Thursday 11 December 2014

Tweet tweet !!!


Monday 27 October 2014

Winter is here ! Downhill Lesson Sat. October 25th (PHOTOS)


Tuesday 21 October 2014

Downhill Lesson SATURDAY 25th of October ( 25 Οκτώβριος ) Ymmitos















Medium level riders boost up your skills !!!! Saturday 25th of October ( 25 Οκτώβριος ) !!!

Improve your skills in :
Turning , Braking, Passing obstacles, Jumping, Technical terrain.... and more

Helmet and Knee guards mandatory.

Meeting at Kessariani, Ymmitos Firemen post. 11:30 AM
lesson will finish at 15:30

booking and details:
Alessio Toninelli 6956444887
Marios BigPapa 6981768406
Prices 

για την κράτηση: στείλετε ένα e-mail με το όνομά σας, ηλικία,  το ποδήλατό σας, το κινητό τηλέφωνο. momentum.mtb.academy@hotmail.com

Friday 19 September 2014

VIDEO: Momentum Racing team - Marios BIG Papa ( Papasimakopoulos) practice run IXS EDC Pila '14


Momentum Racing team - Marios BIG Papa ( Papasimakopoulos) practice run IXS EDC Pila '14 from Alessio T. on Vimeo.

BACK TO SCHOOL DH lesson Photos


Tuesday 9 September 2014

PHOTOS: 2nd Downhill Pelion Race


Monday 8 September 2014

Downhill Lesson BACK TO SCHOOL 14-9



Sunday 14th of September 11am Kessariani Pirosvestiki post,  Ymmitos 

Welcome back to school!!! First lesson of the new academic year!!! 
Downhill on Ymmitos ! All time classic!

Jumps, berms roots and rocks.

Middle level.

Full face helmet required ! 

Details and prices on our blog : //momentumacademy.blogspot.com



For booking send a message with : name, bike, age at momentum.mtb.academy@hotmail.com

Or call Alessio 6956444887Marios 6981768406

Friday 29 August 2014

OUR PILA (Ita) Ixs European Downhill Cup

Thursday Aug.14th

 Our long trip started at 4am from Athens... and after 1 plane, 1 bus, 3 trains, one gondola and 12 hours we finally arrived to PILA (AO-ITA) for the first ride on PILA trails !!! see here the full album from our Facebook:



I think we could call ourself a bit tired ! :)  I don't even remember what track we rode ! ahaha

we slept 12 hours that night!


Friday 15th

Early wake up, mega-home-made-breakfast !!!! track walk... well some part of the track you can not even walk them...






Ready to Practice

 Pila is a bike park yes, but Italian way... is not super smooth and shaped... is hard to ride, fast, technical and steep...
 Marios words: " Is the first time in my life that I'm waiting for the pedaling section to rest my hands and relax... and than after 3 seconds the World cup section comes !!! "



 I soon realized that the Specialized Enduro 29er will be well tested on this IXS track and I made my life more complicated considering my " bad shoulder" with a 160mm travel fork. Believe me was a lot of fun to ride it on the other "piste" of the park. Especially in the 11km downhill track from Pila to Aosta, "Rientro", the 29er was a blast.



 Practicing on this track for 6 hours was hard for us and our bikes, imagine that my bottle case unscrewed from vibrations but, what an incredible training ! My new ZTR rims light and stiff finally let me ride this bike as fast as it deserves!!!


  First mechanical problem for BigPapa... the front brake just decided to give up. Thank to the guys of Topsport racing we manage to replace it.
 The fun part is that our B&B was the village under Pila and to arrive we had to take the fist part of the "Rientro"....

 We discovered new muscles in our body that day !!!

Saturday 16th

 Practice and seeding run for today...

 I have a front wheel puncture the first run of the day... bye bye tubeless !!!

 I personally decide to preserve myself and the Enduro for the seeding, due to the fact that I know the track from the previous years, I decide to ride the "easier" Freeride tracks and just try few parts of the IXS wile Marios is burning tires, suspensions and muscles on the race course.

 




We also have the chance to seat on some Pro's bikes and realized that our suspensions are not really working compare to them :'-(

 Time to go to our little house and have some good food before the seeding.


 All timed and set up I arrive to Pila ready to "seed" on my "little bike" and... flat rear tire on the fire road before the lift, a nail or something ahahahahah tubeless liquid everywhere.... pssssssssshhhhhhhh :P   ahahahahah at the top DNF




Marios time now

You always know is Marios coming down when the speakers start panic wile reading his family name ! ahahah
" Pa pa si.....ma...ko po-ulos! "
crosses the line after finding some "traffic" in 166th position ( not happy )

time to ride up and down Pila-Aosta 11k "Rientro" trail ( after mounting an inner tube - bye bye tubeless #2 )


RACE DAY

mega-home-made-breakfast !!!!

