BikeRumor.com

BIKERUMOR.com REVIEW: It’s that time of year again, when our best efforts to get a ride in after reading Bikerumor.com all day at the office is rewarded with total darkness. The solution: Night riding, of course!  We’ve been testing this light since early May, and have lots of night rides (and some competitive use at the BURN 24 Hour Challenge) on it with several riders. Here’s our Light & Motion Seca 400 review.

The Seca 400 is where Light & Motion’s Seca line starts.  There’s also a 700 and 900 available in both normal and ‘Ultra’ versions, with the number referring to the Lumens output and the ‘Ultra’ models simply getting a 50% larger battery.  Actually, for 2009, the 400 was upgraded to 425 lumens, but kept the “400″ name.

The Seca 400 has lots to like:  Three modes (400 / 200 / 100 lumens) plus flashing mode, a “Race” mode that lets you switch only between High and Low so you can make quick changes during climbs or descents during a race, it’s lightweight and bright enough to get you through the trails quickly.  So, is it right for you?  Read on for the full review…

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OK, actually, you won’t see it ALL here, yet.  We’ve still got a number of posts to do, but we think we have the biggest collection of bicycle, component, clothing and gear coverage anywhere.  See that big Interbike button up on the top right of our site?  Click on it (or just click here) and you’ll get the full list.  We’re adding more and will update the list again when we’re done, but there’s plenty to see!

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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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.

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!

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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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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I spoke with 24hr Solo Champion Josh Tostado about the race, his training tactics, and how free-style skiing helps prepare him for the racing season. Here’s what he had to say:

How long have you been mountain bike racing? I know you were a free-skier huckin 90 foot tables and hitting 55 degrees slopes only a few years ago. You won the 2004 US Free skiing open. Nice.
I raced my first 24 in 2002 and that was my first mountain bike race. and at that point I was really into the free-skiing but I didn’t win the 2004 us open, the best I ever did was 8Th in an X game qualifier.

Ha! Then the internet lies!
How does free skiing transcend into Mountain bike racing, specifically 24s?
The sports of skiing and mountain biking are very similar. You just get that feeling of flow with both and they are lifestyle sports as well, but as far as the the competition side free-skiing and 24 hour racing couldn’t be more different.

Click ‘more’ to read on…

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INTERBIKE 2009 - GT unveiled a few new rides for street, cross country and freeride at Interbike.

Above is the Ruckus, a 7″ travel prototype set for release in Spring 2010.  Shown is the “Spec A” trim level that’ll retail for $3,999.  It uses common 1.5″ headset bearings for the upper pivot to create a massive, stiff pivot area and keep flex to a minimum…and as a side benefit, it’s easily serviceable by any shop.

They also showed off the Sensor, a new 5″ travel XC/Trail bike in 26″ and 29er models to replace the Marathon (4″) and the Gutterball, a flat gray fixie that’s pretty sharp looking.  Check ‘em all out after the break…

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INTERBIKE 2009 - Light and Motion actually announced these lights back in June, but we were able to get a look at some of the prototyping used to develop their Seca lights:

Shown at top is the new Seca 900, a 900 lumen mountain bike light released mid-year in both normal and “Ultra” versions with retail prices at $649.99 and $699.99 respectively (The Ultra gets a larger battery, otherwise they’re the same).

Check our prior post for tech specs, and hit more for real live photos of the Seca 900 and new Stella 150L, 150N and 300 commuter lights…

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INTERBIKE 2009 - In addition to the new Izalco Team road bike and Mares cyclocross bike, Focus had their new 2010 Raven Extreme carbon hardtail race-level mountain bike.

The Raven Extreme won a Eurobike Gold Award for it’s unique features, including an internally mounted rear brake mount and internal “tunnel” cable routing, which it shares (along with it’s rear stays design) with the $10,000 Izalco Team road bike.

It’s a hyper-efficient, lightweight race rig that’s gorgeous to look at…and look you may: plenty o’ pics, specs and weight after the break… (more…)

FROM ELLSWORTH: The new Ellsworth holiday promotion with Trips for Kids is officially here!  Throughout November and December donate a complete bicycle to your local Ellsworth dealer and receive $500 off any Ellsworth Full Suspension mountain bike or frame.

Trips For Kids will use your old bike to bring underprivileged kids on mountain bike trips and increase bike advocacy with kids in cities across the country…and for donating a bike we’ll give you $500 off your next Ellsworth!

For more details call 760.788.7500 or email Ellsworth.

Danny MacAskill is featured in a foreign television ad for Volkswagen’s new Golf station wagon.  This isn’t his first commercial foray…according to BikeBiz, he’s also been in an ad for S1Jobs.com, and you can see that video after the break…

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Check out their second edition here.

INTERBIKE 2009 - Time Sports had their new i-Clic road pedals on display in several models, plus their new Allroad Gripper clipless pedals that feature their ATAC system on one side and a replaceable platform on the other, letting you ride your bike with both cycling and normal shoes.

Speaking of shoes, Time also has some new road, mountain and triathlon shoes.  The Road and Tri are Ulteam models with carbon soles and the mountain bike shoe has a carbon sole with some aggressive TPU treads.

Above is the bottom of the i-Clic pedal and the cleat.  Hit ‘more’ to see the various models with specs, weights and pricing…

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