19 by Bicycles Catalog

NORCO BICYCLES ROAD

NORCO BICYCLES MOUNTAIN

MOUNTAIN TABLE OF CONTENTS DOWNHILL

THROUGH THE WRINGER: WHAT IT TAKES TO RIDE A WORLD CUP DOWNHILL

DIRT NORCO UK BEN REID DAN STANBRIDGE DUNCAN RIFFLE

p.5

TEAM NORCO INTERNATIONAL JILL KINTNER BRYN ATKINSON Aurum

p.7 p.8

TEAM NORCO

FACTORY / BMX / PRIVATEER DIRT JUMP

FREERIDE

BIG TIME:

How Vancouver’s North Shore changed the way we ride tRUAX

29’ers

ROLLING OPINIONS: THE TRUTH ABOUT WHEEL SIZE

SHINOBI

TRAIL

FINDING FREEDOM: AN ESCAPE INTO BRITISH COLUMBIA’S BACKCOUNTRY SIGHT

BMX

1 p.12

14 p.16

18 p.2

22 p.25

THROUGH THE WRINGER: WHAT IT TAKES TO RIDE A

WORLD CUP DOWNHILL

words: CADEYRN CRAIG PHOTOS: JONATHAN DUNCAn, BEN REID, ALISTAIR BECKETT & SVEN MARTIN

lose your eyes and imagine yourself sitting on your bicycle. You are wearing a full downhill kit – full face, armour, DH suit- you are ready to ride. You look down; your bicycle is sitting on a large piece of plywood. This piece of wood forms the floor of a start hut for the next stop of the UCI World Cup. It’s race day and there is a person beside you announcing numbers as the start clock counts down. “Ten,” he says. You look up, past the start gate at what lies in front of you. Just beyond the down ramp of this start hut lies some of the steepest, rugged and challenging terrain in the world. Rock gardens that seem to drop off in front of you only to send you to more rocks below, steep off-camber roots that threaten to slide you headlong into a tree and jumps that will send you 40 feet through the air at more than 50 kilometers an hour. Your heart is pounding; you can hear it thump-thump-thump in your ears. “Five,” the voice calls out. This is it, the culmination of months of training, preparation and riding. Your sponsors are counting on you, your friends are cheering you on and you want this so bad. You step down on your pedal and push yourself off the platform and onto the steep down ramp, breaking the sensor beam and starting the timer. In just less than three minutes it will all be over — that is, if you make it to the bottom. This is World Cup; this is the no-holds-barred, full-on speedfest that the world’s best brave on a weekly basis. This is the pinnacle of downhill racing, the (not to sound too cliché) Holy Grail of the sport. Only the elite of athletes make their way onto the circuit, but nothing is guaranteed. Hopeful riders show up every race, just trying to qualify for the main event, but most don’t make the cut. If you don’t qualify, you pack your bags and move on to the next race, hoping for a better result.

Here, everyone is good, every rider is a “natural.” The difference between good and great is the training and mindset. Can you put the last crash behind you, can you tune out the rest of your life, are you able to push past fear and find focus and concentrate? Can you ride right to the edge without falling into the abyss below? Keep the nagging voice in the back of your mind from throwing you off your game? Faster, faster…you’re not going fast enough, that mistake just cost you the race. What are you doing? Shit…tree! Great riders are consistent — the top ten are usually regulars, while the other 70 are wild cards and hopefuls that have yet to master the game. Hungry new riders, nipping at the heels of veterans, show their fearlessness. Mere tenths of a second separate winner from losers and the pressure most riders feel would crack mere mortals like a Cadbury Creme Egg. On course, your mind is your biggest enemy. It tries to distract you and pull your attention away from the task at hand. Questions flit through your consciousness: What if I get injured? Where was the line I saw earlier? I lost time on the corner…the race is over. The riders that can find focus and push the distractions out are the ones who win the day; no one is totally insulated from him- or herself. The off-season is short and most riders split their limited time between securing sponsors, training and trying to assemble the resources to embark on the odyssey again next season. Only the very few at the very top have the luxury of focusing on just training. No one’s future is secure, though; a training injury or accident can quickly suck the colour out of their dreams for the season. Despite the risk, financial challenges and

DIRT NORCO UK

DAN

STANBRIDGE

BEN REID

DUNCAN RIFFLE

the long road, the riders keep coming back. They put themselves through hell and back for a chance to compete at the highest level.

