We are pioneering tandem mountain bikers, pushing the boundaries of what two people can do on one bike. We'll take on pretty much anything, from DH and Enduro racing to all day back country epics. Its double or nothing, if you can ride it then so can we!
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https://www.facebook.com/tandemdhnz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hui8406h-K4
Our first race on the new tandem was a success. This is one of the rock gardens at the Linger and Die DH race in Clyde, Central Otago. 09/2017.
After a challenging 9 months, Jackson and Rose are proud to announce the arrival of Derek. He is a bonnie wee bike weighing in at 26.5kg and 1945mm wheelbase. Brother to tandems Bruce (XC) and Trev (trail), it’s all downhill from here. Father and bicycle are doing well. 08/2017.
The season of racing ended with National Championships in Cardrona. With the practice day on Saturday and racing on Sunday, it was great to get through the weekend without any mechanicals.
02/2017
02/2017
We pulled a few comments when this photo got onto Pinkbike.
National Champions in the Tandem Class
Another great race weekend in Dunedin with a course that was 100% fast and tandem friendly. We had to work hard to make it that way though. Rose's expression shows how scared we were before hitting that drop on the tandem (its steeper than it looks). Our race was saved by Chris Barclay who lent us a wheel after our front one gave up the ghost.
02/2017
02/2017
The crash from the buckled wheel was not spectacular. When turning a corner, the front wheel skipped down some roots and when it caught again, there was enough force to bend it.
We had a fantastic time riding the Gravity Canterbury NZOpen on the GC track at the Christchurch Adventure Park. The course was super grippy despite all the dust. We managed to come in ahead of 21 finishers from a field of 125 little bikes. Rose's ankle managed the rock gardens thanks to some new Formthotics.
02/2017
02/2017
Maiden voyage for the tandem at The Christchurch Adventure Park. We did however manage to blow up the rear shock, break the cassette, and Rose's dropper post all on the first day. Bring on the DH tandem!
01/2017
01/2017
To enable the tandem to go on the lift, Jackson made a foot that extends down from the rear seat tube. This sits on the rack where a rear tyre would normally be.
"A couple of legends here at the 2016 Emerson's 3 Peaks Enduro with Rose and Jackson Green tackling the seven tough stages on a tandem hand built by Jackson. There's a lot of trust in this duo!" Words by Bike Otago, photo by Derek Morrison
12/2016
12/2016
Overnight rain made trail conditions very slick for "Dave's Race" Down Hill held on the weekend. About 100 meters into our first practice run we had an incident and Jackson bent his crank and pedal spindle. A quick dash home for some mechanical work and we were back up for more practice runs. By the time our race run came around, the mud on the track had firmed up to the consistency of peanut butter, and had become more predictible to ride. Feeling good about riding our bike and doing skids in memory of Dave. We will be back again next year.
12/2016
12/2016
Alps Adventure
August- September 2016
As we drove our Citroen Berlingo hirecar through the French countryside towards the Alps, excitement flooded over us. Our two small children were happy with the grandparents back in NZ, and we had five weeks to ride our mountain bikes.
Portes du Soleil
It was late August and many of the uplifts were starting to close after summer, so our first stop was Portes du Soleil to make the most of the lifts. The crowds of Morzine were quite an experience, but we found the best riding to be away from the centre near Champery and Chatel.
Portes du Soleil
It was late August and many of the uplifts were starting to close after summer, so our first stop was Portes du Soleil to make the most of the lifts. The crowds of Morzine were quite an experience, but we found the best riding to be away from the centre near Champery and Chatel.
Refreshments at the end of the Champery Down Hill track.
Selfie with the locals
La Thuile
Three days of crowded Morzine was all we could take, so under Mt Blanc we drove to Italy and the Aosta Valley. A stage of the Enduro World series had been held in La Thuile the previous month so our trail itinerary was nicely prepared for us. La Thuile was almost deserted, but the riding was sublime. Although it was the last day of chairlifts for the season, the trails were natural, technical, and much more fun than the typical bike-park brake-bumped berms.
Three days of crowded Morzine was all we could take, so under Mt Blanc we drove to Italy and the Aosta Valley. A stage of the Enduro World series had been held in La Thuile the previous month so our trail itinerary was nicely prepared for us. La Thuile was almost deserted, but the riding was sublime. Although it was the last day of chairlifts for the season, the trails were natural, technical, and much more fun than the typical bike-park brake-bumped berms.
Super kappa, La Thuile.
Yes, that is our baguette Jackson is carrying.
Looking down from part way up Mont Blanc. All the better with Formthotics in my shoes.
