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As was revealed on this site in December 2001, Scotland has been selected as the venue for the first high-profile World Cup Mountain Bike Downhill competition ever to be held in the UK. And it was a deal secured by a proactive IBD. The all-singing, all-dancing press conference officially announcing the staging of the Tissot UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William on 1st-2nd June was held today in Edinburgh. Riders Steve Peat and Crawford Carrick-Anderson will be "consultants".

No, not Bikehut, Pizza Hut! It's a US-only deal to begin with but with marketing ramifications for any country where Mongoose bikes are distributed and Pizza Hut restaurants situated. Mongoose team riders will sport Pizza Hut logos on their team tops

Ison's Identiti 666 frame will be available in May and Lloyd Townsend of Ison said this is "set to become the most sought after jump frame for 2002 in the MTB jump market."

The April issue of MBUK - available 23rd March ie on the first day of Bike 2002 - will have an eight-page feature on Team MBUK/Scott. Legendary lensman Steve Behr was on Tyneside at the weekend taking the team pix. The over-18 riders went on the razzle down the Toon Saturday night. Newcastle's Quayside and Bigg Market are world-famous for the womenfolk who bare all for pro photographers. So, did Steve Behr get an eyeful?

The first four Quicktime movies of riders trying to win the $10 000 Freeride Challenge, set by Canadian company Race Face, are now being voted for on the newly-redesigned Race Face website