Tag: MTB

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News

MTB Vs Snow

EpicTV

EpicTVCyclo’s friends over at EpicTV thought we might like to share this with you. What happens when you hit snowy slopes on an MTB? Pretty much what you’d expect…

 

Once there is snow on the ground most people pack their mountain bikes away for a few weeks. Most people… Embracing the British winter friends Sam Flanagan, Joe Flanagan, Ali Parkin, and Toby Pantling set off into the Scottish Highlands to look for snow-covered trails in the stunning Cairngorms National Park. Arriving just after a huge storm that left most of the country covered in a blanket of snow the boys remained undeterred and wasted no time getting down to business. They made the most out of the conditions they had, blasting some huge turns that looked more like ski turns than MTB turns, and even hit a few jumps.

 

More on EpicTV at epictv.com

 

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Events

Wiggle Fallen Leaves MTB – December 7, 2014

Wiggle Fallen Leaves

Wiggle Fallen LeavesWe can hardly think of a better way to end the MTB season than with the well-established Wiggle Fallen Leaves MTB with its inspiring SouthDowns scenery. Based at Fontwell Park Race Course there are two choices of distance, the ‘standard’ 21-miler and the ‘epic’ 30miler, both with impressive climbs and sweeping descents.

 

Registration opens at 7.30 with riders away between 8 and 10am on fully marked courses and with mech and emergency support and chip timing. There are free energy drinks and snacks available and, appropriate for the time of year, bike wash facilities at the end.

 

Entry to the Wiggle Fallen Leaves MTB event costs £30 regardless of distance. Full details and online entry at ukcyclingevents.co.uk

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News

Marcelo Gutierrez Takes Tocancipá Win

Marcelo Gutierrez

Marcelo GutierrezLegend has it that Marcelo Gutierrez first rode a bike at the age of three and was taking part in BMX races by the age of six. Eight years later he had cast aside the humble BMX to immerse himself in the adrenaline-fuelled world of Downhill, making his first big impression at the 2007 UCI MTB World Championships taking 12th place in the Juniors.

 

Thanks to our friends at EpicTV you can watch Gutierrez bag a truly impressive win at the Columbia National Championships at Tocancipá.

 

Hold on and enjoy… (and then head over to epictv.com for more ridiculously exhilarating videos.)

 

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News

Parkour Ride Comes to London

Parkour Ride

Parkour RideCycle sports and entertainments company, FACE partnership, have launched Parkour Ride, a unique urban cycling event which will pit different ‘tribes’ of cyclists against each other in a race through the iconic Tobacco Dock in London on October 4.

 

Parkour Ride sets two competitors from across the BMX, mountain, fixed-gear and road bikes disciplines against each over a specially designed eleven story circuit, which has jumps, pinch points and chicanes and will be accompanied by a unique audio visual experiences. Male and female amateur riders will line up against the Parkour Pros, which include former World BMX Champion, Liam Phillips, multiple Tour de France stage winner, David Millar, five-times British and European Trials MTB Champion Danny Butler and Sam Pilgrim who will be riding on behalf of Parkour Ride event partner, Swatch.

 

James Pope, managing director of FACE Partnership and promoter of Parkour Ride, says: ‘The concept for Parkour Ride came from a desire to create something completely unique in cycling and unite different types of riders in a big melting pot of racing and entertainment. It’s not just a bike race but a festival, party and food feast!’

 

Members of the public will be able to track riders through a specialist Parkour Ride map and each rider will be fitted with a Go-Pro to bring the public closer to the action. Parkour Ride spectator tickets can be purchased online at an early-bird cost of £15 with participant entry available for £20 at parkourride.com. Potential riders can register here.

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Events

Wiggle Fallen Leaves – December 8

Wiggle Fallen Leaves

Wiggle Fallen LeavesThe Wiggle Fallen Leaves MTB / Cycloscross event has sold out for the last three years. In 2013 it has moved date to later in calendar to allow more riders to enjoy riding this event. The ‘Fallen Leaves’ is a ride set against the stunning backdrop of the New Forest National Park. The course sweeps through the quiet flowing leafy off road tracks, Cycle Paths and is joined by sections of Forest lanes, taking in breathtaking views of the Forest with it crisp covering of golden leaves…

 

Based out of Brockenhurst College (map here), there are three routes on offer – 10, 25 and 35miles – all with just enough climb to make you know you’ve deserved that post-ride cake. Registration opens at 7.30am with an 8-10.00am start and entry fees are £28 for the two longer lengths and £18 for the shorter, 10mile ride. This is the last MTB Wiggle Super Series event of the year, so don’t miss out…

 

Details and online entry at ukcyclingevents.co.uk

 

 

