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INTERBIKE BACKSTA
GE
PASS!
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NOVEMBER 2009
SNEAK PEEK!
ALL-NEW
HOT GEAR:
SEE IT
BEFORE
THE BIKE
SHOPS DO
$4.99
Att’n Retailer: Please
display until November 5
46 70
4 www.mbaction.com
contents
Photo by John Ker
32 Thrash Tests
A warm vest, cool helmet and ON THE COVER
fast inflator. (Clockwise from top left) New components pour out of our pre-Interbike special
section. Aaron Gwin flies to a national championship. Photo by John “Are those
35 Inside Line thunderheads?” Ker. The 2010 Felt Virtue 2 gets a face lift and looks years
More on mystery drag and younger. The BMC TrailFox is from a Swiss visionary who believes the only way
getting tubed. to succeed is to make every design an over-the-top effort. Photo by John “The
hills are alive” Ker.
82 How To Subscribe To
MBA.
MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION Magazine (ISSN 0895-8467 Canada GST 12500#9266RT: CPC INT’L. PUB MAIL
Twelve issues for only $14.99 40024492) NOVEMBER 2009, Volume 24, Issue 11, is published monthly by Daisy/Hi-Torque Publishing Company,
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DHXrc4
MTB FR/DH
rc2
purpose-built downhill shock with a World
40
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EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
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4PMEBU'JOFS%FBMFST8PSMEXJEFtXXXtroyleedesignsDPN
C2C DRED TREAD
F
rom Twin Falls, Idaho, to
Mountain Bike Action’s
offices in Southern
California is a long stretch of
driving for a one-day visit, but
Damon Madsen and his wife,
Rebeca, made the trip for the
opportunity to show me his
“Portafortuna” five-inch-travel,
dual-suspension design. We had
never met face to face, and I was
unfamiliar with Priority Cycles
(Damon is the lead designer,
fabricator, welder and founder),
so I had no preconceptions about
the bike’s design or its intended
purpose. All I knew was that the
plan was to shake hands, go over
the bike, take some technical
photographs and then head out
for an afternoon test ride. Damon
and Rebeca drove straight
through (check out Highway 93
on Google Earth, then tell me Damon Madsen
that was fun). They showed up
early, got the 25-cent Hi-Torque suspension rate, which drove a Fox Damon rode my Santa Cruz Blur LT-
tour and were ready to rock. DHX Air shock (“Its wide range of Carbon, Rebeca had a prototype
damping and rate adjustments made it Portafortuna much like the one I was
the only choice”). By the time Damon riding—and I was surprised (to put it
Damon’s candid, quiet demeanor did finished his dog and pony show, I was mildly) that Damon’s latest design was
not mask his enthusiasm for building really curious to ride the Portafortuna. a sweet performer. Without touching a
bicycles. He rolled the Portafortuna up During the pre-ride fiddling, our platform lever, the 29-pound trailbike
and admitted that he used many of conversation traversed Damon’s bud- breezed up the route’s steep single-
Brent Foes’ suspension concepts in the ding career as a frame builder. He and tracks and carved the twisting descents
design. The 7007-alloy aluminum his brother were inspired to build their with a nimble and balanced feel. It bog-
frame was beautifully painted with a first custom dual-suspension bike in gles the mind that such accolades could
creamy white sparkle finish, but its high school after reading a line in be bestowed upon an industrial-looking
construction was a bit rough and angu- MBA that mentioned that the easiest machine, but the reality was that every
lar—far removed from the curvy car- way to experiment with new designs attribute that Damon had previously
bon and manipulated aluminum tubes was to grab a hacksaw and modify an ascribed to the bike was brought to life
that grace the latest big-brand bikes. existing bike. “It was a Schwinn as I made my way around the test loop.
That said, the Priority Cycles design Crossroads 700C bike,” Damon Before I rode Damon’s
sported a number of unusual features laughed. “We made a crude shock on Portafortuna, I would have scoffed at
that begged for explanation. an old lathe and grafted a swingarm the suggestion that at such a late point
Any skepticism that I harbored onto the frame. The rear wheel was in the mountain bike’s development
about the utilitarian machine before like, five inches off center, and it had cycle, an aspiring garage builder
me faded as Damon glided around his something like a 76-degree head angle. could produce a single-pivot suspen-
creation, describing the purpose of We quickly learned a lot about bikes.” sion trailbike that could go wheel to
each detail. The triangulated swingarm Damon’s interest lies in dual-suspen- wheel with the likes of Specialized
was long and Foes-esque, with a scissor sion trailbikes, but he has built a num- and Trek in both the handling and
link above to control lateral flex and a ber of designs, including hardtail 29ers pedaling departments—but I would
single pivot located well ahead of the and even a few road bikes. He freely have been wrong. Damon has to
bottom bracket center. Machined arch- admits that his Priority Cycles enter- smooth out the cosmetics before his
es and dogleg fittings reinforced the prise has not grown large enough to Portafortuna will be ready for prime
lengthy chainstays and directed the support him—yet—so Damon day-jobs time, but the engineering and perfor-
swingarm beneath the front derailleur as a machinist. Miracles happen; it mance are spot-on. I hope we hear
and bottom bracket. He explained that, wasn’t so long ago that I, too, was more good things from Priority
as complicated as it seemed, the for- burning up welding rod well past mid- Cycles, and I guess I should thank
ward pivot was the simplest way to night, hoping to break into the moun- Damon and Rebeca for driving such a
achieve good pedaling without adverse- tain bike biz. great distance to remind me to dig a
ly affecting the suspension. Like Foes, The three of us set off on a local little deeper when I search for innova-
Damon settled upon a low-leverage 2:1 loop that I often use for bike testing. tion—where the new sprouts live. ❑
12 www.mbaction.com
— NED OVEREND, STRETCHING HIS LEGS IN OAKLAND, CA
GAME.
GAME
CHANGER.
“WHEN SPECIALIZED SHOWED ME THEIR CONCEPT FOR BRAIN TECHNOLOGY, I THOUGHT ‘THIS IS A GAME CHANGER’.
I’M PROUD THAT FOX RACING SHOX HAS BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER WITH SPECIALIZED ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION
OF THE NEW BRAIN REAR SHOCKS.” — BOB FOX, FOUNDER FOX RACING SHOX. TEST RIDE THE NEW STUMPJUMPER FSR AT
YOUR SPECIALIZED DEALER AND SEE HOW BRAIN, FSR, AND TOTAL SUSPENSION INTEGRATION MAKE IT THE FASTEST CLIMBING,
BEST HANDLING, AND MOST CAPABLE XC TRAIL BIKE OUT THERE.
THE MAC ATTACK By Jim McIlvain
16 www.mbaction.com
FASTER, NO MATTER THE TERRAIN.
Designed for riders who appreciate the superior performance and quality of a lightweight, hand-built wheelset,
Bontrager XXX, RXL, and Rhythm Pro wheels help you climb with less effort, accelerate out of switchbacks more
quickly, and descend with greater confidence and control. Whether you’re looking for the lightest option for your
29er or an incredibly strong cross country wheelset for your trail bike, Bontrager has the perfect wheelset for the
way you ride. Upgrade your ride to the legendary performance of Bontrager wheels.
BONTRAGER.COM
© 2009 TREK BICYCLE CORPORATION
The Power of 4
The four most innovative brands in cycling have come together behind one
singular goal: to craft the most advanced 2x10 cross country group ever: XX™
A complete group that weighs in at less than 2300 grams. The fastest,
cleanest shifting in mountain biking. More options and adjustability than
ever before. New patented technologies. Praised by the best riders in the
world. Faster. Lighter. The game has changed.
sram.com/xx
HARD TALES
I
n our October issue we brought you a first look at Hit and Demo downhill bikes. Along with ripping through
Specialized’s refined and redesigned cross-country and Whistler on Specialized’s latest downhill creations, we had
trailbike lines from Snowbird, Utah. For their gravity the opportunity to ride with Specialized team riders Sam
bikes, Specialized hosted media from around the world at Hill, Brendan Fairclough, Matt Hunter and Darren
Whistler Mountain, the world’s premiere gravity park. Berrecloth.
Whistler was the ideal spot for throwing a leg over the fifth We’ve included highlights of Specialized’s 2010
generation of the Enduro all-mountain trailbike, and the Big long-travel bikes in this month’s “Hard Tales.”
SPECIALIZED SX TRAIL
One of the most versatile and popular long-travel bikes,
the SX Trail sees some major revisions for the 2010 model
year. Most noticeably is the straightened-up top tube. The
frame has trimmed down by a quarter of a pound thanks to
new tubing and shock mount configuration. The bike park
oriented SX Trail now has a 29.5-inch-wide handlebar,
Specialized’s Clutch tires with the SX casing, FSA Gravity
cranks and a Gamut shiftable chainguide.
A favorite of Specialized team riders Darren Berrecloth
and Matt Hunter, The SX Trail has dialed geometry for
throwing big tricks or charging technical downhill terrain.
SPECIALIZED DEMO 8 II
At first glance, the 2010 Demo 8 II downhill race bike may not
appear to have undergone any changes other than new Team
graphics. Not true! Specialized altered the D8’s geometry to meet
the demands of their World Cup downhillers Sam Hill and
Brendan Fairclough. The new Demo 8 has a 1.5-inch head tube
and features the refined “Team” geometry with a lower bottom
bracket, slacker seat tube angle and integrated bearing head tube
for a lower handlebar height. In order to achieve the geometry
tweaks, Specialized had to basically redesign the entire Demo 8 Built to go big: With relaxed geometry and short chainstays, the
frame. The Demo 8 is built up with a Fox Shox DHX RC4 coil SX Trail is an agile long-travel machine built to shred bike parks.
shock, a 29-inch-wide handlebar, the air-sprung RockShox The 2010 SX Trail is claimed to weigh about 36.5 pounds.
Boxxer World Cup, and custom Avid Code brakes. You’ve heard
us sing the praises for Specialized’s downhill tires, but we’re not
the only ones who know their capabilities. Sam Hill and Brendan
Fairclough are free to run any tires they choose, and they prefer
to run Specialized’s downhill rubber. The 2010 Specialized Demo
8 is equipped with a Specialized Clutch front tire and a
Specialized Chunder rear tire.
We’ve ridden nearly every generation of the Demo 8 line, and
we can say without a doubt the revised 2010 has the most active
rear suspension to date, which means you’ll have more control
on high-speed rugged terrain. Specialized says the complete
Demo 8 II package weighs in at 38.5 pounds.
Performance tune:
The Demo 8’s FSR
suspension separates
suspension actuation
from the wheel path. Badge of honor:
How progressive the Specialized cold forges
suspension feels is frame junctions that
connect the bike, such Trail tuned: The SX Trail is equipped
governed by the sub- with the new Fox Shox RC4 shock
seat stay driving the as the head tube, to
maximize frame featuring a custom yoke that goes
shock. around the seat tube.
strength.
20 www.mbaction.com
HARD TALES
Specialized
S-WORKS ENDURO
The fifth generation of the Specialized Enduro gets a com-
pletely redesigned six-inch-travel “X-Wing” carbon fiber frame
and custom-tuned Fox RP23BV shock with Fox’s Boost Valve
technology. Specialized says the size medium S-Works Enduro
weighs 26.8 pounds without pedals.
The new frame aligns the shock and the seat stay for
increased rear-end rigidity, and the drivetrain features a cus-
tom Shimano double ring 22/36 cranks and a Gamut shiftable Cool cap: No part of the 2010 S-Works Enduro was
chainguide. left unrevised, including this ultra-lightweight top cap.
Specialized ditched their dual-crown fork found on the high-
end Enduros over the last
few years, opting for the air-
sprung, single-crown
Specialized E160 Future
Shock fork. It has adjustable
travel from 5.3 and 6.3 inch-
es and a 20-millimeter
Maxle thru-axle, and a
claimed weight of just 3.9
pounds.
