Specialized Stumpjumper 2008 - Carbon tweaked

The new specialized stumpjumper trail mountain bike has been unveiled in Spain recently. It has not taken specialised long to re look this model. Average guy reviewed the specialized stumpjumper 2006 just the other day, and already there is a new one!

Specialized has really made some drastic improvements to the stumpy. If this isn't a sign that carbon is here to stay then I don't know what is. Just about every improvement on this bike relates to carbon tweaking. They took some design cues from the enduro and shed 200g of weight off the S-works carbon frame with a bunch of improvements. Carbon fiber seat stays shave weight, down tube is larger in diameter and now spans the full width of the bottom bracket shell and the drive side dropout is also carbon fiber.

Other weight saving comes from further integration of the frame and the fork which are now a matching set so you can't swap out. Although it is limiting for customising it makes sense from a weight and control perspective. It is a great looking mountain bike with a serious name behind it.

The verdict from Average Guy:

That bike really looks awesome! I just can’t believe that Spaz has such Cr@p cable routing!! Did you see the bottom of the bike. Dit lyk soos n hoers nes!!!!

Read the full story with pics of the Specialized Stumpjumper 2008

More new Specialized bikes

New Bikes 2008

It is that time of the year again. Bike shop stocks are low and the latest and greatest sits on the horison. News is coming in steadily of new mountain bike releases, model upgrades, lighter bikes, new dealerships etc. New bike designs and specs for 2008 are wrapped up. They are now into production to make the deadline launch dates for later in the year.


Cannondale is busy testing the new Scalpel. For 2008 Cannondale is redesigning its cross country race bike the Scalpel. It now looks like the bike will be sporting around 100mm of rear travel using flex chain stays and a swing link suspension. Rumours are that the bike will be tested this season and once all the angles and tweaks are confirmed they will be producing a carbon version.

Read the full Cannondale Scalpel 2008 story

Other news in SA is the arrival of some premium bike brands from the USA. From August you will be able to get hold of Tomac mountain bikes as well as the super cool Ibis Mojo full suspension carbon trail bike. Also set to receive a boost in our local market is the Intense range of mountain bikes. The agency was recently acquired by Probike who are set to inject new life into the brand.

Fizik Gobi 2008 - spy shots

Fizik is improving their popular Gobi saddle. Can it get better you ask? With many many endurance mountain bikers opting for the comfortable Gobi with wing flex, it seems like there is nothing to improve?

Well our spy pics show that they have improved on it.

Looking at the saddle you will notice that there is less of a curve in the middle and the nose is wider. This improved design also means that there is more flex at the end. Sounds like good improvements to me, making climbing a bit more comfortable, as you shift weight onto the front of the saddle there will be a bit more real estate to perch on.

But how do they know that this will work? Because the test it with a saddle bashing machine, check it out

So look out for the new Fizik Gobi saddles

Mountain Bike Blogging

This is my first post on Average Guy's blog. Being the average guy means that day job and life pressures don't always allow for plenty postings. That is where bUnDi comes in, the secret force behind average guy, propelling him to fame and fortune. That is mostly off the bike, on the bike it is a different story. I will share some of my experiences on and off the bike and bring you some bits and pieces from my wanderings on the Internet.

Anyway I have just updated www.mtbonline.co.za with a new page featuring some of (read only) South African biking blogs. There are some really interesting folks out there sharing their riding and biking experiences. Some ride more than others but they never the less have a passion for cycling and specifically mountain biking.

From keen mountain biker Japie to bike shop owner Steve to bike industry main man Brandon Els of Raleigh. Take a peek into their worlds and see what they are on about.

Find the links at http://www.mtbonline.co.za/averageguy/blog.htm

2008 Shimano XT

Kevin Evan's 2008 Bike

Not even Kevin Evans has seen this.

