AMB Issue #160 - This is Queensland

Issue #160 of Australian Mountain Bike magazine has just landed in newsagents. Our latest issue is packed full of new content, and much of it comes from the Sunshine State. As the weather cools off, and the daylight hours are getting shorter, Queensland starts to gain prominence.

 There have been numerous trail developments throughout Queensland, and we went to visit Hidden Vale Adventure Park, which has seen an epic amount of trail built. It's not just us who thought the new trails are pretty immense, the Yeti Factory Enduro Team were training there in late summer ahead of the EWS kicking off in Rotorua.

Cover star Ben Forbes at play out at Hidden Vale. Photo: Tim Bardsley-Smith

We also made sure we had some time at the beach at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. But there's way more to Noosa than relaxing at the beach. The trails at Wooroi are fun, and there's a lot of adventure to be had in the Hinterland along the Noosa Trail Network.

Get your kicks in Wooroi. Photo: Tim Bardsley-Smith

With the opportunities on offer in the big hills behind Noosa, we're pretty sure we will be back for some overnight adventures!

Dirt roads and singletrack link tiny towns in the Noosa Hinterland. Photo: Tim Bardsley-Smith.

For a true tropical escape this winter, you can't look beyond Tropical North Queensland. With the World Championships heading to Cairns in September, you don't need to wait that long to get up there. But there's more to do than ride at Smithfield and Atherton. The whole area is a spider web of trails and back roads, and we had a crew up there on a bikepacking trip. They only just touched the surface.

Where else can you finish your ride in a place like this? Photo: Tim Bardsley-Smith

Photo: Tim Bardsley-Smith

 

On test in Issue #160 

We had plenty of bikes and bits to test in Issue #160. From the latest Norco Sight Carbon, to the new Salsa Woodsmoke bikepacking rig.

Lachlan just had to verify whether Norco really had the Sight Carbon geometry dialled or not. Photo: Robert Conroy.

The Salsa Woodsmoke can be just about whatever you want it to be. Photo: Tim Bardsley-Smith.

 

We also caught up with some of the people who operate out of Brisbane, doing what they love. From speaking to Aiden Lefmann who runs Cyclinic, through to getting an idea about what drove Brett Ledger to make a better bar with Megabake.

The crew at Cyclinic continues to grow. Photo: Tim Bardsley-Smith.

Head baker at Megabake, Brett Ledger. Where does your riding food come from?

There's lots more, from tips on manualling via Jared Rando, reviews of a Stages power meter, PRO Tools, the latest Rocky Mountain Element, and the Focus JAM.

Of course, if you subscribe to AMB you're in for a chance to win a KTM Lycan 22, the very one we tested last issue!

AMB Issue #160 is on sale right now – go check it out. You won't be disappointed.