Mountain biking is a relatively young sport, but it is now old enough to have history, habits and legends. Mountain biking has evolved, and continues to do so. While racing and competition is still a strong part of the mountain biking ethos, at the very roots mountain biking is a lifestyle sport for most. And of course, some of those who let mountain biking dictate their life choices compete as well, from local races through to the world stage.
For many young Australian mountain bikers packing up and heading overseas is a rite of passage. Whether they choose to hole up in a mountain resort to ride park and work for a season, or chase UCI points to improve World Cup positions, or live the vanlife with friends – no one path is the same. Goals, experiences and results are as diverse as the riders who put themselves out there, open to what the world of mountain biking delivers.
After a couple of quiet years, 2022 and 2023 have really opened up the travelling and riding options for Australian mountain bikers looking to explore their boundaries, so I got in touch with seven different young Australian mountain bikers to talk about travel, racing, life on the road and their drive to ride.
DAVE MAGGS
Name: Dave Maggs
Home town: Northern Beaches, Sydney
Instagram: @davemaggs
Age: 27
Sponsors: Commencal Australia, DHaRCO, Mountain Bike Suspension Centre
Bike: 2024 Commencal Meta V5
Top 3 results in 2023: 86th Maydena, 88th Val di Fassa, 89th Derby
Goals with mountain biking: Travel the world with my bike, but a top 50 at an EDR World Cup would be nice too!
Pump or jump: Pump for free speed
Data or sensations: Data, always. I’m a nerd for numbers!
I never ride without: My Garmin watch
3 essential items when travelling: A good multi-tool, a bleed kit and a pressure gauge
Best place to ride away from Australia: Portes du Soleil, France
It was a trip across to New Zealand in 2019 that sparked an interest in travelling to race for gravity enduro racer Dave Maggs. ‘Basically I thought I’d give this whole EWS thing a crack. I went over and raced what was previously called the EWS 100 in Rotorua in 2019 and did well enough there that I then got bumped up to the actual EWS (now EDR). I did quite well and they basically said that the rest of the season was sold out except for Madeira.’
Getting a taste of the action at global level events close to home can be a slippery slope, and Maggs was ready to slide right on into the adventure.
‘So I then went across and raced in Madeira that year and yeah, it was a pretty wicked experience. That was my first time riding outside of Australia and New Zealand. We don’t really have anything quite like the terrain over there.’
As so many riders realise when they step away from Australian shores, the depth of talent and variety of trails around the world is incredible – and that wasn’t lost on Maggs. ‘That year was sort of key to just realise how damn fast those top guys are. It was pretty mind blowing.’
While Maggs went home with a suitcase full of motivation, a few years of lockdown on international travel put his plans on hold. Knowing the resources needed to pursue world series events, he got to work to get saving. Via a couple of 2021 qualifying races, Maggs was able to get into some 2022 EWS events and opted to quit his job.
‘I sold everything I owned to fund the season of racing. I bought a van and did the whole van life thing through Europe and then headed across to Whistler to do that race over there as well. I did about seven of the nine races.’
For 2023, the Enduro World Series moved into the World Cup, with Discovery taking over the media and events for the UCI. A number of riders have discussed the change, and while Maggs sees that it is a good thing, he’s also realistic about what it means for privateers., given the changes in qualification and points accrual.
‘For me I think my days are numbered. But I had qualified, so it would be silly to do all this work and not continue racing.’ Maggs went home, got a job with a supportive manager and has used leave and remote work options to race the first half of the 2023 season. But he sees the change in Enduro coming, as the sport becomes even more professional.
‘I wouldn’t say that it has changed yet. I definitely think that’s true for downhill, I would say downhill is not as privateer friendly as what it used to be 5-10 years ago. I think enduro is still privateer friendly, but it is definitely changing. It’s getting a lot more competitive and the advantages of being on a pro team having mechanics, physios and masseuses are all those little one percenters that add up to sort of making it a much more professional sport, which ultimately it needs to be.’
One of the appeals of chasing the enduro circuit was the places you would go. Madeira, North America, South America, Europe... but the calendar is changing. ‘I saw all these amazing destinations that James Hall was going to and it got me inspired. You’re sort of using racing as an excuse to travel the world. So when I started my goal and my journey of racing at this level, that was sort of the primary objective; to just experience different parts