Claimed to come in at
under 27 pounds, the S-
Works Enduro is an
extremely capable bike, as it
can crest the toughest climbs
and roar through technical
descents.
22 www.mbaction.com
TRAILGRAMS
MB,A2,009
August
Our bikes during the bumpy
After having crawled through the concrete jungles of trek down to Gooseberry Mesa
Tokyo Metropolis for one sultry day, my bike, Marin, near Hurricane, Utah.
eventually found what was all around that could help Shalyn and Jason Gates
make it get going on...love. Temecula, California
Chaturong Yongsiri
Tokyo, Japan
While mountain biking the New
Hartford Town Park Trail system in
New York, I came across a field of tril-
a liums in bloom. I leaned my bike
made with a camera. I went out for
This is the coolest mistake I’ve ever self-port rait. I set the time r on the against a tree so that I could take the
ted a
night ride in the fresh snow and wan like it picture with my cell phone.
t-mode. After the red light flashed
camera and set the camera to nigh e, but it was n’t. The shut ter Peter Inserra
was don
usually does, I thought the camera picture Oriskany, New York
cam, and I thought I had a useless
sound went off as I picked up the
of my palm. Not true at all.
Eric Whiteside
East of Osan AB, South Korea
26 www.mbaction.com
Used to be, you had to choose. Balanced, confidence-inspiring trail bike or quick and agile race whip. Now you can have
both in one race-ready package. The all-new 22.5-pound Felt Nine Team, with a superior Ultra High Modulus (UHM)
carbon fiber frame that’s custom designed to make the most of its 29-inch wheels. The Nine Team is one of five new
bikes in Felt’s 2010 Nine series.
http://www.feltbicycles.com
Go big. Go fast. Go Felt.
TRAIL MIX
A photo taken after a long day
riding the Palo Duro Canyon located
in the Texas Panhandle. A great
place to ride and camp.
Rick Kieffer
Austin, Texas
28 www.mbaction.com
My ’05 Norco Six in its element,
Alpine Country, Pemberton, B.C.,
Canada. All mountain...all of it.
Cookie Blosee
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
TRAIL MIX
Nothing compares to Moab, Utah, for the trails, views and people.
I recently completed six days of riding that words can’t describe and
pictures that don’t do it justice.
Kell Heikoop and Daryl Goodfellow
Burlington Ontario, Canada
30 www.mbaction.com
November 2009 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION 31
THRASH TESTS Thrash test rating:
★★★★★ Perfection
PRESTAFLATOR ★★★★✩ Delivers above average value and performance
★★★✩✩ ★★★✩✩ Recommended for intended application
Never have to pump again ★★✩✩✩ Shows potential but has drawbacks
★✩✩✩✩ Save your hard-earned bucks
Wish the air compressor in your
garage had a presta valve adaptor so
you didn’t have to hand pump every
presta-valved tube and tubeless tire? After the thrashing: The first without incident (or breaking a
PrestaFlator gives you that adaptor— time we used the PrestaFlator, we sweat). The PrestaFlator really comes
and a lot more. blew a loose-fitting Kenda Nevegal in handy for tires that just don’t want
Tech features: The PrestaFlator tire right off the rim. After the ring- to seat properly. The PrestaFlator
connects to your air compressor with a ing in our ears had subsided and we made short work of those jobs. We
replaceable I/M compressor quick- had collected the shards of rubber found the tool’s gauge to be accurate,
release attachment. It has a cast alu- from the ripped tube, we took and the big printing makes it easy to
minum pistol grip handle with bead- PrestaFlator’s instructions more read. The PrestaFlator feels like a tool
blasted finish. A two-finger, variable- seriously. It says right there in the that will last for years. Get one and
rate trigger valve controls airflow. An manual to take it easy with a light you will have the most popular garage
air gauge (up to 174psi) is protected in trigger squeeze when adding air. From on the block.
a rubber housing. The brass presta that point on, we filled tires and tubes
chuck is rebuildable. The tool will
work on presta and Schrader valves.
The PrestaFlator sells for $39.95, and
the company offers an array of accesso-
ry attachments and rebuild kits.
You can reach PrestaFlator at
(518) 577-2150.
32 www.mbaction.com
WOOLRICH WEATHERCHASER VEST
★★★✩✩
It does more than keep you warm
Continental brand tires are good enough for the first fami-
ly in downhill racing—the Athertons. The new Kaiser tires
have a downhill-specific tread pattern and sell for $75 each.
Tech features: The Kaiser features a double-walled,
three-ply casing, and is constructed with Conti’s special soft
and tacky Black Chili compound. The Kaiser is sold in only
a 2.5-inch width and for 26-inch wheels. The ramped center
knobs are designed for minimal rolling resistance, while
broad shoulder knobs provide cornering bite. The
Continental Kaiser tires weigh two pounds, three ounces
each. (877) 395-8088.
After the thrashing: From a distance, the Kaiser tire
looks better suited for a monster truck than a mountain
bike, so the first thing we did was weigh the tire side-by-side
with proven downhill treads—the Maxxis 2.5-inch 3C High
Roller and Specialized’s 2.5-inch S-Works Chunder. Despite
its appearance, the Continental Kaiser was six ounces lighter
than the Maxxis High Roller and ten ounces lighter than the
Specialized Chunder.
The Kaiser does not roll as fast as other downhill tires on
hardpacked terrain, but in loose, rocky and damp conditions,
it blew us away. This is a tire built for the dynamic terrain
of the World Cup circuit, and it showed its capabilities on
the steepest and rockiest trails. The tacky Black Chili com-
pound maintains excellent traction through slick rock gar-
dens and high-speed off-camber corners. Despite the Kaiser
being significantly lighter than other top downhill tires, we
had only one pinch-flat puncture during testing. The
Kaiser’s superb performance on steep, technical terrain and
its relatively light weight make it the ultimate sleeper in
downhill race rubber.
34 www.mbaction.com
INSIDE LINE
GETTING TUBED
Does it matter what tubes I use in my tires? ness (these are Kenda
Danny Macrone thicknesses. Other
Redmond, Oregon makers may have dif-
Short and sweet. That is how we like “Inside Line” ferent thicknesses). A
questions. Your to-the-point question is something very fast cross-country
few riders pay much attention to. That’s why we con- racer may want to
tacted a guy who devotes most of his attention to the shave weight, so he
subject. Jim Wannamaker, Kenda’s North American could opt for a thinner
Bicycle Division marketing director, explains the wall tube (0.73-mil-
importance of picking and using the right tube. limeters) compared to
Does it matter what tubes you use in your tires? Absolutely. a standard wall thick-
To begin with, you need the appropriate tube size for your tire. ness. The typical week-
Check the sidewall of the tire for this information. If the tire is end warrior will do
marked 26x2.35, then use a corresponding size, such as a best with a normal
26x2~2.4 tube. This will fit best. wall (0.95-millime-
A tube is a bag that holds air and will fit the cavity it is ters) thickness tube.
placed in. So a 2.3~2.4 tube will fit the 2.35 tire pretty easily Keep in mind your
and not give you grief. If you take that same tire marked 2.35 weight, riding type,
and insert a tube that is marked 26x1.75~1.95, the tube will bike type, where you ride and the air pressure you run. Each
fit, but it will be undersized. Once the undersized tube is one of these has an impact on what tire/tube combination is
inflated inside the tire, it will stretch and thin out its wall right for you. A 220-pound rider has different needs from a
thickness. This is when you are more likely to have a blowout 150-pound rider. Someone who is really hard on the bike needs
or become more susceptible to a puncture, as the tube is very to consider the forces applied to the tire/tube.
thin. The fork and shock of a dual-suspension bike will absorb
If you use a larger tube, say 2.5~2.7, in this same 2.35 tire, more of the bumps and keep the wheels on the ground better
the first problem is mounting it and getting it to fit inside the than a hardtail bike. Hence the tire may wear faster. Riding
channel of the rim and the tire. You will have trouble getting where there are lots of sticks and sharp-edged rocks is different
the tire on the rim with this oversize tube. And once on and from riding on hardpack or soft dirt trails.
inflated, it will be heavy and may not roll as true as a tire Nothing affects the ride more than air pressure. Tubes with
with the correct size tube in it. no air mean you are not going anywhere. Tubes with 40 psi
The next thing to take into consideration is the type of rid- (pounds per square inch) mean you can pedal, but you may
ing you are doing. Tire and tube manufacturers make tubes in bounce too much. Start high and lower the air pressure by
different wall thicknesses for different purposes. Tube wall increments of 2 psi until you feel a better ride.
thickness can range from a very thin 0.45-millimeters to a Finally, try to use tire and tube products from the same
thick 2.25-millimeters (these are Kenda sizes). Obviously, the manufacturer. Why? Many manufacturers have different ways
thicker the wall, the harder it is to puncture the tube, but also of calculating size, and if you have a tire marked 26x2.10 from
the heavier the tube becomes. And tubes can come with a one company and a tube from another marked “Fits
sealant inside them to seal punctures. 26x1.75~2.35,” you may run into difficulties. It is like shirts
What tube to use? A downhill or gravity rider with a big- and shoes. Companies have different measuring methods. One
hit bike most likely will have 26x2.5 or larger tires on his company’s large is another company’s medium. One compa-
bike. The ideal tube for this tire is one that has a thicker wall ny’s size 10 is another company’s size 11. So you have to check
of rubber, and this would be a 1.2- or 2.25-millimeter thick- them out as to what is a good fit. ❑
Got a question about mountain biking? Send it to “Inside Line” and let some of the most know-
ledgeable folks who ride answer it for you. E-mail your question to Inside@hi-torque.com, and we’ll
get it answered.
36 www.mbaction.com
351g
www.formula-brake.com
A well-rounded brake at a
competitive price. At 351g
(160mm rotor, front, post mount),
the RX is a lightweight brake
with the power to handle all of
your XC, Trail, All-Mountain,
and Enduro needs. Featuring a
1-piece caliper, the RX delivers
impressive modulation and power.
Experience the value of Formula’s
RX on your next ride.
MBA est
38 www.mbaction.com
Switch hitter: The BMC will climb
smoothly without switching on the
Fox RP2 shock’s ProPedal feature,
but the addition of the pedal plat-
form gives the TrailFox 01 an ener-
getic feel under power.
BUYING ADVICE
Riding the BMC TrailFox 01 was an unexpected pleasure. Quick, like a fox: Brisk steering and a light feel at the pedals
make the BMC TrailFox 01 a great choice for racer types who
Its performance is well-suited for all-day rides over technical are making the transition to a dedicated trailbike.
terrain, and its easy-going manners and smooth-riding sus-
pension make the hours pass by in a most enjoyable fashion.
BMC TRAILFOX 01
BMC’s long-travel trailbike joins MBA favorites like the
Giant Trance for do-it-all, cross-country performance. ❑
Price $4499
Country of origin Taiwan
Weight 29 pounds
Hotline (952) 941-9391
Frame tested 18.5" (medium)
Bottom bracket height 13"
Chainstay length 17.125"
Top tube length 23"
Head tube angle 68°
Seat tube angle 73°
Standover height 30"
Wheelbase 44.25"
Suspension travel (front) 5.5"
Suspension travel (rear) 5.5"
Frame material Aluminum
Fork Fox 32 TALAS 140
Shock Fox Float RP2
Rims DT Swiss X1800
Tires Schwalbe Nobby Nic (2.4")
Hub DT Swiss X1800
BMC’ing: (Clockwise from Brakes Shimano XT
top) BMC uses a dual-link Brake levers Shimano XT
suspension configured much Crankset Shimano XT
like Giant’s Maestro system.
