DT Swiss’ TwinShot damping is getting a little brother for 2011 model forks.

Called Single Shot, it’s a new, simplified damping system for XC forks that replaces their old XC damper. The updated damper has better oil flow and higher oil volume. Compression damping is now more speed sensitive, meaning it’ll be more plush on small chatter but soak up big hits better thanks to separate high and low speed compression circuits. The prior model had only a single compression circuit.

Versus the Twin Shot, you lose the ability to lower the fork and control compression settings externally, but there’s virtually no difference in weight (which is a plus for the higher end Twin Shot).

Compression damping is set internally, the top knob controls low-speed rebound and lockout. There’s a wider range of rebound adjustments now, and the lockout has a blowoff so you don’t hurt it on a big hit, but there’s no small movements like on some other brands’ forks (ie. Motion Control, etc.). Both the Single Shot and Twin Shot models have separate, internal high-speed rebound damping circuits.

Will be available on XRC 100, XRM 100, and XMM 120 and 140. Another trick little feature making it’s way to their forks is the integrated lockout cable guide on the crown, which tidies up the front end a bit for remote lockout-equipped forks…and there are versions of this for both alloy and carbon crowns.

Satisfied (for the time being) with one of the best and most widely specified reservoirs on the market, Hydrapak have made a concerted effort to bring their bags to the head of the class for 2011.  While the company’s bags have long worked well, 2011′s line may be their first to go toe-to-toe with bigger companies’ on the sales floor.  After the jump:  the bags that jumped out at us from the Hydrapak booth…
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While few of us will ever ride- let alone own- a Serotta titanium 29er, there is no denying the level of detail and aesthetic appeal that elevates the brand’s titanium offerings above more pedestrian Ti hardtails.  It’s not until one gets up close and personal until details like the graceful and extensively machined dropouts or the diamond plate etching pattern on this special edition model at the Ford booth can be appreciated.  Check out the non-drive side after the jump…

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What hungry show-goer wouldn’t be magnetically drawn to these candy-colored helmets from the Swedes at POC?  The company’s Trabec and Trabec Race are trail-oriented helmets that take the fit of a park helmet (in that the helmet is all around the head rather than on top of it) and add trail-oriented features like vents and a visor to encourage a bit more pedaling.  The company has gone out of their way to avoid seams at critical points and uses an internally-reinforced foam under the polycarbonate shell.  The Trabec Race ($175) adds a bit more in the way of internal reinforcements to the $145 Trabec shown above.

Click ‘more‘ for additional photos and some of special “Pro Models” of the company’s park-oriented Receptor Flow…

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“Flow” by keithpyt.  Check out his photography website.

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

PRESS RELEASE: During routine drug testing at the 2010 Tour de France, some urine samples provided by Alberto Contador tested positive for trace concentrations of Clenbuterol, a substance that, in much higher concentrations, can enhance performance.

Alberto never knowingly ingested Clenbuterol.

An independent expert opinion from Dr. Douwe de Boer of The Netherlands (attached) and the facts of the situation point to Alberto accidentally ingesting Clenbuterol by eating contaminated meat. The trace amounts and timing of detection also show that Alberto could never have received a performance enhancement of Clenbuterol.

Following is a condensed version of Dr. Douwe de Boer’s expert opinion:

Alberto Contador underwent sport drug testing during many days of the 2010 Tour de France, including July 19, 20, 21, and 22.

No Clenbuterol was detected in any of the tests prior to July 21.
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DT Swiss had a plethora of new wheels to show off that drop below the $1,000 mark for the first time ever for the brand…and we’ll get to those in a minute.

What’s equally exciting is the collection of new hubs they have. First off, the new 240 Lefty hub gives Cannondale riders more upgrade options. For those running normal suspension forks, the 240s get a new 15mm convertible hub that can switch to 9mm QR axles.

For downhillers, there’s a new 240 150×12 rear hub that’s about 200g than the 440, so you can build up a much lighter DH wheelset.