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Apparel Featured Reviews

SealSkinz Lightweight Waterproof Overshoes

SealSkinz Lightweight Waterproof Overshoes

SealSkinz Lightweight Waterproof OvershoesSealSkinz Lightweight Waterproof Overshoes seem like such an obvious idea. Since the 1980s, when the first SealSkinz waterproof sock was invented (in a flash of inspiration whilst watching a documentary about John Logie Baird, so legend has it), the company has been keeping bad weather away from the skin of outdoors type. Now the wait is almost over for cyclists with the SealSkinz Lightweight Waterproof Overshoes due for release in autumn 2013. Cyclo took an early first look in the hope they would live up to our expectations…

 

Designed predominantly for mountain bike and road/commuting (a specific race overshoe for cleated shoes is also out later this year – read our review here) the SealSkinz Lightweight Waterproof Overshoes offer an exceptional degree of weatherproofing, combined with breathability and comfort. As you would expect from SealSkinz this is a true quality product, absolutely fit for purpose and with the kind of attention to detail on which the brand thrives.

 

The outer membrane swept away water on our test rides, whilst the inner, flocked, lining did an excellent job of keeping feet warm. The design lines are clean, which, the makers quite rightly claim, reduces wind resistance and means that they get on with doing their job unobtrusively while you get on with the ride.

 

SealSkinz Lightweight Waterproof OvershoesThe fit is snug but not restrictive (available in sizes S, M, L and XL) with final adjustments made via a Velcro strap across the upper zip, which features a raised, rubberised, branding flash and an inner waterproof flap to ensure nothing creeps in through the fastenings.

 

The inch-wide underfoot Velcro strap did its job equally well and, whilst we had initial misgivings about its bulk, it remained perfectly in place without any discomfort. The neon-green pull-on loop is a nicety we admired, it meant that tugging the overshoe on (or indeed off) was achievable without getting hands unduly muddy/oily or risking stretching or misshaping, and for extra safety the zip edges are lined with reflective strips.

 

Having already put the SealSkinz Waterproof Overshoes for cleats through their paces, we had expected these lightweight, road versions to deliver – and so they did. Their tough construction – which includes a Kevlar toe piece for added durability – should see these through many seasons and the extra niceties make them worth every pound of their £35 RRP.

 

Once launched in August full details of the SealSkinz Lightweight Waterproof Overshoes will be at sealskinz.com. To read the Cyclo review of the SealSkinz Waterproof Overshoes (for cleats) click here, and for a review of their Thin Socklet click here

 

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News

Dirty Weekend

One of Cyclo’s favourite events organisers, Votwo, now have entries open for what promises to be a very mucky day out. The Muc-Off 8hour MTB Enduro is set to take place on Sunday November 6 at Pippingford Park – a private estate in the middle of the Ashdown Forest, East Sussex – with teams ranging in number from solo effort to groups of four tackling repeat loops of the purpose designed 5mile loop for an arse-numbing 8hours. The course, a mixture of fast flowing single track and wide open tracks designed by Steve Jones from the Southern XC Series, will be open from 2pm on Saturday 5 for inspection and test rides. Requirements on the day are simple: complete as many laps as possible during the 8hour stint.

 

With what’s likely to be an abundance of grime, riders will be pleased to know that Muc-Off will be in attendance to help “keep it clean” and to support the catering village which will fuel competitors throughout the event. Entry is £40 for Solo riders, £35 each for teams of 2, £30 each for teams of 3 or just £25 per person for teams of 4. Camping on-site is available at a bargain £5.00 and hot showers will be available to make sure all the mud stays put in Sussex.

 

Details and online entry at: www.votwo.co.uk

 

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News

South Downs Challenge

VOTwo South Downs MTBEntries are now open (indeed selling fast) for the South Downs Way MTB Challenge (May 14-15) an awesome looking two day mountain bike endurance event across some of the most beautiful – and tough – terrain that Southern England has to offer. The route follows old routes and drove-ways along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs, with around 80% off-road riding, 10,000+ feet of climb and what are promised to be “some exciting descents.”

 

Now in it’s fifth year and organised by Votwo, day one kicks off from Winchester across 54miles of chewy track to base overnight with a spot of camping (supply your own tent!) at Washington – West Sussex, not DC – before day two’s 52miler to Eastbourne. With a clearly marked route, checkpoints ever 15miles complete with fresh sandwiches and snacks, full support staff, Saturday dinner and a cooked Sunday breakfast included in the price, free T-shirt, a pro mechanic on hand throughout and Votwo’s legendary homemade soup at the finish this is one event that Cyclo could not recommend highly enough.

 

The team behind this MTB Challenge have an outstand reputation for staging slick, fun events and for client care, or as they put it: “The only thing we don’t do is push your bike up the hills and put your tent up!”

 

Further information and online entry: http://www.votwo.co.uk