Day 2 catch up - 27 April 2013 

After a neutralised first stage, day two would see the first proper racing stage. Before that we were treated to an amazing steak meal courtesy of Karan Beef who had provided 1,400 steaks to the racers and supporters. There was a great atmosphere in the dinner tent and we were shown an amazing selection of shots from the race photographer. The helicopter shots of a single rider on a seemingly endless track gave a sense of scale to the enormous landscape we were covering.

Ben Thomas and Tim Dunford gearing up for a day of singletrack and battles.

Today though was a mere 92km with around 1000m of climbing from Frankfort to Reitz. After yesterday’s relaxed 8am start, today started at 7, which meant a 5.15 alarm. And to think I call this a holiday! The frosted grass outside the campervan suggested it might not yet be that warm, which it wasn’t, and we were well wrapped up before the start. With no racing on the first day we weren’t gridded so there was more of a bun fight to be near the front, despite the commentator’s assurances that the start behind the Massey Ferguson tractor was neutralised for the first couple of kilometres. Formula One may have a lead super car but the lead tractor maintained an impressive pace through downtown Frankfort. As he pulled over the pack sped off and we tried to maintain our position near the front.

The start was mainly on double track along the banks of a river. Maybe we’re more used to it but the occasional muddy puddle caused the group to slam on the brakes before tentatively creeping through. It’s only mud! As we turned off the double track onto a lumpy, grassy singletrack climb the front of the race was still in sight with Ben around 10 places in front of me. Around five places in front of me an Avis rider slowed, letting a gap grow to the riders in front. There was only one line and no way past. Frustratingly I had to wait for the trail to widen to get past. The gap to the front group was only around 30 seconds so we set off in pursuit. Cresting the top of a rocky escarpment the lead group was nearing the bottom of the short, rocky descent. We flew down when half way down I smacked my rear tyre on a large and fairly hard rock. In the battle of rock versus tyre the rock won… We quickly re-inflated with a gas canister but the riders we’d just worked so hard to get past caught back up. Fortunately a quick change meant we soon re-joined them but the lead group were now out of sight.

The route was now mainly on flat unsealed roads and I was keen to get the group working. After a little gentle persuasion we were swapping turns roadie style and making good progress. After a while a couple of Avis riders caught us. These guys were super strong and we gladly accepted a tow for a while. We could now see a group in front of us and were slowly clawing our way up to them. Just as we were making contact one of the Avis riders clipped the wheel in front and went down. I was just behind and managed to escape a nasty slide on gravel by hopping over his rear wheel. With the two strongest riders now delayed our group momentarily lost momentum before Ben and I decided it was now or never and put in a big dig to get across which we did after a few minutes of flat out fire road bashing.

After a quick breather we reached the day’s final feed zone at around the 70km mark. No time for pancakes today although I did see Ben steal a sneaky pastry twist. It’s been noted! We then hit some great dusty singletrack, which twisted and turned through enormous fields of tall grass. The going was fairly bumpy and I wasn’t loving my rock hard rear tyre at all. Still, better too hard than no air at all. We turned back onto unsealed road for the final time. I was starting to feel the pace now and hung on to the back of the group. I wasn’t the only one suffering though as we hit a small drag the group splintered with just the two Avis riders in front. After a herculean effort I dragged myself up to them.

Fifteen kilometres from the end we hit the Red Bull timed enduro section where there are daily prizes for the fastest riders over a short, technical section. There would be no prizes for us today, the Avis riders may have been super strong but they weren’t the best downhill, though running a fully rigid bike couldn’t have helped. You’d think 900 kilometres off-road would be enough of a challenge without making it any harder. The final kilometres were on superb flat singletrack and we ripped along with the (now visible) tented race village giving us a massive boost. Just outside the village we passed a centre where neglected wolves are cared for. They seemed quite excitable and I was glad there was a sturdy fence between them and me!

Eighth on the day. Not too shabby at all.

The 92 kilometres had taken us three hours, 16 of which was good enough for eighth overall and sixth in our category; a fantastic first day. More importantly we were allowed cake based on the Ben Thomas “only top ten get cake” rule! First were the Fed Group-Itec team of Brandon Stewart and Neil Macdonald who led home a group of five within 17 seconds of each other, around five minutes in front of us. With our racing finished by 10.30 we had plenty of time to chill in the afternoon with the only chores being to refill the water in the camper and empty the chemical toilet. Ah, the joys of camping! Tomorrow’s stage is a monster 132 kilometres so there will be a fair amount of eating involved as well. Check our report tomorrow to see how we get on!

