Congratulations to Torq rider Neil Crampton for winning the National Marathon Champs on his 29-C!

Chapeau from all at Whyte UK.

http://www.torqfitness.co.uk/news/marathon-champs

“Last weekend saw the 2013 National Marathon Champs taking place on a one lap course in Selkirk, Scotland. This year, TORQ was represented by marathon specialist Neal Crampton who, after a 10th place finish last year and a good winter training, combined with some good early season form, was all set to race. Here is Neal’s report of the event where he was crowned National Marathon Champion ahead of a star studded field of world-class riders… ” – Torq Blog

“This is what Neal had to say of his victory: Selkirk has always been a special place for me. I think I have ridden five Selkirk Marathons and have some great friends there, so it is fantastic that the event has also doubled as the National Marathon Championships for the past two years. For some, the challenge is to win, for others the challenge is just to get round. I shared a few beers in the evening after the event with the couple who claimed the lanterne rouge and, listening to their stories about the ride, they had had just as much fun and just as much of a challenge as I did”. – Torq Blog

Buy and go with the 729!

Once again read all about why the Whyte T129-S was What MTB’s Trail Bike of the Year, courtesy of Bike Radar.

@ http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain/full-suspension/product/review-whyte-t-129-s-13-47173

“Fuss-free suspension and top value kit produce fantastic flow, and make the Whyte our clear winner”

- 5/5

We first met the all-new 120mm 29er at a washed-out Whyte 2013 press launch in Cannock Chase, the Midlands. If we’re honest it was eclipsed on the tighter, stop/start trails by the 100mm travel M-109 S. But as soon as we hit the more testing trails of Wales it was obvious that this was the bike the other 24 in the What Mountain Bike Trail Bike of the Year lineup had to beat.

On the whole, the geometry of mountain bikes (within a given category/style) doesn’t vary too much. But occasionally a manufacturer will push the conventions and the results can go either way. Whyte Bikes are not afraid to take things a bit further than most, with some unique frame geometry, and the 146 S embodies this.

We recently laid eyes on the top-of-the-line ‘Works’ version of this bike at the Thredbo round of the Flow Rollercoaster under the very quick NSW rider, John Odams. It seemed to be working for Jon, and the bike’s striking looks grabbed us right away so we got on the blower to line one up for testing.

What makes the Whyte a little different when compared to other all-mountain bikes of similar travel (146mm rear / 150mm front), is its very long, low and relaxed geometry. The head angle sits at 66-degrees – a full degree slacker than most 150mm-travel bikes – and this drops to an even more relaxed angle once you factor 30% rear suspension sag into the equation. The rear end is quite long too, and the rear-centre distance increases under suspension compression as well. Add in the roomy top tube measurement and the wheel base isn’t far shy of some downhill bikes.

What should this mean? Stability at pace, essentially. Of course you’d expect the flip side to be recalcitrance at slow speeds, but who knows? We know the Quad-Link rear suspension design delivers excellent traction under pedalling, and the complete bike weight of just 12.3kg is mighty impressive, so perhaps the 146 S will out perform our expectations on the climb.

Read more @

http://flowmountainbike.com/2013/04/flows-first-bite-whyte-146-s/