Alex Bond: Short Travel - Video and Photos

Apr 9, 2012 at 12:58
Apr 9, 2012
by Jacob Gibbins
 
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Alex Bond is one of the new crop of young UK racers who has big things ahead for him, especially after being a total privateer last season and taking the UK BDS overall title in elite - CRC/Nukeproof picked him up for this season and rightly so. He broke his collarbone only a month ago out in California while training with the Athertons, but raced the South Africa World Cup on it, in some pain, but is now pretty much back to full speed as you can see in this edit of him shredding his short travel Nukeproof around some amazing tracks in North Wales.

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Title image for the new Alex Bond edit dropping very soon. Full interview and photos in the next www.wideopenmag.co.uk https www.facebook.com JacobGibbinsPhotography

Few photos to go up with the new Alex Bond Short travel edit I did for wideopenmag.co.uk https www.facebook.com JacobGibbinsPhotography
Alex on top of some huge mountains with his truck.

Few photos to go up with the new Alex Bond Short travel edit I did for wideopenmag.co.uk https www.facebook.com JacobGibbinsPhotography
Al getting a bit loose in the loam aboard his Nukeproof.

Few photos to go up with the new Alex Bond Short travel edit I did for wideopenmag.co.uk https www.facebook.com JacobGibbinsPhotography
A month ago he had a broken collar bone, now he's shredding hard.

Few photos to go up with the new Alex Bond Short travel edit I did for wideopenmag.co.uk https www.facebook.com JacobGibbinsPhotography
At home on the farm in North Wales.

Video is to go with the full interview with him in the next issue of http://wideopenmag.co.uk/

Check out Jacob Gibbin's blog to see the behind the scenes of the video, or his Facebook page to keep up on his latest efforts.
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77 Comments

  • + 79
flag JesusJohn (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:16)
 Cool Trails and vid but i'd hardly call a 160mm Bike short travel?
  • - 39
flag Horizon123 (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:33) (Below Threshold) show comment
 180mm is the biggest you can get for a XC bike so I agree 100%
  • + 30
flag Andy-M (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:46)
 what xc bikes do you know that have 180mm?

I guess its short travel relative to his usual DH bike
  • + 29
flag stinky-deluxe-smith (Apr 9, 2012 at 14:03)
 in that case call it alex bond .. slightly less travel
  • - 9
flag RaleighVoid (Apr 9, 2012 at 14:25) (Below Threshold) show comment
 scott genius LT has 180 all round, kona coilair has 200mm out back!! Razz
  • + 4
flag RaleighVoid (Apr 9, 2012 at 14:32)
 but i agree, i was expecting 'trail bikes'
  • + 6
flag taletotell (Apr 9, 2012 at 14:51)
 Does the LT on the Scott genius stand for long travel? Also you seem to define xc as anything not DH. The coilair is at least an AM bike. This should have been Alex Bond All Mountain.
  • - 2
flag RaleighVoid (Apr 9, 2012 at 14:58)
 nothing you say is untrue, but don't forget the artistic licence...
  • + 16
flag scott-townes (Apr 9, 2012 at 14:59)
 I remember when 5+ was considered freeride/downhill... lol!
  • + 9
flag cyfa89 (Apr 9, 2012 at 15:12)
 5+ is still freeride/dh?

Who says more is better?
  • - 22
flag cyfa89 (Apr 9, 2012 at 15:14) (Below Threshold) show comment
 @taletotell, this is pinkbike where the only disciplines followed are dh/dj.

And in true pinkbike form i would follow that with 'so if you dont like it bugger off'.

Which i do bugger off quite often, for some variety instead of the mundane, same old same old stuff pinkbike follows.
  • + 1
flag callumm (Apr 9, 2012 at 16:06)
 The Mega is 150mm
  • + 3
flag betsie Plus (Apr 9, 2012 at 16:20)
 Short travel.... lol.

I do like the idea of 140/150mm travel hard core bikes designed for 150-170mm fork. It just makes sense.

From the Nukeproof website.

MEGA FRAME
Inspired by the explosion in Megavalanche-style Enduro DH events and evolved from a prototype that placed highly in the 2009 run of the actual event, the Mega frame is built to take the unique combinations of challenges thrown up by Enduro-style DH events and general All-Mountain adventure.