”On course, your mind is your

biggest enemy.

distract you and pull your attention away from the task at hand.”

As your wheel rolls over the threshold of the start gate, as your bike tilts down the ramp, you leave everything and everyone else behind. Downhill riders are a rare breed, for sure – a combination of daredevil, athlete and Zen master. They are at the top of their game, yet only a few ever reach the podium, and fewer still manage to do it with any consistency. Why do they do it then? That’s probably the question at the front of your mind. It’s simple really. They love to ride, and that is hard to beat.

It tries to

DIRT NORCO UK

TEAM NORCO INTERNATIONAL

JILL KINTNER BIRTHDATE: 10/24/81 DISCIPLINE: DOWNHILL •

3-time World Champion - MTB

•

9-time USA national champion

•

2008 Olympic Bronze medalist - BMX

BRYN ATKINSON BIRTHDATE: 12/09/82 DISCIPLINE: DOWNHILL •

numerous top 10 World Cup / World Champ results

•

32 International podiums

•

2-time US Open Champ

•

a Pro GRT overall in 2010

•

7th at World Champs in Livigno, Italy in 2005

RIDER PROFILES - NORCO INTERNATIONAL

T OR TO

PONS

IAL S OFFIC

WORLD CUP RACING TEAM. : SVEN MARTIN RIDER: TEAM DIRT UK - DAN STANBRIDGE LOCATION: VAL DI SOLE, ITALY

TECHNOLOGY A purpose-built World Cup downhill bike, the AURUM is designed for riders that want to go downhill fast. If you’re obsessed with chair lift and shuttle access, the first thing you will notice when you ride the AURUM is the speed at which it covers ground, the ease with which it flows through corners and the confidence with which it eats up rough terrain. From World Cup races to parks and shuttle runs, the AURUM is mind-blowingly quick, stunningly nimble and astonishingly precise. Designed to capture the gold it was named after, this is the bike you want if you describe your riding style as ‘fast.’

A.R.T. DOWNHILL

YOUR NEW FAVORITE COLOUR: Latin for gold, the Aurum was tested and developed on the World Cup circuit. Focused on speed and cornering, the two things that win races, the Aurum is also the first DH bike to offer GRAVITY TUNE, which provides the perfect fit and tune for riders of different sizes.

Racing is all about speed, being able to cover the given terrain in the shortest amount of time. To excel on modern downhill courses, littered with roots, rocks, jumps and G-outs, a bicycle needs incredible suspension performance. A.R.T. for our DH platform has been engineered with an emphasis on bump compliance. When you ride an Aurum you’ll immediately notice how fast this bike covers rough terrain, how quickly it accelerates and how efficiently it smooths out trails. This performance is thanks to the optimized A.R.T. platform.

In a sport where performance is everything, GRAVITY TUNE is a massive advancement for downhill riders. Traditional fitting philosophies often left either larger or smaller riders in a poor body position when they were standing on their pedals. This caused them to experience different, less-than-optimum ride characteristics, often leaving them at a disadvantage over riders with proper weight distribution. GRAVITY TUNE completely changes this old philosophy by varying the rear-center (the distance between the bottom bracket and the rear wheel axle) and the reach proportionately for each bicycle size. It’s a simple solution for a complex problem, but it means that whether you fit a small, medium or large frame you will experience the best ride characteristics possible. At the same time we also realized that this presented us with a unique opportunity to tune the suspension to better match the change in rider weight that generally goes along with changes in height. The result is a bicycle that fits and rides amazingly well whether you are short, medium or tall. In a sport where having the right bicycle can be the difference between a gold medal and no medal at all, GRAVITY TUNE ensures you have everything you need for a winning performance.