 During practice Marios brake collapse again... and not is time for a Greek way "patenta" to fix it ! ahaha



  I brake 2 spokes but most importantly my saddle ahahah ouch ! than crashing hard and I decide to "call the day",  I think all this where sings given to me... DO NOT RACE , YOUR SHOULDER IS NOT READY YET ! so... time to focus on our BigPAPA and refresh with a cold RB.



 Apparently he took a bit risk in the World Cup section, so big that some of the organizers came to me and tell me that: " We can not understand how he manage to stay on the bike !!! " ahahah



 Well at the end of the day this track, more than 4 minutes of speed bumps, roots and rocks, was to hard for "us Greeks", Marios finished in 142nd position, after learning a lot and a lot to learn.



1: Suspensions set up makes the difference
2: Be fit or stay home, talents is never enough when you are racing
3: Italian food is amazing
4: Marios loves Spritz, a lot !
5: we love Pila "Rientro" ( we did it again and again after the race and on Monday)


Cheers to all our sponsors for making this trip possible !!
especially Red Bull Greece and Endura/Loukas bikes.

I would like to thank Kassimatis Cycling for the opportunity to ride the amazing Enduro 29 






Monday 14 July 2014

BiG BeaR Downhill Race 2014 - Alessio Toninelli © photos



Monday 30 June 2014

Enduro Mediterraneo Round 2 - Steni - Evia . Alessio Toninelli Photos

All Mountain lesson ENTRY LEVEL (SUNDAY 6-7-2014)


boost up your skills !!!! SUNDAY 6-7-2014 !!!

 BEGINNER/ ENTRY level lesson. Anybody with higher skills is welcome as well to work on their fundamentals skills.

Improve your skills in :
Turning , Braking, Passing obstacles, Technical terrain.... and more

Helmet and Knee guards mandatory.

Meeting Papagou (motocross track) 10:00 AM
lesson will finish at 14:00

booking and details:
prices

for booking send email to momentum.mtb.academy@hotmail.com writing your name/age/bike/mobile phone number

Alessio: 695 6444 887
Marios: 698 1768 406

Max: 15 riders
Min: 3 riders

see you on the mountain!!!


Tuesday 17 June 2014

VIDEO: Momentum mtb academy DH/Enduro Lesson 8/6/'14 and Amanita/Stomio Downhill race 2014

Διπλή εμφάνιση για την Momentum την Κυριακή 8/6, downhill/enduro lesson στον Υμηττό και αγώνας στο Στόμιο. Ενώ ο Alessio και ο Μάριος βοηθούσαν μερικούς riders να βελτιώσουν την τεχνική τους στα απίστευτα και ανανεωμένα μονοπάτια του Υμηττού, η Ειρήνη και ο Πάνος αγωνίζονταν στο Στόμιο. 
Ο Πάνος κατέκτησε την 7η θέση στους Junior και η Ειρήνη ανέβηκε πάλι στο ψηλότερο σκαλί του βάθρου έχοντας αρκετό ανταγωνισμό αυτή την φορά στην κατηγορία των γυναικών.

Double appointment for momentum , downhill enduro lesson on Ymmitos and racing in Stomio. 
Alessio and Marios helped a group of riders improving their skills on the amazing Ymmitos trails, wile Irene and Panos went racing in Amita Stomio. 
7th place in Junior for Panos and amazing 1st place for Irene that finally found some competition in the women category.


Momentum mtb academy DH/Enduro Lesson 8/6/'14 and Amanita/Stomio Downhill race 2014 from Alessio T. on Vimeo.

Friday 6 June 2014

Endura Singletrack II trousers - BigPAPA's long term review


Φαίνεσθαι Vs. Είναι

Τα τελευταία χρόνια παρατηρούμε μια στροφή της ποδηλατικής βιομηχανίας ρούχων στον εικαστικό σχεδιασμό και τα χρώματα παρά την λειτουργικότητα και την ανθεκτικότητα. Η ENDURA μια εταιρία εδραιωμένη στη Σκωτία γνωρίζει ότι κανένα παρδαλό σχέδιο η έντονο χρώμα δεν θα σε προστατέψει από την βροχή, το κρύο και κατά συνέπεια από τις πτώσεις σε μία χώρα όπου βρέχει 350 μέρες το χρόνο. 

