
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Struggling with intense wind, I decided to stay low of the bigger drops and opted to roll down some fun chutes and ridges instead. Dodging between bikes and Camera, Gautam and I ended up riding and capturing few fun descents and encounters with Yaks and mountain goats. By evening we were sailing back to our lodge with the winds and Kali Gandaki River in sight. With Yak meat for dinner over a mug of Tongba, we summed up our final day of riding in Kagbeni. Our halt was cut short, as we had to reach Kathmandu before the constitution declaration date. We were warned about riots and bandh, following the declaration of a new constitution.
Since we’d already taken the air route into Jomsom earlier we decided to take the road back to Pokhara. Starting with a Jeep ride from Kagbeni to Jomsom, on to a Bus to Ghase, on to another micro van to Beni. Through this entire drive we spent time on the bus floor, co-driver’s seat, other passenger’s laps! By the time we reached Beni it was 9pm and no cheap transportation to Pokhara was available over night. The bike bums that we are, we managed to hitch a ride on the roof of a bus heading to Pokhara, full of Indian pilgrims! With bikes, bags, camera gear and ourselves on the roof top, it was a “one with nature” drive. Occasional slaps from tree branches and low hanging power cables we arrived into Pokhara, middle of the night with a bit of monsoon drizzle. A night’s halt in Pokhara, a mini bus drove us to Kathmandu city the next morning.
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Finally making it to the city by evening with our bikes on the little roof, we made it in time before the constitution declaration day. But to our surprise, nothing happened, neither the constitution nor the bandh. So all the hurry, cutting our Mustang trip short was unnecessary. Well… In Kathmandu at Tangi’s place, we were enjoying home cooked pasta for dinner over some incredible mountain exploration stories. Fun nevertheless! The good thing about us making it to Kathmandu city early was that we were in time for the “Himalayan Outdoor Festival”. An event comprising of trail running, XC mountain biking, DH racing, artificial wall climbing, live music, camping and more. Rolling in the good times was complimentary! One of the DJs playing at the gig happened to be a friend’s friend.
With a good turn out on the XC start line, the downhill race was equally packed. Kids as young as nine years were fighting it out on the two kilometer long decent with dirt hits into step-ups and tight berms. As the picturesque prayer flags lined across the trail and the finish line, Shajjan Rajbanshi, the local favorite won the race as expected. Pedaling his way through the finish line in a time of 1:39:19. One of the biggest inspirations in the downhill mountain biking scene in Nepal, Shajjan spends major part of the year working in California and visits Nepal while preaching the high speeds of downhill mountain riding. Following his footsteps or rather the lines down the mountain slopes a large number of Nepali young guns are getting charged up for an international battle. With good bikes and gear made available to the fast growing biker population of Nepal; Epic Bikes, Chain Bicycles and Kathmandu Bike Station are cooking a strong meal in the sports kitchen! The future holds good times for the sport in Nepal if things move at the current speed. With the event wrapping up and Gautam finishing sixth in his final run at the Himalayan Outdoor Festival – 2012, the ‘Nepal – FyTwelve’ was a wrap. Over the weekend we packed our bikes out of Tangi’s house and flew into amchi Mumbai to breath in some ocean air.
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TICKET STUB
VS
RITUAL STREET Text & Photography by: Vineet Sharma
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First thing we noticed about this bike was the super light weight and then we realized what’s making Cam McCaul and Brandon Semenuk busting more big back flips, sick tail whips and wicked front flips. Now you can rip up the dirt jumps and do unique tricks as Trek Ticket Stub is now available in India through Firefox bikes.
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Ticket Stub has got lot of changes compared to the earlier Trek Ticket. Replaceable horizontal dropouts, 3 piece BMX style chromo cranks and a 100 mm Manitou Circus fork with 20mm axle. Other good additions are the Alex FR 30 rims assisted with Formula hubs. The front hub holds 32 spokes while the rear hub has 36 spokes and feels really strong and smooth. Bontrager G1 Expert tires do their job well at the same time. The bike feels really smooth and quiet and has impressive handling. The Alpha Gold Aluminum frame with semi integrated head tube comes with ISGC 05 mounts and has gussets that are placed very strategically. In other words, the frame is ready for action. Ticket Stub is a single speed machine that comes with strong replaceable horizontal dropouts and can be converted if one wishes to roll up with gears. The Manitou Circus Comp fork with 20 mm axle is standard with coil spring, preload, rebound and lockout.
