Story: Bike Glendhu - Wanaka's Newest Riding Destination
The South Island is instantly recognisable and home to some of the best riding in the world. Trails like Rude Rock snake along the tussock-riddled slopes of Coronet Peak, and on any summer’s day you’ll no doubt find some of the big names of our sport on the lift at Skyline Queenstown. Bike Glendhu is the latest addition to the South’s arsenal of riding destination.
Bike Glendhu, located in Glendhu Bay, is Wanaka’s newest riding destination, opened in January 2020 after a couple of years of development. John McRae, whose family has owned and farmed Glendhu Station for three generations, wanted to create a more sustainable farming experience for his family’s future generations. He partnered with Wanaka local, John Wilson, to build Bike Glendhu on 1000 hectares of the Glendhu Station. The big picture goal was to create a bike park that’s self-sufficient, both in terms of how they generate resources like power, and in the sense of having a positive impact on the land the park is built upon. The base is rad, with an on-site mechanic, bike rentals and a café (more on the café later) all built on the same ethos of preserving the natural landscape, whilst providing an awesome ride experience. When it comes to preserving and restoring, the land Glendhu’s built upon, they’ve already planted 4,500 native trees, with the goal of planting 30,000 total by 2025. The bike park also don’t print single-use trail maps, don’t sell single-use bottles or coffee cups and don’t print throwaway marketing material, instead opting to go for digital solutions like videos and supplying tablets to places like accommodation providers to showcase the bike park.
Glendhu has two ‘hubs’ in their network: Jack’s Point, which is halfway up the hill, and Falcon’s Nest, located at the very top. The thing that makes Glendhu a little different to some of it’s South Island counterparts, though, is that (for now) you’ve got to work for your reward – no chairlift, no shuttles it’s all pedal power in the bay! With that said, it’s about a 45-minute climb to the very top at an easy pace, and the team has done an exceptional job of building a climb that meanders gently up the hillside so that you’re not too tired once you arrive. The lower half of the hill consists of flow trails, with the two I heard most about being Jairolla and Hare Time; Glendhu’s jump line. Every. Single. Person. I spoke to about Glendhu raved about Jairolla and Hare Time, and for good reason. Jairolla swoops down the hillside with flowy berms, some easy roll-able jumps and of course stunning views out over Lake Wanaka. Hare Time starts off small and slowly gets bigger and bigger the further down the hillside you progress and features hips, table-tops berms and rollers. Everything is roll-able, so it’s perfect for working on your jumping skills, because if the jumps get too big, or you want to try hit something bigger than you have before, it’s easy enough to roll it, or come up short, without paying a big price. You’ve also got a green trail down, along with a light blue so that your friends and family who don’t ride can still come along and have some fun. I think one of the things I appreciated most about Glendhu was simply the fact that the trails are built with a wide skill range in mind, so if you’re riding with a group with a range of skill levels, you can all ride the same trails (for the most part) and have fun.
Something I really like about Glendhu, is that the trails aren’t ‘grouped’ by difficulty. It can be tough riding with a group with mixed abilities; what starts as a day with intentions of riding as a group can quickly end up with your group broken up as people go off to ride the trails that are more appealing to them and you go the whole day without seeing your buddies. At Glendhu, the climb offers the ability to ride with your buddies and tell your tales from the trails, before breaking up and heading down the trails that call your name once you’re backup to the top.
It goes without saying that I plan on getting back down to Bike Glendhu ASAP, and this time with the goal of spending a couple of days exploring the park. If you’re passing through the South, or have been wondering whether it’s worth making the trip into Glendhu, I can tell you it’s 100% worth it. For the next couple of weeks, up to the 14th August, Bike Glendhu season passes are available at an early bird rate. The goal is to open for the last two weekends of August, and then to extend hours into September.
Words: Cam Baker
Images: Callum Wood & Chris Wright
News: Get your Bike Glendhu Early Bird Season Pass!
Live down South? Planning on making some trips down this summer? Our friends down at Bike Glendhu have just pushed go on Early Bird Season Passes for the 2020/21 season!
Up 'til Friday 14th August, season passes range from $249 for an adult down to $85 for a child, with under 5's going free. Discounted passes are also available for students, youth and seniors. Afterpay is available, and if Mother Nature plays ball, the park will open for the last two weekends of August, with extended days from September.
The team has been putting in the hours over the winter, cutting a new up trail from the bottom of Jairolla/Hare Time back up to Jack's Spot for quick 'n easy laps as well as a new tech blue trail from the bottom of Monsoon Hoon. A couple of other things are in the works, too. Hopefully we'll be able to share more soon...
You can pick up your early bird pass here.