NORCO FACTORY TEAM

JAY HOOTS

RYAN LEECH

darcy turenne

DISCIPLINE: freeride

DISCIPLINE: TRIALS

DISCIPLINE: freeride

NICK GEDDES

SAM DUECK DISCIPLINE: slopestyle

MISLAV MIRONOVIC

LUDOVIC MAY

DISCIPLINE: DH RACE

ANDREW WATSON

CATHERINE VIPOND

DISCIPLINE: XC RACE

DISCIPLINE: slopestyle

DISCIPLINE: DH RACE

NORCO BMX PROGRAM

BEN KAUFMANN

JAMES VAN DE KAMP

DISCIPLINE: STREET/PARK DISCIPLINE: STREET/PARK

PRIVATEER

RIDERS

ANGIE HOHENWARTER

OLLIE BURTON

MIKE HOPKINS

DISCIPLINE: FREERIDE

DISCIPLINE: DH RACE

DISCIPLINE: FREERIDE

NORCO RIDERS

BIG TIME:

How Vancouver’s North Shore

changed the way we ride

words: CADEYRN CRAIG PHOTOS: MARGUS RIGA

t’s difficult to place a value on the contribution that Vancouver’s North Shore has made to modern freeriding. The Shore itself is one of the most fabled, feared and respected places in the cycling world. Nestled in the thick forests that cling to the sides of Cypress, Fromme and Seymour mountains, it is an eerily quiet and tranquil environment, a sharp contrast to the raucous, difficult and unnerving challenges that lie in wait on the nervous system of trails that snake their way down through this ancient landscape. Pushing riders, equipment and convention to the edge and beyond, it is a unique place that has attained a legendary status in the halls of cycling. It began almost by accident. A local trail builder had built structures to bypass sections of forest where it was difficult or impossible to ride. Everyone who rode it loved it and they realized that they had stumbled upon an untapped resource. It wasn’t long before they built structures to augment the trail, taking riding off the forest floor and into the air. Ladders, bridges and woodwork unlocked new potential where the only limits were the trail builder’s imagination, the daring of the rider and at the time, the equipment. Building became an obsession for a few key individuals; they discovered new ways to create trail features and push riding to its very limits. This was the beginning of the Shore. To protect the precious trails they had toiled over, riders and builders alike were originally very tightlipped about where these treasures could be found. Only a select few knew the location of the disguised entrances and how to access them. But for the early adventurers it was a time of rapid progression and exploration. Riders had found a new form of expression and escape.

Mainstream mountain biking continued to grow in popularity, while this eccentric clique went about their business in the dark recesses of the North Shore pushing the sport and themselves. Caught up in the excitement of innovation and pushing boundaries, trails continued to progress, as ladders, bridges and structures gave access to features they had never dreamed of. Almost anything was possible. As with any good thing, word eventually seeped out. The rest of the cycling world started to catch wind of what was happening on the Shore. Images started showing up in magazines and videos of “Shore” riding made their way into the public eye. These “freeriders” were doing things on mountain bikes that no one had even imagined. Steep descents, big drops and crazy stunts were fuelling interest from people everywhere. Watching a mountain biker navigate the elaborate trails was a spectacle. It was the type of thing that leaves you in shock and awe, holding your breath as the riders make their way over narrow obstacles suspended perilously in the air. It was a different type of riding: slow, technical and dangerous, and people had taken notice. Builders and riders around the world started trying to emulate the Shore style of riding. It didn’t take long before bicycle manufacturers, started to make Shore-specific bicycles. The Shore became known as a place that destroyed equipment: Drops to flat were prevalent (transitions were yet to be exploited), and steep descents and punishing features wreaked havoc on early bikes. Akin to tanks, the new Shore-style machines were built to withstand the punishing riding conditions. These heavy monstrosities looked like dirt bikes without the engine.