2008 Raleigh FS Sneak Peak

Raleigh 2008 Sneak Peak

STANDER EDGES OUT EVANS TO TAKE FOREST TO FALLS

Burry Stander continued his run of good form when he outsprinted national champion Kevin Evans to win the Mazda Forest to Falls 70km mountain bike race in Graskop at the weekend.Stander (Mr Price GT) started the race as the favourite, having climbed up to ninth on the UCI world cross-country rankings in recent weeks following a string of impressive results at international events. But he’d not yet won a local marathon distance race in 2007 so was under pressure to do so before he departed for another round of overseas racing.And he responded superbly to that pressure.

Stander was part of a lead group of five riders with 25km of the scenic 70km race remaining. He was joined by Mr Price GT teammate Johan van Zyl and the Raleigh MTN Energade trio of Evans, Melt Swanepoel and Mannie Heymans.

Heymans was doing most of the pace-setting on what is one of the easier marathon race routes on the calendar, allowing Evans and Swanepoel to sit in and save their legs for the end. But with 15km remaining, Swanepoel’s hopes of victory vanished when he punctured, leaving just four upfront to fight out the podium places.Having won Forest to Falls in 2006, Evans had the experience of how to ‘play’ the finish, but didn’t quite bargain for Stander’s cheeky response.“Like last year, I put in a mock attack on the second last climb just to see who had good legs,” said Evans. “I got a small gap and Burry came with me, then he kept on going which played well into my hands because I was on his wheel and he was setting a fast pace to the finish.”

Evans added one last big attack but Stander had practiced the run-in to the finish the day before and instead of easing up slightly for the right-hand turn drop-off onto the finishing straight, he kept his pace high and virtually flew past on the inside of Evans into the final metres. Evans tried to come back but couldn’t and watched his rival take the win in two hours 36 minutes and 46 seconds.

Evans finished one second later with Van Zyl (2:36:51) and Heymans (2:37:05) third and fourth respectively. Shan Wilson (Adidas William Simpson) rounded out the top five in 2:38:06 and was the first Veteran home.The battle for the women’s title proved to be most dramatic. Pre-race favourite Yolande de Villiers (Mazda Merida) crashed out after 20 minutes, virtually handing chief rival Yolande Speedy (IMC Mongoose) the win on a plate. But instead of storming to a comfortable victory as most would have predicted, Speedy struggled and was seen weaving up a climb, head hanging down in third place behind Tania Raats (Maverick Momentum) and Amy Jane Mundy (Jeep).But Speedy, a dominant winner of the Subaru Sabie Classic in February and Mixed category champion at the Absa Cape Epic in March, managed to pull herself together and mustered up a solid finale. She first passed Mundy who’d had to contend with a broken pedal and then managed to pass Raats on her way to the win in 3:05:31. Raats finished in 3:08:55 with Mundy rounding out the podium in 3:15:35. The Velotex King and Queen of the Mountains prime came after just 8km up a near vertical ascent on a wide piece of singletrack. Wearing the jerseys that denoted them the leaders in the Series mountains competition, Stander and Mundy didn’t disappoint and led the men and women respectively over the summit of the tough ascent.After three events in the 10-leg Mazda Series, Evans and Raats still lead the men and women’s categories respectively. Both have had one first and two second places. The fourth event in the Series, the Big Induna at Hazyview, is on 16 June and doubles as the 2007 South African marathon championships.Mazda Forest to Falls, 70kmGraskop, MpumalangaSaturday 5 May 2007

Leading results:

