Video: A new view of the Old Ghost Road

Old Ghost Road, Lyell, Mokihinui River, Westport 85km one way | Advanced Tramping, Grade 4 Mountain Biking

 

One of the esteemed Great Rides of New Zealand, the 85km-long Old Ghost Road is Aotearoa’s longest single-track backcountry trail, and one of the most incredible multi-day backcountry experiences in the country. The adventure takes riders and trampers back in time along a shared-use and long-forgotten goldminers’ road.

 

The new ride-through safety video, launched today, was produced by the NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) in collaboration with the trail’s creator and operator, the Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust. The video guides visitors through the amazing trail and is packed with advice on how to get the best experience out of the trail.

 
 

This impressive trail weaves through ancient forests and diverse rugged alpine environments. Combined with the infamous West Coast weather; frequent heavy rain, strong winds, snow, and freezing temperatures, even in the height of summer, means the Old Ghost Road is a true adventure.

 

The new video highlights the varied conditions mountain bikers can expect, covering important tips including how to pack a balanced bike, a suggested packing list, the common risks and hazards, and key decision-making points and pit stops.

 

Plan My Walk by MSC can help those planning to tackle the Old Ghost Road as it includes the new video any relevant weather alerts, a weather forecast, and bikers can use the gear list and then create a trip plan to share with a trusted contact.

 

MSC would like to acknowledge and thank Ngati Waewae for filming in their Takiwa.

 

Watch the video here:

by nz mountain biker magazine

Release: The New Fast – Bosch Presents Drive unit for eMTB Racing

In eMTB races, fractions of a second decide whether you win or lose, and you need the best equipment. Bosch have answered the call with their new drive unit, the Bosch Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition.

 
 
 

Developed with professional athletes, Bosch's years of experience from numerous eMTB races have gone into this drive unit. The specially developed Race mode, uncompromising support and low weight are the ideal features for new record times. The Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition unleashes its full potential on tough routes with difficult technical sections, almost unrideable uphill sections and challenging descents.

 

"As a passionate eMTB rider myself, I know exactly the pain, effort and excitement on the trail," explains Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch eBike Systems. "This is why I am particularly proud that our technology enables athletes to compete even more successfully. The eMTB sector is becoming more and more professional worldwide, and we actively support this development."

Mountain biking is deeply rooted in the DNA of Bosch eBike Systems, one of the first eMTBs was equipped with a Bosch drive system back in 2010. Since then, the company has consistently developed more products for eMTB riders. The Performance Line CX was the first eBike drive specifically for eMTB in 2014, and the 2018 eMTB mode continues to set the standard today. Just recently, the new Extended Boost and Hill Hold features have been added, making the eMTB experience even better.

 

In recent years, Bosch eBike Systems has played a decisive role in eMTB racing, as evidenced by more than 60 podium finishes in eMTB races around the world this season alone. But the commitment goes beyond product development. The company has played an active role in shaping the emergence and professionalisation of the sport and has been instrumental in creating the right framework for professional races such as the Enduro World Series (EWS-E).

 

Kiwi rider Joe Nation had his first season on the EWS-E this year riding a Pole Voima equipped with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor.

 

“The new CX Race motor is really fast! It has the same Bosch power but the extended boost on the race mode really helps to climb over features where I am unable to pedal. Plus, it’s lighter which is always better when it comes to eBike racing!” says Joe.

 
 

The Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition is an exclusive evolution of the Performance Line CX. The new Race mode offers energetic, direct support – with up to 400 percent of your own pedal power. Riders reach maximum support faster and can use it to the cut-off at 32 km/h.

 

The familiar Extended Boost of the eMTB mode has also received an upgrade. The extra thrust is further extended in Race mode, so that large boulders, roots or steps are easier to manage. Strength of support, dynamics, maximum speed and maximum torque can also be adjusted in the eBike Flow app.

 

At 2.75 kg, the new drive unit is the lightest drive in the entire Bosch portfolio. This reduces the weight of the bikes equipped with it and optimises the handling of the eMTB on demanding trails, but with 85 Newton meters of torque, it still offers maximum power for acceleration out of tight corners which can be a decisive competitive advantage. Even at cadences over 120 rpm, the powerful motor provides explosive support so aggressive riding over long stages and fast sprints are possible.