Coming to the cockpit, the perfect colored Bontrager low riser 31.8mm handlebar has 15mm rise and 9 degree sweep and is bolted with Bontrager Earl Stem, making it a good combination. The Black Label Repeater grips felt nice at the same time. The Tektro brake levers are hooked with Hayes MX-5 mechanical disc brakes (with 160mm rotors) which is one of the best mechanical disc brakes around. The only thing we expected that Trek Ticket Stub should have a high end fork and maybe a good set of hydraulic disc brakes considering the price tag of whopping 97,390 INR. Overall the bike is a really good package and the simplicity makes it even more awesome.
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Our next contender is a strong looking full CroMo dirtjump bike‌Mongoose Ritual Street. The Ritual Street is built on bomb proof 4130 Chromoly frame with Manitou Circus Comp fork and features 28 x 12t singlespeed drivetrain with 48-spline tubular chromoly cranks. Though not as light as Trek Ticket Stub, but this bike is not going anywhere for the rest of the life. The horizontal dropouts are solid and come with a hanger if you wish to run with gears.
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The bike feels smooth and well balanced in air but one has to get used to the bike weight to enjoy. The good part is you can easily upgrade the bike as you progress and make the bike lighter if the weight really matters. The heavy duty half link chain which reduced the risk of chain breakage is another plus point along with the tubular CroMo 3 piece crankset. The color scheme and the graphics on the bike definitely look attractive. The package also includes Mongoose PryBar with Mongoose Capless Ahead BMX stem. Tektro alloy brake levers are equipped with Jagwire cables and Sanfu Simmple grips that will not let you down. The Tektro Novela mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotor are stock but may not be the best option in long run. The 26 X 2.3 Sanfu Knob Job in front and Rim Job tire at rear with wraparound pattern are perfect for this bike as they are engineered for flatland, parks and street riding. The Jalco DDZ anodized 32 holes rims with Formula disc hubs are a great combination.
Everything about this bike is solid. The frame is built to last and if you are new to the sport or just want a budget dirt jump/street bike with decent components, then this is it! Mongoose Ritual Street is tagged at 40,000 INR and is being imported by Track and Trail.
Trek Ticket Stub Alpha Gold Aluminum w/semiintegrated head tube, shaped, formed & gusseted down tube, reinforced seat tube, ISCG 05 mounts, bolt-on forged horizontal dropouts, convertible to standard derailleur hanger.
Mongoose Ritual Full CroMo Urban/jump w/ micro horizontal dropouts & derailleur hanger; Intergrated headset and ISCG mount
FORK
Manitou Circus Comp w/coil spring, preload, rebound, lockout, steel steerer, 20mm thru axle, 100mm travel
Manitou Circus Comp w/coil spring, preload, rebound, lockout, steel steerer, 20mm thru axle, 100mm travel
WHEELS
Formula DH92 20mm 32-hole alloy front hub, Formula DC42N 36-hole rear hub; Alex FR30 disc rims
Jalco DDZ, 32H color anodized with Formula alloy disc hubs.
TIRES
Bontrager G1 Expert, 26x2.25"
CRANK
3-pc. chromoly tubular, 48 spline, 175mm w/28T Black Label alloy ring 14T cog Black Label nylon Black Label Pivotal with Black Lable Pivotal seatpost Bontrager Low Riser OS, 31.8mm, 15mm rise, 9 degree sweep Hayes MX-5 mechanical disc brakes w/Tektro levers INR 97,390 Light weight and replaceable dropout options. Too pricy! Could have come with a better fork.
( f ) SNAFU Knob Job 26x2.3 ; ( r ) SNAFU Rim Job26x2.3 Tubular CroMo 3pc 28T
FRAME
CASSETTE PEDALS SADDLE HANDLEBAR BRAKESET PRICE THUMBS UP FOR: THUMBS DOWN FOR:
13T cog and spacer kit KORE Nylon Fiber platform SNAFU Love Seat Mongoose PryBar, 2.0 heat treated cromoly riser, 22.2x80x660 mm Tektro Novela mechanical Disc w/ 160 mm rotors INR 40,000 Strong frame and attractive colors. Bit heavy. Better mechanical disc brakes would have been good.
FRESH JUICE
Meet Earl..
