MTB: After a long wait it was from 21-25. June 2017 finally happened and Innsbruck became the epicenter of the mountain bike scene. I didn't want to miss the birth of this new Crankworx tour stop. After Mons Royale had invited to the joint rideout and the Mons Royale Dual Speed & Style, I went to Innsbruck on Wednesday, the first day of the event.
Mons Royale from Lake Wanaka, New Zealand, has been offering high-quality base layers, shirts and hoodies made from merino wool since 2009. The brand was founded by freeskier Hamish Acland. Hamish had the goal of developing functional clothing that doesn't need to hide at the after party or in everyday life. When, like Hamish, you find yourself traveling most of the time, every bag saved is a relief.
After an entertaining presentation of the new Mons Royale summer collection, we went on a relaxed tour from the event area to downtown Innsbruck together with our local guide Benedikt Purner, whom I already know from the races in Innsbruck. The new tops of the "Bike" collection could be tested extensively in high summer temperatures.
For 2017, the laboratory has once again done a lot and developed the Merino Air-Con Technology. Clothing now consists of three different fiber types. 83% merino wool ensures the best comfort, 13% nylon and 4% elastane make the fabric robust and durable. The synthetic fibers form the resistant core, which is covered with the merino wool.
In this cool clip, Kathi Kuypers and Benedikt Purner show you how the new Merino Air-Con performs on the trail.
After the tour to the city center, the Crankworx shuttle bus took us back to the event site and then, to save energy, we took the cable car to the Muttereralm. In the sweaty summer heat, having lunch together can be a bit uncomfortable. But this is where the merino wool played to its full potential. The clothing dries surprisingly quickly and is extremely odor resistant. Once dry, you almost feel like you're wearing a freshly washed shirt.
After the warm-up program in the morning, we went to the Innsbruck bike park and team rider Conor Macfarlane also took the opportunity to shred the Crazy Family in Mutters and the Auerhahn Trail in Götzens with the travel group.
After a successful day on the bike, the whole group went to what is probably the best whip-off location that has been seen so far. A good 1000 meters above Innsbruck, we went through the air at the reservoir. Louis Reboul and Casey Brown mastered their craft best and took the coveted victory. Still in the same outfit as during the day, our Mons Royale crew cut a good figure and the day ended with a beer together.
On the second day of the CWX Innsbruck, everything was all about Mons Royale. The Mons Royale Dual Speed & Style was a head-to-head battle for victory. The best seats directly at the Mons Royale stand were coveted and the free beer did the rest. A good atmosphere was guaranteed and Tomas Lemoine prevailed against Martin Söderström in an exciting final.
In order to end our visit to Mons Royale in a worthy way, we went to the Mons Royale Dual Speed & Style Afterparty in the Kater Noster in the evening. Free drinks and snacks are always a guarantee for a long night of partying and a good atmosphere. I'm already looking forward to Crankworx Innsbruck 2018 and until then I'll definitely spend some time in the casual merino wool.
If you are interested in the likeable brand from New Zealand, there is one under www.monsroyale.com Information on products and background information. Mons Royale is also represented on Facebook and Instagram.