Day 1 catch up – 26 April 2013* 

Today was the first stage of the 2013 Joberg2C mountain bike stage race. Featuring 9 days from Johannesburg to Scottsborgh on the coast a mere 900km away. We’d signed on the day before, the trip into downtown Johannesburg in a large motorhome was a little stressful and I had needed a few squares of chocolate to calm my frazzled nerves! The 5.30am wake-up call was most certainly not welcome. But the day dawned clear and sunny once again. It’s the beginning of the South African autumn and the leaves are turning amazing shades of golden yellow. They have it hard here, autumn days in the mid 20s with not a cloud in the sky, a rare occurrence in our summer let alone any other season!

Tim Dunford and Ben Thomas gearing up.

We lined up at Karan Beef ready for 116km to Frankfort. Karan Beef was not a strangely named town as I’d thought but an enormous cattle station. Clue’s in the name I guess. Today was not officially a race day as the result wouldn’t count so there wasn’t the usual bundle to be on the front row at the start. We wanted to be fairly near the front though to avoid queuing in the first singletrack section, which came after a short but sharp climb out of the start. At the top of the climb the trail split. I followed everyone else which meant some sharp braking as riders in front were still nervy early in the race. Ben opted for the alternative trail. The descent was a blast, snaking across the hillside and very dusty. A herd of zebra took off as we clattered down. Different! At the bottom I couldn’t see Ben, I assumed he was in front but after a few kilometres I thought I should wait as I could see the front of the race and he wasn’t in it! A couple of big groups came past until Ben arrived. Turns out wasn’t so much of a B line as a lengthy diversion! Lesson learnt.

Home sweet home.

The race then settled down as big groups formed on the unsurfaced roads. We were comfortably in one of the large groups when Ben pulled over, a large thorn in his front tyre the culprit. After a quick bit of pumping we quickly caught up, keen not to lose the shelter of the large group. As we weren’t ‘racing’, the pace was relaxed so we could get to know our fellow racers. Most were experienced hands having raced either this or the Cape Epic. Just me as a newbie then. After 26km we reached the first feed station. It’s not adequate to call it a feed zone though, more like mini banquet with pancakes, pastries, sweets and even barbequed meat! I opted for a Nuttella pancake, or two. The feed zones were manned by hugely enthusiastic local children. Would I like a boiled egg? Er, not right now thanks!

At feed 2 it was my turn to puncture. As I frantically tried to re-inflate the tyre, local children seemed determined to feed me up. Cake sir? No I’m good thanks. Another pancake sir? Er, alright go on then! Tyre inflated we turned the corner only to find everyone queuing to cross the river. By canoe! Bikes were loaded onto motorised boats while the riders boarded their canoes. My flat had meant I started in the third boat, but our skipper was very effective at getting the motley crew of riders to row in time and we were the first boat to disembark. Bonus!

The trails then changed from the wide gravel roads to bumpy doubletrack across fields. As we skirted a small lake a flock of ostriches kept pace alongside. We were in the lead group now which was soon whittled down to just 6 of us. As we neared the end the helicopter hovered alongside, look I’m on TV mum! We finished “second” on the day taking 4h25 for the 116km, but more importantly won the race to the showers and lunch, whilst more local children enthusiastically scrubbed our bikes clean. There’s service for you. Although not super technical it was a great day with a more relaxed feel and a relatively easy start to the race. I’m sure tomorrow won’t be quite the same!

*(Due to a ‘technical hiccup’, Bike Magic is playing catch up with these reports so look out for a quick succession of Tim’s race reports!)

After an easy drive to the venue, race sign-on revealed there were some strong riders in attendance, including the multiple National Championship winning rider Oli Beckingsale and Ade Lansley who has achieved many top results nationally over the years. After missing his pedal off the start line Ben was left at the back of the field and with work to do but he used the long start climb to overtake almost the entire field slotting himself just behind Oli and Ade as they entered the first section of singletrack. The three riders quickly established a lead, working together to share the effort through the strong headwind. Ben was making the singletrack look easy helped no doubt by his full-suspension Scott Spark. On the second of the long climbs Oli pushed the pace and Ben was the only rider to respond.

