Video: Max McCulloch Styles It Up On His XC Bike

Jun 24, 2020
by Max McCulloch  

Growing up, the main trail network I rode was one of those places that really punished you on the climbs. If you didn't have a certain level of fitness and technical climbing ability, it was pretty hard to enjoy many of the trails. After years of frustration, I learned to love it. Cleaning a new uphill section for the first time is incredibly rewarding, as well as pushing yourself technically and physically. In my opinion, if 50% of the riding you're doing is going to be uphill, you might as well try to enjoy it! That being said, I still love the downs and it's definitely a lot easier to make them look exciting on video.

In the spirit of social distancing, NOBL and I have collaborated on a self-shot series of videos. Stay tuned for the second one released next month!

Felt Edict FRD with NOBL TR33 Wheels

The XC racing rig outfitted for the odd huck to flat (apologies for the crank placement). Riding a light bike with fast rolling tires is hard to beat.

Riding and Video: Max McCulloch
Made possible by: NOBL Wheels

Posted In:
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140 Comments
  • 86 1
 Ripper of a rider and a sick filmmaker too! Crushed it Max!
  • 14 0
 Ah you're too kind Scott!
  • 5 0
 @maxmcculloch: But he's right on. Way to apply that elfin magic.
  • 6 0
 Yup, I really enjoyed that. Top work [again] Max!
  • 18 0
 Absolutely agree! How many people can say they released a video on the same day as Semenuk and still easily put out the best video of the day? Smile That is honestly one of the best things I've watched for a very long time, both from the filming and riding perspective. Top job Max
  • 2 0
 @BeardlessMarinRider: agreed!
  • 1 0
 @ollyforster: thanks Olly, I appreciate the kind words!
  • 1 0
 @BeardlessMarinRider: Definitely can't compete with his video, but thanks! Definitely one of the biggest compliments I could get!!
  • 2 0
 @maxmcculloch: If you ask me which one gripped me from start to finish, made me want to ride and had me smiling like a loon (I'm a grumpy basta.. normally Wink ), then it's an easy win for you. It seems most people agree so we can't all be wrong Smile
  • 1 0
 @maxmcculloch: If you ask me which one gripped me from start to finish, made me want to ride and had me smiling like a loon (I'm a grumpy basta.. normally Wink ), then it's an easy win for you. It seems most people agree so we can't all be wrong Smile
  • 39 2
 That's how you start a bike video and keep your audience! After seeing how he rides I have to wonder why anyone thinks they need a 160 travel bike
  • 33 5
 Many trails are full of breaking bumps, holes, big compressions etc. If you go full gas on such trails, a xc bike just dies a lot sooner than a 160mm bike even though one can easily ride it with a XC bike. Also, skills.
  • 7 33
flag Geochemistry (Jun 24, 2020 at 17:09) (Below Threshold)
 @bashhard: Learn to ride, not to bash. Good equipment, with regular maintenance and a competent rider, can do whatever is desired to achieve.
  • 14 0
 Because we suck?
  • 7 0
 Since I have kind of a spartan lifestyle, it just wouldn't look good if I wasn't rocking a 160 bike on flat xc trails. Fierce battle cry is mandatory during or after clearing even the smallest of climbs.
  • 4 1
 most of the downs shown were pretty tame, as soon as you ride blown out rooty trails fast you realise the difference in speed and danger pretty fast too.
  • 8 1
 @Geochemistry: agreed, a 120mm bike can totally win world cup dh races...
  • 2 0
 @konamat: This.

If you can hit a perfect line every time, you can ride 90% of trails on an XC short-travel bike.

But when you mess up, it's nice to have a little suspension-cushion between you, and a wreck.

Some of us mess up, a lot.
  • 1 7
flag SlodownU (Jun 25, 2020 at 11:52) (Below Threshold)
 Wow, these comments aren't too predictable, typical PB, bravo. Why need a new bike at all? We should all be riding a GT LTS from 1996, because sick edit so it must be true. And a small detail, sure this guy is talented, but there are not technical features at all on that trail, it looks like it was built yesterday its so smooth.
  • 4 0
 @SlodownU: Go ride Hartland and say the trails are not technical. I have ridden all over North America and Hartland network is most technically difficult I have ridden. It is like the hardest trails in Sedona, except it is just about always wet.

And like Sedona it is best ridden on a short travel bikes. Long travel bikes need extended descents and speed to really shine and Hartland has neither of those.
  • 1 2
 @WhatAboutBob: I'm sure Hartland is hard, but in this edit all I saw was flow, and no tech. And you are 100% wrong about long travel bikes, sorry. A properly designed long-travel bike can be ridden anywhere, stop drinking the Cool Aid.
  • 2 0
 @SlodownU: Saying a long-travel bike can be ridden anywhere is like saying a short travel bike can be ridden any where. Both statements are true, but both bikes have sections of trail where they are superior.