With better equipment the trails continued to evolve, and bigger drops, steeper descents and riskier lines were built to push riders to new limits. It was difficult not to take notice, but all this attention didn’t come without its consequences. There was now a large following of riders who frequented the Shore. This unique culture of mountain bikers similar to the early cultures of skateboarding and snowboarding had created a lifestyle. The Shore became a destination for riders from around the world, continuing to grow in popularity. Trails and riding were progressing more quickly than ever, and were evolving. Builders started to build trails with flow, while drops and jumps added transitions enabling riders to go even bigger. But things were getting really big. To some people the trails had gotten out of hand and residents became concerned. The trails now featured huge gaps and step downs, skinnies suspended high above the forest floor, and wild stunts with dire consequences if mistakes were made. Riders were getting injured. Legal questions started making their way into the conversation. Some of the trails were bordering on ridiculous. Shore riding had become a liability to

landowners, and a fear for residents — many also saw it as destructive to the environment. Activists started taking matters into their own hands, sabotaging trails and structures, which enraged the local riders and builders. Conflict was imminent and the chance for injury grew as the two sides began to challenge each other.

for all those involved. Taking this stance, this group — which would later become the North Shore Mountain Biking Association — was able to work with the district towards a compromise. The builders would temper their trails and build in agreed-upon areas. In return, riders could continue to frequent the Shore. The fate of the Shore was secured once and for all.

The district of North Vancouver, driven by public concern and increasing conflict, stepped into the argument. The disagreements had reached such a level that at one point there was talk about banning riding on the Shore. The outlook was bleak, but the culture of the Shore riders was strong and a group of committed advocates banded together to defend their beloved trails. It was, after all, a part of their identities – they were Shore riders.

It all began under the dark canopies of Vancouver’s North Shore mountains and it grew into something no one could have imagined, taking on a life of its own. Trails are now being built better than ever and continue to push the progression of our sport. Riders and builders the world over are trying to imitate the Shore, a place of boundless imagination and a testing ground for new ideas, equipment and riding. Driven by a passionate community of committed riders, the Shore will continue to lead the evolution of our sport. It is a true labor of love, a love for riding.

The advocates knew to appeal to the sensibilities of those that opposed them; they had to be rational if they wanted to save their playground. With that in mind they presented the idea that what was happening on the Shore created real value to both the district and the people that lived there. The Shore was attracting riders from around the world, becoming a valid tourist attraction and driving local businesses. Above all, it had a real economic benefit

margus riga RIDER: JAY HOOTS

TECHNOLOGY The Truax is designed for those riders that are just as likely to pedal up to the trailhead as they are to take a shuttle or chairlift to the top of the mountain before they dive in and revel in their descent. Seven inches of travel and a slack headtube angle make this bike right at home on the way down. Ride it everywhere, every day: jumps, ladders, berms, steep descents, park, shore â&#x20AC;Ś wherever you need a fast, versatile and incredibly fun bicycle.

A.R.T. FREERIDE Freeride is a versatile term that includes downhill adventure, berms, jumps, rocks and drops. For this style of riding, bump compliance for descending ability is incredibly important, but you still need to get to the trails. A.R.T. on the Truax has been optimized to perform over rough, unpredictable terrain at any speed. You can still pedal it uphill, but performance has been biased in the downhill direction.

HOLLOFORM

You gotta get up to get down. If you want to enjoy the downhill, you first have to get to the top of the trails. We endowed the TRUAX with seven inches of bottomless A.R.T. travel so that you can pedal your way to the top, rip your way back to the bottom and do it all over again without skipping a beat.

Holloform linkarm: This hyper-rigid, one-piece linkarm provides two significant benefits: Providing lateral support to the seatstays, it stiffens the rear triangle, keeping the bike tracking straight and true through any terrain. It also prevents torsional forces from affecting the rear shock, reducing stiction and increasing shock life.

HYDROFORMED TUBES Using hydraulic fluid under incredibly high pressure, frame tubing is shaped to precise tolerances and efficient shapes. The process allows our engineering team to increase strength in key areas and create more aesthetically pleasing forms. At the same time, functional features such as fork, shock and stand over clearance are incorporated into the design. Put it all together and you end up with a visually striking frame that is functional, light and strong.

