Singletracks Mountain Bike Blog

Gore-Tex R&D: My Visit to Gore Part II

trek7k — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:45:49 +0000

Last week I wrote about some of the technology behind the Gore-Tex membrane and how Gore works closely with brands like the North Face and Pearl Izumi to produce super high quality gear. This week I thought I’d talk about the testing process Gore uses on everything from jackets to footwear to gloves and some of the new developments we can expect to see in the future.

Fabric Testing

In order for Gore-Tex to “guarantee to keep you dry,” they need to test every new garment design before it goes into production. At Gore they use some fancy scientific tests like the “sweating hot plate” and water pressure testing but in the end a good garment design will be all about comfort. To that end, they have a few tests to mimic real world conditions with real human test subjects.

The comfort chamber: This should probably be renamed to the dis-comfort chamber since it’s basically just a small room where the temperature can be set from -20° F to 120° F. The comfort chamber also features fans to add in wind chill to see how stuff like Gore-Tex snowboard jackets will perform on windy ski hills.

The rain room: This room is appropriately named and is the place where Gore tests all their rain gear (like Gore Bike Wear jackets). Rain falls from the ceiling in a fairly natural pattern and there are even nozzles pointing up from the floor to simulate rain coming off a wet bike or motorcycle tire.

The wash room: Ok, so this test doesn’t involve human subjects like the other two but it turns out continuous washing is the best analog the Gore engineers could find to normal wear and tear experienced in the field. I’m told there are more than 200 washers in the room and they’ve all been rigged to run continuously, often for hundreds of hours at a time.

Gore also tests footwear by flexing shoes over and over in a water bath to see how many flexes it takes before water penetrates the toe box. I saw a set of Pearl Izumi kicks in the testing lab and apparently if a shoe doesn’t pass this test, it’s back to the drawing board before the shoe can be manufactured.

Coming soon?

Gore-Tex fabric technology has been around for a long time (30+ years) so it’s interesting to see where Gore might be heading in the future. Back in September element22 and I sat down with a Gore rep at Interbike to preview the Fusion jacket which makes use of “comfort mapping” technology introduced in 2005. Basically the idea is that different parts of an athlete’s body have different insulation and ventilation needs. The kidneys, for example, like to be kept warm (no kidding).

The inside of the Gore Bike Wear Fusion jacket where the colors show various comfort mapping zones

Gore has also developed a new type of waterproof apparel enclosure called “Lockout” that they’re using on a motorcycle jacket which basically looks like a zip lock bag with a slider. Could we see this concept migrate to Gore Bike Wear in the future? I’m guessing yes (just as soon as they improve it - getting it to work properly is a little tricky).

I’m still testing my Gore Bike Wear Alp X II jacket so stay tuned for the official review.

New Toys From Hayes for Your Stroker Brakes

element22 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:49:19 +0000

Holidays are just around the corner and Hayes has introduced some new products for use with their MTB braking systems. Check these out: the new Pro Bleed kit, the Stroker tool kit, and my personal favorite, the brake pad spacer called the Feel ‘r Gage. Each item is sold individually and certainly won’t break the bank. In fact, these tools can help you save in the long run by avoiding costly repairs due to poor maintenance. I have personally used and found each of these items very useful, particularly the Feel ‘r Gage. I cannot say how much time that tool alone has saved me since I started using it.

The Pro-Bleed kit (PN # 98-23572, $30 MSRP) is the most comprehensive kit out there that is made for Hayes brakes. It covers all models that Hayes has made over the years and all the adapters and hoses are included. Once assembled all you need to do is select the correct fitting for your brake lever and you’re good to go. Brake fluid is included along with two bottles which allow you to do the job drip free.

Next up is the Stroker tool kit (PN# 98-23971, $39 MSRP). This kit is only for the Stroker Aces, but will make the job of rebuilding the brakes a non-issue. All the tools as well as instructions are included in this pouched kit. The kit contains the piston bore tools as well as the multi-function piston alignment tool plus spare seals.

Finally, check out the pad/rotor alignment tool called the Feel ‘r Gage (PN# 98-23972, $15 MSRP) which is super easy to use and gives you perfect alignment every time. The Feel ‘r Gage is designed so that you can insert the steel shims on either side of the disk to get the correct pad spacing as well as make sure the caliper is parallel with the rotor. The Feel ‘r Gage also can be used as a pad spreader.

Coming up shortly, a video on rebuilding a Stroker Ace caliper using all these tools.

Thanks to the folks at Hayes for providing these products for review.

Mountain Biking During Hunting Season

trek7k — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:33:01 +0000

This past weekend I rode at the SORBA CSRA Bike Fest at Clarks Hill Lake in east-central Georgia and the weather was absolutely perfect. This was my first time riding the Bartram Trail / West Dam and at the end of the day I clocked more than 22 miles in the saddle across the fast, flowy singletrack. SORBA CSRA is busy working on extending this section of the Bartram Trail to connect to other area trails and it won’t be long before you can string together 40+ miles of singletrack in a single ride.

Anyway, it turns out it’s hunting season which means mountain bikers need to take extra precautions to stay safe on the trail. Bike Fest organizers did a good job spreading the word so I stopped to buy a $2 hunter safety vest on my way to the trail that day. I learned a few more tips about biking during hunting season that I thought I’d share here.

Avoid riding during dawn and dusk hours. It turns out this is prime hunting time, especially during deer season, plus the low light conditions make it difficult to make out colors and shapes in the forest. If you think you might be caught on the trail in the early evening, bring a light or two to make yourself more visible. The best time of day to ride during hunting season is mid-day.
Wear orange and/or bright colors. You can pick up a cheap orange safety vest at most outdoor shops and it’s well worth the investment. Avoid wearing camo patterns on your clothes, Camelbak, etc.
Don’t be afraid to make a little noise. Hunters may not like to hear this but making noise with a bell or even your voice will let them know you’re not an animal. Several years ago I was riding with some friends and after beating everyone to the top of a climb I started yelling to let them know I was first. Little did I know there was a hunter in a tree stand not 20 yards away and he was pissed I had scared his deer. He fired his gun into the air to scare me and it worked. Hey, at least he knew I wasn’t a deer and he wasn’t aiming the gun at me
Check for closures with local land managers. Some trails are closed to bikers at certain times to minimize conflicts with hunters. Make sure you know when those times are and observe them.
Be alert. Sure, hunters need to look out for us but it’s a good idea to look for them as well. Be particularly alert around forest clearings and look for orange hunters’ vests wherever you are. If you see a hunter, give a wave and make eye contact if you can.

This poor guy didn’t survive his encounter with a hunter

Be careful riding this fall, particularly if you ride in areas shared with hunters. And watch out for those leaves on the trail too - those things can be slippery and they usually hide the nastiest rocks and roots

Mountain Bike Trailbuilding 101

Bob_the_Builder — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:22:10 +0000

Before the Shovel: First Steps

As a trailbuilder with 4 years experience, I have worked on more than my fair share of mountain bike trails. I believe it’s every mountain biker’s responsibility to get involved with trailbuilding at some level plus it’s great exercise, you’ll meet cool people, and you’ll be giving back to the mountain bike community. Best of all you, and your friends get to ride your new creation! Getting involved with trailbuilding is easy if you look in the right places. I intend to show you the quickest and easiest way to start building the trail of your dreams. This article identifies the steps you need to take before you put a shovel in the ground.