First Impressions: Giro Manifest Helmet
Giro’s new Manifest mountain bike helmet is a lightweight trail helmet featuring some interesting safety technology. Giro also claim it’s one of the best when it comes to ventilation. However, all of this comes with higher price-tag - the Manifest being Giro’s most expensive half-shell to date.
All in all, the Manifest is an impressive helmet, as it should be for the price tag. As it’s been the middle of winter, I can confirm that the air ventilation is noticeable. My noggin was super cold on an early morning start in the forest. Even on the climbs, at slower speeds, it’s noticeable - but more so at trail speeds. Onto the overall comfort. So far, the Manifest rates highly for me. The plush padding and smooth straps feel super pleasant. Then, there’s the simplicity of the magnetic Fidlock buckle - it’s quick to fasten and secure.
Keep an eye open for the full review coming soon in #99.
Words: Liam Friary
Image: Cameron Mackenzie
Arrival: The All New RockShox Zeb
We're asking more and more of our bikes, especially with the boom of enduro. Riders need to be able to pedal their bikes up hills, before pointing it back down and taking on stages that you'd expect to see at a downhill race. As bikes get more capable, we get faster and the faster we go, the more we ask of our components. RockShox has heard your fork's cries for help as you thrash it at your local, and has answered with the all-new Zeb.
The Zeb features 38mm stanchions, making them the biggest out of RockShox's range of forks, and is designed to tackle the increasing demands of enduro. The Zeb is available is three different configurations, all of which come in 160mm, 170mm, 180mm and 190mm travel:
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Zeb Ultimate | Charger 2.1 RC2 Damper
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Zeb Select+ | Charger 2.1 RC Damper
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Zeb Select | Charger RC Damper
A dual-position air spring is available for eBikes, as well, meaning you can switch between 150mm and 180mm travel with the twist of a dial.
We've been lucky enough to have spent the past month or so aboard the Zeb Ultimate and so far I've been STOKED on how well the Zeb performs. Before I received the fork, I had locked in on how it'd simply feel more precise when the going gets rough, without stopping to think about how the stiffer chassis also means less "sticktion" through the travel, meaning the fork doesn't only feel smoother, but also more supportive than the Pike Ultimate fork I was riding beforehand, and I think this is something that's worth pointing out, especially for smaller riders who may think that they won't benefit from the precision of a stiffer fork. It's kinda lame to quote from the press release, but Sam Hill noted he felt an immediate difference in rocky, gnarlier straights and it's definitely true - you immediately notice the extra support from the 38mm stanchions.
As much as I'd love to tell you all about the Zeb now, our next issue is due to drop real soon and will have a more comprehensive feature on the Zeb, so keep an eye out on our social media and grab a copy once it's out to read all about Zeb!
Words and Images: Cam Baker
News: More Power and new Computer for Bosch
Of all the drive units I've tried, Bosch have had the most outright power without a doubt and they're about to get more. It was recently announced that all Performance Line Speed and Performance Line CX drive units will be able to get a software update to bump your maximum torque up to 85Nm, from the current 75Nm. It'll make the most noticeable difference at lower cadences when you're grinding up the hills, and is available on all drive units from model year 2020 forwards.
Bosch claim very little impact on battery life, being that most of the time, riders aren't pedalling at a low enough cadence to utilise the maximum torque, and if they are it's not for very long.
The software update also includes a few other changes for the Performance Line CX drive unit. The eMTB mode has been re-tuned to be even more sensitive to riding input, adjusting how much support the motor offers based off how much pressure the rider is putting on the pedals.
There's also a new Extended Boost feature that delivers a sudden thrust of power to help you make it up and over trail obstacles. As your back wheel climbs a root, rock or trail obstacle, a stab at the pedals as you would usually, delivers an boost of power in a fraction of a second to help drive your wheel up and over the obstacle. I've always found eBikes a little tricky to negotiate over little steps or roots in a trail, given you it's harder to hop your back wheel around and that the bike doesn't always respond the way you'd like it to, to a sudden stab at the power, so I'm interested to get my hands on an updated drive unit and put this feature to the test.
Bosch also have an all-new Nyon Computer. Featuring a 3.2 inch high-resolution display, it'll definitely be a bit of a change to what we're used to. Featuring a touch screen, the Nyon will be easy to navigate and is of course will work with touchscreen compatible gloves, or the separate control unit for use while riding. The Nyon is essentially designed to be your ride computer and drive system controller all in one, reporting back live metrics like speed and cadence, as well have having the ability to pair with heart rate sensors. The Nyon also features navigation. We're hoping we'll be able to get our hands on a Nyon equipped bike soon to put the unit to test.
News: Specialized's new Epic & Epic EVO
Specialized have just dropped the latest iteration of their Epic and Epic EVO, with geometry tweaks among other things to suit the more-and-more demanding modern cross country courses we're beginning to see. Get the scoop below!
