Hutchinson UnitedRide Team Report Val Di Sole

Hi everyone,

Val Di Sole is over! It has been a rough week end for everyone.

Unfortunately, Tim broke his collarbone on Friday during practice, he went back to South Africa to get a surgery, we all wish him a quick recovery and can't wait to see him on a bike again. Apart from that everyone was having a good time on this dusty steep track and in he hot sun of Val Di Sole.

Saturday, it's qualification time. Guillaume and Fabien crashed and didn't make it into the 80th, but Fabien being 19th overall he is a protected rider, he's still qualified.   Fabien was struggling with arm pumped issues and finished 75th.   

Mick had an average run and qualified 23nd.  Come race day, Mick had a few mistakes in his run and ended up in 32nd; he's now 6th overall. 

Tracey crashed pretty hard in the fastest section of the track and qualified 8th.  Sunday morning, pressure is on for the finals. Tracey was on a good run until she crashed, she finished at 9th place. She's now 2nd overall! 

It's the first hard week end for the team this year, we know it's part of racing and we are already looking forward to Fort William where we will try to get back our team leader rank.

Thanks to all the staff for the hard work and thanks to all our partners like Morewood and iXS for the support.

See you in Fort William next week,

Hutchinson UnitedRide

Stephanie on the Pro Podium

Stephanie raced the Prot GRT/Eastern States Cup this past weekend at Plattekill.  Battleing the shale with her trusty Morewood Izimu and iXS helmet the infamous Red Izimu Bandit had this to say:

"Awesome weather and a crazy fun course at the Eastern States Cup and PRO GRT at Plattekill last weekend! My Little Red Izimu felt great over the roots and loose shale, sticking the berms. I'm really excited about a 4th place finish...my first pro podium! Off to Attitash in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire this weekend, one of my favorite courses from last year! Wheeeee!!!!"

Photo Nicolas Barry

Check out all Matt's photos on VitalMTB.

Stephanie and her Little Red Izimu

Stephanie Levesque Sowles attended the Pro GRT#2 and ESC#1 at Mountain Creek Bike Park in NJ this weekend aboard her Morewood Izimu.  Not the results she was looking for but she displays the best attitude on the mountain.  Good luck at the next race Stephanie!

"Not one of my most stellar race runs. I wrecked twice in a short stretch. Dead last. Someone has to be last so I guess I'm honored to take my turn in that spot! But another bonus of the Izimu...it's light! Less weight crashing on top of me! hehee"

36 Second Video with Tim Bentley

Short attention span?  Go Timmy!!!

Morewood Bikes: Tim Bentley from lloyd ramsay on Vimeo.

Pink Izimu, Pink Makulu, Pink...

Pink, it's my new obsession, yeah 
Pink, it's not even a question 
Pink, on the lips of your lover 
'Cause pink is the love you discover 
Pink, as the bing on your cherry 
Pink, 'cause you are so very 
Pink, it's the color of passion 
'Cause today it just goes with the fashion                                                                                     

- Aerosmith 

Go Tracey Go!

 No doubt you have seen Tracey's Pink Izimu.  Tracey won the 2012 Australian National Champs and the first World Cup in South Africa aboard this bike.  Well the factory in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa has been cooking up a Makulu...in pink.  Check out the last photo below.


Sad to see the Izimu go.  So, let's see, here in the USA you can get a handmade, Championship winning, Cane Creek Double Barrel equipped, adjustable geometry frame for $2,136.84.  Can anyone match that?


That's right adjustable geometry, with the turn of an allen key you can raise/lower the bottom bracket, shorten/lengthen the chainstay, and change the head angle.  Oh yeah!

Podium Pink

Soon to Podium Pink

Fontucky...Winner, winner; chicken dinner...

Fontana, California was the first stop for the iXS Unique Team to shake off the Winter as a team.  The Team's Makulus were not ready for action so Jackie and Dante climbed aboard one of Unique's other brands for the weekend; still handmade single pivoty goodness.  While the Harmony's got used to their rides Mikey dialed in his 888's on his Izimu with the help of the awesome support at Marzocchi. 


Come race time the sky opened up and the rain began.  Sorry for the lack of action shots, next time we will bring more weatherproof camera equipment.


Jackie got top spot on the podium...not bad for receiving the bike the day before.  Can't wait to get her on her Makulu.  Mikey shared the 2:10 time slot with five others riders good for a 16th spot out of 41 Pro Men.  Dante also having spent a few hours on a new bike pulled a 24th spot with a time of 2:13.09.   


Results:
Pro Women DH
1. Jacqueline Harmony       2:25.12
2. Gabriela Williams            2:27.40
3. Margret Gregory              2:32.43


This is another "W" in the column for iXS, USCO, VP, Cane Creek Double Barrel, Marzocchi, Deity, MRP, and Feedback Sports.


We shared our pit with Privateer racers Ben Mclelland, Ryan Sholes, and a couple members of Unreal Cycles Team Sprockets Grommits.  


