When the goop hits the fan...

When tubeless goes bad...

Those of you out there who have made the leap to tubeless tires will no doubt relish the benefits, notably the ability to run lower tire pressures with reduced risk of puncture. With low pressure also comes a world of benefits that really bring a bike alive. These include lower rolling resistance, more traction and extended tire life.

While tubeless may seem like the ultimate tire solution, it is not without its own challenges, and principal among these is the initial setup, where a combination of sitcky goop and compressed air can make for a messy and uncomfortable situation.

Fortunately, those out there who haven't taken the plunge can learn from the Mountain Pedaler's mistakes. A great deal of faffing about could have been avoided if the tyres had first been inflated onto the rims with a tube, thus seating at least one of the beads. With those done, the compressor easily inflated the tire and seated the remaining bead with a loud pop.

All sealed up and ready to PARTY!

Andrew shows some new-bike stoke

With tyres inflated and pedals attached, Andrew's Chiquillo was ready to fly. Fuego rider Will took him for a whizz around the Christhchurch tracks, and Andrew reported having a blast. Despite the always painful maiden endo Andrew showed some impressive riding skills and should be shredding his home tracks as we speak.

Mountain Pedaler out...

King of Bling? Chris King.

When it comes to hubs, there aint nothin' nicer than a Chris King, and Pete of SS nationals fame just shouted his Ventana El Toro a set of these classy hubs.
With features like a 5 year warranty, fully serviceable stainless steel bearings and a phenomenal 72 engagement pawls, these hubs should keep rolling loud and proud for many years to come.

Perhaps the best feature is the auditory smorgasbord that these hubs serve up every time the freewheel engages. If precision and quality had a ring tone, it would surely be the purr that Chris King hubs make!

Built up with double butted black spokes (and brass nipples) and No-tube Arch rims, this wheelset offers an excellent balance of stiffness and lightweight. The subtle pewter anodising of the hubs should create beautiful palette against the Grinch Green of Pete's frame.

After building up these wheels, the Mountain Pedaler is almost Grinch Green with envy!

Mountain Pedaler out...

Steve shreds in Vegas

This just in from the Mountain Pedaler's northern correspondent, Steve Lee...

Well what can one say about the trip to MTB heaven......... AWESOME we did the day trip thing and had about 5 hours of riding taking in A trail, tickler, frontal lobotomy, Billy T, split enz, pondy, pondy new, chop suey, spring roll, b rude not 2, then out on club trail and exit trail. Just a totally awesome days riding. My best day out on the trails ever. El as usual took every thing in his stride. Steve as usual couldn't wipe the smile of his face.

After a weekend on the trails around the SS nationals, I'd have to agree that Rotorua trails are hard to beat. For anyone out there who hasn't experienced the epitome of flow, get your wheels up there and shred!

Mountain Pedaler out...

Fear and loathing in RotoVegas

Aaron

The inaugural NZ Singlespeed Champs held last weekend on the sweet flowing trails of Rotorua. A huge crew of four El Toro riders made the trip, locking in the magic 2:1 ratio for a shred around the world renowned trails in the company of some 250 other unophiles.

Dayle

The event was one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the Mountain Biking calender, and despite high expectations the event turned out to be so much more than just a race.
A festival atmosphere permeated throughout the weekend, making for a special event that will not be quickly forgotten by the Ventana crew of Aaron, Dayle, Pete and Ollie.

Pete

Despite damp and cold conditions for the race itself, the secret revealing of the course coupled with the Le-mans style running start left everyone with an ear to ear grin.
One can only imagine what Nanas on their mid afternoon ramble would have thought when the happened upon several hundred mad bikers running awkwardly towards their bikes only to swarm around the tiny ribbon of single track as they headed off for the first lap.

Pete locks in the magic ratio!

Beer shortcuts were on offer for those of strong constitution, with the resulting antics no doubt making for some amusing spectation opportunities.

At the head of the field, mustachioed space monster Garth Weinberg took a well deserved win, with another local Anika Smail demolishing the woman's pack.

Ollie finished in the sharp end of the field, with Pete pulling off a strong performance, especially given he returned to retrieve a dropped pump during the running start!

