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...

Fox; welcome to the whanau!

Hot of the press is some exciting news that Mountain Pedaler NZ can now offer the full range of Fox forks for complete bike builds.

With industry standard plushness, these forks were a popular choice amongst current Ventana riders, but with this formal supply agreement customers can now benefit from the backup and customer service of the Wanaka based Blue Shark boys.

A personal favourite is the Float 32 RLC, which is run at 100mm on the front of a test El Saltamontes. After 2 years of solid abuse and only a single oil change, this fork is still going strong and is a perfect match for the frame.

Another model that sets the benchmark is the Talas 36, with tree trunk sized stanchions and a kick ass travel adjust feature that transforms downhill shredders to uphill whippets!

Fox 36s handle bump duties on the front of the Terremoto tester

Both these forks and many others are now available for complete builds and should be the perfect fork for your next dream bike...

Mountain Pedaler out.

Gringos pull off a stunner at Christchuch 12 hour

Gringos in the flesh; (Left to right) Lauren, Steve, Sam and Ollie

The El Ventana Gringos tackled the McLeans Island 12 hour in Christchurch last weekend, pushing the envelope of pain and luck to new levels and delivering a fantastic second placing in the process.

The race began at 10AM, with Rowan pulling out a first hot lap before the second rider Steve was off. After no sign of Steve the crew began to worry, and it wasn't until the word reached them that they learnt it had all gone pear shaped out on the course. No doubt due to a high speed cornering manoeuvre, Steve had blown out a tire, and had been forced to run 1/3 of the course before a friendly rider offered his own pump and tube to repair the puncture. Unfortunately, the pump had issues of its own, and the 20psi that Steve could squeeze out of it lasted only 500m, before another blowout rendered him running again! It was truly a day for friendly riders, as yet another offered their tube and pump, and Steve was off to finish his lap, only 20minutes later than expected!

Rowan (Left) tags out with Steve (Right) with Sam on transponder duties

The team now had a mission on its hands, with the goal of pulling in lost time to the leading teams who were lapping, a lap ahead. A series of hot laps by Ollie, Sam, Lauren and Rowan dropped the gap to around five minutes, but disaster struck on one of Sam's laps as his non-drive side XTR crank decided to part company, forcing Sam to complete a one legged lap.
Like the true battler he is, Sam was still passing people at the finish, and after completeing his single leg powered lap he reported that the leg in question was 'a bit sore'.

Sam stomps through the tent village with crank firmly attached

So nose was back on the grindstone again, but it seemed that lady luck had had her way with the Gringos, and as the hours ticked past they were fortunate enough to escape further punishment.

Perhaps the highlight of the race was the final pair of laps, where Ollie left at 10 past 9, knowing he would have to be on his game to make the 10:35 cut off. Considering that 25 minute laps were tough during the day, it was a tall order, but still he barrelled through with 10 seconds to spare, and Sam was off in a puff of dust. The pressure was on but it is testament to the courage of this Gringo that he didn't give up, peeling a minute off his previous best times and sprinting down the finishing chute to finish dead on 12 hours. After collapsing trough exhaustion at the finish, the team celebrated around him, as this feat of speed (at night and after a solid 12 hours of racing) was a fantastic end to the race.

Rowan even managed to squeeze out some structures
homework in between blitzing the course.

All up the Gringos placed second in the mixed category, and they have no doubts that with a bit of luck they could have made the top step. Still it was a great race, and a credit to the heart of the team that they pulled through the adversity to great result!

Lauren heads out on a lap, showing that her skills extend beyond the road!

Mountain Pedaler out...

Ventana El Ciclon; the ultimate trailbike?

The term 'Ultimate trailbike' is bandied about alot in the bike industry, with many companies claiming their latest incremental development to be the 'best of the best'.
Rarely do consumers get an unbiased glimpse at what these bikes really ride like without taking the punge and buying one.