THT TAPERED HEADTUBE A huge step forward in bicycle design, tapered head tubes provide three major benefits: wider headtube junction, stronger fork crown/steertube and optimized headset bearings. Combining these benefits makes the bike more responsive, stiffer and more exciting to ride.

ROLLING OPINIONS THE TRUTH ABOUT

WHEEL SIZE words: CADEYRN CRAIG PHOTOS: MARGUS RIGA

here are a lot of opinions available on wheel size right now, enough that it can make choosing your next bike a chore. But where does opinion fade and just good knowledge come into play? We wanted to take a step back and look at the big picture, simplify the argument and present an objective view on wheel size. In the end it comes down to choice: Is one wheel size better for everything? No. But depending on your riding style and ability – one size of wheel can be the best for you.

BIGGER WHEELS ARE SMOOTHER In theory this is true. The reason for the smooth rolling moniker lies in something called the angle of attack. The gist of it is this: A larger wheel has a shallower angle of attack when it encounters an object – like a rock, root or bump – which means it faces less resistance and rolls over the object more easily. This of course smooths out the ride and keeps you moving along at a good pace. As a larger diameter wheel travels over a series of objects, like you would encounter on a trail, it maintains speed more easily. Less resistance means a smoother ride, which also generally means a quicker ride.

SMALLER WHEELS ACCELERATE FASTER When it comes to acceleration, smaller wheels offer better performance. They require the rider to exert less effort when getting up to speed, which also means that the same effort that would be exerted on larger wheels delivers better results during acceleration. If you like to ride terrain where you are powering out of corners, sprinting or need to get up to speed quickly, then a smaller wheel is most likely your best choice. The flip side is that a larger wheel will better keep your momentum moving forward. They will take more energy to get going, but once you get a larger wheel up to speed, it will require less effort to maintain said speed. This is why many people say big wheels feel like they are faster. If your rides take you to terrain where you want to keep a good, consistent pace, then bigger wheels are best.

BIG WHEELS ARE SLOW TO TURN This is a point that could be good or bad, depending on what type of terrain you are frequenting. The reason that a larger wheel is slower to change direction comes from the world of physics. As a wheel gets bigger the majority of the mass moves further away from the centre or point of rotation. This creates what an engineer might call a “gyroscopic effect,” causing this rotating mass to increase its resistance to changes in direction. A larger wheel is therefore more difficult to change direction or lean over. A smaller counterpart keeps more of its mass closer to the centre, which reduces the resistance it exerts to direction changes, resulting in improved maneuverability. For riders that ride very technical, tight and varied terrain, the nimble handling of smaller hoops can be a desirable quality and also lends to the playfulness of the bike for those that like to toss their steed around. The larger wheel’s resistance to direction changes isn’t necessarily a negative thing. As a counterpoint to the maneuverability, it also provides more stability – one of the reasons many new riders enjoy the ride larger wheels provide. If you ride faster terrain with more flow, like Ontario or California singletrack, you will probably find bigger wheels much to your liking.

BIG WHEELS HAVE MORE GRIP Larger wheels do provide more contact with the terrain that you are riding. They have a larger contact patch which means that more of the tire is actually holding onto the ground below. This can be a big bonus in many situations. Climbing is one of them — no one complains about having more traction on the uphill. And once you get a larger wheel leaned over they can provide excellent traction in corners too.

THE ANSWER There may not be one perfect hoop to rule them all. It is a personal choice that has to fit your riding style and the terrain you frequent. Because of the increased choice there is a better chance than ever that you will find your own perfect ride. If one wheel size just isn’t enough to cover the many types of terrain you enjoy, then maybe it’s time to consider adding another bike to your stable. As long as you are having fun, you can rest assured that you have made the right decision.

bigger is better. What can we say? The Shinobi features 120mm of efficient A.R.T. suspension and true all-mountain geometry sitting on 29â&#x20AC;? wheels. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard not to notice that this bike is a little bit different, a little bit better and a little bigger.