By all accounts Dayle was charging at the front (4th for the first few laps), before the tight trails (or one too many beers!) got the best of him, retiring after a series of painful crashes.
Aaron suffered a bout of ill health and also withdrew, or perhaps simply couldn't resist the draw of sponsors product on tap!

A big thanks to Pam and Todd (Pete's parents) for some amazing hospitality. Luxury transportation in the VW as well as gourmet food and great company all made the weekend memorable.

A fantastic weekend by all accounts, and one to mark on the calendars for all riders out there with a penchant for the pleasure and pain of singlespeeing!

Mountain Pedaler out...

Pete's Green Bull

El Saltamontes rider Pete Fyfe has just finished building a sweet new Grinch Green El Toro.
Just in time for the Rotorua Singlespeed nationals, the Auckland rider will be shredding the course aboard this beast which was specced with some very juicy bits (brakes included!)

In a true testament to the legendary customer service of the Ventana factory, Pete took delivery of his frame in only three weeks. No mean feat considering the custom cable stops and colour he ordered.
Pete and the rest of the Ventana crew will be easy to spot at Rotorua, as the grin inducing geometry of the Toro should make them stand out amongst a field of grimacing and cursing singlespeeders!

Mountain Pedaler out...

Wish you were a Kennedy?

Kennedys on the charge! Photo: The Press

Ventana rider Steve Kennedy just sent in this report from the Cyclic Saga, an epic 2-day MTB rogaine held yearly in a secret location in the Canterbury region. This years event was at Fox Downs, and 200+ mad bikers took to the hills with only maps and instinct to guide them.

What the well dressed cyclists wears; Salty, home-made mapholder,
XTR gears, Avid Mech Disk brakes

Rogaine is essentially orienteering on a bike, and Steve teamed up with his brothers to navigate their way around the course.

"Where the hell are we?"

Steve had this to say:

Thought I’d give you a bit of an update on the latest outing of my Salty. Recently completed my 10^th Ground Effect Cyclic Saga with my two brothers, first time on the blue beast. Have to say, it was absolutely fantastic for this kind of two-day epic. Covering all sorts of x-country terrain and unfortunately masses of undignified cow sh*t ... Being able to handle everything from vertical uphills, downhills, farm roads, single track etc – just brilliant. It handled things far better than I and the bike was even dignified in the sections I had to walk.

Day 1 campsite; hot shower, hot coffee, BBQ and beers.
Doesn't get any better!

Truly an epic adventure! Thanks for your report Steve, and it'd be great to hear about next year's ride...

Mountain Pedaler out..

Ventana cleans up (again) in muddy 12hr

Oliver after his 8 hour helping of mud pie
Photo Dean Hamilton

Straight off the back of last weeks Nelson Enduro, Oliver made the trip to the normally sunny Hanmer for an assault on the 12 Hour Night/Day Race.
As a solo entrant, Oliver had the odds stacked against him but prevailed in arduous conditions to complete 17 laps of the sloppy course; a full lap ahead of the nearest competiton!
Safety concerns forced organisers to shorten the laps, then the race to 8 hours and 2 sets of Vesrah pads (courtesy of Slim at SR) and a bottle of chainlube (expertly applied by Dayle and the Bike HQ bandits) were vital to keeping the big wheels of his El Padrino rolling.

In only his second foray into super-endurance racing Oliver reported having an enjoyable ride, but is undecided as to whether he'll crank up the 29er Ventana for future 12 hour races.

Mud caked brakes and chainsuck were the order of the day

Monsoon attacks at Nelson Enduro!

Sue winds it up for her first dry lap...

Last weekend a team of Ventana Gringos embarked on their first 12 hour assignment; the R&R Nelson Enduro.

Usually renowned for it's awesome course, the organisers didn't fail this time round, although pinch climbs and the threat of an impending monsoon served to halve the number of teams at this normally well attended event. Hard core bikers who did turn up were treated to some premium single track riding.

Jane Rose on her maiden race aboard an El Fuego pumped out smoking first laps, Oliver following with another two, powering the El Padrino 29er to a position at the lead of the field. Sue and Jo aboard El Saltamontes put in some solid times before the rain began to set in, and the track began turning to mush.

Climbs that were previously on the edge of rideable became traction sucking quagmires, and water began to pool on descents, giving the riders a muddy but refreshing shower.

Still team Ventana soldiered on, braving the tough conditions to spit out consistent lap times; no mean feat given the deteriorating conditions.

