After a long winter break the 2011 British 4X series kicked off at Leamington Spa with reigning team champions 44Racing in full attendance. With riders fully trained and all looking super fit the team looked to continue the dominance set during the 2010 season.
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The US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application Thursday for a “Smart Bicycle System” that would use an iPod or iPhone to monitor sensor data and wirelessly share information. (more…)
Words by Lee Lau. Photos by Lee Lau (unless noted).
Date: 2009-08-06
In my Initial review of the Vholdr ContourHD I canvassed technical specifications and said: “A more involved review to follow will look at the Vholdr ContourHD for use primarily in the sport of freeride/downhill mountain biking. It will also suggest some easy-to-implement mounting option modifications”. The purpose of this follow-up article is to fulfil these goals.
After a nasty injury sustained in a training accident last year (2009) Lance McDermott is back on track with a new sponsor in Saracen. Check out his progress and his efforts to get ready for Crankworx in this excellent (as usual) short film by MTBCut.tv (more…)
The live feed issue has been up and down recently so it’s good to hear that the World Cup stream will be free to watch again largely due to the efforts of Martin Whiteley, President of IMTTO.
Press release snipped from VitalMTB.
With immediate effect all UCI Cross-Country, 4X and Downhill World Cup LIVE webcasts and replays will be accessible without need to purchase an access code, in an unprecedented move to continue the growth of mountain bike race viewership on the internet.
Freecater.tv was created in 2004, at a time when large-scale access to action sports videos did not exist on the web. In 2010, lack of sponsorship revenues forced Freecaster to go pay per view, negating our purpose and undermining the company vision of building mass awareness of our favourite sports. Pay per view was undertaken as a temporary and limited measure during a period of challenging economic circumstances.
IMTTO, the International Mountain Bike Trade Team Organisation, worked hard during the interim to reach an agreement to support Freecater’s efforts to offer the rest of the 2010 UCI World Cup free-of-charge.
“International Mountain Bike Teams, Technical Support companies and Event Organisers enjoyed a steady growth in viewership in mountain bike races throughout 2008 and 2009″ observes Martin Whiteley, President of IMTTO. “A key factor in this is the LIVE webcast technology Freecaster has developed, allowing race fans around the globe to watch simultaneously as one online community. Such technological development and support comes at a cost, and in most sports, such costs are borne by the viewer through subscriptions to pay-per-view services. However, our IMTTO members feel that mountain biking is more unique, and should be accessible to the widest audience, as much as possible. As such, key members of our organisation have chosen to contribute towards maintaining a free live webcast service on Freecaster.”
“We would like to thank the IMTTO members and our existing advertisers for their shared vision in the future of mountain bike racing on the internet” says Raymond Dulieu, founder and CEO of Freecaster.tv “It was a tough, but necessary, decision to charge for the World Cup coverage and we welcome the return to free access. The World Championships will now be the only paying event this season. We hope viewers will acknowledge our efforts elsewhere by tuning into this season finalé in Mont Sainte Anne, Canada. With six free LIVE World Cup events still to go this season, viewers have plenty of opportunity to tune in and check their system can handle LIVE streaming prior to the World Championships.”
“On a personal level, I’d also like to thank those amongst you who understood the reality that nothing is free in this World and respected our decisions” Raymond added. “We’re already looking at an appropriate way to give something back to those who supported us thus far. Freecaster was created out of a respect and passion for a great sport, and our friends within it and we will continue being fair and providing the best service we can to the action sports community.”
The next free World Cup will be the Cross-country in Offenburg, Germany, LIVE on Sunday 23rd May from 10:45 CET with the Women’s Elite race, followed at 14:30 CET by the Men’s Elite.
44Racing are a new team on the scene for 2010, born and bred in the UK and formed by UK rider Christian Hatcher (Hatch) – it consists of 6 riders wrapped in a packet of good ethics, hard work and natural talent!
44Racing and 44Racing Talent Team don’t only aim for good results – they also seek to raise the profile of and help out British up and coming talent. The team name “44Racing” may sound odd, but it is founded in memory of Ian Hatcher who sadly and suddenly passed away in December 2007 and refers to his birth year 1944. This Team are strong when united together and are incredibly gifted individuals who are out to shred this season and knock the rest of us down the rankings. With strong support from major sponsors and with a manager who puts 100% into his team – this will be an impressive season to watch out for the riders making their mark in new jerseys and aboard their new steeds!
