Video: Nukeproof Mega – All Mountain Adventure
The guys from Nukeproof, including Nige Page and Al Bond, head out on an absolutely epic All Mountain trip. How does a 3700m summit sound for you? Check the incredible footage and scenery! Top enduro rider and Nukeproof UK man Martin Astley talks you through the trip...
The concept for the trip was simple, assemble a group of like-minded riders from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines and send them to the top of the biggest, most epic mountain we could find that is rideable all (or very nearly) the way down. Ash from Trail addiction was the man with the knowledge and he hooked us up with mountain man guide Ben Jones and a team to support this mission to the Summit of Aguille de la Grand Sassierre 3, 747m
![The route]()
The route for the Grand Sassierre; 3747m of epic right there! The crew
We were an eclectic bunch on this trip, from different backgrounds and niche’s within mountain biking. The one common thread between us was a love of riding bikes and a sense of adventure.
Nigel Page
ChainReaction Cycles/Nukeproof team manager Nige has been around forever. His background is in DH racing and BMX both of which he competed in to a World Class level for many years. Nigel still rides a lot and is heavily involved in the development of products for the Nukeproof brand so this ride was a perfect opportunity for him to give his Mega some serious testing.
![Epic mission up a 3700 peak]()
Al Bond
Al was the new guy on the CRC/Nukeproof team for 2012. Coming off a great year as a privateer in 2011 winning the overall BDS Al headed out to Cali for the winter to train with the Atherton’s. Unfortunately Al broke his Collar bone just before the World Cup in South Africa meaning he couldn’t hit his first full World Cup Season with quite the punch he had hoped. Nonetheless Al has turned heads across the globe with his amazing riding talent and aggressive style. The best thing about Al is he LOVES a good adventure; actually I’m yet to come across anything that Al doesn’t like?
![video still]()
Ben Jones
Lovingly referred to as THE Ben Jones by his friends and colleagues for his ever expanding reputation as one of mountain bikings’ top guides. Ben is guiding company Trail Addiction’s head guide. What Ben doesn’t know about life in the mountains, safety and great trails in the Haute Tarentaise isn’t worth knowing. Ben’s enthusiasm and leadership kept the team going when things got tough.
![Epic mission up a 3700 peak]()
Martin Astley
Your author for today. With a background in DH I made the switch to gravity enduro a few years ago and haven’t looked back since. With a busy work schedule looking after the marketing for Nukeproof and the other brands in the Hotlines portfolio you are more likely to find me with my head stuck in my e-mails than a full face helmet. However, I am always up for riding great trails and like Al I love a good adventure.
So as I said, the aim of this trip was simple, the execution not so much. The climb to the peak was a challenge for all of us; Pagey in particular was feeling the effects of altitude when we broke through the 3000m barrier.
It wouldn’t be right to finish the write up without mentioning camera man Stu Thomson of MTBCut. Stu has an impressive list of results from his racing past including a World Cup podium. He still shreds hard when he’s not making big time million plus hit edits and wins the award for gnarliest huck on this trip, shame it wasn’t on camera! I’ll leave MTBcut’s great edit to tell the full story but in a nutshell we rode some truly amazing, very technical, trails in the most exposed location any of us had ever ridden with the best views ever. It was 2 days of solid riding, a surprise night in a mountain refuge, lots of laughs and some great memories. Enjoy....
The concept for the trip was simple, assemble a group of like-minded riders from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines and send them to the top of the biggest, most epic mountain we could find that is rideable all (or very nearly) the way down. Ash from Trail addiction was the man with the knowledge and he hooked us up with mountain man guide Ben Jones and a team to support this mission to the Summit of Aguille de la Grand Sassierre 3, 747m
We were an eclectic bunch on this trip, from different backgrounds and niche’s within mountain biking. The one common thread between us was a love of riding bikes and a sense of adventure.
Nigel Page
ChainReaction Cycles/Nukeproof team manager Nige has been around forever. His background is in DH racing and BMX both of which he competed in to a World Class level for many years. Nigel still rides a lot and is heavily involved in the development of products for the Nukeproof brand so this ride was a perfect opportunity for him to give his Mega some serious testing.
Nige Page takes in the view!
Al Bond
Al was the new guy on the CRC/Nukeproof team for 2012. Coming off a great year as a privateer in 2011 winning the overall BDS Al headed out to Cali for the winter to train with the Atherton’s. Unfortunately Al broke his Collar bone just before the World Cup in South Africa meaning he couldn’t hit his first full World Cup Season with quite the punch he had hoped. Nonetheless Al has turned heads across the globe with his amazing riding talent and aggressive style. The best thing about Al is he LOVES a good adventure; actually I’m yet to come across anything that Al doesn’t like?
Al on the rocks
Ben Jones
Lovingly referred to as THE Ben Jones by his friends and colleagues for his ever expanding reputation as one of mountain bikings’ top guides. Ben is guiding company Trail Addiction’s head guide. What Ben doesn’t know about life in the mountains, safety and great trails in the Haute Tarentaise isn’t worth knowing. Ben’s enthusiasm and leadership kept the team going when things got tough.
The full crew together! Left to right: Martin, Nige, Al and Ben
Martin Astley
Your author for today. With a background in DH I made the switch to gravity enduro a few years ago and haven’t looked back since. With a busy work schedule looking after the marketing for Nukeproof and the other brands in the Hotlines portfolio you are more likely to find me with my head stuck in my e-mails than a full face helmet. However, I am always up for riding great trails and like Al I love a good adventure.