Το Singletrack II  είναι κατασκευασμένο από υλικό cordura που του δίνει αντοχή στις πτώσεις και τα σκισίματα, καθώς επίσης απωθεί και το νερό (water repellent). Τις κρύες μέρες του χειμώνα με βροχή καταφέρνει να διατηρεί τη θερμοκρασία του σώματος προστατεύοντας σε από το κρύο και την αποβολή θερμότητας η οποία οδηγεί γρήγορα σε εξάντληση και τραυματισμούς των μυών. Πάρ' αυτά λόγου του υλικού αλλά και του συστήματος εξαερισμού που έχει το κάνει κατάλληλο και για τους πιο ζεστούς μήνες του χρόνου καθώς καταφέρνει να παραμένει δροσερό καθώς το υλικό είναι και διαπνέον.

Ο πολύ καλός και εργονομικός σχεδιασμός του με ελαστικά γόνατα σου επιτρέπει να πεταλάρεις αβίαστα ενώ οι θέσεις και ο αριθμός των τσεπών το κάνουν ιδανικό και για χρήση μακρυά από το βουνό, για την καθημερινή μετακίνηση αλλά και για κάποιο ταξίδι ή ορειβατική εξόρμηση. Διαθέτει 2 μπροστινές τσέπες με μαγνήτη ενώ στην μία εκ των δύο υπάρχει τσέπη μέσα στη τσέπη με φερμουάρ για τα μικρά πολύτιμα αντικείμενα καθώς και δύο οπίσθιες τσέπες.

Το παντελόνι το χρησιμοποίησα σχεδόν μια σεζόν σε πληθώρα καταστάσεων, από xc & am και dh, σε καθημερινή μετακίνηση μέσα στη πόλη τις βροχερές ή κρύες  μέρες, σε ταξίδια και πολύωρες πορείες (trekking) καθώς και για σκάψιμο. Όπως είναι φυσικό υπέστη πολλές δοκιμασίες, από άγριες τούμες, κλαδιά, πιάστηκε σε πολλές αιχμές και βράχηκε ενώ πλύθηκε αμέτρητες φορές. Σχεδόν ένα χρόνο μετά εξακολουθώ να το χρησιμοποιώ με χαμόγελο χωρίς κανένα σημάδι φθοράς ή σκίσιμο ή ξεθωριάσματος είτε μείωση της αδιαβροχότητας του.

Το Singletrack II trousers είναι ένα do it all παντελόνι που θα σας συνοδεύσει και πέραν από τις ποδηλατικές σας βόλτες για πολύ καιρό και σε πολύ καλή τιμή. Τι άλλο να ζητήσεις? Ίσως το ίδιο και σε σορτσάκι.... Ε? υπάρχει ήδη ! Τότε ίσως σε 3/4?? Περίμενε, και αυτό υπάρχει.




Thursday 5 June 2014

Endura MT500 Spray Baggy Shorts - Alessio's long term review


I' ve got the pants during the winter season and  wear them ever since, for almost every AM ride and Downhill as well.


 The Endura MT500 are incredibly light and fell like wearing bib shorts, not baggy pants. The comfort is incredible wile pedaling thanks also to the clickfast underpants,  the perfect fit makes them really good for technical downhill section too, they never got grabber by my saddle or anything else.

 The pockets are all in cleaver places, easy to access also wearing gloves and of good size, really usefull for a long AM ride, so you don't need to reach your back pack for an energy bar or your multi-tool.
 In Greece we don't have a particularly cold or wet weather so I was told that this all season pants with waterproof back side was too much for our Mediterranean country, but I have to say that I really enjoy to have a dry butt during the few muddy rides and I have to admit are well ventilated and cool also during the hot Greek early Summer days.

 After riding with this pants in mud, rain, hot dusty days and also having a couple of good crashes ( I'm writing wile recovering from a dislocated shoulder) they still look like new !

  The Endura MT500 are available from XS to XXL they can fit from Girls to Giants and at a reasonable price too!
A lot of colors options.....not ! Black and black eh eh, what to say about it? Black goes with everything !






Thursday 29 May 2014

Downhill / Enduro Medium level lesson - Sun. 8-6-'14

Medium level riders boost up your skills !!!! Sunday 8th of JUNE ( 8 ιουνίου )  !!!

Improve your skills in : 
Turning , Braking, Passing obstacles, Jumping, Technical terrain.... and more

Helmet and Knee guards mandatory. 

Meeting at Kessariani, Ymmitos Firemen post. 11:30 AM
lesson will finish at 14:30

booking and details:

for booking send email to momentum.mtb.academy@hotmail.com writing your name/age/bike/mobile phone number

Alessio: 695 6444 887
Marios: 698 1768 406

Max: 20 riders
Min: 3 riders

see you on the mountain!!!

Monday 19 May 2014

All Mountain/ Enduro Medium level lesson - Sat. 24-5-'14

Medium level riders boost up your skills !!!! SATURDAY 24th May !!!

