Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine #26

freerider

ISSUE 26 | MARCH - APRIL 2015 | FREE DOWNLOAD www.freeridermag.in

mountain bike magazine

EXCLUSIVE STORY |Nandi Hill Project 101| 5 RIDER PROFILE | Laxmi Magar| 11 BIKE CHECK | Trek Superfly 5 | 15 FRESH JUICE| Niterider light + More | 22 HOT EVENT | Crankworx NZ 2015 + More | 25 WHATS UP | The Impossible Race | 32

Long awaited issue #26 is here. Featuring the Bangalore trail riding scene in Nandi hills and rising female mountain biker Laxmi Magar from Nepal. We also got our hands on the recently launched Trek Superfly 5 29er which was put on test by our test pilot Jeewan Jeet Singh. Also check out other goodies and 6 best flights from the recent Crankworx (NZ).

We also visited the India International Bike Expo recently and saw the improvement in the Indian Bicycle Industry as brands have started treating the sport seriously and more people who practice mountain biking are becoming part of these companies in India which was much required to understand the needs of the consumer.

More details can be found here: http://www.freeridermag.in/cycle-fitness-outdoor-sports-expo-2015/ Continue reading this issue and we would love to hear what you feel about the current improvement in the cycling culture of India.

Vineet Sharma

Founder, Editor-in-Chief | vineet@freeridermag.in COVER PHOTO: Vinay Menon RIDER: Tracy Moseley LOCATION: Pindari, Uttarakhand (INDIA) Contributing Editors and Photographers ISSUE # 26 Robin Darius Conz, Ignatius Chen Chin Fa, Graeme Murray, Ajay Padval.

The Team: Editor in Chief: Vineet Sharma vineet@freeridermag.in Deputy Editor: Vinay Menon vinay@freeridermag.in BMX Agent: Dipak Panchal dipak@freeridermag.in Photo Editor: Malcolm McLaws malcolm.mclaws@gmail.com Himalayan Trails Minister: Naveen Barongpa Web Master: Cephas Joseph

Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine #410, Sector: 10 Panchkula (Haryana).

134109 - INDIA. ........................................................

This magazine is intended for free distribution and is only available through our web portal.

E-mail us for more details. www.freeridermag.in ........................................................

Feel free to write or contribute.

E-mail at: vineet@freeridermag.in | vinay@freeridermag.in

Words: Ignatius Chen Chin Fa | Photography: Robin Darius Conz FR MTB MAG | 5

LOCATION: Bangalore -Karnataka (India) Welcome to the South of India and this is my story about where we ride and what we have been upto.

So our day begins at 6.30 with the morning calls from riders with a healthy dose of coffee and tea and idly and dosa. The NH -7 on the way to Nandi is a long and wide road with speedy cabs faring passengers to the airport and with broken queries to give us an early morning view of what to expect.

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Nandi is a wild place and you can find all kinds of cyclist and a few guys teaching their girl how to ride a motorbike.

So after all of this the boys and I get to the 4-kilometer point we start unloading our bike. Helmet check, guards check, ride check so let’s start climbing on the way up the trail we start to clean the line and explain new riders what to do and don’t on the trail, For this year we had added two new berms that still need work but it’s a work in progress and its coming to be a seller for a lot of new riders.

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While on top taking picture and enjoying the nature with spectacular viewpoint over looking the hill you see a few more riders on the tarmac and suddenly a few more XC riders started to show up and boy you can tell that they were suffering climbing up. After a brief chat and a good amount of (vitamin – D) sunlight we are ready for the ride down its exactly 1.5KM down the hill to the 4km point and it will blow you off your seat If you are not focused, For the first timers it’s a journey to the unknown that can be seen on there face reflected on photos that they put up after the ride. This goes on the whole morning till late afternoon.

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After all the fun a few riders plan to take the 3.5km track below and to best describe the track is it’s a made rush with a few hairpin bends and to topple it up a few jumps at the end of the trail to loosen up your bones in your body.

In the end we usually head to the coconut joint to have some fresh coconut water and head to the parantha place that recently came up not the best but it does do the job of getting you back home. We relive the trail on our long journey back to the urban life and wait for the next weekend to recharge our self.

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Interview By: Vineet Sharma

Nickname: Tin Tin Age: 28 Hometown: Nuwakot, Nepal Years riding: 7 Years Current bike: Scott Favorite drinks: Coke Music: Any music that makes me feel good.

FR MTB MAG: How did mountain biking come about for you?

