“A more in depth look at what i’m up to at the moment and a bit about what makes me tick. As you’ll see still not up to full speed but getting there….Shot and edited by Alex Rankin.”

SRAM have announced the new Type 2 derailleur, incorporating a clutch mechanism to limit the movement of the mech over bumpy terrain. Cage Lock is also included, which lets you push your cage forward and lock it into that position to help when changing wheels.

Specs:
X0 TYPE 2 Rear Derailleur
• Exact Actuation for precise and dependable 10-speed performance
• Focused chassis design for all conditions and usage
• 235g (medium cage) clutch adds 30 grams to a standard RD
• 36-tooth cassette capable
• 3 cage lengths available: short for DH, medium for 2X10 and long for 3X10
• 3 graphic colors available: Silver, Black, Red

X9 TYPE 2 Rear Derailleur
• Exact Actuation for precise and dependable 10-speed performance
• Focused chassis design for all conditions and usage
• 250g (medium cage) clutch adds 30 grams to a standard RD
• 36-tooth cassette capable
• 3 cage lengths available: short for DH, medium for 2X10 and long for 3X10
• 2 graphic colors available: Grey, white

Type 2 mechs will be available in August.

www.sram.com

The GT Factory Racing Team is raring to go at the first World Cup of 2012! The team launched its striking new look while out on their pre-season training camp in Newport Beach, California.

The strong design heritage of GT bicycles’ race teams was always going to be a hard act to follow but the team have worked with GT’s designers and new apparel sponsor ONE Industries to put together a sleek and professional look for the 2012 season. On board the team issue GT Fury and decked out in the latest ONE industries kit, the team showed off the black, yellow and white colour-way that will be gracing mountain bike events around the globe this year. “We’ve gone for a subtler look this year for our main race kit but don’t worry, we’ll be mixing it up with a few other offerings from ONE as the year progresses” said 2008 World Champion Rachel Atherton

Finalising a three year deal with Shimano this winter means the team will be running Shimano Saint groupsets, Shimano shoes, and Atherton edition Pro components aboard the quiver of GT bikes. Also gracing the bikes will be Fox suspension products, which in turn will be supported by Fox’s race program, custom tuning and product support from world class technicians. New team member Marc Beaumont said ‘’Switching to the Shimano and Fox components this off season has been smoother than I expected, the Fury hasn’t felt this good in years!”

Continental continues to supply the ‘Black Chili’ rubber for the team which keeps the bikes firmly on line. “Working with Continental is really good for me right now, they have a whole host of tyres that I can use for enduro, I’m favouring the Rubber Queen and Baron at the moment they are both so good’ Mentioned eldest sibling Dan

Meanwhile E-13 supply the chain-guides, new sponsor FSA supply the headsets, Stan’s No Tubes keeps the guys inflated, while tibolts.co.uk finishes off the build to ensure the weight of the bikes is kept to a minimum.
Hitting up races the world over the team have again selected the Mercedes Vito Sport as our vehicle partner for 2012, “The amount of miles we do in the Vito Sports is amazing, I think we clocked up over 60’000 last year alone yet the van is still awesome, as perfect for those long trips between races as it is for nipping down to the local trails’ commented Gee Atherton.

Using the amazing Alpi Bike Resort in Torinio, Italy as its base for the summer the team’s schedule will take in the full World Cup circuit, Crankworx Canada and Europe, Mega Avalanche, Super Enduros, select BDS events as well as Rampage and a host of other Enduro events.

Keep track of the team and its happenings at www.athertonracing.co.uk, become a fan on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/athertonracing or follow them on Twitter @athertonracing

Photos by Sven Martin

Another cracker from Liam Murphy, this time with a big red van and Mr Sorrell!

The Movie Part 1. Break Free
The Boys break free from life at home to start on a trip that will last the summer. Starting off at the Megavalanche and then riding some great spots at Chamonix and Chatel.

The Dudes of Hazzard Facebook page..

A Day in the Life w/ Ken Roczen & Danny Hart.

Fox Head

Cut Media’s insight into the world of Orange Bikes, presented by Guy Martin…

A dimly lit workshop in the centre of Halifax is an unlikely backdrop for an art studio, twisting and manipulating aluminium, forming complex shapes to create a pure simplicity – the bike frame.

Proper engineering is a dark art in a world of sterile outsourced manufacturing. A black box of production, it was about time someone gave an updated snapshot into the people and processes that bring an Orange bike to life.

Cockney, Francis and Toddy bend and join aluminium using timeless skill and modern ingenuity, but getting them to explain what they do is no easy task. In steps TT legend and engineering ambassador to the people, Guy Martin.

