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December 29, 2009
Bike Intelligencer
How Danny MacAskill got famous

For cycling fans, the New York Times‘ profile on trials wunderkind Danny MacAskill is more reiterative than informative. We’ve known about the Scottish phenom for months. One point in particular needs clarifying, though.

The article attributes MacAskill’s celebrity to YouTube. While YouTube assuredly played a role in elevating MacAskill from a $9-an-hour bike mechanic to a (potentially) six-figure international icon, crediting YouTube for his transformation is like crediting photography for making Marilyn Monroe famous. The images were important. But a lot more was going on.

Read the Rest...

 

August 2009

This is about a style of trail that could become a new micro trend in the world of mountain biking and would appeal to a large number of riders, no matter of their background.

Flow Country

Flow Country trails are flowy, purpose-built singletrails for mountain bikers of any skill level or for any kind of mountain bike, no matter whether beginner or expert or on a hardtail XC or downhill bike; and especially for the ever growing section of All Mountain/ Enduro riders. This mountain bike specific trail will provide a common playground for both worlds of riders, the endurance driven riders and the Freeriders. The tracks shall neither be extreme, nor too steep or dangerous, small berms and rollers shall provide the addicting rollercoaster feeling and sensation.

Flow Country trails go predominantly downhill with short uphill sections, if the terrain permits, to naturally reduce the speed and to enhance the rollercoaster character. Ideally, a good biker would not have to do too much braking or pedaling. Flow Country trails are narrow, natural singletrails (1–3 ft. wide), with diverse and appropriate elements such as; berms, rollers, rocks, roots, small jumps and drops which should also be roll-able or can be avoided. In certain areas the trail can be a bit more technical demanding, steeper, rougher, or more narrow, but will still be easy to navigate for all riders. Potentially with some pedal sections and short climbs.

A mix between a Bike Park, a Cross Country trail and a long pumptrack.

The phrase “Flow Country” was coined by Hans Rey and first realized by Diddie Schneider in Livigno (Italy). Although there are similar trails already in existence with these characteristics, there has never been a word to describe them. Flow Country not only combines most mountain biking disciplines, but it shall also become a standard for mountain bikers and biking destinations worldwide. Only officially recognized trails, which fulfill all criteria will get the official stamp of approval: “Officially recognized Flow Country Trail”, which will be granted in the future by an independent organization such as, for example, IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association).

The time has come when mountain bikers deserve their own trails, and should not always have to depend on sharing rights of usage on existing hiking trails and fire-roads; which are in many cases far from ideal for bikes nor do they provide the fun factor ones can enjoy on a bike. Flow Country will give a rider the ultimate ‘roller-coaster” sensation, which until now has been reserved and restricted to a very small market segment. Flow Country trails could be build in every city and resort worldwide and could become synonymous, for a quality and fun riding experience; as well as for environmentally and socially sustainable purpose-built trails; which would ultimately increase the popularity of mountain biking. Just like every town has its own public skatepark.

Flow Country riders shall be easy to recognize by the big smile on their face.

Below is a link to a Youtube clip of the first official Flow Country Trail in Livigno, Italy, which I built with legendary trail builder Diddie Schneider.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Hansnowayrey#play/all/uploads-all/0/1dvOXFS1ubs

Flow Country is a new term I have coined, for a purpose built mountain bike trail with lots of flow. Nothing steep nor dangerous, with small berms and rollers, predominantly downhill. This trail is designed to accommodate all skill levels and all styles of mountain bikes. In my opinion it bridges the gap between freeride and cross country. Every town or resort worldwide should offer Flow Country trails.

This first official Flow Country trail and the concept has generated a lot of interest and support by riders and the industry who have ridden it or seen the presentation at Eurobike.

 

June 2009
Livigno!

I returned from my first trip to Livigno this season. It was good to be back in this beautiful italian alpine village. The snow was finally melted (almost), the alpine flowers were in bloom and there was some fun new lines and trails, especially in the Swatch Mottolino Bike Park.

The first two days I was part of an "Educational" seminar, with several tour operators, bike shop owners and media representatives to explore Livigno and the fantastic riding and biking infrastructure.

The first day we did a fun tour up the legendary transalp pass, "Alpisella", on the very top was still a small snowfield. We had lunch at Alp Trela, a typical remote alpine farm, that serves fresh goods for hikers and bikers on their way through to Tre Palle, an All Star singletrail that loops back to Livigno.

Day Two we explored the Bike Park that added some new trails, many stunts and reshaped their main trail including all the jumps. The top of the bike park is also a great starting point for many All Mountain tours, especially if one wants to save some vertical feet climbing by taking the lift.

I also hit the park with the local freeride junior team (7 - 13 years old), those guys were not far behind me and actually showed me some sweet new lines.

I'll be back in Livigno in a few weeks, I look forward to ride on the other side at the Carosello 3000 mountain, where one of my favorite trails descents down the Val Federia.

Arrevederci
Hans

Check this YouTube video

 

March 20, 2009
The New Pedaleda is a Stage Race

In 2009 the Pedaleda race is scheduled in the second half of August. The many affectionate bikers will be challenged with a new stage race, ending up on Sunday the 23rd of August, with the traditional Pedaleda.

Livigno (Italy) 20th March 2009 – La Pedaleda is a main MTB event of the Italian national race calendar. Its 16th edition will launch a new 4 stages race: it means that instead of only one day, bikers will have the chance to participate to four days of pure mountain bike challenges, scheduled from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd August.

Read the Rest...

 

Botswana Bike Safari with adiridas team
February 16th 2009 - Mashatu Reserve, Botswana
By Hans Rey

While sitting in a luxury game lodge enjoying a big breakfast, watching a warthog drinking from the nearby waterhole, I’m reflecting on the last two weeks in Africa, which were extremely exciting, productive and adventurous but not exactly as luxurious as the lodge I spent the last night in.

Although my thoughts were already focusing on the long journey back to Europe, and I figured the trip was basically over, little did I know that I would soon be confronted with a real wild lion, which we had hoped to see all week long. Luckily for me, the lion had just eaten a young zebra for breakfast, therefore wasn’t hungry and could not even be bothered to stand up when I faced her from less than 10 feet...

Read the Rest...

 

February 19, 2009
Tanzania Trip #3


This is one of the bikes we bought from World Vision, our friends from World Bicycle Relief are selling these bikes in Tanzania. They are stronger than the standard bikes.

I just returned from Africa, we concluded the filming for our Wheels 4 Villages Film project. We have now been there three times over the past year to document the impact bikes have on this area around Ugweno in the Northern Pare Mountains.

The film will be released in the summer 2009.

On this trip, Aaron Lutze came along as the cameraman who will also edit the film, together with Carmen and myself.

We distributed another 52 bicycles, which gives us now a total of 135 bikes that have been distributed in this area by Wheels 4 Life.

Read the Rest...

 

Riding Camp in Umbria/Italy includes one on one training with Hans


This could be YOU: 1 on 1 training with Hans in Italy this summer.

Only 12 spots available

Dates: June 27th - July 4th 2009

Bookings and info: info@alpstours.eu

Price Euro 935.- incl. in price: 7 nights halfboard, div. tours and clinics Hans will join the group for two guided half day tours with training and riding tips along the way. Also included are additional guided tours. And a 2 hour one on one session with Hans, where he can work on anything with you, you want to or need to learn. This is a perfect opportunity for any biker to take their riding to the next level. Hans will also work with you on the mental aspect and teach you skill you didn't think were in you.

Place: Villa Rey Bike Hotel, Lake Trasimeno, Umbria, Italy

Betreff: Pressemeldung: Fahrtechnik mit Hans No Way Rey

Personal Training mit Hans No Way Rey garantiert ihren Lernerfolg für ihr persönliches Technik Problem. Jeder Biker hat individuelle Stärken und Schwächen, die von seinem objektiven Können und seinen mentalen Grenzen abhängen. Ob ein Teilnehmer Level 2,3,4 oder Level 5 fährt - Hans, der erfahrene Coach, erkennt die Schwächen und kann selbst eingefahrene Fehler wieder ausmerzen. Dabei geht es sowohl um körperliches als auch mentales Training.