Laxmi: Mountain biking came as a physical fitness activity in my life but soon I realized it helped me relaxing my mind at the same time.

FR MTB MAG: Riders that inspire you?

Laxmi: Ajay Pandit Chettri FR MTB MAG: Your greatest achievement to date?

Laxmi: I was blinded by the sport of mountain biking sometime in Feb 2012. I got my own bike and there was no looking back. I never imagined before that I would be racing mountain bikes.

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FR MTB MAG: Tell us more about your current bike and what makes it so special?

Laxmi: Currently I’m riding a Scott hardtail mountain bike. The geometry is perfect and its rolling is much better and faster because of 27.5 wheels.

FR MTB MAG: We have seen you racing regularly. Do you wish to race more often?

Laxmi: Yes! I really enjoy competing in mountain bike races and I will continue to race more.

FR MTB MAG: What are your favorite types of trails and riding zones in Nepal?

Laxmi: Any hilly region in Nepal ranging from 1400 to 2700m is my favorite and I enjoy uphills as climbing is my favorite part.

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FR MTB MAG: If you could ride with your favorite rider anywhere in the world, where would you go and with whom?

Laxmi: Its hard to decide a name however I would love to try riding technical trails in Switzerland.

FR MTB MAG: Plans for this season?

Laxmi: Currently I’m training for Himalayan Rush Duathlon, Yakru, Yak Attack and National mountain bike championship.

FR MTB MAG: Any shoutout to sponsors, individuals who supported you through your mountain bike journey so far?

Laxmi: I would like to thank my supporters Mizuho Rasila Fuzihara, Dharan Holloway Young Athlete Club, Chasethe Rainbow, Neil, Scott Bikes Nepal, and Yak Attack. They have helped me all the way.

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Words & Photography: Vineet Sharma | Rider: Jeewan Jeet Singh Dhillon

Trek Superfly 5 landed in India a while ago and our test pilot Jeewan got a chance to bomb this bike. Trek claims that their Superfly lineup is crazy-light and the fastest!

Trek has applied a “Smart Wheel Size” theory in this range.

It means different wheel sizes for different frame sizes.

27.5” on 15.5” frames, 29er on 17.5” and up.

We tested the radioactive yellow 17.5 frame size with 29 inch wheels… hated and loved by many.

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FRAME: Alpha Platinum Aluminium, butted & hydroformed tubing, E2 tapered head tube, internal cable routing, press fit BB, balanced post mount, Closed Convert dropouts, G2 Geometry .

FORK: RockShox XC32, Solo Air spring, rebound, PopLock remote lockout, custom G2 Geometry w/51mm offset on 29ers, 100mm travel HEADSET: FSA IS-2, E2, alloy cartridge BAR: Bontrager Low Riser, 31.8mm, 5mm rise STEM: Bontrager Race Lite, 31.8mm, 7 degree GRIPS: Bontrager Race (regualr) SEATPOST: Bontrager SSR, 2-bolt head, 27.2mm, 12mm offset SADDLE: Bontrager Evoke 1.5 CRANK: Race Face Ride, 36/22 SHIFTERS: Shimano Deore, 10 speed DERAILLEUR (R): Shimano Deore XT DERAILLEUR (F): SRAM X7 CASSETTE: Shimano HG50 11-36, 10 speed CHAIN: KMC X10

FRAME Trek Superfly lineup is available in Aluminum and Carbon frames which borrow features from their high-end SL. The super light hydroformed “Alpha Platinum Aluminum” frame also features tapered headtube, post mount brakes, Press-Fit bottom bracket, Closed Convert dropouts, and internal routing which are not too common on bikes available in India. The frame does look neat and racy with shorter chainstays and low profile.

BRAKES: Shimano M447 hydraulic disc 180/160 RIMS: Bontrager Mustang Elite Tubeless Ready 28-hole TYRES: Bontrager XR1 Expert, Tubeless Ready, aramid bead, 29x2.20”

That Alpha Platinum Aluminum sounds fancy, but that’s supposed to be a premium quality aluminum sourced by Trek Bikes which is continuously cold extruded and butted at multiple points for weight reduction and more strength.

The welds on this frame are smooth which we really like and the company has done a good job to eliminate extra weight from the bike which was clearly visible.

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Slight confusion was there when the bike was shown to the general audience who spotted E2 written on the headtube and G2 written on the fork.

So to clarify: E2 simply means Tapered steerer tube and G2 design has more slack / offset in the crown which is supposed to quicken the steering control.