Identify a Need

Chances are you have trail envy. You’ve seen or ridden trails far from home that you love, and you want to bring the best elements together into one super-trail close to home. Don’t be afraid to dream big when you picture the ideal trail. Grab a pen and paper and list all the features you’re looking for. Start with the genre of trail you want to build and then add more specifics. Here’s an example:

New Downhill Trail
-    Road to shuttle/ride/hike up
-    At least 500ft elevation drop
-    Flowy
-    Rock gardens
-    Lots of jumps: step down, step up and gap
-    Some berms
-    No uphill
-    Some pedalling
-    Some steep sections
-    Within 30 miles of home

These are just some examples of characteristics you might want in a trail. I will expand on definitions in article 2 entitled Choosing Your Line.

Now that you’ve identified the key features of your trail, contact people in your community with extensive knowledge of existing trails.

Contact the Local Experts

In order to find an area to build trails, contact your local mountain bike club. If your town doesn’t have a mountain bike club, go to the local bike shop and find out who knows the trails best. Once you’ve found your local expert, tell him about your riding interests and what your area is lacking. Say that you would like to get involved and build a trail to suit the needs of yourself and other riders like you. This is a good way to find out if there are already trails in your area that meet your needs and can help identify areas that are good for building.

Be open to helping the club meet their existing trailbuilding goals, especially if you are a novice trailbuilder. Often mountain bike associations will host trail build days. Attending these build sessions will help you maintain a good relationship with your local club, meet other people with similar interests, and learn basic trailbuilding skills. If you’re unsure as to whether you are ready to build a whole new trail, sponsored trail build days will help you decide. Mountain bike associations appreciate suggestions for trail improvement. Maybe they will use one of your ideas in their next build day.

Once you’ve attended some build days and improved your trailbuilding skills, ask your local association to give you some projects pertaining to your interests. Many mountain bike associations have long lists of trail maintenance jobs that need to be done as well as volunteer hours to fulfill. For many people, involvement in local build days is all the trailbuilding they want to do. For others, trailbuilding turns into a passion matched only by their enthusiasm for riding. These impassioned builders need a trail to call their own.

The desire to build trails comes from an unfulfilled need. Your local expert might not show any interest in pointing out areas on existing trails suitable for the modifications you have in mind. It is common for mountain bike clubs to hesitate in allowing trail features such as jumps, berms and steep sections, features that many riders enjoy. A good solution to this problem is to ask to build a new trail specific to the needs of riders like you. Now you must find a suitable place to build your dream trail.

Identify a Suitable Area to Build

First, ask your local mountain bike association if they can recommend an area to build in that will suit your needs. If there are trails in your area similar to the one you have envisioned, ask if you could build in the same area. This keeps trails centralized and allows others to more easily enjoy your work. If you don’t get an answer from one person, look for someone else who can help and be persistent. Ask your local mountain bike club, bike shop, riders and perhaps the best resource, other trailbuilders.

It is very important that you don’t build a trail anywhere you don’t have permission to. This includes private land and protected areas. Unless I have permission from the land manager, I only build on crown land. Crown land is a Canadian term meaning “taxpayers land” owned by the government. Crown land is public land with certain laws governing its use. Find out where the government owned land is in your area by going to library or geography department of a university and looking at zoning maps. You will likely find a number crown land areas suitable for your new trail. (note: US laws are often more strict regarding public land uses) It is always a good idea to contact the crown land manager in your area before building. Crownland.org is an excellent resource if you live in Canada. Google maps is another good tool to use to identify forested areas and topography using the satellite and terrain tools. Remember, illegal building hurts our sport and can lead to jail time!

Now that you have identified one or more areas suitable for your new trail, it’s time to brush up on your trailbuilding knowledge.

Review IMBA Trailbuilding Strategies

IMBA has a number of books packed with useful trailbuilding strategies. These books will help you envision your new trail. It’s good to read this before you go scout out the area because you will have a better idea of what natural features to look for.

Now that you have one or more possible places for your new trail, it’s time to lace up the boots!

Stay tuned for my next article: Choosing Your Line.

About the Author
Kevin Johnstone is an avid mountain biker from Ontario, Canada. He has been building trails for 4 years across Canada. He has worked with the worlds #1 bike park builder, Jay Hoots, for a number a build sessions spanning 2 years. He spent 2 seasons improving the trails at Kelso conservation area in Milton. He is currently building downhill specific trails. Kevin can be reached via private message.

Race Across the Sky Encore this Thursday, Nov. 12

trek7k — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:44:08 +0000

In case you hadn’t heard yet, there’s an encore presentation of Race Across the Sky, the movie about Lance Armstrong’s epic battle with Dave Wiens in the Leadville 100 MTB race this year, on Thursday, Nov. 12 at theaters across the US. Check out our recap of the movie if you want to know more and buy your tickets online now!

Singletracks SS & DH Jersey Pre-order

trek7k — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:45:24 +0000

Element22 did a kick-ass job designing the singletracks jersey and we’re finally ready to start taking pre-orders. We need to order a minimum of 10 of each style so to make sure that happens we’re going to sweeten the deal: the first 10 people who pre-order either style will receive a 1-year singletracks Pro membership ($29.99)! Your Pro membership code will be delivered via email once your payment is received.

Both jerseys will cost $55 each and any proceeds from sales will go to IMBA. We’ll be taking pre-orders through next Monday, Nov. 16 so you need to act fast if you want one. Once we place the order it will be several weeks before the jerseys are printed by Champion System. You’ll find buy buttons, sizing info, and more about the jerseys themselves below.

Short Sleeve Jersey (Club Cut)

Long Sleeve DH Jersey

Sizing info:

	XS	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL
Chest (inches)	38	40	42	44	46	48	51

SS Jersey Specs:

# Superior comfort and wicking.
# Three rear pockets.
# Tapered collar - high enough on the sides to allow for logos but tapered at the chin so as not to pinch.
# Separate side panels.
# No annoying label tags at the neck.
# Full length zip

(back view of SS jersey)

DH Jersey Specs

# Multi-dry fabric for superior wicking on the front and sleeves, mesh back for increased ventilation.
# Similar style to sample pictured below
# Full sleeve (photo shows 3/4 sleeve)

Introducing Bob_the_Builder… Trail Builder

element22 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:36:40 +0000

How many times have you thought, “wow, cool feature on this trail” or “what a great transtion on that last jump” when riding your favorite trail? Ever wonder how those trail features got there in the first place? If you’re riding in Ontario it’s probably partly because of Bob_the_Builder.

By now you have may have met Bob_the_Builder (also know as Kevin) in the forums. Kevin has spent numerous hours laboring on some of the trails in and around Toronto, fixing them up and making them “magazine quality” like the one above. Over the last couple of years our area trails have been really improving and becoming more technically advanced because Kevin knows the ins and outs of building sweet tread.

Catching up with Bob_the_Builder (BTB) on his latest trail creation close to an undisclosed ski area (still secret), I had the opportunity to chat with him about trails and trail building. I quickly found out that we both share the same ideas on what trails should and shouldn’t be and we spent the day going over his latest creations. I have to say I was really impressed with his dedication to the sport and his craft.

I am happy to say that he will be regularly posting on Singletracks, sharing his expertise on trail building as well as writing up a few reviews on DH specific products.

Cheers folks!

Rebecca Rusch: Leadville 100 Winner and 24 Hour Champ

trek7k — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:10:07 +0000

Rebecca Rusch wins the 2009 Leadville 100

Back in September I got a chance to chat with 2009 Leadville winner and 2-time 24 Hour Solo World Champion Rebecca Rusch about racing, training, and mountain bike trails. Meeting Rusch for the first time I was instantly struck by how friendly she comes across despite being such a fierce competitor on the racecourse. A cool confidence seems to underlie everything she says and her enthusiasm for mountain biking is seriously contagious.