"The all new Epic
You’re looking at the fastest XC bikes in the world. Building on the legacy of the winningest full suspension XC bike in history, these freshly redesigned Epics deliver an unmatched combination of pedalling efficiency, light weight and control.
“Make the fastest XC bike ever.” That was the Epic development team’s audacious mission. Luckily for them, the starting point was the winningest full suspension XC race bike in history. Building from this, the team delivered an unmatched combination of pedalling efficiency, light weight and control. Mission accomplished.
If winning isn’t everything, we’re doing something wrong. For 20 years, Epics have rocketed more racers to the top of the podium than any other full suspension XC bike. Now with a smarter, tougher, more responsive Brain shock and a stiffer, lighter frame, the new race-focused Epic cuts the time between starting line and victory even shorter.
Brain technology in the Epic fork and shock knows the difference between pedalling force and bump force—it keeps suspension efficiently firm on smooth terrain and automatically switches to active the instant things get rough, boosting control and speed. The new Epic gets a fresh Brain shock, the most durable and control-enhancing that we’ve ever made.
The culmination of two decades of obsessive refinement, the new Epic frames are lighter and stiffer than ever. The S-Works Epic FACT 12m carbon chassis shaves over 100 grams from its predecessor, employs a carbon link, and boasts a15% increase in rear triangle stiffness. The FACT 11m frame found on the rest of the Epic range now matches the stiffness and weight of the previous S-Works chassis.
Dominating today’s technical XC courses demands geometry that borrows from trail bikes while optimizing XC responsiveness. Combining precise handling with improved capability in technical terrain, we relaxed the headtube to 67.5 degrees, stuck with the reduced fork offset that we pioneered in 2018, increased reach, specified shorter stems, shortened chainstays and dropped the bottom bracket by 9mm. Bring it.
Riders all, our team of engineers and technicians toiled to develop every aspect of the Epic suspension into an optimally performing singularity. Chassis design, telemetry, wheel rates, spring curves, custom shim-stacks, oil viscosity—every detail obsessed over, prototyped and tuned until the whole was way faster than the sum of its parts.
The all new Epic Evo
What do you get when you give a crazy-smart, single track-obsessed development team virtually unlimited resources and tell them to make the fastest XC trail bike ever? Epic EVO. Start with the Epic frontend, build an all-new rear end, swap the brain fora custom-tuned metric shock, and tune the geo for technical terrain capability. Ready, set, shred.
The heart of the EVO chassis is the same wicked-light and super-stiff front triangle as the Epic. Next, for stability, we designed a purpose-built rear end. Finally, we boosted control and trail performance by unifying the front and rear end with a stiff shock link optimized for the plush metric damper used on the EVO. Evolved for trail speed.
The EVO’s 66.5-degree head angle and lower bottom bracket keep things calm when the trail turns technical. For pedalling efficiency, the seat angle is 3/4 of a degree steeper than its predecessor. If you want sharper handling and a bit more clearance, just rotate the FlipChip—angles get half a degree steeper and the bottom bracket comes up 6mm.
To conquer rough trails as fast as humanly possible, the Epic EVO maintains ultra-efficient pedalling manners, but trades the Brain in favor of an Rx-tuned metric shock. A purpose-built link yields a2.8:1 leverage ratio, and milks bump-devouring performance from its 110-mm rear travel. 120mm forks with custom Rx-tuned valving complete EVO’s balanced, trail-smart suspension.
News: Bontrager's Updated Line Wheel Range
Today, Bontrager unveiled all-new versions of its popular Line Pro 30 and Line Elite 30 carbon mountain bike wheels that have nearly twice the impact strength of previous Line models. Like all Bontrager carbon wheels, the new Line models are backed by Carbon Care and warrantied for life.
Both Line Pro 30 and Line Elite 30 are available in 27.5 and 29er options. Each model in the newline-up features a new rim design with a shallower 27 mm wheel depth that increases vertical compliance for a smoother ride and a planted, confident feel that isn't overly harsh on the trail.
The new shape also helps the wheel absorb and transfer impact energy to help prevent failure.
Additionally, Bontrager more than doubled the hook wall thickness, increasing it to 4.6 mm for even more strength and durability.
'These wheels set all-time records in our impact test, but we wanted to go even further to ensure every rider could buy and ride with confidence,' said Graham Wilhelm, Bontrager's Director of Product for Wheels & Tyres. 'So we created an all-new impact anvil that deliver seven stronger, more menacing blows that mimic real-world forces of rock strikes. These wheels performed incredibly well.
