A couple of months have passed, but it feels like it was yesterday – the world’s best on our doorstep. Better than that though, they were racing for gold. They weren’t out here on an Olympic-hangover to check out the course, to suss things out; this time it was for real.
If you had been paying attention to the popular press this year you could have been forgiven for thinking that hundreds of athletes, hundreds of volunteers, hundreds of media hounds and thousands of spectators were descending on Canberra to see whether or not Sam Hill could make amends for throwing away the 2008 title in the second last corner.
Sam was everywhere but personally this was not why I went to Canberra. And this is no disrespect to Sam, personally I would count watching him win the World Title for the first time in New Zealand as one of the best displays of bike riding I have seen first hand. But thankfully, the World Championships in Canberra provided a heap more than just one highlight.
For me, it was five days of being on the rivet. I couldn’t get enough. Whether it was talking to the U23 boys, watching the Aussies dominate the 4X, or doing one of the best trail rides in many years out at Sparrow Hill with a few mates fresh and inspired by the World’s best…it was a magic few days.
Sure there were a few flops, the after-race party out at Stromlo being one, but overall it was a fantastic event and gave us Aussies much to be proud of.
FreeWheel #32 - online |
The latest Enduro hits the shelves on the 24/03. Chock full of 128 pages of glossy brilliance; covering events like Wildside in Tasmania, also a fantastic new Tassie race, the Blue Dragon and the 100 kilometers of Victoria's, Otway Odyssey.
We take an indepth ride preview of the Kona Mawson MTB Marathon, in South Australia and a bunch of overseas adventures, including Brad Davies amazing story of riding from Tibet to Mt Everest base camp
For the gear lovers there’s also a GPS shootout, Nitelights lighting review, tests of bikes from Speciallized, Pivot and Apollo and plenty more.
On top of that you can hear from our regular columnists and keep up to date with all the fitness information you can possible digest.
Check it out in newsagents now.
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Want to keep up with the latest Enduro news? Check out our blog at www.enduromag.com.au. You'll find updates on recent trips and races, other random news, and our online subscription system.
The blog is on the road in South Africa as Jimmy and Shaun Lewis are off racing the ABSA Cape Epic.
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Enduro Issue #10 - online
Enduro 11.5 - minimag
Enduro Issue #11 - online |
Issue #9 of Clict is on the streets, Australia-wide...featuring a huge profile of the riders to watch at the World Champs in Canberra and we go on the road with the Monster Energy Racing Team in Canada.
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One Magazine has turned 4 Issues old - Believe
it or not.
In spite of the doubters of an A6 sized mag and due to global warming - we now produce a printed magazine with the lowest carbon footprint - and that's got to be a good thing.
Inside this issue : Phalen's Travels, Cog Bicyles 96er Review, Melburn Roobaix, USA '07 SS Champ speaks, Castlemaine Festival, Don't Shift to Global Warming and the ever ellusive Dan Hale - Legend or Myth?
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#36 intro cont...
For my part, the side-stories often provide the highlights. At the World Championships in New Zealand, the lasting memory for me was interviewing Greg Herbold, one of the godfathers of 90’s mountain biking.
At the Canberra World Championships, the highlight was meeting my hero, Sven Nys. As a mountain biker, you might think it odd that my hero is a cyclo-cross racer, but I’m now off the hook because Sven has become a serious mountain biker – well, at least when it’s summer. Being able to chat to Sven in Australia without the usual throng of drunk Belgian fans was an honour and an absolute highlight. It wasn’t the 90 minute roller-coaster of a chat we had with Herbold in New Zealand, but it gave me equal, if not more inspiration to ride. Inspiration that’s looking to last until the next World Championships are in Australia…
Enjoy our Worlds special!
Mikk |
