Marking their 25th year as one of the longest-running and most popular gravity MTB destinations in Europe, we dropped in for the second time this season at The Epic Bikepark Leogang last week. Its always a great spot to test out some of the latest mountain bike gear on killer alpine trails and the world-renowned DH track. More on those later. But we also had a few other ulterior motives. Like a quick chance to hone some skills with the Elements Bike School instructors, and to chat with the shapers who build and maintain the trails for an upcoming Trail Tools story we have in the works. Plus, while enjoying sunny summer weather late in the season, it was a good reminder that Bike Festival is coming to Leogang this coming weekendThe Epic Bikepark Leogang: 25 Epic Years On(Photos/Cory Benson)Its kind of hard to fathom that the Leogang bikepark has been running for a quarter century. In fact, it was at another iconic European mountain bike destination where I came to this realization (and a reminder of aging and the passing of time!) Back in early March, I was testing out new tires, wheels, suspension, and (importantly) protection in Finale Ligure when I happened to end up in the same backcountry uplift as Martin Samek. The Trailwerk Wachau founders diploma thesis had been the impetus for the creation of the Leogang bikepark back in 2000 a collaboration between the ski lift operator, the local town, tourism board, a local earthworks contractor, and several other supporters. In 2001, Epic Bikepark Leogang became the first bikepark in Austria with just 4 trails mostly catering to an elite group of expert mountain bikers. In the two and a half decades since, the big jump lines and pro-level downhill tracks are still a big focus. The park has since hosted 2x UCI MTB World Championships and 14x UCI MTB World Cup races, including DH, XC, Enduro, and even the occasional short track, 4x, dual slalom, and eliminator. But now, were likely to see a much wider skill range of mountain bikers in the iconic blue gondolas now including a healthy dose of ebikers, entry-level trail riders & kids, in addition to shredders heading for the Hot Shots jump line. Me personally, I prefer the more natural lines call them enduro singletracks and the classic down & dirty bikepark tracks like the recently updated Hangman I.Bikerumor testing tracks and World Cup prototype proving groundpreviewing new Maxxis Minion DHX with New DH casing on Hangman I (Photo by Joao Reis/Maxxis)In any case, Leogang lives on as an excellent spot to test new gear like the latest Maxxis DHX with its New DH casing. Or Schwalbes Radial casing tires before that. Then, Leatts ReaFlex Chest/Back Protector & X-Flow goggles before that. Or even the previous generation of Scotts Spark XC & downcountry bikes, years earlier.Or to just enjoy time with your family, mountain biking like I did back in my 2024 Editors Choice2015 Intense M16 Carbon prototype2015 Cube 215 prototypeRachel Athertons 2016 Trek Session RSLAaron Gwins 2016 YT TuesTahnee Seagraves Transition TR11 prototypeOr chasing pro & prototype DH bikes for more than a decade. Check out a few from my first couple of years on the ground, for good measure.Needless to say, Ill be returning to Leogang regularly in the future, as well.One-On-One Training with Elements Bike SchoolOne of the big draws for us to head to Leogang on this particular weekend was a planned Ladies Gravity Camp training day being planned by Elements Bike School, the bike trainers located just under the main lift station in the bikepark. The idea seemed solid. Getting a group of advanced women riders together to hone their skills, hitting various natural and built-up obstacles in the bikepark to take it to the next level.The hiccup, according to Elements, is that ever since COVID, most people coming to them to train want individual lessons, not group sessions. I asked my wife and she pretty much agreed. Shed much rather spend some one-on-one time with an instructor than worry about getting grouped with riders below her level that might keep her from progressing.But the good news is (woman-owned) Elements still offers multiple training options for men and women. And group training is still on offer for those who want it. But theyre super flexible with individual and small group training sessions, too.So, we went personal and met with Laura. She focused on a few key techniques that my wife Veronika wanted to improve on Form & on-bike positioning on passive to active drops, then working on balancing higher-speed berming techniques so left turns were as smooth as right turns. Elements has multiple levels of both men and women coaching riders of all levels. And we came away from a relaxed 2-hour session feeling like progress was made, and there was still plenty to work on.Elements-outdoorsports.atBike Festival in Leogang this weekend October 2-4, 2026!Now, if you want to get some bigger group riding or new bike testing on, this weekend might be your ticket.Bike Festival Leogang kicks off this weekend at the bikepark, starting today through Sunday.Theres a whole lot on the events calendar, including a lot of opportunities for you all to check out or test new bikes and gear in the bikepark, join in on several scheduled rides with local pros, and even get in some of your own skills training sessions