I have a 160mm bike, 140mm bike, 100mm bike, and a full on XC race hardtail. Each bike has a place where it is the most fun to ride. Long travel bikes just don't work well on trails that don't have a lot of gravity.
  • 30 0
 Tech climbing will always be cool and always be underrated by the masses. Great edit.
  • 3 0
 Cheers! Hard to beat the feeling of clearing a tech climb for the first time!
  • 18 0
 Ok... 1:10 - he rode up the ender on snakes?? Like, wtf?
  • 7 0
 Missed it the first time, saw your comment and thought this guy has to be wrong. Re-watched it and nope you're right! That's insane skills! wow
  • 6 0
 Man, I remember way back when on the very best riders would go down that.
  • 2 0
 Yep, that's what I was thinkin...
  • 2 0
 Steep roller at the end of crossover before you hit ntrail I think but I could be wrong. Both are very impressive.
  • 2 0
 Yup. Definitely rode up C-section. With style. Unreal.
  • 9 0
 An excellent video is one that takes the viewer, temporarily, out of the mundane and negative surroundings in their own life. he next best thing to a real ride! This is an excellent video. No sounds but the natural riding sounds. Wonderful. And now, back to the grind....
  • 2 0
 Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers!
  • 8 0
 This guy rides with his but cheeks clenched too tight. Sick video Max!
  • 2 0
 Hahah classic, thanks Merin
  • 8 0
 Quite honestly. The best thing I've seen in ages. Excellent work!
  • 2 0
 Honoured to hear that. Thanks a ton!
  • 5 0
 The dump crushed me for awhile after mostly riding shuttle trails and park. So much fun climbing there once you have the skills and fitness. The downhills are just a plus! A good bubblewrap loop is always good.
  • 1 0
 Agreed! Riding there is definitely an acquired taste. Super fun but punishing at first!
  • 2 0
 @maxmcculloch: It still hurts for some of us old guys, but it's a good hurt.
  • 6 0
 Nice job Max. Just as I was wondering about the hub noise, you ended the video perfectly. Kudos.
  • 6 0
 Cheers! Glad it was helpful. It's a pretty killer hub!
  • 6 1
 Max didn't get the memo,a 38lbs ,180mm travel bike is required for this kind of riding.
Seriously,great vídeo and fantastic riding!
  • 1 0
 Haha thanks! Stoked you enjoyed it.
  • 7 0
 nice one! been ripping these trails lately myself
  • 5 0
 Thanks Darren! Stoked to have you in town building the new park!!
  • 7 0
 Serious lack of lycra
  • 13 0
 I'll bring out the skinsuit for the next one!
  • 6 0
 Stylin' riding and nicely shot bud!
  • 3 0
 Thanks Woj! Pumped you liked it!
  • 4 0
 (Also, I looked hard for that line up the rock face in your intro but couldn't find it. Was looking forward to crashing on it twelve times on it then blaming my bike)
  • 4 0
 pretty easy to find its near the end of rob rd.
  • 6 0
 I'll say it : downcountry
  • 2 0
 Or maybe "upcountry?"
  • 7 0
 @maxmcculloch: Upcountry / Downcountry - A new BBC series focusing on a butler working for a wealthy aristocrat family who likes to ride bicycles in the woods in his spare time.....
  • 1 0
 @gnarterrorist: Haha sounds like a good series idea to me!
  • 4 0
 Max u are a bad ass. All the videos these days are so repetitive and blah. U sir killed it. Id watch this repeatedly. Great job. Post the next one already.
  • 1 0
 Means a ton to hear that, thanks! Next one will come out in exactly a month!
  • 4 0
 Such a talented athlete and film maker. No disrespect to Felt but why he hasn’t been signed up by a bigger player baffles me.
  • 4 0
 Love the color grading, Hartland has never looked better! Your self-shot videos have come a long way, this is dope!
  • 2 0
 Cheers! It's a work in progress! So many great filmmakers raised on the island that I get to look up to.
  • 5 0
 More gruesome climbing videos, please. . . .
  • 2 0
 Didn't plan on making any more, but it seems like people are liking it. Might have to do another one then!
  • 4 0
 Max always makes Victoria riding look 200% better than I remember it. Skills to 11.
  • 1 0
 Stoked to hear that! Definitely a lot of time spent scoping out camera angles!
  • 3 0
 Here is where Spec should had thrown their dollars for the last promo... wasn´t sure till the end...
  • 3 0
 This makes me wanna get out and session tech climbs! Awesome edit, my only complaint is it's too short.
  • 1 0
 Would recommend! And thanks, hoping to make the next one a tad longer!
  • 2 0