Paired halves, which are then Handlebar Scor Race (25")
welded together, form a light- Shifters Shimano XT
weight and rigid rocker link. Front derailleur Shimano XT
The same construction tech-
nique is used for the bottom Rear derailleur Shimano XT (Shadow)
bracket shell. Shimano XT Chainrings Shimano XT (44/32/22)
disc brakes delivered no- Cassette Shimano XT (11-34)
drag and right-now stopping
performance. Pedals None (weighed with Shimano XT)
40 www.mbaction.com
Passion Driven.
NOT borrowed
from the
automotive or any
other industry.
We are unique and
exclusive,
photo: Matteo Cappe - www.mc-photographer.com
designing and
manufacturing
tires specifically
for your sport,
your lifestyle,
your passion.
www.geax.com
I
n 2007, Trek Bikes under-
went a significant change in
their mountain bike culture,
and in the company itself. The
2010 Trek
decision was made to invest in
the terrain around the company
by building over ten miles of
MBA TECH
42 www.mbaction.com
The hills are alive: Trek’s 2010 cross-
country and trailbike launch took place
on the breathtaking terrain of Altaussee,
Austria. Trek’s Travis Brown puts down
the power aboard the new Fuel EX.
Top-notch: Trek says their 21.2-pound Top Fuel 9.9 is their fastest mountain bike ever.
The premium Top Fuel gets SRAM’s XX group, a custom Fox Shox RP23 Race Cam
shock, and Bontrager XXX Lite wheels. It could be yours for $6499.
44 www.mbaction.com
visit us at SUNLINERACING.COM or call 661 257 2756
ay
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ac
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Long-Travel
Trailbike
Tips
Make your bike
do the work
R.Cunningham
L
ong-travel trailbikes—dual-suspension designs with five or six inches
of wheel travel and cross-country-suitable geometry—are the most pop-
ular bike choice for today’s experienced riders. Those who make the
transition from a hardtail or short-travel cross-country dual-suspension bike
to a long-travel trailbike usually waste at least six weeks choosing lines and
applying power in much the same way they did on their old mounts. All new
or improved technology comes with a revised operating handbook, and long-
The new face of cross-country: travel trailbikes are no exception. Bike setup, line choices, braking technique,
Pedal-friendly suspension and pedaling style and position over the bike are different for long-legged designs,
platform damping have made long- so to get the most performance from your Giant Trance, Pivot Mach 5, or
travel trailbikes practical for riding all Specialized Stumpjumper, study the following tips.
day or all out.
46 www.mbaction.com
FIVE LONG-TRAVEL SETUPS TIPS
BEFORE YOU HIT THE TRAIL
1 SUSPENSION SETUP—SOFT
Set the suspension softer than you may believe is best. The first big error
newbies make is pumping up the air spring of the shock and fork to achieve a
similar feel to a three-inch cross-country racer. Big mistake. You will never
use the full travel of either end of the bike, and worse, you will effectively
raise the bike’s ride height (and thus the center of gravity), causing the bike
to bounce and chatter over the bumps more than your old short-stroke cross-
country machine ever did. Set the suspension sag at 25 percent and lower the
ride-height of the bike. Pedaling will not be less firm, because the suspension
(and any built-in anti-bob attribute) is designed to work in this range. The
overall ride of the bike, climbing and descending, will be miraculously
improved.
2 GADGETS—USE THEM
Hey, the inertia valves on the Specialized Stumpjumper’s Brain fork and
shock are not ornaments. Turn them up and the bike will pedal marvelously
well while you—the ex-hardtail monkey—flail away at the pedals as if the
crankset were your arch enemy. If your bike is sold with a Fox RP23 shock
and a Fox fork with the TALAS feature, its designer is telling you that
switching to a firmer pedal platform in the rear and lowering the front end
will enhance your climbing—and maybe boost the performance elsewhere on Resist the temptation: Trek’s suspension-
the trail. Same goes for handlebar-remote lockouts and in-flight-adjustable sag gauge graphically reveals how much neg-
seatposts. Once suspension travel exceeds five inches, the interplay between ative travel a trailbike needs to operate cor-
the fork and shock action can alter the bike’s effective frame geometry by up rectly. Don’t over-pressurize your air springs
to two degrees in extreme situations. Experiment. Use your on-the-fly tuning to hedge against pedal bob.
options to speed up or slow down the steering as needed, to lower your cen-
ter of gravity, or to maximize your pedaling efficiency.
3 TIRES—GO BIG
FIVE LONG-TRAVEL RIDING TIPS Sit down and pedal: Smooth and steady pedaling is
possible aboard a long-stroke trailbike, so use this to
GETTING ALL YOU PAID FOR your advantage and conserve energy on long, arduous
climbs. Sit down and spin.
48 www.mbaction.com
Over three years in development, the Carbide SL is the ultimate in lightweight,
stiffness and pedaling efficiency. At a scant 4.4 pound frame weight with a
DT Swiss carbon shock, it's one of the lightest XC full suspension bikes on the
market, and certainly the stiffest. The Carbide SL can be hammered through
anything a cross country rider can throw at it.
Tomac Bikes | 2932 South 26th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68502 | 402 261 3988
10 Tips
MBA TRAINING AND FITNESS
3 CLIMBING—GEAR DOWN
50 www.mbaction.com
Stay centered: Keep your suspen-
sion balanced by riding from the
middle of the chassis. Crouch down
to lower the bike’s center of gravity
for steep descents or hard braking
instead of sliding to the extreme
rear of the saddle.
5 STAY CENTERED—
EXCEPT IN ONE
SITUATION
The more wheel travel your dual-
suspension chassis has, the easier it
is to upset the front/rear balance by
exaggerating your body position
fore or aft. Stay centered. Confine
your fore/aft weight shifts to the
length of the saddle and you will
never be caught out of position for
a surprise climb or drop. Excessive
weight shifts unload one side of the
suspension and over-compress the
other—which can make a great
bike feel like a monster. Stay cen-
tered and you force the suspension
to act against your mass—which is
balanced between the wheels—so
the bike will also remain in bal-
ance.
There is one exception to the
stay-centered rule: When you need
to sprint or power out of the saddle,
lean over the front of the bike and
preload the fork with your weight.
This will compress the fork about
halfway through its stroke and
boost the spring and damping rates
so it will bob less under a 100-per-
cent effort. ❑
Biking’s Annual
Trade Show See the new stuff before the doors open
C
ar nuts have the Detroit Auto show.
Gamers have the E3 Electronic
Entertainment Expo. Surfer dudes get
the Orlando Surf Expo. Snowboarders attend
the Snowsports Industries America Trade Stop the bleeding:
Adventure Medical
Show. But none of these shows are as exciting Kits’ QuikClot Sport
to us as Interbike. is a sponge made of
Interbike corrals bike shop employees in a porous fabric that
Las Vegas convention center where they get to contains tiny beads
of the mineral Zeolite.
see the latest offerings from folks who make When placed onto a
bikes, components and apparel for mountain wound, the QuikClot
bikers. We asked these companies if we could sponge conforms to
the shape of the
give riders who depend on Mountain Bike injury and is claimed
Action a sneak peek at what they are taking to to stop even venous
Interbike. The response was overwhelming and arterial bleeding
in less than three
(we couldn’t fit everything in), because you minutes. How? QuikClot claims to act as a molecular sieve,
are important to these people. sifting molecules by size. When QuikClot comes into con-
tact with blood, it rapidly absorbs smaller water molecules
from the blood, effectively sucking out all of the liquid. Only
the larger platelet and clotting factor molecules remain in
the wound in a highly concentrated form. This process pro-
motes extremely rapid natural clotting and prevents severe
blood loss. QuikClot Sport has a suggested retail of $9.99.
You’ll find it at bike shops and sporting goods stores.
52 www.mbaction.com
Downhiller’s necklace: The Leatt-Brace GPX
Sport is an injection-molded, glass-reinforced,
nylon/carbon fiber neck brace system designed
by medical professionals to help prevent
extreme forward, rearward and sideways head
movements. It should also reduce spinal col-
umn compression, hyperflexion and hyperex-
tension. The $595 GPX Sport is available in two
sizes, small for four- to 16-year-olds who have
a thin build, or medium for riders older than 16
years old. Leatt-Brace also makes neck braces
for adults. Call them at (800) 691-3314.
Fast wheels:
Fulcrum is rolling
out (pun intended)
the Red Metal 1 XL
wheel, which takes
weight off their pre-
vious offering with
the use of 24 alu-
minum spokes (both
front and rear). The
spoke lacing is
claimed to improve Pump it up: Genuine
wheel performance Innovations gets you back
during braking and riding fast after a flat tire with
torquing in the big their new $39.99 Mountain
ring. The hub’s Pipe. It is the best of both
bearings are dou- worlds, with a combo CO2 inflator
bled sealed and can and hand pump. The Mountain Pipe
be run with a tradi- has a magnetic lock that keeps the
tional nine-millime- barrel locked and closed. The slip-on
ter axle or 15-mil- valve fits presta valves, and a Schrader
limeter thru-axle. valve adaptor is included.
Trade Show
Bling-a-licious:
The guys at
Crankskins.com
continue to come
up with ideas to
Light feet: The new $230 add bling to your
Xpedo M-Force XMF08TT bike and protect
pedals are claimed to tip the it at the same
scales at 7.4 ounces. They hit time. They offer
that weight with the use of a chainstay guards,
titanium body and axle. The crankarm guards
axle still floats on three car- and, new for
tridge bearings. The pedals 2010, Rimskins,
are Shimano cleat compatible. which will sell for
(310) 993-5949. between $15 and
$20. Crankskins
offers custom
graphics in small
quantities to
make your club
or team look pro.
54 www.mbaction.com
Home mechanic: Need to remove your Shimano Hollowtech Fly to the finish: The $4295 Fly Team 29er titanium
bottom bracket? You need special tools, and Icetoolz gives is made from a 3/2.5 butted titanium tubeset with
you everything you need in this $12 kit. (888) 804-1095. Motobecane’s Vari-butting. They offer the bike in four
sizes (15, 17, 19 or 21 inch) with FSA Afterburner
cranks, Shimano XTR components and a 3.9-inch
travel RockShox Reba 29 fork. Claimed weight is
23.5 pounds.
56 www.mbaction.com
Saddle holder: Fizik’s new $125 Cyrano 3D forged 7075
aluminum seatpost has mast walls that are thicker in the
front and back for strength and thinner on the sides for
weight savings. Radiused clamp edges prevent damage No Fox tail: Fox took the V3 motocross helmet and re-engi-
to rails. The tilt mechanism is a two-bolt system (with neered it for bike-specific use by trimming some weight
thumb wheel for front adjustment) with infinite angle (down to a claimed 2.6 pounds) with the use of carbon fiber
adjustment to accommodate a variety of seat tube in the shell lay up. The $379.95 V3R has rear venting, a
angles. The Cyrano includes a silicone ring useful for multi-channel internal EPS liner for airflow and a fully remov-
marking your post height. The Cyrano comes in four able and washable Coolmax liner and cheek pads.
diameters (27.2-, 30.9-, 31.6- and 34.9-millimeters) and
three lengths (270-, 350-, and 400-millimeters).
Casual cool: The Fox 2010 Dirt Shirt Collection uses a unique bamboo
fabric that is both wicking and anti-microbial. Fox then adds graphics
that seem to appeal to everyone from trials riders to downhillers. The
shirts sell for $39.95 each.
58 www.mbaction.com
Budget rubber: German
The CST protection:
Camber tire The $110
comes in 26x2.1 Uvex
or a fatter Supersonic
26x2.25 size GT helmet
that mimics the offers the
low profile of IAS 3D
expensive adjustment
cross-country system
race tires. It (adjustable in
doesn’t mimic height and
their price, width), 23 ven-
though. All tires tilation open-
will be available ings, on-the-fly chin
in wire or fold- strap adjustment, and for-
ing bead. The ward vents screened to keep
Camber prices bees out. Uvex helmets are
start at $17. now available in America
through Magura USA,
(800) 448-3876.
