Revolution MTB Magazine - Issue 53 2019

In this issue

Inside our latest issue you’ll be greeted by a massive 154 pages of the freshest MTB news, feature articles and reviews. Plus we’re announcing the launch of our ‘Steep ’N Deep’ Contest! The search is on for Australia’s gnarliest section of trail. We’ll also take you behind the scenes of five of [R]evo’s favourite brands to discover the secrets about what makes them so cool. Talking about cool, we’ve also got a detailed ride review on the new Yeti SB-150! This issue’s product showcase examines the best bars’n stems that money can buy and then we check out four of the most advanced Enduro helmets on the market. After that you can read our first impressions of the 2019 Transition Patrol carbon and the new NS Snabb 160. Oh, and we check out Sam Blenkinsop’s Norco Aurum HSP race bike. Inside our Visionaries feature, we take a look at Simon French’s amazing career to date. We’ve also recapped what was an incredible first season of the Shimano Australian Enduro Tour. We’ve also interviewed Aussie racing legend Jon Odams, and a super exciting young female freerider, Veronique Sandler, also gets the interview treatment this issue. And in this issue’s Tech feature we explore the concept detail behind a dream build.

Then, inside this issue of [E]volution you’ll discover all of the latest news and information about e-MTBs. We’ve got an in-depth article how batteries are made and function. Then, we explore how the latest connectivity systems work. We’ll also take a look at the new Bosch Performance Line CX motor, as well as the new Liv Intrigue E+ and Intense Tazer, and we’ve got detailed bike reviews on the Norco Sight VLT and Thok Mig-R bikes. There’s also a stack of coverage from the epic Salt 2Snow trip, a life changing adventure from the lowest to the highest points of Oz. In this issue’s How-To section we’ll teach you master wheelies and also conquer those tricky uphill corners. All that e-Bike action is waiting for you inside plus a heap more.

TB Is The Lord OF The Scrub

THIS ISSUE’S COVERSTAR SHOULD NEED NO INTRODUCTION.

3 mins

Visionaries: The Simon French Journey So Far

I’VE KNOWN FRENCHIE FOR COMING UP TO 20 YEARS NOW AND I’VE ALWAYS BEEN AN AVID FOLLOWER OF THE ENDLESS LIST OF AMBITIOUS PROJECTS AND CONSTANT SUCCESSES THAT HAVE FORMED THE WEEK-TO-WEEK LANDSCAPE OF SIMON’S CAREER TO DATE. RECENTLY WE WERE CHATTING OVER A BEER, HAVING JUST DONE A COUPLE OF RUNS TOGETHER DOWN AT HIS MEGA MAYDENA BIKE PARK, AND HE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT SOME OF THE PLANS THAT HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON FOR FUTURE. I REMEMBER SITTING THERE THINKING TO MYSELF, ‘THIS GUY IS A STRAIGHT UP VISIONARY!’ WHERE DOES ONE EVEN COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF SETTING OUT TO CREATE THEIR OWN WHISTLER BIKE PARK RIGHT HERE IN AUSTRALIA? AND THEN MORE TO THE POINT, HOW COULD ANYONE THEN HAVE THE BALLS TO ATTEMPT TO TURN THE IDEA INTO A REALITY? THIS GUY, THATS WHO. OF COURSE HOWEVER, SIMON’S JOURNEY TO THIS POINT HASN’T BEEN WITHOUT ITS FAIR SHARE OF GOOD ‘OL BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS, SACRIFICES AND STEEP LEARNING CURVES. AS YOU’RE ABOUT TO DISCOVER OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF PAGES, SIMON IS A SUPER PASSIONATE AND HIGHLY DRIVEN INDIVIDUAL. AT THE AGE OF JUST 35 HE HAS ALREADY BUILT HIMSELF A MOUNTAIN BIKE EMPIRE. BUT IF YOU ASK HIM, HE’S STILL FAR FROM DONE YET!

10+ mins

Transforming The 'Gong Into Whistler By The Sea

Travelling the world as a professional mountain bike rider and racer is a dream job.

4 mins

BC Bike Race: Tackling One Of The MTB's Gnarliest Stage Races

IT IS PROBABLY FAIR TO SAY THAT I AM NOT YOUR USUAL [R]EVOLUTION RIDER… OR WRITER. BUT I DO BLOODY LOVE MY MOUNTAIN BIKING! I’VE NEVER WORN A FULL-FACE HELMET – WELL NOT ON A MOUNTAIN BIKE ANYWAY – OR KNEE PADS. UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO MY BIKE HAD 100MM OF SUSPENSION TRAVEL, TWO GEAR RINGS UP FRONT, 10 AT THE BACK AND NO DROPPER POST. AND AT 55, WELL I’M OLD ENOUGH TO BE THE AVERAGE [R]EVOLUTION READER’S DAD, OR GRANDAD TO SOME YOUNG RIPPERS.​​​​​​

8 mins

Ignition

The tagline for Ignition mountain bike event is, “Ride. Party. Enjoy” and I would have to agree that is pretty much bang on the money with what they provided all weekend long at this year’s Festival.

5 mins

Batteries 101

“The Battery Is Essentially A Carton Of Beer, Inside The Casing Are Multiple Cells (Cans). Each Cell Contains A Cathode, An Anode, An Electrolyte Solution, A Separator And Two Current Exchanges (+/- Terminals).”

8 mins

Intrigue E + 2 Pro

FROM THE BRAND THAT IS MORE COMMITTED TO WOMEN’S RIDING THAT ANY OTHER, LIV’S NEW E-TRAIL BIKE RANGE LOOKS SUPER IMPRESSIVE TO SAY THE LEAST.

2 mins

Connectivity How These Crazy Systems All Speak To Each Other

GONE ARE THE DAYS OF JUMPING ON YOUR BIKE WITHOUT SOME SORT OF DIGITAL DEVICE HANGING OFF YOU OR YOUR BIKE.

4 mins

Are You That Guy?

IT’S PROBABLY A SAFE ENOUGH ASSUMPTION THAT IF YOU ARE READING THIS, YOU MAY ALREADY BE AN E-BIKE CONVERT.

2 mins

Norcosight VLT 2

WITH THE E-BIKE MARKET EXPANDING FASTER THAN MY WAISTLINE OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON, IT IS WITH NO SURPRISE THAT NORCO HAS DECIDED TO COME TO THE PARTY. WHILE A LOT OF COMPANIES HAVE BEEN FAST TO PRODUCE E-BIKES STEMMING OFF THEIR REGULAR BIKE LINEUPS, NORCO HAVE BEEN HIDING THEIRS DEEP IN THE SQUAMISH FORREST, GROWING, IMPROVING, BECOMING A FULL GROWN BEAST. THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS THEY FOCUSED ON IT FEELING AS PLAYFUL AND CAPABLE AS THE REST OF THEIR LINE UP. NORCO UNDERSTOOD THAT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MAKE THE SIGHT VLT A BIKE THAT LIVES UP TO THEIR STANDARDS THEY WOULD NEED TO FOCUS ON THE GEOMETRY, FRAME MATERIAL, ​​​​​​AND COMPONENTRY BEFORE WORRYING ABOUT ADDING A MOTOR.

10 mins

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Revolution MTB Magazine Description:

Since 2004, [R]evolution has been showcasing the new face of Australian MTB in it’s pages. In a nutshell, the new generation of riding from the riders perspective. 100% rider owned, operated and proudly produced entirely in Australia, [R]evolution is dedicated to documenting this changing face of MTB on these shores. We do this through progressive riding, the finest photography, passionate and expert editorial along with dedicated design, all fused together in a package that speaks from the rider to the rider.