*Tour - Information*

Das Revier: Flow Country Lago Trasimeno- Italien

Bike-Programm: -2 Stunden privates Fahrtechnik Training in 2-er Teams mit Hans Rey

- 2 HalbtagesTouren mit Fahrtechnik Training mit Hans Rey

- 1 Ganztagestour mit Guide

- 1 Halbtagestour mit Guide

- 1 Abendseminar zum mentalen Training

Leistungen: Biketouren und Seminare, 7Ü/HP im Bikehotel Villa Rey.

Termine: 27.06.-04.07.09

Teilnehmer: 6-12 Personen

Preis: 935 Euro

*Veranstalter*

ALPStours

Tel: (0049) 0700 257 786 877 und (0041) 062 7750073

@: info@alpstours.eu

www.alpstours.eu

 

 

Oct. 25th Wheels 4 Life Fundraiser and GT Day at Tretlager Bike Shop in Winterthur, Switzerland

Dear all,

Please find attached some flyers for a event in Switzerland October 25th 2008, in cooperation with a big bike shop in Winterthur, GT Switzerland, Hans Rey and Wheels 4 Life.

It started out as a fundraiser from the bike shop to open a partner bike shop for Wheels 4 Life in Tanzania.

I volunteered my time with a personal appearance and a slideshow presentation about my 20 years with GT and about our Wheels 4 Villages project in Tanzania.

GT Switzerland joined forces in promoting the event. Top riders like Roger Rinderknecht will be there. There are several serious GT bike collectors in Switzerland and Germany. Some of them will bring some of their rare collector GT models for a special GT exhibition.

Please help us spread the word in Switzerland and Germany (Winterthur is about 30 minutes east of Zürich).

The goal is to raise money and tools and parts to buy a old container, that will serve as the actual shop and some inventory to help them get it started. Everything will be filmed for our Wheels 4 Villages Film Project, which is supported by Adidas, GT Bicycles, Ergon, Fox Shox, Trent College in the UK, Alps Tours and Met Helmets

regards

Hans

 

 

September 29, 2008
Here are some expressions from the past few month on the road in Europe and Africa!

This was the Baita (mountain hut) I stayed in Livigno (Italian Alps) for a few nights. It was fully equipped with food, firewood, blankets and even beer, open to anybody - first come first serve. Inside the mountain hut With a beautiful view over Livigno
This old man lives along the Tornantissima Trail near Grossetto in the Alta Rezia region in Italy. The trail is a blast and has 82 switchbaks, the old man shares some red wine from his clay bowl Tracciolino Trail is carved along the hillside above Lake Como for length of 11km, very impressive and beautiful Tracciolino, Lake Como
I went back to Tanzania to film with Phil Sundbaum for his "Summer of Shred" movie and for my Wheels 4 Life charity Happy kids in Toloha, Pare Mountains, Tanzania From right to left: Phil Sundbaum, Caleb Smith, Aaron Lutze and Joseph tuning one of the bikes we gave away
We weren't alone there Back in Livigno with my old friend and bike park design/builder guru Diddie Schneider on the site of the first official Flow Country Trail Sample of the first snow in Livigno with locals Fabio and Adam
It is always fun to explore new trails and remote valleys with killer views...... Hanging out with friends in Switzerland, guess which one is my dad? Alex Hoffman and I resting our injured legs after a 30 mile ride at the Frischi Challenge near St. Moritz, Switzerland
   
Las Vegas during Interbike, dinner with (from left to right) Paula and Brian Lopes, Laguna friends Garrett and Sten, myself, Willow and Richie.    

 

 

A few weeks ago I went back to Tanzania to do a follow-up trip on the Wheels 4 Life Film project and to shoot a segment for Phil Sundbaum’s ‘Summer of Shred’ film. Along with us came producer and cameraman Aaron Lutze and New Zealand photographer Caleb Smith. We did a great adventure through the Northern Pare Mountains, we distributed more bikes to people in need and filmed some valuable footage for our film projects. Thank you to Aaron Lutze and Phil Sundbaum to let us use the footage for free for our film, which is due sometimes next year. Thanks also for their fundraising efforts with their ‘Flips 4 Life’ promotion and to Caleb Smith for letting us use his great photos. Aaron’s and Phil’s movie ‘Summer of Shred’ is already available now (www.summerofshred.com). For me it was great to be back in action after my injury and to ride the all new GT carbon

Read the Rest...

 

July 26, 2008
Hans is back on his bike!!!

Hans' recovery from his broken leg is going well. He is already riding regular XC trails, like here in the photos from the GT Media Camp in Livigno, Italy, in the heart of the alps. Check out the new Carbon Force and the first ever all carbon downhill bike.

He is even starting to ride his trials bike again. Picnic tables are no problem. "I'll be back!"

 

May 23, 2008
I'm happy to announce my partnership with the Livigno bike resort for 2008


Welcome to Livigno

Endless 'FlowCountry" singletrails all around Livigno

Livigno (Italy) is situated in the heart of the Alps on the Swiss/Italian boarder.

Its been one of my favorite bike destinations in Europe for many years and counts as one of the top biking destinations in the world.

Hundreds of miles of perfect singletrails and endless tour options, along with the Mottolino Bike Park and the Carosello 3000 trail network, make it one of the most diverse destination for any biker.


Great views and trails from the top of Livigno's Carosello 3000 mountains

Livigno hosted the 2005 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships and organizes every year the 'Free Wheel Festival" (June 24. - 29.2008) and the legendary Pedaleda Bike Marathon (June 29. 2008).

Livigno has over 15 bike hotels, which specifically cater to the needs of cyclists, it has great tax free shopping and offers great food, nightlife and it is surrounded by the most beautiful mountains.


Mottolino Bike Park offers many Freeride and DH trails

 

 

Visit the Resort's Website

 

 

April 18, 2008
Check out Hans' equipment and products and enjoy the video

Some of you might find this trailer interesting. Its a prototype website of an Orange County based company.

Everything in this clip, including all my gear, can be clicked on, the consumer will get immediate product info and prices (don't worry if some of the prices are off). Ultimately people will be able to get linked to web sites where they can buy these products.

The content of the website is supposed to be not just sales driven, but news and other information will generate traffic.

Take a look, many of your products are featured from bikes, parts and Clif Bars to vacation-packages in the Alta Rezia Region.......

Use your mouse to click on the screen. For example if you move the mouse to my glasses the info will pop up, same for the backpack, tires, etc.....

http://www.mobilemedianow.com/hcv/hcv_solo/hans_rey/

 

 

March 9, 2008
Broken Leg

I'm sorry to inform you all, that I had a bad crash on my downhill bike at the end of February and that I have severely broken my left foot. Unfortunately this injury will keep me off my bike for the next few months.

My accident happened in my hometown of Laguna Beach. I had just returned home from Europe the night before and I was doing some downhill training runs for the legendary RADS Telonix Leaping Lizard downhill race. I was just warming up (not going at full speed - at least I thought i wasn't), but my flu congestion and head-cold, combined with my jet-lag, and the Malaria Medicine (I had taken 2 hours before) caused to imbalance my equilibrium and sense of speed.

Luckily for me many friends, one of whom is a doctor, were on site to rescue me. They actually carried me up the hill and then drove me to the hospital ER.

Unfortunately the x-rays revealed a comminuted (many pieces) fracture of the tibia at the ankle joint line. I had the first surgery last Thursday, they put an external fixator, which is like an erector set scaffold (see pic). This will hold the pieces together until the swelling goes down. After about a week I'll go back in for more surgery to insert plates and screws. I will be flat on my back with my foot elevated for a solid 4 weeks with these 2 surgeries. Once the skin is healed and sutures are out I'll be able to get around on crutches. It will be a few month until I can ride again, hopefully by summer.

