Alligator Prowls Bright after mauling Wombat!
Kyle Rickard, latest addition to our “Team” had a busy couple of weeks. Here is his summary of his first race on the electric shift MootoX RSL. As they say on Little Britain – “Dust anyone, Dust…?”
“Dusty tracks were the daily special for the Bicycle Superstore Bright 12 hour with over 250 teams coming from around the nation to take part in the classic bike race. The race took place just outside the centre of town with a 16.5km track testing everyones technical and mental strength. With fast pine decents and some of the most free flowing track I’ve ever ridden – the race had it all and the Le Mans start certainly didn’t disappoint. The 200m sprint for the bikes left most riders clutching their hamstrings while others struggled once on the bike. A brutal start to a challenging race.
With the boys from Torq quickly setting the pace I felt like I only had to follow – tailing the wheel of world series rider Jack Haig for a lap, only to be out done on the final climb by a slight mechanical problem. The Moots MOOTO X RSL seemed to catch the eye of all riders as the customised Di2 shifted flawlessly – even in the rockiest bits of track.
Team Cycling edge (Elite male pairs) got off to a bright start with the Moots mastering a 45 minute first lap – the third fastest lap in Male pairs. My partner and I then took it in turns until lap four when the competitive instinct took over and pushed the Moots out for back to back laps – a hard ask for the sweltering conditions. With the sun bearing down on the second lap and sapping the life out of me, I made a crucial mistake, miss judging a berm and peeling the tyre off the Easton Haven carbon rim, a small price to pay when compared to the advantages of running tubeless with low Psi for exceptional rolling grip from the Pair of Maxxis tyres.
By lap six the Titanium established a rhythm, punching out consistent 53 to 54 minute laps of the 16.5km mountain circuit. Nearing the final hours of the completion I was pushing hard using the swift shifting derailleur to my advantage through the undulating terrain, riding Cycling edge home in 8th (out of 28) position in Male pairs.
On the bright side, a brilliant first race on the Moots – despite the loss of a few inches of skin.”
A few days earlier Kyle took the bike out for a run and set a new record on Strava for the Wombat Loop. You can follow the link here.
The Otway Odyssey is next.
First Mooto X ride
Russ sent this message regarding his new toy:
“Just wanted to say that my new MootoX has surpassed even my expectations of a Moots. With this being my third one, I thought I would have learned just how nice they are to ride, but once again, I was blown away with just how lovely these bikes are.
My busted arm and elbow are not quite yet healed, but the bike has been sitting in the shed for too long now, so I decided to get out on the Great Dividing Trail up this way in Ballarat. I had to climb through a bit of bush to get there and the bike was sublime. Handles beautifully and holds a line better than I expected.”
As always Russ they just get better with familiarity.
Moots finishing touches gather
One detail remains to complete the project but these custom touches will ease the wait….perhaps!
MOOTS Mooto X RSL out and about
A day off is a great day to explore new territory and on the way out it seemed like a good spot for a photo in dimming light and hopefully winter….
It didn’t look like this at the end of the ride…
“Wow Moots have nailed it!”
Rob’s first trail ride response. That’s the kind of first ride feedback you love….knowing it just gets better.
Rob’s Moots MX Divide
That didn’t take long! Frame collected thursday……
Quote: “frame build quality is without equal”
You will only have to see it in the flesh to see this is a statement of the obvious!
MX Divide arrives in Bendigo
The style of the bare MX Divide frame surely lends itself to comparisons with a snake poised to strike so it will be good to see the finished build on this Australia’s first with the second in the air….
Moots Value equation
Russ loves quality bikes and this MootoX was in his sights for a while. Here are his photos, his thoughts and rationale for his selection and his build specification. Very tasty.
“Hi all. My name is Russell and I recently took delivery of a MootoX frame from Peter and Paul at Cycling Edge. The two main reasons I did this are 1). Moots make the very best Ti bikes on the planet, and 2). Peter and Paul, are for me, the way I like to do business. I know what I want, I know how good the product is and I want to cut to the chase and get it ordered. Simple.
If you want to talk bikes, then the guys are knowledgable enough to answer any question you may have, but when they realise that you know what you want, they are professional enough to not try and impress any more than they do already with what is one of the nicest set ups in Melbourne. I am a bike mechanic by trade and own various custom bikes and to be able to talk to people who understand what buying a custom bike or frame means to someone, rather than just trying to sell, is worth it’s weight in gold.