Rusch tells me she got into mountain biking through adventure racing several years ago, though MTB wasn’t exactly her favorite part of racing. After winning a qualifying race for the Australian Eco-challenge in 2001, Rusch quit her job and decided to go pro. In the beginning she says she wasn’t great at mountain biking (hard to believe) but ended up doing well at 24 Hours of Moab so she stuck with it. At age 40 she’s in top mountain bike racing shape and in her first Leadville 100 appearance she proved it, coming in a full 25 minutes ahead of the second place woman. For those who got a chance to watch “Race Across the Sky” last month, you’ll remember Rusch saying she had no idea how she was doing during the race so she just pretended every rider in front of her was a woman she needed to catch. Talk about determination.

As a 24 Hour Solo champion, 100-mile race winner, and MTB stage racer I asked Rusch if she thought the trend toward longer, more extreme mountain bike races would continue.

“Limits are where we put them,” she replied, as naturally as if I’d asked her favorite color. Races like Leadville and stage racing are becoming more accessible to amateur competitors, allowing anyone to push their limits and Rusch sees that trend continuing for the next several years.

Of course to be competitive in mountain biking it’s super important to use the most effective training tools available. I asked Rusch how she was using technology to boost performance and she surprised me by saying she only recently started tracking cycling power data this year. More important than geeking out with measurements and computers, she says training is all about listening to your body and enjoying the ride. If only it were that easy for the rest of us…

I asked Rebecca to tell me about her favorite mountain bike trails and she says her favorites are the ones that combine plenty of pedaling with interesting terrain. The McKenzie River Trail in Oregon tops her list along with the Alpine Trail, also in Oregon. Rusch lives in Ketchum, Idaho so many of her training rides take her through Sun Valley, ID where the singletrack is scenic and never ending.

As a Specialized Team rider, Rebecca has access to the latest and greatest mountain bikes and she tells me her primary rig is an Era FSR Marathon with 4” of rear travel. Rusch has been experimenting recently with a 29er hardtail for competition and after alternating between her FS and 29er bikes during a 24 Hour race she decided to rock the 29er HT at Leadville. Apparently the decision paid off for her, despite the fact that none of the top 5 male finishers rode 29ers at Leadville this year.

Last month Rusch competed in the women’s duo class at 24 Hours of Moab and took first with teammate Gretchen Reeves. She was also on hand at the premier of Race Across the Sky in NYC on October 22 and even hung out with fans at the after party. This month she’ll be competing in Vuelta al Cotopaxi, a 2-day MTB stage race in Ecuador.

Rebecca Rusch is truly an amazing competitor and an inspiration to anyone who likes to ride fast and long. Keep up with her (if you can!) on her blog @ rebeccarusch.wordpress.com.

Time Z-Control MTB Pedal Review

element22 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:53:19 +0000

Back in September I got a chance to preview MTB pedals and shoes from Time and I was curious to see how they performed on the trail. The Time Z-Control pedals ($125 MSRP) are designed for freeride/DH/BMX and are so named for their Z-shaped side profile. I soon found out these are versatile pedals that can stand up to serious abuse!

The Z-Control features an aluminum body with machined surfaces for a slight weight reduction (525 grams per pair). The Z-Control pedals also come with a chromed steel axle to prevent corrosion and are tough enough to stand up to the abuse of free riding and shuttle running. To keep things running smoothly the Z-Control sports a bushing as well as a single bearing up front. Everything is well sealed to keep the dirt out which ensures these pedals will last.

The cleats on the Control-Z pedals look very similar to those found on CrankBrothers eggbeaters and like the eggbeaters you have a choice between setting a 13 or 17 degree pedal release angle. This is accomplished by choosing how you install the cleats (see instruction sheet for further installation info). I tested the bike with both settings and even though I’ve been riding for a very long time and consider myself an expert, I still chose the tighter 13 degree release angle. For me the 17 degree option was too much and made it more difficult to remove my feet from the pedals.

The Time Control-Z cleats are 100% compatible with any cleated MTB shoe so there’s no need to invest in a new set of kicks. These pedals also boast an oversized platform that Time claims will improve power transfer but I didn’t really experience that myself. The oversized platform did make it easier to catch the pedal when clipping in which is definitely a plus in freeride / DH situations.

Riding along the trails with the Time Z-Control I have to say that these pedals are tough. Despite hitting large rocks that would shatter the casing of lesser pedals, the Z-Controls held up just fine. Since these pedals are solid aluminum they did show some signs of abuse but they continued to function like new (though I did get a few small dings and scratches).

In muddy conditions the Z-Control pedals worked about the same as they did when they were clean, though getting clipped in took a bit of getting used to. I’ve been riding another brand of pedals for a long time and I’m used to clicking in a certain way. Once I was comfortable with the motion it still seemed to take a little bit more effort to lock into the Z-Contorls than with other pedals I’ve tried.

The float on the Time Z-Control pedals is a nice touch which allowed me to swerve a bit on the bike and slightly pivot on the pedals without inadvertently releasing my feet. The ability to swivel comes in handy when navigating tricky rock gardens and allows the rider greater body motion for threading tight lines along the trail.

Overall the Time Z-Control pedals work well, won’t clog up with mud and dirt, are adjustable, and can take a beating on the trail. These pedals offer a great value for the money, especially for those who like a larger platform clip-in pedal system.

Specs from Time:

Chrome-plated steel axle
Surface coated aluminum body
SELF-CLEANING - RELIABILITY
EASY ENTRY
ANGULAR FLOAT: ±5°
LATERAL FLOAT: 6 MM
Weight: 525 g per pair

Thanks to the folks at Time for providing these pedals for review.

From Rock to Gore-Tex: My Visit to Gore Part I

trek7k — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:41:09 +0000

A few weeks back I got an invitation from W.L. Gore & Associates, makers of Gore-Tex, Gore Bike Wear, and Gore Ride-On Cables (among many, many other things), to come visit them in suburban Philadelphia and learn about their products. Although I’ve owned a few Gore products over the years, I didn’t know the whole story so I decided to take them up on their offer last week. If you’re a geek like me you’ll be fascinated to learn how Gore-Tex is made and why it works so well.

How Gore-Tex is made (skip this if you hated science class)

Fluorspar photo by Jonathan Zander (wikipedia)

The Gore-Tex membrane is actually created from something called Polytetrafluoroethylene or as it’s know in the biz, PTFE. PTFE is synthesized from fluorspar (a mineral) and other chemical ingredients to form a white powder which is then polymerized to form a plasticy material. The Gore company figured out that if you expand PTFE you basically get a membrane with advantageous properties like those of Gore-Tex. This expanded PTFE is known as ePTFE and in its basic form it’s very similar to the teflon tape used for sealing pipe threads.

Gore has found a way to use ePTFE in everything from cycling apparel to coatings on derailleur cables to even artificial human arteries. At its core Gore is a technology company and they’re always finding innovative ways to use this stuff. It also helps that many of the employees are outdoor nuts like us

What Gore-Tex does

Gore-Tex basically does two things that you’ll appreciate when riding in the rain: it’s waterproof and it’s breathable. The pores inside a Gore-Tex membrane are approximately 700 times smaller than a drop of water yet 20,000 times larger than a vapor molecule which keeps water out but allows body vapor caused by sweat to be released. If you’ve ever worn a cheap plastic poncho on a bike ride you know how quickly you get sweaty and drenched from the inside which sorta defeats the purpose of rain gear in the first place.

