In addition to the long travel TS8 suspension fork, Magura had something else up their sleeve. Something no one was expecting. The biggest news out of the Magura press camp was that Fox and Rock Shox aren’t the only ones that have been working electronic suspension bits. Joining in on the e-suspension movement, Magura is bringing 3D accelerometers into the mix to offer a system that automatically locks out when your bike is pointed uphill.

We got the details and first rides on some prototype eLECT parts direct from the source. Lock it out, next.

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Building on the success of their best selling mountain bike short, Zoic has upped the ante with the new-for-2013 Ether Premium short. Constructed from the new Quattro fabric, the result features a water resistant DWR coating, 4 way stretch, and a soft touch on the skin. To go along with the Ether Premium, Zoic sent over their DNA Print jersey in order to complete the kit. Billed as an all mountain/DH V-neck jersey, it uses elbow length sleeves for increased coverage.

One of these comes highly recommended, the other? Well, read on to find out.

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Teaming up with Pinkbike and bicycle brands like Devinci, Cane Creek, DVO and Spank, Downhill Supreme may just be the game/app you’ve been waiting for. Chances are, if you have a smart phone or tablet and are into bikes you might have tried games like stick figure BMX where you control a rider by tilting your phone as he travels over a crudely illustrated course. Downhill Supreme takes that to the next level with way better illustrations, real customizable bikes, and a physics engine that simulates both front and rear suspension for the rider.

Check out some of the actual game play plus details on how to win a Cane Creek Double Barrel after the break.

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Introducing the newest trigger shifters from SRAM: X0, X9, and X7. Not quite the X0 version of XX1 we’ve been waiting for, but SRAM’s new 10 speed shifters along with the new X7 Type 2 derailleur are still welcome additions to the line up. The new triggers take a serious leap in performance with a new design that brings back SRAM’s Zero Loss shifting from the 9 speed trigger era (also found on road groups). The shifter all claim to include German engineered XX internals cranking the quality up a notch, all the way down to X7.

Shift past the break for more on the shifters and to check out the new clutched X7 Type 2 Derailleur!

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Photo c. Margus Riga

Rocky Mountain wants to show off the versatility of their Altitude 790 MSL, and what better way to do that than to have four of the best riders in the world put it through the paces? Rocky did just that in their newest edit Fortitude, which follows Wade Simmons, Andreas “Dre” Hestler, Thomas Vanderhanm, and Geoff Gulevich as they each take the 650b rocket and mix in their own unique style. Thanks to the Ride-9 system, each rider can tune the geometry to their needs whether that means shooting steeps, crushing KOMs, or grabbing big air.

Make sure to check out the video after the break, it’s a winner.

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We’ve had the Specialized Venge Pro for more than a year now and logged well over a thousand race and training miles between three test pilots.

As with most aero bikes, you either love their looks or hate them, but make no mistake about it they are fast – faster than their round-tube cousins in almost all conditions. In my opinion the only thing that holds aero bikes back at the moment is the slight weight penality due to the nature of air foil shapes being either slightly thicker or larger to gain the lateral stiffness necessary.

Yes, I know there are super light versions of  the Specialized Venge and other aero bikes out there, but the prices make them unattainable to most, those getting their W2 from a Pro Tour team excluded.

And we’re only talking around 120 grams difference on average between aero and non aero frames in a given size, which isn’t likely to be the difference between a win or loss. This slight weight penality seems to be more than offset by the gains in efficiency. In the case of the Specialized Venge, its other traits make it an honest-to-goodness “do it all” bike. It’s versatile enough for fast group rides or a century while also being a very capable crit racer. With its two-position seat post and a set of clip on aero bars it could also double as a TT or triathlon bike as well.

Check our original weigh-in post for tech specs and details, then click through for the full ride review…

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If you’re lucky enough to live close to a brewery, chances are they sell the beer in growlers. These oversized beer jugs are great – they’re refillable, cheaper, and easier to share although they do pose a problem if you’re traveling by bike. Well, that was until the folks at Growler Cage in Minneapolis, MN started building 64oz growler specific cages one by one.

Keep yourself from going thirsty again after the break.

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Photo submitted by Joe Garcia, “This picture was taken at Santiago Oaks Regional Park located in Orange County, Ca.”

To see more Pics of the Day, click here, and to submit your own photo to be shown to the world, go here.

2014 Trek Fuel EX 9.7 29er Mountain Bike

Last week, Trek released a few key 2014 models to their dealers, and as expected, a few of the more, um, “eager” shops immediately posted images online well before the official public launch pegged for the end of the month. Even their athletes got in on it.

In years past, Trek dealers have often had to sit by and watch as the media pushed next-model-year info online and build hype, only to not see product available for them to sell for months afterward. To their delight, the brand flipflopped it this time, and dealers are now already taking delivery of the bikes. We found a few fresh off the truck at one dealer and put them on the scale, in front of the camera and on the dirt for a quick test ride!

Click past for specs, details, weights and first ride impressions on four of the new 2014 Trek Fuel EX 29er bikes…

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Pinarello’s 2014 bikes are embargoed for a bit, but at least one has leaked out and is making the rounds. Spotted here on Competitive Cyclist’s Facebook page is the upcoming Dogma Disc road bike. It’s built with the new SRAM Red 22 Hydro disc brakes with what looks like Vision Trimax Carbon TC50 wheels…except for disc brakes.

Details are under lock and key, but we’ll post most on this and the rest of the line soon enough.