Well, technically, yes, a belt is just a belt... But what if I told you this was like no other belt you've ever owned? Read on.... After a brief googling of looking for a particular bike part completely unrelated to the holding of ones trousers up above ones awfully rounded…
52 posts by author
Ben Haselden
I'm an outdoor mad, adventure seeker who has ridden bikes, played with bikes, modified and fixed bikes. I've been around bikes since I was a child through racing, crashing and enjoying them.
Bream Head Coastal Walk
It's at this time of the year that I always realise just how lucky I am to be based in Northland, New Zealand. Our backyard playground is something we often take for granted living here and often need to sit back a touch and revel in the moment. One area…
The Oval Revolution
Every now and then something grabs your attention in the media and your ears prick up like a Meerkat in the desert. Instantly, (showing my age here) you can't help but think of another near disaster that was, the oval Biopace system. For those left wondering what that was, Biopace…
Pro Koryak Dropper Post - Ride Review
The Japanese giant that is Shimano, has long been hailed as the worlds leader in cycling driveline components. Of course they also supply some pretty top notch fishing equipment and surprisingly, rowing equipment... In recent times, the umbrella company has formed Pro Components and has steadily been making waves in…
New Kid On The Block
In a far cry from the roots of their weapons manufacturing in Spain, Orbea continue to dazzle the worlds leading bike media outlets with models sought after by us Kiwi Mortals. With no dealership or importer (until now), us Kiwis have been faced with watching and reading about bikes we…
Trail Karma - Don't Knock It Til You Try It
"I really don't like the way that trail rides in places. Whoever built it really doesn't get how I like to take corners. Someone needs to tell the builder to change it or we'll go somewhere else" or "that trail really could do with a trim"......... How many times in…
Wiz Bang - The Joys of Technology
The modern level of fang dangled devices now available to a traditionally mechanical mountain bike is somewhat overwhelming when considering our 'I'm cooler then you' mentalities... 'Back in my day', the most technological advanced accessory was the humble trip computer which in reality was one of the worlds most overpriced…
Mindless Drivel
So, it's the end of August, this spells the end of winter and the welcoming of spring and more so, right on the brink of being able to fill my fat guts full of the oceans bountiful indulgence in the form of Scallops. So what does it all mean? I…
Timber Trail Lodge - Luxury In The Middle Of Nowhere
Generally, when you place the words, Boys Trip and Mountain Biking Weekend together and throw in the country's worst snow event in years, you don't usually come out with an equation anywhere near luxurious or well organised. More often then not it's a shambles, involves tonnes of takeaways, a smelly…
The French Redhead - Lapierre Edge 327+
It's not often you find a red headed, French, Plus sized model gracing the cover of Vogue Paris magazine as the two aren't always the best fit for such a magazine. This however, may be the straw that breaks the camels back with slender low lines, curves in places that…
Tree Trunk Gorge - Ride Review
More often then not, road trips which involve a weekend of MTB'ing always need that, just one more trail to completely satisfy that weekend splurge. Tree Trunk Gorge, is located an hour south of Taupo in the Kaimanawa Forest park and can be accessed by either the Northern or Southern…
16 Niner - RIP9 Carbon - Trail Bike Review
Until recently, I had always found the trail market as being one of those, well, how do you put it. "Open to interpretation" type markets. Every manufacturer seemed to have a different take on what they classed as trail worthy. The inclusions of Enduro bikes were flooding the markets and…