Sam Hill & the Mega 290c: Race Proven

The internet may have just repaired itself from Sam Hill’s breaking it last week. We’re stoked Sam’s staying with Nukeproof for another 3 years (minimum). Probably time to show him riding the new Mega:

With Sam was absent from the 2020 Enduro World Series rounds, he’s not been in full feet up mode, although it has been nice for him to “relax” and enjoy a full year at home with his young family for the first time in his illustrious career. The V4 Mega is a ground up design and Sam’s been out to ensure the bike is dialled for the 2021 season. He’s even been putting in times against the clock (and winning) at his local Western Australia Gravity Series. With Sam taking a hattrick of Enduro World Series titles on the Mega V3, the V4 Mega had some big shoes to fill. But the redesigned V4 Mega has allowed our engineers to implement some fresh thinking and changes on both 27.5” and 29” platforms. Geometry changes, all new linkage and suspension curve and a full carbon frame (with a fully optimised carbon layup).

Sam’s weapon of choice is again will again be the Mega 290c, seen here built to Team Chain Reaction Cycles-Nukeproof spec featuring components from a full selection of Nukeproof & Sam Hill Signature components along with Sram’s AXS set up, Rockshox ZEB fork, MRP AMG guide and DH22 rubber from Michelin. “My initial impression of the new (V4) Mega is how quick and positive it feels to change lines and direction on the trails. The changes also make it feel a lot more playful to ride, but really stable when you’re going fast.”- Sam Hill

The new 2021 Mega: Race Proven. Filmed in Western Australia at the awesome Linga Longa. Taking on some of his favourite enduro and downhill trails. For those that may not have been to this area, the park is pretty remote, situated about 3 hours from Perth, towards the southernmost tip of Western Australia. Originally the land was bought in 2012 as a family retreat by owner Boxer (as he put it “to run wild and free”). As a relative local Sam has been instrumental in helping design and build in the park along with hundreds of volunteers. What they have created is a little piece of MTB paradise, well worth a visit https://www.lingalongabikepark.com​ Edit by Mark Garlic

Dispelling the Myth

Societal attitudes toward this subject vary greatly in different cultures and different historical periods, as do attitudes toward riding desire, activity and relationships with your cycling in general. All cultures have their own values regarding appropriate and inappropriate wheel sizes; some sanction 29", while others may disapprove of such activities in part. As with 26" behaviour, different sets of prescriptions and proscriptions may be given to individuals according to their gender, age, social status or social class.

JOE SMITH GETS RAW.... (on a Mega 290)

Sam Hill- Built To Last

Fresh of Sam Hill's first Enduro World Series season on his Nukeproof Mega 275. It's been a great start to his Enduro career Winning in Valberg, two 2nd places and never finished outside the top 10.

He and the team hit up Dolceaqua to rail his "Grave Digger" Mega down some of the finest trails in Europe.

Thanks to Supernatural for the uplift service.

Video: Salva Moreno
Music: Sick of it all- Built to last

(Note- he did race 1 EWS in Rotorua in 2015 prior to injury on his old Mega AM - and won a stage and again finished top 10 too)

Sam Hill and Mike Jones Pre-Season Training Video

Team Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal mountain bike riders Sam Hill and Mike Jones are currently pre-season training on Sam's local trails in Australia. Watch them in action!

OnTheHunt - Team CRC/Nukeproof - Mont Sainte Anne

The fifth round of the 2014 UCI MTB downhill World Cup took place in Mont Sainte Anne, Canada, over the weekend where Team CRC/Nukeproof rider Sam Hill blazed the track and finished in first place. Mike Jones finished 13th and Joe Smith took 20th place.

Team Manager Nigel Page was there, as ever, to bring us all the action from Canada...

The ‘real man’s track’, the World Cup has been coming to MSA for over 20 years now and it is still renowned for being one of the best and toughest courses on the circuit. This year the course designers made some great improvements to the track and it was one of the best to date. Ironically this is the track where Sam had his last big win at the 2010 World Championships.

Sam, Mike and Joe all came into this race with confidence from some good results and a determination that showed all week. Sam had been telling me since his run in Leogang that he was winning Mont Sainte Anne and he did it with style. The quietly confident Australian has been putting in the work since his knee surgery last October, including following a strict training program from his trainer, Lewis.

Friday’s qualifying went great with all three riders in the top 15. Joe Smith in 15th, Mike Jones in 12th and Sam sixth with a slight mechanical. Joe has been on fire at the last few races in the UK and the speed Mike has moved up the world rankings is amazing and has everyone talking about him.

Practice for the lads went well on the race morning and everyone looked pretty focussed for their race runs. Joe was off first for the team and put down a great run to finish 20th.

Then it was young Mike off and as we watched him descend the mountain he looked pinned and wild. He wasn't happy with his run but his time was good enough for 13th which is an astonishing achievement for his first year in the senior championship.

A lot of the big hitters had come down and the race was getting faster and faster. Danny Hart was sat in the hot seat with a super-quick time and then it was time for Sam to head down the mountain.

Sam powered out of the gate in his casual looking style and looked like he was just cruising down the track, but as you watched what Sam was actually doing and the lines he was hitting it was amazing to see the master on top of his game. Sam was up at the first split, and again at the second split, riding into the last section flawlessly, crossing the line in 4:10 to the huge crowd’s delight. With five more riders to go it was a nail biting 15 minutes but no-one was able to match Sam's run!

The whole crowd erupted when the people’s champion realised he had finally won, the emotion and relief on Sam's face is something I will never forget and it was also the first ever win for the team on the world stage.

Huge congrats to Sam we are all super proud of him and the whole team has worked so hard to get to this point. It is an amazing feeling of sweet success.

The monkey is finally off Sam's back and we are excited for the rest of the season for all three riders.

Thank you to all involved in the team who work so hard and to all our sponsors for their continued support and belief in the team.