 

February 5, 2008
In The Shadow of Kilimanjaro
a “heart-core” adventure ride and Wheels 4 Villages Film Project

Last spring I decided to combine one of my ‘Hans Rey Adventure Team’ trips with a project for my charity ‘Wheels 4 Life’.

Finally I had found, what seemed to be, the perfect place to start our “Wheels 4 Villages – Film Project” – to document on film over two years the impact bicycles will have on communities and the lives of individuals of the Ugweno Valley in Tanzania; right in the shadow of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro (5896m/19,344ft.).

Read the Rest...

Click here to watch a slideshow/clip from the Wheels 4 Villages Project in Tanzania

 

Laguna Beach, Jan '08

The new year has started and my schedule is filling up rapidly.

I'm glad to announce that I have signed for 2 more years with GT Bicycles and Fox Racing Shox, I will also continue my longtime sponsorships with Adidas for Shoes, Apparel and Eyewear, with the clutch maker LUK Automotive Systems, and with the Alta Rezia Bike Region in the heart of the Alps (Italy/ Switzerland). Ultimate traction is provided by Kenda tires and tubes, energy by yummy yummy in the tummy Clif Bar, Sambazon acai smoothies and Guayaki Yerba Mate, comfortably seated by SQ Lab saddles, super engineered cockpit by Syntace for stems and bars, powered and slowed down by Shimano cranks, gears brakes and levers.

I'm very happy to introduce some new sponsors and partners I'll be working with in the future:

  • Met Helmets, the Italian based company has some beautiful looking product and is one of the top players in the helmet market.
  • Ergon Bike Ergonomics, the German company will sponsor me with their innovative grips and backpacks featuring a revolutionary carrying system creating a completely new comfort experience.
  • Crank Brothers will expand their sponsorship with me from pedals to also include their slick new wheels sets, adjustable seatposts as well as their super-light weight headsets. Compliments to their new line of products and their cool approach.

The highlight will be the following adventures / shoots.

  • Tanzania "Wheels 4 Villages - Film Project" and circumnavigation of Mount Kilimanjaro adventure.
  • Philippines first descent of Mount Mayon Vulcano (very active)
  • Alta Rezia Trail Exploration Tour
  • Mount Ararat, Turkey - in search of Noah's Ark

Photos copyright by Carmen Freeman (Carmenmfreeman@aol.com)

 

November 2007
Check out Hans' next project "Wheels 4 Villages - Film Project" starting in Jan.'08

[Download .PDF]

 

November 2007
Hans Interview in Singletrack Magazine

 

Oct 1, 2007
New Hans Rey limited edition Zaskar Trials frame

Check out the new 2008 Zaskar Trials frame Hans Rey signature edition This frame will be available in many countries where GT has a distributors. The frame has a trials specific geometry but is also suitable for urban riding or 4X.

Its compatible for disc or cantiliver brakes, ridget or suspension forks and front derailleur option.
Available winter '07/'08

 

 

Living the Dream in Livigno (part 2)
Livigno/ Alta Rezia/ Italy August 19th 2007

Photos by: Carmen Freeman, Chris Winter and Alberto Azzoni

 


Hans on ride with the guys from Big Mountain bike adventures

"Look over there, more trails"

I'm getting used to the life in the mountains. I've been having a great time in the Alta Rezia region, with my base in a remote and simple mountain hut above Livigno.

My car can only get within one kilometer from the hut, the rest of the way I have to walk or ride my bike. Its been good to hang with the locals and to discover new trails and valley's. Done tons of good rides, from riding the Mottolino Bike Park, to singletrack rides from Bormio to Santa Caterina (6000ft. downhilling), shuttles in the Red Train from Poschiavo up to the Bernina Pass in Switzerland, or from the Carosello 3000 mountain down the beautiful Val Federia in Livigno. This place is amazing, there are constantly new (old) trails discovered or simply new trails build, especially for mountain bikers. The old trails are often, long forgotten military

Hans and Carmen taken some freeriders out for a day at the bike park.
trails from the World Wars,

Hans sampling the wall ride at the Mottolino bike park in Livigno.
the new ones are part of the plan, to turn this region into one of the worlds best riding destinations, with not only converted hiking trails, but special designed trails for mountain bikers, with plenty of flow and adventure.

Every style of mountain biker can find unique riding, and lift access makes it very inviting for freeriders to every once in a while take the easy way to the top.

Ferragosto is the National Holiday on Aug. 15th, and the reason why the whole of Italy, practically shuts down for the month of August and goes on vacation.


Look how stoked I am, could it be the trail I'm on or something else.........?

Warming up for a trials show, at Ferro Agosto celebrations in Livigno.

I was asked to do a trials show at the local festivities in Livigno.

They set up a great obstacle course for me. In the last week, it wasn't quite as lonely on my hut, since my girlfriend Carmen, joined me for some days.

Its amazing how many pro athletes, especially cyclists train in the Livigno and St. Moritz area, due to the high altitude. Its very normal to see European Pro Cycling Teams on the roads or top mountain bikers like Ralph Naef or Thomas Frischknecht on the trails in the mountains.

Huts and shelters like this can be found on remote mountain tops at 10'000 feet. Nobody lives there, but a hot soup was on the woodburning stove and a bottle of wine was there as well. Donations are not manitory but recommended. Gotta come back and spend the night here sometimes: Monte delle Rezze, Livigno.
It was a really need experience to live in the mountains - I think I could get used to it - especially the million dollars view.


Hangin out at my temporary home in the mountains.

I'm off to ride the Haute Route, this week, before I'll head to Eurobike and then back to Livigno for the Free Wheel Festival, from September 6. - 9.



Living the Dream in Livigno (part 1)
Livigno/ Alta Rezia/ Italy August 7th 2007

Photos by: Carmen Freeman, Chris Winter and Alberto Azzoni


The view from my mountain hut and my bedroom above Livigno

This is my home at the moment, will move to another, completely remote hut in the valley to left in the background, next week.

It always has been one of my dreams to spend some quality time in a remote mountain hut (Alp Hütte, Baita); my dream has come through, my friends from Livigno and the Alta Rezia region (www.altarezia.eu) have organized a hut for me to stay in, all by myself, without hot water, phone or internet.

Its right above the town of Livigno, which in my top 5 destinations of all time, with the most incredible views of the village and the Mottolino Bike Park across the valley. I can even see some of the jump from my bed.


This is my hut, the dirt road is part of Livigno's Panoramica Trail, a 20 mile singletrail that winds along the hillsides above town.

Yesterday, I hiked up a super steep mountain (without my bike) near Livigno, so see if it was ridable. I have been eyeing this gorge for a few years, but the chute turned out to be too steep and loose. Don't have a deathwish, nonetheless, it was a good workout.

Livigno has one of the better bike parks in Europe and has an outstanding singletrail network.

Next week they will move me to a more remote valley at 7000ft. with no other buildings nearby or in sight and where I'll only have access with my bikes or trials moto.

While here I'll be doing several photo/video shoots and other PR related stuff, and sample a lot of the other awesome trails in the Alta Rezia region.


Its always steeper than it looks on photos!


Today I went riding in Bormio, another town in the Alta Rezia region in the Italian Alps. We went up to the Bormio 3000 mountain (10'000 ft), per gondola and then started a endless downhill on a very technical trail. On the lower part of the mountain we found a new awesome singletrail that leads all the way to Santa Caterina, where more shuttled trail options awaits a rider. Got some rain today and grinded my brake pads to the metal. My new GT Force bike, was the perfect ride.

 

 

Ciao,

Hans Rey

 

 

 

June 27, 2007
Adidas Eyewear / Hans Rey Team at Mountain Mayhem 24h race in England
Photos by Carmen Freeman

Last weekend I entered with a 4 men team the Mountain Mayhem 24h race at Malverns in the UK. Its one of Britains biggest cycling event with over 2500 participants.

On my team was my longtime friend Jay Hardy aka Top Gun, as well as Jim and Craig, who won the spots on my team courtesy of Adidas Eyewear UK.