Many riders enjoyed the conditions so much,
they took home part of the track with them!

It was no surprise when the organisers decided to shorten the event to 8 hours, and after 6 hours of hard slog in the rain the pop-up caravan was hastily popped-down, and muddy bikes and bodies were stashed in the comfort of the car.

Recovery of the day to Jo, who after being headbutted off the side of a bridge by a wayward solo rider jumped back on and pulled off another lap, a testament to true grit!

Munter of the day to Oliver who was so caught up in his first lap excitement that he took a two minute detour. Perhaps his failure to attend race briefing had something to do with it!

Kudos also to Aaron whose single speed team placed first overall. His choice of an El Toro with 2:1 ratio was ideal given the chain suck inducing muck that was being thrown around. Aaron also scored the fastest lap time proving irrefutably that gears are indeed an unnecessary luxury (if you have the determination and legs of an ox!)

Aaron shredding the course on his Toro

The Ventana team recorded fastest lap times for both genders in the mixed division, with Jane and Oliver pulling off flyers during the early dry laps.

Finishing second in the mixed category, the team showed courage and determination in the adverse conditions. It is riding experiences like the one they survived that make mountainbiking challenging yet rewarding, and despite mud caked bikes and faces it is safe to say that not one of the Ventana Gringos would have rather been somewhere else!

Mountain Pedaler out...

Coppermine Epic; madness on MTBs

In the current age of dumbed down MTB races (particularly in the Christchruch MTB scene with its infamous Bottlelake and McLeans island road races) it is refreshing to see a growing group of truly challenging XC events, none more so than the aptly named Coppermine Epic held in Nelson on the 22nd of March.

Race day dawned cool but clear, and Ventana rider Oliver lined up against the quality field with a mixture of World adventure racing champions, National XC champions and even an Olympian roadie!

Pace off the gun was furious, with local whippersnapper George Bennett putting on the early pace and leading up the Dun Mountain walkway, the classic gut buster and all the way to the top the 900m Fringe Hill climb. With a strong group of riders ahead at this point, Oliver was some minutes back, choosing to leave some juice in the tank for the 25km of technical gnarl that was to follow.

And follow it did, as the track ducked and dived through the beech infested Black diamond ridge much to the delight of riders who enjoy a technical challenge.

Up the front of the race, single track demon Dayle McLachlan had passed George Bennett, and was clearly in his element, holding off the hard charging Nathan Faavae who is renowned for his bush bashing prowess.

The race then joined a rocky mineral belt trail, where toxic elements that prevented bush cover also made for a unique riding challenge akin to riding a set of stairs laiden with fist sized rocks.
Here is where Oliver made his move, pulling in 1, 2 then 3 riders as he charged through the hike n' bike section and through recently cleared scrub.

The race then hit Boulder Valley, where all but the craziest riders were forced to shoulder bikes and embrace a cyclists worst nightmare; a downhill run!

Gradually the Boulders got smaller and the trail more flowy, carrying riders down the valley on with a a perfect amount of gnarl. The descent was so good, Oliver rates it as the single best section of his race season!

The final dash to the line was a 5km blat down the Maitai valley, where Oliver came across George Bennett spread eagled on the track. In a bizarre turn of events George had survived the technical challenge of the upper part of the course only to crash and injure himself on a baby-bottom smooth section of road!

Another unfortunate victim of the trail was local crazy guy Stu Thorpe, as the front tire on his rigid single speed gave out on the drop before the final river crossing, throwing him over the bars and hopefully knocking some sense into him!

Oliver crossed the line in 6th place 2 hours and 38 minutes, some 15 minutes behind winner Dayle. After some bad luck in the past weekends race is was great to see him bounce back and pull off an amazing result, especially in light of the quality field he left in his wake.

As always, Oliver's El Saltamontes was faultless, despite the beating dished out on the hike and bike sections. With 4" of travel, the frame made an ideal compromise between steep-hill rideability and plush travel to take the edge of the rugged Boulder strewn descent.

Also aboard an El Saltamontes was Ventana Veteran racer Susan Heydon. She completed the slightly shorter Enduro course in a respectable 4hrs and 32 minutes, navigating the same technical descent with aplomb.