 Great riding! Videos like these always make me think about wheter I actually do need a trail bike or if a modern XC bike like this would do the job just fine
  • 1 0
 Cheers! They're definitely super capable. Best situation is to have both bikes though haha. N+1
  • 3 0
 Artistry and shredding intertwined in a magnificent dance
  • 1 0
 Not quite as magnificent as you dancing though
  • 2 0
 That was great all around - sick riding - great editing - and to top it off all self shot! Thank you!
  • 1 0
 Stoked you enjoyed it and thanks for the kind words!
  • 3 0
 @maxmcculloch I appreciate the crank arm placement apology.
  • 1 0
 What about the placement of the tire logos versus rim logos front versus rear?
  • 1 0
 @iamamodel: Haha, yes. Good catch.
  • 2 0
 @gdharries: I can blame that one on a late night tire change haha, only realized after I took the photo. Definitely going to have to line it up now!
  • 2 0
 I'd love to have a trail with a minute of climbing for 30 secs of going down around here Big Grin
Nice edit, good skills!
  • 1 0
 Me too! Unfortunately it isn't quite the case around here haha. More like climb for an hour and then you somehow end up back at the parking lot where you started. Fun in its own way. And thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
  • 3 0
 One rarely sees impressive climbing in non-race vids, yet here it is.
  • 1 0
 Cheers! Was a blast to find those lines!
  • 3 0
 Nice! Such a clean riding and filming style.
  • 1 0
 Cheers!
  • 3 0
 Would rather watch this than more cookie-cutter big bike shred vids
  • 3 2
 Cool video, Hate the sound of i9 hubs, it feels embarrassing to ride them. Project 321 are a much quieter, option that has adjustable preload.
  • 1 0
 Fair enough! Onyx is a pretty good option for silent hubs too!
  • 2 1
 The sound of that hub ruined the video for me, otherwise some sick riding from a talented young athlete. To each their own I guess
  • 2 0
 Cheers! I've had Onyx silent hubs on my NOBL set up before and only being able to hear tires on dirt is a cool sensation.
  • 3 0
 Can he rip it? Yes he can!
  • 2 0
 haha cheers!
  • 3 0
 this was soooo refreshing, great edit!
  • 1 0
 Stoked you enjoyed it!
  • 2 0
 gran trabajo, lo vi varias veces Wink
  • 1 0
 Thank you!
  • 1 0
 Max making these "up lines" seem feasible. Incredible talent. Super cool edit.
  • 1 0
 Appreciate the kind words! Definitely been looking at a few of those lines for a while. Was happy to finally check them off the list!
  • 3 0
 okay, that was sick.
  • 2 0
 Cheers!
  • 2 0
 Very nice Max. great job and good riding skills...
  • 3 0
 Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
  • 3 0
 Is that Nino Jr?
  • 1 0
 Haha I wish!
  • 2 0
 Worth a few watches. Smooth as. Grest riding
  • 1 0
 Thanks!
  • 2 0
 Bravo Max, this is my favorite kind of video. So much steeze.
  • 1 0
 Glad you enjoyed it!
  • 3 0
 So good Maxy!
  • 1 0
 Thanks Evan!!
  • 1 0
 Looks like the front tyre is mounted in the wrong direction because unlike the rear, the tyre name is on the other side
  • 3 0
 Yup, you can blame that one on a late night, last minute tire change. Forgot to switch it out before I took the shot!
  • 2 0
 What trail network is this? Looks amazing!
  • 4 0
 Hartland - Victoria BC, on Vancouver Island. Bring your climbing game...
  • 2 0
 Wicked! Shredding...great edit. Sweet wheels too Wink
  • 1 0
 Definitely nice to have wheels you can trust (and are light). Thanks Ryan!
  • 2 0
 Can the next one have a POV up Switchbacks?
  • 1 0
 Haha that would be some good suffering for sure
  • 2 0
 Nice self shot edit!
  • 1 0
 Thanks Sull!!
  • 2 0
 Beautiful
  • 1 0
 Cheers!
  • 1 0
 Loving this video. Great riding.
  • 1 0
 Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it
  • 2 0
 Love watching you ride.
  • 1 0
 Thanks!! Hopefully coming out with a few more of these!
  • 2 0
 Mountain biking is tite
  • 2 0
 Agreed
  • 2 0
 this was so great!
  • 1 0
 Pumped you enjoyed it!
  • 1 0
 Nice work Max, really solid video!
  • 1 0
 Thanks, it was a fun one to make!
  • 3 2
 sick dicks
  • 19 0
 Thanks, but I actually only have one
  • 6 0
 @maxmcculloch: Riding like that, you should have at least two.
  • 1 0
 Yesss Max!
  • 1 0
 Thanks Riley!
  • 1 0
 Felt like I rode it!
  • 1 1
 God I love my Hydra hubs...but the Torch sound was incomparable
  • 1 0
 Scares off the cougars that's for sure!
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