Val d'Isère
After meeting a couple of Kiwis in La Thuile, we joined them at their French home in Val d'Isère. It was great to get some local knowledge of the riding, especially the route up Aiguille de la Grande Sassière, the highest bikable peak in Western Europe. At 3,751 meters above sea level, and with technical riding to match the altitude, Grand Sassière was a highlight of the trip.
Val d'Isère
After meeting a couple of Kiwis in La Thuile, we joined them at their French home in Val d'Isère. It was great to get some local knowledge of the riding, especially the route up Aiguille de la Grande Sassière, the highest bikable peak in Western Europe. At 3,751 meters above sea level, and with technical riding to match the altitude, Grand Sassière was a highlight of the trip.
Keeping the team dynamics favourable. With the thinning air at altitude, Jackson did stints of carrying both bikes up Sassière.
The view from the top was spectacular and extended over the Western Alps.
The ride down involved a 1,500m decent which was about 80-90% ridable. There were about 3 short sections of shelved rock with high consequences that we carried down.
The ride down involved a 1,500m decent which was about 80-90% ridable. There were about 3 short sections of shelved rock with high consequences that we carried down.
Moustache track in Tignes, Val d'Isère
The French holiday season finished with the last weekend of August, so there were now no more chairlifts and few walkers and cyclists out and about. But with no rain in the last 4 weeks and temperatures of 25-30 degrees, it seemed like a perfect time to be holidaying in the Alps.
Queyras
Back in the Berlingo, we zig-zagged down the Alps via Beaufortain to the Queyras. The rugged dry terrain of the Parc naturel régional du Queyras felt a lot like Alexandra in Central Otago. The carry-up ride-down possibilities in the Queyras are huge, and it is one area we would definitely like to visit for a more extended stay.
Queyras
Back in the Berlingo, we zig-zagged down the Alps via Beaufortain to the Queyras. The rugged dry terrain of the Parc naturel régional du Queyras felt a lot like Alexandra in Central Otago. The carry-up ride-down possibilities in the Queyras are huge, and it is one area we would definitely like to visit for a more extended stay.
We rode/carried up to Collette de Gilly before descending track GR58D to the valley floor. Formthotics in our shoes kept us injury free over rough terrain.
Spectacular geology made for an exciting technical descent.
Further south we travelled to Val d’Allos, Digne-les-Bains, and Verdon Gorge. In all these areas, we had a great time riding on walking tracks that we found using opentopomap.org (bike access is much more accepted in Europe). In most of the areas we visited, we found the non-bike-specific trails gave us better descending than the designated bike trails. Of course, the usual way to ascend a walking track is on foot, and we did the same with bikes on our backs.
Further south we travelled to Val d’Allos, Digne-les-Bains, and Verdon Gorge. In all these areas, we had a great time riding on walking tracks that we found using opentopomap.org (bike access is much more accepted in Europe). In most of the areas we visited, we found the non-bike-specific trails gave us better descending than the designated bike trails. Of course, the usual way to ascend a walking track is on foot, and we did the same with bikes on our backs.
The infamous terres noirs in Digne-les-Bains
Saying goodbye to France, we blindly followed the Berlingo’s GPS, through the chaos of Monaco, to Molini di Triora, Italy. Situated in the Region of Ligura, Molini passes under the radar with most riders visiting the nearby Finale. However, the riding in Molini was not to be missed. Rocky outcrops kept things rowdy on the higher tracks which lead into flowy goodness further into the valley. The 800m vertical climbs felt long for the fast descents. The bike shuttle was booked up when we were there (there was only one van, it was very low key), so this was the only time on our trip we wished we had booked in advance.
This is where Rose’s ultimate travel accessory came into play- the bungee cord.
Our last night in Molini was made exciting by a spectacular thunder storm and waking up in Noah’s Arc the following morning. Jackson does a rain dance whilst packing up the tent.
Val di Sole
Dimaro, Val di Sole, was where we based ourselves for the fifth week of our trip. Surrounded by the Brenta Dolomites and the Stelvio National Park, there were numerous opportunities for some big trips. A particular highlight was riding from Rabbi up through the Corvo lakes to Mt. Gleck
Starting off on a forestry road above Rabbi, the track passed through larch forest before ascending through farmland to Rifugio Lago Corvo. The terrain was soon filled with chunks of fragmented rock with the dramatic Corvo lakes appearing. Climbing up to 2957meters, we reached the summit of Mt Gleck.