The Coppermine Epic was an amazing event. It was exceptionally well run given the remote and risky nature of the course. Events of this kind which push the boundary of XC riding should be supported, and if the raving of some racers at the finish line is anything to go by, it should not be too much of a stretch!

Mountain Pedaler out...

Rollin' through the Rainbow

The Toro at rest after a hard day at the office

Ventana rider Oliver pulled off a stunner at this weekends Rainbow Rage; a 106km adventure ride from St Arnaud near Nelson to Hanmer Springs.
Riding his El Toro with a monster 34-13 gear, he powered his way to 4th overall and first singlespeed by half an hour!
Despite numerous mishaps such as loose handlebars 10km in, and a puncture at the 30km mark, he dominated the field, proving that one gear is indeed all you need.
Oliver describes the final 6km brake burning descent as the highlight. Approximately 1 minute down on 4th at the top of the climb, he drifted through the deep gravel corners to catch then pass the rider at the penultimate corner. The El Toro's legendary geometry no doubt assisted this smoking downhill run.
A great finish to an awesome ride, and excellent preparation for the Single Speed Nationals in Rotorua where a field of no less than 4 El Toros is expected to front up. Expect to see Oliver and the Ventana crew dish out a lesson in one-gear riding.

Mountain Pedaler out...

Ventana conquers Triple peak challenge!

This just in from Steve, a recent addition to the Ventana whanau...

"Just a note to say that me and my Buddy Anton did the triple peaks challenge yesterday. The El Ciclon performed admirably, she didn't miss a beat dealt with everything with no problems at all. The rider let her down a little and pushed up a few hills instead of riding her, but all in all a good day was had, finishing time of 6hrs 50mins. "

Steve also reported a few endos from his team mate Anton, which I'm sure were very amusing (expect for he man himself!)

Nice one Steve and keep up the good work!

Mountain Pedaler out..

Pass to Pubbed

Loaded up and ready to party!

Three Ventana riders hit the road last weekend, loading up the Land Rover and heading south for a popular South Canterbury event called the Pass 2 Pub.
After arrival in Burkes Pass and registration, Will, Ollie and Nicole hastily made for the start line and headed for the hills.

With trail riding's growth in popularity, 'old school' farm track based events have lost favour amongst hard core mountain bikers. But depite low expectations, all three riders raved about the undulating course. Highlights included river crossings, rocky descents and the odd monster cow pat thrown in for good measure!
The course itself dropped 300m through 10 backcountry farms which farmers were kind enough to open for the duration of the race.

Ollie off the front

Ollie reported having his best race of the season, powering his El Padrino to a close third place in the sprint finish, narrowly missing out on second to a local rider with inside knowledge of the technical finish.
Will (riding an El Fuego) finished an awesome 9th place, an astonishing result given the quality of the 800 strong field.

Will puts on his race face...

While in her first ever race, Nicole pulled off 65th in the fiercly competitive female category, a sure sign of riding talent!

Spangles and Gringo after a hard day at the office

With race over and prive giving complete, muddy bikes were packed back on the Land Rover, and it was back home to Christchurch.

A great day out and proof that fun on a bike does not necessarily need to involve roots, rocks and gnarl!

Mountain Pedaler out...

650B? Blimey...

Ventana's prototype 650B FS rig; El Bastardo!

Some big wheel enthusiats out there may have spotted this article on Cyclingnews.com which profiled the latest wheel size standard which was abound at America's festival of bicycle botique hotness; the North American Handbuilt Bicycle show.

The 27.5" diameter (or 650B) wheels came about after many smaller riders felt that 29" wheels were simply too big, and the standard creates a happy medium with many of the advantages such as rollability and a larger contact patch (abliet to a lesser degree).

It was especially exciting to see Ventana leading the charge with the standard, with Sherwood beavering away in his North Californian workshop to put together a FS frame making the most of the wheels. The fittingly named El Bastardo looks super sharp in full white finish and we'll keep you posted with progress as the frame makes it to production!

Mountain Pedaler out...

A Fairlie good race...

The day of The Crater Rim; Christchurch's premier MTB race dawned wet and windy, and with the likely outcome of irrepairable damage to the sacred single track, race organisr Rod had no choice but to call the show off.
A truly dissappointing expereince for all involved (especially those who travelled from afar), but clearly the risk to both tracks and rider safety given 100km/h wind gusts, it was the best course of action.