: margus riga

TECHNOLOGY All mountain riding is about striking a balance between pedaling efficiency for climbing and bump compliance for descending. A.R.T. on our Shinobi bikes has been optimized for riders looking for a 29er that is just as at home on the way up as it is on the way back down again. It is this unique balance on 29â&#x20AC;? wheels that makes the Shinobi ideal on any all mountain adventure.

A.R.T. ALL-MOUNTAIN 29ER All mountain riding is about striking a balance between pedaling efficiency for climbing and bump compliance for descending. A.R.T. on our Shinobi bikes has been optimized for riders looking for a 29er that is just as at home on the way up as it is on the way back down again. It is this unique balance on 29â&#x20AC;? wheels that makes the Shinobi ideal on any all mountain adventure.

INTEGRATED DROPOUT DESIGN The integrated dropout has allowed us to combine a number of features to create a more efficient rear dropout system. The dropouts combine: axle retention, post mount brakes, rear suspension pivots, derailleur hanger attachment and frame gussets. This results in a stiff, strong and light dropout design.

SMOOTH (DOUBLE PASS) WELDING Exactly what it sounds like, smooth welding uses two distinct weld passes to produce an improved weld bead geometry that better distributes loads. Used in high stress areas like the headtube and pivots, this labour intensive process is stronger than conventional welding.

FINDING FREEDOM: AN ESCAPE INTO

BRITISH COLUMBIA’S BACKCOUNTRY words: DUSTAN SEPT PHOTOS: PAT MULROONEY

iding a bike today holds the same joy that it did as I shed my training wheels two decades ago. In my three-foot-tall world, riding a bike was newfound independence; it was something that I could be in control of. My bike was a glimpse into the world beyond fences, doors, parents and rules. My bike was my first taste of freedom.

Today life is different. Gone are the worry-free days of childhood, replaced with the rigors of responsibility and the daily struggles and routines of grown-up life. While challenges have shifted away from worrying about being picked last in gym class to paying bills and staying ahead at my job, the solution to today’s problems remains the same. My bicycle is my escape, my carefree source of exhilaration. I have moved beyond the sidewalks and playgrounds, past the city streets and local hills of my youth and into the backcountry. When I am away from the rustle-bustle of life and deep in the wilderness — that is where I feel truly free. I am free to explore, free to sort out the troubles of my mind and free to ride! My local riding spots may be a daily reminder of what is important and what can be forgotten, but escaping into a distant backcountry adventure can be the perfect way to get a clear view of the road ahead. One place that provides such an experience is the Chilcotin mountain range of British Columbia; it serves up a childlike sense of exhilaration in adult-sized portions. Taking off for an extended weekend with friends is an excellent way to forget about our First World problems and get back to the basics, back to freedom. A couple of months ago this was the ideal backdrop for a well-needed recharge and escape from the everyday, so a couple of friends and I decided to get back in touch with what is important.

Accessing the Chilcotin area via floatplane, we embarked on a threeday journey through this remote, beautiful and challenging terrain. The access alone was a step into the dark. Once the plane slipped over the horizon and the sun faded into the evening sky we were on our own. Life went back in time, leaving us with a starlit sky, our friendship and our bikes. Ripe with anticipation over the next days’ adventure, we called it an early night and tried to get some sleep. The next morning I awoke to a frost-laden bivy, and the crisp mountain air was refreshing as I drew in a lungful. It was peaceful and serene as the sun crested over the surrounding mountains and we started the day off with a cup of hot java to warm our spirits and insides. As the line of sunlight made its way down the hills and into camp, the air warmed, the ground thawed and we packed up for our first day of adventure. We set out at a lazy pace to warm up. The mountains were tall and the valleys deep, making our travel slow and methodical. Throughout a 10-hour day we traveled through snow and rivers, over high passes and across lush valleys, rarely witnessing any signs of civilization. It was just us: three friends and three bikes travelling through the wilderness, experiencing childlike freedom and awe at the world around us. As the day wore on, the promise of camp was a carrot on a string: dangling just over the next rise, down the next hillside, out of reach and out of sight. After what seemed like forever we finally reached camp. With the sun sinking into the horizon, a fire replaced the warmth and light from above. The cold evening air settled in and we gathered closely around the fire as the stars made their appearance in the sky above.