This fork design is only available on Trek Bikes as of now.

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Fork:

Trek Superfly 5 comes equipped with a RockShox XC32 fork with G2 geometry and features Solo Air Spring, Rebound, PopLock remote lockout.

This fork offeres 100mm travel and is decent for amateur riding. Although the bike comes with a tapered headtube, the fork comes with standard 1/18 steerer. The performance of this fork is decent, however an upgrade with tapered sterrer is recommended if you intend to use the bike seriously or for racing.

RECOMMENDED 29er FORKS FOR UPGRADE: 1: Manitou Marvel Pro. 2: Rock Shox Sid RCT Solo Air. 3: Rock Shox RS1.

4: Marzocchi 320 LCR Carbon.

Unfortunately these forks/upgrades are not available in Indian bike shops. But you can order them online from various online bicycle stores at great discounts.

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Hub | Rims | Tyres:

The anodized blue Bontrager hubs are of good quality. These sealed catridge bearing hubs have smooth rolling.

The 28 spoke Bontrager Mustang Elite rims are designed with offset spoke bed and are tubeless ready with 29 X 2.20� Bontrager XR 1 Expert tyres with a tread pattern good for light offroading.

Drivetrain:

Trek Superfly 5 is equipped with Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur, Sram X7 front derailleur, Race Face Ride crankset with 36/22 chainrings, Shimano HG50 10 speed cassette with 11/36 ratio, KMC X10 chain and Shimano Deore shifters. Shimano has always been a smooth operator and we had no complaints with the drivetrain performance in this package.

The Cockpit:

is loaded with Bontrager low riser bar and Bontrager Race Lite Stem. The FSA integrated IS-2 integrated headset comes with alloy catridges and a reducer as the fork comes with a 1/18 steerer. The Bontrager Race grips are not adequate for longer use.

We would expect a pair of lock-on grips considering the bike pricing.

Trek Superfly 5 comes with Shimano M447 hydraulic disc brakes with 180 front and 160 rear rotors. Few competitive brands in India are offering better brakes and higher drivetrain in this pricing.

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RIDING THE SUPERFLY 5: Smooth, slack and efficient for cross country riding!

That’s the first impression you get after the first ride.

The bike definitely feels light on the trails however, there were many occasions where we felt the need of better suspension and brakes considering the money one would spend on this bike.

The slack geometry and the newer frame design proved useful while descending. While it may not be the easiest bike if you fancy flying and spending airtime but the experience on climbs and local trails was good enough compared to the competitive brands available in the Indian market. Although we are not labeling it “The perfect bike out there” but we reckon the smaller wheel size variant might be a little better performer than the 29er version.

Coming to the riding comfort… The fine geometry equipped with Bontrager Evoke 1.5 saddle was absolutely surprising especially on those long days.

We actually loved it and after riding the bike at several locations we would rate this bike 8/10 for riding comfort but would give 6/10 for overall handling.

This package costs INR 1,13,990 in India and seems bit pricy considering more better components offered by other brands in this price, but the design stands out but is that what everybody looks for?

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VERDICT: Trek has been making fine bikes with a lot of research. Trek Superfly series is one of them and we would recommend this bike to our audience. The overall ride and build quality is great but the price seems to be on the higher side compared to other brands offering similar or higher specs in India. But if you are a loyal to the brand and willing to upgrade the fork and brakes of Superly 5; this can be one hot 29er out there.

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By: Ignatius Chen Chin Fa

Niterider light an American based company has been renowned for their lights around the world for the last 25 years and it’s been in India for some time and there has been some good users review for their product.

We got to ride with one of their pro series products “Pro 1800 Race”. We tested this product for about 3 months and these lights can brighten your trail riding experience in dark.

BOX CONTENT: The kit comes in a well-organized nylon bag which you can carry around easily. This bag has a compartment for the extended cable and AC adapter. The main compartment can carry the 4 cell lithium-ion battery, universal handle bar mount, helmet mount and the headlight HEADLIGHT: The headlight has 3 LED XML with each one of them throwing around 600 lumens and becomes brighter with the help of high quality reflectors. The operation is pretty easy with one button which helps you to go from low to high beam. The 4 block LED light on top indicates the battery level. This super bright toy cools down easily, thanks to the well placed effective air vents.

BATTERY: The battery is a 4cell-ion battery that is very compact and can be fitted on your bike or in your back pack. The charge time can take upto 5 hours and the run time is between 1.3hrs to 2.5 hrs.

