It is now easier to find us on coaching days

we just upgraded the company van with a wrap thanks to WarpCenter in Valentuna that brought our design to life.

New Bike Day

Every 2 years or so, my coaching bike is sold and replaced with something newer and hopefully better, thanks to an ongoing partnership with BoutiqueMTB and Yeti Cycles.

So earlier this month, my 2018 Yeti SB5.5 was put on sell on Blocket and sold, paid for and collected a few hours later.

Now after a 2 loooong weeks of waiting, my new SB130 TLR AXS has arrived and need some TLC to become trai worthy, since I bypass the shop, and will be building it myself so to change a few things particular to my personal preference …

So if you want to know what it takes to build a high end full suspension bike, stick around.

First we need to unpack…

Then comes the dead full moment when I realised that once again, I will be passing the next 3 hours installing an Invisframe kit.

This is by far the best frame and most discrete frame protection on the market, but, as a wet install, it takes a clean room, good lightning, clean hands, soapy water in a pray bottle, rubbing alcohol, a squeeze, and a mountain of patience.

And I am not know for the later…

So after 3 hours of that, I left the frame alone to rest to make sure the glue was 100% set and took my trail bime for a lovely ride on Bogesund beautifull trail with a friend…

And i needed that!

So cone back tomorrow. As tomorrow, we finality build it!

New Sponsors and New Bike day (coming up)

We are really happy that our work in bringing more people to ride more trail more often is again recognised by our industry peers and we are proud and excited to announce a flurry of new sponsors for 2020 season

And also, our parent company Boutique MTB as partnered with Yeti Cycles to provide me with a new bike after the last 2 years on their previous model (SB5.5)

So starting from the 1st of May (hopefully) I will be coaching and racing on the absolute ultimate trail/enduro bike for the Swedish topography, the mighty SB130 Lunch Ride

This is an amazing bike and one most deserving of the bike “porn” qualifier. So, for those interested and that way inclined, I will be writing a glob post for Boutique MTB on the build and first riding impression that you will be able to find here

Meanwhile, I would like to thank my sponsors for supplying me with helmet, gloves, knee pads, tools, cleaning products, pedals, and delicious and nutritious cereal bars.

All the products sent to me, I personally selected and requested because I honestly think that they are some of the best available on the market while offering value for money for those of you that would want to purchase one (I will have links to all products as I review them here once I get them…)

But for now, I would just like to thank:

The Trail Helmet (Part Deux)

The Trail Helmet (Part Deux)

Not all helmets have been created equal

As I previously been going through the features and qualities I personally believe a good trail helmet should have, here is my honest and unbiased review of the Bluegrass Goldeneyes helmet.

First, one could ask, “Buying helmet for a large retailer does not make you an expert in helmets, just one in what helmets is likely to sell well”, and one would be right, but then, I was not only buying helmets, I have also been testing many through sponsorship as a coach and because I crash regularly and need to replace my leads. Just to give you an idea, this is my current helmet collection … And yes, that is a lot of helmets for one head but do remember, I do pass a LOT of time on bikes of all sorts ;)

Now, I have ridden with the Bluegrass Goldeneye but I have not and do not intend to thoroughly test it. Helmets do go through less dangerous (to me) and more scientifically based tests than me, crashing headfirst into a tree to ensure that it does what is supposed to in those circumstances.

So far so good.

So, let’s start with sizing. My head circumference, when measured as it should be, is 58cm. and the size Medium designed for 56cm-59cm is actually spot on. Comfortable, glued to my head and not moving at all despite my attempts at dislodging it by riding over some gnarly rocks and roots gardens at all sort of speed.

The helmet seems to be well ventilated but since the temperature are hovering only a few degrees C above freezing in the Stockholm archipelago at the moment, I cannot really make a final judgement on wherever it will overheat of not in the highs of summer, farther south of the pole. It is obviously more likely to do so that a pure XC helmet, but then again, the added protection does come at a price and usually both weight and ventilation are it.

• Good fit

• Good protection

• Good adjustable visor

• Works well with both riding glasses and goggles.

• Looks OK (nothing really look great on me and all helmets look like they are perched high on my head and give me that mushroom look so this one is actually doing a fair job at not making me look any worse than usual)

Really the only thing that I will change if I was given a say in the matter (and despite my thinking that all should really pay more attention to what I say, I am finally come to the realisation that it is not going to happen and that might actually be a good thing), is the buckle of the chin strap. Not that the one the chosen is bad per say but, I really think that ALL high end trail helmet today should include a magnetic buckle of the like that can be found on many helmets nowadays in the like of 2020 Fox Speedframe Pro (an other great choice for a trail helmet but 15% heavier and about 50% more expensive)

I was heading toward the warmth of the Spanish Sierra Nevada in a few weeks for 5 days of high altitude trail riding with one of my favourite bike holidays companies, and I was planning to take the Goldeneyes with me and will get back for a short final thoughts on the matter after some heavy riding in warmer temperatures.

