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Drum roll please… and the new colors will be Kermit Green and Moondust Gray. If you’ve been pining for the Solid Gold and Root Beer colors from this year, better get on it, there’s only a handful left. The new colors will also be available on their steel or carbon rigid forks, and complete build kits are now offered, too. All through your friendly local Niner dealer.
The folks over at Niner Bikes now have the Jet 9 in all sizes, in stock and ready to ship. Also, the S.I.R. 9 will be available in two new colors: Kermit Green and Moondust Grey…but on to more important stuff, they have some new t-shirts available, now, too. Check out the cool Traildog tee also available in kid’s sizes…and wait, what is this?…an awesome kit that turns your favorite beer cap into your headset cap. Saweet!
So far this week, we’ve given you the details on the Felt F, AR, Z and ZW road bikes; today we’ll be taking on their full MTB line. The Edict LTD, shown above, is their no-holds-barred 100mm travel full suspension bike. Using the same manufacturing technology as the carbon road bikes keeps the weight down and stiffness up and it comes fully outfitted with SRAM XX components, including the Rock Shox SID XX World Cup, and Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels. Check out the price tag and rest of the 2011 Felt mountain bikes after the jump and remember to check back tomorrow for the last of our series; Felt’s cyclocross, track and time trial/triathlon bikes.
For 2011, Cannondale seriously revamped their Lefty forks. Travel has changed for both the Speed and 29er models, and they’ve partnered with Rockshox to develop new compression and suspension settings to accommodate users that felt older models were too soft.
With Lefty, you’re getting a 1.5″ headtube, a 25mm-to-15mm axle and dual-crown design, all of which Cannondale says makes for a far stiffer fork than traditional forks with two legs. They also say it’s smoother: Its square stanchion with needle bearings creates a mechanical movement rather than bushings that can wear and develop play and have far more friction. The roller bearings also maintain smoother movement under rotational and off-angle forces…which could better control and traction under hard braking and corning. In our test ride on the new Scalpel, despite having reduced travel, the Lefty fork did handle XC-type trail bumps, rocks and chatter with aplomb. The older, “softer” models made the forks feel incredibly smooth in parking lot tests, but enough riders complained that they would blow through their travel too quickly on the trail. To remedy this, the compression damping is firmer all around, which makes them feel slightly less smooth when just pushing on them standing still, but the results seemed to justify the means.
There are two versions of Lefty available, PBR and XLR. Check them out with specs and weights after the break…
Along with their sweet new bikes, Specialized has a full line of updated bits and pieces for you and your bike.
Starting with the shoes, they’ve made them lighter and have a really nice new commuter/city shoe that can be worn with or without cleats, and we snapped a few pics of their custom team shoes and some other not-new-but-probably-not-seen shoes they do for just kickin’ around off the bike.
Above is the new S-Works mountain bike shoe. It gets dual Boa straps for the upper and mid-foot and keeps velcro at the forefoot, giving you more versatile adjustment. The Boa dials are the new ones that turn in either direction to quickly tighten or loosen the straps. Weighing in at just 305g per shoe (size 42), it uses Specialized’s FACT Torsion Box carbon sole, has a vented tongue and mesh panels at front and sides and Micromatrix upper. The bottom has a “stomp pad” in the middle for traction and to protect the carbon sole and replaceable tread blocks.
Hit ‘more’ to see the rest of the shoes, plus tires and saddles and check this post for a few treats from their recent press/dealer camp…
Redline’s got several new 29er models coming September 1, both geared and suspended and steel-framed single speed with rigid forks.
Shown above is the D660, their race-oriented model that comes with new SRAM 2×10 drivetrain (a mix of X9 shifters, rear der and X7 front der) and Tektro’s new Draco hydraulic disc brakes. The fork is a 100mm Rockshox Reba SL and the frame is double butted aluminum alloy with forged dropouts, and extruded chainstay yoke and brake bridge, and it comes with a lifetime frame warranty. Ritchey Pro bar, stem and post, and Alex DP20 wheels with WTB Prowler SL 29er tires round out the package. MSRP is $1,799.
Check the other models after the break…
Rocky Mountain’s Altitude 29er was introduced last year, first shown at Sea Otter as a prototype and then at Interbike as a production model. It borrows heavily from its 26″ namesake, sharing the Straight Up Geometry, SmoothLink travel and enduro desires.
The Straight Up Geometry is at the heart of this bike’s handling. In essence, it starts with a very upright 76 degree seat angle so that when your account for sag, your sitting in the optimal position for efficient pedaling, and in particular, climbing. In fact, despite 115mm of travel and North Shore worthy frame, the Altitude 29er can claim climbing as a surprising strong points.