As a result, the Mountain Pedaler's Saturday became somehwat empty. After a week of rest and numerous pre-rides of the course, his weapon of choice (a Ventana El Saltamontes) was primed and ready to shred the singletrack. Fully carbo loaded and ready to explode, he felt a bit dejected after being stranded indoors at the mercy of the weather gods.

With nothing to indulge his primal racing urges, Oliver sought a race further afield; the 57km Sherwood Enduro held near lake Ophua, Fairlie last Sunday. While this central South Island course had expereinced similar volumes of rain as Christchurch, the free draining gravel course was in top-notch condition, with just enough moistness to keep river crossings axle height and pinch climbs muddy. The day dawned crisp and clear, with not a hint of the cats & dogs that had plauged riders in the preceeding days.

Oliver chose a big wheeled grinch green El Padrino hardtail, and in its maiden race the fast rolling wheels and velcro-like traction proved well suited to the course.
The phenomenal steam roller effect through watermelon sized boulders at the numerous (and refereshing) river crossings are a good example. Also, the gigantic contact patch inherent with big wheels no doubt helped Oliver clean the grueling uphill; reeling in 3rd place on the final climb and cementing his position with a blistering run down the old-school tech downhill.

Despite the inital disappointment of the weekend, the Sherwood Enduro organisers delivered an awesome race made extra special by an amazing bike. Perhaps it is mere coincidence, but the genius behind Ventana (Sherwood Gibson) shares a first name with the event!
In the right conditions, big wheels clearly excel and Oliver plans to tear up other oldschool 4wd based races on his bright green machine.
To say it was a Fairlie good time would definitely be an understatement!

Mountain Pedaler out...

Vulcaniser team; take a bow!

Oliver putting it in the (hurt) bag on one of the Vulcaniser's pinch climbs
Photo Kris Celeste

In his first step up to National level Pro Elite racing, Ventana NZ team rider Oliver Whalley took on 6 grueling laps of the unrelenting Vulcaniser course, held at secenic Mt. Vulcan in Omihi, North Canterbury.

With hot conditions and an even hotter pace off the gun, the racers smoked round the buffed single track. Racers and riders at the weekend event took in the finely crafted singletrack, complete with highlights such as Slimline and the Boar's nest; all creations of Craig, Rebecca and the rest of the McQueens valley MTB club team.

Ventana's loud (and sometimes smokey) presence at the Vulcaniser open day

With the fastest lap time, series winner and local legend Dayle 'whip it out' McLachlan showed the field how it was done, scorching the course in under 19 minutes!
While Oiver's times wern't quite as blistering, the determination required to complete the full course is a credit to his riding, and the experience will surely serve as a platform for his further forays into the upper echelons of the sport.

At the finish line, Oliver reported being 'smoked', a feeling no doubt heightened by the sprint for the line by Queenstown rider Mark Williams, who pipped Oliver for 9th place.

While countless racers thanked the Adventure events team on the podium, no amount of lip service can do justice to the tremendous amount of effort that Craig and Rebecca's team have done for cross country riding in Christchurch. They are tireless organisers of consistently awesome events. Racers from far afield made the long haul drive to the course and were rewarded with an impeccably organised and overwhelmingly fun event on arguably the best race course in the country.
Event organisation is only part of it, and you will find this MTB dream team at build days throughout the year, giving so much back to the sport that we all love.
So next time you pedal out to one of their events, give them a pat on the back, or lend a hand with a shovel. They are truly an inspiration to us all!

Mountain Pedaler out...

Pumpalicious...

Construction in progress

Many mountain bikers are aware of the thrill of Pump tracks, mainly through the mad exploits of pro rider Mark Weir in this Youtube video.
Unfortunately precious few riders have had the chance to actually ride a pump track, and the Mountain Pedaler's summer was devoted to spreading the pump track love to wider audience.

Oliver gets the front end rowdy!

Photo Nick Whalley

Starting with a flat block of about 10m x 15m situated under some mature black walnut trees on a farm on the outskirts of Nelson, a plan was hatched to construct a simple pump track setup that would allow racers and punters alike to experience this unique thrill for themselves.

Using Lee Cormack's proven design, 7 cubic metres of topsoil was trucked then barrowed into a series of 1 and 2 foot humps, with some juicy 90 and 180 degree berms thrown in to keep things interesting.

