Enduro Magazine - Issue 23 Summer 2013

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publisher Freewheel Media adaM Macleod

editor Mikkeli GodFree [email protected]

technical editor wil barrett Mob: 0409 115 795 [email protected]

editorial assistant tiM Sheedy

desiGner adaM Macleod [email protected]

contributors Mikkeli GodFree, Shane taylor, brad davieS, Steve PartridGe, traviS deane, alan voGt, rohin adaMS, andrew Mock, Mike blewitt, andy blair, Peter kniGht, will barrett, dylan cooPer, trent lowe, roSS wilkinSon, Manly Flair, anna beck, ruSS baker, aiden leFMann

snaparazzi dan de witte, adaM McGrath,traviS deane, Mark watSon, wil barrett, ruSS baker, adaM Macleod, raPid aScent, Shane taylor, ottavio toMaSini, Gilbert roMane, tiM arch advertisinG & editorial Ph: +613 9853 0841 Mob: 0438 292 006 eMail: [email protected]

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www.freewheel.com.au www.enduromaG.com.au print post approved pp320258/0114

Crew Issue 23

ED NOTEA s we go to print, peering at the screens through

piles of proofs, coffee cups and Christmas wrapping paper we have to ask, how did we reached the end of 2012 so quickly? It felt like

only weeks ago that we were mentally scribbling down some new year’s resolutions with all the best of intentions to fulfil them. Where did the time go?

But on reflection, 2012 has been a big year. The stand-out and one of the more exciting things to observe from where we sit here at Enduro is how marathon racing and stage racing has really established itself here in Australia, at every level.

First up, the XCM Real Insurance Marathon Series made 2012 really special for many and proved that there are more than just a handful of riders who have serious talent in the marathon format. The races were exciting and the top riders really engaged in some epic battles over a range of varied terrain. And it’s not just at the pointy end that the races are exciting, punters are signing up in their thousands to participate and race against themselves, the track, the clock, their mates and anyone within eyesight.

In addition, the stage race format is really catching on and the depth of talent (in addition to the sheer number of punters) that these races attract is impressive. And while the Cape to Cape signalled the departure from mountain biking of one of the most talented riders in Australia, Lachy Norris (who took the win before heading across to a, most likely, successful career on the road), the guys nipping at his heels are numerous and hungry to do battle between themselves.

It’s an exciting time and gets us genuinely excited about what 2013 has in store for us - new teams, new gear, new races, new trails, new goals, new pleasure, new pain and new experiences!

In this issue we whet the appetite for 2013 by bringing you an exclusive with the new marathon super team, the Swell-Specialized crew of Jenny Fay, Shaun Lewis and Andy Blair. These three will be bringing some serious horsepower to a

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race near you in 2013 and it will be interesting to see how they fare in the new colours as they scheme and plot to dominate XCM and XCO races alike.

But this issue isn't all about the pros. We have a great spread of stories, leading with our technical editor, Wil Barrett, taking us comprehensively through the tech trends to keep our eye on, some great race reportage, our visit to the Orbea factory and all the usual goodies in our B-sides.

We are very excited about what 2013 holds and we look forward to sharing it with you!

In the mean time, enjoy Enduro 23.

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shaun lewis what's the most exciting thing about joining the swell-specialized team for 2013 for you?

The possibilities are endless! Andy and I both had great a 2012 season, arguably our best seasons ever. In mid-2012 we had an idea to race together in the future with the support of Swell, but then to team up with Specialized equipment as well, the concept has me bouncing off the walls!

what new bikes and/or gear are you looking forward to riding in 2013?

The 29er Epic! I was at the London games and watched Jaroslav Kulhavy win on it, now I want to see what it can do for me. I'm also pretty excited about the new XX1...it's better than I could have imagined.

what is your program are what are your personal goals for 2013?

Between Andy and myself, we want to defend both the Real Insurance XCM series and hopefully marathon champs too.

what single event are you looking forward to most in 2013?

The XC national championships are back at Mt Stromlo, that is pretty cool for a Canberra rider. I missed the 2012 XC nationals through injury, so that kind of make me more keen as well.

what event should punters be most excited about for 2013?

If I wasn't that fit but wanted to do a 100k event and have a ball, I'd do the Capital Punishment, you can ride most of the trails any day and they are rad, but there is nothing like racing them and it's

probably the easiest 100k course around.

who's your biggest rival for 2013?

