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Submitted by
Jules Evans
a Cross Country Rider
from hobart, tas
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Wellington | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Strengths: | head to head Reviews with a value for money graph | | Weaknesses: | a few too many ads. | | Similar Products Used: | mtb Aus. | | Bike Setup: | trek fuel | | Bottom Line: | This is a good mag but they do tend to review the more expensive bikes too much, probably because they are much more fun to ride. I have been trying to get a couple of mates into riding but there is never anything reviewed that is in their price range.
reviewing bikes like the mojo etc. is all very well but 90% of the readers will never have that sort of money available for a bike.
However, the reviews that they do are informative and I did base my latest bike choice partially on their recommendation and I'm very happy with the bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DH Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide,SA,Australia
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Fox Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Purchased At: | (^Aus)Random Newsage | | Strengths: | Good reviews.
Aussie(our prices)
Worth Reading | | Weaknesses: | Needs to be monthly. | | Similar Products Used: | Dirt | | Bike Setup: | Avanti hardtail stock | | Bottom Line: | A great magazine for a half decent price but needs to be monthly. I enjoy reading it. It has a bit of a DH lean which I like because that's what I most enjoy. They do cover mountain biking in general very well though. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gary musgrave
a Weekend Warrior
from sydney
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Purchased At: | newsagent | | Strengths: | it has bike in it , jim trail | | Weaknesses: | every thing seems to be just a glance at some stuff and your supposed to know what there talking about all the time , to many ads ,it seems that most bikes are all over $5000 or they are not any good !!! | | Similar Products Used: | other bike mags | | Bike Setup: | jamis dakar 06 | | Bottom Line: | are these people working part time putting this magazine together !!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony none
a Cross Country Rider
from western australia
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Dardanup | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Purchased At: | newsagent | | Strengths: | Some really good pics and give aways. Has some pretty good info for the "extreme" rider | | Weaknesses: | Needs more reviews and definently needs some more reviews on Cheaper Bikes(<$1000 aud. More shopping listings would also be good.
| | Similar Products Used: | Clict Magazine and Dirt mountain bike magazine (UK) | | Bike Setup: | '05 Mongoose Tyax comp (standard) Besides a shimmano hollowtech crank. | | Bottom Line: | Overall a great magazine, definantly worth getting, maybe not subscribing. Definantly aimed at the medium to higher rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Briant
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne - Australia
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Lysterfield | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Purchased At: | Newsagent | | Strengths: | Great info. Has some good stories and articles. Comes with the latest catalog. Get free stuff when u subscribe. | | Weaknesses: | Too many ads. No posters! needs posters! More reviews for sure. i see some reviews, but they need more so we can tell if the product is good or not! | | Similar Products Used: | None. Stuck to the same one all the time. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Yukon 05 | | Bottom Line: | Great magazine. I will soon subscribe. It should have more pictures/posters and a bit more reviews. some of the stuff they have in it bores me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan 'jonowee' Wee
a
from Perth, WA, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | A$6.95 at local newsagent and bike shops, whenever I see a new issue I just get straight away | | Strengths: | - It's a MTB mag.
- Quality aussie stuff
- Unbiased | | Weaknesses: | - Slight DH lean about does not feel biased at all.
- $6.95 is a reasonable price not expensive | | Similar Products Used: | Bicycling Australia, freewheel, Mountian Bike Rider, Mountain Bike Action | | Bike Setup: | AVANTI hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Best aussie MTB mag.
Saul Britton is a freak, a good freak!
How many bikes does TFN (Tony Fathers Nolan) have? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Shadbolt
a Cross Country Rider
from 10/7 Sunset Pde
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | South Kempsey Race Track (Australia) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | Newsagent | | Strengths: | Great product reviews
All disciplines covered
Some interesting stories | | Weaknesses: | Not enough reviews | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain Biking Australia
Mountain Biking UK
What MTB
Australian Cyclist | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Merida Kalahari 590 | | Bottom Line: | Nice to see such a great Australian Mountain Bike magazine. All relative to Aussies, with our prices.