'The all-new Line Pro 30 and Line Elite 30 are the strongest carbon MTB wheels Bontrager has ever tested–not just from Bontrager, but from any manufacturer.
Line Pro 30 is the ultimate carbon mountain trail and enduro wheel. It’s built with the lightest rims in the Line family, a more refined hub and more compliant, lighter-gauge straight-pull spokes.
Line Elite 30 is the ultimate carbon trail wheel for value and performance. Elite delivers the same strength and durability as the Pro, with just a few more grams in the rim and a J-Bend hub.
All-new rim Design
The 4.6mm hook wall thickness increases strength and durability, while the shallower 27mm depth increases vertical compliance and helps to absorb impacts better.
Fewer Flats
The wider hook bead offers a 300% larger outside hook radius, which means more surface area in contact on a sharp impact to help prevent pinch flats.
OCLV Carbon Line rims are built from proven OCLV Pro Carbon for an optimised blend of weight, strength and durability.
Rapid Drive 108
Each model features Rapid Drive 108 hubs, which have 108 points of engagement for quick accelerations and confident pedaling through even the most demanding terrain.
Carbon Care and Lifetime Warranty
All Bontrager Carbon Wheels are warrantied for life and come with Carbon Care, which offers free repair or replacement to the original owner within the first two years of ownership in the unlikely event of damage from riding.
Bontrager's all-new Line Pro 30 and Line Elite 30 wheels are available immediately online in select markets and through Trek's worldwide network of retail partners.
News: The new Santa Cruz 5010
The 5010 is one of those bikes that's just fun. Enough travel to get you over pretty much anything, with a small enough amount of travel to keep things fun. Santa Cruz have updated the 5010, with longer and slacker being the key themes, as well as a move to their lower-link VPP configuration that's become the norm on their recent releases. Check out their rad launch video below, then read what they have to say about the bike.
"Now more than ever, it’s important to get creative with your surroundings.
The 5010 has always been the bike that turns obstacles into features but now with the fourth generation upon us it expands on the concept of the little bike that has big ideas. Fun-loving 27.5-inch wheels, 130mm of lower-link VPP travel (paired with a 140mm fork) and radically confident-inspiring geometry including, new for any Santa Cruz bicycle, size specific rear stay lengths. It’s the kind of bike that makes any trail feel as familiar as the back of your hand."
News: The new Juliana Furtado
Much like it's brother, the Santa Cruz 5010, the Juliana Furtado is your go-to. Enough travel to take on anything, and not so much travel that you can just point-and-shoot. The latest iteration of the Furtado sees the bike transition to Juliana's lower-link VPP configuration, a slightly slacker head angle, as well as varying chainstay lengths that vary depending on your frame size.
"The Furtado isn’t a bike. It’s the bike.
The Furtado is more than a bike, it’s your partner in grime. From winding singletrack to burly rock gardens, the unmatched maneuverability of the Furtado makes it the perfect dirt-partner for every escape.
Re-designed for 2020, this year’s Furtado bumps up the capability to the do-it-all (then do it again) frame. The 27.5” inch wheels fitted with grippy 2.4” tires turn loose lines into velcro, letting you weave through trails with the confidence of a kid wearing a cape.
The 130mm rear travel and 140mm front travel floats over chunky trails while the lower link suspension keeps the traction high, letting you push the pedals without worrying about slipping or sliding.
Size-specific chainstay lengths coupled with a relaxed 65 degree headtube angle create a bike that twists and turns, letting you tackle the unknown with the confidence to commit. From the lighter-tuned rear suspension that ensures full-use of the travel to the nimble geometry and selection of build kits, the Furtado puts you in control.
Make every second carved from a busy day count. Snake through the tight switchback, then eye up the ledge that’s had your number for far too long. The question was never if you’ll clear it, but when. The Furtado’s balanced design and controlled feel turns to-do lists into just-did-that lists, and questions of when into exclamations of let’s do it again."
News: SRAM Release new 10-52T Eagle Cassette
If Eagle didn't already have a wide enough gear range for you, SRAM have just released a new 10-52T Eagle cassette with a massive 520%, giving you torque you never knew you needed, or the option to go up a chainring size whilst maintaining about the same bail-out as what you had on your 50T cassette. If you want to upgrade to the 50T cassette and you've got an AXS groupset, your derailleur is already compatible with the 52T cassette. If you're on a mechanical Eagle groupset, you'll need to pickup a new rear derailleur (and maybe the new carbon GX Crankset...).
"The new 10-52t cassette gives riders more than ever before, with an unprecedented 520 percent range. For a little extra to avoid the hike-abike, a little more in the “spin to win” game, the XG-1295 cassette also allows stronger riders to increase their chainring size if they want."
The new cassettes are available in black, gold, rainbow and an all-new copper colourway.