Unfortunately, this plan is now looking less than likely to happen before the summer and although I will definitely head there sometimes this year (at least I hope that we will be able to),

This review is sponsored by Bikester.se, as this is a review of the product supplied by Bikerster and not of their services. However, I have complete freedom of writing all and anything I think about the products itself and my recommendation is on whether you should consider purchasing it or not and not where you should do so. This said, one can find far worse places to shop that this well priced, well supplied, German omnichannels group that is actually investing in Sweden and employ Swedish residents, opening Swedish retail outlet(s) and pay taxes here. Just saying…

FREE Suspension Clinic this Saturday in Bogesund

Sponsored by BoutiqueMTB, we are running a free suspension setup clinic this weekend in Bogesund.
Follow the QR link to the Facebook event for more information.

The Trail Helmet (Part Un)

What should you look for in a trail helmet?

This blog post is sponsored by Bikester.se

Helmets brand and models are, like most things in mountain bikininesg, very much a matter of personal choice.

Even more so that all have a differently shaped head, and what is the best fitting helmet for one might well be ill fitted or even painfull to wear to the next.

However, there are some design and feature that you should look for in any helmet, and more so when trail riding as the question of crash testing those features in very much a matter when and not if you discover that your relationship with Newton's law of gravity is an abusive one.

So, I will quicky go through the different type of cycling helmet available, which type is best for trail riding and what feature you should look for in your next helmet.

But first and foremost, I will start by saying that the best helmet is the one you wear and that as much as wearing riding gloves or not is a matter of choice, wearing a helmet is NOT!!!

Altho there are some other very niche type of helmets, the main types are:

The XC helmet

also suitable for gravel and road riding

The Convertible Helmet

just think about where you will keep the chin guard when removed…

The Trail Helmet

also suitable for light “Enduro”riding

The Enduro Racing Helmet

some will prefer the convertible option

The DH Helmet

also the one I am the easiest on the eyes in ;)

And for this blog post, we will concentrate on the trail helmet as this is the one type most riders are likely to use more often than not.

So what, other than being the right size (see or next week blog on the subject) and fitting your head shape makes a great trail helmet and what features should you really look for when purchasing your next helmet.
First and foremost, a good helmet is one that actually protects your skull and brain in case a crash where your head impacts ground, tree, rock or anything really as at a certain speed, anything but fresh air becomes a potential issue.

And for this, coverage is by far the most important feature as all the technology world will do you no good if you hit your head somewhere without any cover.

This is why I believe that any decent trail helmet does need to have good coverage of the back of the head. This, with the addition of a peak/visor, are the main difference between a Gravel /XC/ Road helmet.
A quality size adjustment ratchet, adjustable visor and good ventilation are also key feature to look for.
Lastly, some refinement such as the Fidlock neck strap buckle, google strap guide and removable/washable lining are niceties that I would look for as, although not a must in term of safety, the sure make for a more pleasurable use.

I recently acquired, as replacement for my Sweet Protection Bushwaker II Carbon (any crashed helmet need to be replaced as soon as possible), a lovely Orange Bluegrass Goldeneyes and will be reviewing in fully in a few weeks, once I have had a few rides wearing it. So, join the mailing list and keep your eyes open for this one.

Next week I will be going through the different type of helmets and what make it of them a particular tool for a particular job in the our new YouTube channel :)

Products Testing

As some of You may already know, I was formally employed by Cykelkraft as business development director and within my very various duties, I was the key contact point for many of the world largest brand in the cycling world and MTB in particular.

With access to upcoming products 6 months to year in advance, I use to get to try and test many.

Until now, I refrain from giving public review and opinions on said products as I was, even if indirectly, paid to sell them and this could not have been100% objective.

But now, as www.Boutiquemtb.se only sells products that I have personally chosen, tested and use myself, I feel in a better position to review products and hopefully help some of you in your choices.

So the first set of products advise will be targetted at rider's protection.

. Helmet

. Kneepads

.Gloves

.Eyewear

.Shoes

.Body armour

So the next 6 weeks, I will go through the main type of equipment available, what to look for in term of features and functionality.

And doing so, I will be reviewing one item that I feel offers all of what I expect from a top tier product in 2020.

And to insure my inpartiality, all links to said products will be to businesses I have no commercial relationship with even in the cases where our sister company Boutique MTB offer said product/brand for sale.

So join the mailing list an ready my weekly verbal diarrhea and maybe even get the pleasure of watching me humiliate myself trying to Kickstart a YouTube channel to compliment this blog series.