The MootoX will be my third Moots, for the simple reason that they make the best Titanium frames on earth…and if that NASA rover finds any Ti bikes anywhere else in our solar system, then I’ll bet my house that a Moots will still be better. Remember, I work in the bike industry and work on the very best off the shelf bikes on offer. I could have just about ANY bike frame I desired and I still come back to Moots. Lots of my customers ask why I buy an “expensive” Ti bike when I could have carbon fibre!! This always makes me smile. I’ll show them my Moots and then tell them how much I paid for it. I’ll show them the perfect welds, the absolutely spotless finish to the Ti and I’ll tell then how I asked for a single bend downtube, with a 68mm English threaded BB and cable guides to be placed on the top tube please and the guys just said “yep”.
At this point I don’t usually have to say anything else, because the realisation of what they have paid for their bike and what they got for their money has just hit them. Then I ask if they have ever ridden a Ti bike? Usually NOT. So how can they know what they are missing? But also, let me say this. I am not a carbon hating old dude who thinks all bikes should be made of metal. I love carbon fibre. I love what it has done for the cycling industry, but Titanium is a beautiful material with which to build a bike frame and should not be overlooked. It will last longer, look better for longer and ride better for longer. Titanium has a place in the bike building industry and Moots are the very best.
Expensive……that is a subjective question, but being the age I am and having had the bikes I’ve had, to both ride myself and have hanging in my workstand in the store, I can confirm for you one cliche’ that rings very very true in the bike frame world…”you get what you pay for”. This is true of both Moots and Cycling Edge who sell them here in Australia. I am one very happy customer. Thank you guys.”
Here is the spec:
MootoX 19″ frame (single bend and 68mm threaded BB, customised).
Fox Terralogic Fork 100mm 15mm Thru Axle
Chris King Headset
Ritchey WCS Bars 680mm
Ritchey WCS stem 110mm
Thomson Seatpost Black
Prologo Scratch HWD saddle
ODI grips
Chris King hubs 32hole (black)
Mavic TN719 rims
DT Revolution Spokes (silver
DT brass nipples 12mm
Maxxis Welter Weight tubes
Schwable Racing Ralph 2.1 tyres
HOPE rear QR
HOPE Tech Evo X2 brakes 140mm rear rotor and 160mm front rotor
XTR Shifters
XTR Front Derailleur
XTR Rear Derailleur (medium cage)
XTR chain
XTR Cassette
Rotor 3D Cranks Ti axle 175mm
Rotor Q Rings 38T and 25T
Rotor 68mm English BB
XTR pedals.
Once he has recovered from some recent “bitumen rap dancing” we will get Russ’ ride impressions.
Two Moots in the You Yangs
In gentle repose after some fun on the trails are Tim’s Cinco and Rob’s MootoX RSL. I don’t know how they picked the day. There would have been more but it was DDCX the same day. The next target for an owners’ ride looks like September.
Moots on NZ’s Heaphy track
Melbourne MOOTS owner Tim took up the challenge of this ride and you can read his experience via this link: Heaphy Write Up
Two Alligators took a Soul mate to play with a Wombat
Last Saturday we hit the single slush, sorry track, in the Wombat state forrest with our MOOTS Rigormootis, MOOTO X RSL with the “Di2X10 XTR” and Paul’s Soulcraft 29er.
Lots of laughs, plenty of “try this one now” and more than a little waiting for me to catch up.
Great bikes and lovely beer at Woodend’s Holgate’s micro brewery (note to self to eat before the ride next time).
We all found the electric shift an initial challenge. When you are used to reaching for the “relief” of a big push on the thumb levers the buttons feel dead. It doesn’t matter how much effort you put into it or how much travel you try and induce in desperation, the shift is the same. It just happens, everytime without fail. When you adjust to this it is soooo good and just rounded out the RSL experience! Or so Mitch tells me.
Now for the “fun” bit below:
IF Steel Deluxe – U DeSerVe 1
Out in the Wombat State Forest having some fun. Build includes Fox Shock, XT, Fulcrum Red Metal wheels and Moots Ti bar, stem and post. The result is a beautifully balanced and affordable custom X Country bike.
And the plate is right you do deserve one!
IF Purple Puddle Eater is here!
Currently being prepped with our new paint protection coating, this little gem will be on the trails this weekend. Yes it is err…petite! Seat tube length is 12″ in “US Metric”.