Here’s Ben’s run down of the race, “After Oli put the hammer down I went with him for a while but the pace wasn’t sustainable for myself, maybe on a flatter track I’d have stayed with him but Oli’s a proper mountain goat. After I eased up Ade and myself worked together for a few laps to build up a big gap over 4th place. I used the Rocket Ron tyres again today and they were fantastic through the greasy mud. It was just a waiting game to see which of us would make a big effort to drop the other. Ade was riding really well but I could see on the shorter climbs I was stronger.”

Ade and Ben matched each other wheel for wheel until the very last climb where Ben made that big effort and gapped Ade into the last bit of singletrack before crossing the finish line. “It feels good to have a decent ride here and stand on the podium, it been a good couple of weeks.”

Words: Tim Dunford (Team Mountain Trax – Vauxhall Motors)

In the middle of another dark British winter with the weather distinctly chilly and damp it’s very tempting to hop on a plane and head to a sunnier and warmer climate to hit some dusty trails. You may be able to hire a bike when you get there but this isn’t always an option and it’s unlikely you’re going to feel at home riding anything other than your own bike.  It can be a bit daunting entrusting your pride and joy to airport baggage handlers but with some careful packing and planning you’ll be cruising dusty singletrack in no time.

All airlines require you to pack your bike before you fly. Many people use a cardboard bike box and provided you use plenty of bubble wrap it’s likely the bike will survive unscathed. Baggage handlers aren’t always as careful with your bike as you might like though so it’s worth considering a specific bike box or bag for added peace of mind.

There are two alternatives to the humble cardboard box, purpose made bike bags or hardshell boxes. Bags have a number of advantages. They are generally considerably cheaper and are much lighter too which is worth considering as you’re likely to be restricted by the airline’s weight limit. Bags are also a lot easier to store both at home and when you get where you’re going. There are loads of choices of bags but most are typically thick, padded affairs often with separate compartments for wheels and other bits and bobs. These are definitely a good idea as cassettes can make a real mess of your paintwork. Some bike bags like the EVOC come fitted with a structural frame which gives more support and will help to prevent anything getting crushed.

Hardshell boxes are more expensive but if you do fly with your bike frequently they are definitely worth considering. Their main benefit is that even if Mrs Smith’s 40kg case is heaped on top of your box your expensive carbon frame will be protected. I’ve flown probably around 15 times with my bike now using a Scicon bike box and although the box is starting to look a bit the worse for wear I’ve not yet (touch wood or hardshell plastic I guess!) had any problems.

Some companies also hire out bike boxes and bags which saves some money unless you’re a regular traveller.

Whichever you choose here are some practical tips to help with the packing:

1)   Don’t pack your bike the night before your flight, especially if you’ve never tried your new XL 29er in that box, it’ll only end in tears. Have a practise run the weekend before. This way you’ll also get an idea of how much your bike and box/bag combo weighs so you don’t have to unpack the bag at the front of a check in queue at 5am when you’re over the limit.

2)   Remove the rear mech and wrap it and the chain in a rag or similar. The mech is pretty susceptible to damage and the chain flapping around is going to make a mess of your chainstay.

3)   Wedge bits of cardboard or similar spacers between your disc brake pads. Chances are you’re going to squeeze the levers at some point when packing the bike and this will help to avoid any issues.

4)   You’ll need to take the bars off and maybe the stem depending on the size of your bike/box. Be careful not to twist any of the cables especially hydraulic brake and lockout cables.

5)   Pipe insulation is easily available from DIY stores and great at protecting frame tubes.

6)   You can fill gaps in your bike box with cycling kit, especially light stuff like helmets.

Fill spaces with any spare kit/random rags and take that mech off!

7)   All airlines insist on tyres being deflated before you travel so make sure you do to avoid any hassle at check-in.

8)   Remember to take a spare rear mech hanger as you may struggle to find a replacement locally. It’s also worth taking spare disc brake pads. Remember to take all the tools you will need to reassemble the bike – that 8mm Allen key for the pedals for example and take with you any specialist tools for your bike you may need. Finally, remember to take those CO₂ canisters out of your bag. Airport securities aren’t too keen on them!

Ben Thomas and Tim Dunford have had a storming start to the year, both taking a place on the podium at the third round of the Merida Brass Monkeys race last weekend. But it wasn’t all plain sailing along the way… 

Off to a good start… But the race didn’t go entirely to plan.