So, "What to look in a good Trail helmet” coming to you Sunday March 8th 2020

All 2020 dates are now available

Due to this year higher demande for private courses, I have made more of those dates available for 2020

and now the Jumps for dads and mums include use of the lift as trial of the course with lift use as shown very positive feedback.
All group clinics date can are also now on the booking calendar

And finally, for all of those that have been emailing to purchase course as gift for Birthdays and Xmas present, those are now permanently setup and available here

Lets talk about Electric Mountain Bike...

New year, New bikes and the first one is going create a Marmite reaction!!!

There is currently no more polirazing suject within the mountain bike riders communities than eBikes and especially eMTB since no mountainbiker really care what cyclist to on the road or cycling path while commuting

.
But, mostly, the people happy to tell you that those are motorbike or that riding and ebike is cheating, are those that have actually never tried one.
Yes, they have an engine, but it only amplify your own pedaling effort so pedaling is tilll required and yes, one could take it easy, set the bike to turbo everywhere an comeback after 1 hours (most likely with a flat battery, not even having broken a sweat and with their HR close to resting level.
But this is not that ebikes are really for. At least not highend, full suspension eMTB like the one we just acquired from French ebike specialist company Moustache bikes
Those things are heretently not cheap, so for months last year, we tested as many of them as we could put our hands on, from the very well priced and great value for money (at least in Sweden) Rock Marchine and Superior , the very speced and balance ride Merida , to the award winning but butt huggly (I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but still) Haibike and a few others that did not impress enough to make the short list…

Finaly, early October, while in Finale Ligure to participate in the last round of the Enduro World Series of 2018, I got the chance to test a Moustache Samedi Race 9 Carbon and came back so impress by ride quality, the attention to details in the design and a quality of the finish on the bike that immediatly started looking for the best possible way to aquire one for this season trail exploring as well as my new work horse when playing photographer and videographer for the Enduro Race team I have been managing since 2018 season.

Being French myself I approached Moustache bikes directly, only to learn that althout there then only dealer in Sweden only sold a small selectiom of their commuter bikes, they have made an agreement with no other than Sweden largest online bike shop to offer their entire range of 2019.

As good as the Samedi Race 9 Carbon was, his big brother,the Samedi SX9, really tick all the boxes for me so I contacted Cykelkraft and preorded one for ASAP delivery which ended up being 4 months away but with winter coming and the only other bike coming anywhere near it would have been the Haibike Flyon but it is unavailable at this time, unproven technology in term of reliability and I have not been able to test one and neither have many people that could rely on a well informed and impatial review.

So here is it… The Moustache Samedi SX9!!!

Once I covered it with frame protection from Dyedbro donated as test product by one of their owner, MrWolf Smartmouse and Recchie aslo provided as test products (so expect review of all 3 products within the next few weeks), the bike was ready for it first ride

So, on a grey Saturday, as snow and ice kept on melting, I headed toward one of the few places where trails were suposed (as per the reports from local riders I received the previous day) to be mostly ridable without spiked tires on if I kept to the south side. The Bogesund natural reserve and its official network of MTB trails.

So I set the bike engine to EMTB mode, and off I went for my normal 2 hours loop (in the best of conditions and more likely to have been over 2.5 hours in the current state of the trails without spiked tires…
Although it the loop did take me almost 3 hours, the rolling time was only 1 hour and 23 minutes as the rest of the time was taken adjusting cocpit, suspenssion setup, brake levers rear etc…

Although not a classic mountain bike as it is much heavier (closed to 25kg size large with smartmouse tires’ inserts, 600ml waterbottle full and pedals), and it does take a little muscling the bike in corners and hopping over opstical, it get to speed so quick and once you are there, old and boring flatish trails, become a brand new fun playground…

I have now add a few rides in progressively improving ground and atmospheric condition and although I am still getting the hang of the add weight, need for earlier braking point, etc..
I have yet to take it into a bikepark on a jump line or taken any drops bigger than 1 m, I can already draw a few conclusions on the bike itself while, side products like the Smartmousse will require both more riding and back to back with wheels with no Smartmouse on as I think that the rotation weight make itself feel more when costing downhill then when pedaling under assisted power.

Dyebro is no invisiframe, but neither does it try to be. All Mountain Style frame protection products would be a better comparatif both in price and function. And having now used them both. I would suggest that it really comes down to preference in design and feel between the honeycomb fell of the AMS and the smoother feel of Dyebro.

Finally, the Mr Wolf Recchie are visually a hard pill to swallow with the smaller AVS handguards far more discrete. However, on an ebike design for agressive riding, and rather tight natural trails I am mostly riding, my nuckles are very very glad that I really don’t care that much about looks when riding alone in the woods… They are very effective!!!


Those are my first thought on the bike and various add on and a full review will be coming with video in a couple of month but so far I am very please with the moustache & the recchie but I reserve judgement on the Smartmouse until I have time to really test their efficiency and evaluate the drawback of the added weight in the worse possible place on the bike.