Rob has been riding mountain bikes for over 16 years when he brought a Diamond Back Apex (back when full rigid was all you could get). Being in Auckland his first riding was in Riverhead, long before bike parks were around. Rob has spent some time riding and dabbled in some racing while in Europe, Canada and the USA. And with some epic day rides, exploring the mountains and off the beaten track. Rob looks forward to Daylight Savings so he can ride everyday, he isn’t big on the racing side but does like to go fast up and down hill. Rob too has recently caught the Downhilling (and now racing) bug again with the purchase of his Gold Bullit and runs of the National Downhill Track. UPDATE: He has been seriously bite by the downhilling bug and has gone so far as stepping up to the Santa Cruz V10. Rob has just scored a podium finish(2nd no less) in the 2nd Round of the National Series DH Cup - Rotorua in the Masters (1). Rob was one of the gang who built the legendary Hot X Buns track for those that know Rotorua, and up until just recently provided most of the maintenance and spadework. Rob started working in bike shops back in 1995 and in 2007 decided it was time to open his own shop and do it the way he wanted it done. Favourite Tracks: In Rotorua: Tuhoto Ariki In NZ: Craigieburn Overseas: St Moritz, Switzerland

Mike started riding a bike like a lot of kiwi kids and has never stopped. He started racing BMX at 13 and moved into MTB in 1994 when he entered (and won) his first race – Bay Champs Downhill. Loving the different terrain, ever changing tracks and especially roots, rocks, ruts and slippery mud! Now living in Rotorua with some of the best tracks in the country on his doorstep Mike is enjoying trail riding whenever he can with a bit of XC racing thrown in. And earlier this year reborn his downhilling career and pulled out a great run to win his age group in the Rotorua Round of the National Series. Mike has been working and learning his craft in bike shops since leaving school. Bike Culture is more than just a bike shop, it’s his lifestyle. Riding Highlights: 2 X Auckland XC Champ. 2X Auckland DH Champ. 2x Auckland Dual Salom Champ 1999 - NZ Dual Salom Champ. #3 pro elite NZ Downhill. 1996 - World Champs Downhill team More Recently: Rotorua N-Duro XC series top finishes Masters. 2007 - Rotorua N-Duro Whaka 100k: Top 10 finish 2008 - Rotorua N-Duro Whaka 100k: Top 10 finish 2008 – National Series DH Rotorua Round 1: 1st Masters(1) Men 2009 - National Series DH Rotorua Round 1: 1st Masters(1) Men 2009 - National Series DH Rotorua Round 2: 1st Master(1) Men Favourite Tracks: In Rotorua: Tuhoto Ariki In NZ: Nydia Bay Overseas: Whistler Bike Park, Canada

Annika is a Swiss import. Rob and Annika met in 2002 and she was introduced to mountain biking that summer. Rob saw qualities in Annika that would make her a good rider and quite possibly a good wife as well. Since then Annika has gone on to race for New Zealand at World Cup level, Swiss cups and the World Champs. 2006 saw her best result when she came in 14th at Fort William World Cup and was NZ XC series champ. She is the Current New Zealand Single Speed Champion and now placed 2nd at the World Single Speed Champs in Napa California – 2008. Current Queen (open womens) N-Duro long course series – 2008. Annika has a degree in Sports Science and Management from AUT All this and still had time to get married to Rob

Mike & Kath met in Auckland in 2005 and at that time road riding was her main appeal with a couple of Round Taupo and K1 finishes her biggest accomplishments. The move to Rotorua in 2007 made the road bike somewhat redundant, and the steep learning on the mountain bike began. After struggling with the 15km N-Duro a few years ago, Kath finished the 50km course in hard conditions this year. Kath has no ambitions to be a racer or downhiller but is enjoying the challenge that mountain biking brings. She thoroughly enjoys the awesome camaraderie and great people biking attracts , and loves encouraging new people into the sport, especially women.

Born in Tauranga, 17 year old Dirk is now in to his 4th year of racing at Cross Country (XC) National level. He trains everyday mostly in the forest. He loves going fast downhill but also climbing uphill - fast! He graduated from Lakes Boys High at the end of last year and is ambition now is to Race Pro XC & to be one of the best in the world – GO DIRK! Dirk’s idols are Julian Absolon (France) and Christoph Sauser (Switzerland). When he’s not racing or training he enjoys a spot of fishing. His favourite trails are Gunna Gotta and Billy T in Rotorua’s Whakawerewera Forest.