So as I said, the aim of this trip was simple, the execution not so much. The climb to the peak was a challenge for all of us; Pagey in particular was feeling the effects of altitude when we broke through the 3000m barrier.
It wouldn’t be right to finish the write up without mentioning camera man Stu Thomson of MTBCut. Stu has an impressive list of results from his racing past including a World Cup podium. He still shreds hard when he’s not making big time million plus hit edits and wins the award for gnarliest huck on this trip, shame it wasn’t on camera! I’ll leave MTBcut’s great edit to tell the full story but in a nutshell we rode some truly amazing, very technical, trails in the most exposed location any of us had ever ridden with the best views ever. It was 2 days of solid riding, a surprise night in a mountain refuge, lots of laughs and some great memories. Enjoy....
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Whole ride didn't count ! Lulz
Although I can understand and appreciate some of the concerns raised above about the style of riding. I must admit in this situation, I feel it is unwarranted, there are trails where skidding would have a dramatic effect on trail erosion, however, the rocky shale that makes up the trail to the top of the Grand Sassiere is fairly resilient to erosion as it is made of rock, not fragile loamy soil.
Unfortunately, a video of riders riding slowly just wouldn't look great - and therefore carefully picking a high-mountain rocky trail where signs of erosion would be minimal I think is a good decision in this case. I would certainly rather this, than see shredding down a loamy natural forested trail which would display signs of erosion and even a few riders could lead to enough damage to promote water channelling and rutting.
There is a time and a place for riding loose, and with no walkers around, in the early evening, on a rocky trail, I think is the time and the place to get a bit sideways for the camera. :-)
Actually, I agree with the comments about an inappropriate style of riding shown in the video - when I saw the final cut, one of my first impressions was one of unease at the amount of "shredding" (in the sense of trail-erosion, not awesome riding!) that was shown.
What I can honestly say is that this was not actually how the trail was ridden - rather deliberate edits for the sake of the film itself - as others have commented. Thanks to inthebigmountains for the balanced view on the actual errosive effect - Id like to echo those comments strongly.
These mountains are a privilege to ride in, and whenever I find a new trail up here I see it as an honour to ride a trail that may well be previously untouched by bike tyres - perhaps EVER......and the sense of being one of a very few to experience that is actually a big part of the trailAddiction guiding experience. Noting that without natural, pristine trails up here, we'd not have a product worth selling, its very much in our interests to protect the natural environment around us.
In practise this means riding respectfully - limiting which trails we ride, and how often - choosing to avoid certain trails when erosion would be more damaging (e.g. after heavy rain, a loamy, mossy, fragile trail might be substituted for a harder-packed, one). All of our guides will teach proper, respectful riding technique and this includes correcting a customer's "skidding" rear wheel switchback/cornering style.
Alistair
Co-founder / Owner of trailAddiction.
Some month ago politicians in Bern wanted to ban mountainbiking in the alps. Please keep in mind, where you are riding. These trails are build by hikers and are mostly maintained by hikers or farmers, sometimes they are older than 2000 years. Please ride with care and without skidding and sliding.
After watching the video, at the beginning i would say that they've got the spirit, going on beautiful trails, watching the view, but after a few minutes it's what i see every time in les Arcs.
Where they rode after passing all is desolation. All tracks are in bad shape, damaged roads, trenches.
Just a reminder that the trails were made for hikers and mountain bikers that are allowed to use a few rules.
Respect the nature.
stop riding fast for skidding after, just for the style who cares.
Years after years, the Malgovert's forest trails are worse and worse because of this kind of behavior.
So trail addiction, thank you for respecting our mountains and people who build the trails.
TRAIL DESTRUCTION I should say !!!!
En français :
Je roule sur les arcs depuis 6 ans et sur Tignes depuis une dizaine d'année. Chaque année je vois les chemins se détériorer à grande vitesse, la cause : ce genre de groupe et de comportement.
Trail addiction a coutume de rouler par groupe de 6 à 8 personnes, alors vous imaginez lorsqu'on arrive à fond et que de bloquer la roue arrière pour faire des dérapages, ça fait "le style" mais pas pour les chemins. Tranchées, racines, pierres etc... sont mis à vifs. Alors passer après eux, merci les dégâts !!!!
Belle esprit de venir d'un plat pays pour y apprécier nos belles montagnes mais si il n'y a pas de respect il n'y aura plus de rien.
Partir de la Sassière, comme mis sur l'article de "ricil", n'est pas à la portée de tout le monde. Et je le rappelle, cet itinéraire est en bordure du parc ce qui veut dire, et comme sur tous les chemins de montagne, que les vvtistes sont tolérés mais avec un minimum de respect de l'environnement.
Donc les Trails Addiction, merci de respecter nos montagnes sinon on aura plus le droit à rien !!!
Desolée pour le mauvais français, mais je dois le pratiquer! ... corrigez moi si vous voulez!
Je n'ai rien contre les anglais ou autres mais simplement un peu plus de respect du mileu.
Have fun and long life to Trail addiction, you are professional and I know, It’s not your intension to have those tracks closed but it will be case. Some people will use your video to send request. All the best for 2013 and see you on the tracks.
Best regards. Alex
Why this canadian flag next to my nam as I'm french ?
I'm surprised the bike didn't break. I guess those bikes are nukeproof indeed!