Offering 150mm rear travel and designed to match with 150-170mm forks up front the Mega is a versatile frame that combines plush descending prowess with pedalling efficiency.
Suspension-wise, the Mega uses our 'Erosion' linkage giving a smooth progressive action with a well controlled mid-stroke to avoid wallowing under pedal loads.
  • + 1
flag Horizon123 (Apr 9, 2012 at 16:31)
 200mm?! the hell LOL that's a XC?
  • + 9
flag Rattsl (Apr 9, 2012 at 17:29)
 Cyfa..you're a tool.
  • - 3
flag seanharan (Apr 9, 2012 at 17:43)
 "Short travel" bikes should be anything with under 130mm of rear suspension and under 1500mm of travel in the front. These are all mountain bikes.
  • + 1
flag HandleOfScience (Apr 9, 2012 at 17:57)
 For those interested in short travel ripping: www.pinkbike.com/news/Sprung-2-Classic-MTB-Film-Now-Online.html
  • - 1
flag Arnoodles (Apr 9, 2012 at 18:15)
 ^^ I run a bike with 1600mm travel up front for xc. Don't see the problem with that.
  • + 11
flag conv3rt (Apr 9, 2012 at 19:08)
 I assume you meant to say 160mm travel. otherwise...dang son. on travel: it's not how deep you fish, it's how you wiggle the worm.
  • + 2
flag z05m (Apr 9, 2012 at 20:23)
 Heading is mis-leading. His Bike is definitely not short Travel.
  • + 1
flag callumr321 (Apr 9, 2012 at 21:45)
 Who cares? I own a mega myself and its good to see a video showing its capabilities. It's only a title...
  • + 1
flag Gweggy (Apr 9, 2012 at 23:25)
 He is a downhill racer, so 150 or 160mm of travel is short for him.
  • + 9
flag callumm (Apr 10, 2012 at 0:53)
 This topic is pathetic. Its a bike, we all like to ride them.
  • + 5
flag cyfa89 (Apr 10, 2012 at 2:22)
 Welcome to pinkbike....
  • + 1
flag cyfa89 (Apr 10, 2012 at 2:25)
 HandleOfScience - thats mor elike it, back when riding was real. The sprung series is great. People have lost track of what it is about mostly.
  • + 1
flag Arnoodles (Apr 10, 2012 at 10:59)
 It was a sarcastic reply to the comment above that said short travel should be under 1500mm of travel in the front.
  • + 2
flag Horizon123 (Apr 10, 2012 at 11:11)
 It's all these DH's hating on XC. 180mm is massive fork for a XC NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY. If you have anything bigger on a XC frame, it's an enduro.
  • + 5
flag cyfa89 (Apr 10, 2012 at 11:21)
 Can we all just hold hands and love each other?
  • + 1
flag Horizon123 (Apr 10, 2012 at 11:27)
 Andy-M: No XC bike comes with a stock 180mm, but you install a 180mm if you feel he need to. My Scott is only 110mm.
  • + 1
flag taletotell (Apr 10, 2012 at 11:53)
 All comes down to nomenclature. I like call what I do AM because it is more aggressive than what the xc riders I have seen do, but nothing next to the FR guys at the park. It makes me feel lame when it gets called xc. Plus I run 6+ inches so I am cool by pink bike standards right?
  • + 1
flag conv3rt (Apr 11, 2012 at 10:53)
 it was a cool vid showing us cool gear, a cool trail, ridden well by a skilled rider. can we leave it at that?
  • + 1
flag JRoe (Apr 11, 2012 at 15:44)
 The bike Dosnt really matter. He could still thrash most of us lot on a halfords £200 special. It's 80-90% rider and 10-20% bike. My opinion anyway.
  • + 2
flag betsie Plus (Apr 11, 2012 at 23:21)
 JRoe, this thread has nothing to do with how fast he is, it is to do with the relevance of the title. Keep things on topic.
  • + 1
flag JRoe (Apr 12, 2012 at 4:06)
 What I was saying is travel doesn't matter, the nuke proof mega has a lot less travell than the dh bike youd see him on normally. So I don't have a problem with the title. the amount of people you see at trail centres on 160 travel bikes when you can ride the trails on a hard tail. I was just simply making the point.
[Reply]
  • + 7
flag six66 (Apr 9, 2012 at 14:03)
 Beautiful videography, awesome riding.. This is the epitome of mountain biking.. Unadulterated action. I'd like to ask all of you to take a short moment to compare mtb'ing to road biking now.. And next, ask yourself.. How can they have a magazine called road biking action? Isn't that an oxymoron??
[Reply]
  • + 10
flag Eyon (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:14)
 Wales is awesome
  • + 5
flag TAridingMTB (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:41)
 +1
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag SGTMASON (Apr 10, 2012 at 6:39)
 Theres so many variations these days!
I always go with...
100-120mm XC,
120-140mm Trail/Aggressive Trail,
160-180mm All Mountain,
and above that is pure DH...
Simple enough to me... Wink
  • + 4
flag EddyDave (Apr 10, 2012 at 7:12)
 Yeah I'm with you on those ranges!!! That said really, you can ride any trail with any bike. Didn't say it'd be fun tho..
  • + 2
flag kkroto80 (Apr 10, 2012 at 7:27)
 and 150 mm???
  • + 1
flag SGTMASON (Apr 10, 2012 at 7:36)
 Well now your being crazy! LOL! Big Grin
Let's just say 120mm and below is a short travel trail bike...
And a 140mm and above is long travel trail bike...
  • + 1
flag lurchh (Apr 10, 2012 at 9:12)
 What about freeride?
160-180mm Freeride/ All Mountain
200mm Downhill/ Big Mountain FR
  • + 3
flag SGTMASON (Apr 10, 2012 at 12:42)
 Ok lets revise this then...