Thankfully, a member of the MTBR communtiy has shared the insight gained through tests of the following bikes at the Interbike dirt demo:

• Felt Compulsion 17-inch
• Turner RFX 17-inch
• Knolly Endorphin 17-inch
• Turner Sultan 17-inch
• Niner RIP9 17-inch
• Titus El Guapo Titanium 17-inch
• Norco Fluid LT 16-inch
• Cannondale Rush Carbon team Medium
• Cannondale Taurine Team Medium
• Cannondale Scalpel Medium
• Giant Trance X (medium)
• Giant Reign 6.7” travel (medium)
• Fisher Hi Fi Carbon medium
• Fisher HI-Fi 29er medium
• Kona Dawg Deluxe
• Ventana El Ciclon
• Turner RFX 2006

Check the full write up here...

So after some undoubtly tiring test riding, this fellow concluded that he wouldn't trade his El Ciclon for the world. Surely a great testament to the handling, build quality and style of this top notch frame.

Mountain Pedaler out...

Tricks bits at Interbike

Craziness award goes to delta 7 for this frame straight out of Spiderman (pig?).

Clearly from somewhere where mud was rare ! Photo CyclingNews

The Interbike convention; Vegas' annual orgy of bike bling came to a close after a week of excessive naked carbon and metal polish. The product releases this year certainly didn't disappoint, and the Mountain Pedaler was content to surf the web taking in the new (and often crazy) new products.
One product line which looks to be on the up is Crank Brothers, who released improved and upgraded bits across their line.

The venerable Mallet receives a new gold coat and refined machining. Photo NSMB

New to the line are these trick wheelsets, featuring
some unique nipples and spokes wizardry. Photo NSMB

These sharp Crank Brothers parts should arrive in NZ next year, and will be available for new Ventana builds.
By all accounts the event is an exciting one, although I suspect that even for the Mountain Pedaler there is a limit to the amount of standing around and oggling bike bits that one can handle! Despite this, Mountain Pedaler NZ hopes to send a representative next year to get a first hand taste of what goes down.

Mountain Pedaler out...

Ventana riders implicated in Tandem madness

Held last weekend in sunny Nelson was an epic battle on stretched bikes.
Ventana team riders Oliver and Tristan rose to the challenge, taking advantage of a loaner tandem on offer. While not aboard a Ventana, the tour proved an exciting taster, and we can expect to see a Ventana El Conquistador de Montana (full squish tandem) in the test fleet in the near future.

Tandem riding requires alot of trust and brute force, and the duo represented Ventana impeccably, riding to two stage victories and earning the respect of competitors along the way.

Highlight of the race was the final stage, where the team dueled with eventual winners Chris and Bob up the Nuedorf valley. On the out and back course, Team Ventana drew first blood with an impeccably timed king of the mountain sprint, only to be out muscled at the next KOM. The final rain soaked descent proved a true test of the captain's bike handling, with reports of two wheel slides, a scary proposition given the 90kph speeds reached.

The two teams worked well to stay away on the final flat stretch before locking horns in an exciting drag race for the line. Ollie and Tristan prevailed, but finished a close second to the legendary duo of Chris and Bob, truly a formidable tandem force!

All up, the weekend was a blast, and Oliver recommends a ride on a tandem whenever the opportunity arises. For sheer speed and exhilaration in the company of someone you trust, it can't be beat!

One half of the winning duo gets his race face on!

Mountain Pedaler out...

Fox come to the party with valve widget!

Up until now Ventana riders (and many others) have had to undo the main pivot bolt to access the air valve on their Fox Float rear air shocks; a small issue but annoying none the less.

For 2008, Fox air shocks will all feature an angled air valve that makes this issue a thing of the past!

It is great to see Fox come to the party, listening to consumers and redesigning their shocks to make them more user friendly for Ventana riders.

Frames are now shipping from the factory with 2008 shocks, so all new owners will reap the benefits.

Mountain Pedaler out...

Ventana Solos to Victory in Winter Series!

Oliver 'gets his berm on' in preparation for the race
(Photo: Vaughan Watson)

Team rider Oliver Whalley aboard his faithful Ventana El Toro recently completed a clean sweep of the single speed grade at the Christchurch Winter Series.