It is perfect for all mountain bikers, with equal things on XC, Freeride and Downhill.
www.mountainbiking.net.ms | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Houghton
a Weekend Warrior
from Boonah
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | jellybean | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$6.00 | | Purchased At: | subscrition mainly | | Strengths: | Australian
good reviews
good photos | | Weaknesses: | Used to be great up until January 2000
looks dodgy with too much white | | Similar Products Used: | Bike Mag is great but expensive | | Bottom Line: | AMB is doing quite well but they need to look at their older issues
6 issues a year is coming up so things should get better:)
I think all aussie riders should subscribe to this mag as a base source of bike information | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Brizvegas, QLD
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Good photos, most of the articles are at least more readable by the average person than the ones in Dirt. | | Weaknesses: | Slaves to the advertisers, dead poor amount of content for a quarterly mag. | | Bottom Line: | For a quarterly magazine AMB has become painfully lacking in content, they've got 3 months to produce the thing these days and I honestly believe there was more, higher quality content when the mag was monthly. They've also, sadly become obvious slaves to their advertisers. Remember the last time *anything* in the magazine got a bad review? Me neither. They seem afraid to give honest opinions or do anything that might upset their advertisers. Remember a few issues ago when they had both a Santa Cruz VPP Blur and Specialized Epic to test? The two most anticipated XC bikes of the year and they didn't even run them head-to-head. They're spinelessness has lost me their respect and this was a mag I once trusted. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Vic, Austrailia
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3.80 | | Strengths: | Good tips, good picts, good reviews, great price! | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain bike, Mbr, Freeride | | Bottom Line: | cheaper than the other mags, good picts, stories, alround a great mag... that i'll keep buying. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken M
a Weekend Warrior
from Rowville, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Still Looking | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$6.00 | | Purchased At: | Newsagen | | Strengths: | Decent product reviews. | | Weaknesses: | No trail maps included like some of the UK or US mags. Lack of useful "How to" articles. Pretty useless when you consider only 4 issues per year. | | Similar Products Used: | Plenty of UK and US mags. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Blast | | Bottom Line: | I'm not sure why this mag is getting so many rave reviews from my fellow Aussies. It would seem the reason is just because this mag is produced here. Is it possible that we've become more arrogant than the US or even the French? Just because it's made here doesn't mean it's "the best" as some of the reviewers have suggested.
Being an Aussie mag isn't enough. For those of you bagging the international mags, try to consider that they produce 12 mags a year not 4. I'm a bit disappointed that the 4 that are produced aren't better than they are.
Read the mags for the content and the quality not just because of where they're made. One of the big problems here is that Aussie companies are allowed to produce sub-par good because the moronic masses go for the "If it's Aussie it's the best." If we demand quality they'll produce it.