Light brake: Lighten up your ride Add some cushion: Smooth out the
with some $99.95 Carver titanium bumps with a Carver Ti Seatpost. It has
disc rotors. Claimed to weigh less a two-bolt micro adjust with Carver’s
than two ounces, the titanium disc unique setback design. The titanium
brake rotors are currently available post is available in 27.2 x 350 millime-
in a six-inch diameter with a six-bolt ters, and they will make custom sizes.
pattern and should be compatible The matte finish is $169.95 and the
with all popular cross-country race brushed finish goes for $199.95.
bike brake calipers. Carver Bikes,
(207) 442-7840.
Trade Show
Inflated action: New
for 2010, the $30.99
Axiom Enforce Air Pro
hand pump has a
dual-density handle,
aluminum barrel and
160 psi maximum
pressure. With an
anodized body and
nickel-plated accents,
it looks as good as it
works. Like all Axiom
pumps, it is complete-
ly serviceable with
available replacement
parts and is backed by
a lifetime warranty.
Real steel: It is not new for 2010, but you can’t sue us because we think Available from Norco
the chromoly Brodie Heritage Series is simply elegant. Brodie says, at (800) 663-8916.
“Chromoly is in our blood, and with a little something for almost everyone,
we just couldn’t leave it off the menu any longer. Whether riding down a
trail, along a long and winding road or across town, we have you covered
with the classic feel of steel.”
Hats off to THE: The 2010 carbon Tiki helmet goes for $299 and comes with two visors and an all-
new cool dry, washable padset. It comes in sizes from X-small to X-large. THE at (562) 407-2184.
60 www.mbaction.com
Ear warmer: Get
ready for the fall and
winter riding season with
the $16.95 Halo Anti-Freeze
pullover headband. It features a
wider profile and ear protection to block
the wind and cold weather. The one-size-fits-all design
includes the patented Sweat Block Technology that prevents
sweat from getting in your eyes. Halo, (800) 508-4256.
Not a passing Faze: The 2010 Norco Faze SE has 4.7 inches of travel
with a frame made from butted tubing and a new, one-piece carbon link
arm. The Faze SE is lighter and stiffer than the 2009 model.
Check out these colors: THE doesn’t call this $200 downhill helmet the Throwback
because of its technology. It’s because of the colors! You get two visors and an all-new
cool dry, washable padset. Comes in sizes from X-small to X-large.
Coming soon: We
got our hands on a
2010 Turner Flux and
will have a test in our
December issue. Until
then, drool over this
four-inch-travel trail-
bike that thinks it is a
cross-country racer.
Now with the dw-link,
the frame-only price
is $2395 from Turner
at (951) 677-1711.
62 www.mbaction.com
Haro Porter: Eric Porter, Haro’s go-to guy for going big, offers a sig-
nature model for 2010 called, surprise, The Porter. He gives you a
custom Fox 36 Float RC2 fork (set to 3.9 inches of travel and at a
height just right for the frame), a FSA Gravity Gap Mega EXO crankset
and bottom bracket, FSA Gravity Chain Guide, Pivit Featherlite CNC Big axle compatible: The $44.95 Sequel
pedals and Hayes Stroker Ryde brakes with six-inch rotors. If you 15mm from Hurricane Components
think $3350 sounds pricey, try building this bike with the same com- adapts most suspension forks using
ponents. It is a steal! 15-millimeter axles to existing bike rack.
Call them at (951) 280-6036.
64 www.mbaction.com
Speed thrills: The Niner Air 9 Carbon can
be run as a single-speed or geared and
the bottom bracket will work with sev-
eral bottom bracket systems
including the new BB-30
standard that single-
speed riders crave. We
can’t wait to get our
hands on one of
these. High-
speed sin-
gletrack
fun!
Trade Show
Color guard: The $2499 Felt Virtue Two is a 5.1-inch travel trailbike
that has an aluminum main frame and carbon fiber rear triangle. Think
of this as a cross-country/trailbike, because even with its long travel,
it thinks it is a race bike.
Become an outlaw: The $330 Azonic
Outlaw Welded Wheel Sets Come in
135- or 150-millimeter rear hub spac-
ing, anodized black, red, gold, cyan or
green. The rims (also available sepa-
rately) are a 7075 aluminum double-wall
design with eyelets and a wide profile
for extra strength and rigidity. The front
wheel is compatible with a nine-milli-
meter quick-release axle and 15- or 20-
millimeter thru-axle conversions.
Large hoops: The $4999 Felt Nine Team takes a carbon fiber frame and
enforces it with their replaceable “Dingle Guard” (a replaceable Kevlar
downtube protector) and bolt-on Kevlar chain watcher. You get Mavic
Crossmax 29-inch wheels with WTB Vulpine tires.
66 www.mbaction.com
Winning wheels: The $950 2010 ZTR
Podium MMX cross-country-racing
wheelset has seen the top podium spot at
the Olympics, World Cups and national
championships. Claimed to weigh just 2.6
pounds, the little company from Upstate
New York is the David against a bunch of
Goliaths. NoTubes, (607) 562-2877.
Value racer: The $2600 Sette Vexx DH bike features a 6061 aluminum, eight-
inch-travel frame with a monocoque top tube. The Vexx has CNC-machined
struts and linkage with oversized ten-millimeter pivot bearings. Components
include a RockShox Boxxer Race fork and Vivid 4.1 shock, SRAM X7/X9 dri-
vetrain and FSA Gravity MegaExo DH cranks. Only available from Price Point
at (800) 774-2376.
70 www.mbaction.com
MBA est
T
he American-made Ellsworth Truth has been around The Instant Centers of most four-bar mountain bike sus-
for 16 years, but it has never sat still. Those years pensions intersect in the area near the crankset and behind
have seen plenty of changes, including additional the front wheel. Ellsworth’s Instant Centers range from
travel, new materials (including a titanium version) and three feet to a number of yards in front of the bike.
refinements to the frame’s geometry.
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?
WHO IS IT MADE FOR? Three components steal the show: The Magura Marta
The Truth is a versatile platform to base your dream bike SL Magnesium brakes, the Magura Durin Marathon fork
on. Using expensive carbon fiber, titanium and magnesium and the Ellsworth XC Wheelset. We look at each of these
components, it can serve as a competitive (and lightweight) components separately immediately following the test.
cross-country racer. Build it with more durable components The Syntace P6 carbon seatpost, Syntace F119 stem and
and the four-inch travel frame will serve as your high-perfor- Vector handlebar combo with Syntace lockable grips are
mance trailbike. Build it somewhere between the two and also noteworthy.
this bike will do both. Our Truth was built as a trailbike,
and that’s how we evaluated it. HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
Ergonomics: The last few Truths to roll through the
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM? test fleet were built for cross-country racing. This is a
The Truth uses an aluminum, diamond-style frame with a trail-friendly Truth with a longer-travel fork (4.7 inches
of travel instead of 3.9), nice wide bars, the super-com-
fortable WTB Pure V saddle and a Syntace carbon
fiber seatpost. The rider is still not as upright as
on a long-travel trailbike. Think of it as a sporty
trail riding position.
Moving out: No ProPedal lever? No problem.
In or out of the saddle, the Truth, with its custom-
tuned shock, just motors away with a firm rear
suspension, remaining responsive to the trail sur-
face and immune to your pedal mashing. Even
efforts out of the saddle don’t create
squish in the rear suspension.
Cornering: The Truth
shines while negotiating
tight, technical single-
track. Switchbacks
require nothing more
than a flick of the han-
dlebar to full-lock. The
rider feels perfectly cen-
tered, and there is no
need for exaggerated body
English to get the Truth to
do what you want.
Stay over the middle of the
bike and the Truth holds its line
large walking-beam link at the seat stay junction. The rear and will carve around corners without pushing the front
triangle is also aluminum, and all the pivots rotate on large, tire.
sealed ball bearings. A massive gusset is employed in front Climbing: The active rear suspension definitely lends a
of the seat tube/top tube junction, allowing for a sloping top hand when climbing rough terrain. It softens the worst
tube and a great standover height. bumps, but it doesn’t feel all that supple. If your litmus
The small print on the top tube is patent language for the test for a great-performing cross-country bike is a firm-
Ellsworth Instant Center suspension. The term “Instant pedaling platform, then the upside of the Ellsworth’s
Center” explains an imaginary point in space that one side rough ride is that it pedals as well as the best stable-plat-
of a four-bar linkage rotates around. To find it, draw an form trailbikes.
imaginary line through the middle of the two upper pivots In the rough: The Truth’s suspension feels firm, but
and another line through the center of the lower pivot the sensation does not adversely affect the handling.
points. The Instant Center is where the two lines intersect. There always seems to be enough suspension travel in
The pivot’s actual location often changes as the rear suspen- reserve to ride aggressively, but you must be mindful of its
sion cycles through its travel, so the “Instant” part of the steep steering geometry when you drop down something
term refers to where the lines intersect at any given moment steep, especially if you build your Truth with the recom-
in time. mended 3.9-inch travel fork.
BUYING ADVICE
One of the most common mistakes riders make is buying
too much bike. If your trails require a long-travel suspension
bike because of the severity of the terrain, Ellsworth has
plenty of models to choose from. However, if your trails
throw challenging obstacles at you with plenty of climbing
and descending, a Truth built just like this one would serve
you for years. ❑
ELLSWORTH TRUTH
Price $2195 (frame and shock)
Country of origin USA
Weight 26.6 pounds
Hotline (760) 788-7500
Size tested 20" (large)
Bottom bracket height 13.9"
Chainstay length 16.5"
Top tube length 24.5"
Head tube angle 70.2°
Seat tube angle 72.7°
Standover height 29.5"
Wheelbase 44"
Suspension travel (front) 4.7"
Suspension travel (rear) 4"
Frame material Aluminum
Fork Magura Durin Marathon
Shock Fox Float R
Rims Ellsworth XC
Tires Kenda Nevegal 2.35,
Kenda Small Bock Eight (r)
Hub Ellsworth XC
Brakes Magura Marta SL Magnesium
Brake levers Magura Marta SL Magnesium
Crankset Shimano XT
Shifters Shimano XT Rapidfire
Handlebar Syntace Vector (27")
Front derailleur Shimano XT
Truth serum: (Clockwise from top) A large walking-beam link Rear derailleur Shimano XT
at the seat stay junction is part of the Ellsworth Instant Chainrings Shimano (44/32/22)
Center suspension. The seat tube is enforced by a massive Cassette Shimano XTR (11-34)
gusset. The Fox shock is tuned just for this application.
Pedals None (weighed w/Shimano XTR)
72 www.mbaction.com
Rating:
★★★★★ Perfection
O
ur Ellsworth Truth was equipped with three com-
ponents that deserve to be more than a footnote in
the test. The Magura Durin Marathon fork, Magura
Marta SL Magnesium brakes and Ellsworth’s just-released
XC wheelset.
ELLSWORTH XC WHEELSET
★★✩✩✩
Tech features: The $799 XC wheelset features 24 spokes with a two-cross lac-
ing pattern and Ellsworth-patented Quad Butted Spokes. The 29-millimeter-wide
rims have tapered walls. The hubs are compatible with a standard quick-release or
a 15-millimeter thru-axle. The wheelset comes with extra spokes, nipples and the
spacers you need for your axle preference. These wheels are also available in 29-
inch diameters. The rear wheel with rim strip weighs one pound, 13.4 ounces,
while the front is one pound, 9.5 ounces. Ellsworth skewers are 2.1 ounces (rear)
and 1.9 ounces.
After the thrashing: These wheels are beautiful, with striking attention to
detail from the polished hubs to the red Ellsworth rim strip. Mounting tires on the
wider-than-usual-23-millimeter rims was no hassle, and the tires beaded to the rim
easily. The wider rims gives any tire the feel of being slightly larger because it
increases the contact patch. We found the wheels to lack the necessary rigidity for
big-gear-mashing, cross-country racing and any type of trail riding. We were able to
make tire contact with the fork slider and seat stays under hard efforts or G-out
bumps. The wheels were taken to an Ellsworth dealer, who determined the spoke
tension was correct. A lightweight racer (say, under 150 pounds) looking for the
weight advantage these wheels bring might find them acceptable. It is our opinion
that larger riders will not find them rigid enough.