Val di Sole
Dimaro, Val di Sole, was where we based ourselves for the fifth week of our trip. Surrounded by the Brenta Dolomites and the Stelvio National Park, there were numerous opportunities for some big trips. A particular highlight was riding from Rabbi up through the Corvo lakes to Mt. Gleck
Starting off on a forestry road above Rabbi, the track passed through larch forest before ascending through farmland to Rifugio Lago Corvo. The terrain was soon filled with chunks of fragmented rock with the dramatic Corvo lakes appearing. Climbing up to 2957meters, we reached the summit of Mt Gleck.
Mt Gleck, looking down over the Corvo lakes.
Descending Mt Gleck
Boulder fields of brilliance.
Approaching Rifugio Lago Corvo.
The animals were friendly- we had to push our way past these heifers whilst riding from Peio to Forcellina di Montozzo.
This track took us up to World War I ruins at Forcellina di Montozzo.
Descending back to Peio.
Brenta Dolomites. About to head up that rocky face for some via ferrata.
After Val di Sole we switched to tourist mode, visiting renaissance art galleries and Roman ruins. For a break from the tourist traps, we spent a day riding in Massa Marittima, handily situated between Florence and Rome. Not many photos were taken this day as we were recovering from a firenzed day sightseeing in Florence, but the course for a recent round of the Italian Superenduro series made for a great day out. The “Canyon” trail in particular was a goodie- like a halfpipe for mountainbiking- smooth, flowy and full of fun.
Bikes bagged up and the faithful Berlingo returned, we finished our trip in Rome.
Returning to NZ to happy toddlers with big smiles, our next adventure is reintegrating back into parenthood.
A big thank you to the grandparents for taking the kids and making this trip happen.
Thanks to our sponsors Formthotics and Torpedo7 for keeping us bike carrying strong and riding hard.
After Val di Sole we switched to tourist mode, visiting renaissance art galleries and Roman ruins. For a break from the tourist traps, we spent a day riding in Massa Marittima, handily situated between Florence and Rome. Not many photos were taken this day as we were recovering from a firenzed day sightseeing in Florence, but the course for a recent round of the Italian Superenduro series made for a great day out. The “Canyon” trail in particular was a goodie- like a halfpipe for mountainbiking- smooth, flowy and full of fun.
Bikes bagged up and the faithful Berlingo returned, we finished our trip in Rome.
Returning to NZ to happy toddlers with big smiles, our next adventure is reintegrating back into parenthood.
A big thank you to the grandparents for taking the kids and making this trip happen.
Thanks to our sponsors Formthotics and Torpedo7 for keeping us bike carrying strong and riding hard.
The Port Hills Enduro was our last race for 2016. As the misty drizzle lifted over Christchurch, it turned out to be a fun day of riding.
04/2016
04/2016
The MTB DH National Championships were held at Cardrona skifield this year. It proved to be a testing weekend with a fair bit of rain and mud. After several serious injuries by other athletes during the practice day, we chose our tallest mud spikes. By gosh was it loose!
03/2016
03/2016
Our picture made it into the Otago Daily Times newspaper.
The Corotown track in Queenstown runs from the top of Coronet Peak skifield, down to Arrowtown. It is our favorite tandem track at the moment. Rose on the back in particular gets to admire the stunning views- a feature of not having to concentrate on steering.
A few photos from the Gravity Canterbury NZ Open DH race
02/2016
02/2016
We spent a morning riding in the local forest, and thanks to 360NewZealand.com it turned into a video. We think its pretty cool!
02/2016
02/2016
Oscar is the first person in the family to have a carbon
fibre bike. It was an ideal project for
Jackson to become familiar with working with carbon. New projects are on the horizon…
07/2015
Oscar, our two year old son is having fun on the various
home-built bikes that Jackson has created.
We took him up Vic Park (Christchurch) the other day. Here is some footage: https://vimeo.com/126031607 . Oscar's seat
fits on both our mountain bikes and on the tandem. 04/2015
The 2014/15 season was quieter on the tandem front due to
the arrival to our second son. We did
however make it down to Cardrona for a round of the DH Nationals. As always, we
were the only tandem racing. We were also the first tandem to be taken on the Cardrona
ski field chair lift. 01/2015
R&R Sport and Torpedo 7 joined forces in late 2014 to
become Torpedo 7
Oscar on his first home-built bike. 08/2014.
Check out "Two By..." Our video from a morning at Craigieburn.
http://www.pinkbike.com/u/jacks0n0/blog/two-by--craigieburn-new-zealand.html
It'll be the last post for a few months because our next child is on the way. Keep a look out in 2015 though!
http://www.pinkbike.com/u/jacks0n0/blog/two-by--craigieburn-new-zealand.html
It'll be the last post for a few months because our next child is on the way. Keep a look out in 2015 though!