A dinner of dehydrated chili and some warming whiskey seemed oddly elegant in this rustic, sparse setting. Our rations may well have been filet mignon as we huddled around the fire talking about the day’s adventure and savouring each and every bite of our meals. My legs ached and my mind buzzed with the thought of the next day’s journey. I slipped back into my bivy home for a second night and sleep rushed over me instantly.

“CRESTING THIS PASS WAS THE MOMENT

WHERE my mind was able to free Itself of the

shackles of daily life. “

The next morning the sun climbed over the hills, chasing the shadows away and the cool air bit hard. Our legs feeling the fatigue of the previous day’s long work, we started with a hike, a steep ascent over a shale slope towards our destination. As we pushed onwards we thought about the looming journey through an unknown region of wilderness.

We aimed to crest through Castle Pass, an area where the wind, rain, ice and snow had chipped away at the ancient peak, shaping it into a massive tower that overlooks the entire range like an ancient sentinel. On the final ascent to the pass, breathing was deep in the thin mountain air and our concentration was firmly focused on our goals. The weight of my pack added to the fatigue in my legs, making them feel heavy and awkward as every step was a challenge. This was the joy; the torture is what drove me. I was here to push myself, try new things and experience that same freedom I remembered from my childhood. Knowing that the vicious climb would be rewarded with a gluttonous, seemingly endless descent on the other side kept me going. As we approached the summit of Castle Pass, we saw the horizon slowly emerge, giving a sense of scale not only to the location but also the accomplishment of conquering this climb. Exhaustion gave way to elation – this was the freedom I came for. We stopped to reflect on the magnitude of our achievements and serenity of the moment. It didn’t matter if this was my local trails or a multi-day journey — cycling is about freedom, adventure and achievement. Riding my bike is where I can focus on what is truly important and forget the rest. Without my bicycle I would not have the clarity in other aspects of my life I require on a daily basis. This is where I find my clarity. Cresting this pass was the moment where my mind was able to free itself from the shackles of daily life. This was by no means the end of our ride but it represented the pinnacle of freedom. At this point, life was simple and focused on what matters: friends, nature, my bike and me. This is where I felt freedom and the same simple sense of bliss that my bike introduced me to so many years ago.

For those who know no bounds.

Adventures shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have boundaries and neither should your equipment. With 140mm of go-anywhere, ride-anything A.R.T. travel giving it equal prowess on the way up and on the way down, the Sight always delivers a ride without limits.

: PAT MULROONEY RIDERS: DUSTAN SEPT & ERIC LALONDE

TECHNOLOGY There are so many places around the world where you can ride your bicycle. So many trails to discover and new lines to explore, this is the one bike that every adventurer needs on their search for the perfect trail, and perfect ride. Designed to epitomize climbing efficiency while maintaining descending prowess, the SIGHT has a choke hold on versatility in the all mountain trail market. Freeing riders to explore trails without limitations the SIGHT is the bike you have been waiting for. Try it, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see.

A.R.T. TRAIL Trail riders are looking to tip the scales towards climbing ability without giving up on descending qualities. A.R.T. for the Sight bikes emphasizes pedaling efficiency while still maintaining a high level of bump compliance. You still get excellent performance on the way down but we have bumped up the fun on the way up. Try the new Sight and experience what true trail performance really feels like.

INTEGRATED DERAILLEUR HANGER Proven to be substantially stiffer and less prone to breakage than conventional derailleur hangers, the X-12 system ensures incredibly crisp and precise shifting. Each frame comes with a spare hanger bolt integrated into the frame so you can repair it trailside if you need to.

BRAKES

Integrated into the rear dropouts, the post mount uses half of the hardware of a normal brake mounting system and creates a stronger structure that reduces braking harmonics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; also known as noise.

CLEVIS-LESS PIVOTS A normal pivot point is connected by a piece of material welded to the end of a tube, also known as a clevis. A stride forward in bicycle design, we found a way to eliminate the clevis by mounting the pivot hardware directly into the tapered tube design. With fewer welds these pivots are stiffer, stronger and lighter, giving you a better ride.

