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Could MTB and The Himalaya's Be A Match Made In Heaven?

12/5/2019

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Rob Warner's Wild Rides with Olly Wilkins

#wildrides #robwarner #ollywilkins #rjripper #mandilpradhan #redbull #himalaya #nepal #mtbmagasia

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25 stairs and more – Fabio Wibmer shreds France in “Urban Freeride Lives 3”

12/5/2019

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Photo: Hannes Berger

When Fabio Wibmer sets out on his very own journey through France you can expect banger after banger. Starting in Lyon, the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the Austrian bike phenom makes his way up to Paris, sending one sketchy staircase after another and pulling some mighty jumps until he reaches his final destination at the famous Eiffel Tower.

Photo: Hannes Berger

That urban freeride lives is showcased better than ever by mountain bike pro Fabio Wibmer’s new video. Sending it down the steep and narrow alleys of the historic districts of Lyon and Paris and jumping mighty staircases including a double escalator, the 24-year-old truly lives up to the high-paced video’s name. With a multiple stair set on Montmartre and a huge bridge jump to an almost flat landing at La Défense, Fabio pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.

Photo: Hannes Berger

Starting off directly with the famous 25 stairs in Lyon Fabio sets the direction for everything that follows. The 4.5 meters high and 6.7 meters wide stair gap rose to fame in the skateboard and action sports community when Swedish skater Ali Boulala first tried to send it in 2002. Only mastered once on a skateboard and never really tried on a big bike, Fabio’s attempt was a step into unknown territory.

Photo: Hannes Berger

“Urban Freeride Lives 3 definitely has been my raddest production yet. I really had to improve my riding and push my limits to get some of these shots done,” Fabio acknowledges: “Shooting in France with the boys was good fun, but not always that easy. We surely had a few risky and gnarly situations to master.” The final result is definitely worth watching and truly proves that Urban Freeride Lives!

#fabiowibmer #urbanfreeride #lives3 #paris #lyon #france #redbull #sick #mtbmagasia #rasoulution

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Yak Ru Enduro 2019 – Race Report

11/26/2019

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Dust and Ice
An enduro on the roof of the world

Words by: Wilson Low
Pictures by: Kristina Vackova, Col Elmore, Dane Cronin, Riley Seebeck, Sunil Sharma

The Ngawal Valley of the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal was the setting for a 3-day enduro race unlike any other: the Yak Ru Enduro. The ‘blind’ format race, held from the 13th to 15th of November, encompassed 9 timed stages between elevations of 3200 to 4100 metres above-sea-level and would prove to be the ultimate test of rider and bike.

The journey to the race venue had racers transported from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu’s congested street to the rarified air and primaeval alpine environment of the Manang District where, from their accommodation and race HQ - the Ngawal Mountain Home in the village of Ngawal - they would launch their high-altitude campaign.

Photo: Col Elmore

The race trails of the Yak Ru included lots of ‘natural singletrack’ – routes carved out by generations-old usage from villagers and their animals. Also in the mix were sections of some world-class hiking routes that were deemed ‘just about rideable’ by the organizers, including parts of the renowned Annapurna Circuit Trek, as well as tracks that passed through autumnal agricultural fields and ancient villages. Apart from the speed and ‘natural flow’ that these trails afforded, there were also significantly technical, high-commitment sections consisting of tight switchbacks, steep chutes, and rock gardens filled with loose shale and boulders.

Photo: Dane Cronin

Photo: Kristina Vackova

On top of the demanding trail conditions that had to be raced ‘onsight’, racers also had to contend with the reduced oxygen levels of high altitude – a factor that reduced many uphill or low-traction segments of the transfers between timed stages to ‘hike-a-bikes’. Also, with early-morning flag-offs being significantly cold before the full warmth of the sun could hit the slopes, the athletes often had to layer up with extra clothing at the start to maintain their core temperature. The media and medical teams that followed the racers throughout the course were likewise challenged on-course. Still, the Himalayan weather gods were kind enough to grace all three days of racing with warm weather and clear skies, and these dry conditions would set the stage for some extremely fast, dust-laden tracks and competition.