We had the perfect crew and set up, including our own wrench, Mike, a big tent, BBQ, fold-out- beds, private shitters, and our own fan club - the Evil Eye Posse - who, along with Carmen and Haz, cheered us on all night long.

It was all good and fun until it started to rain halfway through the race at 2am, from then on it turned into a miserable mud fest. Lap times almost doubled and the wheels were hardly turning anymore, to the point where I had to push and carry my bike even on some downhill sections. We managed about 18 laps, (some solo guys did more than that!!!), I have no idea how we ended up, but we sure had tons of fun.

 

Ride 4 Life Freeride Camp @ 24h race in Finale Ligure, Italy
Friday May 4, 2007

Wheels 4 Life is an official partner of the 24h Mountain Bike Race in Finale Ligure, Italy from May 18. - 20. 2007

In the days prior to the festival, Hans Rey will host the "Ride 4 Life" - Freeride Camp in Calizzano (http://www.legiaire.it); which will benefit W4L.

For more info check out: www.24hfinale.com

* Home
* About Us
* The Bikes
* People in Need
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* Our Supporters

http://wheels4life.org/media/uploads/logo-festival-2007.jpg

 

 

October 20, 2006
Hans' & Peaty's Irish Pub Crawl
Dublin, Ireland

Audio Slideshow

"That's it, I had enough, I can't stand anymore pubs for at least a month or lets say a week", after spending the last 6 days in an RV camper together with the current Downhill World Cup Champion Steve Peat and Irish photographer Victor Lucas.

Our mission was to hit some of Irelands best biking spots, while visiting as many pubs as possible along the way. The camper was packed with several bikes from each of us. I brought my GT i-drive 7 and GT i-drive 5 bikes as well as my Trials bike, Peaty brought his V10 DH bike and his Santa Cruz Nomad freerider.

Our first stop was the Guinness Brewery and a little urban asult through the streets of Dublin, before we hit the road to head west towards Croagh Patrick, a famous pilgrimage mountain on the west coast of Ireland. Once we finally arrived on the other side of the country on the narrow winding roads, we had managed to stop at 7 pubs, including Sean's Pub, the oldest one in Ireland dating from the 1600's.

At this point I have to confirm the rumors that the creamy dark Guinness beer does indeed taste better in Ireland.

We got a slow start the next morning, not so much due to hangovers, than the misty and moist weather. Even though we had to first carry and push our bikes for 2 hours uphill, we decided to bring the heavy artillery - the big bikes. Saint Patrick's mountain proofed to be quite a challenge, the weather was foggy and rainy, often we had a visibility of less than 20feet, until we eventually reached the small church on top of the mountain. It was windy and cold, tradition has it that pilgrims have to run 15 times around the church to get rid of their sins, we didn't even bother to ride the 15 laps.

The downhill was superb - big loose stones and steep slopes. Shortly after we left the summit the sun started to peak through the clouds and opened up a breathtaking view below us. The lush landscape and coastline was eye-candy, just as it was to watch Peaty skip over the loose rocks at high speed. It was a fun ride down, the trail offered many different lines, which kept it really fun and interesting. Campell's Pub was a good call and the beer tasted even better after we had to earn it hard. Peaty wasn't in the mood to skip many pubs, his mission was to hit at least 30 different pubs during our 6 day trip, and half pints weren't an option either. That night we parked the RV at a local mountain bikers house and took it easy.

Our next stop was the Burren, a vast rocky landscape, with little vegetation and miles of cracked rock slaps, which were actually quite fun and challenging to ride. We rode parts of the Burren Way, an old historic route and popular hiking trail. Medieval castles and 5000 year old dolmen and stone circles marked the way, the weather wasn't great, but at least it didn't rain; yet. It was good to get out of the RV and spin our legs through this remote countryside. In the late afternoon we arrived at the Cliffs of Moher, which were for me the main reason why I wanted to come to Ireland. The 600 feet tall cliffs are entirely vertical and the edge is very abrupt. My dream was to ride along the small narrow ledge that was between 6 feet to 6 inches wide and looked like a long curvy balcony without a handrail.

Upon arrival at the Cliffs we had to postpone those plans rapidly. The weather was getting worse and herds of tourists were all over the place, plus the security guy wouldn't let anybody near the edge of the cliffs.

We changed our plans and did a pub crawl instead, hoping for better conditions and luck in the early morning, before anybody else would get there. It turned out to be my favorite pub experience of the trip. In the small seaside village of Liscannor we found 4 pubs next door to each other. Five Pints of Guinness later and after a great seafood dinner and some fresh oysters it was time to hit the second pub, after a quick drink to quench our thirst, we moved one door over to Egans Pub, where locals were playing Irish folk music and the old fireplace was keeping us warm. We were told earlier, that with a bit of luck, "T. O'Brien" pub would open at around 11pm, sure enough the doors were open and 3 characters, straight out of the 50ties, were sipping on some drinks. It was like being set back in time, this place has been around for a long time, but it must have been at least 50 years, since any of the interior, including the suit and tie of the bartender have changed.

Locals warned us of the upward drafts, that blow people off the cliffs - and sure enough the wind was picking up over night. We got an early start, and even the extra strong italian coffee I brewed couldn't clear our heads. Even though the conditions and weather were less than good, this was our one and only chance to ride the cliffs, so we did. It was a rad feeling to ride along the exposed edges and jump over some of the gaps. As time went on we started to feel more and more comfortable and daring. Shortly after we got done it started pouring rain, nonetheless we continued the trail on top of the cliffs, which was one of the more spectacular trails I have ridden. We followed it all the way to Hag's Head. From there we drove to RV to County Kerry in the South of Ireland.

Our next stop was the beautiful town of Killarney and Ross Castle. The following day we did a killer XC ride on the Old Kenmare Road, another classic hiking trek. We were joined and guided by Rory, a local mountain biker. Once again, the riding was better then I expected, the trail was about 20 miles long and had all sorts of elements we had to tackle, some good uphill sections, water-crossings and muddy sections as well as very slippery rocky sections which required trials skills. Peaty and I challenged each other for little "ride-off's", to see who could make it further. Some sections we tried over and over again, until one or both of us would make it. It was interesting to compare our different styles, Peaty convinced me that speed can be a good friend, even when its super rough and technical, as long one has the skills and cajones. The landscape kept changing, sometimes it looked like the Scottish Highlands, then it was moss covered forests or northshore style trails which led us on railroad beams across the swampy areas. We arrived completely soaked at the RV. The rest of the time we spent pursuing Peaty's 30 Pub goal, with stops in Kenmare, Cork and last but not least Dublin, where we were joined by a bunch of the local riders and I gave a little trials demo in one of the pubs.

31 pubs, excellent trails and good memories. We boarded the ferry to the UK the next morning.

Hans Rey

All photos copyright by Victor Lucas: victor@freezefocus.com

 

 

October 6, 2006
Check out this movie trailer: "Leaps & Bounds - The Story of Bike Trial" by Desmond Lee
Its unbelievable - the best film ever done for our sport!

http://www.trialsmovie.com/

Crank Brothers Party at Interbike Ghost Bar/Palms
Check out the Blue Man trailer, starring Greg Herbold, Kirt Voreis and Hans

Watch
http://homepage.mac.com/crankbrothers/iMovieTheater10.html

Download
http://homepage.mac.com/crankbrothers/FileSharing6.html

 

New DVD
Hans Rey’s Classic Videos Collection (1992 - 1997)

All of Hans Rey’s original extreme biking and trials videos are now available on one special collectors edition DVD.

The DVD includes:

  • Hans No Way Rey
  • Level Vibes
  • Monkey See - Monkey Do
  • Big Five
    plus a recent interview with Hans about the making of the videos

Plays all regions
Approx. Length: 2 hours

Price: US $20 - plus shipping and handling

 

 

Sept. '06
New Hans / Wheels 4 Life products

Several new products, either designed by Hans or benefiting his charity "Wheels 4 Life" are hitting the market soon.