Incredible MOOTS Adventure bike challenge
Can you spot the kitchen sink?
It used to be how many people can you fit into a VW Beetle or a Mini. Now the World by Cycle guys have apparently taken it up a notch.
An alternative theory is that this is the UCI’s next step in Team budget reduction moving to the self sustaining Pro Tour rider – think of the savings!
A couple of Moots headed for all points of the globe
A couple heading off around the world chose custom MOOTS frames for this daunting task. The frames had just about every possible mounting point option ticked and the build specification chosen for durability, included SRAM X9 groups and Schmidt generator front hubs and a USB port to charge phone and MAC to keep communication open.
Built to carry all their needs and see the adventure through to the end – just like every MOOTS!
MootoX RSL with a Kwik shift
A little longer in the gestation than planned but well worth the wait!
With the patience and cooperation of the guys and gals at Moots and from Joe Savola at K Edge we have a delightful MootoX RSL with electronic 2 x 10 shifting. The battery is seat post mounted away from elements and the build is rounded out with Easton HAVEN carbon wheels.
Now we just need to find someone to review it – hey Cam_McK!?
Show and tell at Crankstar now!
We arrived today at Crankstar in Brisbane with a selection of IF, Moots and Parlee bikes and frames. So come and see Steve what some options for your next bike – key word is “your”. Built for you just the way you want it.
T-REX rides MOOTS to Aussie SS Title
Kiwi import “Tim” aka T-REX (above) borrowed our MOOTS Rigormootis (converted to Single Speed for the Adelaide based event by fellow RoadWorks promoter Paul Larkin) and won!
Hmmm, bike’s a 19″ frame and the van is 1.94m tall – Tim’s a big boy perhaps that should be “Mr T-Rex sir”! The look is because of the green and gold wheel stickers – no silver ferns allowed.
The race report from Paul was “T-Rex won and I drank lots of beer”. Sounds like a fair division of labour.
PS Oli (Mr Roadworks in Wellington) invoice for exposure on its way!
Moots/Health One synergy!
This ad has gone to air in the Rocky Mountain Region and says a lot about MOOTS!
Giving the Moots a workout!
Canberra based Clayton Locke gave his MOOTS Zirkel a good hit out at Dargle Farm last month with a 3rd in Category in the 12 hour on saturday and backed it up with a 1st in Category in the 8 hour the next day….lookin’ sharp Clayton!
Need a little lie down just thinking about it – we will see you at The Scott with a selection of MOOTS bike including our Project MootoX RSL with “XTR Electric” shift.
Ghisallo Adelaide bound
A mix of Strada and Pista tubular profiles in the lightest shade already allocated to projects.
First MootoX RSL arrives
This 16 inch Moots delight arrived today with a sweet Vamoots CR travelling companion and will shortly be assembled with XTR, Thomson and EDGE components, exactly as the owner has prescribed and will run on a set of Easton’s new Haven 29er, tubeless wheels.
Light, tight and functional in everyway! Next box later in the week has 3 RSLs – two Vamoots and one very special project MootoX – electric!
‘Cross Melburn a success
Congratulations to all the team that put together a great day at Lysterfield yesterday. “Team” Cycling Edge had a great day and the effort, venue, facilities and racing would have been enhanced only by bigger fields and more spectators.
Paul raced the Cielo CX SS (10th in B), Cam MacKenzie the Moots (in quasi SS mode) for 4th in Elite and the Parlee swung in the breeze while Simon had to have a day out and wrote lines all day…”I must not hit the wall while tumble turning…”.
I fulfilled my obligations by assisting with SOUL Kitchen’s returns for the day.
The guys from Avanti (now known as N1 & N2) were shameless (and talented) in their “trophy hunting” in B Grade and must surely be promoted to Rattray chasing.
Lewis proved that he can travel and ride by cleaning up the Elite race (again)..rumor has it that the other competitors are buying him a one-way ‘plane ticket and telling him he should be racing OS or anywhere else really..
Here is a short gallery from the day..no apologies for the water crossing or brand prominence! Oh yes… it is winter here in Melbourne, believe it or not.
We look forward to their next great event as much as we do the next Dirty Deeds CX on August 21st at Brunswick, or any other ‘cross race for that matter….with enough notice we’ll be there!
One noticeable absence from this event (Cog Cafe and Justin on the PA aside) was NOISE – next time bells, whistles, horns shall be mandatory.
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