Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

Nukeproof Mega

Nukeproof Mega

One drawback about downhill bikes is that going down hill is all they were designed to do. That’s all very well, but when it comes to the majority of terrain, if there’s not a shuttle service nearby, there’s inevitably going to be an uphill at the end. This reality has given birth to a new genre of ‘all mountain’ bikes, which can climb as well as they can descend. Enter the Nukeproof Mega AM.

Nukeproof Mega

Paul Petch is the photographer and creative director at Outdoor Photography, based in Auckland, New Zealand. There’s plenty of trails and breathtaking scenery to be enjoyed aboard a mountain bike in NZ, so having a versatile machine is a necessity. The Mega AM boasts 160mm of rear wheel travel, just right for both all-day enduros or technical descents.

Nukeproof Mega

Paul talks us through his decision to invest in the Mega: “After toying with lighter all mountain builds I decided it was time for a fun bike that could handle shuttling in Queenstown one weekend and then flowing in Rotorua the next. With a coil fork, which is a first for me in the 20+ years I’ve ridden a bike, it is one huge smile inducing ride!”

Nukeproof Mega

“Running 9 speed suits this bike just fine as it’s for riding down more than up—and it nails it! What makes it ride so well with a 170mm fork is the clever geometry and a longer wheel base for super stable riding.”

Nukeproof Mega

“The build kit is leaning on the sensible side too, with the wheel set, brake caliper, seat and dropper being transferred from my last ride. Of course there is some bling here and there with King and Hope components. With 180mm rotors, this thing rides like its stolen.”

Big thanks to Paul for the story and photos—check out his website for more Outdoor Photography.

Nukeproof Mega