74 www.mbaction.com
IRC Mythos XC II
Racing Tire
msrp $50
$1498 Avid Single
Digit 7 Brake
msrp $40
$2198
Panaracer Fire
XC Pro Tire
msrp $40
$2198
Crank Brothers
Planet Bike Egg Beater C
Super⇑ash
msrp $60 San Marco msrp $85 Selle Italia msrp $50 WTB msrp $40 WTB msrp $30
Pedal
Ponza Saddle msrp $80
$2998 $5998 Shiver Gel $3498 Speed V Pro $2698 Speed V
Flow Saddle Gel Saddle Comp Saddle $1798 $5498
Fox msrp $70 Fox msrp $60 Fox msrp $40 Fox msrp $55
Ranger Baseline Baseline Live Wire
Short $44 Short $39 Jersey $24 Jersey $39
98 98 98 98
Easton EC70
Carbon
Seatpost
msrp $120
$7998
Rockshox
Dart 2 ‘08
msrp $119
$7998
Hoss AAdidas
Ponderosa Oakley TTrail CP Dakine
Short Descent SStorm Limelight
msrp $50
Short JJacket Zip Hoody
msrp $140 m
msrp $130 msrp $80
$4498
$5498 $5498 $3498
Fox
Women’s Dakine Adidas
A
Sierra Mask Bike
B
Short T-Shirt JJacket
msrp $65 msrp $25 msrp $55 msrp $8
Price Point
$3998 $1298 $2998 Team Sock $398
Giant Lightens Up
A first look at Giant’s 2010 Maestro suspension bikes
MBA TECH
Total package: Giant revamped their all-mountain Reign X from the ground up. The new frame utilizes their OverDrive tapered head
tube and has a 67-degree head angle ideal for aggressive trail riding.
B
efore 2005, Giant employed a variety of full-suspension
platforms in their mountain bike line. When they a massive weight reduction for 2010. Compared to the 2009
unveiled their Maestro suspension that same year version, Giant says the all-new aluminum Reign X frame drops
everything changed, as many of their bikes have become some 1.5 pounds alone, and a production bike out of the box without
of the sport’s most highly regarded performance machines. pedals weighs 30.2 pounds. Giant was able to shed some
The evolution of Giant’s dual-link Maestro has resulted in weight in the frame by going to a co-pivot design and not pierc-
their lightest and most capable mountain bikes yet. ing the downtube. The new Reign has Giant’s OverDrive head
What is Maestro suspension? In short, it’s a design with tube and tapered steerer tube to stiffen up the frame, and a
four pivot points that allow two rocker arms to articulate in a 12x135 Maxle Lite rear thru-axle.
manner that creates a single floating pivot point. Faith: Back from the dead is Giant’s Faith black-diamond
We had the opportunity to get a first look at their flagship bike. Like the Reign, the Faith sees a massive drop in the frame
full-suspension Maestro models on the challenging terrain of
the Keystone, Colorado, resort. The technical Keystone down-
hill courses and epic cross-country trails played a perfect host
to Giant’s all-new, six-inch-travel, all-mountain Reign X; the
World Cup-tested Glory downhill bike; reborn seven-inch-trav-
el Faith park bike; the all-new Anthem X Advanced SL; and
the highly anticipated carbon fiber version of the bike that
won MBA’s $2500 trailbike shootout—the five-inch-travel
Giant Trance.
Entering the 2010 model year, Giant knew they were sitting
on a remarkable-performing suspension platform, so their goal
was to refine those designs and shed some weight. We’ll touch
on some highlights and refinements of the Reign X, Faith,
Glory, Anthem X SL and Trance X Advanced SL.
LONG-TRAVEL MAESTRO
For Giant, the beauty of their Maestro suspension was they
could now use the same suspension platform for both short-
Hard goods: The 6.7-inch-travel Reign X features all-new suspen-
and long-travel bikes. sion hardware and forged upper rockers.
78 www.mbaction.com
Keeping the faith: The Faith returns to Giant’s gravity lineup and is
built to handle huge drops and stunts. How tough is the new Faith?
Giant rider Kurt Sorge rode his to a podium finish in the Red Bull Weighting game: Giant’s 2010 Faith drops an incredible 2.5
Rampage. The Faith comes stock with two sets of replaceable pounds from the frame alone, and Giant says the complete bike
dropouts. The different dropouts change the head angle by half of a weighs 36.8 pounds out of the box. Suspension duties are han-
degree and either drops or raises the bottom bracket. dled by RockShox’s Vivid 5.1 shock and air-sprung Totem fork.
Race ready: Giant’s Glory downhill bike has been one of the best
deals in the expensive sport of downhill racing; however, it was a
beast at over 45 pounds. Giant says their completely redesigned
2010 Glory weighs an impressive 37.9 pounds out of the box and
is World Cup ready.
SHORT-TRAVEL MAESTRO
Keeping with the theme of the long-travel machines, Giant’s
proven cross-country racing and trailbike designs also lighten Glorious descender: Tested on the World Cup circuit, the eight-
up significantly for the 2010 model year. Giant utilizes their inch-travel Glory downhill bike utilizes Fox Shox suspension,
Advanced Composite Technology to achieve the maximum Shimano Saint components and a 65.5-degree head angle.
80 www.mbaction.com
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0-767-034
1-80
C
Inside The
Pros’ Bikes
20
C
anada’s Max Plaxton has been climbing
his way to the top of the cross-country
ranks in North America. Max, now 24,
started mountain biking at 14, when his family
was living in Spain. When the family moved
back to British Columbia in 2002, Max won
Canada’s Junior Cross-Country National
Championship.
Moving forward, Max took the Pan American
Espoir (Under-23) cross-country title in 2006
and 2007, and a bronze medal in the U23 class
at the World Championships in 2006. Max also
won gold medals in the Team Relay races at two
World Championships.
Max’s first big national win in the U.S. came
in the short-track event at the Santa Barbara, 19
California, National in 2007. This summer,
Max took his first pro cross-country win at the
Colorado Springs Pro XCT National, beating
Canadian rival Geoff Kabush and American
champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski.
Max rides this Specialized Epic for Team
Sho-Air.
84 www.mbaction.com
Weight: 20.5 pounds
11 Estimated worth: $9000
9
21
10 23
18
1
3
24 4
22
2 5
25
17 8
26
7
12
13 14 6
15. Shimano Dura-Ace chain. 21. Race Face Deus XC stem, 25. Specialized AFR remote
“I always prefer to run this chain. I have 110-millimeters, at minus-6 mini shock with Brain inertia
never had a broken chain in a race or train- degrees. valve with Brain Fade, rebound-
ing and hope to keep that streak going.” “Very stiff and lightweight.” adjustment and 3.9 inches of
travel.
16. Shimano XTR Shadow rear 22. Jagwire Ripcord cable “Just like the Brain Fork, this
derailleur. housing. shock does it all for you. It remains
“Combined with the XTR trigger “Simply flawless shifting without firm on smooth terrain and goes fully
shifters, there is no better combination for having to change the housing all the active in rough terrain without hav-
flawless shifting.” time.” ing to touch anything. I am super
lucky to be riding on the most
17. Shimano XTR front derailleur. 23. Threadless headset, advanced suspension technology out
Campy-style 1-1/8-inch upper there.”
18. Shimano XTR Rapidfire Plus and 1.5-inch lower cartridge
shifters. bearing. 26. Enduro ceramic bearings are
“Super-solid shifting and very precise.” “I am blown away by how stiff the fitted in the bottom bracket and
head tube area is. Accelerating out of hubs.
19. Shimano XTR 11-34 cassette.
the saddle is when I notice it the “This is one of the best upgrades
“Perfect gear ratio for a fast-pedaling
most.” anyone can do to their race bike. It
downhill or a steep uphill.”
simply makes the bike faster.” ❑
20. WTB Silverado SLT seat. 24. Chris King titanium water-
“The Silverado is the perfect choice for bottle cage.
me. At 6.5 ounces, it is light but also very “It’s my all-time favorite cage. I
comfy.” think most people would agree.”
%0#2#12
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Red, S-XXL
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MSRP $35
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Riser Bar ‘09
1
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Shimano LX M581 Rear
Derailleur
-$$ HB290A01
MSRP $64
Thiss is a traditionally-sprung
traditionaallly-sprung
y p g (i.e.
( not Shimano LX FC-M582 Crankset
Amazing upgrade for just about any bike! 170 or 175mm,
+10. p Rise) rear derailleur
pid
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Trigger 44-32-22
Ro kGardn Warbird
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RD309A01 MSRP $80 CR303A00 14#
Helmet MSRP $189.99
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These LX RapidFire levers are ideal for almost every rider.
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RockShox Reba
EASTON Monkey Lite XC Riser Bar 08 Team ‘09 Fork
The legendary Monkeylite featuring CNT (carbon nano tube) technology, making this bar
White 100mm, Disc Only, 26”,
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w/Pushloc
25.4 or 31.8, Low or High-Rise.
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14# MSRP -$$
MSRP $120
$724 +10.
14# Titus RX-1 2008 Frame
-$$
-$$+10. Surf Blue S, M, L, XL
FR285B01 14#
Serfas SI-4 Wireless
Cyclocomputer
MSRP $1599 -$$+10. 13 Functions
CP281A00 MSRP $44.99
SE402A01
MSRP
Hutchinson Toro Tire OE
Black, 26x2.15, Kevlar Folding Blackburn Trakstand Ultra
$130
TI284A00
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Trainer
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Sun Drift Thru Axle DH/FR You call it. Men, Lady or Wide LS306A04 LS294A01
Wheelset SE402A01 MSRP $209.99 MSRP $129.99
MSRP $159.99
14#-$$ 14#-$$
Get ready to rock the trail with these fast,
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JensonUSA reserves the right to modify our prices at any time without notice. Prices listed do not include shipping. Errors in product descriptions, weights, Panther Folding Tire BI284R00
prices, or photography are unintentional and subject to correction. Customer bears the cost of return shipping for exchanges/returns unless Jenson USA has
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26x2.0, Folding MSRP $1599.99
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msrp $1699.99 14#
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Azonic O’Neal Fury Full Marzocchi 66 RC3 Fork ‘09
Face ‘08 Helmet Metalic Grey, 180mm, RC3
Easton XC One Disc Wheelset ‘08
(S, M, L) Designed to inspire the most demanding XC rider,
FK291A16
HE302G04 the XC One is up to 10% lighter than competing
MSRP $999
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MSRP
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msrp $799.99
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HE290A02 Intense Spider XVP
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HE290G12 Black, 120-160mm, ATA One of the best “bang for the buck” cross-country
MSRP
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ing. You can do whatever you want event was crazy!” says Cierra. “I was so
there because it has such an awesome happy to win that race, because I finally
variety of trails. If you can ride the trails had some competition. Before, I was so
there, you can ride anywhere.” young I hardly had any other girls to
Although still very young for a moun- race against, because not that many of
tain bike racer, Cierra’s been a part of them were doing it.”
the Santa Cruz crew for a handful of “She took a bad fall in practice and
years. she got pinned head-first at the bottom
“There used to be a junior Santa Cruz of a nasty rock section,” says Kirt
Syndicate division, and I was with them Voreis. “As soon as the course workers
the past couple of years,” explains removed the bike from atop her pret-
Cierra. “When it became the AllRide zeled body, she jumped up chuckling
Academy, I was picked from the original saying, ‘Dude, that was crazy! I definite-
team to stay on board.” ly think I need to take a break.’ She dust-
“Cierra rocks!” says all-around elite ed herself off, jumped onto her bike and
rider Kirt Voreis. “I’m excited to have ripped down the course. Cierra has what
the opportunity to help youngsters like it takes to be the best.”
