Syndicate's Nathan Rennie prepares for World Record Distance Jump

There seems to be no end of the season for Nathan Rennie, one of the most talented mountain bike racers on the planet. After returning home from the overseas racing season on October 5th, Rennie is still hard at work downunder. In perhaps his most challenging, and for sure most death defying stunt, Rennie is preparing to set a world record distance jump on a bicycle at the Red Bull Mountain Gap event. This attempt will take place in the Painted Desert, 30km out of Coober Pedy, in northern South Australia, and is currently scheduled for Nov. 3rd.

The current power assisted distance record is 116 ft. set by Colin Winkelman on Dec. 21, 2000 who achieved this on a BMX bike. Rennie will also be power assisted with a tow in from a motorcycle. He will be piloting his Santa Cruz V-10 in this attempt, and piloting the bike will be an accurate description for the flying he will be doing.

Last Friday Rennie went to examine the ramps that are being fabricated for the event (see photos). From the illustrations shown, it appears there will be a take-off and a landing ramp, with the landing ramp leading onto a further dirt down slope. The ramps appear to be long, with a gradual incline, topping out at about 8-9 feet tall, and looking to be about a 24-26 degree angle. Rennie will do many practice runs, and will experiment with distances for the take-off ramp, and with speeds. With the right weather conditions, Rennie will bring it on! (Current estimates with the ramp at 24 degrees, calculating the speed at 50 mph. will send a projectile 126 ft. with a max height at 21.1ft. off an 8 ft. ramp. This is without friction or wind resistance included).


Red Bull will be flying Rennie to Coober Pedy on Oct. 31st for the preparations. This event will be televised and covered extensively by the media. We will try to get more information and results as we hear them.


OTHER RENNIE NEWS:

From Bruce Rennie:

Nathan competed last night (Oct. 22nd), at the christening of the new Four Cross/ BMX track built at the Sydney Olympic Village site.

The event was invitational to both Mountain Bike and BMX riders although all had to be on mountain bikes.

Nathan showed his usual form in blitzing his starts to win all his qualifying rounds.

In the final he was the only mountain biker against three BMX pros. Unfortunately they squeezed him from two sides at the end of the first straight as he was executing a classic berm shot and he finished 3rd overall.

Nathan sculling the champagne for the crowd.

Nathan with track marshal Paul King (Rapid Descent Body Armour) who was his first sponsor when he was 16.

Nathan heading off the pack in the Quarter Finals.

Nathan with Mike Tomilaris from SBS Australia Television who are putting the event on free to air later this month.

THANKS TO RENNIE’S SPONSORS:

Santa Cruz Bicycles
SRAM components
Rock Shox Front Suspension
Progressive 5th Element rear shocks
DT Swiss Wheels
Easton Components
Avid
WTB
Truvativ
Crank Bros.
Troy Lee Designs
Full Speed Ahead
Five-Ten
ODI grips
ITS Tires
Cytosport
Utopia
Red Bull