Gore-Tex glove demo showing how a wet hand will eventually dry out, even under water

Beyond the Gore-Tex membrane itself (which is laminated inside fabric so you can’t usually see it), the key to keeping you dry on a wet ride is a coating called DWR. DWR is applied to the outside of a garment to allow water to bead up when it hits. Through normal outdoor use DWR may degrade over time but it’s simple to “re-activate” it - just wash and toss it into a warm dryer! A Gore-Tex jacket with degraded DWR may feel wet (and cold) in the rain as the outer fabric gets wetted out but Gore guarantees you’ll stay dry inside.

The Gore Quality Process

One thing I didn’t realize is that Gore doesn’t just sell liners and labels to outdoor gear companies like the North Face, Sidi, and Pearl Izumi - they actually laminate and bond the fabrics in house and perform extensive testing before they’ll put their name on any product (more on the testing process in Part II of this article). In fact Gore guarantees every product with the Gore-Tex label and will replace or repair any defective item. It’s crazy to think that if your Pearl Izumi Barrier GTX MTB shoe springs a leak Gore will replace it (not Pearl Izumi) but that’s how confident Gore is in their technology.

Next week I’ll follow up with Part II of my visit to Gore where I’ll talk about the testing facilities (including the rain room and comfort chamber) and some of the newest Gore technology. In the meantime, check out these reviews of the Gore Countdown jacket, Gore Ride On cables, and the Gore Freeride Shorts & Alp X Jersey.

Xterra Triathlon World Championships

trek7k — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:36:05 +0000

photo by Nils Nilson, xterraphotos.com

On October 25 the Xterra Triathlon World Championships took place in Maui, HI with 550 racers from 22 countries around the world. The World Champs is the culmination of the 100 race off-road triathlon series that takes place around the world each year and from what I’ve read the competition is pretty fierce. We’ve all heard of the Ironman Triathlon and this is sorta the off-road equivalent.

Then again, the Xterra Triathlon isn’t nearly as long as the Ironman. Here’s how the two stack up:

	Xterra World Championship	Ironman World Championship
Swim	1-mile ocean swim	2.4-mile swim
Bike	20 mountain bike course	112 mile road course
Run	7.5-mile trail run	26.2-mile road run
Top Finishers’ Times (men)	2 hours, 30 mins	8 hours, 20 mins

2009 course map

Sure, technical riding, steep climbs, choppy waters, and running over uneven terrain will take a bit more out of you than a smooth Ironman course but in the end, the Xterra is a much shorter race. Strange, in my opinion, since multi-stage, 24-hour, and 100-mile mountain bike races are becoming more and more popular among pros and amateurs alike. The upshot is that even mortals should be able to finish the Xterra with a reasonable amount of training.

The prize money for Xterra is pretty big ($105,000 total purse) and more than 75 pro athletes turned up at this year’s event. Eneko Llanos of Spain took the men’s title while Julie Dibens took the women’s; it was the 3rd win for each racer. If you also like to swim and run off road, add this one to your race calendar for next year!

Win a Bike Ride with Lance Armstrong!

trek7k — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:30:51 +0000

OK, so I actually had a dream about this just a couple days ago before I even heard about the contest so I’m pretty sure I’m going to win. Go ahead and enter if you like but I’m just warning you: it’s my destiny

Seriously though, the contest runs through December 2, 2009 and all you have to do is become a fan of Clear2Go on Facebook and fill out an online entry form to enter the sweepstakes. You can even “earn” more entries by posting photos to the Facebook page. The press release I got mentioned the ride would take place in Austin but didn’t say what kind of bikes we’d be riding. When I win I’m hitting the mountain bike trail with Lance (Walnut Creek sounds like a good one) just like in my dream.

Here’s a brief description of the contest:

Lance Armstrong partnered with Clear2Go™ this past year to help design a water bottle that would be conducive to cycling and other endurance sports and wanted to give his fans the opportunity to not only test out the bottle but take a personal bike ride with him. Lance is an advocate for living a greener lifestyle and is fully supportive of this sweepstakes.

Who knew Lance was a product designer?

NC State Parks Bike Plan Review Through Oct. 31

trek7k — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:38:37 +0000

Itusi trail @ Lake Norman State Park - photo by EZ-E

IMBA is on the ball again, this time organizing mountain bikers to comment on the North Carolina State Parks Systemwide Plan. As always, IBMA has some talking points for comments that can be submitted via email or letter by October 31, 2009.

If you have ever ridden or plan to ride North Carolina, please take the time to send your comments in support of expanded and improved shared-used trails in our state parks.

Looking at the draft plan itself, there are some pretty encouraging words for mountain bikers in North Carolina. I’ve pasted the section on mountain bike trails below but the jist of it is that mountain bikers in NC are vocal and they want singletrack in Umstead State Park. The plan also gives kudos to MTB volunteer groups and points to the trails at Lake Norman State Park as a good model for future trail development. Check out the NC Division of Parks & Rec. website to see how you can submit your comments before the deadline.

From the 2009 Systemwide plan:

The largest number of responses on the survey from a recreation-specific user group was from mountain bikers. The survey found that while although only 39.3% people surveyed would ride mountain bikes in state parks, mountain bike trails were by far the most requested facility-type – with 19.9% of people surveyed choosing this facility as their highest priority to develop in state parks. The 2007 NSRE found that within the previous year, 15.7% of North Carolinians participated in mountain biking.

The comments on the survey from the mountain biking community were numerous. The major themes emerging from the comments were: more mountain biking trails are needed – particularly in areas near centers of population; the mountain biking community is sizeable and organized; mountain biking can be low impact use on properly designed trails; single-track trails on natural surfaces with a wide variety of trail types, difficulties, and length are preferred; and there are many groups such as: the Tarheel Trailblazers, Brushy Mountain Cyclists, Greensboro Fat Tire Society, Triangle Off-Road Cyclists, International Mountain Biking Association, and the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association are available and willing to contribute financially and also through volunteer work to help design, build, and maintain mountain bike trails.

The vast majority of park-specific comments received from this user group were directed to William B. Umstead State Park where mountain bikers were unhappy with the wide gravel road experience and noted that new single-track trails (or conversion of existing trails) at the park were desired. Several mountain bikers applauded the division’s collaboration with the mountain biking community on the design and construction of the single-track trail network at Lake Norman State Park.

Maxxis Minion DH F/R Tire Review

element22 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:35:59 +0000

I’m sure many of you already read my review of the Maxxis Ardents - if you haven’t what are you waiting for? OK, now that we’re all up to speed, I have another great set of tires from Maxxis that are perfect for those who don’t quite have the clearance for using the Ardents but need the same level of grip and control.

The Maxxis Minions come in two versions: a double-ply, 2.5″ DH monster and a more XC-friendly, single-ply 2.35” tire ($53 MSRP). The thinner, 2.35″ tires are just wide enough that they provide the rider with the extra control and traction that comes with more rubber plus the added volume to help reduce pinching and rim dings.

The Minions are sold as specifics meaning that the front tire tread pattern is different from the rear tire tread pattern. Clearly this is a good idea because front and rear tires have different functions. The front tread pattern is designed to roll efficiently and provide extra traction under braking as well as cornering. The rear tire is designed to keep itself clean and provide traction for acceleration as well as braking. Below you have the images of the tread patterns, front tire on the left and the rear on the right.

Installing these was painless and took me all of 10 minutes. This time I used new tubes also from Maxxis (FR-specific tubes that are 1.2mm thick) and a dusting of talcum powder. I inflated the tires to 40PSI (my usual beginning pressure) and I was off to the trails.

I decided to take these tires to 3 stages in Collingwood for the first test ride. I chose 3 stages for its fast rolling hills and switchbacks along with its variety of terrain types (rock gardens, hardpack singletrack, river crossings, and a few softer spots that never see the sun).