Andy!... just kidding (I hope). It's hard to pick just one, Adrian 'Wacko' Jackson and Dylan Cooper are always good, but I'm predicting Trenton Day will step up. I had a lot of second places when I was young, like he did this year, and it just makes you more hungry than ever.

what is a little-known fact about your two teammates?

Andy could probably out-ski half the Aussie winter Olympic team, as long as he didn't have pasta the night before and Jenny, well, she is a former heavy weight Irish Guinness drinking Champ.

Jenny Faywhat's the most exciting thing about joining the swell-specialized team for 2013 for you?

We will all be racing off a similar calendar, so we are going to be spending plenty of time together - a good thing!!


I can't wait for my S Works Epic and women's specific hard tail, the FATE, both decked out with SRAM XX1 and XX: plenty of fast technology there to choose from over different race terrains.


My program is heavily based on marathon events this year. I’m hoping to go undefeated on the domestic calendar and further afield, take

Shaun LewiS

shaun lewis, Jenny Fay and Andy Blair join forces as the swell-specialized team for 2013An enduro magazine exclusive photo shoot by Adam mcgrath of Hcreations Photography

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the Irish XCM champions jersey back to Australia later in the year – they are almost the same colours!


I am looking forward to the first big race of the year for me, the Hellfire Cup in Tasmania - new sponsors, new terrain and a new race format with a male rider to compete in the mixed pairs category among a field of world class talent.


I think the Real Insurance Series this year is going to surprise us, all with details of their race schedule coming soon!


I wouldn't say its a person, but more about me and my training schedule versus the day job!


They enjoy date nights together...No, I am not threatened!

Andy Blairwhat's the most exciting thing about joining the swell-specialized team for 2013 for you?

Riding as a team again after a year of flying solo and finally having the opportunity to ride with Shaun instead of against him.


Both my bikes will have SRAM's new XX1 1x11 groupset. I’ve been fortunate to have been riding the groupset since October and it has actually changed my riding style because you can get on the pedals quicker knowing you chain is always on. As for bikes, I'm very keen to get my hands on a Specialized Epic, I rode a demo bike before I signed up and they are wild!


XCO and XCM National Champs are the two big targets, but my

Jenny Fay

calendar will be pretty similar to 2012 with plenty of marathons and a few stage races.


National XCO champs (if they use the World Champs course) because it is the best field, in the fastest format, on the most challenging & fun course. Otherwise it will be XCM champs in Atherton, again because the field is always strong due to what is at stake plus the adventure of travelling to something totally new.


Stage races! They are just like a holiday on a bike. I am anticipating the Hellfire Cup will be awesome and I'm looking forward to racing that with my dad and brother (as well as my Swell-Specialized team mates), and Cape to Cape over in Margaret River will no doubt be even bigger and better in 2013. I watch the videos from the C2C every now and then and it gets me so stoked to ride.


No one really.....because Lewi is now my team mate! I actually try not to focus on one rider as a rival because I'm trying to beat everyone on the start line, but I am really looking forward to testing myself against Dan McConnell at the XCO Champs in Canberra after the breakout year he had in the World Cups in 2012. In the Marathons I'll be keeping an eye on Adrian Jackson and Trenton Day; AJ is always really dangerous and Trenton has so much talent combined with the hunger of getting quite few second places in 2012.


Shaun and Jen enjoyed the photo shoot for this magazine...a little too much. I'm a bit worried they might forget about training and pursue modelling full time. It was a pretty tough call to pick the winner for the most attractive rider on the team; they are both very good looking obviously but in the end it came down to a Zoolander-style "walk off" and it was only a magnificently well executed crotch grab that gave Lewi the title.

Andy Blair

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whaT’s in The name? RLC was originally Rowney Lefmann Concepts, as the company was founded with Paul Rowney almost 10 years ago. We sold mostly carbon bars and components back then, but things changed when Paul moved to Scotland, so RLC was “Rowney Left the Country”, and soon after “Rowney Lost Contact”. We have had to re-think the meaning behind the name since we’re flying solo without Paul nowadays, so Race Light Components? It’s pretty much whatever you wanted it to be!

whaT do You do? Owner, director, media, websales monkey, grease monkey, Cyclinic coach, coffee bitch, cleaner, spruiker. I’m pretty much everything. Except accounts, post office runner, order packer, cycling coach and chief morale increasing officer—that’s my wife.

whaT’s The mosT popular producT aT The momenT? The P321 Lefty adaptors are going mad. I think it’s taken some time, but more people are seeing Leftys as an appropriate performance-enhancing option to run on any bike, not just Cannondales. We’re enabling the Lefty revolution one bike at a time. Lefty 2013 is so hot right now!.