We have developed a few ideas over the years to help with our riding, we like a low front end so you will see flat or low rise bars on our bikes. We also ride wide so all our handle bars are 685mm or wider. A low front end allows you to put more weight on the front wheel which gives you more grip for corners. The other thing you will notice is the adjustable seat posts which allow you to move you seat up or down 100mm on the fly with the push of a handlebar mounted lever. This moves the seat out of the way and gives you a lot more control descending, jumping and cornering. A low front end paired up with an adjustable post gives you a great climbing position but allows you to drop the seat and descend with more grip and control. Both Rob & Mike run a double ring up front, we have found that 28/38 tooth ring offer an easy enough climbing gear and a big gear for going back down. This mated to an MRP LongRangePatrol system is simple and you wont lose your chain on the bumpy stuff. Running 2 rings also allows a better chain line in the big ring so we can use a larger range in the rear. We are also tubeless converts, lighter, less rolling resistance and no pinch flats.

Fox Float 150 R Single 33t front chainring Custom chainguide to fit XTR cranks and required chainring. Not pretty - but very effective. SRAM XX shirting. 11/36t 10speed Stans ZTR Crest rim, tubeless KS brand adjustable seat post, 5 inch drop 25.5lbs

Fox float 120RLC fork Adjustable KS seatpost (5 inch drop) XTR Crankset with 24/33t double chainring set up. SRAM XX shifting with 11/32t 10speed Stans ZTR race wheelset - tubeless Enduro ceramic hub bearings Hope ceramic BB 21.5lbs

A considered selection of colour co-ordinated components finish off a great bike build. Pink chainguide, cable outer casing and computer add a little character to Kaths Santa Cruz Blur LT Carbon. All parts available as standard items.

Rob and Mike are both on the new carbon long travel Blur now. Running SRAM XX, ESI silicone grips and Fox 32 Float forks are just a few of the components bringing the bike weight right down. The new Fox 32 Floats save one and a half pounds over the Fox 36 Vanilla forks, with their 150mm travel being only 10mm less than the 36s. With drier summer trails they are running Maxxis Aspen tyres. 2.1 width and weighing in at only 515g for kevlar bead, and 465g for the exception model.

About Rock ‘n Roll Chain Lube The King of Lubes: The formulation goes deep down into the chain, and traps any dirt. Then, with the energy of the chain freewheeling backwards, and the formulation trapping the dirt, and grit, floating it to the surface so you can wipe it all off. Leaving a new and clean application of lube inside the chain where its needed. The lube down inside the chain creates a protective membrane to seal out dirt and moisture, from the moving parts of the chain. As well as holding in place the best lube on the planet, for longer chain life, and super smooth shifting, and pedaling.

MAXXIS Advantage Tyres – this high volume aggressive XC tyre is our pick of the bunch. Grips well in wet & dry and has a low rolling resistance. The large edge of this tyre gives us huge cornering traction.

Fox F120 RLC Fork Sram X.0/Shimano XTR build kit Salsa bars 650mm wide XTR cranks with 26/38T Total weight (without Dirk) 24.3lbs

Fox 36 Vanilla R forks MRP LRP with 28/38t rings up front and a mixture of Sram X.0 shifting with Shimano cranks and front derailleur Gravity Dropper post is standard on this bike. Stan’s Flow Tubeless System. This bike is now retired. Check Robs new ride!

Fox 40’s up front. We have had the rear shock stroke changed to give it 7.8” travel in the rear. We also have headset cups made with a 2 degree offset to slack the head angle to 65 degree’s. This makes a great handling DH bike but weights in at 36.5 lbs. Tubeless conversion on DT rims.

Fox F120 RLC forks and a mix of Sram X.0 shifting, Avid Ultimate brakes and Stans Notubes wheels. Tubeless Stan’s conversion. Gravity Dropper post is on as standard. Weight is around 22.5lbs This bike is now retired. Check out Mikes new ride!

Fox 36 vanilla on the front. MRP LRP with 28/38t rings. Stan’s wheels and tubeless conversion. Salsa 710mm flat bars to keep the front low. Gravity dropper on this bike as well, Sram X.9 shifting and Shimano cranks are standard on most our bikes. This weighs just under 29lbs, not bad for 6” trail bike. This bike is now retired. Check out Mikes new Santa Cruz Carbon Blur LT

Mazocchi 888’s for the front. Handle bars are Salsa Pro Moto flat Hope Pro 2 hubs, Stans Flow rims and DT revolution spoke for a light wheelset. Running the wheels tubeless. Avid Elixir CR brakes and weighs under 37lbs (light for a DH bike).

Fox 32 Float’s Setup single speed with 29-15 ratio. Gravity dropper post and a Salsa 660mm flat carbon bar to keep weight on the front wheel.

Annika has been racing on a Nomad for the last year but we are about to build her the new Blur LT with Fox 32 Float 15mm QR forks and some Hope Pro 2/Stans Race wheels. Gravity dropper of course with Gripshifters and sram mech’s. Avid Juicy Ultimate brakes and Salsa flat bars. We hope to get it down around 25lbs so watch out girls Annika is going to be even faster next year.