The final round, held at McLeans Island on a stunning winters day was indicative of the domination Oliver displayed. Coming in with a minute and a half lead and winning the entire sport grade in the process!

No doubt part of his success can be attributed to the dialed handling of the El Toro frame. Oliver reported that during his final two laps around the fast, flowing course he felt as if he was no longer riding a bike while speeding around the course!

The eccentric bottom bracket central to the Toro's design made setting up the big gears required on this fast course a doddle, with none of the faffing about required with other chain tensioning systems.

Gone in a flash, such is the speed of the El Toro!

(Photo: William Kelton)

Look out for Oliver aboard the El Toro at the HQ Underground SS races to be held in late September. With power to burn and the skills to pay the bills, expect Oliver to be 'putting it in the hurt bag' in a quest to secure the cash on offer.

Incidentally, this race winning bike is available for test rides, so get in touch if you fancy a spin (or grind) on your favourite trail.

Mountain Pedaler out...

Stolen El Rey

In tragic news, Alistair B. has just reported his cosmic orange El Rey stolen. Taken off the roof of
his car between 9.30 & 12 on Thursday the 16th (in Christchurch city), this dream bike is now on the hands of a light handed person of questionable moral fibre (or as Alistair called him, a fucker!)

The Stolen bike; a Ventana El Rey (29er)

Please keep your eyes peeled out there for this stolen bike, and report any sightings to the local police. They have had success with recovering stolen high end bikes in the past, and with a bit of vigilance Alistair may not have to claim for it under his insurance.
Key identifiying features include:

• Cosmic orange paint
• 29 inch wheels
• Reba 29er fork
• Avid juicy brakes
• XT cranks and derailleur

Mountain Pedaler out...

Spangler on the loose...

In exciting news Will Kelton, NZs newest Ventana owner has just completed an amazing bike build around the shiny Ventana El Fuego frame. Coming in at a svelte 4.5lbs, and in a mirror-like ball burnished finish, this El Fuego is a showcase of Ventana's attention to detail. With 3.5" of rear travel and race honed geometry, Will chose the frame for its sharp handling and of course the shiny finish!
Will was also the first customer to build the frame up up with components from Mountain Pedaler NZ's newest supplier; WH Worralls. This allowed Will to spec the latest SRAM X9 drivetrain, Juicy brakes, Truvativ cranks and cockpit and Continental tires.
First ride on this sub 24lb build, and Will reports that the bike handles his favourite rocky descents with aplomb, mastering the tricky Captain Thomas descent without a whimper! Easily confused for a low flying fighter jet, Will and his new Ventana (aptly named 'Spangler') will be shredding the hills till the cows come home.

Mountain Pedaler out...

Hey Presto!

Just arrived at Mountain Pedaler HQ is a sweet new bearing press set from the crew at Ventana.
Custom machined from aluminium, this precision tool allows all rocker, swingarm and seatstay bearings to be pressed out, then switched around to press in a shiny new set!
Contact Oliver if your bearings need a bit of TLC, as with this tool and replacement bearings in stock, it shouldn't be hard to keep your Ventana running in tip-top condition!

Mountain Pedaler out...

El Terremoto tester now available

T-Rex resplendent in its white finery

Fresh off the workstand and ready for heavy duty trail riding is Mountain Pedaler's new test steed, an El Terremoto 6.0. Representing the burly end of Ventana's spectrum, this bike (dubbed 'T-Rex') is now available for short term loan. With 2 sets of oversized bearings at every pivot, the frame showcases the lateral stiffness that Ventana is renowned for. Air shocks front and rear also allow the ride to be tuned to rider weight and style with ease.

Front end with '08 Fox forks and golden hub goodness

Component highlights include '08 Fox Talas forks which allow for enhanced climbaility; front travel can be dropped from 160 to 100mm with the flick of a knob!
Gold Hope Pro2 hubs laced to DT Swiss 5.1 rims make up the wheels, and early tests indicate these hoops strike a good balance between width and weight.
Get in touch with the Mountain Pedaler to book your ride!

Raring and ready for a good trashing (or even the odd huck!)

Mountain Pedaler out...