A groovy all mountain & freeride tire by Bontrager
Text & Photography by: Vineet Sharma
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For over a decade, Bontrager has developed a comprehensive line-up of tires, today producing a selection of tires suitable for just about any condition out on the trail, road or local path. We tested the burly Bontrager Earl (26 X 2.4) freeride tire this summer at various locations and were impressed by its performance. These tires are not new but it’s good to know that they can compete with any tire in the AM/FR category. Bontrager Earl offers big volume, big grip at minimal weight. The Gum-Bi compound gives stellar grip without wearing prematurely. From the budget range, this tire is made of a dual compound that tries to perform best no matter what the terrain or weather. It is steel beaded around the edge
The groovy Bontrager Earl excelled through corners and tackled roots and rocks without any issues. The tire felt good all the time and got the job done in variety of conditions. In wet condition the traction was bit sketchy, but we are not complaining about it as it is not designed specially for wet conditions. We would not recommend this tire for tarmac, but it’s all good to roll once it hits the dirt. So far the Bontrager Earl has been behaving fine and still looks good after 2 months of intense riding. There is no sidewall damage or torn treads. We are impressed by its durability and will continue our test.
STRENGHTHS: Good grip, Large knobs for stiffness and durability and pretty much everything you expect in a high quality tire. WEKANESS: None so far. OUR RATING:
Hayes replaced their Stroker range with a new platform a while ago. We checked the 2012 Hayes Prime Expert disc brakes which offer more power, new components and better ride compared to Hayes Stroker. Hayes Prime Expert features tool-free reach and contact adjustment, improved braking torque and feel and outstanding ergonomics are just a few of its many attributes. Plus, its ground-breaking, high-flow reservoir venting system has never been seen before.
HAYES
PRIME EXPERT
• Improved Reach Adjust: Tool-free design that is independent of the contact adjustment. This feature has improved durability and aesthetics over the existing Stroker design. Additionally, mechanical advantage is fixed regardless of lever home position. This means you get the same power and feel with the lever set close to the grip as you do with it set further away. • Mechanical Leverage Ratio: Increased throughout the entire lever stroke, resulting in a high power level later in the stroke. This promotes progressive braking that is more predictable (modulation). • Hydraulic Power Ratio: 20% increase in hydraulic ratio over the Stroker Trail. Higher clamp force on the rotor is reached with the same given input at the lever blade.
Text & Photography by: Vineet Sharma
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Hayes has also introduced top-loaded pads for the new two-piece aluminum caliper. The top portion of the caliper has a bigger vent which allows more air to flow in to prevent overheating. Inside the caliper massive 26mm twin pistons effectively increases stopping power. The rotating banjo is another new feature in Prime that we really like. Another cool feature is the 2 piece floating rotor with the “Sweeping Fin” venting pattern” and weighs around 114 grams!
PERFORMANCE: How well they performed? After checking out the brakes at local trail, urban and dirt jump section we have to say it aced in tool-free adjustment and braking power. The brakes were noisy occasionally but it was not a problem. The modulation was good all the time and the ergonomics really helped. Hayes Prime Expert will go on for our long term test and more details will be coming in our future issues.
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Photography by: Duncan Philpott
What would Rocketman ride? Steel hardtail bike specialist Cotic recently launched their second full suspension bike that combines a Reynolds 853 chromoly front triangle with an aluminium swingarm. The 150mm full travel frame is packed with grace, durability, clean lines, fun, interactive feel and attention to detail that Cotic put into all their frames and added a whole truckload of speed and rock pounding performance.