Grow a brain and use it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jebediah Lavers
a
from Yarralumla, ACT, Aus
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Anslie | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$6.00 | | Purchased At: | Subscription | | Strengths: | It's Aussie, Good Reviews, Well laid out | | Weaknesses: | Quarterly, Lack of "how to" sections | | Similar Products Used: | All the US and UK overrated CRAP!!! | | Bike Setup: | Norco Two 50 2002 with RockShox Pyslo Race | | Bottom Line: | An overall great product, and those who bag it out, haven't read enough yet!!! So it's getting 5 flamin' Chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
red robinson
a Cross Country Rider
from adelaide
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | that would be incriminating | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | super elliotts | | Strengths: | giant NRS xtc 3 - strong frame for a heavy @#*%$#!@ like me. good set up all round for the price. | | Weaknesses: | regarding AMB (MAGAZINE) they don't cough up on prizes awarded for the issues best letter (ie- my lettter to trail mail in the october 1998 issue - sugoi jersey - i wish - three phone calls and two letters to the magazine and still no letter...... | | Bike Setup: | slowly updating - michelin wildgrippers silp and slop all over the place on wet adelaide single tracks | | Bottom Line: | the mags excellent, but the honesty sucks/sucked??? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graeme Ward
a Downhiller
from Philip Island,VIC, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Oswin roberts reserve | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | ride on bikes | | Strengths: | the norco one25 2002 model is a good strong frame that hasn't broken even when riding off 2 metre roofs! it comes with good rims and a good crank. | | Weaknesses: | comes with average forks and tyres. tioga factory DH pro tyres fix that along with rock shox PSYLO XC. | | Similar Products Used: | norco two50, norco atomic & norco puremetal | | Bike Setup: | 8spd altus & fully extended forks | | Bottom Line: | this bike goes off if your doing alot of dirt jumping, drops and fast smooth downhill sections. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | A bit of short track up near mansfield | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$6.00 | | Purchased At: | Mentone Newsagent | | Strengths: | Top quality mag.
good stories.
good pics.
good product reviews.
all australian means that everything is relevant and available. | | Weaknesses: | not long enough
| | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Norco Hardtail with Judy Shox and Tioga 2.1 tyres (nice tyres those) | | Bottom Line: | good read. worth the dough. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Ipswich (what a dump!)
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Castle Hill, though there are probably better ones that i don't know | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$6.00 | | Purchased At: | Local newsagent | | Strengths: | *Nice photos
*Australian mag
*Interesting Stories
*Good Coverage of Events
| | Weaknesses: | *Heaps of Ads - but guess they need cash cause their not international buisness
*Needs to be longer! - More articles, technical stuff, and more than one 'How To' section (they have 3 months to write the mag)
| | Similar Products Used: | Uncle Toby's Muesli Bars, Porsche Boxter, Antique Piano, Garden Fertilizer and a DVD Player | | Bike Setup: | WHO GIVES A @#%& | | Bottom Line: | This is the first edition of the mag i've ever bought and it was a good read but i feel IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LONGER - it is a quarterly mag and they have plenty of time to fill it in!
Its a good Aussie mag and i recommend you buy it
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wayne
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Chambers Gully (Catch me if you can!) | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Aussie | | Weaknesses: | It used to be crap | | Similar Products Used: | Yank and Pom mags | | Bottom Line: | New editor for the last couple of issues, things are starting to get a little more cohesive. Nice print quality. People seem surprised when they haven't picked up an issue for a while, it is starting to get half decent. As I said the biggest problem is that most people already have a preconcieved idea about the mag from olden days with different editor etc. Have a second look. The photos are up there with the international mags. The pieces are intresting and varied (not the "What fork should I buy")
Have a look you will be pleasantly surprised. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kane Smart
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Bundoora | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Purchased At: | Here, there, everywhere | | Strengths: | Aussie, info given actuall relevant to australia, nothing against UK or US mags, but for prices, etc. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough tech stuff, sure i like seeing people doing things that i never would as much as the next person, but that doesn't help my riding does it. | | Similar Products Used: | UK and US mags | | Bike Setup: | bit of this bit of that all stuck together with duct tape | | Bottom Line: | NEEDS MORE TECH & TRAIL TIPS | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graham
a Weekend Warrior
from Perth, Western Autralia
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Bottom Line: | My sister-in-law gave me a years subscription to this magazine last Christmas, bless her...
I won't be renewing it. Frankly AMB doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as other MTB mags.
It's largely drivel and I'm talking about the quality of the writing. I mean, did these people ever go to school and grasp even the basics of rudimentary English?
Judging by some of the reviews below they're not alone.
And what about some of the articles? An interview with some downhillers mother for Chrissakes?!?