Starting off on a series of rolling hills that switch back to back and up and down gave me a good indication of how well the Minions hold a line while accelerating and decelerating. I was really impressed with how smoothly the tires rolled and how little energy was required to move these tires, thanks in part to the double row of center knobs. When I got comfortable and began to really lean hard into corners I got the same warm fuzzy feeling I got with the Maxxis Ardents. Tire squirm was virtually non-existent with zero additional roll or pitching. The Minions delivered true tracking through corners.

Smashing these into rock gardens and rougher terrain I felt comfortable enough right away to pretty much go at the pace that I usually like to travel - fast or faster :). All kidding aside, the Minions felt like they were tracking like a well-behaved bloodhound. Even when the tread got wet these did a decent job holding their own over rocks and rough roots. On especially smooth, slick rock and slimy, mossy roots the Minions didn’t grip so well, but then again, what tires do?

All in all, if you’re thinking about getting these tires I’d say go for it. Of course if you’re a pure XC racer kind of person then these may not be for you - stick to something skinnier and lighter.

My overall impressions for the pair

8 out of 10 for climbing
8 out of 10 for rolling and efficiency
8 out of 10 for loose conditions
8 out of 10 for cornering
9 out of 10 for stopping in a straight line

Specs from Maxxis:

Durometer 60a rubber compound
Usage: All Mountain / Freeride
Conditions: medium to wet
Size: 26 x 2.35
Weight: Rear 835 grams (foldable) / Front 830 grams (foldable)

Thanks to the folks at Maxxis for providing these tires for review.

Race Across the Sky Movie Report

trek7k — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:51:11 +0000

Last night I watched Race Across the Sky, the movie about this year’s Leadville 100 MTB race and I gotta say it was pretty awesome. I was surprised the see the movie theater auditorium mostly full and I’d estimate there were at least 200+ people at my showing. The movie started off a little weird with a panel discussion with the riders (Armstrong, Wiens, Brown, etc.) but once the movie started it was all about riding.

Although I already knew the outcome of the race after watching it live online, I still found myself surprised at many parts and there were definitely some interesting take-aways:

Lance Armstrong is a boss. At the beginning of the film, Lance is on a MTB training ride with his coach, Chris Carmichael and you see the two grinding it out on a rocky doubletrack climb somewhere in Colorado. Following close behind is a guy on a dirt bike with two spare wheels and probably an entire bike tool kit on board. Must be nice to not worry about your equipment failing. Getting used to that level of support may just come back to haunt Lance in the race
Travis Brown rode the entire 100 mile race on a mountain bike with drop bars. During the panel discussion afterward Brown said he’s convinced that’s the way to go and it sounds like he’ll do it again next year. It was also interesting to note that none of the top 5 riders rode 29ers.
Dave Wiens is a super nice guy and you can see it throughout the movie.
Armstrong makes the comment that no one has approached the Leadville 100 as a team race (yet). Will Lance’s pro cycling team assist him in breaking the 6 hour mark at Leadville in the future?
I loved the old school rider from Denver who had probably the funniest line in the entire movie: “I’m riding the same bike I bought in the 1990s. Same front tire too.” (I’m paraphrasing)
Second funniest moment: the overweight woman in the yellow shirt running beside Lance during his ascent of the powerline climb, trying to photograph herself with Lance.
The third place finisher, Matt Shriver, had a pretty remarkable race. Yet another amazing rider from Ft. Lewis College in Durango.
Saddest moment? Seeing riders stopped at the 4 hour cut-off and not being able to finish the race.
Did anyone else notice that Lance just chucked the CO2 cartridge after attempting to fix his flat tire? I suppose a fan rushed over to pick it up and now it sits in a glass case in a rec room somewhere but still… pack it in, pack it out.

If you didn’t get to see Race Across the Sky last night, definitely put it on your to do list. It’s an inspirational film and I definitely left wanting to ride more and move back to Colorado. Stay tuned for word about an encore presentation in theaters and/or the DVD release date.

Opus Nelson Freeride Bike Review

element22 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:57:44 +0000

Introducing the 2010 Opus Nelson 1 (MSRP $4160.00 CDN), the much anticipated freeride bike that has been 2 years in the making. With a full 7-inches of travel front and back, this machine is purpose built. A floating shock incorporated in a VPP-style suspension manages the rear travel and a Totem coil fork up front with a onepointfive steering tube will keep you on the path, what ever that path may be.

With full head of steam on your hands you’re gonna need to stop this beast so Opus decided to use Avid Code brakes front and back, with a 8″ rotor up front and a 7″ rotor in back, giving you just enough stopping power to tame that wild beast. The Nelson is tricked out with SRAM components including a Truvativ Holzeller 36T crank, SRAM X9 trigger shifter, and SRAM X9 long cage rear derailleur. Seat post, stem, and bar are all FSA Gravity-Lite components. Novatec hubs keep things rolling (135mm through axle rear, 20mm front) and the hoops are Mavic’s 28mm wide EN521 32 hole rims. Geax Neuron 230 TNT tires provide the rubber to meet the trail.

Taking a closer look at the Nelson you can see this machine is built for abuse. With large, oversized, manipulated top and down tubes and a one and a half inch head tube, this front triangle can take any abuse that bike parks and downhill slopes will dish out. The folks at Opus (Quebec, Canada) really spent time figuring out what their customers wanted in a freeride bike. Most of the initial product testing was done in BC with many tweaks made as a result of those sessions. Taking a quick look at this bike you can see the time was well spent considering durability and ease of maintenance.

Case in point: the oversized rear end allows you to use a 12×135mm through axle rear wheel which will save a bit of weight compared to a 12×150mm but also noticeably stiffens up the rear triangle. The use of oversized bearings on the pivot points, along with the oversized brace between the left and right seat stays, contribute to the overall strength and stability of the rear triangle and suspension. Up front you have the 180mm travel, 40mm stanchion Totem coil fork combined with a one and a half inch steering tube which takes care of front end stability and strength.

As with any FS mountain bike, getting the Nelson dialed in requires setting the front and rear suspension for your weight and riding style. On the front end, the Totem Coil has Mission control settings and Dual Flow rates that need to be customized. Using the guide provided on the Rockshox website, I started off with their recommendation of 4-4-1, and then went from there for my personal taste of a slightly more plush ride (I hit many rock gardens and I need a softer compression for that). I ultimately found that my low speed (silver knob) setting was 6 clicks and since I’m on the heavier side (195lbs) I ended up with 14 clicks rather than the 12 that they recommended as a starting point.

Now it’s time to set the rear suspension sag. The medium-sized Nelson comes with a 400 lb spring which may sound like a lot but for those who are heavier than 200 lbs, you’ll need at least a 450 or 500 lb spring. Once the sag is set at about 25 - 30% (preloading the coil), you can work on rebound. Here you’re looking to set the shock so that the bike won’t spring up too fast. Start with a little rebound and hit a few bumps in rapid succession. If you feel like you’re getting bucked off the back of the bike, keep adding clicks until the ride smooths out. You’ll know when you go to far when the rear end starts to lose travel over each bump.

Descending

Well, once the suspension is dialed in, the slack 66 degree head tube, 68 degree seat tube, and fairly generous 50mm stem will place you in a comfortable position, ready to roll! Now with numbers like these this bike is meant to do one thing very well: point down and go. The great thing about the Nelson is just how well the bike descends and I found that the faster the bike started to go, the better it handled. Keeping up speed on the Nelson seems to be the trick to make it work its magic.