Meet the riders, see the bikes and find out more inside!
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| The Team |
44Racing Team and 44Racing Talent Team are 2 separate teams, but also one of the same. 44Racing Talent Team is for riders with tons of potential who are receiving support to make it onto the scene. Where 44Racing Team is the unleashing of fury and established riders on the team.
44 Racing Team
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| 44Racing Team |
Christian “Hatch” Hatcher – 44Racing – Master Cat
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| Hatch just chilling |
Owner/manager of 44Racing and the 44Racing Talent Team, raced Mtb’s at all levels since 1993, has competed in xc, dh, dual slalom, dual, 4X and endurance events in UK, Europe and Canada. Also has a big background in MotoX, Mini Bikes and Jet Skiing. 2010 results – 2nd Rnd 1 National Point Series 4X Masters 2009 results – ranked #2 overall in National Point Series 4X Masters Podiumed at every 4X race entered except for 2 NPS 4X rnds (4th and 5th) and Podiumed every dh race entered.
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| Hatch mid flight |
Jake Ward – 44Racing – Junior Cat
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| Jake posing it up |
Is possibly the fastest Junior 4X rider in the UK at the moment, has a great attitude and is an all round nice guy. Is an all round rider having podiumed in 4X, BMX and King Of Dirt comps. 2010 will be his first season racing World Cup 4X. 2010 results – 1st 17+ Mens 09/10 East Anglian winter BMX series, 2nd Rnd 1 National Points Series 4X Juniors, 6th 661 Mini Dh FOD Juniors 2009 results – Ranked #5 overall National Points Series 4X Juniors
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| Jake Ward getting some flow |
Jono Jones – 44Racing – Youth Cat
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| Jono being Jono |
Possibly the cheekiest 15 year old around (well apart from his identical twin brother Matt), but one of the funniest and nicest with it, have been mates with Jono for a few years now and spent hundreds of hours riding together. Has an amazing natural talent, but since getting his Last Herb Dh bike he has been owning Dh this year. 2010 results 1st Aston Hill Winter DH Youth (6th fastest time of the day)2nd 661 Mini DH FOD Youth, 3rd Rnd1 National Point Series 4X Youth 2009 results Ranked #4 overall National Points Series 4X Youth
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| Jono getting pinned into the berm |
44Racing Talent Team – a grassroots team for up and coming UK talent.
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| 44Racing Talent Team |
Jack Hudson – 44Racing Talent Team/Spy Optics – Junior
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| Jack with his favourite can of pop |
Possibly the most enthusiastic rider I know, I have helped Jack out with his riding for the past 18 or so months. He has a great attitude and is a bit of a Pinkbike star since his 60 Seconds With interview by John Lee.
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| Jack in full control over the double |
Pete “Mop Head” Goddard – 44Racing Talent Team – Senior
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| Mop Head in full mop mode! |
I’ve known Mop Head for years, he gets his name from his hair. If you know anything about UK 4X then you WILL know Mop. A top guy who spends most the time in his own little world, but is a really talented rider.
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| Mop getting his freak on! |
AJ Boardman – 44Racing Talent Team – Elite
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| AJ chilling in the pits |
I used to race in Seniors with AJ so we are old sparring partners, a really nice northern bloke with a huge amount of talent and drive. AJ is in his first season in the Elite cat and will be competing in all of the European rounds of the World Cup 4X. He was a last minute addition to the team, but this was due to not knowing he was up for grabs.
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| AJ pushing it hard and fast |
44Racing and the 44Racing Talent Team are sponsored by;
Last Bikes
Rockstar Energy Drinks
Freestylextreme.com
Fox Racing Europe
Funn Mtb
Funn Brakes
Twenty26 Distribution
Englishbayphotography.co.uk
Where will we be able to see your riders in action this year?
All Team – NPS 4X rounds and 4X National Champs
Jake and A.J – European rounds World Cup 4X Selected rounds European 4X series Various European, National, Regional BMX, XC, 4X, DH and endurance events.