Save your money and buy the excellent MBR from the UK or one of the widely available US mags. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim butler
a Downhiller
from tas
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | local | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Strengths: | good pics and features | | Weaknesses: | not enough pics, trail maps and aus only biking. | | Similar Products Used: | Freeride | | Bike Setup: | fast | | Bottom Line: | kik arse mag that has gone up and down but usullay delivers.
Agree with new ed problems but at least it showed how good the mag could be, hope it keeps comin!
Visit Tas for the nastiest freakiest dirtiest trails ever. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Dixon
a Weekend Warrior
from Mildura
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Murray River Banks | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Purchased At: | Newsagents | | Strengths: | Well presented, factual, good value for cost | | Weaknesses: | Nil | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | Giant xtc nrs3 | | Bottom Line: | Returning to bikes after 25 years I was fortunate to be loaned a few back copies. Based on the information they contained I have ordered my new bike. Now I know things might not suit all the readers but for the most part they should be glad they have a magazine of this quality available. Better still its Australian and good value for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
damon
a Weekend Warrior
from ballarat, vic, australia
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | nerrina area | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$6.00 | | Strengths: | -It's aussie
-It's aussie
-good, honest reviews
-pretty funny
-excellent trail reviews
| | Weaknesses: | -the new look and editor that didn't work out early 2001.
- bit too expensive
- too many adds but i spose they need the money | | Similar Products Used: | none, all US mags suck. | | Bike Setup: | does it matter????!!! | | Bottom Line: | a complete w*nker named ed oates tried being editor instead of tim robson and john stevenson, he totally stuffed the mag up crapping on about sh*t you don't want to know and having the most stupid lay out. luckily tim and john have come back and the mag is back to it's good old self.
the main reason i buy amb is because it has aussie stuff and isn't full of american and uk crap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darren
a Weekend Warrior
from queensland, somewhereinthemiddleof
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | mammoth mountain - never been there, but heard good things about it | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Purchased At: | newsagent | | Strengths: | Aussie
Aussie
has things we can actually afford, unlike some US mags who think everyone can afford to go out and buy $10 000 bikes. | | Weaknesses: | gone downhill, fast, since the new editor has been there | | Similar Products Used: | moutain bike action, BMXpress, Freeride, any buyers guides | | Bike Setup: | schwinn mesa GSX hardtail - got bent rims, handlebars, deraillers, frame mounts, forks - but still rides good, when it does. | | Bottom Line: | i completely blame the new ed for my lack of riding now, old issues with the "gash of the month" used to give me incentive to go out there to try and beat them, although i never did beat them. totally blame them for my chaffing aswell, aah, gotta blame it on someone!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Hunt
a Cross Country Rider
from Act
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Bluerange | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$6.00 | | Purchased At: | subscription | | Strengths: | Back in yee old days twas a fine rag. | | Weaknesses: | Over the last year this mag has gone down hill pretty fast, there are simply too many adds, it no longer supports Auz riders. | | Bike Setup: | NA | | Bottom Line: | I really used to look forward to getting my issue, but now I've let my subscription lapse. I just think they are rehashing old ground and getting a bit lame. I hope the mag improves now that it has gone back to being quarterly. Maybe we'll get some real articles now and not 36 pages of adds. The AMB crew need to start treating readers like they now what they are talking about. We need some juicey tech stuff that makes us think. I'll give it one last shot if it's not up to it then I'll never bye this mag again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bomber
a Weekend Warrior
from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tifiti fire break (dh) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Purchased At: | Local mag store | | Strengths: | Good bike/product reviews (if a tad short), lotsa pics, heaps of freeride stuff | | Weaknesses: | Articles are C**P, basiclly since the new editor its gone downhill REAL bad! Also its Australian so that pretty much says it all really (jokes) | | Similar Products Used: | Dirt, UK mags, US mags | | Bike Setup: | 00' Mongoose nx 8.3 duallie with Pyslo XC front forks and XT front V-brakes | | Bottom Line: | It USED to be a totally cool mag, going downhill and in a hurry. They need to leave those sheep alone and consentrate on bikes! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel Healy
a Racer
from Victoria Australia
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Emerald lake and my house | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$6.00 | | Purchased At: | the agent that has news | | Strengths: | nothing its gone down the drain . | | Weaknesses: | Just about EVERYTHING ,too much ads and its a piece of crap
Tim Robson should go back to school | | Similar Products Used: | mbuk mountain bike | | Bike Setup: | c'dale f500 | | Bottom Line: | um its a crap mag since Tim robsons come.