Photo: Riley Seebeck

Photo: Col Elmore

For the first day of racing, the opening stage featured a descent from the Milarepa Cave holy site, under the imposing peak of Annapurna III; followed by two shorter stages close to the local Tibetan School. American rider Tom Sampson forged ahead of his fellow Yeti Cycles teammate, the Canadian Geoff Kabush in the men’s field. The North American duo was trailed by the Gabriel Sarsuelo Amigo (Trek TYK) of the Philippines. In the women’s race, it was an all-Antipodean podium consisting of Megan Rose (Yeti Cycles) of Australia leading out the New Zealander runner-ups Phoebe Coers (Mons Royale) and Robin Pieper (Ground Effect/Santa Cruz NZ).

Photo: Dane Cronin

Photo: Kristina Vackova

The good weather continued into the second day of racing, with Stage 4 dropping from high above Ngawal – the start of which was accessed by climbing an imposing staircase built into the ridgeline adorned with shrines and prayer flags. After a short Stage 5 close to the village, racers then tackled a long and arduous 2.5-hour transfer stage to the top of the remote Julu Plateau, where they then dropped into Stage 6. This stage had several highlights, including the first truly steep and loose sections of the race; the challenge of dealing with pockets of deep dust on a high-speed section of 4WD track (that hid some potentially race-ending ‘baby-head’ rocks); and the novelty of racing through the main thoroughfare of Julu village. Sampson maintained his lead over Kabush and Amigo while putting significant time into 4th and 5th place-getters - the Scotsman Steven Cox and the Kiwi Ben Gibson - respectively. In the women’s field, Coers’ strong rally on the opening stage allowed her to finish the day just two seconds adrift of Rose, with Pieper a further 32 seconds back.

Photo: Dane Cronin

Photo: Kristina Vackova

The third and final day of racing saw the athletes once again take on the now-infamous ridgeline stairs. The transfer then continued, traversing across to the neighbouring ridgeline to the start of Stage 7 - a remote shepherd’s trail which had only been recently scouted and recorded as a ‘first descent on mountain bike’ by the course marking crew just three days prior. In contrast to the high-speed flow of this newly-minted line, Stage 8 featured a low-speed jank-fest through some old ruins near Ngawal village. A last short transfer then brought athletes to the concluding race stage, which dropped steeply (and loosely!) from the Ngawal Monastery before turning into a raucous, flow-filled descent to the final finish line.

Photo: Col Elmore

Photo: Riley Seebeck

The dust settling from the racing action saw Sampson emerge champion in the men’s race, 28 seconds ahead of Kabush and almost 3.5 minutes ahead of Amigo. Rose triumphed in the women’s category, having built a comfortable lead of 38 seconds over Coers over the three days of competition, with Pieper in 3rd place more than 2 minutes back.

Photo: Dane Cronin

Photo: Kristina Vackova

The Yak Ru Enduro was as much an adventure as it was a race - for the athletes as well as the teams of bike-borne media and medical staff. The remote, almost mythical setting that is the Nepalese Himalayas was very much on the ‘bucket list’ to visit for all riders involved, let alone race in. The Yak Ru’s successful conclusion hopefully cements the Ngawal Valley - and its network of raw, remote, pristine trails - in the pantheon of ultimate MTB riding destinations in Asia, if not the world.

The founders and organizers of the 2019 Yak Ru Enduro would like to thank all athletes, staff, volunteers, sponsors, and partners for their commitment and support in making this ‘enduro on the roof of the world’ a true success in its execution, and a validation of their collective efforts and contributions.

“Yak Ru!”