  • Check out the sneak preview of Hans' new Kenda tire "Telonix". This tire will be available in the following sizes 2.2, 2.4 and 2.6. It will be launched at Interbike tradeshow in Las Vegas. It will be a multi purpose all-round tire.

  • SQ Lab launches special edition "Wheels 4 Life" seat.
    Each seat will raise Euro 5.- for Wheels 4 Life
    More info at: http://www.dersattel.de

  • Crank Brothers just launched a special edition 50/50 Wheels 4 Life pedal, in the popular rasta colors red/gold/green. Crank Brothers will donate $ 10.- for each pair sold. This is a limited edition of 1000 pairs.

 

 

September 11, 2006
Check out the video of Hans riding the Mottolino Bike Park in Livigno - Alta Rezia - Italy

http://www.altarezia.eu/_manage/upload/Alta_Rezia_Region/mottolino%20web.mov

 

June 26, 2006
New!!!!!! Hans' Classic Videos are now available on one DVD

The original extreme biking and trials videos from freeriding pioneer Hans "No Way" Rey, are now available on a special collectors DVD. Including "Hans 'No Way' Rey" , "Level Vibes", "Monkey See Monkey Do" and "Big Five"; plus a recent interview with Hans about the making of the videos. These videos are legendary; they inspired and paved the road for many of todays freeriders. Total length approx. 2 hours, plays all regions.

Price: US $20 - plus shipping and handling

 

April 17, 2006
Hans Rey interview with Cycling News

 

Ormoc City, Philippines - April 3rd 2006

Hans Rey Philippines Road Trip

As I write this I'm sitting in the beautiful garden of the former Governor of the Leyte Province. The Larrazabal Family is the organizer of the 5. Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival, one of the biggest cycling events in Southern Asia. I was invited to the festival as special guest, ambassador and trials showman. I decided to ride my bike prior to the festival to some of the incredible natural sites in the Philippines, little did I realize what the Philippines had to offer in terms of mountains, volcanos and over 7100 islands.

This wasn't a typical "Hans Rey Adventure Team" trip, it was more like a road-trip, consisting of several mini-adventures. For the majority of the trip I was joined by Italian photographer, Marco Toniolo, and a local videographer. Goyo, the organizer of the festival and my host, prepared a great plan of action, that left little room to breath but plenty of room for incredible memories.

March 22.-24.: After a 16 hour flight from Los Angeles to Manila, I arrived at 5:30 am. A couple hours later Marco arrived from Germany and immediately we went to a press conference at the National Tourism Office. With an hour and half delay, which is considered on time in the Philippines, we started our well attended press conference. In the afternoon we got ready for our trip up north to the Mountain Province and the world famous Banaue Rice Terraces, considered the 8th World Wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage site. But first we had another live TV appearance before we started our 12 hour all-night drive. Talking about jet lag, we didn't have a chance to even think about it. Thirty minutes outside of Manila the nicely paved express way ended already, and the rest of the trip was an windy and dangerous mountain roads. In the middle of the night I was woken up, as our car all of sudden did a u-turn and drove back. One of our support vehicles had come of the road and flipped into a riverbed 25 feet below! The car and the two bikes on top (luckily not mine) were totaled, miraculously the two passengers were unhurt.

I brought two bikes with me, just to be ready for any situation, a GT i-drive 5 all-round bike and my new GT - Hans Rey signature trials bike (frame).

With a reduced crew we continued our trip, in the morning we arrived near Banaue from where we started immediately our first bike tour to the remote village of Batad, where, for the past 2000 years, locals had carved beautiful rice terraces into the surrounding hillsides. It looked a lot like the terraced Inca hills near Machu Picchu, Peru. First we had to climb a long dusty Jeepney road in the brutal mid-day heat. But then we descended on a beautiful footpath into the small village of Batad, where people live in primitive huts, most them without electricity, running water, etc... Needless to say, we went to bed shortly after dark around 7:30pm in a simple backpackers hostel.

March 25.: With the crack of dawn and the call of the roosters we awoke in the midst of the 'rice terrace amphitheater'. My first goal was to ride to the beautiful waterfall on the bottom of the valley, about 100 levels of terraces below. It proofed to be very tricky to ride along or down the terraces, many sections, very steeper than I could ride without a death-wish. The narrow dirt path' along the edges were uneven, nerve-wrecking, and ready to grumble under my tires. The waterfall was a long way from the top of the mountain range we had to still climb, before we could make our way to the next stop. Sagada, known as one of the adventure capitals of the Philippines but too far off the beaten track for most people to ever make it there. The weather was brutally hot and some local riders showed us to their favorite trails.

First we went to a place called Echo Valley, site of the 'Hanging Coffins" a sacred burial area surrounded by limestone cliffs, it was very eire and after my experience with the spirits several years ago in Borneo, I was extra cautious and respectful. Some of those coffins are 500 years old! We proceeded to the local market, to buy some tropical fruit for breakfast, before heading to a wonderful trail in a pine forest that led us to some gigantic caves. Later that afternoon we found ourselves once again cramped in the Toyota Defender for another 12 hour drive back to Manila. The roads can be quite scary and sketchy, the drive back was more stressful than riding the steep rice terraces.

March 26.: Today was a trials show in one of the biggest shopping malls of Manila. The turnout was incredible, I couldn't believe how big and enthusiastic the local biking scene was. The people were so happy to meet me and have their photo taken with me. As I found out, many of my past adventure team trips are constantly being televised on the Discovery Channel Int.and other TV networks. People brought all sorts of foreign, especially american, biking magazines to be autographed, it was quite nostalgic to see some of the 10 - 15 year old features and ads.

March 27.: Another media day, 5am wake-up call for an appearance on the biggest morning TV show. Jumped over some Jeepney's, the classical, colorful Philippine mini buses and over a transvestite TV host. Next was a hour long live interview with the "Larry King" of the Philippines, broadcasted worldwide on Philippine networks.

Enough of the big city! It was time to hit some more trails, next up - the active Taal Volcano and its crater lake.

March 28.: We got an early start to climb Taal Volcano. First we had a fun descent to the edge of the first lake, from where we boarded a small boat, that took us to the island. It was a hot and dusty mission. The one hour hike and bike was on a sandy horse trail, and despite all the trash along the way, it is a favorite tourist attraction. Once we reached the top we were rewarded with a fresh coconut and a awesome view of the crater lake. This volcano is on and off active, and we could see the smoke from several cracks in the earth and smelt the sulfur in the air. Four local riders joined me on this trip, mountain biking can be considered an upper class sport in the Philippines - however; the bikes, skills and attitudes of the locals weren't any different than from any other biker around the world. I guess mountain bikers have all similar genes? The downhill was a good laugh and worth the efforts.

March 29. - April 1.: Marco had to fly back to Munich, due to prior obligations, for me it was time to fly to Ormoc City in the Leyte Province to attend the Terry Larrazabal Bicycle Festival (www.tlbf.org). This is a big familiy event, purely fueled on passion. They have sixteen races in 4 days, basically a mini Sea Otter. From a 3 day road stage race to XC, 4X, DH, SuperBMX, Freestyle, Fun Rides and the first ever trials comp in the Philippines. Nearly 600 entries from 7 countries. Its a great event and everybody has lots of fun, reminded me a lot of the early days of mountain biking in the US.

This place is beautiful! Nice beaches and surrounded by mountains and coconut and banana tree forests. The fun ride was at a idyllic lake in the mountains, with 80% single-trail. The trail was guarded by local military, due to ongoing NPA guerrilla rebel encounters and kidnappings, but usually the rebels are most active only in the very south of the Philippines all other islands are pretty save.

I pulled a muscle in my back and got some treatment from the local doctors.