Remarkably, it does so without giving up anything in the way of big hit performance. We rode this bike on some of the best trails in Florida and Virginia as well as our local trails in North Carolina, whipping it through the limestone funnels and drops of Santos in Ocala to the long singletrack climbs and rocky descents of Carven’s Cove near Roanoke.
How’d it do? Read more for the full review…
Salsa has finally pulled the trigger on their first snow bike, the Mukluk. Tested in their hometown in Minnesota as well as Alaska, it was honed on both snow and trails littered with flood debris, soft sand, etc.
The geometry is focused on comfort, with a tall headtube and lower sitting position to make it easier to dab and start/stop. The handling is intentionally slow to make the bike more stable at low speeds, but Salsa says it can still do quite well when it gets going fast.
Click more to see some prototypes and action shots…
Bike Europe is saying that DT Swiss will be unveiling a new, most cost-conscious version of their Tricon wheels for trail and all mountain use along with a new EXM 150 suspension fork.
For the wheels, first we should mention that DT Swiss has reworked their Tricon hubs and made them one piece. Originally designed to separate the spoke holding section from the axle’s shell in order to avoid any additional stresses that could keep the bearings from rolling as smoothly as possible. Some riders, though, were strong enough to loosen the bond between the two parts, so DT Swiss created a new one-piece hub design, which is featured on these new wheels.
The Tricon M 1700 uses a 26mm wide rim, Tricon hubs with 24 spokes, star ratchet internal mech and tubeless rims. Front wheels will be either standard QR or 15mm thru axle. Rear will be standard or 12×142 thru axle. Lastly, this and all new DT Swiss wheels will be shipping with their new 36-tooth ratchet, reducing the engagement angle from 20º to 10º. This new engagement ring will be available aftermarket too and should work with DT Swiss hubs as far back as at least 2002, possibly earlier.
Giving you something to set the wheel into is the new EXM 150 fork.
It comes set at 150mm travel with black or white lowers, straight or tapered steerer tubes and 32mm stanchions. The lowers are magnesium with their incredibly stiff Torsion Box reverse arch. Rebound damping is set externally and features their Launch Control II, which lets you lock out the fork in the compressed position for better climbing and set the blowoff threshhold that’ll pop it loose and return it to fully active travel. Low speed compression is externally adjustable, high speed is internally adjustable. Claimed weight is 1,645g (3.63lbs).
About those 29er bits: We’ve spoken with DT’s U.S. guys and word is they’ll soon have a more robust (read: some) 29er range, including wheels and forks. I wish we had more to share on this, but at least we know they’re coming.
Video by Park City TV from the recently DealerCamp event. First bit is Joe talking about how he helped start mountain biking way back in the day, followed by info on his 2011 Cloud 9 and other new bikes about 2/5 of the way through.
This is what greeted you on your way to the demo trails.
If you ever have a chance to check out Trek’s factory in Waterloo Wisconsin, you should jump at the opportunity. Trek’s facility is an amazing factory with an awesome workforce, state of the art equipment, and an extremely progressive working environment. Better yet? It is only a 5 minute ride from some of the best MTB trails you will find. From dirt jump to down hill, skinnies to singletrack, the Farm and Jim’s Trails have it. With so much opportunity for real world testing at their fingertips, I have to imagine that a lot of development and innovation has occurred in and around these hallowed trails.
I find it fitting then, that this was the location for which Trek chose to showcase 3 concept bikes that may or may not ever see production. The bikes included the Broadsider (which Tyler covered just before the show), a single speed version of the to-be-released Sawyer 29′r, and a Fisher (collection) steel hardtail dirt jump bike dubbed the Gutter.
While the Sawyer is obviously closer to production, since it is basically what you can do to a stock Sawyer with some new parts, the other two bikes showcase the imagination and dedication of Trek’s designers.
Closeups after the break!
Until now, unless you a) own a Cannondale or b) had a frame custom made to fit their standard, you couldn’t run a Lefty suspension fork on your bike.
Assuming you’re not put off by the look of it, there are few reasons you may want to. First, some models are lighter than any normal suspension fork on the mark, bar none. Second, they’re very smooth because they use needle bearings rather than bushings sliding on a stanchion. Lastly, they’re very stiff torsionally…we’ve ridden them and the tracking is very precise.
Now, Cannondale has introduced their Lefty for All program that uses reducers and adapters to let you run a Lefty fork on any straight 1.125″ or tapered 1.125″-to-1.5″ headtube. The kit includes the spacers, adapters and appropriate steerer tube for $80. For $10 more, you get the full kit with bearings. Three different headset styles are available: Standard, ZeroStack and Hidden.
UPDATED 8/19/10 - corrected installation notes after the break.
Hit ‘more’ to see how it works…
Ever wonder where IMBA, the International Mountain Bicycling Association, is currently working? Perhaps you are curious whether there are any IMBA projects or events somewhere close by that you could check out.
