BikeRumor.com

“H+Son” by = Jake =. This photo was taken with the 3G iphone, wow.

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You’re not supposed to see these bad boys until Monday.  Technically, neither were we.  But we got an anonymous tip that the new 29er Kodiak 2.5 tires were in the wild and just couldn’t contain ourselves.

In a year-plus collaboration with WTB, Niner Bikes co-developed this special 2.5 width model of the Kodiak 29″ tire, and it’ll be available exclusively through Niner retail dealers and on Niner’s website.  Billed as “the first downhill-worthy 29er tire“, it’s part of Niner’s desire to offer the longest travel, burliest 29er mountain bike they can, and it plays perfectly into the rumors that they’re developing a true DH bike.

“WTBʼs help with the project has been invaluable. (They) know that there are a ton of riders out there that want a 29er with freeride and downhill capability and their willingness to step up and be the first to make a wire bead, dual-ply 29er tire shows that their passion for the big revolution is genuine,” said Niner co-founder Chris Sugai.

Specs, pricing and more photos after the break…

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Complete this survey from Madison.co.uk, a cycling gear distributor, for a chance to win a Garmin GPS-Enabled cycle computer of your choice.

FROM MADISON: Simply complete the short cycling clothing survey and be entered into a prize draw to win your choice of either a Garmin Edge 705 cycling computer or a Garmin Oregon 400t cycling computer, worth £400!

Whether you are into mountain biking, road biking, commuting or a bit of all of these, we’d like to find out some more about you. We’d like to hear about your interest in biking and particularly the kinds of gear you like to use.

Found another shiny new Phil Wood nicety, their stainless steel outboard bearing bottom bracket.  It’s machined from SS and has a pair of Phil bearings spinning through Phil waterproof grease and sealed with the same seals that are used on underwater pumps.  The sleeve is machined from alloy and polished.

Found via Sideways Cycles, they have it listed at £85, which puts it at roughly $140 US.

Found through Phil Wood’s Twitter stream on Dunstan’s Flickr pages, this is a one-off custom cog from Phil Wood for use with a Gates Belt Drive.  The Ti frame has a bolt at the bottom of the seatstay to open the frame for insertion of the belt.

Despite economic downturn, mountain bikers have helped IMBA notch great successes all over the country. But threats fueled by anti-bike philosophies loom large over 2010.

IMBA’s role is to ensure you can enjoy outstanding trails. IMBA needs your donation today.

Without IMBA-led action, an evolving U.S. Forest policy could force the closure of hundreds of miles of trails, including key sections of the Continental Divide Trail (editor: read about that threat on this post). And worse, such policy could be adopted in other areas, limiting the places you can ride.

IMBA has a Regional Director working near you. Click on the map to learn about what IMBA’s doing in your area.

Donors giving $35 or more receive a full-color IMBA calendar, and every donor will receive 20% off any item at the IMBA store. As a mountain biker, you can’t leave it to someone else. Please make your tax-deductible end-of year contribution to IMBA now.

Thanks for your support and here’s to great riding in 2010!

We’ve got our full coverage of Scott’s new bikes coming soon.  In the meantime, here’s some eye candy courtesy of Mark Cavendish’s custom painted Scott Addict race bike.  Click to enlarge any of the images.

And there’s one more treat for you after the break…

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THE Industries has released 10 new designs for their “One” helmet.  Depending on the graphic you want, they’re available in either carbon fiber and composite models, they feature 15 air vents and 4 venting channels with a new Dry Cool removable liner.  Each helmet comes with two visors, has a dual EPS liner and exceeds CPSC and CE standards.

Shown above is the new “Leather and Lace” design (Composite) and we’ve posted several more of the new ones after the break, along with some of the cooler original graphics, too.

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PRESS RELEASE: This Saturday, November 7th, sees the South West regional event in Bristol, England. Rollapaluza returns to Mud Dock bike shop and bar/cafe for an evening of bike racing, music and beer. There is also an event for youth categories, Rollapaluza will set up their rigs and music right outside Mud Dock bike shop between 1pm and 4pm for anyone under 18 and over 135cm in height who wish to take part. The adult event takes place from 7pm.

Thanks to Bristol City Council entry to both events is free and Mud Dock are providing prizes.

Click ‘more’ to read more about Rollapaluza’s National Race Series…

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Johan Bruyneel just uploaded a video of him answering questions he gets through his website….things like “Do you think Alberto Contador can be as good or better than Lance Armstrong?” Click here to watch the video, he’s set it so it can’t be embedded, unfortunately.

Pedego Launched the world’s first (their claim) electric tandem bicycle at Interbike this year, giving the person in front that much less to do.

