Sea of flames
These are the colours we long for in the dreary season. Bike adventurer Alban Aubert surfs through golden grasses in Niseko, Japan. The Gran Hirafu ski resort is famous for its powder runs in winter, but now a trail network is to be built across the mountain to make the region attractive not only to deep snow junkies, but also to attract mountain bikers in the snow-free season.
Lost Places
"Let's go - bunny hop!", we would love to shout to David Cachon in the first photo. But the gap in the bridge is too big even for the trial world champion. The España Vaciada - the rural exodus - is driving Spain's young population into the cities, leaving behind ghost villages and lost places in the heart of Spain. "That's bitter on the one hand," says David Cachon, "but on the other, it creates adventure playgrounds that particularly appeal to me." Here, David goes on a discovery tour in Yesa at the foot of the Pyrenees.
I love lost places. They are lonely, magical and full of challenges. - David Cachon
Air show
The bike flies, the blonde curls swirl - freeride pro William Robert sails through his own bike park. In a forest in the south of Paris, the young Frenchman has built himself a private paradise of jumps and stunts. Ideal for testing the bike of his new sponsor (Forbidden Druid GorE) extensively - above all, of course, for airworthiness. There's no need to push it up after the runs, as the bike is equipped with a powerful motor.
Artwork Rider
You can argue about the question of where the cradle of freeriding lies (it actually says: the cradle lies, not stands). Some claim: Clearly on the Northshore (nobody says: on the Northshore. Everyone says: on the Northshore, which is orthographically incorrect) of British Columbia. Others believe: In Nelson, B.C. Either way, the trail builders in Nelson, in the hinterland of British Columbia, close to the US border, are true artists. They stage their stunts with attention to detail, like this drop made of cedar wood. However, freerider Russ Fountain doesn't notice much of this on his stormy descent into the valley.
Interview with stunt biker Matt Jones: "Green at some point!"
BIKE: How did you come up with the idea for the stunt?
Matt Jones: Through a video game for bikers - Mavrix. I wanted to do a stunt like in the video game - a jump through two lorries driving past each other.
You've jumped over rooftops, invented new tricks, managed the 110 Footer at Darkfest and the infamous Rivergap at the Red Bull Hardline. All bone-breaking stunts! Where do you place your lorry jump?
Jumping through the two lorries is by far the most dangerous thing I've ever dared to do on a bike. Why? Because everything had to fit, otherwise I would have had a horrendous accident. I had exactly one second to jump through both lorry beds.
What were your biggest fears?
To get stuck with my head. If I jumped too high, the lorries would decapitate me. But the other scenarios also gave me nightmares. A little too early and I would crash into the lorry bed at almost 70 km/h. A little too late and the lorries would turn into a giant steel guillotine.
How do you practise this?
At first, I didn't even know if such a stunt was possible. I put a lot of effort into all the calculations, because the timing, the angles, the speeds - everything had to be right. I built a ramp for the first attempts. A car towed me along and I jumped through two wooden frames that represented the lorries. The impact on the flat was so hard every time that I got a headache. The stunt happened later in Sweden.
Why?
The lorry manufacturer Skania comes from Sweden. The company supported us with two autonomous lorries. That was perfect, because it ruled out human error. The towing car and I as a source of error were enough to give me a heart attack.
How many attempts were necessary before it worked?
Countless. Time and again, a red light signalled that the timing wasn't right and I had to stop. Then at some point: green. And I jumped. The tension had been enormous, as was the relief!
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