Cierra have opportunities in this sport. “My goal is to be a world champion,”
Seeing the passion she has for riding, it Cierra says confidently. “I want to race
inspires me everyday to keep riding all of the UCI World Cup stuff and go as
hard and helping out wherever I can. far as I can with racing. I want to try to
M
ost 14-year-old girls spend The girl is super tough and has an all- be the best in the world. I can’t really
their summer vacation day- or-nothing attitude. She’s totally humble picture myself doing anything other
dreaming about entering high with a laid-back demeanor.” than being a pro mountain biker.
school in the fall, what experiences The World Cup circuit is still a few “Racing takes a lot of time and dedica-
their freshman year will bring, or, well, years down the road, but Cierra’s tion. I’m really thankful for, and lucky
whatever it is teenage girls daydream already proven to be the best on the to have, all of the people helping me out
about. Cierra Smith prefers to spend biggest stage she’s been on so far. racing, especially my dad.” ❑
hers training for downhill racing. Her “The U.S. National Championship
work has paid off, as she was recently
crowned the Junior Division National
Champion at the U.S. National
Championships at the SolVista
Mountain Bike Park in Granby,
Colorado. Cierra’s riding skills not only
caught our attention, but that of the
Santa Cruz AllRide Academy, a junior
development mountain bike racing team
headed by Santa Cruz Syndicate’s
AllRide Tour leader and champion
gravity racer Kirt Voreis and his, wife
Lindsey.
“My family has been involved in
cycling for a long time,” explains Cierra.
“My grandpa used to race road bikes,
and then he and my dad got into moun-
tain biking. My dad then began riding
downhill and started to bring me to the
mountain.”
Northern California has incredible
mountain biking terrain, and Cierra
appreciates the world class trails in her
backyard.
“My home mountain is definitely
Northstar at Lake Tahoe,” she says.
“I’m so lucky to live about 20 minutes
away from there, and I spend practically
every weekend riding or racing down-
hill there. Northstar is so great for train-
88 www.mbaction.com
Supreme descender: With a 67-
degree head angle, thru-axle fork
and an eight-inch front brake rotor,
the Enduro SL Pro Carbon can
charge high-speed terrain.
90 www.mbaction.com
MBA est
L
ong-travel trailbikes combine relatively lightweight stem make for a comfortable cockpit and speak to the bike’s
suspension technology with a smattering of durable descending competence.
trailbike or high-end cross-country components. To achieve optimum suspension performance, you’ll need
Specialized’s offering in this category is their six-inch-travel to set the correct amount of sag. Specialized includes a little
Enduro. Four models carry the Enduro title, including two sag meter that you can use to determine when you’ve
with carbon fiber frames and two made from aluminum. achieved 25-percent sag in the shock. With the Fox fork,
The Enduros range in price from $7700 to $3300. you’ll want to run 20-percent sag with the fork in the full-
travel setting.
WHO IS IT MADE FOR? Climbing: For a bike with six inches of travel, the Enduro
With six inches of front and rear travel, the Enduro is is a snappy accelerator. We were impressed with how well it
ideal for a trail rider who doesn’t shy away from technical scrambled uphill on loose terrain. The Enduro is capable of
descents and has the fitness to haul wider tires, plush sus- cresting any climb you have the lungs and legs to hammer
pension and more overall weight uphill. These chassis are up and over.
dialed so riders can muscle their way to the top of technical The AFR shock has a four-position pedaling platform,
climbs and let it fly on challenging downhills. with the first setting being the most plush and
the fourth the most firm. The first and third
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM? settings were the easiest to find while
Our 2009 Enduro SL Pro Carbon is the wearing gloves, but it’s easy to unin-
least expensive of the two carbon fiber- tentionally press the lever past the
framed Enduros. The carbon frame uses a fourth position. On technical climbs,
rocker-link-actuated, four-bar suspension fea- our best results were with the shock
turing Specialized’s FSR in the third setting. It offered a
design and operates on consistent pedaling platform
cartridge bearings. with enough bump
The Enduro’s absorption to handle
adjustable geome- terrain features.
try allows for sit- The Fox 32F
uation-specific TALAS fork’s ability
tuning. The two to lower the front end
bottom shock is perfect for keeping
mount positions the front end from
offer either a 67- wandering when spin-
degree head angle ning in the saddle.
and a 14-inch bottom Although three positions are
bracket height or a 68- available on this fork, we were
degree head angle and a 14.5-inch bottom bracket height. more comfortable during long
climbs with the travel set in the middle (5.1-inch) position.
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT? Lowering the fork to this setting allowed us to maintain a
Each of the four Enduro models feature Specialized’s AFR centered and aggressive riding position on the bike. Only on
air-sprung shock. The damping curve is specifically tuned to extended fire road climbs did we reach for the lockout fea-
optimize the FSR suspension design, and toggling the blue ture (in the softest blow-off setting), as spinning in the sad-
lever activates the four-position pedaling platform. The dle on singletrack trails caused slight unwanted fork move-
Specialized Command Post adjustable seatpost is a nice ment.
touch, and one of three seat height positions can be chosen The key to cresting the steepest of climbs is to keep your
by pressing a handlebar-mounted lever. weight forward and spin a low gear. The 34-tooth Shimano
Those of you familiar with the high-end Specialized XT cassette helped keep the wheels rolling and our legs
Enduros of the past few years will notice this model is spec’ed churning.
with a Fox 32 TALAS fork instead of the Specialized Future Descending: As you approach downhills, open up the
Shock E150 fork found on the 2009 S-Works version. After we fork and shock, and if you’ve set the suspension sag correct-
experienced inconsistent performance with the E150 fork on ly, you’ll be stoked by how well the front and rear of the
the 2008 Enduro, we welcomed the Fox slider on this test bike. Enduro work in synchronization to gobble up rocks, roots
The Fox 32F TALAS RL fork offers premium perfor- and trail chatter at speed.
mance and has adjustable travel with 4.3-, 5.1-, and 5.9-inch The 15QR thru-axle on the Fox fork drastically improves
travel settings. the front-end rigidity when riding technical trails. What
does a stiffer front end mean to the rider? When you’re able
HOW DOES IT PERFORM? to hold your intended line without the front end deflecting
In the saddle: For a six-inch-travel bike, the Enduro has or twisting, not only do you conserve energy because you’re
a low, 29.5-inch standover height, which makes riders com- not fighting the bike, but you can focus farther down the
fortable when riding aggressively. The 67-degree head angle, trail and choose your lines earlier. This ultimately adds
74-degree seat tube angle, and 75-millimeter Specialized speed and efficiency to your ride.
92 www.mbaction.com
@kËjnfik_Xj\Zfe[afY%
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CULVER CITY TOTALLY REMODELED *LOW PRICE GUARANTEE: SEE WWW.WHEELWORLD.COM OR ASK A WHEEL WORLD SALES ASSOCIATE FOR DETAILS. WOODLAND HILLS
Sedona’s
MBA DESTINATIONS
Warm Welcome
Where to go when the snow falls
G
ray, sunless skies, dropping temperatures and falling snow
doesn’t mean it is time to put the mountain bike away and pray
for spring to arrive early. There are places that don’t come into Cooling off: Sedona trail riding is made more
tolerable in the hot weather due to the number
their riding primetime until other locations are covered in snow, ice of rivers and streams that are encountered. How
and slush. Sedona, Arizona, is a mountain biker’s winter getaway that do you find them? Look for the green below the
has a lot more to offer than warm temperatures. red rocks.
Accessibility: Road trips The people you meet: We spied former World Cross-
originating from anywhere but Country Champion Ruthie Mathis (right), a native of
California don’t make a lot of sense. Durango, Colorado, sampling the Sedona sun-
Ride areas to the north or east of shine with a friend. Sedona is an option for
getting away from a long winter.
Sedona could be under snow from
November to March, so your riding
opportunities are limited to your final
destination. Your best bet is to jet it
to Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is a
major flight hub, and that means pret-
ty good deals on airfare. Remember to
use your free bike voucher if you are
an IMBA member. Rent a car, head
north on Highway 179 and exit at
Sedona. If you have time, take an
extra day to visit South Mountain
Park and Preserve in Phoenix before
you head to Sedona.
28 miles from Flagstaff, Arizona
113 miles from Phoenix, Arizona
278 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada
341 miles from Durango, Colorado
482 miles from Los Angeles, California
792 miles from San Francisco, California
1384 miles from Seattle, Washington
2580 miles from Boston, Massachusetts
96 www.mbaction.com
ARIZONA Trails: Sedona is called the tall rock steps. Talk about a flow kill!
Red Rock Country, and you’ll It is the type of terrain that you’ll
figure out why before you’ve left struggle to clean and then feel exalta-
GRAND CANYON
108 mi. the trailhead. The hills and cliffs tion when you do.
that surround you offer views The trail surface is everything from
that are totally unique to the hardpack to sand with lots of flat-
area. This wild terrain also edged slate thrown in for added trac-
FLAGSTAFF
28 mi. offers everything from beginner tion. We are talking desert riding
trails to white-knuckle, cliff-side with all the prickly vegetation that
SEDONA riding insanity. you’d expect.
You’ll want to launch your
Sedona riding adventure at the Equipment: Sedona is not a
Bell Rock Pathway off highway place for lightweight hardtails or even
179 in the Village of Oak Creek short-travel, cross-country bikes.
PHOENIX
119 mi. (Sedona’s southern neighbor). While a four- or five-inch-travel trail-
Local riders affectionately refer bike works great, if you are going to
to the place as “The Boat tackle the technical trails, bikes like
Ramp,” because it is the jumping the Pivot Firebird, Specialized
off place for so many of the Enduro, Giant Reign, Fisher Roscoe
TUCSON area’s rides. Bell Rock Pathway or Trek Remedy are the ticket. Many
230 mi.
offers good trails for beginners local riders use flat pedals rather than
and opens up to more technical clipless pedals. Fat tires with sealant
and advanced riding. are highly recommended.
The town of Sedona itself is
surrounded by trails. It is hard to ride Poachers: We have been riding
Maps: Buy Fat Tire Tales And half a mile on any street without see- Sedona for years, and our most recent
Trails as soon as you arrive in ing a trailhead. The trails east of trip revealed an alarming number of
Arizona. The book is sold in most town are not recommended for begin- illegal trails. It makes no sense,
bike shops, and it is the consummate ners. These trails feature a lot of because there are so many great exist-
Arizona mountain bike trail guide. It rocks, drops, steep climbs, switch- ing trails. It is hard to believe that a
has 13 unique rides listed for Sedona backs and loose rocks. These can be hiker or biker would feel compelled to
alone. You can also get a free copy of frustrating rides, because one bushwhack. Off-trail riding, hiking or
the Experience Sedona Guide by call- moment you are rolling along fun, climbing in this fragile desert envi-
ing (800) 288-7336 or visiting flowy singletrack and the next second ronment creates lasting damage. We
visitsedona.com. you are trying to clear six two-foot- don’t have to ask you to stay on desig-
Sedona
nated trails, because we know you
will. We will ask you to take a
moment during your ride to block the
entrance of an illegal trail with fallen
timber or rocks.
98 www.mbaction.com
Eats: Sedona offers tons of
restaurants on the two extremes.
There seem to be either expensive,
hoity-toity, napkin-in-your-lap
restaurants or fast food places and
greasy spoons. If you don’t have the
budget to blow on grub, we’d suggest
booking a cabin with the Bike &
Bean and doing the grocery shopping
and cooking yourself.
Weather: Sedona is a
September-through-May riding desti-
nation. When summer hits, so does
the heat. Triple-digit temperatures
are not uncommon in the summer
months. The place has been know to
get dusted with snow in the winter,
but it won’t stick around long. Be
sure to pack some warm riding cloth-
ing during the winter months, as the
mornings can be cold.