One comment that I made with a few of my crew on a photo shoot was how easy it was to take the bike over drops. I found that 3 to 6 foot drops were nothing for the Nelson. Just to give you an idea, picture yourself going over a sidewalk curb at medium speed - that’s how the Nelson felt on the 3 to 6 footers. For the brave, 10 to 12 foot drops are actually even more fun. Taking a look at the drop pic below you can see that the bike just soaks up the impact like it’s nothing, If you look carefully you can also see that the bike used all its travel on this particular jump. Hey, when you’re a freerider you learn how to use everything you’ve got - in this case I had 7 inches! Nailing jumps like the one below was simple and easy but with a bike like this you have to remember to keep your weight slightly behind the bottom bracket. Due to the oversized construction I found that off big hits the rear triangle sometimes brushed on my calf if my knees were tucked in a bit.

Pictured below is the 10ft drop sequence.

Here is a short video on the OPUS Nelson 1 at Kelso’s DH run.

Cornering / Railing

At low speeds this bike did fairly well cornering, however the slack head angle would probably cause the steering to feel a bit heavy if it weren’t for the wide 28-inch bars. At speed the bike behaved totally different and allowed me to use hip motion to change direction rather than steering input. With the wider bar and short stem the Nelson placed me in a perfectly centered position to allow for rapid changes in direction. Hitting berms and twisty sections between trees was a breeze and fun.

Upgrades

Having some time to play with the bike I managed to do some part swapping and found a few upgrades that would make this great bike even better. For starters, the wheels that come with the Nelson are decent and work well however I found that slapping on a set of Mavic Crossmax SX wheels with a set of Maxxis Ardents (2.40 instead of 2.30) made the bike stick so much better in the corners and the lighter mass of the wheels made this come out of corners a bit quicker. I also found myself wishing I had my Crankbrothers Joplin mounted on this bike so I could change the seatpost height without stopping. Up front a Hammerschmidt would give you a granny gear as well as the overdrive for pointing downhill. Plus the added clearance of a Hammerschmidt would also be a benefit when hitting big obstacles.

Overall

For my first time out on a freeride bike I would have to give a big thumbs up for the Nelson. It’s a fun ride, a solid build, and a no nonsense set-up that doesn’t ever harsh the flow. The frame is solid and the choice of front and rear suspension gave me a comfortable ride with no issues. If I had $4200 CDN to spend on a bike I would certainly give the Nelson serious consideration. If your budget isn’t quite that high, OPUS also has the Nelson 2 which is downgraded a bit with X-7 shifting, Husselfelt cranks, and a Domain fork but at just $2960.00 CDN. Sweet.

Specs from OPUS:

Nelson 1
Frame:      7005-T6 Aluminium triple butted alloy 150mm travel VPP
Color:       White, gloss
Shock:      Fox DHX 4.0 8,75 X 2,75
Fork:        Rock Shox Totem coil - MCTL, 180mm 1.5″ steerer galv. finish
Headset:  FSA OrbitT Z 1.5 Deepcup Semi Integrated
Bar:         FSA Gravity-Lite 710 9-4, 25MM rise, 31.8
Stem:       FSA Gravity-Lite 1.5 STEM 60mm
Grips:       Velo VLG975 lock-on
Shifting:   Sram trigger X9
Brakes:     Avid Code - 203-185mm galv finish, 203-185mm rotors
BB:           Truvativ Howitzer BB
Cranks:    Truvativ Holzeller 36T, galv. finish
Rear D.:    SRAM X9 long cage
Cassette: Sram PG 950 11.28T 9 spd.
Chain:       Sram PC951, Powerlink
Wheels:    Mavic EN521 Black, Disc 32 hole Novatec 992-991 Black - gold
Tires:        Geax Neuron 230 TNT
Saddle:     Selle San Marco Ischia, black
Seatpost: FSA Gravity -Lite SP 31.6mm, black

Just a quick thanks to my bud Ryan for helping with the video as well as the nice folks at Opus for sending the bike over for allowing me to hit the slopes for my test.

Race Across the Sky MTB Movie in Theaters Tomorrow

trek7k — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:10:31 +0000

… or today, depending on when you read this

The movie is playing for one night only in movie theaters across the country and a quick check shows there are still plenty of tickets available. Surprising, especially since the movie features Mr. Dave Wiens himself (oh yeah, and also Lance Armstrong). My hope is that if this movie does well we’ll see more MTB short-run features in theaters. The Collective in IMAX? I can only dream…

I’ve got my tickets to watch the movie at Perimeter Point here in Atlanta at 8pm tomorrow in case anyone else is going. I’ll also post a quick review Friday for the Netflixers out there.

Down South Cyclery: Mobile Bike Repair in the ATL

trek7k — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:45:20 +0000

So a couple weeks ago I got to meet Nate Stinson of Down South Cyclery, Atlanta’s only mobile bike repair service. Nate is a mountain biker with a pretty sweet set-up that makes bike work painless and I’m pretty much sold on the concept now. It’s convenient, affordable, and educational - what more can you ask for?

In terms of convenience, mobile bike repair is the way to go. I don’t know how your LBS operates but at my local shop any repair job more complicated than changing a tire or installing a chain means you gotta leave your rig for a few days. For those who ride nearly every day of the week, this can be like giving up your first born child, and for me it’s meant delaying necessary repairs that just get worse with time (kinda like avoiding the dentist). Down South Cyclery comes to you and gets the repair done on the spot - separation anxiety avoided.

With low overhead, Nate is also able to charge a little less for repairs than you might expect to pay at your LBS. The Down South website offers a full menu of services and prices so you always know what a job is going to cost up front. For example, installing a suspension fork will set you back just $25 and hydraulic brake bleeding is just $15 per brake. There’s a minimum $35 charge for Nate to come out to your place but I promise you’ll get a ton of work out of that $35!

Nate is a Barnett-trained bike mechanic and clearly he knows his stuff. I sorta talked his ear off while he was working on my bike but Nate didn’t seem to mind. I learned a ton just by watching him install a fresh set of Gore RideOn cables on my Redline 29er and he even helped me diagnose a chronic problem with my rear derailleur.

The Down South Cyclery repair truck is a serious rig stocked full of any and every bike tool you can imagine. Apparently the truck is still being outfitted but the great thing is that Nate has a built-in work space in the back of the truck so he can work no matter where he’s parked. He’ll even meet you at work if that’s more convenient!

Anyway, if you’re in the Atlanta area and need some bike work done, don’t hesitate to call or email Nate and Down South Cyclery. If you’re not in Atlanta, check your local listings for mobile bike repair services - I highly recommend it!

New MTB Review Features

trek7k — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:31:47 +0000

Over the weekend you may have noticed some changes we’re rolling out to the MTB review pages here on singletracks and I wanted to talk about some of the new features. In terms of look and feel, the gear pages are following the template of the trail pages with tabs, key stats at a glance, and an enhanced dashboard. For those following along at home, take a look at the review page for the Garmin Edge 705 GPS.

Info tab: Keeps most of the same info as before but we’ve also added gear recommendations to the page. We’ll continue to tweak the recommendations based on member ratings and offer more in-category links to help you find the best stuff. We also moved stats from the left side of the page to the front and center. Reviews follow the official product details and specs.

Pro reviews: Element22 has written dozens of detailed reviews of MTB products from wheels to brakes to bikes and this tab links you directly to applicable articles. Of course many products still don’t have Pro Reviews so on this tab you can find out how to contribute your own detailed product write-up to singletracks!

Photos: This functionality has been around all summer but now it gets its own tab. View member photos of MTB gear in action. For example: Did you know singletracks has 55 photos of the Trek 4300 mountain bike alone? Scary.