Merida Brass Monkeys Round 3 Race Report

After months of preparation the Mountain Trax – Vauxhall Motors Cycling Team took to the start line for their first race on Sunday 13 January. Resplendent in their new Champion Systems kit the riders were keen to put on a good show and secure a solid result. Conditions were cold, especially in the wind which picked up mid race; ground conditions were largely dry allowing Ben and Tim to run dry weather Schwalbe tyres. A good turnout of riders, including the series leader, lined up at the start; with a good result Tim had the chance of winning the series, so securing this was the team’s aim for the day.

Off the start line Ben and Tim led the way up the climb out of the arena, around the start loop and into the first section of singletrack. By the end of the big descent on lap 1 Ben, Tim, and the series leader Al Fairbairn already had a small gap over the other 175 racers riding the 4 hour distance. The team were looking comfortable. However, as they entered the next singletrack section Tim clipped a tree stump sending him to the ground and badly winding him. Ben went back to check Tim was okay. After a few minutes Tim was back on his bike slowly turning the pedals; both riders had lost time and were back in around 20th place following the incident. It seemed as if Tim’s hopes of winning the series had ended and he sent Ben off to chase down the leaders.

Over the next lap and a half Ben had to overhaul a 3 minute deficit. However he never panicked and chipped away the minutes overtaking rider after rider. Once he’d reached the leader Ben composed himself taking on USN gels and energy drink readying himself for the second half of the 4 hour race. Tim had composed himself and was making his way back through the field, each lap taking a few more places. Tim reached 3rd place and it looked as if the chase was still on for 2nd place and the series title. Over the last couple of laps, however, Tim suffered from the early effort he’d had to make and the gap opened again to Al Fairbairn who finished 2nd, leaving Tim in 3rd as he crossed the finish line. Ben won with a comfortable lead taking the team’s first victory of 2013.

Ben Thomas is clearly on good form, having fought his way back to first from way back after attending to Tim following his crash.

The result left Tim with second place overall in the series and he was left to contemplate what might have been, “Sometimes things just don’t work out. I’d just finished a big block of training and despite a few days off, I still felt pretty tired and the pace on the first lap felt pretty uncomfortable as my team mate Ben glided along effortlessly! After about 20 minutes I began to feel better but then I clipped a big fallen log on the inside of the corner, landing elegantly face first. Being the loyal teammate Ben stopped but I persuaded him to go on without me, with a dramatic “leave me!” The great course and beautiful winter sunshine helped motivate me to keep pushing and I’m pretty pleased to have got up to third by the end. Sadly, there was no catching Al for the series win. But third place on the day and second overall is not a bad start to the year so hopefully that’s the bad luck out of the way.”

Ben was happy with how his form is coming along, “It’s still very early in the season but I felt great out there, really enjoying riding the fun trails they have at this venue. The new Scott bike certainly helped propel me to the win – thanks to Mountain Trax for helping me build the bike this week. Tim’s crash on the first lap certainly made the race a lot harder for both of us. It’s really rewarding to take the win and 3rd place despite all the time we lost early on.”

The Mountain Trax – Vauxhall Motors Cycling Team’s next race is the Gorrick Spring Series opener which will be the riders’ final race preparation before heading to Spain for the 6 day event Andalucia Bike Race.

A huge thank you to John from Vermont Images for his help, keeping us well fed and watered as always and to everyone at Mountain Trax and Vauxhall plus all our other sponsors for their very generous support.

More from the team here.

Thankfully the guys have been training hard all winter and should be in tip-top shape by now. Their first event is just around the corner so we’ll soon find out how the work has paid off.

Stay tuned this week as the team will be providing us with some training and nutritional tips features.

The team is now kitted out with their new strips and raring to go. Will you be at any of the events in the schedule below?

Here’s the press release:

Mountain Trax – Vauxhall Motors Cycling Team 2013 Schedule

The 2013 season kicks off this weekend for the Mountain Trax – Vauxhall Motors Cycling Team, the riders have been training hard since the start of November successfully battling through the wet winter months.

The riders are both well ahead of their training targets and look forward to testing their legs at the first events of the year which will include the Brass Monkey marathon and Gorrick cross country where both riders will compete. Tim is in contention to win the Brass Monkey series title so the team’s first objective will be to secure Tim’s victory this Sunday.