44Racing bike info
4X – 2010 Factory Last Rufus, Funn finishing kit, Funn brakes, Fox suspension.
DH – 2010 Factory Last Herb DH, Funn finishing kit, Funn brakes, Fox suspension.
Endurance/Mini DH – 2011 Factory Last Herb FR, Funn finishing kit, Funn brakes, Fox suspension.
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| Bikes all lined up for the race season |
Round up from the day-
It was an absolute pleasure hanging out and riding with this team all day – and I am a huge fan of brand trust for riders, and Hatch has only chosen to work with sponsors who provide the best kit for his team – and with this natural talent mixed with Hatch’s enthusiasm to see results, we can be sure that this race team will be here to stay for many years! Each rider is a good laugh and has a great attitude towards the sport which is great to see in the UK 4X scene! Have a great season lads it’s gonna be a great landmark one for all of you! Hatch – your Dad would be bloody well proud!
More Pictures from the day – huge thanks to english bay photography for the shots!
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| Rockstar in full support |
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| A.J in flight before a sketchy landing! |
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| Hatch in shred mode |
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| Bike up close |
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| Team shot |
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| Peng! |
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| Mophead getting his roost on! |
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| Mates at the gate |
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| More roost – loads! |
April 7th saw Commencal and the Athertons launch their new look team, as the complete family roster prepare for a 2010 season back at full strength. 2008 World Champion Rachel, returns this year after having to sit out last year due to an injury sustained in a training accident. With her form nearing one hundred percent you can be sure she will be in the mix for the overall World Cup title and in medal contention once again at the World Championships in September. Despite qualifying fastest at Andorra, Slovenia and Fort William last season, Gee found himself on the other steps of the podium too often come the finals. He finished the season in fourth place and is out to better that this year with an ambitious assault on the Downhill overall title, kicking off in full force at the Slovenian hosted first round in May. Eldest sibling Dan has undertaken a tough winter training schedule, with more emphasis on his speciality Four Cross. Working on his weaknesses from 2009, Dan is now ready to unleash these improvements on the World Cup series.
More Mountain Biking >>
Dan Skogland and Oscar ripping some self shot shore trails over the mild winter of 2009.
Music : “Roots Rip” by Slightly Stoopid
The single biggest news from the GT Bicycles 2009 product release, currently underway in Livigno, Italy, is the new Fury downhill bike. Kept under wraps until its unveiling yesterday, the new all-carbon fiber monocoque-framed machine will replace the DHi model currently being sold by GT.
The most important point about the frame that GT engineers stressed was that the Fury was designed out of carbon fiber for strength purposes and not for lightweight purposes. Many carbon fiber frames have been designed in the past to be lightweight, and when they are designed to be light, they can fail easily if improperly used, leading to the misconception that carbon fiber is a weak material. The fact is that carbon fiber has a strength-to-weight ratio over ten times that of aluminum. So it should be possible to design a much stronger frame from carbon fiber, at a similar weight as an aluminum one.
The Fury uses a complete monocoque frame design, meaning its front triangle is all one piece, as is its rear triangle. By making it from one piece the design avoids lugs or welds that could form stress risers. The design has optimized tube construction and tube shape using FEA analysis as well as a proprietary blend of fiber types. The engineers have gone so far in their testing of the fury frame they have even, albeit not so scientifically, banged on it to failure with a ball peen hammer—and it did not fail quickly. This frame was designed to be tough, the engineers assured us that rock impacts should not be an issue.
The new Fury features an increased top tube length compared to the DHi, a 1.5-inch integrated headset, a 64-degree head angle and 8.3-inches of rear wheel travel. The frame uses a standard-sized shock for compatibility and a 2.8:1 leverage ratio. The lone model shown here was functional, but we were not allowed to ride it unfortunately. Team GT downhiller Bryn Atkinson has been hanging out with us in Livigno at the product release and he hasn’t even ridden it yet, but is slated to race the Fury in the future. The Fury has a claimed weight comparable to the existing DHi, or around 38 pounds. It will be sold in two models and one frameset at retail prices of $5999 and $3999. The frame-only price is still to be determined.
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