A man of mechanical dexterity and dubbed the modern day Fred Dibnah, Guy phrases the questions nobody else would think to ask. Not afraid to state the obvious, he disseminates each step and shows exactly how a Five goes together. Banter in the workplace? Just a bit boy…

Guy gets a TIG welding assessment, Vaughan lets him loose with a gun, and wielding an Allen key he gets candid on DH “cock measuring”.

The usual factory video? Produced and innovatively shot by the legends at Cut Media, this is no ordinary tour…

Unior Tools are one of the Wideopenmag Team sponsors and we’ve been super impressed with their no nonsense, solid tools for a while now. Big news is Unior are also running two young UK racers on their full World Cup team, Jess Stone (formerly of Trek Gravity Girls) and Harry Heath. They’ll both be ripping on the Trek Session 9.9. Read below for the full release!

Slovenian UCI MTB Team is ready for the full UCI World Cup season with top riders from Great Britain, Greece and Slovenia. New name in the team is Jessica Stone, 2010 British National Champ and top contender in the World Cup. She will join Harry Heath, Nejc Rutar, Žiga Pandur and Maria Michalogiannaki, all aiming to improve their best results from the last season.

Season 2011 was a huge success for Unior Tools Team with top 20 finishes in the World Cup, top ten results in overall standings of the iXS European Cup and many other podiums on national and international events all over Europe. “Now we are aiming higher, we want to be top 15 team in the World Cup and get the UCI Elite status for next season,” says team manager Tine Mahkovec. With 100% focus on the downhill, new top-level rider and a better partnership with team sponsors this is a realistic goal.

Jessica Stone joins the team
Jess “the Rolling” Stone is 2010 British National Champion and top rider in the World Cup. 22-year old Jess is now aiming even higher: “With the support of the team I will be able to improve on the results I have gained in previous years. I aim for top 10 in the World Cup, which I think I will be capable to attain. I think that the team is an important platform for me to work from – as a racer, you need that support to push you further, so I am really looking forward to this season and progressing further into the top ranks of this sport.” As you might expect from a progressive rider like Jess, she also has another national title in her mind. “I will be racing the British Downhill Series and my National Championships this year. I am aiming high, you do not go into a race and think ‘I’d like to be number 2 today’! It would be amazing to get another National Champs title, so I will work hard,” says Jess.

Harry Heath is pushing to next level
18th place in the World Cup was best result for the talented British rider that will ride in the Unior Tools jersey for the second year in a row. Harry Heath is now aiming for better top results and consistency throughout the year. “2011 was a great step up with getting onto the Unior team and that support helped me hit some long term goals of mine. To be working with the same amazing guys will again make a big difference as we know how each other works so when we get to the first race it’ll be down to racing,” says Harry one month before the first World Cup. “Like every off season I have found new things to improve on and it will be great to put them to work racing this year. Also I will be racing more of the British National series including National Championships which I’m really looking forward to as its always good to race at home.”

Top riders from Slovenia and Greece
Greek champion Maria Michalogiannaki is training hard to improve her best World Cup result from last season: “This year I plan to race the complete World Cup for the first time and get constant top results on the Sunday finals. Unlike the last year I had a chance to ride my downhill bike more and with the other training I’m ready for the season.”
Slovenian riders in the team are the same – Nejc Rutar and Žiga Pandur have a great season behind them with 30th and 35th place on the World Chamipinships, top 10 position in the overall iXS European Cup standings and multiple double victories on the home ground. “Personal goals are very high, but with the right approach they are realistic. Season starts early, but due to work with top cycling coach Robert Pintarič I will be ready for South Africa,” says highly motivated Nejc. Žiga has a very similar training program and goals for the season: “I will race the complete World Cup for the first time, so there was no real off-season break for us. We have to be in top shape soon, especially for the course in Pietermaritzburg. During the World Cup season we are aiming high also on European events and top of the podium on the national events.”

“Industry” is working with the team
“After big team success in 2011 we further increased the partnership with our sponsors and are now able to give our riders even better support. With the sponsorship of a global company like Unior Tools we are aiming high in the World Cup, but we are also pushing our riders to race at their maximum on their national events,” says team manager Tine Mahkovec. Next to Unior bicycle tools, Trek Bicycles is also a big supporter of the team and new Session 9.9 the official team bike. Other team sponsors are SRAM, adidas Eyewear, Mapei, Bontrager, GoBandit, Motorex, SixSixOne, Royal, Sapim, FiveTen, Toper, ODI, Crank Brothers, Edelweiss RS and Fun Bike Park Kranjska Gora.

Official website of the team is www.uniortoolsteam.com; please follow the team also on Facebook and Twitter.