April 2.: Today was the grant finale and award ceremonies for the festival. I used the opportunity for my non-profit charity, 'Wheels 4 Life' (www.wheels4life.org), and presented 12 bikes to the Bishop of Southern Leyte who will distribute the bikes to some of the survivors of the recent devastating mudslide, where the majority of the villagers (over 1000!!!) were buried alive. I also gave some more bikes to families in need of transportation near Ormoc where we had the festival. For me it was a great joy giving these bikes out personally, especially since it was the first time since I had started my charity. I hope many thousand's of bikes will follow these ones.

April 3.: Time to go back home, the Sea Otter starts this week. This was a great trip with lots of good riding and great people. Everybody, in the Philippines is super friendly and seems very content, no matter how their standard of living is. This country and its people are on the rise, well worth a trip not just for bike riders. Thanks to Goyo and his family and all the bike riders of the Philippines.

Hans

All photos copyright by Marco Toniolo (marco@bike-board.net)
More photos at: http://www.marcotoniolo.com/photos/showgallery.php/cat/580

 

 

Mar 11, 2006

Sponsor Update

The new year is already in full swing.

I’m happy to announce my 20th season with GT Bicycles!

I’d also like to announce my new cooperations with Kenda tires and tubes, we are already working on a new signature tire called ‘Telonix’. I also partnered up with Crank Brother for pedals and with Camelbak for hydration packs.

I will continue working with longtime sponsors Adidas, Alta Rezia Region, LUK Automotive Systems, Adidas Eyewear, Fox Shox, Mavic, Bell, Shimano, Clif Bar, SQ Lab saddles, Syntace and Sambazon (Acai).

I have already done several trials shows at the Tour of California, the QBP Frostbike Openhouse and at a private party in Los Angeles. I attended Ray’s MTB Event in Cleveland (where I filmed for CNN) and ISPO in Munich. So far I already made 3 cover shots this year.

At the moment I’m getting ready for a big trip to the Philippines, where I’ll attend a bicycle festival and do some mini-adventures at some spectacular volcanos and the famous rice terraces in Banawe. Photographer Marco Toniolo will join me.

 

 

Feb 28, 2006

Take It Slo

A blog from Tom Ritchey and Gary Boulanger, directors of Servant Leaders Outreach, a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to serve others in the bicycle and outdoor industry by investing in their professional development and well-being, for the benefit of accomplishing tasks and goals for the common good.

Click for info.

 

Sept. 15, 2005

Val de Mesdi

Hi all there,

I`m proud to announce, that our long term planned but never realized first descent through "Val de Mesdi" (Mittagstal) is successfully finished.

"Val de Mesdi" is one of the most famous off pist skiing and climbing routes in the north italian dolomites.

Bike legend Hans Rey and Christian (Picco) Piccolruaz, extrem freerider from Innsbruck, incredibly overtook gravity on their way from approximately 3000 vertical meters through the valley to the italian ski-resort Corvara.

The partly 40 degrees steep "Val de Mesdi" definately never saw something like a mountain bike tire ever before.

You`ll see one of the pictures as a double page "hot shot" in the next coming german BIKE-Magazin. The full story will appear in the german FREERIDE-Magazin next year.

Here a few pics of this epic trip

Enjoy....

Markus Greber
(all photos copyright by Markus Greber - mgreber@t-online.de)

 

Aug. 6th 2005

Hans competes in Trialsworx

Today was my first time that I competed in a trials competition since 1998!

It was a fun event held during the Crankworx Festival in Whistler, Canada. The Baia family organized a very nice event with good sections, some of them were in the center of town others were in a nearby creek and park.

Many emotions and memories came back during this comp. I competed in the Expert class, and I was totally unprepared for the event, hadn't even practiced in weeks. When I saw the sections a couple days before the event I decided to give it a go. Not even remembering the rules or knowing who I would compete against.

I started out a bit rusty in the first lap. I had three "5's" in a row. Mainly due to fatigue. I forgotten how aerobic and demanding trials is, especially in a competition setting when riders tend to be tense. I felt like I had the skills, but I just didn't had the strength, which resulted in dumm mistakes. One long section I cleaned until the last 5 feet, then I got stuck on a little piece of wood - crashed and got the worst pedal-bite in years (also that is part of the long forgotten memories).

The very next section, which was even named after me, cost me 5 points as well, after a piece of bark broke off the log and my bike fell outside the section......

The second lap however, made my day. Even tough my strength was fading, somehow I managed to pull it together - and the "old Hans" was shining through.

I cleaned the first four sections, then I got a two in the creek, where I had taken a humiliating bath in the first lap and I got a one at the man-made section in town.

I ended up in second place, one point behind Stevie Baia. But this event wasn't about the result - yes my second lap stoked my ego, but it was about the memories and the respect I gotten from many fellow riders and spectators. Many of these competitors had heard of me or seen my in videos, but never had a chance to see me ride or ride with me. Props go out to the organizers and judges and the Elite riders who really stepped it up. If I had to do it all over again, I'd spend a lot more time in the gym.....

 

June 28, 2005

Hans' & Frischi's Alta Rezia Freeride Tour
Super, Super, Super e ancora una volta Super!

A few days ago I finished my latest 'Hans Rey Adventure Team' trip together with Cross Country legend Thomas Frischknecht from Switzerland. We did a 6 day freeride tour in the heart of the Alps utilizing ski-lifts, gondolas, trains and shuttles to get around and to the top of some of the best singletrails in the world. We did close to 60,000 ft (20,000 m) vertical downhill trails. The Alta Rezia regions consists of approx. 40 villages partly Swiss and partly Italian; our route started in St. Moritz via Tirano via Livigno to Bormio, with many detours and surprises along the way.

Click here to read entire story

 

April 4, 2005

Hans' latest adventure team trip in Copper Canyon Mexico
with April Lawyer and Brian Lopes

We have just concluded the latest Hans Rey adventure to Copper Canyon in Northern Mexico. Our mission was to be the first to ride mountain bikes on the technical and difficult Chinivo Trail to the heart of the canyon, the old mining town of Batopilas.

My partners for this trip were none less than Biker X  World Champion Brian Lopes and downhill racing diva April Lawyer.  Brian and I rode the new GT i-drive 5 with Fox 36 forks, April rode her Intense5.5/Maxxis bike.
Click here to read entire story

 

Hans on the new GT IT1 (internal transmission bike)

 

From a recent photoshoot for Adidas with Stefan Eisend in and around
Cape Town, South Africa
Check out the photos below:

 

April 4, 2005
Always Mad Interview with Hans Rey

 



Stoked Hans with his new downhill rig
(DHi with 40ies)

 


 



Hans Rey's Bike Profile
2003 Oil on paper,27.5" x 39.5"
$1500
by Taliah Lempert
More info: http://www.bicyclepaintings.com/gallery/hansprofile.html

March 2, 2005

I'm happy to announce my plans and sponsors for 2005.

2004 was one of my most successful seasons ever. I keep staying very busy with my Adventure Team trips, TV work, promotional and consulting work for my sponsors, trials shows, and other related projects.

I'm happy to announce my 19th season with GT Bicycles and Swatch Watches. Thank you and all my other sponsors to make it possible to live my dream.

I have been also working with Adidas, LUK Automotive Systems, and Shimano for over 12 years.

All my other agreements include: Fox Shox, Maxxis, Syntace, Adidas Eyewear, Mavic, Bell, Clif Bar, Sambazon-Acai, and SQ lab seats.

I'm very happy to announce my new cooperation with the Alta Rezia Region, located in the heart of the Alps. This region includes 40 Italian and Swiss villages/towns such as St. Moritz, Livigno (site of the 2005 Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships) and Bormio. This is one of the most beautiful regions I have ever ridden my bike in, it not only reflects my love for Italy and Switzerland, but it has an incredible trail system with some of the best singletrails and bike route in the world. The region has a very mountain bike friendly infrastructure in place already and plans to expand and improve everything, including bike parks and supplying GPS roadbooks for bikers as well as bike schools. Livigno has already 12 Mountain Bike Hotels, which especially cater to the bike rider's needs.