i had to put one on the ratings u cant do nothing...! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kinny
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Oaks, Andos, Lane Cove . . . etc | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$6.00 | | Purchased At: | by subscription . . . NO MORE! | | Strengths: | - Used to be good
- Good product review
- Good features, sometimes
- Good trail reviews (except for the time when Ed Oates f***ed up big time) | | Weaknesses: | - EVERYTHING ELSE
| | Similar Products Used: | none, all MTB mags are either overpriced or s*** | | Bike Setup: | Does it matter??? | | Bottom Line: | This mag is going down - Tim Robson & John Stevenson made the mag great . . . but they've both left. Now Ed Oates is gone after 2 months at the helm & completely f***ed up the mag. There's no content any more, the layout is s*** & it's good for a flick thru only. It's also a DH mag now.
My subscription was up last month & I ain't gonna renew it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike
a Weekend Warrior
from WA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Strengths: | Aussie... sort of. One of the EMAP group of magazines with no real character. Good bike tests, in fact pretty good product guidance generally and good mechanical info. | | Weaknesses: | Incredibly stupid layout and graphics in the last couple with new editor (try reading grey type on a grey background... or orange on brown. You idiots! Anyone would think you are trying to make your text as hard as possible to read.) Also horrible pixely headings that look ugly and utterly style-less. Lame writing like the recent self indulgent night time urban trials article and the dry and boring trail guides. Inconsistant photo's, some good but too many are either bad or trying too hard (blur effects or slow shutter speeds; nothing worse than wasting a good photo by 'negativising' it or applying other cheap special effects). Sadly this mag which promises a lot to Aussie MTB'ers has gone way down hill and is barely worth even perusing. It's incredible how this mag has degenerated. | | Similar Products Used: | Lots of US and UK mag's. Also FreeRide, a good Aussie mag with more character than AMB. | | Bike Setup: | Freeride hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Heading for the bottom. The last editor Tim Robson seems great now he's gone. The bozo that's in his chair now knows nothing about publishing... the first priority of which is to get people reading the magazine. They're not going to read this rubbish because its so badly designed and banal. Sack the editor, sack the coloured type on same coloured background, sack the special effects that ruin photos. I can't believe that Tony Nolan, veteran action photog, can abide that ridiculous screwing around with photo's!
Still worth flicking through but needs urgent attention to steer it back on track, it is going way wrong. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Many | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Newsagent | | Strengths: | Variation of content | | Weaknesses: | Not enough complete bike reviews and trail reviews
| | Similar Products Used: | US and UK mags | | Bike Setup: | FS cross country | | Bottom Line: | Generally an excellent magazine. Requires more focus on bike reviews and in greater depth. Should have more frequent trail reviews and directions for all states of Australia.
Really enjoy reading once it hits the stands. There should be no reasons or excuses for running behind schedule. This is the 21st century. Well done AMB. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Freddy
a Downhiller
from Cairns, QLD, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Newsagents | | Strengths: | Lots of pictures, language (sometimes) | | Weaknesses: | Not packed with goodies, not enough info, not enough bikes and not enough pages. | | Similar Products Used: | SNAP, MB Action, BMX EXPRESS, BMX PLUS | | Bike Setup: | Apollo LDX 2.2 | | Bottom Line: | Aussie, not eough of everything, I prefer bmx magazines better but I like the product testing part, not eough things to test (especially bikes.) in the November issue, it made up a lame excuse, CAN'T FIND ANY BIKES TO TEST!