Photo: Col Elmore

Women’s Open
1st - Megan Rose (AUS): 40:42.34
2nd - Phoebe Coers (NZL): 41:20.52
3rd - Robin Pieper (NZL): 42:35.16

Photo: Col Elmore

Men’s Open
1st - Tom Sampson (USA): 31:36.41
2nd - Geoff Kabush (CAN): 32:04.88
3rd - Gabriel III Sarsuelo Amigo: 35:05.43
4th - Steven Cox (GBR): 38:38.58
5th - Ben Gibson (NZL): 38:44.65

Photo: Sunil Sharma

The next edition of the Yak Ru Enduro takes place November 11th to 20th, 2020. Find out all the details and information for registration at www.yakru.com

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GDL FINAL / Downhill Race in China - Pro Riders

11/25/2019

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Dan (江胜山)

photo: mesum verma

Country: Taiwan, China
Team: Giant Racing
Results: 2nd Asian Games 2018; 39th Crankworx Whistler; 2nd Asian MTB Championship 2017 (dh); Taiwan National Champion 2016 (dh); 1st Asian MTB Championship 2015 (dh)

photo: mesum verma

Hiroshi Ato

photo: mesum verma

Country: Japan
Team: Acciarpone Bikes
Results: 2nd Japan National 2016, Gifu Winghills; 1st Japan National 2014, Iwate Shizukuishi

photo: mesum verma

Keiko Tomita

photo: mesum verma

Country: Japan
Team: Acciarpone Bikes

photo: mesum verma

Sam Reynolds

photo: ale di lullo

Country: United Kingdom
Team: POLYGON UR TEAM
Results: Freerider (Fest Series, Red Bull Rampage)

photo: ale di lullo

Brage Vestavik

photo: mesum verma

Country: Norway
Team: MS Mondraker Team
Results: 2019 - RedBull Hardline: 4th, Norwegian DH elite Champion / 2018 - RedBull Hardline: 6th, Norwegian DH elite Champion / RedBull Pumptrack Series: 2nd / World Cup Junior best results: 8th, 7th, 9th

photo: mesum verma

Matej Charvat

photo: mesum verma

Country: Czech Republic
Team: Charvat Bros
Results: 3x Czech National Champ, regular top 10 finisher at the European iXS DH Cup, many top 40 Worldcup results the last 18 years

photo: mesum verma

Daniel Wolfe

photo: adrian van der lee

Country: United Kingdom
Team: POLYGON UR TEAM
Results: Enduro racer

Jack Reading

Country: United Kingdom
Team: 1 Vision Global
Results: 8th British National Cup 2019; 3rd Portuguese Cup 2019; 21th UCI Wadisol, Italy

#gdl #guangzhou #downhill #league #final #zhongshan #china #prorider #international #mtbmagasia #mesumvermaphotography

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Very soon!! International Chiang Mai Enduro - Thailand

11/18/2019

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SOON RACING WILL START IN CHIANG MAI - THAILAND

DOWNLOAD THE INFOS (click on the picture)

FOR MORE INFOS: HERE

#internationalchiangmaienduro #ice #enduro #race #chiangmai #thailand #mtbmagasia

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Issue 60 - mtbmagasia

11/8/2019

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SONGSHAN DOWNHILL RACE - CHINA
REVIEW IXS TRIGGER FF HELMET
MTB JAIPUR RACE - INDIA

READ ONLINE / DOWNLOAD

#issue #60 #mtbmagasia #songshan #international #downhill #race #longling #yunnan #china #ixs #ixssports #trigger #ff #helmet #review #mtb #jaipur #india

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Amazing Thailand International Chiang Mai Enduro Vlog - Chan Khian Village

11/8/2019

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Welcome to Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, and Ban Khun Chang Khian village, a Hmong tribe village located in the heart of the national park. In this blog we are going to look at a little of the history of the mountain, the people who live within the national park, activities in the park and what the residents do for employment.

The origins of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park date back to 1973 when the Royal Forest Department submitted a proposal that it be designated a National Park. In 1981 Doi Suthep-Pui became Thailand’s 24th National Park, encompassing approximately 261 square kilometers of territory.

The area forms part of the Thanon Thong Chai Range which stretches through several Thai provinces and includes Thailand’s tallest peak, Doi Inthanon at 2,565 metres tall. The highest point within Doi Suthep-Pui is 1685m which maintains a cool climate year round with average temperatures of 20-23 degrees °C. During the winter months of November – Jan the temperature can drop as low as 6 °C. The park consists of varying forest types, from evergreen forests at higher altitudes to deciduous forest, generally below 1000m. Whilst animal species have suffered from centuries of hunting, there are still species such as the common muntjac, boar and over 300 species of bird.
There are several Hmong tribe villages located within the park, notably Baan Hmong, Ban Khun Chang Khian which is featured in the video, and Mae Sa Mai. The Hmong people originally migrated from China and Myanmar to escape war and persecution and along with many other tribes such as Yao, Lahu, Lisu, Karen and Akha settled all over Northern Thailand including Doi Suthep-Pui.

