Marin Bikes has signed “neo semi-pro” Ian Massey to ride alongside World Masters DH Champion Shaums March. Massey is the US Expert National Champion and will be racing US downhill and Super D events on a Quake 7.3 and Wolf Ridge.

Ruud Poels, manager of the Cannondale-Vredestein MTB team, is delighted to point out that the team is at the top of the UCI rankings after the opening round of the UCI World Cup in Houffalize, Belgium. Apparently it’s the first time in the history of the UCI World Cup that one team had four riders in the top eight.

Pioneer in the field of waterproof maps, Chartech International has launched a range of plastic (and 100% recyclable) versions of Ordnance Survey Select Explorer and Landranger maps. Its new Aqua3 Evolution maps are actually printed on polypropylene plastic, rather than being paper maps protected by a laminated finish. The material is 100% waterproof and promises “awesome durability”. Head over to www.aqua3.com and you can order 1:50,000 or 1:25,000 scale maps centred on wherever you like.

“Shocked and alarmed,” was the response of Bikemagic‘s Dave Arthur and Mike Davis on realising that charity 24 hour event CLIC24 takes place the weekend after next. Both entered the event as soloists – “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” says Arthur. Asked about training, Davis commented, “I like to think of it more as ‘preparation’ than ‘training’. Put it this way, I’ve been tapering since last August.”