The Terremoto carves through a berm
Photo Nick Whalley

After a week of tuning, riding, sprinkling and more riding, the track became hard and fast, and a joy to ride!

The finished pump track

For riders up Nelson way who are looking to give it a go, get in touch with the Mountain Pedaler and he'll fill you in on the location.

Something about making your way around a tight circuit with out a single pedal stroke that brings a whole new domension to MTB riding.

Mountain Pedaler out...

Team rider Nic unleashes the Crow!

Thanks to the sharp photography skills of Neil Gardner; a spectator at last years Bike HQ DH series final, we can bring you some intense shots of team rider Nic Dey shredding on his Ventana El Cuervo.

Dreadlocked demon Nic goes off camber

It is always great to see photos of Ventanas in action, and one can not question the skill of these pedal paparazzi, especially considering the pace Nic carries down the hill!

Mountain Pedaler out...

El Padrino tester ready to roll

In possibly the speediest build in Mountain Pedaler history, a brand spankin' 20" El Padrino test bike has just left the workstand.

This hardtail frame showcases Ventana's legendary 29er geometry, developed by the legend that is Sherwood Gibson.
The most striking thing about the build is surely the colour, with the Grinch Green finish sure to spark a love/hate relationship.

Where courses suit, expect to see this bike at races around NZ. Feel free to ask for a quick spin, or contact the Mountain Pedaler for a longer term test ride on your own trails, anywhere in NZ!


First impressions of the big wheels include an overwhelming feeling of smoothness which belies the hardtail nature of the frame. Traction is unbelievable, with technical pinches at Evans Pass on its maiden voyage dispatched with ease.

While the slower acceleration is a drawback, once they are rolling, a clear sense of momentum was felt, with rock strewn trails failing to rob precious speed as severely as with a 26er.


Without a doubt, the Padrino is a fantastically enjoyable riding experience, and the Mountain Pedaler recommends a test ride to anyone who has ever considered a 29er.

Mountain Pedaler out...

Crow comes home to roost...

El Cuervo in fully built finery

The newest member of the Ventana family is Nick, who opted for Ventana's 9" DH monster; the El Cuervo in the ongoing campaign to tame the brutally rough trails of Christchurch's Vic park.

Built with a full complement of the best SRAM parts, as well as a touch of white Syncros, this bike is sure to turn heads as Nick 'gets his shred on'.

Where 9" of progressive travel magic happens

If first indications from the recent Bike HQ DH race are anything to go by, this bike has pace to burn, so keep your eyes peeled for this masterpiece of CNC machining and 'Electric sex' welding at races and shuttle days over the summer.

Pity the rocks that get this view!

With a RRP of $7,500, and the ability to fully customise any component, the El Cuervo is a serious DH contender!

Mountain Pedaler out..

Building a revolution!

A bike would be nothing without a nice set of wheels, but an air of mystique often surrounds the building and maintenance of this critical component.

In past times, Mountain Pedaler NZ's test bikes were fitted with wheels assembled by either ultra-intelligent robots or skilled wheel building masters. However, in an effort to further the understanding of the bicycle, the Mountain Pedaler embarked on a project to build a set of 29er hoops for a new Grinch Green El Pardino test bike dubbed 'Gringo'.

Starting with a set of Kore Durox hubs, complete with universal disc mount and oversized QR axles, the process began, and measurements of the hubs were taken to determine the required spoke lengths with a Spoke calculator. Rims chosen were Salsa Delgado Race 29ers in a classy brushed black finish.


While the task ahead at first appeared daunting, Sheldon Brown's guide put the process in a series of clear steps, and is surely a must read for any first time wheelsmith.
After lacing up the wheels with 32 double butted spokes in a 3 cross pattern, patience was required as wheel dish, hop, and true were carefully manipulated, with spoke tensions increased to the required level (as indicated by an F# tone when plucked!) A truing stand is essential for this stage, and a loaner will soon be available for any customers looking to give it a go.

All up it was a thoroughly rewarding experience, and time will tell whether these wheels will withstand abuse on trails around the country. The Mountain Pedaler wholeheartedly recommends wheel building to any amateur mechanics; a truly rewarding experience.

Mountain Pedaler out...