Also, it’s that time of year where Cyclinic skills courses are going gangbusters. Something to do with the sunshine and warmer weather, methinks.

office ride riTuals If we schedule a whole office ride, we get Nan-ny-Barbie over to look after our baby (Elva, aka: little pea) so Anna and I can go and shred some trails. Otherwise it’s a process of negotiating parent duties so we can head out solo.

whose lunch does everYone envY? Probably Elva’s. Damn that baby food is sweet.

Talk To us aBouT coffee!: Our ‘office kitchen’ (ie: our kitchen) has a sweet Giotto Rocket semi-commercial espresso machine. None of that pod stuff here, we grind our beans and make the sweet-est coffee out there. It’s amazing (Ed; think we’ll have to verify that statement!)

whaT’s The BesT Thing aBouT Your workplace? I can just fall into bed after a hard day, plus the chief morale-increasing officer is frequently whipping up a storm of tasty sourdough, biscotti or stew of some description. Plus when we’re instructing during Cyclinics, the bush is our office—how good is that!

anY exciTing new producTs? New Project 321 colours, some awe-some purple stuff has come in, plus the 2013 Leftys are in full swing and they’re very drool-worthy.

whaT would You change? Sometimes there’s a distinct inability to ‘switch off’ from work, when work is at your home too.percenTage of emploYees ThaT ride To work? We walk. We kind of live at work so it’s far more convenient than changing into the lycra for the 5 meter commute to the office or out to the workshop.whaT’s currenTlY in The Bar fridge? James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale, Soy Milk, Vegies, Leftovers and seventeen different types of cheese are usually pretty standard.whaT liTeraTure would we find in The dunnY? A bit of Frankie magazine, CycleSport, Ride Magazine, Treadley, whatever’s going on in the cycling mags.

whaT liTeraTure would we find in The dunnY: Who has time for that? Get in get out!who conTrols The music and whaT geTs plaYed?Triple J for sure, or we pop the iPod tunes on.where will we see The Business in 5 Years Time?

Up in lights! No, we’re happy growing organically and we’re growing nicely for the niche product we offer. We are hoping to make Leftys more accessible.whaT does Being in The ausTralian Bike indusTrY mean To You? The Australian bike industry is by no means big, it’s a bit of a tight-knit community and everyone knows everyone. That can be good and bad sometimes!

i n d u S t r y

i n s i D e r

a i d e n l e F M a n nBAseD uP in tHe nortHern suBurBs oF BrisBAne, rlC sPort HAs Been CArving tHemselves quite tHe niCHe in tHe mountAin Bike mArket ProviDing sPeCiAlist serviCing oF leFty Forks AnD otHer CAnnonDAle ComPonents For tHe PAst DeCADe. A HusBAnD &

wiFe teAm nowADAys, rlC sPort is one oF mAny miCro-ComPAnies DotteD ArounD AustrAliA tHAt Are oFFering uP A unique serviCe or ProDuCt to tHe loCAl mArket DesPite Being uP AgAinst tHe migHt oF tHe Big BrAnDs AnD internet sAles. AiDen From rlC sent

us Down A set oF triCk ProJeCt 321 DisC HuBs tHAt we’ll Be reviewing in-DePtH next issue, But in tHe meAntime we DeCiDeD to FinD out wHAt Drives tHe mAin mAn BeHinD tHe ComPAny AnD wHy every Bike sHoulD HAve A leFty Fork on it!

ENDURO 23 64

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columnistOne of the really great privileges that comes with writing for a magazine such

as this one is the great mountain biking people I get to meet, to interview and

to ride with. It has resulted in some great rides and great friendships. And very

occasionally, a person enters my riding world and just blows me away.

Steve Partridge || Man’o Wheel

y new found mate Bevan is the embodiment of that sentiment. I first met him several months ago now, he wrote a letter to the mag looking for help. Well into his fifties, with his kids grown up and moved away, he had decided he wanted to learn how to ride a mountain bike. You see, Bevan had decided he needed to race.

Not just any race, mind you. having never ridden a bike on dirt in his life, Bevan had signed up

to race the Tour de Timor. As regular readers would know, the Tour de Timor is no party, with 700 odd kilometres of rugged terrain and horrendous roads in some of the hottest weather in the world. Yep, I thought the old bloke was mad.