100 www.mbaction.com
Mountain bike resort: The Bike & Bean runs a resort that is
Before the ride: The Sedona Bike & Bean offers rental bikes tailored to the needs of visiting mountain bikers. The cabins are
(nice ones), spare parts, professional service, maps and most your home away from home, while the pool and barbecue area
important, a great cup of Joe to get you off on your rides. is great for after-ride tale telling.
Photos by Jan Sullivan/Retro Art By Jan Photos by Jan Sullivan/Retro Art By Jan ❑
Inspire
RIDERS
WHO
Stewards Of
The Preserve Fun work: Members of the South Mountain Bike Patrol claim
they would be riding anyway, so their duties never feel like work.
Arizona riders who care for all They are being modest. Training and volunteering hours is work.
A
t over 16,000 acres, the South Mountain Preserve in
Blocking bootleg trails so hikers and riders don’t get lost saves
Phoenix, Arizona, has 51 miles of primary trails for
horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking. That’s a lives. Repairing trail damage saves lives.
lot of territory to care for, and with budget cutbacks, it seems like “We may stack some rocks to make a drop safer for begin-
an impossible task. This is why the South Mountain Bike Patrol ners, but our goal is to keep the park’s trails as natural as pos-
(SoMo BP) was formed and why it is so important. sible,” explains Tom. “The trails hold up very well until the
“We want to keep things natural and don’t want to see the monsoon season hits. That’s when we put in a lot of water
park spoiled,” explains SoMo BP member Tom Cavaretta. “We bars.”
want our kids to enjoy the preserve as much as we do.” What’s the biggest problem the SoMo BP has encountered?
The SoMo BP is the eyes and ears of the park’s rangers. Dogs off leash.
Members complete a park stewardship program that includes “I love dogs and want to keep them safe,” says Tom. “A situ-
CPR and first aid training, a background check and fingerprint- ation can get out of hand quickly if a few dogs show up at the
ing. Certified members are expected to donate 60 hours a year to same place. I’ve had to use my bike to keep dogs apart. The
the patrol. preserve is home to predators like coyotes and rattlesnakes. A
“I am going to be riding the park anyway, so it never feels like hiker lost her dog to a snake bite last year.”
I’m working,” explains Tom. “I always carry a first aid kit, tools The SoMo BP and NoMo BP show all trail users that moun-
and some spares, even when I’m not in uniform.” tain bikers care. Funding cutbacks have hurt every park sys-
The SoMo BP has many duties, the most important being com- tem in America, so there is a good chance that the park where
munication. “We have hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers you ride could use your help. Tom and Gabe suggest visiting
sharing the trails, and it is key for trail users to understand prop- the IMBA website (imba.com) and checking out their bike
er trail etiquette and to communicate with each other,” explains patrol resources page. Like Tom says, “You are going to be out
Gabe Lucero, who is part of the North Mountain Bike Patrol, there anyway. Why not pitch in to preserve the places we love
formed after the success of the SoMo BP. to ride?” ❑
The few, the proud, the dirty: The South Mountain Bike Patrol, from left, are Tom
Cavaretta, Scott MacFarlane, Mike Lust, Kurt Krause, Bryan Fox, Chris Gardner,
Micky Santa Maria, Brian Higgins, Dan Ryan, Gabe Lucero and Chris Capages.
104 www.mbaction.com
The Downhill
Workhorse
MBA TECH
T
he RockShox Boxxer is
the most decorated fork Break it in: The Boxxer
in downhill racing history, Team’s tight bushings
take a few days of rid-
and for the first time since the ing to break in. Once
original prototypes debuted in the fork’s been given
1996, it has been redesigned from the business on some
the ground up. We first brought tough terrain, it has a
plush coil feel that can
you images and riding impres- absorb repetitive mon-
sions of the three, eight-inch- ster hits.
travel 2010 Boxxer models—
the World Cup ($1700), Team
($1160) and Race ($775)—in
our February 2009 issue.
BOXXER RECAP
RockShox set out to accomplish
three goals with their new downhill
fork: to be lighter, stiffer and achieve
increased control. The new Boxxer
jumped from the 32-millimeter stan-
chions found on most cross-country
forks to a thinner-wall, 35-millimeter
tubing. This change improved stiffness
and reduced weight. The Boxxer’s new
forged crowns use less material than
previous versions, and the new Maxle
Lite DH also shaves a couple ounces.
The World Cup and Team forks get the
new Mission Control DH damping sys-
tem with Dual Flow adjust compres-
sion and rebound damping. This damp-
ing system was developed to optimize
front wheel traction.
We put the mid-priced version of the
new Boxxer, the Team, to the test on
our Santa Cruz V10.
106 www.mbaction.com
to achieve full travel on certain
impacts, but were not using any of the
compression tuning features or the
DropStop bottom-out adjustment.
Originally, we thought this was
because of the very stiff bushings, but
after the fork was sufficiently broken
in, it had supple small-bump absorp-
tion, yet was still too firm for riders
between 160 and 180 pounds to utilize
the tuning features. Thankfully, the
lighter yellow spring was already in the
box.
Instructions for swapping the fork
spring were easily downloaded online,
and what a difference the change made.
The sag on the stock spring read 25
percent, but was too firm when on the
bike. The sag reading on the softer yel-
low spring read between 25 and 30
percent, and gave us the opportunity to
use the Tuning Guide and the com-
pression and bottom-out features.
With the softer yellow spring, our
default settings became four clicks of
the blue high-speed compression knob,
three turns of the low-speed knob, and Spring time: The stock spring is said to
one turn of the bottom-out adjuster. be ideal for riders between 160 and 180
pounds. We found riders around 170
Workhorse: The coil-sprung RockShox The increased rigidity of the new pounds were able to achieve more supple
Boxxer Team features tunable beginning Boxxer eliminated all twisting sensa- and active suspension by swapping the
and ending stroke rebound, high- and- tions felt in the previous versions. stock spring to the lighter yellow spring
low-speed compression, and utilizes the Whether riding low-speed steep terrain (included) and turning the blue high-speed
new Maxle Lite 20-millimeter thru-axle. or bombing run after run at Northstar compression dial up a few clicks.
Mountain Bike park, we chose rugged
adjustment atop the left fork leg. Inside lines with confidence. Although out of
the center of the coil spring is the MCU the box the Team felt slightly sluggish,
(an elastomer) that smoothes the tran- once broken in it had superb small-
sition between the spring rate and the bump performance.
bottom-out pad. Turning the DropStop The tunability of the high- and low-
dial changes how soon it kicks in. speed rebound is most noticeable on
When purchased aftermarket, the fast, rocky terrain with repeated big
Boxxer Team includes two alternative hits, drops and holes. The ability to
tuning springs and both upper crown keep the fork stuck to the ground with
sizes. a slower rebound setting improves trac-
tion and speeds up the rebound so the
SETTING UP THE BOXXER fork can return to full travel on harsh
Along with the additional springs, hits. It works very well for maintaining
RockShox includes their handy control on trails that put every part of
Trailside Tuning Guide with the the bike to the test.
Boxxer forks (also available as PDFs on Through corners, whether berms or
their website). The tuning guide and rutted off-cambers, the Boxxer’s rigidi-
springs are included so you can tune ty helped us keep our intended line
your fork to your particular weight, and took the brunt of the harshest
riding style, and terrain. The stock red impacts at speed. On more than one
spring is said to be for riders between occasion there was a wince after an
160 and 180 pounds, and one lighter impact from a gnarly line choice
and one heavier spring are included. aboard the Boxxer Team, but the 2010
The tuning guide offers nine different stayed true, and this Boxxer showed
terrain or downhill course scenarios as much less deflection than previous ver-
starting points for your fork tuning. sions.
Although it took some tinkering and
RIDING THE BOXXER TEAM head scratching for us to bring the
On paper, the stock red spring was most out of the new Boxxer Team, it’s
supposed to be perfect for 170-pound fair to say that RockShox seriously Tuning in: Tuning the beginning and end-
ing stroke rebound allows you to tune your
riders in full gear. The fork sag looked improved upon an already excellent ride to the terrain. The red dial controls the
good according to the gradient on the and race-proven design. fork’s rebound when deeper in the stroke,
stanchion. However, after numerous For on-board video of testing the and the gray knob controls the beginning
days of riding the Team, we were able Boxxer Team, visit mbaction.com. ❑ stroke rebound.
108 www.mbaction.com
STAY WITH THE BIKE
RELAX
If your bike is on the ground when you lose control, ride it
out to the very end. Your bike can absorb more of the crash
than you can. Everything on the bike sucks energy out of the Tensing your muscles before a collision
crash. will transfer more impact force to your vital
Your bike’s suspension is designed to absorb impact, but the organs. Intoxicated people involved in a car crash
rest of the bike will do it, too. If your bike lands hard off a have disproportionately higher survival rates than the
jump or drop-off and the rims, spokes, fork, handlebars, rest of us. Why this occurs is not proven, but one theory
cranks and seatpost bend, the energy absorbed in that bending is that people who are drunk may be more relaxed before
reduces the shock to your feet, ankles, hands, wrists, arms and and upon impact.
shoulders. It’s similar to the way a stack of cardboard boxes Now, we are not suggesting that you down a stiff one
can collapse and absorb the impact of a stunt man falling off a before your next ride. Practice your tuck and roll tech-
roof in a movie. This is a good thing. It’s usually less expen- niques, and if the time comes when you are forced to use
sive (and less painful) to let the bike, rather than your body, them, go with the flow. Use the confidence built from
absorb the energy of a crash. your practice to remain calm. Much, much easier said
than done.
Tuck and roll: This rider does a great job of tucking and rolling after what appears to be losing the front wheel to a slippery root.
Bonus tip: Never jump back up to your feet. Wait until you are sure that the bike is not about to bean you and that you are not injured.
THE AFTERMATH
PRECAUTIONS
Slide into home: Gravity racers get tons more experience crashing than their trail-
riding compadres. One thing they’ve learned from experience, and the hardest tech-
nique to teach, is to remain relaxed and go with the flow.
110 www.mbaction.com
Niner W.F.O. 9 >> The most capable 29er ever.
Get the details: www.thebigrevolution.com
Drifter: The supple action of
the RockShox Recon fork
keeps the front wheel hooked
up to the ground, and allows
the Hoo-Koo-E-Koo pilot to
relax and look down the trail.
112 www.mbaction.com
MBA est
T
he Gary Fisher Hoo-Koo-E-Koo hardtail trailbike’s
name may not exactly roll off of the tongue, but with standards.
a little backstory it’s a fitting title. Hoo-Koo-E-Koo is Pedaling: With a hardtail, you’re practically guaranteed
a historic reference to a tribe that once lived on Mount snappy acceleration. The Hoo-Koo-E-Koo’s rigid bottom
Tamalpais, the mountain made famous by Gary Fisher and bracket area provides a stable platform for hammering on
his pals racing down fireroads on their modified beach cruis- the trail. Popping through the gears when on the gas was
er “Klunkers.” made easy by the SRAM X.9 and X.7 components, and spin-
Fisher offers ten hardtail trailbikes ranging in price from ning in the saddle is made easier with the help of Shimano’s
$439 to our $1429 Hoo-Koo-E-Koo test bike. Octalink cranks and M505 clipless pedals. Depending on the
terrain, we ran between 28 and 32 psi in the Bontrager tires
WHO IS IT MADE FOR? for ideal traction and fast rolling.