Well now, thanks to IMBA’s new interactive real time Project and Event Map, you no longer have an excuse for missing that next IMBA sanctioned event. The map features click-able balloons that give further detail on Trail Solutions & Trailbuilding Fund Projects, Flagship riding areas or Epics, Team IMBA events, and Subaru/IMBA Trail Care projects.
The map will be updated on a regular basis and is your guide to what IMBA is doing for you! If you’re not aware, a lot of the mountain bike trails in the US are in jeopardy and would be closed off to mountain bikers forever, if it weren’t for organizations like IMBA and all the local mountain bike clubs and organizations fighting the good fight.
If you’re not a member already, hop on over to IMBA’s website and sign up. Your money won’t be taken for granted, and who knows the next IMBA Epic could be in your back yard!
There’s not a ton of info here, but Kona’s offering to let you swing by one of their upcoming consumer demo events to check out the new bikes. They won’t be at Interbike this year, so we’ll have to try to head on over to one of these ourselves. Shown above are a new 2011 29er Hei Hei mountain bike, the all-new Operator DH bike and the full carbon Major Jake cyclocross rig. Here’s the official word:
For 2011, we’ll be introducing 67 different bicycles designed to cover the entire two-wheeled spectrum. We’ve added new and fresh ideas by investing more in great people and cutting edge technology. It’s part of the process of completely re-inventing what Kona stands for. The results are our first carbon bikes, designed and built from the ground up, a completely new downhill/freeride platform, more Magic Link models, and a newly minted range of state-of-the-art electric assist bikes to complete our rapidly growing and multicultural fleet of commuter machines. A new era in cycling is emerging in our little bike company that could.
At our core, we want bicycles to do more. Inspiring people to explore the natural world. Allowing them to experience self-propelled velocity, from women who must travel 10 miles a day to fetch water, to those trying to forego car culture altogether. We want them to promote healthy lifestyles, no matter if you’re five, or 85. Most of all, we want the bicycle to bring people big, unabated, totally ridiculous fun.
Events are:
August 9-16: KonaWorld - Vancouver, BC
Sept. 30 - Oct. 3: Outerbike - Moab, UT
October 9-10: NEMBAFest - Bear Brook, NH
You can check out that carbon Major Jake in full, hi-res imagery on this post. Hit ‘more’ to see our attempt at blowing up the photo of that new downhill mountain bike up there…
GT Bikes invited us to their 2011 mountain bike launch in Les Deux Alps to show off their vast array of new rigs. It’s an impressive collection of bikes covering everything from full-on downhill to XC racers, with larger emphasis on 29ers.
As a brand, GT has languished a bit in the U.S., but for 2011, they’ll be making a push to reintroduce the brand as one that lets riders use and abuse their bikes without worrying about durability or finicky spec or suspension designs. In other words, they’re making bikes that will just work, day in and day out, that rely on tried and true technologies and designs.
Case in point is their Independent Drive (formerly known as I-Drive). All of their full sussers use the same basic single pivot design based around a large pivot located just above the top of the big ring with a “dog bone” that connects the bottom bracket on a separate pivot to keep the chain length constant regardless of suspension movement. It sounds and looks complicated, but in practice it’s something they’ve proven to work over the past number of years and when you break it down, it’s a relatively uncomplicated process. We’ll jump into the tech more as we cover the individual bikes in more detail, but for now, here’s the weights of all of their 2011 mountain bikes.
Shown above is what’s likely going to be one of their better sellers, the all-new Zasker Carbon 29er. It features replaceable dropouts and will have single-speed ready sliding dropouts available (no Belt Drive option yet, though). Weight as shown is 25lbs 9oz, but this one had some house-brand (heavier) parts that will be replaced on the production models with lighter weight goodies, likely dropping it under 25lbs.
Hit ‘more’ for the all the rest, which doubles as a sneak peak of what we’ll be posting about this week…
UPDATE: After we returned from camp, GT’s brand manager asked us to remove the weights because, in actuality, these bikes have a lot of 2010 parts and were not at production spec and, as such, are not close enough to what their target weights are. So, their official word is that we’ll get first dibs on production weights when they’re ready, but for now we’ve pulled the weights in order to preserve our relationship with GT. Such is the balancing act we have to walk. We’ll post the new info as soon as we get it, and when we get a chance to see the “production” bikes later in the year or first of next, we’ll have the scale ready to confirm them. As for the carbon Zaskar 29er above, well, that one is already noted as not at production spec, which means it’s probably going to be pretty darn light for the $4,299 it’ll set you back. As a point of reference, high end full carbon race level hardtails from some other major brands easily top $6,000. Full spec on this will be outlined in an upcoming post.