Value rating 4 because not enough pages for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dicky
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Oaks firetrail (the singletrack bit), and McMahon's firetrail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | focused more on getting out for a ride than image-related crap, pretty damn good photography, staff aren't completely serious like other mags (that's a good thing), kinda funny, nice bikes, good read... (you could go on forever like this) | | Weaknesses: | should do review of sydney trails, and my bike
shame to see Tim Robson leaving | | Similar Products Used: | Cycling Australia (too much roadie stuff), Mountain Bike Action (USA, image-obsessed) Freewheel (pretty good) | | Bike Setup: | Raceline Extreme Sport XC | | Bottom Line: | keep up the good work, worth waiting for | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
L.D. Azz
a
from Sydney
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | RNP | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | local content...
| | Weaknesses: | late...last minute job normally.
You can tell by the spelling mistakes.
Not enough content for the price.
Trail reviews are only done by a couple of people. So there isnt many.
Bikes reviewed tend to be expensive ones, So they are out of reach for most people.
Graphic layout stinks. | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain Bike (USA), Dirt (UK), freewheel (Aust.) | | Bottom Line: | Theres better mags than this for pics, reviews, etc. But for local content the only competitor is freewheel which comes out quarterly and is hard to find.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | wherever my bike will take me! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | great for the Australian reader, nice layout
no huge amount of ads
always has good bike/product reviews and product setup tips | | Weaknesses: | still hasn't reviewed my bike | | Bike Setup: | Factory standard Giant Warp ds1 | | Bottom Line: | Exelent read for Australians, worth the dough
and always worth reading | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vincent
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Its' a well designed magazine, with the best photography imo compared to other magazines. Good local content, but usually late. | | Weaknesses: | Very, very short on local content compared to Uk or US magazines available. | | Similar Products Used: | Maximum mountain bike, Mountain Bike Rider | | Bike Setup: | GT Karakoram & Palomar | | Bottom Line: | Unfortunately Australia is a very small market for everything, especially mountain biking.
But they could at least be on-time with local competition dates, more content basically. I usually purchase it, but am finding less reason to pay $6.00. Trails can be found much easier by asking LBS's or looking it up on the internet. You can perve on new bikes at LBS's when we eventually get them in Australia.
Its ok...wish it was better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy .
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Blackstone | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | well that it's the only australian mag out there, has pretty good reviews, good pics and good product reviews | | Weaknesses: | not enough content for the money, there needs to be more race coverage and it needs to come out on time. | | Similar Products Used: | mountain biking UK, Mountain biker | | Bottom Line: | overall i think i'll always come back to AMB at the end of the day, it's a pretty decent aussie mag | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a
from Adelaide, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mayonnaise | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Only MTB mag in OZ. | | Weaknesses: | Slack race coverage. We want more DH. And it rarely comes out on time. | | Similar Products Used: | DIRT. That magazine rules. It has big DH pictures and stuff. | | Bike Setup: | Craftworks Moto Link / 2000 Boxxers | | Bottom Line: | Would be better if there was more DH and it came out on time and the race coverage was as soon as possible, not five months later like the Mt. Buller DH race. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cadel Evans :-p
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lane cove River | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Only Australian mountain bike mag (so they have a monopoly like Microsoft)
Good info on products that are actually available in Australia
Some humourous bits
Great pics | | Weaknesses: | Where can we start??? It's not worth $6.00 a issue for what is in it (but I'm still a subscriber)
Some of the humour doesn't work
Definitely not enough content
There's practically no reviews of bikes people actually ride - more like bikes people don't ride like stupid trials machines or dedicated DH machines or ultra-expensive XC machines
Not enough racing coverage - but still much much better than Australian mass media - get this - no major newspaper has ever mentioned Cadel Evans in the past year . . . & the Olympics is meant to be held in Sydney in 6 months . . .