Queenstown Bike Festival Media Frenzy
We had a great time at the Queenstown Bike Festival and seemed to cause a bit of a stir. We competed in the Giant 2W Cardrona Enduro (not part of the festival, but at the same time as), the Torpedo7 Coronet Enduro, and the R&R Sport Remarkables Mega Avalanche. All great fun, and we got lots of attention including this very cool 360 panoramic thingy. Look at this on a smartphone or tablet. Mindblowing:Tandem mountain bike action at the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro
We also had a dubious headline in the local Queenstown paper:
Baby On Board for Hardcore Downhill
Sounds like scary stuff!
We also feature in videos from the Torpedo7 Enduro and the R&R Sport Mega Avalanche. These videos were produced impressively quickly, with the Mega one ready in time for prizegiving. Slick stuff.
Anyway, we had a great time and didn't come last despite some very high quality fields. The brakes held up (just). Bear in mind that we have 224mm rotors (9" for the Americans) and cooling fin Saint brakes so there is plenty of cooling capacity there. Pleasingly, the faster we rode the quieter our brakes seemed to run. They get noisy when they get hot so that means they're cooler, right? Hopefully anyway.
Photos below.
We also had a dubious headline in the local Queenstown paper:
Baby On Board for Hardcore Downhill
Sounds like scary stuff!
We also feature in videos from the Torpedo7 Enduro and the R&R Sport Mega Avalanche. These videos were produced impressively quickly, with the Mega one ready in time for prizegiving. Slick stuff.
Anyway, we had a great time and didn't come last despite some very high quality fields. The brakes held up (just). Bear in mind that we have 224mm rotors (9" for the Americans) and cooling fin Saint brakes so there is plenty of cooling capacity there. Pleasingly, the faster we rode the quieter our brakes seemed to run. They get noisy when they get hot so that means they're cooler, right? Hopefully anyway.
Photos below.
Craigieburn Enduro Podium
Well, we were the only tandem of course. We don't have any pictures of the riding unfortunately, but it was a great day out. Luge, DDD, and Cheesy were as brilliant as they always are, and racing down the deceptively not straight Dracophyllum track was scary as always. Excuse the lack of a number on the picture above, that is a freeze frame from a video we took the following day as we didn't have any shots of us during the race. We'll get the actual video out sometime this winter (that's summer for you northern hemisphere kooks).
Well, we were the only tandem of course. We don't have any pictures of the riding unfortunately, but it was a great day out. Luge, DDD, and Cheesy were as brilliant as they always are, and racing down the deceptively not straight Dracophyllum track was scary as always. Excuse the lack of a number on the picture above, that is a freeze frame from a video we took the following day as we didn't have any shots of us during the race. We'll get the actual video out sometime this winter (that's summer for you northern hemisphere kooks).
Trev!
The new bike is up and running! It does everything it was supposed to do - takes the steeps much better than the old bike, pedals up ok, and goes like snot on the downs. The linkage on the rear end really stiffens things up, and gives us a nicely rising rate. Its really satisfying to see so many nights of hard work in the shed pay off.
The new bike is up and running! It does everything it was supposed to do - takes the steeps much better than the old bike, pedals up ok, and goes like snot on the downs. The linkage on the rear end really stiffens things up, and gives us a nicely rising rate. Its really satisfying to see so many nights of hard work in the shed pay off.
January 2014: New tandem build taking shape. Hopefully it will be ready for races in late February
Gravity Canterbury Godley Head Enduro 2013. After a cold, wet and slippery start, the last two stages were dry and great fun. So was the slippy stuff at the top, to be fair. We had a great time and were pleased to finish mid field in the adverse weather.
Giant 2W Enduro, Rotorua, October 2013.
We headed back to Rotorua for the first time time in a few years. The dirt is still fantastic, and the jumps are all so predictable that we can really attack them even first time down the track. We particularly liked Little Red Riding Huck and the Corridor. 2W Enduro was a great event and we were stoked to come in 100th out of over 300 riders. We even had time to stop for a sneaky breastfeed to keep the baby happy.
We headed back to Rotorua for the first time time in a few years. The dirt is still fantastic, and the jumps are all so predictable that we can really attack them even first time down the track. We particularly liked Little Red Riding Huck and the Corridor. 2W Enduro was a great event and we were stoked to come in 100th out of over 300 riders. We even had time to stop for a sneaky breastfeed to keep the baby happy.