Following on from these events the team flies to Spain for the Andalucia Bike Race, which is a 6-day stage race from Cordoba to Jaen. This will be the first big test of the year. Ben is looking forward to returning to Spain after racing the event in 2012, “It was great racing Andalucia Bike Race last year, the trails were some of the best I’ve ridden and the February sunshine was an added bonus! It’s good to see a few more Brits have signed up to this year’s event; it’s certainly a race I’d recommend. Hopefully pairing with Tim and having team logistics manager John Newport along for support we can challenge for a top 15 result.”

In March Ben will attend the first of the British Cross Country Series at Sherwood Pines Forest. Ben will be aiming to challenge for top 5 podium finishes in the series and also at the National Cross Country Championships in July.

Meanwhile on the 24th March Tim will begin the defense of his National Endurance Series title at the Whinlatter Challenge. The main priority for the team will be marathon distance events and in April Ben and Tim will take on the Roc Laisagais round of the UCI World Marathon Series before heading home to race for the National Marathon Championship title in Builth Wells on the 14th April.

Following this the team will fly to South Africa to compete in the 9 day stage race Joberg2c from Johannesburg to Durban. Tim is already excited about visiting South Africa, “The Old Mutual JoBerg2c is our main aim for the early season and from reading the stage descriptions it looks like it’s going to a tough one and will take lots of perseverance and great teamwork to complete successfully. The thought of 900km of amazing riding on some of the best trails in South Africa to finish on the coast is mind blowing and has helped motivate me through another wet, cold British winter.”

With three of the biggest events on the mountain bike calendar falling into the month of April the team are aiming to be at peak fitness.

The team won’t have time to hang around long in South Africa before flying home to support Tim at the European and UK 12 Hour Championships on the 11th May; following Tim’s performances over the longer distances in recent years you’d be a brave person to bet against him.

The team will then take a short break before the riders split and head to different events, Tim will compete in the mountains of Schladming in Austria at the Alpen Tour Trophy at the end of May. Both riders are hoping that the first half of the year will conclude with selection for the World Marathon Championships taking place in Kirchberg in Austria on the 30th June. Tim and Ben learnt from their time riding for the Great Britain Team at Worlds in 2012 and hope to have another chance this year.

In July the team will attend TwentyFour12 in Plymouth where they will be joined by 2 guest riders to form a 4-man team in the 12-hour event. In August the same will happen at the Gorrick 12-hour which is the local event of title sponsor Mountain Trax who are based just down the road from the venue in Wokingham.

The Kielder 100 is the biggest and toughest UK marathon; the gruelling 100 mile event was won by Ben in 2011 and by Tim in 2012. This will be a key event for the riders especially with it being the National Endurance Series final. A week earlier the riders will make their first appearance at the Isle of Man End to End race which attracts 1700 riders to the island.

The team will conclude its season travelling through France in its Vauxhall Vivaro to the UCI World Marathon Series rounds in Ornans and Frejus. Each year Frejus, which is on the Cote d’Azur, hosts the cycling festival Roc d’Azur, which in 2012 attracted around 18,000 visitors. The events will host the final of the World Series as well as numerous other events and the team’s final race will be the Roc d’Azur Cross Country race that finishes on the beach in Frejus on the 13th October.

It’s an exciting schedule with the team racing all over the World. We’ll be bringing you news reports, picture galleries, and videos from as many locations as possible.

Thanks for your support, see you on the start line.

We will be hearing a lot from these guys over the coming months and wish them the best for the season ahead

The other good news is that they are both really nice guys, and the really, REALLY good news is that you’ll be hearing lots from and about them here on Bike Magic over the coming months. To mark the announcement of the team we have for you, the Bike Magic reader, the first of a series of articles, this time by Tim.

Firstly, a bit of an intro is needed:

Tim Dunford rides for the Mountain Trax – Vauxhall Motors Cycling Team which specialises in endurance racing.  Tim’s results showed huge progression in 2012 with highlights including winning the Kielder 100, TORQ 12 hour, and the UK Endurance Series. Following his successful year British Cycling rewarded him with a place on the GB Team for the World Marathon Championships.

Tim Dunford at Roc D’Azur 2012

Winter riding – how to keep things interesting by Tim Dunford

Ahh, winter.  The trails have all gone soggy. The days are dark, cold and short… It’s enough to make you want to snuggle under the duvet and wait for spring.