During the 1950’s opium started becoming an important cash crop for the Hmong people, and fueled by the Vietnam war the demand grew quickly up into the 1970’s despite it becoming illegal to cultivate opium in 1959. The Hmong villages within Doi Suthep-Pui were at a geographic advantage as opium thrived at this higher altitude and traders would go direct to the villages to buy opium. The 1960’s was a period of turmoil with drug wars breaking out between various factions looking to control the opium trade, namely between the United Shan State Army of Khun Sa and the Chinese KMT army.

The turning point came in 1969 when his Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej visited the Hmong communities and initiated a project to help eradicate the production of opium and instead turn to other cash crops including fruit, vegetables, tea and coffee. This marked the start of the Royal Project, an initiative that can be seen all over Northern Thailand today and is considered one of his majesties lasting legacies.
Today Doi Suthep-Pui is very popular among tourists and locals with a wide variety of activities on offer. Many people take advantage of the wonderful scenery, forest trails and nature situated so close to Chiang Mai city. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the most visited attraction within the park, which is said to have been founded in 1383. Other popular attractions are Bhuping palace and Huay Keaw waterfall as well as the Hmong villages mentioned above.

The National Park is a haven for runners, hikers and mountain bikers who enjoy the the myriad of trails on the mountain, many of which were used for the transportation of opium in previous decades. These days they provide the perfect opportunity to get out of the city and enjoy the countryside. As seen in the video, there is a hiking trail next to the campsite towards the summit of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park which is approx 1.6km in length to the summit. The area is important for a number of species of flora and fauna due to the unique climate, and for bird lovers there is a small bird watching station along the trail. The ridge towards the summit has become a popular selfie area, with expansive panoramic views and steep drops on both sides. The viewpoint is certainly worth the effort and it is just a short hike from the ridge to the official summit at 1655m.

As well as hiking, the popularity of mountain biking in has grown in recent years, and along with this Chiang Mai has developed into the hub of South East-Asian mountain biking, attracting riders from all over the world to try the long, technical trails, warm hospitality of the locals and unique culture.

There is a strong sense of pride and togetherness within the Chiang Mai mountain biking community, with a deep respect of the National Park and along with this there are many mutual benefits between the National Park and cycling community. For one, Chiang Mai draws in visitors from all over the world specifically for mountain biking within Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, this not only benefits the local economy – whether it be a guesthouse, hotel, restaurant or local transportation, it also benefits the park through additional park fees paid for by the mountain bikers.

Village coffee shops and restaurants benefit as a welcome break in the refreshing cool environment on top of Doi Pui is on the agenda for almost every biker. There are numerous places to take a break, with Chan Khian being the most popular rest point as it marks the trailhead for several trails. Owners of these shops always greet riders with a smile and are on first name terms with many of the riders.

As mentioned in the video, coffee is an important crop for the residents of Ban Khun Chang Khian village, with almost every household involved in the production of coffee. Chiang Mai University has a research station nearby, and there are various experts involved in the development of the crop. Check out the video to learn a little more about how coffee has become the main source of revenue in the village.

As well as the benefits from cycling in general, communities such as Ban Khun Chang also benefit from events such as the International Chiang Mai Enduro as a contribution is made each year to support the village, these contributions of course come from the fees paid by participants meaning that indirectly people from all over the world are supporting the National Park and communities that live within the park. Furthermore, residents of Chan Kian village help with the trail building for the International Chiang Mai Enduro and receive payment for every day they work, providing another important source of income as well as much needed help keeping the trails well maintained.

2019-2020 will see this cooperation between mountain bikers, the National Park and local communities expanded upon even more through specific projects which include a tree planting project and litter picking events. This harmonious relationship makes Chiang Mai unique and is part of what makes the region among the favorite mountain biking destinations for people the world over.

