The unique bikes of the TransAlp peloton
- By Jason Sumner
- Published Jul. 23, 2012
- Updated Oct. 11, 2012 at 4:51 PM EDT
2012 TransAlp
You always wish for more singletrack in road-heavy races such as TransAlp, but as far as spectacular vistas go, it was a truly singular experience. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Your author's Specialized Camber Pro 29er ably survived and thrived during two grueling 8-day MTB stage races. Its 110mm of rear travel was probably a bit excessive for the copious quantities of gravel road climbing. But when it came to anything resembling real mountain biking, this machine was a man among (hardtail) boys. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Ghost is one of the many Eurocentric bike brands that were a common site in the TransAlp peloton. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Another Euro brand, Liteville also makes freeride, trail, and four-cross models. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
No idea on this bike's origin, but you have got to love the homemade mud flaps. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Another nameless bike with some seriously sexy lines. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
There was no shortage of older bikes here, including this classic Scott. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Portuguese journalist Nuno Luz piloted this On-One 29er scandium hardtail to finishes of both TransPyr and TransAlp. Highlights include grip shifters, American Classic wheels, a mostly XTR drivetrain, a top-tube-mounted stash bag for fuel, and a whole mess of tools inside that black water bottle. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
No, this bike was not stolen from the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Its owner told us it was 12 years old. Notice the v-brakes, bar-end shifters, and lack of any suspension, which says a lot about the fairly non-technical nature of this race — and said owner's sanity. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Lots of Rotwild's bikes were piloted at TransAlp, including this full-suspension model, complete with giant-sized saddle bag and frame pump. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
This woman was the sole singlespeeder spotted at the 2012 TransAlp. The bike is a custom job. We're pretty sure she missed the time cut a few times, but the gumption it took to ride this race sans gears is commendable — if not certifiably nuts. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Stevens is occasionally spotted in the U.S. at cyclocross races, but turns out they are in the MTB business as well. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Somewhat surprisingly there were a good number of Niners here at TransAlp, including this scandium hardtail with lovely purple accents. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Zaboo is a Swiss brand whose owner was inspired to start making 29ers after racing Canada's famed B.C. Bike Race. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Your author rode (and walked) about 350 miles in these Mavic Chasms. They're now a little beat up, but during the race they provided both a solid interface between man and machine, and were reasonably comfortable during hours of hike-a-biking. And of course they look good, too, which is what really matters in a race that ends in Italy. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Better known for its highly-regarded ski gloves, Hestra has recently entered the cycling game. This pair wont win any fashion design contests, but they capably held up to a merciless 8-day beating with nary a rip, tear, or busted seam. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Lots of people opted for bottles only, but your author liked to have a little extra if-shit-hits-fan gear just in case. Serving as sherpa was the CamelBak Charge UltraLight. Key features include a quick link reservoir system where the bladder easily detaches from the drinking hose, super handy waist belt pockets, and lots of other storage pockets and dividers to keep things organized. It also didn't get funky smelling despite being subjected to multiple days of rain and mud and salt and sweat. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
2012 TransAlp
Official finishers of the 2012 TransAlp receive their moment in the spotlight. Photo: Jason Sumner | Singletrack.com
Scroll through gallery for more images of TransAlp
The 15th edition of the TransAlp mountain bike stage race is in the books, and as you’ve surely heard by now (but if not, you can read about it here), Team Topeak-Ergon got it done in style, sweeping both the men’s and women’s categories thanks to the efforts of Alban Lakata, Robert Mennen, Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing.
As for the rest of the racers (survivors), after a grueling 8 days that covered 385 miles with a shade over 69,000 feet of climbing, 419 teams of two plus another 67 individual racers (including my teammate Nuno) proudly donned official finishers’ jerseys on Saturday in Riva del Garda, Italy.
The final day of racing was one for the books, which included driving rain, tons of mud, a finger-freezing, steep 12km gravel road descent, and some hairball, slick-as-snot, rock-strewn singletrack. Alas, the sun came out at the finish, which was just a block from the clear waters of Lake Garda, helping wash away all the painful memories. There was also a beer truck, if the lake didn’t get the job done of cleansing the mind.
On the morning of the final stage, Singletrack.com took a stroll around the startline, capturing images of some of the uniquely European (or just plain unique) bikes that survived this serious test of mettle.
PS: Your author finished all but the second stage of TransAlp sans major drama, completing his self-titled TransJuly, which also included the 8-day TransPyr MTB stage race in Spain. Total ride/walk time for the two events was upwards of 105 hours. Total climbing was about 130,000 feet.
Check out your author’s final rides on Strava:
stage 5
stage 6
stage 7
stage 8Also check out his other pieces from TransAlp:
TransAlp: Hardtail 29ers Lead The Pack
TransAlp: Mud and never-ending mechanicals in the first stages
For updates on endurance mountain biking, follow Singletrack_com on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Catch the week’s best stories by signing up for The Dirt newsletter
FILED UNDER: 29er / Bikes and Tech / Endurance / Gallery / MTB / News TAGS: Jason Sumner / TransAlpe