Video: Now you can view and share videos of the best mountain bike products. We’ve been really surprised at the quality and quantity of video reviews, instructions, and promos already available online so we created this tab as a place to get all. Help us fill this tab up by adding product videos you find on sites like Youtube and Vimeo!

How-to: Like the Pro Review tab, this is the place to find articles explaining how to install, repair, maintain, and operate all types of mountain bike equipment. So far we have articles on servicing Manitou forks, loading data on Garmin Edge GPS units, and installing disc brakes.

In addition to the new stuff, you can still sign up for email alerts for items, add stuff to your own/wish lists, and write product reviews. Add your content to improve this MTB review resource!

Interbike Eye Candy That I Almost Forgot

element22 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:10:30 +0000

So this may be a bit on the late side but seeing that most of this stuff still hasn’t hit the stores yet I thought I’d share these pics. What I have here is a compilation of my favorite photos from the show with some brief commentary so sit back and enjoy!

By far the coolest frame set I saw (next to the Banshee Legend) is the Intense 951 pictured above. I found myself just staring at this bike for far to long and almost missed my next appointment. Up close to this frame set you can see the quality work that went in to making this one of the most desirable DH frames around. With 150mm G3 rear axle spacing, one point five head tube, and over 8 inches of travel provided by an ohhh so nice Cane Creek double barrel rear shock this bike looked delicious.

Above, the same Intense 951 in red. Still nice, and this one was built up with Shimano Saint components and an Industry 9 wheel set with a Fox 40 RC2 up front and a DHX RC4 in rear. Can you say Sweet?!

Here is something that I personally want and not just for the red and orange anodized finish. The Ellsworth Rogue is a freeride bike with attitude. Not only does it look great but I had a chance to test ride one like this at Bootleg and it was super fun (the only down side - the run was too short). With 8 inches of rear travel and the Fox 40 RC2, this bike is a kick-butt machine.

It was hard to stop looking at Intense with all their models so close yet oh so far away. Here we have a pair of Uzzi frames. The Uzzi in blue has a Fox DHX Air 5 and the Red has the standard DHX 4 coil. You can also get this bike with the Cane Creek double barrel, at a cost of course. For those who plan on taking big hits and hitting the park all day long you may not need look any further than the Uzzi.

This Ibis above boasts builds in the 25 pound range with 5.5 inches of DW link rear travel for those who want a quicker, snappier ride on a bike that won’t punish you too much after riding all day long. The Ibis can be ordered in various trim levels from Sram XX or X-9 group parts to Shimano XTR, XT or SLX.

I love cut-aways of bike stuff and there were plenty at Interbike to ogle. Here you can see a cut-away of the Fox RP23 with boost valve technology on your left, the new improved DHX AIR RC4 in the middle, and a 32mm F series front fork with Fit technology (borrowed from the 36 and 40mm forks) on the right. The Fit damper now allows the engineers to further save weight on the 32mm line-up by reducing the amount of fluid needed in that damper housing. Get close to a new 32mm fork and you will also notice that the engineers changed up the way the fork works as well by placing the rebound adjuster on the bottom (previous models placed the lock-out on the bottom). Check out FoxRacingShox.com for further information.

Walking around Interbike you couldn’t help but notice the Mavic display. Looking at the line up for next year they have really improved the wheels, especially for the trail and enduro riders out there. The new Crossmax ST wheels are even lighter than before, now at just 1615 grams. Mavic also changed up the graphics on the rims.

The new Deemax Ultimate at 1915 grams a set is absolutely crazy light for a full-on DH wheel set. These wheels come with all the bells as whistles to make them both strong enough and light enough for the demands of the DH circuit. The Deemax wheels also sport my favorite ITS4 cassette body and ISM (inter spoke milling with central spine) which reduces mass on the rim without loosing strength. Check out Mavic.com for more info on these and the rest of the line up.

Here is just a random photo of the new carbon Ellsworth Enlightenment. What caught my eye here is the fine machine work on a part that just holds the brake and rear wheel. This attention to detail is second to none.

This bike was another one of those that you had to stop and drool over for a while. The Banshee Rune pictured here was shown in flat black and bright orange components. The Crankbrothers Iodine AM wheels along with Race Face AM cranks and bars (not shown) really made this bike and the components just added to the already awesome construction of this frame. You have to check out the Banshee website for more information on this bike as well as the rest of their line-up.

Hubba hubba… umm sorry. But just in case you have no clue what this is, this is the new aluminum version of the Dorado DH fork from Manitou. I am dying to do a review on this unit. This fork has everything a racer would want: high and low speed compression, rebound, and top-out and bottom-out control. To top it all off, these forks are assembled right here in the States. With 36mm stanchions and an inverted design this fork will take a kicking and keep on bouncing.

Answer is back with all new products this year. New thin and stout pedals, super wide 780mm DH bars, and 720mm AM bars are also available. The bars will come in two versions: a one-inch and two-inch rise for the AM Bar and half-inch and one-inch rise for the DH bar. A direct mount stem for the Dorado allows you to change the reach from 45, 50, 55mm while providing a strong grip to the bar with its wide face plate.

Sun-Ringle has totally revamped the line-up with new hubs, rims and colors that promise to impress everyone. The hub shot above gives just a taste of what you can expect to see in 2010. Straight pull spokes, anodized hubs and aluminum cassette bodies.

What’s not to like about the new Hayes Stroker Ace look for this year? Now in jet black with bronze-ish piston covers, this is one great looking, high performance brake set. Along with the Stroker Ace the entire line up now boasts new graphics and now the Stroker Grams come in all white.

Well that does it for my list of favorites from Interbike - hope you enjoyed the pics!

National Collegiate MTB Races this Weekend @ Northstar

trek7k — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:25:39 +0000

The National Collegiate MTB Championships are being held this weekend at Northstar resort in Lake Tahoe and the men’s and women’s cross-country races are kicking things off today. Tomorrow it’s short track and mountain cross and on Sunday the long travel bikes make their appearance for the downhill race. This year’s race is being hosted by the University of Nevada Reno and any USA Cycling collegiate-eligible team is welcome to compete.

It’s sad to think we’re already at the end of the racing season here in the US as cool weather and shorter days approach. Want to delay the end of summer riding just a little longer? Check out the Week of the Dead, a Mexican adventure full of mountain biking, surfing, paddling, and drinking set at the Punta San Carlos resort in Baja, California. This resort sounds super sweet with its own 60 mile MTB trail system, private landing strip (for your jet!), and direct access to some killer waves. If you’re looking to blow some coin, this definitely sounds like a fun way to do it!

Nuun Active Hydration

element22 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:56:00 +0000

I’ve been using Nuun Active Hydration tablets ($19.50 for a 3 pack) for a while and just wanted to give a quick heads up on this product. Unlike other tablets on the market, these babies can be used in your hydration pack without fear of growing a funky science experiment. The Nuun tablets are also crazy easy to use, no measurements required - just pop in one tablet for every 500ml of water in your hydration pack. For instance, I have a 3L pack so I pop 6 tablets in and go.

Nuun tablets add a little flavor to your water but more importantly they deliver a combination of fundamental minerals and electrolytes that promote hydration during exercise. The tablets also feature a catalyst to speed up the absorption of water while you’re active. The best part? No added carbohydrates or sugars means no harsh crash later.

Now everyone is different so I won’t offer any performance claims however I can tell you that I didn’t feel any worse off using Nuun. I actually felt pretty good on rides when I used Nuun and I enjoyed all the flavors I tried including lemon+lime, tri-berry and banananuun. I was also happy that cleaning my hydration pack was not an issue; a simple rinse with water (and occasionally some dish soap) left the pack without a sticky mess afterward.