Overall men

1 Burry Stander (Mr Price GT) 2hrs36min46sec

2 Kevin Evans (Raleigh MTN Energade) 2:36:47

3 Johan van Zyl (Mr Price GT) 2:36:51

4 Mannie Heymans (Raleigh MTN Energade) 2:37:05

5 Shan Wilson (Adidas William Simpson) 2:38:06

6 John Paul Pearton (Mazda Merida) 2:39:33

7 Jacques Janse van Rensburg (Exel Specialized) 2:39:55

8 Jaco Venter (Exel Specialized) 2:40:16

9 Melt Swanepoel (Raleigh MTN Energade) 2:40:23

10 Francois Theron (Mazda Merida) 2:42:10

Senior men

1 Burry Stander (Mr Price GT) 2hrs36min46sec

2 Kevin Evans (Raleigh MTN Energade) 2:36:47

3 Johan van Zyl (Mr Price GT) 2:36:51

Sub-veteran men

1 Mannie Heymans (Raleigh MTN Energade) 2:37:05

2 Melt Swanepoel (Raleigh MTN Energade) 2:40:23

3 Shaun MacKenzie 2:52:49

Veteran men

1 Shan Wilson (Adidas William Simpson) 2:38:06

2 Damian Booth 2:52:39

3 Bryan Strauss 2:58:04

Master men

1 Tim James 3:11:47

2 Robbie McIntosh 3:22:49

3 Barend Bester 3:25:25

Overall women

1 Yolande Speedy (IMC Mongoose) 3:05:31

2 Tania Raats (Maverick Momentum) 3:08:55

3 Amy Jane Mundy (Jeep) 3:15:35

4 Marissa van der Merwe (Proline) 3:15:50

5 Carla Rowley (Raleigh MTN Energade) 3:23:30

6 Ellane van Wyk 3:26:21

7 Petruschka Constancon 3:34:43

8 Alma Bester 3:34:499 Carla Freysen 3:50:30

10 Adele Drake 4:01:17

Sub-veteran women

1 Yolande Speedy (IMC Mongoose) 3:05:31

2 Tania Raats (Maverick Momentum) 3:08:55

3 Carla Rowley (Raleigh MTN Energade) 3:23:30

Veteran women

1 Petruschka Constancon 3:34:43

2 Alma Bester 3:34:49

3 Louise Jacobs 4:19:23

Master women

1 Sally Mawson 4:29:26

Shangai Show 2007

I am just back in my hotel room after walking around the show all day, and I didn't see everything! These shows are HUGE. I took some pictures of some of the more interesting things on show. It seems that white parts are in for the new season.

That's right, these are carbon MTB Wheels!

Cool Flat Pedals.

Magalies Monster

Be warned, this is a real tough one, with some very technical terrain.

Average Guy Gets Dirty with Harry.

I headed out on Friday afternoon for Harrismith in the Freestate, with the weather forecast foremost in my mind. And 100km outside Johannesburg the rain started and the temperature dropped. Harrismith was freezing on arrival and very wet. Luckily by the 8:30 start it was a beautiful day with only a slight wind to worry about.

The start at the athletics stadium was a good venue and the sponsors (N3 Toll Concession) had made a big effort with the catering. I was also impressed to see that Mazda had brought some vehicles which were on show and also had a representative at the race. These guys put so much into the sport, but don’t really seem to take advantage of the opportunity to show their products to the mountain bikers they sponsor, so I hope that we will see more of this.

Anyone who had finished the Epic 2 weeks ago, was hesitant to talk about their prospects for the race. You never know how you’re going to feel when you first race after the Epic.

And if you weren’t feeling good, you would probably have not liked the start of this race; a couple of loops through the streets of Harrismith and then straight in to the big climb of the day. Rather than a gradual long climb this was more undulating with some really steep bits. The king and queen of the mountain were decided in the early stages. After the climb, it was onto the contour around the Platberg. This was also undulating, with a definite feeling of more up than down. There was a really cool, rocky downhill and some hike-a-bike sections, but nothing too long. The route then wound around the Platberg on some more technical up and downs and finally around the back of the Platberg onto a dirt road. Some of the guys I spoke to afterwards really didn’t enjoy this section. It was a challenge as there was a strong headwind and I could not hold on to the bunch. So I had to suffer the section alone. I felt sorry for the top ladies on this section: I went past Tania Raats and Amy-Jane Mundy on this section. They are not allowed to ride the wheels of the guys, so they have to tough it out alone.
After a left turn and a bit of tar, we turned back onto the jeep track and approached the KOM spot from a different direction. It was around this time that I realised that the race would not be 75km, but a bit longer. After going past the KOM point, we had to complete the rocky undulating jeep track that we had ridden earlier again, this time the ups seemed more, uh… up and the rocky downhill more rocky. The route then linked with the 35km course and then it was fast all the way home.
At 75km, my Cape Epic legs kicked in and I managed to make up a few places. It was a bit of a shock that the route was 7km longer than advertised. This is where I find the biggest advantage of riding my Raleigh Team hardtail. The bike feels light, even at the end of a long ride, and helps you feel like you can still climb and finish strong.
At the sharp end of the race it was Marc Bassingthwaighte (GT) edging out Kevin Evans (Raleigh MTN Energade) for first spot, with Jaco Venter (Excel) in third.
The ladies race saw Yolande De Villiers (Mazda Merida) continuing where she left off from the Epic with a win over Amy Jane Mundy (Jeep) and Tania Raats (Maverick) third.
Well done to Theo Grobler, who took over the organisation of the race at the last minute. He did an amazing job, but we really have to talk about the extra 7km…