Morewood Makulu Rider Results:
DNF Ben McClelland - Sprain Ankle...get better soon buddy!
8th Ryan Sholes - Expert Men 27-34
8th Scott Punt - Expert Men 19-26


Let's get ready for Sea Otter!!!  Wooooooo!

Those Split Tails are BRIGHT!!!

Lance added a dropper post to Mikey Haderer's Izimu right before the race. 

Pretty little ladies all in a row...

VP in the house!

Too hot for the internet? You decide!

Is that a Cane Creek Double Barrel Air on that Makulu?  Dang!

Steve approves this message.

Shhhh...Jackie is resting from her win.

A big thanks to all our sponsors...we hope to put you up on the podium again soon.

Tracey wins, Mick 3rd

Womens Results:

1st - Tracey Hannah

2nd - Manon Carpenter

3rd - Emeline Ragot

4th - Jill Kinter

5th - Miriam Ruchti

Mens Results:
1st - Greg Minnaar
2nd - Aaron Gwin
3rd - Mick Hannah

First in Qualifying

Tracey coming in at first spot in qualifying aboard her Morewood Izimu!!!  

1st - Tracey Hannah

2nd - Emmeline Ragot

3rd - Floriane Pugin

4th - Sabrina Jonnier

5th - Jill Kinter

Full results from our Morewood Brothers Southern Downhill HERE

The Izimu features adjustable geometry through the XPI Pivot.  With the turn of an allen wrench you may adjust the bb height,  chainstay length, and head angle.  Check out how the XPI works HERE.  Click and hit the XPI tab.

Mick Hannah qualifies in 6th aboard the Makulu!  Full men's results HERE.

Mick is ripping it up on the Makulu.  So stoked for Sunday!

Ned's Man Camp

"Man Camp" is getting a paint job...can't wait to see this Makulu in full glory again! 

British Racing Green?  Awwwe yeah!

Chasing The Dust - Hutchinson UnitedRide VIDEO

This Winter, Europe was pretty cold so we decided to chase dusty trails and headed to Queenstown.  The best place for training at this time of the year so we could get ready for the 2012 World Cup Season. Big thanks to Skyline, Brad Rowe, Jono de Queenstown Bike Taxis, Florent Carreyron, James Tilbury and Stew Greig for their help and to our sponsors : Hutchinson, Morewood, iXS, Alltricks, E13, Bluegrass, Spank, Zodiac, Mavic, Blackmountain, Formula, Crank Bros., ODI.

Chasing The Dust from UNITEDRIDE on Vimeo.

Vital Daily Shot - Sunday Makulu

Gary Barnard @ Paarl DH...See it in full glory on VitalMTB.

Credit: esphotography.co.za

Ride along with Mikey Haderer in Chile

Mikey takes us down the course at VCA...


Unofficialnetworks.com:

"Telluride local Trevor Martin takes a journey down south to South America to take part in an international urban downhill mountain bike race known as the Valparaiso Cerro Abajo in Valparaiso, Chile. Unfortunately, after confronting a handrail at the bottom of a set of stairs, he had to forfeit the event. (great crash footage in the credits) Thanks to Mikey Haderer for sporting the camera afterwords for Unofficial! Better luck next year!!"

Valparaiso Cerro Abajo 2012 - Trevor Martin from UnofficialNetworks.com on Vimeo.


Ouch Trevor!  We wish you better luck next year!

Makulu Builds...

How will you build your Makulu?

Jared Hobbs

Ryan Sholes

Ben Weaver's "The Darkness"

Scott Punt's "Jiggly Puff"

Ben McClelland

Ned Kajko's "Man Camp"

Lance Tueller

Tracy Hannah Practicing at the Nationals

The Izimu is on it's way to yet ANOTHER National title.

You want a Tracey Hannah Replica Pink Izimu?  Yeah, we can do that.  Hit "CUS" for color in the cart.

DH New Zealand Cup Wellington - United Ride Trip

Here is a summary of the 5th National NZ cup in Wellington from the inside of the Hutchinson United Ride. The team hit the road for 1 week to get prepared for the 2012 season. It was a good race weekend for us with Fabien's victory and Guillaume's 4th place (U19).   Yet another win for the legendary Morewood Makulu.

Enjoy this little video which shows you how Kiwis drive a scooter!

Results:
Elite
1 - Fabien Cousinie / 2:08.14
2 - Brook Mc Donald / 2:08.49
3 - Markus Pekoll / 2:08.50
4 - Richard Leacock / 2:10.34
5 - Bryn Dickerson / 2:10.54

U19
1 - Louis Hamilton / 2:15.08
2 - Reece Potter / 2:16.36
3 - Kurt Summerfield / 2:17.42
4 - Guillaume Cauvin / 2:17.54
5 - Lawrence Cawte / 2:20.05


DH New Zealand Cup Wellington - United Ride Trip on pinkbike.com