But do that and you’re going to miss out on some fantastic experiences, the crunch of tyre rolling over frosted leaves and huge views stretching on forever under crystal clear blue skies. And if you leave it until spring it’s going to take a whole lot longer to get that hard earned fitness back so you can really enjoy epic all day rides in those seemingly distant summer days.

But do that and you’re going to miss out on some fantastic experiences, the crunch of tyre rolling over frosted leaves and huge views stretching on forever under crystal clear blue skies.

So the question is how to find the motivation to get out there this winter.  For some that may not be a problem but for the rest of us here are some tips to help you get out there:

Find some new routes

Most riders have their own favourite local route. What was a sweet, flowing piece of singletrack in summer now seems like a slog and somehow less appealing. To keep things fresh, how about trying to find some new routes? The days are short so rather than venture too far try exploring your local patch. Did you spend summer rides wondering where that overgrown bridleway went? Now that the brambles and nettles have died back you can find out.  Chances are you’ve passed many potential new routes on your rides, but if not the long winter evenings are a great opportunity to dust off those maps and piece together a route linking together the magical dashed purple lines. Come summer your old favourites will be waiting for you, or maybe you’ve found something just as good…

Practice your skills

With the trails slippery and slidey, traction is at a premium. Now’s a great time to hone those riding skills. Rather than reach for the mud tyres, this winter I’ve left the summer tyres on. This isn’t madness or just plain laziness either! Take it easy at first until you learn their limits and let a bit of pressure out and it’s amazing how much traction you can find. It’s also pretty good fun sliding around.

Now’s a great time to hone those riding skills. Rather than reach for the mud tyres, this winter I’ve left the summer tyres on.

Keeping the summer tyres on will help you to develop a smooth pedalling action and how to find the traction as smashing the pedals is just going to leave your rear tyre spinning uselessly in the mud. You’ll also learn how to finesse your bike round the corners and over roots and rocks. Not only will your skills get a boost but it brings a whole new challenge to existing trails. Maybe your normal line whilst fine in the dry is no longer possible. Come summer with your improved riding skills you’ll be hammering that dusty singletrack faster than ever.

With long days in the hills less appealing, it’s also a great time to concentrate on improving your weaknesses. Maybe like me you’re not such a big fan of drop offs. Now’s a chance to devote some time to practising. Watch a mate ride it first then have a go and keep practising until it feels natural. Build up with smaller obstacles if you don’t want to attempt the big one first time. Conquering a particular obstacle or technique that’s been psyching will give you a massive confidence boost so next time you come across a tricky bit of trail you’ll have the confidence to do it first time.

Mix it up

For those lucky enough to have a cyclocross bike, try riding your local trails on it. The lack of suspension and narrow tyres will really show you how to pick a smooth line. No longer will you be able to simply blast over or even straight through the tricky bits with the suspension offering a big margin for error. Now finesse will be the name of the game. A cross bike is also a great way of exploring the local lanes. With its narrow tyres and lower weight it’s significantly faster than a mountain bike but offers much more stability than a road bike with slick tyres.  Try creating a route by linking together trails with quiet, leafy lanes. This will add a new dimension to your riding, taking you to new places and your favourite bits of trail will represent a fresh challenge.  As an added bonus there’s much less maintenance with a cross bike with no pivots and fewer moving parts to wear out.

Pastures new

If, like me many of your local trails are simply unrideable at this time of year due to our four legged friends, now may be the time to visit your riding buddies fortunate enough to be blessed with more resilient routes.  Not only do you get the chance to catch up with your mates but you also have to try and keep up with them on their home turf.  The new, unfamiliar trails will be like a breath of fresh air and playing catch up can only make you faster. I generally prefer natural trails but this time of year the generally all-weather nature of trail centres does make sense.  So why not plan a weekend away to make the most of it?

If, like me many of your local trails are simply unrideable at this time of year due to our four legged friends, now may be the time to visit your riding buddies fortunate enough to be blessed with more resilient routes.

The team would like to thank: 

Mountain Trax, Vauxhall Motors, Little Knocks, Scott Bikes, Champion Systems Clothing, Exposure Lights, Syncros, Minoura, Fenwicks, Schwalbe, Lezyne, Hope Technology, USN, Fox Suspension, Vermont Images, Sapim, and Bont.