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On the Rocket, Reynolds 853 delivers a fantastically robust front end with incredible stiffness at the seat tube and suspension pivots to give you the confidence you need when pushing on. The details are all covered, with ISCG05 mounts, taper steerer compatible head tube, 142 x 12 bolt thru back end, sealed, capped and shielded pivots, right down the precisely located hose routing. Cotic Rocket uses ‘Droplink’ suspension design and comes with 4 shock options: Fox Float RL, Marzocchi Roco Air LO, Fox RP23 Kashima Cotic Boost Tune and BOS Vip’r
• Reynolds 853 Ovalform and DZB tubed front end brings precision, durability and strength • 44mm standard head tube designed with external bottom cup for taper steerer compatibility and zero stack top cup for minimal stack height • Oversized 35mm seat tube for super stiff support for the main suspension pivots • 31.6mm seatpost size is dropper seatpost compatible and the frame has hose clips for the remote under the top tube • ISCG05 mounts on regular threaded bottom bracket bring drivetrain security and reliability • Asymmetric 7005-T6 aluminium swingarm with Syntace X-12 142 x 12 rear axle • 15mm pivots for BB and droplink keep the frame solid front to rear • Clearance for big tyres - 2.5” DH tyres run with plenty of clearance • Geometry for speed, fun and interaction using 140, 150 or 160mm forks. 66.5deg head angle and low 13.3” BB with 150mm fork • 150mm of Cotic droplink suspension brings precision, fun and interaction via a strong progression rate on the linkage driven single pivot layout • Sizes - 16”, 17.5”, 19”. The frames are designed to be compact and chuckable. • Weight - 7.6lbs for the 16” including Fox Float RL shock
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WHATS UP
On the 20th of August Andi Wittmann will gather the who’s who of the freeride scene in Neukirchen at the Wildkogel in the beautiful Salzburger region for the second time. Apart from last year’s winners Martin Söderström (SWE) and Yannick Granieri (FRA), the legendary Andreu Lacondeguy (ESP) has decided to turn up to the party, whose incredible trickery will undoubtedly feel right at home in the massive castle. The two Canadians Kurt Sorge and Geoff Gulevich, Benvenido Aguago Alba from Spain, the Germans Amir Kabbani and Timo Pritzel as well as local hero Niki Leitner from Vienna will also be part of the crusade of knights charging the castle, causing the cameras of the world’s best mountain bike filmers and photographers to heat up from the action. Not only the mega stars of the scene will be part of Suzuki Nine Knights presented by G-Shock. This year, talented filmers have the chance to be at the centre of world-class mountain bike action as well. Contour is looking for talented newcomers and professionals alike to qualify for the Main Event as well as the Contest Day - whether on a bike or behind the camera. If you want to show the big dogs what you’ve got and you feel more comfortable behind the lens than in front of it, then put together your best material in a video edit and take part in the CONTOUR WANNA BE A KNIGHT video contest. The criteria for this are naturally not necessarily action and level of riding, but the quality of shots, camera angles and editing skills. Check the links for further info on the Contour Wanna be a Knight Contest: For Athletes: http://nineknightsmtb.com/qualification-for-athletes/ For Filmers: http://nineknightsmtb.com/qualification-for-filmmakers/ So what are you waiting for? Even if you are not one of the chosen ones, you definitely should not miss the Suzuki Nine Knights MTB presented by G-Shock 2012! On Saturday, August 25th, the Wildkogel-Arena will be open for all mountain bike enthusiasts to check out the action during the slopestyle contest. And if last year is anything to go by, there will be no shortage of action. Host Andi Wittman has invited a number of special guests ensuring that there will be no lack of entertainment throughout the event. On Saturday, the legendary Suzuki Nine Knights Afterparty powered by Sweet Protection and mtb.downdays.eu will go off with a bang at Schweini’s; one more reason to make the trip to Neukirchen in August. See you there! More Info at: http://nineknightsmtb.com
CAM COLE @ FORT WILLIAM
DH MTB WORLD CUP Cam Cole, of Christchurch, New Zealand, has backed up his podium finish in Italy last week with tenth place at the third round of the 2012 UCI World Cup series held in misty conditions at Fort William, Scotland . The race was won by USA rider, Aaron Gwin, in a time of 4:48.21. Top 10: Team Lapierre International rider Cam Cole, of Christchurch, New Zealand, has leapt from 18th to 11th in the 2012 UCI MTB Downhill World Cup standings after finishing 10th at Fort William, Scotland.
Cole, the fastest Kiwi at the event and just over seven seconds off the winning time, now sits in 11th overall in the series despite missing the opening round.
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CHRIS SHEPPARD returns to BC Bike Race Looking for a ‘Hat Trick’
BC Bike Race is now entering its sixth year as a super successful and stable event on the calendar. What has not been so certain over the years has been the ability of riders to cope with the incredible amount of singletrack and the stage race format. Top caliber Europeans have been few and far between and those brave enough to challenge themselves to BCBR were not up to the task of dethroning reigning champion Chris Sheppard. Looking into cycling history books, we find road champions like Greg Lemond, Miguel Indurain and Lance Armstrong. Among mountain bike champions, names like Henrik Djernis, Roland Green and Sam Hill appear. The difficulty and quality it takes to win, not just once but multiple times, is in its self difficult to comprehend. On the eve of his title defense and ensuing battle BC Bike Race caught up with Chris for a few questions about the upcoming Race;
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Q: How does it feel to wear the number#1 plate as you come to defend you title for 2012? A: “I feel like I have a large target on my back! I love riding west coast single track, attacking and challenging myself so, if I’m feeling good my bike and body will stubbornly defend the Golden Fleece!” Q: Will you change your game for the Enduro segments or focus on the Epic? A; “Every minute of every stage is an Enduro segment to me. If I am feeling “on” I will let my bike run to test my competition or to gain time regardless of whether or not I am being timed.” Q: You are going for a ‘hat-trick’ this year, can you tell us how hard it is to win 3 times and what it means for you? A: “Stage racing is a tough beast no matter what your competitive level may be. To take down BCBR three times, a number of factors must occur: one must escape injury and mechanicals; have day to day recuperation and, in some cases, sheer luck! Anything can happen and has happened to me each year. I have never really stopped to think about what winning BCBR means but I do know I have a grand time, get to drink beer, pig out on good food, ride the best trails in the world on the best equipment amongst great friends - and if I win, then that is a bonus!”