One of my highlights for this season will be an Adventure Team trip with Mountain Bike legend Thomas Frischknecht. Together we are planning the "Alta Rezia Freeride" which will be a 6 day singletrail tour on freeride bikes on some of the nicest singletrails in the Alps, using lift access and public transportation to get near or to the top of the peaks. This tour will become a permanent route, people will be able to follow in our tracks in the future with the help of maps, GPS or roadsigns. There will always be access to public transportation such as alpine trains or buses to get back to ones car, no matter if a rider chooses to ride the whole route or just a single stage. More into: http://www.altarezia.ch/

My next Adventure Team trip will be at the end of March with Brian Lopes and April Lawyer at Copper Canyon in Mexico. Copper Canyon is in the Chihuahua Desert in Northern Mexico, it is 4 times bigger than the Grand Canyon and also deeper. We are going during Semana Santos, Easter Week, were the local Tarahumara indians celebrate with colorful costumes, rituals and dances. These native indians live in remote dwellings and villages in traditional ways, they don't speak spanish and have nothing in common with modern civilization. They are notorious for being the best long-distance runners in the world. The Mining town of Batopilas lies in the bottom of the canyon, and was the capital during the mining hay days about a century ago. It was the biggest silver mine in all of Americas for over 40 years.

An additional highlight is the famous and scenic Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, which is rated amongst the top ten train journeys in the world. We will ride our bikes on long forgotten trails to the heart of the canyon.

Everything will be filmed for TV and photographed.

I'm planning another trip in April to South Africa. After some promotional work with the Adidas Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race, I will attempt a first descent on Table Mountain in Capetown, riding my bike down Platteklip Gorge, one of the steepest hiking routes on the mountain.

Several other projects are in the works including involvements at the Bike & Soul Freeride Event in Saalbach, and the Mountain Bike Worlds in Livigno, etc....

The attached photo is royalty free, it was taken at a recent trials show during the Alpine Ski World Championships in Bormio, Italy.

 

 



The new GT i-Drive 5

The 5inch fully from GT, with the new Fox Float R 130mm, and the Gravity Dropper seat post (not on production bikes). Keep you eyes open, this bike is sweeeeet, perfect for my style of XC riding and my adventure trips.
 

The new GT trials bike

Hans Rey signature model is almost ready. Production framesets will be available later on this year (maybe Nov. '04). This bike will only be available as frameset.
 

My new sweeeeet Hyundai Tiburon V6 and my new GT Trials bike

 

Tour de France
July 17, 2004

I'm not sure if I'm on an endless rollercoaster or if I'm caught in a tornado. It's been an incredible experience to be here in France at the Tour de France. It's hard to describe this event in words or even pictures. It's basically a giant sports event with up to 1,5 million spectators along the roads, 5000 persons with accreditations, 1400 official cars, over 90 different TV stations (OLN is just one of them with probably 50 people or more), over 1200 journalists, some 70 photo agencies, and some 180 cyclists. The most impressive part is that everything and everybody has to move daily. It is literally a tornado and I'm one of the many persons who is caught in it - speeding through France.

A certain town, village or location can be almost normal 5 hours prior before the Tour comes through, with in hours it builds up to the one quick moment when the tour passes through for 30 seconds and within minutes things are back to normal, and one can hardly imaging that the Tour including all its cycling pros and legends just came through.

Having a media pass makes access and mobility quite easy, nonetheless it is amazing how accessable everything and everybody is. To run into Eddie Merckx or to have Lance ride pass you is as normal as standing next to Cheryl Crow or cycling fans from around the world.

Everything happens so fast, it is very hard to remember were we slept last night or what town we were in, not to mention how to pronounce it, etc., it seems like this Tour has been going on forever but it's barely half way through. I have experienced some great and unforgetable moments, met many interesting people and locals.....

I'm not sure if you caught any of my "Excuse my French" TV segments? That's were the rollercoaster part kicks in. Our initial idea was to have a daily 2 minute segment about weird and interesting side stories around the Tour, to loosen up the regular coverage and to show a bit more besides racing. OLN put us in a new show, in the afternoon when nobody watches the Tour, together with Kirsten Gum and the Cutters, some crazy US cycling fans. Nobody really planed our program much; plus we all kind of ended up covered similar stories. I was kind of bummed because it didn't really match my initial idea nor was I, just as many of the viewers back home, too stoked about the programing and the cutters (which are actually really nice guys) - OLN ended up changing things around a few times, yesterday they decided to stop the Roadside Tour show, but continue with daily segments from me - I'm not sure if the Cutters are still on board. I'm more happy with the new format, where they want to feed my segments into the Recap (afternoon) show and sometimes hopefully into the Primetime show. But everybody from OLN has their hands full with the daily coverage, our idea kind of falls through the cracks - but we still do our best trying to find interesting stories. The stories actually come surprisingly easy our way, all you have to do is start talking to people and roll the camera.

Most of the days we have no glue what we are going to do, we just drive or ride somewhere and start looking around and thing unfold quickly.

The other day I got the chance to experience a stage from the Mavic car. It was the stage that ended in St. Flour, with a long breakaway of Virenque and Axel Merckx - I was right behind them most of the time or two or three cars back, battleing with all the other support cars and motos. It was like a race in itself on the downhills, chasing the riders going 80 km/h, dicing with two or three motos on your side with squeeling tires and human barriers left and ride on the roadside.

Tonight we just arrived at the Plateau de Beille where tomorrows stage will end. Nothing is set up yet, all the TV trucks and finishline vehicles are on their way, arriving tonight. Everywhere on the mountain are big parties, there must have been a couple of tousand RV's parked along the side of the road, there was not one spot left on the roadside on the whole 17km uphill to the ski resort. I can only imagine the nightmare to get out of here after the race......People are already (20hours before the race) standing roadside, cheering on all the cars and trucks going uphill....

We have an RV which is super handy, we can just pull up anywhere, especially with our credentials, and wake up next to the finishline or whereever we pulled up. My crew is cool and easy. Steve is the cameraman/producer, we have Tim our editior - he has to edit our pieces within hours and turn them in so they can upload them to the OLN Studios in the USA, and Magnus is our Driver and assistant. We have also a motocycle courier dedicated, in case he needs to rush one of our tapes to the upload truck at the finish line.

Things are cool - I'm not too worried about the TV show, although I want it to be successful, I'm not banking on a TV career in the future.

This is a live time opportunity, I'm thankful to be part of it this year.

Regards

Hans

March 15, 2004 - Hey, I'm just back from Mount Kenya, Africa
Read about it here.

 

Check out OLN (Outdoor Life Network / USA) coverage of the 2004 Tour de France this summer.
Hans will be traveling with the Tour the whole month of July to do a daily segment for the Roadside Show as part of OLN's daily broadcast (5pm daily from July 3. - July 25.); as well as in selected other TdF programs on OLN. His show is called " Excuse my French with Hans Rey" will feature all the funny, interesting little side-stories around this spectacular event interacting with the french people and culture as a reporter on the go.

 

Premiere of "No Way" the Hans Rey Story
Big Bear, CA - Northwood Resort - Friday May 21st 2004 @ 9pm. Details here (PDF).

 

Ride Europe’s finest trails with Hans Rey in Ischgl August 7-14, 2004
Come to Tyrol/Austria this summer; learn from Hans Rey himself while riding some of the finest trails in the Alps. Details here.

Hans riding 'Northshore' in Lopes' backyard
Check out the photos below:

 

GT's Gearbox Prototype:

 

Ischgl opens new trail:
Hans and Uli Stanciu have been working in Ischgl (www.Ischgl.com), Austria's top Ski & Mountain Resort, all year (2003) long to expand their mountain bike trail system and to improve the infrastructure to turn Ischgl into one of the best biking destinations in Europe. Part of their work included to record all trail data and to design new trails for all skill levels. Ischgl offers endless trails , the resort expands all the way into Switzerland and combined with the gondolas and chairlifts one can do very big tours without always pedalling uphills. You can ride your bike or take the chairlift all the way up to 3000 meters (10,000feet) above sea level. One of the first new trails in the Velill Valley was just finished before the first snow fall. The official opening will be in the Summer 2004.