with Bike Academy, too. There are lots of events for the whole family, as well. Plus, All festival visitors will receive a 10% discount on lift tickets throughout the entire festival weekend, so you can ride the park for even less this weekend.Check out the full details via the Saalfelden-Leogang region tourism board site: Saalfelden-Leogang.comOh, and one last thing25th Anniversary Photo Contest means free trail camsRunning through the end of the season until the start of November, Leogang is running a 25th anniversary photo contest via social media. Enter to win some sick kit here including a new Scott Gambler DH bike for one man and one woman. Plus, the side benefit is that all three of their automatic trail cameras that snap your photo as you ride past are available for free to download. You just search the time you pass each trail location the Flying Gangster wall ride, the Flow Link hip jump, and the lower Hangman II berm.Go ride, then download your snaps to check out your form!Bikepark.Saalfelden-Leogang.com

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Cyclists spend more unfiltered time outdoors than almost anyone else with a hobby. A road ride or a gravel loop puts you directly on the verges, trailheads and river crossings where litter collects which is probably why World Cleanup Day, on 20 September this year, tends to land differently for riders than it does for most people scrolling past it on social media. Its not an abstract cause. Its the ditch you rode past on Tuesday.The event itself is bigger than a single day of picking up trash. What started in Estonia in 2008 as a country cleanup initiative has grown into a UN-recognised international day. Last years edition brought out an estimated 25 million volunteers across roughly 190 countries and territories. For cyclists, the more useful takeaway isnt the one day of action its the prompt to ask whats already happening the other 364 days, starting with what the stuff strapped to your head or hanging off your handlebars is actually made of.Thats a fair question to ask, and eyewear is a great place to start. Swiss-founded performance eyewear brand, VALLON, has built two sunglasses models, Watchtowers, and Ventures around that question: How can we make performance eyewear that has classic style, maximum performance, and is more sustainable than other models on the market? Both styles are built using frame materials that readily hold up against standard synthetic materials, while also carrying eco-credentials: These are sunglasses for riders who want to spend more time outside, while carrying and using gear ready to live up to whatever is thrown at them, and that do their part for the planet.Whats in the frame?Start with VALLONs Watchtowers: Their frame is made 85% recycled fishing nets fused into durable nylon-6. The lens tech is a wraparound shield made by ZEISS, with a RiPel coating so that sweat and rain bead off rather than smearing the lens. They are Cat. 3, block 100% UV400, and offer shatterproof eye protection worth knowing on a gravel line where kicked-up stones are a regular part of the adventure.The Ventures have Bio TR90 frames made of 45% recycled materials making them exceptionally lightweight and versatile for lighter cycling days hopping on and off the bike. VALLONs V52 polarized lenses with an ABBE value of 52 provide exceptional visual acuity and less distortion at the edge of the lens useful when youre scanning a descent rather than staring straight ahead also Cat. 3 and UV400 protected. At 26 grams, theyre light enough to disappear on a long ride. Between the two, its an easy case for choosing the lower-impact frame without giving up anything on performance.Tried and testedBIKEs team put the Watchtowers through testing and came away impressed. The read was that these sunglasses earn their keep on a genuinely tough ride: protective enough to trust on a fast, loose descent, comfortable enough to forget about after a few hours, and, more than one tester noted, good-looking enough to stay in rotation on the easy days too. The recycled-net build took on testing without any give on durability, which was the detail that stuck with the team most worth noting, the fixed lens cant be swapped for different light conditions, so riders who go out in everything from bright sun to flat overcast may want to weigh that trade-off. Read the full Watchtowers review for the whole gear download.Beyond the frameSeparately from the frame material, VALLON funds the recovery of 1kg of ocean-bound plastic waste, through accredited partner CleanHub, for every pair of eyewear sold. VALLON puts the cumulative total recovered by its customers at the equivalent of more than 10.9 million plastic bottles.A better way to gear up this yearBeing a more eco-conscious cyclist doesnt have to mean a trade-off between performance and principle. Gear built from reclaimed fishing nets or bio-based stock, backed by ZEISS or V52 optics that hold up on a genuinely hard ride, checks the performance box and the materials box at the same time. Add a cleanup programme funded by every sale, and whats left is a purchase that performs on the ride, looks good doing it, and is easy to feel good about afterwards too which, heading into World Cleanup Day, is about as much as anyone could ask of a pair of sunglasses.