If you’re interested in more details, check out the Nuun website.

Cheers folks and happy trails.

Newest IMBA Epic Mountain Bike Trails

trek7k — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:46:10 +0000

Singletracks member Outdoornut clued me in to the latest issue of IMBA Trail News where they talk about the 5 newest IMBA Epic trails added this year. Here’s a summary from east to west.

photo posted by rodrodriguez2003

Pinhoti Trail (North Georgia). The Pinhoti Trail is sorta like Kokopelli’s younger, forested brother with 100 miles of point-to-point singletrack linking some of the best riding spots in north Georgia. If you like technical riding with a decent amount of climbing, Pinhoti is your man.

photo posted by Outdoornut

Spruce Knob (Seneca, WV). Outdoornut gives Spruce Knob 5-stars and it’s easy to see why from the photos. The main 15-mile loop is comprised of technically demanding rocky and rooty singletrack set amid pristine scenery. IMBA helped get this area removed from the 2009 Wild Monongahela Act which would have prohibited mountain bikes in the area so ride it now and enjoy!

photo posted by copperhippie

Copper Harbor Trails (Copper Harbor, MI). This is actually the second trail in Michigan to receive IMBA Epic status and from what we’ve read here on singletracks the trail is “Totally AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”. Extensive wood bridges make this trail both sustainable AND fun to ride.

photo posted by dauw

Curt Gowdy State Park (Cheyenne, WY). We’re pretty stoked to see Rowdy Gowdy got the Epic nod after just a few years on the scene. The trails at Curt Gowdy have something for everyone and feature scenery that’s tough to beat.

photo posted by bstill30

Plains of Abraham (Mt. St. Helens, WA). Singletracks members may know this one as Smith Creek Epic but now that it’s an IMBA Epic I suppose it’s time to get prim and proper with the trail description. This is rugged, beautiful terrain and if you plan to tackle this one you may want to consider bstill30’s advice and pack “energy bars, warm clothes, and a flashlight for good measure.” Awesome.

Tri-Flow Dirtiest Drivetrain Contest Winners

trek7k — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:20:10 +0000

Sorry for the late announcement but here it is: The dirtiest mountain bike drivetrains on the planet. Ok, so maybe there are nastier chains, cassettes, and cranks out there somewhere (probably in a third world country) but these riders happened to post the nastiest pics on singletracks.com.

Grand Prize

Goo uploaded this one and the judges noted the serious wear on the crank teeth along with the dirt and grime that’s been built up over many, many rides. We know this didn’t happen all at once - shame on you Goo At least now you’ll have the proper Tri-Flow products to keep your equipment in tip-top shape plus a new Titec Hellbent Nemesis saddle!

First runner up

ckdake clearly knows where to find mud on the trail and the amount of gunk lodged between his wheel and seat tube is impressive. Aside from the copious amount of mud (which should easily wash off), the judges noted the dryness of the chain on the left side of the image. In honor of this epic mud slog, ckdake wins Tri-Flow Citrus Degreaser PLUS a Titec Honcho Prolite seatpost.

Second runner up

We had a tough time choosing the third prize winner but in the end, BFD squeaked by with this sad entry. Sometimes a MTB drivetrain can get so clogged the rear derailleur just gives up which is what we assume happened here. I wish we had some mud flaps to give away as a prize but BFD will just have to settle for some sweet Tri Flow Citrus Degreaser.

Light & Motion Seca 900 Ultra Bike Light Review

element22 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:31:30 +0000

Calling these bike lights “Ultra” is an understatement. There really should be a warning label on the box saying “DANGER! Do not look directly into the light as permanent eye damage may result.” After fully charging these monsters I plugged them in, lightly tapped the switch, and POOF! I can’t see. OK, so maybe the label would just be for people like me

Light & Motion introduced the Seca 900 Ultra bike lights (MSRP $699.99) this year for the serious rider and XC marathon / 24-hour racing crowd. These lights come with six Cree R2 LEDs which are the highest rated LEDs available anywhere. And as if it wasn’t enough to have six R2s in this lamp, Light & Motion also designed a very high quality reflector to efficiently direct and sculpt the beam pattern to maximize light output (this is key and where other lights fail). The Seca 900 includes a nine cell 11.1V Li-Ion battery capable of tossing out 900 true lumens* for 3.5 hours of run time on the high setting. Other settings include medium (450 lumens for 7 hours), low (250 lumens for 14 hours), and a flash setting that will run for 100+ hours.

The included Multi-Chem smart charger uses the ultra-efficient Delta temperature method of charging. This method basically monitors the temperature of the battery over the charging cycle to ensure that the battery gets both a full charge while not overheating. And it does the job in just 3 and a half hours.

The graphic on the right shows the test data for the Seca 900 and you can see that it produces more than the advertised 900 lumens. Actual light output during testing was more like 953 lumens but for sake of honesty and accounting for possible production variances Light & Motion keeps the rating at 900 (besides, Seca 953 just doesn’t have the same ring to it). You can also see most of the light is in the light-blue to white area of the spectrum which keeps everything as bright as possible.

Light & Motion uses a custom array to optimize and maximize the light pattern for night riding. The Seca 900 features a gem shaped beam that’s flat on top and converges toward your tire in a V-shape. Extra light converges toward the center of the beam for maximum distance.

Installing the Seca 900 Ultra literally took less than 5 minutes on my bike. The handle bar mount is a one-handed breeze: simply loop the light through the mount, stretch the strap to secure it on the hook, and adjust the angle. In setting the angle you’ll want the outer pattern to just touch your tire with the lower edge of the spot about 20 feet in front of the bike. Installing the battery was a matter of simply feeding the strap through the adapter slots, slipping the battery into the adapter, and strapping everything down securely.

On the trails I have to say these are by far the most powerful set I have tried. These lamps toss so much light it’s literally like riding in a perfect bubble of daylight. Even when the terrain got bumpy or required a lot of steering, I felt very comfortable thanks to the light intensity and pattern. I found I could go as fast as I wanted without fear of missing a root or obstacle in the shadows. The video below shows me on a pitch black trail with no external lighting. The only light in the video is coming from the Seca 900 which basically has about as much power as a nuclear reactor. Notice how the light illuminates the trail even when cresting bumps!

The Seca 900 system also includes something called “Race mode” that allows you to quickly toggle between low and high intensity light settings for climbing and descending (respectively). This means fewer clicks to get to the two light modes you really need during the race!

Overall I can honestly say if you can afford to spend the extra bucks on this bike light, you will not be disappointed in any way. With the Seca 900 Ultra you’re getting a superior product with incredible battery life and leading on-trail performance in a svelte, easy to use package.

If you don’t think your riding isn’t quite up to the level of the Seca 900, consider giving the Stella 300 Dual a try. At half the cost of the Seca 900, this system is a bit more affordable and provides enough light to navigate dark trails with a good degree of comfort.

* One lumen is defined as the amount of light produced by a light source that emits one candela of luminous intensity over a specified angle. This is a more consistent way of measuring output rather than using Watts.

Technical specification from Light & Motion:

Battery Type: 9-Cell Li-Ion
Battery Weight: 486g
Mounts: Helmet, Handlebar
Modes: Race, Cruise, Flash
Charge time: 3:30min
Charger: Multi-Chem Smart
System Weight: 686g

Run Time (HR:MM)

High - 3:30
Med - 7:00
Low - 14:00
Flash - 100+

Output (lumens):

High - 900
Med - 450
Low - 225
Flash –