Check out the photos below:

 

Interview with Hans
http://www.bikesutra.com/hansrey_interview.html

 

T-Mobile International Bicycle Race
Hans during his recent shows at the T-Mobile International Bicycle Race in San Francisco.


photos courtesy of:
Matt Wood

 

Global Extremes Mt Everest - 4Runners of Adventure:
Click here for full story

 

New Bike Park Opening
Adidas Freeride Trail and Evil Eye Trail Bike Park Opening in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria (May '03), with Cedric Gracia, Tyler SuperT Klassen, and Petra Bernhard.



more info at: http://www.ischgl.com


 

Photo Gallery of Hans from his recent trip to New York City (May'03).
http://www.SportsShooter.com/tuktin/hansreyny/index.html

Check out a painting of one of Hans' old trials bikes, made by famous bicycle artist Taliah Lempert.
http://www.bicyclepaintings.com/studio03/hansrey/studioindex.html

 

New Maxxis Hansventure Tire
Check out the first prototypes of the new Maxxis Hansventure Tire. Hans designed this dual compound tire as an all-round riding, adventure and trials tire. First test results have been incredibly good. These particular prototypes are a 2.35 downhill version. This tire should be available in the near future (changes possible).

 

Mexico National MTB race
Story by Brian Lopes

This past weekend I took a trip to Mexico with Hans Rey. For the second weekend in a row I got to practice my Spanish and eat some authentic Mexican food. The event was a national race/festival that we were invited too by Christian, a local trials rider who was sponsored by Sr. Palma. Sr. Palma is a wealthy man in Mexico who loves to mountain bike and pays to support a team down there and also payed for Hans and I to make the trip.

We arrived late Friday night and were picked up by Christian and Mario (our personal driver for the weekend). They were very nice and stoked to meet us. We chatted with them for a while and then fell asleep in the SUV, as it was a 2.5 hour drive to the hotel.

Sat. morning Hans and I met Christian for breakfast in the hotel. The food was great and we could eat as much as we wanted with are all access wrist bands. Anytime of the day there was a buffet set up and we could grind.

After breakfast Christian introduced us to our bodygaurd for the weekend. Yep, we had a bodygaurd!! It was actually Sr. Palms, but he was now also ours. His name was Jerry and he was pretty big.

We went to the venue to check out the scene and actually meet Sr. Palm and his family. He was a super nice guy. He had just got done racing the xc event, in which he finished 8th.

Hans checked out the trial course and I checked out the dual. The course was not bad for the first ever dual in Mexico. There were a few sets of doubles, some tables, a step up, and a small triple. And to top it off, it was all under lights.

It was lunch time now, so we had Mario & Jerry take us to the local market for some food. We ended up eating "tortas", which is like a sandwich almost.

After eating Hans got ready to do his show and I went over to the DH course for some practice. It has been almost a year since I rode a DH bike, so I was pretty stoked to do some runs. I did about 5 or 6 runs and felt good. I needed to change my tires and forx, but since Stickman was not there to do it for me, I figured I better just run it how it was or I might run into some problems if I attempted it on my own.

Hans was done with his show and I was done with DH practice, so we headed back to the hotel for some food, before going back to the race site to compete in the dual.

There were a couple of fast Mexican riders, one guy named Myles from S. Africa, who now lives over in Mexico, and Adrean Cortina from Cortina Cycles who lives in Santa Barbra California. Oh, and Hans!!! Yep, after a 6 year break from racing slalom, Hans was back. There were a few doubles that gave Hans some problems, but other than that he was snapping out the gate.

I qualified first by 2 seconds over Adrean and I think 6 seconds over Hans, who was 7th. The course was only 20 seconds long and they only qualified 8 riders. I ended up racing Adrean in the final and came away with the win.

The event was a blast. There were a lot of spectators and everyone was totally into the race and the fact that Hans and myself were there. We signed more posters and autograph cards over the weekend in Mexico, then I will sign all year at the NORBA events.

From there it was back to the hotel for some dinner and drinking. Sr. Palms best friend is Don Julio. Have you ever heard of him? He is one of the most popular people in Mexico. Kind of similar to Jack Daniels in America. Don Julio is a tequilla and a good one. At least that is what Sr. Palm says. I hate tequilla and have not had it for almost 2 years, but Sr. Palm insisted that we drink some. I had 2 shots, which was plenty for me to get drunk. I left the real drinking for Hans to handle with Sr. Palm. Hans can put down some alcohol and went toe to toe with The Palm.

After we were finished w/ dinner we all went outside and sat around a fire. Hans decided to teach everyone a game called "hot potatoe". He picked a glowing piece of wood from the fire and started passing it around. Everyone was dropping the burning hot piece of wood, including myself, as we were scared. Hans made it a point to set the standard that we all had to pass it around the circle, without dropping it, until we were to stop the game. It lasted a while until we managed to all build up the courage to handle the "potatoe" and make a complete passing around the circle. A few blisters for some and some burnt holes in cloths were the extend of damage, but it sure was a lot of laughs and fun.

Sunday was the DH and another show for Hans. I got 1 more practice run in before the race and that was it. The weather was HOT and the race was a bit unorganized, so we sat around for a while in the heat. I finally got to do my run and it was a good one. I was pretty happy w/ how I rode, ending up 6 seconds in front of second on a course that was 2min 22 seonds long. The course was pretty good, all single track, loose rocks, drop offs, technical rock sections, and some man made jumps. All in all, it was not bad.

After the race Hans did another show with Christian which was a big success. I have not watched Hans do a show in awhile and I forgot how good he is and how he knows how to work the crowd.

Again we signed a lot of autographs and had a killer time. We ended up eating some tacos from a local stand that was set up at the finish line, and they were awsome.

Now it was back to the hotel for some swimming and packing of our bikes and cloths. I hate packing bikes!!! It has to be the worst thing about traveling w/ a bike, packing and un-packing it.

Anyways the trip was killer and Hans and I had a blast. I wish the atmosphere was like that at all the races I go to, just having a good time with no pressure. The treatment was top notch and unmatched by any race in the US that I have ever been too. We defenitely would like to thank Christian for setting this trip up for us, The Palm for footing the bill and putting on such a good event, and everone else who treated us so nice and took extra good care of us. We will definitely be looking forward to coming back next year.

Adios,
Lopes & Hans

 

Only in Japan - SUPER RIDER

On my recent trip to the Bike Trial World Championships Finals in Itadori, Japan, I had the honor to participate in a famous and well known Japanese TV Show. This program has 20 million viewers in Japan and it's called "Muscle Rankings" the trials part of this show is called "Super Rider". This was already the 6th episode of Super
Rider, the object is to clean a super hard section on the first and only try. As soon as you get one dab or you crash - you'll be done.

The riders who reach the finish will get Yen 100.000 14 riders were invited, amongst them some of the finest riders in the world. All the top Japanese riders were there, as well as Ot Pi (13 time plus World Champion, Cesar Canas 9 time World Champion, Daniel Crosset (former World Champion).

After an easy entrance over a teeter totter and the roof of a Japanese house, riders had to cross 5 spaced pillars over water on their rear wheel. Next came a tricky S shaped balance beam, from there we had to side hop over a 80 cm bar and up a balance beam to the top of a miniature sky scrapper. From there we had to rear wheel down and hop up some sketchy scaffolding bars. That was where my ride ended, right before the final balance beam which was 5 m long and
only 5cm wide and round, with a bouncy uphill. Nobody reached the finish line, I was stoked I could hang with the big guys.

 

Hans on the Evil Eye trail in Germany
The first "North Shore" style trail in Europe
was recently opened at the
BMW Bikepark in Bavaria

 


Hans on the final stunt of the Evil Eye Trail

The Evil Eye Trail was blessed by a
priest before the official opening

 


Double Trouble - two teeter totters in a row

 


Frank Roman and Hans shredding
down the Evil Eye Trail