From British Lanes to the World StageTo read online click here https://read.bike-mag.com/october-2026To subscribe for hard copy click hereOctober has always felt like cyclings most reflective month.The frenzy of summer racing begins to fade, the evenings shorten, and many riders start to think about winter miles, next years goals and the adventures still waiting before the season closes. Yet if this issue proves anything, it is that cycling never really slows down. It simply changes gear.In these pages we celebrate a sport that continues to evolve while remaining rooted in the simple joy of riding a bicycle. We travel from the autumn spectacle of Il Lombardia and the growing influence of gravel racing to some of Britains most rewarding late-season sportives. Cycling has become more diverse than ever, and October is perhaps the perfect snapshot of that transformation.Adventure remains at the heart of this issue. We explore the cycling culture of Florida, where year-round sunshine and endless trails create an irresistible riding destination. We head into Peru to discover how travel can test resilience in the most unexpected ways, and we ride along the stunning Croatian coastline where every turn reveals another unforgettable view. From the cycling-first streets of Utrecht to the mountain bike playgrounds of Girona and the Dolomites, the bicycle continues to open doors to places and experiences few other forms of travel can match.For riders passionate about equipment, we bring you the latest innovations shaping the future of cycling. From the new Fantic Rhapsody e-MTB to the rise of electric bikes and sustainable products from brands such as VALLON, technology is rapidly changing how we ride, explore and connect with the outdoors.Perhaps the strongest message running through this issue is community. Whether it is riders tackling the Lionheart Sportive, friends sharing miles in the Peak District, amateur racers chasing gravel glory in Australia, or travellers helping one another through difficult conditions in Peru, cycling continues to bring people together in ways few sports can.As the season enters its final chapter, I encourage you to make the most of every ride. Seek out a new road. Join a local event. Plan next years adventure. Or simply enjoy the changing colours of the countryside from the saddle.Wherever your bike takes you this autumn, thank you for bringing BIKE Magazine along for the journey.Happy riding.Nick BranxtonEditorBIKE Magazine

Written by Richard Howard.Combining all-day comfort, impressive battery life and secure open-ear design, the new Shokz OpenFit Air 2 headphones offer riders a practical way to enjoy music on the move without compromising awareness of their surroundings.Ive been sent some really cool, recently released headphones from Shokz to see how suitable theyd be to wear whilst riding.Theyre made by Chinese company Shokz who already have a range of headphones on the market and some very impressive feedback from Amazon customers who have their previous releases. Based on that I had high hopes for this new release which is the OpenFit Air 2 released to the open market in the UK on 16th September 2026.The first thing that stood out was the very slick holder for the headphones. The oval shaped box is white along with the sleek headphones which have a flexible soft rubber piece that comfortably fits around any shaped ear and Im happy to say doesnt become uncomfortable if worn for long periods.Theyre 17% lighter than their previous model and have made some improvements for this release to ensure theyre a more of a tight fit and so less likely to fall off during a ride. They also come in white, black and my favourite is an ice blue colour.With the standard touch functions youd expect such as pause, next track and even volume up and volume down. The latter is not something all Bluetooth headphones have.The battery life is healthy at up to 36 hours with 8hrs usage on a single charge and during my long-term use of them Id say it pretty much reached that limit.It also only takes 10-15 minutes of charging to receive up to 3hrs of listening time which is ideal if youve stopped for a rest or lunch and are able to re-charge at the restaurant.In regards to the sound quality it was rather impressive, it was on par with my usual Anker headphones for sure and so whilst not as crisp Apple phones was nonetheless impressive.They come with isolated audiophile sound which ensures the best audio quality.The above is just my point of view of course. You can now purchase from their website or Amazon for 129 with the usual free returns, money back guarantee window and so if youre tempted then you have nothing to lose giving them a little trial.

One of Marianne Vos' biggest former rivals will be on her side from 2027. Giorgia Bronzini, the two-time road world champion who twice beat Vos to the rainbow jersey, is joining Team Visma | Lease a Bike as a sports director from the start of next season. Bronzini arrives with extensive experience f...