200 FT 61 M

20 200

1 20 100

100 FT 30.5 M

20 70

70 FT 21.3 M

20 50

50 FT 15.2 M

20 40

20 30

20 25

20 20

DE P T H P E R C E P T

O N.

R I D E B M X N

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40 FT 12.2 M

30 FT 9.14 M

25 FT 7.62 M

20 FT 6.10 M

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

SPECIAL THANKS

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS MOUNTAIN INSIDE COVER: MARGUS RIGA DIRT UK EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY: TOP ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT: JONATHAN DUNCAN / BEN REID BOTTOM ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT: JONATHAN DUNCAN OPPOSITE PAGE (TOP DOWN): SVEN MARTIN / ALISTAIR BECKETT / SVEN MARTIN AURUM AD: SVEN MARTIN JILL KINTER (ADELAIDE): TIM BARDSLEY RIDER PROFILE TEAM NORCO INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY: TIM BARDSLEY (JILL KINTNER/BRYN ATKINSON) DIRT JUMP - SAM DUECK / MISLAV MIRONOVIC PHOTOGRAPHY: MARGUS RIGA BIG TIME: HOW VANCOUVER’S NORTH SHORE HAS CHANGED THE WAY WE RIDE PHOTOGRAPHY: MARGUS RIGA TRUAX AD: MARGUS RIGA NORCO FACTORY TEAM PAGE LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY: MARGUS RIGA (NICK GEdDES, RYAN LEECH) Nicolas teichrob (DARCY TURENNE) / DUSTAN SEPT (CATHERINE VIPOND) / DEREK VANDERKOOY (JAY HOOTS) / THOMAS DIETZ (LUDOVIC MAY) / ROB JONES (ANDREW WATSON) /Joseph HOpKINS (MIKE HOPKINS) WHEEL SIZE EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY: MARGUS RIGA SHINOBI AD: MARGUS RIGA FINDING FREEDOM: AN ESCAPE IN TO BC BACKCOUNTRY PHOTOGRAPHY: PAT MULROONEY SIGHT AD: PAT MULROONEY BMX AD - BEN KAUFMANN - ROCK RIDE TAILWHIP / NO HANDER DIRT - RICH REDMOND, WALL RIDE TO WHIP (I LOVE MY BIKE) - LEIGH RONNEBECK, GRANVILLE STREET (VANCOUVER, BC) - DUSTAN SEPT JAMES VAN DE KAMP - MARGUS RIGA DARCY TURENNE WALL RIDE PHOTOGRAPHY: MATTIAS fredrikssON PHOTO CREDITS PAGE PHOTOGRAPHY: MARGUS RIGA

ROAD INSIDE COVER: MARGUS RIGA FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE: WHY THE RIDE TO CONQUER CANCER MOVES US ALL PHOTOGRAPHY: DAN ROBINSON VALENCE AD: MARGUS RIGA THE LONG ROAD TO THE BIG LEAGUES - H&R BLOCK INTERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY: MARGUS RIGA CRR ad: MARGUS RIGA SAVING RACE - HOW CYCLOCROSS IS SAVING CYCLING PHOTOGRAPHY: MARGUS RIGA THRESHOLD ad: MARGUS RIGA URBAN/COMMUTERS SPREAD: p.20 - LEFT VERTICAL NORCO XFR: MARGUS RIGA / LEFT TOP MONTEREY: DEREK VANDERKOOY / LEFT BOTTOM SINGLE SPEED: MARGUS RIGA p.21 - RIGHT TOP CCX: CADEYRN CRAIG / RIGHT BOTTOM INDIE: CADEYRN CRAIG / RIGHT VERTICAL TRAIL-A-BIKE: MARGUS RIGA VFR AD: MAIN CADEYRN CRAIG (VFR SMALL: PETE STACE-SMITH / INDIE SMALL: CADEYRN CRAIG / XFR: MARGUS RIGA)

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