Puncture free Cape Epic

I recently celebrated my third Cape Epic in a row - PUNCTURE FREE! That is right, no punctures. want the secret?

Maxxis Crossmark LUST UST.

These tyres are very good all - rounders and roll superfast. The sidewalls are very thick and even with me at 90kg they performed flawlessly.

Specialized MTB Team

Specialized Bicycle Components has been the proud sponsor of the Exel road cycling team since the end of 2005. This partnership has not only been renewed for 2007, but has also seen the addition of a MTB team. The MTB team will be named Team Exel Specialized while the road team remains Team Exel.

Team Exel Specialized 2007 will consist of the following four riders:

ELIAS (TUIS) SEBONA
DOB: September 28th 1980
Turned Pro: 2003 with HSBC.
2004: Rode for TUKS (University Pretoria)
2005 and 2006: Team Exel
Highlights:
2002: 5th overall Kremetart Tour, stage winner
2002: Team member of winning team at Tour of China with HSBC.
2003: Kremetart Tour, stage winner, plus yellow jersey wearer
2004: Winner of KoM at Jock Tour at Barberton / Nelspruit
2005: Winner of Middelburg Classic
2006: 3rd overall Middelburg Classic
2006: Crater Cruise MTB event 25th overall position

JACO VENTER
DOB: February 13th 1987
Cycling results:
2002:
U16 African and South African Champion
2004:
1st- Junior Expert Short Track, Sea Otter MTB Classic, USA
2nd- Junior Expert Road race, Sea Otter Classic, USA
2nd Overall (incl Elite) - Karoo to Coast
2005:
1st- South African Junior Timetrial Championships
Stage winner of the South African Junior Tour
5th- Overall Classification Tour de Lorraine World Cup, France
2nd- Het Volk Junior (UCI 1.1), Belgium
2006:
Crater Cruise MTB event 9th overall position


JACQUES JANSE VAN RENSBURG
DOB: September 6th 1987
Cycling Results:
2005:
1st- South African Junior Road Championships
Stage winner of the South African Junior Tour
1st- King of the Mountains Classification, Tour de Lorraine World Cup, France
2nd- Sprints Classification, Tour de Pays de Vaud, Switzerland
3rd- King of the Mountains Classification, Tour de Pays de Vaud, Switzerland
2006:
1st- Stage1, Transalp Challenge (Road)
1st- Stage 7, Transalp Challenge (Road)
Crater Cruise MTB event 15th overall position

OWEN CHAD HANNIE
DOB: June 6th 1978
Professional Cyclist
January 1999-December 2003
Teams: IBM Lotus (1999-2001), Microsoft (2002-2003), South African National Team (1999-2003)
Highlighted Achievements: First cyclist of colour to represent the South African National Team at World Road Champs in Verona, Italy (1999), South African National U/23 Champion 2001, Ranked in the South African Top from 1999 to 2003.



The riders will focus on the Drifter series, various other high profile races such as Sanie 2 C, Sabie Experience and most definitely the Cape Epic. The pairing for the Cape Epic 2007 will be Jaco/Jacques and Tuis/Owen.