 

The race character of the Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition is also clear in the design. The drive unit can be perfectly integrated into a sporty, slim frame design and makes for particularly agile handling.

by nz mountain biker magazine

Review: 100% Trajecta Helmet

If you’re racing enduro, you are often faced with a bit of a dilemma when it comes to helmets. Do you wear your downhill full-face helmet? Or stick with your regular open face? Full-face helmets are by default, a lot hotter and heavier - but there is no denying the extra protection that you get from having proper chin and cheek protection. Having to wear a full-face helmet all day – with all the climbing you inevitably do - is a deal breaker for some; the sense of overheating outweighs the benefit in protection. But, what if full-face helmets were lighter, breathed more, and still gave you all the protective benefits? Enter the 100% Trajecta, which does just that.

The Trajecta is a modern, enduro-friendly full-face that seeks to offer all the benefits of a traditional full-face in a lighter weight and more breathable package. What’s apparent even before you put it on, is the massive vents designed into the chin bar. I have owned plenty of full-face helmets over the years and, while they all had vents around the chin bar, none of them come close to the amount of open space the Trajecta has.

 

Safety wise, the Trajecta has its own Smartshock® Rotational Protective System, designed to act as a version of the MIPS system popularised by other helmet manufacturers to reduce the severity of oblique, angular impacts that produce both rotational acceleration and deceleration forces on our brain. Taking the liner out reveals some blue elastomers moulded into the main polystyrene body of the helmet, and these are what the liner connects to. The system improves protection by immediately compressing and absorbing direct impact, and allows the elastomers to move independently from the helmet's shell. Both features help reduce energy transfer to the brain over a wide range of speed and impact types.

 
 

Style is a personal thing, but I think the 100% gear always looks on point. The Trajecta has the super aggressive moto look about it and just looks fast. I tested the matte black option, but it is available in six other more colourful options too. Weight wise, the Trajecta weighs in at 860gm (size medium) and feels light in your hand and on your head. Regarding fit, I find I sit on the cusp of a medium and a large. Testing the medium, I found it was just on the tight side and I would go up to a large if I was doing it again. Each helmet comes with a spare set of pads so you can customise your fit, however the medium came with a thicker set of pads that would have resulted in a tighter fit still. There isn’t too much margin when it comes to full-face helmets so it is something I would try on in a shop instead of ordering online.

Out on the trail, I began to really appreciate the gaping vents in the chin bar. They create airflow like no other full-face I’ve worn, and I definitely found my breathing more natural than the huffing and puffing I usually end up doing when wearing my downhill helmet. No surprise, but worth mentioning, the helmet shape around the main opening sits great with my goggles and they didn’t seem to interfere with each other.

 

 

Could you ride in this helmet all day? Yes, definitely. Is it hotter than a regular helmet? Yes it is. But can you live with it? Well, I rode this helmet during the changeable weather of spring, and on the odd colder day I really appreciated wearing a full-face - it takes the chill off nicely. I didn’t get a chance to ride it on a full-on summertime scorcher, so it’s hard to tell just how it would feel then. For all bar mid-summer, I think I would be pretty comfortable in this temperature wise, but it really comes down to what you’re setting out to do on your ride. If you’re just smashing out an XC loop of the forest then no, you’re not going to wear this. But, if you’re doing a few shuttles, or doing a more skills-based day where you might be working on a particular jump or drop, there’s no reason to wear an open face. Save your pretty teeth! Personally, I’ve got a few enduro’s I’m tentatively booking into the calendar, and I think this will be my helmet of choice. I believe this will be a helmet that really appeals to those riders who go a bit of everything, the odd DH race, the odd enduro, the odd just mucking-around-on-some-local-jumps and, while regular downhill helmets no doubt offer a greater level of comfort and protection, if you are only going to have one full-face helmet, having one that you will actually wear on a larger variety of occasions surely means there is a greater likelihood that it will actually be on your head when you need it. For that reason, I think these are a great option.

Words: Lance Pilbrow

RRP: $449

by nz mountain biker magazine