ACCESSORIES: The Universal handlebar mount is well constructed and fits on all kind of handlebars and can be installed without any tool. The low profile design helmet mount comes with a slide in system that allows you to mount or dismount the headlight very easily.

The Niterider Pro series is undoubtedly amazing on the trail and does exactly what it’s built for. Niterider Pro 1800 costs INR 19,600 which may sound pricy. But if you love to ride in dark, be it city or trails then these lights will not disappoint you at all.

Incase you don’t wish to spend more and still want a decent quality then you can check out plenty of options from Happy Earth Enterprise which is based in Bangalore. Visit www.happyearth.in/store

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By: Vinay Menon

With many frame colours and lens tint options available, the Oakley Crowbar is a top buy for any downhill rider looking for safety, style and quality in a goggle.

Available in India through select motorbike gear retailers.

INR.5500/- to INR.6800/- (Approx) The ‘Oakley Crowbar MX’ with clear lens came our way a few weeks ago.

With comfortable fit on MX and DH helmets, the Crowbars come with a pack of tear-offs, a good deal to pull the set through a season. Oakley’s scratch resistant lens is as good as always. Our test crew didn’t have a fogging problem with these Crowbars. The foam padding worked well and didn’t leave a goggle print on our face after a ride! And of course kept sweat off our eyes.

Features: • Increased lens sizing for greater visual range • Flexible O Matter® chassis • Rigid O Matter® strap connections provide even distribution of goggle pressure • Anti-fog lens on clear lens frames • Removable O Matter® nose guard included • Improved 3-pin attachment system for tear-offs • 7 pack of Oakley laminated tear-offs included • Lexan lens material provides 100% protection against UV-A, UV-B, UV-C and harmful blue light • Exceeds ANSI Z87.1 for high velocity impact • Exceeds EN 1938 for MX goggle requirements • Triple fleece face foam for maximum moisture wicking and comfort FR MTB MAG | 23

By: Vinay Menon Adding more safety to the average DH shorts is becoming important these days with crazy riding and crazier bails! Heres some new crash and burn protection from Fox head.

The TITAN race padded shorts has a lycra/mesh construction packed with soft foam padding in impact prone areas. Hip, thigh and tail bone padding will surely help during a harsh rock garden slam.

With its low profile, the Titan can comfortably be worn under DH shorts and also Moto pants. This newer design from Fox is lighter and more breathable than the ‘Launch’ model. But in the process the thigh padding has been trimmed.

Grippy silicon stripes on the thigh help keep the shorts from running up while pedalling. Being a bicycle specific design, the Titan includes decent padding to prevent saddle sores as well.

Available online for approx. INR 5,000 the Fox Titan is a good add on to your racing

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New Zealand – Rotorua

Photography: Graeme Murray FLIGHT #1 | Martin Söderström tripping on dirt and flying “high” again.

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FLIGHT #2 | Anthony Messere performs at Crankworx Slopestyle FR MTB MAG | 26

FLIGHT #3 | Mr. Messere leaving on a jet plane again.

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FLIGHT #4 | This is how Brett Rheeder is usually seen.

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FLIGHT #5 | Yannick Granieri performs at Slopestyle practice at Day 3 of Crankworx .

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FLIGHT #6 | Lord Kelly McGarry landing his plane at Crankwork 2015 - Rotorua, NZ FR MTB MAG | 30

A faint sound of “the symphony of destruction” rings. As usual I put my alarm back on snooze... Few minutes later it rings again and I wake up only to realize I’m not in my bed. Takes me few minutes to recollect I’m in a sleeper bus on my way to Ahmadabad for The Impossible Race.

It’s the month of March. 3 months into the New Year and nothing interesting happened yet, and then I remembered of the XC race or “the impossible race” as it was called. Sounded interesting.

Asked around and got a bike brand to support me. and aweek later I found myself in The Polo Forest setting up my Scott Scale 770.

Next day I’m the start line setting up and learning how to use the GPS device (it was a GPS directed race and almost 90% of the route had no making tape).

And so it began the 1st stage of the 3 stages. 70% dirt, 30%tarmac.The 3 stages covered approximately 150km divided into 50 km each day .

The 3rd stage ended and as I crossed the line I realized that this was going to be my first podium at a national level race. Well it was. Stoked to be the 2nd runner up at my first ever stage XC race.

Overall it was one kickass race and they have set the bar for other XC races in the country. Looking forward for more if these!

Words: Ajay Padval |Photography: Shivam Roy - Uphill EMG FR MTB MAG | 32

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