I sent back an email to this guy, trying to explain how hard the ride is likely to be even for an experienced mountain biker and gently try-ing to talk him out of it. Bevan wasn’t having a bar of it. he had paid his fees, he was buying a bike, I could help him or not. I don’t think it mattered that much, the gnarly old dude would have figured out a way to ride with or without me, such was his determination.

Anyway, after a few emails back and forth, we arranged a place to meet so we could go through some stuff and I could show him some trail to get training on. At this point, he had about two or three months until race day as I recall. That first day we met he declared that it was his first ride on single track. he was slow. he was ungainly. he crashed a few times, including the inevitable shoe stuck in the cleat crash. But he picked himself up with a grimace each time and hauled his leg back over the top tube and got back on. I rode him pretty hard that ride, hoping to impress upon him some idea of the physicality of the ride he had put in front of him. he took it all in his stride.

Bevan kept riding as much as he could, however with a wife who was crook and work commitments that showed no sign of slowing down, his time in the saddle was pretty limited. he still managed to get some good miles under his belt and I got to ride with him a few more times. he always rode with a couple of extra footy jerseys over the top, “trying to acclimatise to the heat” he would say. his face would be streaming with sweat, but he never stopped. he always kept riding.

he got his new bike just a week or two before he set off for Timor. he was very proud of his new steed. A shiny new 29er, all set up for the rugged conditions one could expect in the Tour de Timor. I hope he forgives me for sharing this little anecdote, but when he was sitting in a café in Timor somewhere, maybe a day or so before the race, a mate, whilst idly admiring bikes, mentioned that he had 26 inch wheels. An argument ensued, Bevan adamant he had bought a 29 inch bike. Turns out his mate was right; the bike shop had stuffed up and given him the wrong bike. Such was his lack of knowledge of all things mountain bike, he hadn’t even noticed. So here he was now, a day be-fore the start of the biggest ride of his life, in a third world country, with the wrong bike. The look on his face must have been priceless.

I met Bevan for a cup of coffee and a debrief when he got home. he had that relaxed, nonchalant air of someone who was pretty comfortable in their own skin. he gave me a run down on the race, we laughed over the bike incident; he got a brand new one when he got back, courtesy of the bike company that blundered. We marvelled at the beauty and simplicity of the people that populate the land to the north of us, and we reflected on doing a job well, and doing it right. It was a good cup of coffee.

he told me more about the race. he crashed every day. he made the schoolboy error of putting his phone in the same pocket as his energy gels, and crashed right on top of them. he talked of one day where temperatures were well above 45 degrees, riding for most of a day through a rocky creek bed, more hike a bike than riding really. Fully a third of the field didn’t even start that day, far less finished the leg, but not this new-to-mountain-bike hero. he went pretty well that day, pulling out a top five finish in his category and finishing in the top half. Tough guy.

I am often amazed at what people can do when they put their mind to it. I shouldn’t be; tales like Bevan’s are common enough. I’m sure Timor was littered with them last September. I guess the take home message is a simple one. If you really want to do something, just go out and do it. You will find a way. Find your inspiration, then go and do it.

That what separates the dreamers from the doers.

M

136ENDURO 23

D E S I G N E D I N T H E U . K .

Whyte’s unique trail honed geometry lets you push the pace as hard on the descents as the climbs, making this the ultimate high velocity hardtail for endurance athletes and racers - as proven by Luke Smith with his 2012 UK Championship win. www.whytebikes.co.uk

29-C: CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING PERFORMANCETYPICAL USAGE: CROSS COUNTRY/RACE

29-C CARBON

ENDURO 23 72

Scandalously plagiarised from Spinal Tap

Blame it on Spinal Tap - SRAM pushes it to 11!

Sure it’s obvious, but it’s just too good to resist. SRAM are taking it to 11.

You see, most riders will be playing at ten. They’re on ten, all the way up. Where can you go from there? Where? Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do? Put it up to 11… While the reference is easy to make, it clearly oversimplifies the whole concept of XX1. And in case there was any doubt about that, when we put a series of questions to the big wigs at the XX1 global launch in Germany, the answers we got were strictly business, and far from Spinal Tap-like. I suppose in Australia it’s easy to view the SRAM family as a boisterous, happy-go-lucky US mob and it’s easy to forget that there is a super-serious side to the brand. In any case, the answers we got from our German friends offer some interesting insights and background to both XX1 and the way SRAM develops its products. We chat to Chris Hilton, Product manager, External Drivetrain, SRAM.

