Editorial

Summer is here and with it we have long days, warm temperatures, time off work and plenty of opportunities to indulge. For much of Australia, we can ride all year. Although, summer might mean some changes to your riding. If you’re in the far north you might ride less with the wet season. In the red centre, your riding might mostly be at night, once the heat of the desert has seeped into the cool night sky. And if you’re in the southeast or the high country, summer means one of the best mountain bike playgrounds is open for business.

For this issue, we had to go into the high places of Australia to get our key features together. And after months away from locations like Falls Creek, Mount Buller and Thredbo it’s always refreshing to return. Year on year, what’s on offer for Australian mountain bikers expands and improves. It’s not just a case of more trails – check out the feature from Chris Panozzo regarding that. There has been plenty of trail network in the alpine areas for decades. What’s changing is the ease of access, the variety, the services and the comfort. With more time on our hands over summer we have the perfect excuse to head out and ride until the sun goes down. We have the chance to explore new trails, ride with friends and make new ones. I have always found rides in alpine areas some of the most exhilarating. Both the effort and reward are amplified. Climbs are longer, but so are descents. The weather can be less predictable, but the vistas on offer are beyond compare. The true gift in summer is escaping crowds on the coast and finding solitude in the mountains.

This issue was a blast to put together – hopefully you enjoy it as much as we did creating it. Do yourself a favour and make sure you get to some of Australia’s high places this summer.