Don’t forget to spend some time exploring the village during your stay in Chiang Mai, many of the residents speak English and are keen to engage with foreigners. There are numerous coffee shops and trinket stalls dotted around and you can also pay the school coffee shop a visit, which as shown the video allows the students a chance to practice their coffee making skills whilst you admire the amazing views of Chiang Mai in the distance.

#amazingthailand #international #enduro #race #chiangmai #thailand #ice #2019 #mtbmagasia

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“Follow Fabio” – Finest bike action and impressive racing drone shots across Germany

11/8/2019

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Photo: Hannes Berger

When professional mountain bike and trials bike rider as well as YouTube star Fabio Wibmer sets out on a sightseeing trip across Germany, he goes about things a little differently than your average tourist. It is hard to keep up with him, as he is racing through city streets, hitting gaps and balancing on some crazy obstacles. Nevertheless, racing drone pilot RensenFPV manages to follow Fabio anyway, as the young Austrian explored the secret spots and famous sights of Cologne, Hamburg and Berlin in his very own way. The result: some fine bike action mixed with some breathtaking drone shots.

Photo: Hannes Berger

A huge stair set next to the Chocolate Museum in Cologne, a triple combo made up of a manual, a crank flip and a 180 at the Sandtor quay in Hamburg and a half cab crank flip to front wheel 180 down to the river Spree in Berlin’s government district are only a few of the impressive tricks that Fabio did during his road trip. Impressively filmed with a racing drone, Austria’s most famous bike professional shows just what he is capable of on two wheels and where to find some of the cities’ most spectacular places.

#follow #fabiowibmer #germany #racingdrone #redbull #mtbmagasia

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Photo Recap - Songshan DH Race

11/1/2019

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FOR THE RIDERS THEY ATTENDED THE RACE IN YUNNAN

#songshan #international #downhill #race #baoshan #longling #yunnan #china #mesumvermaphotography #mtbmagasia

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Danny MacAskill x Eberspächer – Danny Controls the Weather

11/1/2019

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Nothing really seems to be impossible for Danny. The 33-year-old has tricks in his portfolio that most bikers can only dream of. But now, could it be that Danny is even able to influence the weather? In his latest project “Eberspächer & Danny MacAskill – Control YOUR climate” the Scottish bike professional controls the weather as he pleases, thus creating completely new challenges to play out his tricks. All with a single click in the app, whose features become really handy in Danny’s everyday bike life: He creates tailwinds to facilitate a climb and “uses” some thunderclouds to clean his bike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGj8Q0wdYak&feature=youtu.be

Who wouldn’t want to be the person up there who controls the weather? For trials bike and mountain bike star Danny MacAskill, this dream becomes reality in his newest clip. To begin with, Danny creates some black ice to perform a rather unusual rotation. Catching a break in the thunderstorm or creating a blizzard to entertain the kids – Danny couldn’t be happier with his new app. Before enjoying himself on some fun Scottish singletrails, he easily masters a climb due to some handy helping tailwinds. Having to load up the dirty bike in his car afterwards, Danny calls in some more help in the form of some rain.

Unfortunately, neither Danny nor Eberspächer are able to control the weather. As a Scot, Danny rides his bike in all kinds of weather, so a dream came true anyway: “Since I was a child I’ve been used to riding my bike in any weather – with the right equipment, there is no bad weather. With this video project I entered uncharted territory. With lots of special effects, I magically created ice, storms and snow as well as nice sunny weather. Controlling the elements was great and secretly I sometimes wish that I was able to really influence the weather out on the trails.”

To deal with bad weather in real life, Eberspächer’s climate control solutions create the perfect temperature inside your car and could just become your best friend. The pre-heater, for example, can easily be operated with the EasyStart Web operating element through smartphone app, tablet or smartwatch. Voice control via Amazon Alexa is on board as well. For more information, please visit: https://fcld.ly/controlyourclimate_bikepm_easystartweb_en

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Dust and Ice An enduro on the roof of the world

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Dust and Ice
An enduro on the roof of the world