Improve your skills in :
Turning , Braking, Passing obstacles, Jumping, Technical terrain.... and more

Helmet and Knee guards mandatory.

Meeting at Kessariani, Ymmitos Firemen post. 11:30 AM
lesson will finish at 14:30

booking and details:
prices

for booking send email to momentum.mtb.academy@hotmail.com writing your name/age/bike/mobile phone number

Alessio: 695 6444 887
Marios: 698 1768 406

Max: 20 riders
Min: 3 riders

see you on the mountain!!!



Thursday 17 April 2014

Enduro Mediterraneo 1st round ( Xanthi - Greece ) - Momentum report

The first Enduro race of the year was up North in Xanthi, 9 hours drive from our home in Athens.

Alessio and Irene where defending the racing team honor and Momentum academy student  ( ex F3 and Kart Greek champ ) Stoyan was ready to enjoy his first mtb race ever!  Along with them for the trip was also Alex, a good friend and experienced rider.

Friday:
Leaving Athens in the late morning didn't gave chance to the team to do any practice on Friday, but just have a walk on the 3stage and realized that this race was a serious business !  Was time to test some local food :P

Saturday:
Early wake up and ready to test the 25km course wile the weather was constantly switching from clouds to sun and light rain.
In this Xanthi race no motorized vehicle was allowed for uplift and training so they had to pedal all the way up the mountain and do a real race simulation in order to try all 4 super stages, sadly we have to admit that some riders where not respecting this rule...."God damn it" !!
The stages where a good mix of pedaling, technical, jumps, rocks and muddy off cumber turns, really nice, really worth to drive all the way across Greece for this race ! the trails are amazing!!!!!


Sunday RACE DAY:
Even earlier wake up for building and setting up the tent and maybe have a walk on the secret seeding run trail.



More than 120 riders, not only Greeks, but also from Bulgaria, Germany, France and 6 girls  were ready to climb to the seeding stage: Jaster Revenge!


A real mini DH course full of rocks and difficult turns. No chance to practice on that, so ready to race! Alessio, #10, is the first of ours to go. A misunderstanding with the organizers made him believe that this run time would have count also for the final race so he was ready to give 100% trying to make the difference in such a downhill oriented course.

3. 2. 1. . Gooooo  coming way to fast for the first mini drop Alessio loses the front wheel grip hits a rock and CRASH HARD ! BUUUUM  climbs back to get his Specialized Enduro 29 and cruses his way down... he will ends up in 16 place.
After him is Stoyan, #12, unfortunately he is still lacking some confidence for attacking a trail like this and goes out of the trail in a difficult off camber turn...50 something place.
Irene, #38, is next. After seeing Alessio's crash she takes it easy and safe and finished 2nd women.
Our friend Alex, #113,  keeps it safe as well and finished is the first 50 riders.




Arriving at the pit Alessio was feeling a lot of pain at his right wrist after the crash and was not feeling right for racing. After a chat with Stoyan decided to start and climb to the 1st stage anyway and decide once up there.

Climbing to the 1st stage was hard for everybody especially for Alessio that could not even hold the handle bar.
Thank God he manage to resist and embrace the pain finishing 16 this long and demanding first super stage. 26th for Alex, 40th for Stoyan that found traffic and 1st in the women Irene.

          Stoyan in "traffic"

























From the 1st to the 2nd stage they had to pedal again almost all the mountain up and was not easy, the times were tight and most of the riders made it up on time. Many arrived late too...
This stage was full of jumps and ending in the Xanthi bike park... showtime stage ehehe ( Alessio 13th, Alex 27th, Stoyan 29th and Irene consolidating her 1st spot)



3rd stage.... steep, muddy and tight. Alessio admitted that was not a stage for a 29 bike and was having problem "fitting between the tight trees and corners". But the problem was not the bike than, was his hand. This stage was much more steep and he had to put a lot of pressure on the handle bar, result: he had all his arm muscles in pain now :(  12th place n this stage for our teamleader. Good result for Stoyan in 34th  and 45th for Alex, while Irene had some issue and finished 2nd in this stage, but was still 1st overall.






















4th stage.... the rocky one !!
Alessio says: " I manage to finish this one only because of the 29er, it rolled so good on the rocks that I forgot my pain!!" the 8th place in this stage made Alessio climb till the 11th position overall, good and unaspected position considering how the day started. Stoyan finished 37th and Alex 38th, very good for both at their first race.


        
Irene wins the women category after a very demanding day in terms of endurance for her that is used to downhill races.




What a nice week end we had in Xanthi at the first Enduromediterraneo race. Fantastic atmosphere and good vibes. Pure mountain bike riding and a challenging course ! can't wait for the next round ! see you in Steni-Evia !


complete results here.

more photos here.