Other riders to watch for in the Gravity Enduro section:
Josh Carlson 2nd All Mountain World Champion, Downville 2011, Enduro Specialist Ross Schnell - All-Mountain World Champion, Downieville 2010, Enduro Specialist Wade Simmons - The Godfather of Free Ride, Winner Redbull Rampage, Enduro Enthusiast
Other riders to watch in the overall Epic:
Colin Kerr – Team Rocky Mountain Bikes, BCBR Solo Champion 2009 Carter Hovey Team Orbea, Trans Rockies Winner 2011 Cory Wallace - Team Kona, 2nd Mongolia Bike Challenge 2011, 2nd 24 hrs 2010 Benoit Simmard – Team Nativo Concept Matt Hadley – Team Xpresso Bikes, Canada Cup Champion 2011 More Information at www.bcbikerace.com
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PRO
GRT
1st place in Category 1 15-18 was Shane Leslie from Birmingham, Michigan. Shane races for High Gear Racing and came in 1st in Jr. Ex. with a 3:46.13. 2nd place was Ray Syron from Rockport, Mass. Shane races for KHS Bicycles and his time was 3:48.83. Seen here is reigning USA Cycling Champ, Logan Binggeli placing the dual slalom award on 4 year old Ewan MacNaughton. The trails were nice and dry all weekend, and since it was opening weekend at the Bike Park, the racers experienced buffed-out trails that have not had seen action since last Fall.
By: Downhill Mike The Whiteface Mountain Bike Park in Wilmington, N.Y. welcomed Pro GRT racers from accross the country. This weekend provided plenty of sunshine and fast riders. With sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 70’s all weekend, riders like Logan Binggeli and Jacqueline Harmony showing up, we knew the weekend was going to be great! The Main DH event was on Sunday, but Saturday offered some dual slalom action.
With the Pro GRT’s being a qualifier for the Junior Worlds, the Junior Experts (Category 1 15-18) field was competitive, to say the least! Wow, the junior experts traveled great distances to take adavantage of this qualifying race.
3rd place was Alex Willie who traveled all the way from Longmount, Colorado, and clocked a 3:48.95. Only 2.5 seconds was the gap between 1st and 3rd place in this highly competitive category. These are the future pros of our sport.
The Pro Womens field saw some regional and national pros. 1st place from Sedona, Arizona was Jacqueline Harmony riding for a Culture of Speed with a 4:14.80. Jackie’s 1st place win puts on the very top position in Pro GRT Tour!
The next race will be the First Ever US/Canadian Open at Whiteface on September 8th and 9th - 2012. More info @ www.downhillmike.com
2nd place from Marlbor, N.Y. was Becky Gardner racing for Gardner Racing with a time of 4:32.04. 3rd place was Elinor Wesner hailing from Wappingers Falls, N.Y. with a 4:52.71. 4th place was Amber Price all the way from Westmiinster, Colorado with a 5:47.86. 5th place was Mary Elges from Windsor, CT.
1st place: Logan Biggeli, 3:36.65, St. George, Utah, KHS Bicycles. 2nd place was last years 5K DH winner Yann Gauvin from Quebec City, QU. Yann races for Kona/Race Face and had a time of 3:42.17. There was a lot on the line in the Pro Mens field as well, with Logan Binggeli gaining points on Aaron Gwin. Logan’s 1st place finish at the Whiteface 5K DH (Pro GRT # 5), was enough to make the finals at Northstar, possibly be the most exciting race of the year.
3rd place: Austin Hackett-Klaube from Dillon, CO with a 3:42.24. Ausitn races for WRR / Trek / Novik. 4th place: Nikolas Dudukovich from Port Matilda, PA with a time of 3:42.35. Nikolas races for One Ghost Industries 5th place: Ex Lake Placidian Heikki Hall. Heikki traveled from Durango, Co and had a time of 3:49.10 Sponsors include: The Hive / E13.
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