80-120mm XC Cross County,
120-150mm Trail/Aggressive Trail,
160-180mm Freeride/All Mountain,
200mm Downhill/Big Mountain FR

All bases covered? Big Grin
  • + 1
flag lurchh (Apr 10, 2012 at 13:10)
 Sounds good to me Smile
  • + 0
flag rlucky82 (Apr 10, 2012 at 23:41)
 Free ride is dead!
  • + 1
flag lurchh (Apr 11, 2012 at 0:32)
 Why do people keep saying this shit?
  • + 1
flag rlucky82 (Apr 12, 2012 at 17:02)
 Its a joke
  • + 1
flag lurchh (Apr 13, 2012 at 3:15)
 I was joking too. Watch this and understand:
www.pinkbike.com/video/205985
  • + 2
flag rlucky82 (Apr 18, 2012 at 18:37)
 Oh right, that was a quote, from the video I was referring to. I knew that *smacks self upside the head* ...
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag trickywu04 (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:16)
 Gees Al did you forget the sun cream in Cali and South Africa!! Defo caught the sun did'nt ye!
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag charleyboy14 (Apr 9, 2012 at 12:59)
 NICE!!!!!!!!! Pump up the interview audio a little and shes perfect. love the montage aswell.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag machaut (Apr 9, 2012 at 17:56)
 I went out straight away and threw my leg over my Cannondale moto and went for a excellent rip. This vid has power over my impulse to shred
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag weezyb (Apr 9, 2012 at 15:56)
 That little sod pump track section looked so sick. Time to find me a golf course to rip after hours!
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag shredds (Apr 9, 2012 at 17:15)
 Bond... Alex Bond
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag steveo54 (Apr 9, 2012 at 16:42)
 Even if it is a short travel bike doesn't mean you can't beat the $hit out of it.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag unleash (Apr 10, 2012 at 0:22)
 Good little vid . Who cares what is perceived as long or short travel ,just ride the bloody thing as much as ya can.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag tuskaloosa (Apr 10, 2012 at 11:19)
 great to see a vid od the Mega... wish someone would post a decent review... heard they only warrant the frame for a year though..
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag TheStig04 (Apr 9, 2012 at 17:40)
 so if 160mm is short travel, what would my 80mm be considered?
  • + 8
flag schlockinz (Apr 9, 2012 at 18:54)
 Damn near rigid
  • + 1
flag WAKIdesigns (Apr 10, 2012 at 0:23)
 I ride Xc/trail with Nomad, but with Lyrik set to somwhere under 130mm. But this isn't a XC bike by any means, I do it because I like the extra fun on downhills while I roll kinda nonefficiently on ups.

In the certain terrain it makes sense to ride xc with such a bulldozer but honestly? Most people say 160 bike is xc bike to tell you how gnarly sht they seem to ride Smile
  • + 1
flag WAKIdesigns (Apr 10, 2012 at 0:31)
 At the same time lots of ppl ride xc with 140+ because they don't want to pick up their lazy asses from the saddle when pedalling on rough bits and bike forgives more mistakes on downhills. I ride a hardtail from time to time to conserve skills, big bikes kill skills if ridden in too easy terrain
  • + 1
flag potterslag (Apr 10, 2012 at 4:27)
 It doesnt matter, up there ^ is a video of Bond riding a bike..just watch it
  • + 1
flag WAKIdesigns (Apr 10, 2012 at 10:47)
 O-RLY?
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag jonnyqt (Apr 9, 2012 at 22:22)
 My XC bike has 160mm of travel . I think it's just relative to what you ride more often or prefer riding for XC riders 160mm would be a DH bike . Might look into the mega when it's time to change little bikes
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag bikeboardorblade (Apr 9, 2012 at 14:19)
 I've been eyeing the Mega for quite a while now. Would love to see some reviews that are more in-depth than what' currently available. Great vid.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag brooce (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:01)
 Beautiful and so climatic trails! Riding on the high level too, such a fun... great video!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag flyingfox49 (Apr 11, 2012 at 11:06)
 Cool vids,those trails are only 20 minutes from me,local to Al Bonds neck of the woods.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag bretttippie (Apr 9, 2012 at 14:53)
 Wow! Those trails look great!!! Alex is ripping 'em up too! Enjoyed that.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dh-for-life (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:12)
 al is such a beast! good luck to him in all the world cup rounds!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag captainwrinkle (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:56)
 Get in gotta love the mega. Nice video!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag KernowDH (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:49)
 jacob gibbins is making a huge name for himself Razz good on him
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag erikwyattatmedotcom Plus (Apr 9, 2012 at 19:14)
 Yea dirt scooters!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Cirest (Apr 9, 2012 at 13:19)
 wow great work!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag ferry (Apr 10, 2012 at 0:58)
 nice flow in ridingstyle
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag brettcollins (Apr 9, 2012 at 16:29)
 Love it.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag Chadderz (Apr 9, 2012 at 15:45)
 Loving the retro helmet!
[Reply]

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