Adding to their line of electric cruisers and folding bikes, the Pedego e-tandem has a beach cruiser design and uses a parallel electric drive system with a 750 watt motor and 48 volt lithium-manganese battery.  The battery is good for about 15,000 miles and costs less than 10 cents to recharge.  The throttle is controlled via a twister on the front handlebar, and it’ll hit up to 20mph on motor power alone!  Range is 15-30 miles of powered riding depending on usage.

They’ll be available for the holidays and retail for $2,300.

Hit ‘more’ to check out their Umbrella folding electric bike…

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As of this Summer, all of Manitou’s single-crown forks come with their new Absolute+ compression damping and platform system, which separates high- and low-speed compression damping.  Above is a cutaway showing the different internal systems in their air forks.

On the left is the damping pistons.  The top part is the Ab+ compression damping, and the middle section  houses the rebound damper.  On the right are the springs.  The top section is the air spring, and that white piece is to set the travel.  It tops out when the fork’s out of travel.  We asked if it could be trimmed down to increase travel slightly and were told something to the effect of “hmmm…that’s a good question.”  Roughly translated, that means “probably, but you will a) void your warranty and b) possibly ruin your fork.”

The coil spring on the bottom is the negative spring.  Manitou uses a coil negative spring to give the fork a more supple, reactive initial movement.

Hit ‘more’ for close-up details and a few pics of the new alloy Dorado…

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PRESS RELEASE: The first London night-time cyclo cross was a huge success with over a thousand competitors and spectators sampling the unique atmosphere of a nocturnal cross race with added fancy dress, licensed bar and music!

Rollapaluza and an army of volunteers spent much of the last two weeks smoothing out the unlit “singletrack” as well as adding brand new floodlit features to the Herne Hill cross which included, a new berm, hurdy gurdy bumps, a double ramp and the crowd favourite the hurdle in the bar tent!

All adult categories were sold-out weeks before the event and nearly a hundred more tried to sign on in the days leading up to Halloween.

The evening kicked-off with youth racing the Under 12’s competing on the infield only, but having to still negotiate two hurdles, the bumps and the ramps. The under 16 and under 14 riders got to compete on the full course and this race was as exciting to watch as any other, especially with the now huge crowds providing vocal encouragement.

In the end the racing for the adult categories was just as fast as any day-time cross event with Stuart Bowers taking the first prize in the Senior race of £200 of the £1000 prize pot offered by generous sponsors Tour de Ville. Following him were Jamie Newall and Matt Holmes with the first Dutch invitee Enrico Liebe managing 8th place. Corinne Hall won the Women’s event a whole minute ahead of Jo McRae.

Click ‘more’ to read on and for more pics and race results…

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La Gazzetta della Sport has reported that the race organizers for the Giro d’Italia are considering a U.S. kickoff for the 2011 event.

The 2010 race starts in Amsterdam for the first three stages (see route and stage info here), then the riders are transported to Italy for the remainder of the race.  That’ll be a test as to whether a long transport is acceptable to the teams and riders, with the success or failure of it helping determine if a jump across the pond is realistic.

Giro director Angelo Zomegnan and other race officials are currently in NYC opening “From Past to Future”, a 100-year photographic history of the Tour of Italy.  If you’re in the neighborhood, check it out at Eden Fine Art Gallery.  If talks are successful and it works out, it would mark the first time a major grand tour would start outside of Europe…until, of course, the Tour of California and Tour Down Under reach “grand tour” status *wishful thinking*

Check out the news article on this link (should open a Google Translated version of the page in English).  Photo: AFP file photo.

A $158,000 grant by the Alabama Department of Transportation will fund an educational and awareness campaign in Huntsville starting in 2010. The planned campaign comes on the heels of three cyclist fatalities since 2008.

From the news article on AL.com:

Rolling billboards attached to city buses will try to hammer home the point “that bicycles are vehicles, they’re allowed on the road,” Miernik said Wednesday.

“There’s a percentage of drivers out there,” she said, “that really think bikes are not safe to be on the road with them.”

James Moore, a senior planner with the city, said the ads need to be compelling enough that drivers can’t ignore them.

“I’m hoping to make the buses loud, so to speak, so that it generates some interest,” he said Wednesday. “It’s trying to bring awareness and wake the drivers up.”

Both Moore and Miernik are working to make the city a more bike friendly place and have made efforts to widen streets and include bike lanes in future development.  In addition to the awareness campaign, Huntsville police are undergoing training regarding cycling laws and rights.

Hopefully, some of those funds will also go toward getting cycling laws and awareness included on their Drivers Licenses test like they’re starting to do in Colorado.