ENDURO 2373

ENDURO: How long has the groupset been in development for?

Chris Hilton : A long time in some respects, yet not long in terms of major drivetrain projects. A version of the rear derailleur had been around for 8 years, but implementing it with a Type 2 clutch was only in development for the last 2 years.

ENDURO: SRAM Red was developed in the US and XX1 was developed in Germany; which development team should I have on my side at the local pubs trivia night?

Chris Hilton : Well, I live in Schweinfurt. I have learned things here that not even I understand or comprehend! For both the local pub and drive train trivia, you have to pick Schweinfurt. And it might be interesting how much of original RED may have come from here too…

ENDURO: What was the most technically demanding component of XX1 to design/engineer/produce?

Chris Hilton : I would say probably the drivetrain. No single part is the

calling card, they each work together as a unit to create a high perfor-mance, wide range 1x mountain bike drive train. Without any of them, the drive train isn’t complete.

ENDURO: With 1x10 systems becoming quite popular the last couple of years, why did SRAM resort to a whole new system for XX1 instead of ap-plying some of the new technologies to a 10 speed drivetrain?

Chris Hilton : We already provide all the parts available to make one of the most diverse high performance 1x10 drivetrains in the world. It has won everything from World Cup and World Champ DH races, World Cup and World Champ XC races, and Rampage, etc… we call it X0, maybe it sounds familiar?

ENDURO: How are the carbon cranks constructed compared to the current XX crank arms?

Chris Hilton : We use a proven manufacturing technique that we also use with our X0 carbon cranks including our X0 DH race crank. We wanted to have the removable spider option. We have now introduced both wide

and narrow Q versions, as well as all GXP and BB30 variations. Versatil-ity, in a word.

ENDURO: Will there be additional cassette ratios available aside from the 10-42t option?

Chris Hilton : No, it is a bit of mind change but now to change your ratios, you change your front chain rings.

ENDURO: Will we ever see 1 x 11 systems at X9 or X0 level?

Chris Hilton : Ever? That depends on market (consumer) and customer (OE) requirements.

ENDURO: What is SRAM's response to the Shimano Direct Mount Rear Derailleur standard?

Chris Hilton : Is there a standard? It might be an option I guess, but as Shimano are the only one doing it, it is a pretty closed shop.

It seems that many 2013 complete bikes are still being specced with 3x10 drivetrains. Does SRAM think there is place for a triple crankset drivetrain these days given their push with 2x and now 1x systems?

Chris Hilton : Sure there’s a place for it. We still do a respectable busi-ness here, and our 22/33/44 crank offers pretty much the widest range 3x10 available. People have the right to make choices. Our new products are always about providing options, if you don’t like 1x, we have awesome 2x, if you don’t like 2x, we have awesome 3x. There’s not a place for 3x on my personal bikes, but that’s my choice. You make your choice! 1x wont be for everyone, but it will be for people who won’t a simpler lighter more resilient drivetrain.

ENDURO: The Hammerschmidt system seems to have fallen in popularity. Has SRAM given up on the planetary drive or will we see a new version sometime soon?

Chris Hilton : Hammerschmidt remains unique, stable, and a fa-vorite for certain types of riders. Our new G8 IGH hub has many great features that show our planetary product muscle, and very deep and rich history.

ENDURO: Internal Gear Hubs seem to be growing in popularity with commuter, touring and some off-road applications. Given the nega-tives associated with IGH's (weight, concentration of mass on rear wheel etc) does SRAM believe there is a future for them in perform-ance mountain bikes or is a different approach required?

Chris Hilton : I’ll let you know.

ENDURO: Is SRAM testing alternative methods for actuating gears such as electronic or hydraulic shifting systems?

Chris Hilton : SRAM always looks at new technology to make bikes more efficient, perform better, and have better durability, while satisfying market requirements. When this technology is robust we introduce it. Alternative doesn’t always bring improve-ments.

ENDURO: What does SRAM see as the next frontier for mountain bike drivetrains?

Chris Hilton : Clearly, the athlete/rider is always the next frontier. People are doing things on steel hardtails with single speed that you wouldn’t have dreamed 10 or 15 years ago. We just want to provide tools that allow athletes to perform the way they envision.

ENDURO: Are we likely to see any of the XX1 technologies make its way to the road groupsets?

Chris Hilton : I suppose you could put one on a road bike, that’s your choice!

Documents

Enduro Magazine - Issue 23 Summer 2013