Much more after the break, including a little spy shot…

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An honorable mention goes out to Protec for their slap Koozie

While wandering the seemingly endless displays of one bike part after another it’s easy to work up a thirst. At Interbike, this could mean anything from water, to drink mixes, coffee, or beer, but it definitely means a lot of beverages being carried from booth to booth.

Now what better way to get some free advertising, than offer up a drink and a koozie for show goers to get their grubby hands on. At this point, being the fact that we’re all bike guys, and suckers for anything free most of us have amassed a collection of the run of the mill foam or rubber Koozies imprinted with company X’s logo. This means that companies are having to get more creative to set their freebies apart so that we (especially media) will want to add even more weight to the already spine crushing weight of our cameras, notes, and gear for the show.

As I mentioned earlier, Vans/Protec were nice enough to be handing out free food and drinks at outdoor demo and were including this neat koozie with each beverage. The slap koozie features two internal slap bracelets which allow the koozie to fit virtually anything, and is super easy to install and remove.

What beats a slap koozie? Find out after the break!

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While the big companies always get most of the press at Interbike, every once in a while you come across something particularly interesting from a company you would least expect it. For me, this company would have to be RST who had this intriguing remote lock-out prototype on display. While the concept of an electric lock out (Cannondale ELO) isn’t new, as far as I know RST is the first company to show a wireless bar mounted remote for both front and rear shocks. The new system works off of a 2.4ghz signal and a 24 bit encoding system to prevent cross talk much like most digital computers.

More after the break!

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By this point, if you haven’t ordered your custom 25th anniversary Yeti 575, sadly you are out of luck. The limited run of 250 is all but gone at this point.

However, fortunately for you Yeti has incorporated all the changes in to the standard issue 575, which makes it one of the best 575′s yet!

Details after the break!

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If you want the world’s lightest production road bike, click here. If you want what appears to be the world’s absolutely lightest bike, read on.

Hiding somewhere in the back of Interbike’s halls was this 6lb road bike. The bad news is time conspired against us in actually getting to see it and put it on our scale. The good news is, TriRig and Velonews have some photos and specs, which we’re happy to list here.

First up, you may have seen this frame before. It’s the same frame and fork that’s shown up in Internet lore when built and owned by German Cyclist Gunter Mai, at which time it weighed in at a still unworldly 6.55-ish pounds. Well, Gunter broke it down and sold the parts online, and according to Bicycle Design, the custom Spin frame and THM fork went to a Colorado rider who then sent it to Fairwheel Bikes, which brought it down to six pounds even (2,700g)!!!

A big part of the diet is thanks to some prototype-but-sort-of-going-into-production parts from Dash Cycles, which are insanely light.  Check out links and parts lists with a few photos after the break…

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While Tyler already got the scoop on the amazing new Lemond Fitness Revolution trainer, Interbike was my first opportunity to ride one and see it in the flesh – er, metal.

There are clearly many reasons aside from ride quality that this trainer is superior, due to the fact that it won’t wear down your tires, you no longer need a “trainer wheel”, and it seems like it would be better for carbon frames considering there aren’t huge cups clamping around the dropouts. But what about the ride?

Obviously I only spent a brief moment on the Revolution at Dirt Demo, but my first impressions were that it felt very similar to riding a bike which, after all, is the end goal. The trainer is very stable, which also means there is no need for a front wheel block as you can see from the pictures. Keep an eye out for a complete review from Tyler over the winter months!

Final retail prices were also announced at the show, with the base trainer without a cassette coming in at $499. If you would like a “Shimano compatible” 12-25 cassette (adapters are available for Campy) included, that bumps the price up to $549. At the show, all the trainers were equipped with Shimano 105 cassettes but due to the wording of “Shimano compatible,” I wouldn’t guarantee the final trainers to ship with a 105.

Pricing on the Power Pilot was also released, with the ANT+ Power computer adding $349 to the total bill. The wireless power meter displays watts, cadence, distance, speed, heart rate, and calories with USB and ANT+ upload and download capability.

Trainers are shipping now, while the Power Pilots will be available in one month.