The foray from road into MTB for the team offers exciting opportunities for all concerned. The co sponsors of Team Exel Specialized are:
(Exel and Specialized are naming sponsors)
Thule Bike Racks
Look Pedals,
SRAM Bicycle Components
Cyclesure Insurance
Volvo Bedfordview
Fast Fuel Supplements
Bene Water
Anatomic Clothing

The strong link between Team Exel Specialized and the Specialized Factory MTB Team (e.g. Christoph Sauser, Liam Killeen) will be strengthened over the course of 2007, especially during the Cape Epic.

The team looks forward to an exciting year ahead and will endeavour to leverage the exposure for its co sponsors as well as to create more awareness of mountain biking in South Africa.

Average Guy Experiences The Sabie Experience

I was lucky enough to be invited by the organisers of the Sabie Experience to ride a stage of the race. But this report starts a week before the Experience. I was in Sabie to do a training camp with the good people from Fritz Pienaar Cycles and the second day of our camp, we ran into Dennis Lawrie. For those of you who don’t know, he’s one of the people behind the Sabie Experience. It’s only if you happen to be there the week before the event that you realise fully what it takes to put together an event like The Experience. Dennis was out there with some enthusiastic helpers doing everything from cutting the long grass, to removing overhanging tree branches from the trail, to getting some very keen dirt bikers to ride the single track, just so that it would be fresh. I often do races without a thought of what happens behind the scenes; but seeing all this hard work happening really hit it home how much we take for granted. Every cent of race entry is worth it in my book.

So, what about the actual event? I think The Cure song “Hot, Hot, Hot” would describe the 2006 Sabie Experience best. I was extremely lucky as the third stage I rode on the Saturday was by far the coolest day of the event… my Polar measured a sweat- inducing 38 degrees! The 7 a.m. start did help a little, but speaking to some riders who perspired their way through all 4 days, they would have even been happy with a 6 a.m. start. The vibe at the start was very festive; the voice of Mountain Biking in S.A; Paul Valstar adding to the atmosphere. Those riders who escaped heat exhaustion to make day 3 were looking surprisingly fresh; I think they were invigorated by the misty cool morning.

The mist was soon burnt off by the blazing lowveld sun and things were soon back to hot, hot, hot. Day 3 was 72km and 1400m climbing, and I had much respect for those who had endured similar stages for the previous 2 days. The heat really was stifling and some riders reported a remarkable 45 degrees on the previous day, so while I sweated like a Norwegian in a sauna, I still counted myself lucky.

The route was pretty standard Sabie stuff. Good long climbs and exhilarating downhills; with nothing too challenging for day 3 in terms of technical riding. There was a really cool (literally) downhill through a forest canopy, which everyone seemed to really appreciate and enjoy. The water points were some of the best I have seen at any race! There was plenty fruit, cold water and Powerade. Also, a nice touch was a tent, where riders could get out of the sun and have some Squirt administered to dusty drive trains.

The finish had all the vibe of the start and Paul made an effort to announce each team finishing by name which is a really great way to make each person feel like the champion they are. The bike wash (and at times, person wash) was really near the finish, so you could get your bike sorted and move on to relax with minimal strain. The start/finish venue at the school was perfect, with a shaded grandstand for spectators to await the dusty bikers. For me, the ultimate, was the Chelsea bun at the end! I love to eat straight after a ride and this was an awesome touch! For me this was simply the icing on an absolutely awesome event. I have managed to miss out every year since the inception of The Experience, but next year I’ll be on the start line as a competitor. Thanks so much to all the organisers and in particular, Fiona Coward for making me feel like I was part of the race. The race bag full of goodies, reminded me of a time when I started racing and part of the fun was looking forward to the race packs.

I managed to make it to the final 25 km time trial on Sunday and this is what makes the event a must do. It was extremely exciting to sit on the grandstand and watch everyone sprint through the finish, having their times announced as they did. When Greg Minaar and Brandon Steward shot over the finish line, I didn’t think anyone would better their time. But Burry Stander and J.P. Pearton smashed any hopes of a sneak win with an unbelievable time of 51 minutes. I must confess to getting goose bumps as the announcement was made.