I don't think the magazine promote riding in general
Not enough trail reviews - at least trails that people can get to . . .
Oh yeah, & idiot editors / writers . . . | | Similar Products Used: | None . . . well it IS the only Australian mountain bike mag & overseas mags just don't have enough relevant content | | Bike Setup: | Y2K Cannondale F700 . . . SHE'S GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Bottom Line: | Good mag . . . but not good enough . . . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jose Maturana
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Just started -- Give me couple of months | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Lovely layout, great pics, no-nonsense reviews and a fab technical section for readers. It's ballsy enough to actually print expletives -- I like that! Oh yeah, there's also the awesome Bell gash of the month -- worth the cover price alone! | | Weaknesses: | Could be longer, More pics would be fantastic. | | Similar Products Used: | UK and US mags - the only one that comes close is MBA. | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Moab. | | Bottom Line: | Foremost is that it's local. The trails are relevant to aussies, there's a tremendous level of patriotism for its riders and the writers don't purport to be super-heroes -- leave that stuff to the Rennies, Evans' and Ronnings of this world! Two thumbs up while going downhill! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LQQK Ing
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Australian
Not focused totally on image | | Weaknesses: | Most product reviews are just copied straight out of product catalogues.
Don't put shit on bad products.
Don't always give prices on products.
Editoral at the start is stupid and poorly written. | | Similar Products Used: | All of them ( you know the ones). | | Bottom Line: | Good to see an Aussie mag out there, but is not that different to th rest.
Just cause it's australian doesn't mean it's good or i have to like it.
Don't buy it - just flick through it on the shelves - some interesting parts, but not worth paying for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barry
a Downhiller
from Adelaide
Date Reviewed: November 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Fox Creek | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
This is the best magazine on the face of the earth, oh yeah, apart from playboy, penthouse, hustler etc. | | Weaknesses: |
absoloutly positively zero | | Similar Products Used: |
all the MTB mags from around the world, but I always come back to AMB | | Bike Setup: |
The mag is brilliant. | | Bottom Line: | The writers are all very brilliant and funny, the reviews are always the truth. What more can I say but 5 burning chilli's for AMB | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rancid
a Downhiller
from Brisbane
Date Reviewed: November 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
most of them | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Its Australian
Monthly
Pretty cheap | | Weaknesses: |
Its Australian
Writers are knobs
They don't actually test the bikes. | | Similar Products Used: |
All of the mags (us/uk)except for Bicycling and Cycling Australia | | Bike Setup: |
Totally box-stock 99 model, heavy duty staples, and the low page count which meant it was extra maneuverable on the coffee table. | | Bottom Line: | Its just a magazine guys, don't get so exceited. I don't even know why I buy it. I'm going for a ride.. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gordo
a Downhiller
from Brisbane
Date Reviewed: November 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Daisy Hill | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
This mag is the best moutain bike mag that I have ever read, and I have read a few, I am subscribed to AMB and I can't wait untill my new issue comes every month, f%#cking brilliant !! | | Weaknesses: |
None whatsoever. Oh, maybe could be a little longer. | | Similar Products Used: |
Mountain Bike UK, MBR, etc. | | Bottom Line: | The best Mountain Bike magazine available in the WORLD ! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ashes
a Weekend Warrior
from Perth
Date Reviewed: November 3, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Goat Farm | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | I've read all the international mags, MBA, Mountain Bike, MBUK, Dirt and MBI and Australian Mountain Bike is far and away the best. It kicks all the seppo mags through honest and thruthful reviews, no advertiser influenced reviews. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bikemike
a Cross-Country Rider
from Sydney
Date Reviewed: October 30, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Bottom Line: | The BEST mag for mountain bikers in Australia. Sure, they might not have the millions that the American and English mags do to produce their magazines, but they are no less interesting. The only gripe I have is that it's not long enough! But hey, it's worth waiting a month for. | | Overall Rating: |
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