The Fisher Hoo-Koo-E-Koo is aimed at the hardcore Climbing: Lean forward, choose the perfect gear and
enthusiast looking to push the limits of his riding with a 3.9- spin away. The rear Bontrager Jones XR tire is mounted
inch travel fork and hydraulic disc brakes. backwards, which elicits more scoop from the tread pat-
tern. The direction of this rear tire has a large impact on
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM? the Hoo-Koo-E-Koo’s climbing performance. You’ll find
The aluminum-framed Hoo-Koo-E-Koo features Fisher’s yourself wishing for a 34-tooth cassette instead of
the 32-tooth version the bike comes with. Those
couple of extra teeth could be the difference
between grinding up a climb in the middle
ring and having to drop down to the granny
gear. When the time came to choose between
chainrings, big-ring shifting was made easy by
the precise action of the SRAM X.7 front
derailleur. During extended seat time,
we appreciated the cush of the
comfortable Bontrager Race
saddle. To aid out-of-the
saddle efforts, you can
easily lock out the
RockShox fork by flip-
ping the blue compres-
sion knob atop the
right fork leg.
Cornering: The
Bontrager Jones XR
tires are a good fit for
hardpacked or slightly
loose trails. Despite the
tires being on the narrow
side of 2.2 inches, they have
good side knob bite for off-camber
G2 geometry, which offers the amount of fork offset needed turns. The best way to attack
to improve slow-speed handling. This reduces the amount of uphill switchbacks is to stay in the saddle and spin the
trail to make the bike steer quicker without changing the cranks. The Hoo-Koo-E-Koo’s G2 geometry and tight
rest of its handling characteristics. The Hoo-Koo-E-Koo is cockpit take the edge off of maneuvering tricky uphill
built with a 68-degree head angle and 12.25-inch bottom corners.
bracket. Descending: Don’t think that because it’s a hardtail the
Hoo-Koo-E-Koo can’t rip descents. The coil-sprung
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT? RockShox Recon fork takes the brunt of harsh hits on the
The Hoo-Koo-E-Koo’s 28-millimeter-wide Bontrager downhills. The stock spring feels spot-on for a 165-pound
Duster wheels are tubeless ready and are mounted up with rider and smoothed relentless trail chatter and braking
2.2-inch Bontrager Jones XR tires. The cockpit features a bumps. The Hoo-Koo-E-Koo’s descending is hindered by
24.5-inch-wide Bontrager Race Big Sweep handlebar, Race the 24.5-inch handlebar. Going up to a 26- or 27-inch bar
Lite grips and Bontrager Race saddle. would take some twitchiness out of the bike’s handling. A
big reason for the Hoo-Koo-E-Koo’s stability on the
HOW DOES IT PERFORM? descents (despite the handlebar) is the Bontrager Duster
Ergonomics: The 23.5-inch top tube comfortably posi- wheelset. The Duster shares the same 28-millimeter-wide
tions the rider in the saddle, not overextended or too rims as the popular Rhythm wheels, but it uses less expen-
relaxed. The Bontrager Race Big Sweep handlebar takes sive spokes and hubs to get the job done.
BUYING ADVICE
The hardtail is as integral to mountain biking as the Hoo-
Koo-E-Koo riding area was to the first mountain bikers on
Northern California’s Mount Tamalpais. The Hoo-Koo-E-
Koo may fall near the “recreational” price point category,
but don’t be fooled; it’s a cool and extremely capable hardtail Climbing high: When attacking long climbs, the backwards-
mountain bike. For $1429, you get a great-looking, root-beer- facing Bontrager Jones XR tire provides plenty of scoop to grab
colored aluminum frame; dependable RockShox and traction on loose terrain.
Shimano components; a high-performance trailbike wheelset
and a little piece of history. ❑
FISHER HOO-KOO-E-KOO
Price $1429
Country of origin Taiwan
Weight 27 pounds
Hotline (800) 585-8735
Frame tested Medium
Bottom bracket height 12.25"
Chainstay length 16.25"
Top tube length 23.5"
Head tube angle 69°
Seat tube angle 72°
Standover height 29.5"
Wheelbase 42.7"
Suspension travel (front) 3.9"
Suspension travel (rear) None
Frame material Aluminum
Fork RockShox Recon 335
Shock None
Rims Bontrager Duster
Tires Bontrager Jones XR
Hubs Shimano M525 disc
Brakes Avid Juicy 3
Crankset Shimano Octalink
Shifters SRAM X.7
Handlebar Bontrager Race Big Sweep
Front derailleur SRAM X.7
Rear derailleur SRAM X.9
Chainrings Shimano (44/32/22)
Narrow-minded: Despite the narrow 24.5-inch handlebar, the
Fisher Hoo-Koo-E-Koo is a more than capable descender. You Cassette SRAM PG950 (11-32)
can thank the trail-riding-oriented 69-degree head angle for its Pedals Shimano M505
descending abilities.
114 www.mbaction.com
MBA Competition
R
acing mountain bikes on American soil, the birthplace of the
sport, attracts riders from all over the world. Our national series
have traditionally pulled riders from Europe, Asia, South Africa,
Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and north of the border in Canada
(Canadians have become a greedy bunch when it comes to carting home
American medals).
The international flavor of our national events is a testament to the
attraction of American culture, great racecourses, deep pockets of spon-
sors and Denny’s (hey, they have nothing like it in Krasnoyarsk).
American race promoters like the melting pot approach because it attracts
more interest from spectators and pushes the level of competition.
But once a year we bar all them foreigners and throw a party called the
USA Cycling National Mountain Bike Championships. This event, open
only to American citizens with big legs, larger lungs and cat-like reflexes,
determines America’s top mountain bikers in a variety of cross-country
and gravity disciplines.
This year, the National Mountain Bike Championships were held in
Granby, Colorado, at the SolVista ski resort, about an hour and a half
west of Denver, high in the Rocky Mountains. These are the highlights,
along with the names and ranks of America’s 78 fastest men and women.
116 www.mbaction.com
Into the night: The decision to delay the
4-Cross Pro finals until nightfall did not sit
well with many spectators, who packed up
and went home. Those who left missed a
memorable show under the lights.
4-CROSS RESULTS
PRO MEN’S 4-CROSS
1. Mitch Ropelato, Cafe Rio
2. Rich Houseman, Intense/Team Houseman
3. Brian Buell, Team Geronimo
4. John Swanguen, Intense/Troy Lee/ODI/Fox Shox
118 www.mbaction.com
Big-wheel history:
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
cemented himself in the
history books by becom-
ing the first pro man to
win the cross-country
national championship on
29-inch wheels. JHK is
hooked on the big hoops
for his Fisher hardtail and
dual-suspension race rigs.
CROSS-COUNTRY RESULTS
PRO MEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY 5. Mary McConneloug, Kenda/Seven, 2:01:39 PRO WOMEN’S SHORT TRACK CROSS-COUNTRY
1. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Subaru/Gary Fisher, 2:02:10 6. Pua Sawicki, Ellsworth, 2:03:42 1. Georgia Gould, Luna Pro Team
2. Adam Craig, Giant Bicycles, 2:08:57 7. Judy Freeman, Tough Girl/Scott, 2:05:01 2. Heather Irmiger, Subaru/Gary Fisher
3. Sam Schultz, Subaru/Gary Fisher, 2:09:34 8. Lea Davison, Maxxis/Rocky Mountain, 2:06:19 3. Lea Davison, Maxxis/Rocky Mountain
4. Jeremiah Bishop, Monavie/Cannondale, 2:09:55 9. Kelli Emmett, Giant Bicycles, 2:07:35 4. Willow Koerber, Subaru/Gary Fisher
5. Jay Henry, Tokyo Joes, 2:10:19 10. Krista Park, Incycle/Magur, 2:08:22 5. Mary McConneloug, Kenda/Seven/NoTubes
6. Andy Schultz, Kenda/Tomac/Hayes, 2:10:23 6. Kelli Emmett, Giant Bicycles
7. Sam Jurekovic, Sho-Air-Specialized, 2:11:54 PRO MEN’S SHORT TRACK CROSS-COUNTRY 7. Judy Freeman, Tough Girl/Scott
8. Ryan Trebon, Kona, 2:12:57 1. Adam Craig, Giant Bicycles 8. Chloe Forsman, Luna Pro Team
9. Michael Broderick, Kenda/Seven, 2:14:14 2. Todd Wells, Specialized 9. Pua Sawicki, Ellsworth
10. Barry Wicks, Kona, 2:16:33 3. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Subaru/Gary Fisher 10. Zephanie Blasi, Kenda/Tomac/Hayes
4. Ryan Trebon, Kona
PRO WOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY 5. Sam Schultz, Subaru/Gary Fisher
1. Heather Irmiger, Subaru/Gary Fisher, 1:55:40 6. Carl Decker, Giant Bicycles
2. Willow Koerber, Subaru/Gary Fisher, 1:57:58 7. Jeremiah Bishop, Monavie/Cannondale
3. Katie Compton, Katie Compton, 2:00:09 8. Andy Schultz, Kenda/Tomac/Hayes
4. Georgia Gould, Luna Pro Team, 2:00:35 9. Bryan Alders, Monavie/Cannondale
10. Colin Cares, Kenda/Tomac/Hayes
120 www.mbaction.com
MBA Competition
America’s best: Aaron Gwin dominated the Pro Men’s
Downhill event to score his first National Pro Downhill
title. Considering that he made two World Cup podi-
ums in the next two weeks, Aaron is America’s most
promising downhill competitor in ten years.
GRAVITY RESULTS
PRO MEN’S DOWNHILL
1. Aaron Gwin, Yeti/Fox Factory, 2:11.72
2. Duncan Riffle, DDR/Giantnerd, 2:13.87
3. J.D. Swanguen, Intense/Troy Lee/ODI, 2:15.69
4. Cody Warren, Specialized, 2:16.92
5. (tie) Gerrit Behtagh, Morewood Bikes, 2:16.94
5. (tie) Joey Schusler, Yeti, 2:16.94
7. Luke Strobel, Maxxis/Rocky Mountain, 2:17.64
8. Kyle Strait, Specialized, 2:18.02
9. Michael Sylvestri, Santa Cruz/Allride, 2:18.03
10. Curtis Keene, Specialized/SRAM, 2:18.51
122 www.mbaction.com
MBA Competition
She’s back:
Colorado’s Alison SUPER D RESULTS
Dunlap (345), the PRO MEN’S SUPER D
2001 World 1. Aaron Bradford, Onsite Ultrasound
Champion and 2. Mike West, Maverick
former national 3. Ross Schnell, Trek/Oakley
4. Jon Wilson, Northstar/Giant
champion, came 5. Eric Carter, GT Bicycles
out of retirement
to compete in the PRO WOMEN’S SUPER D
pro short track. 1. Elke Brutsaert, Durango Devo
She led Kelli 2. Jacqueline Harmony, Vixen Racing/Loeka
3. Kelli Emmett, Giant Bicycles
Emmett (267) 4. Krista Park, INcycle/Magura
and Mary 5. Kyia Anderson, Hidden Bay Sports
McConneloug (1),
but faded to 11th
by the finish. ❏
124 www.mbaction.com
SHOWCASE
2 theInnewest
transit: Fox’s Transport gear bag is
and largest cargo carrier in
their line of luggage. With room for all
your big stuff and intelligent pockets and
dividers for the little essentials, the
Transport super-sizes your race case.
Now, you have no excuse for forgetting
something! The Transit features vented
pockets and urethane wheels. $189,
(888) 772-2242
3 Luggage
Tanked: Oakley’s 16 Gallon Tank
is built to travel with you, com-
bining big volume with low profile. A
telescoping handle and built-in wheels
make it roll with ease. Special zippers are
engineered to fit your lock, and with all
the pockets and storage features. The 16
Gallon Tank measures 22x14x9 inches in 5
size, and has a 50/50 design that opens in
the middle like a suitcase for convenient
access. $135, (800) 431-1439
5 plane
Catch the Shuttle: Built to fit in air-
overhead compartments, the
SixSixOne Shuttle gear bag has a telescop-
ing handle, urethane wheels for smooth
rolling, and an expandable compartment
that nearly doubles the storage size.
$129, (888) 520-4888
126 www.mbaction.com
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6 from
Bag it: The all-new Rider’s Duffle bag
Dakine has 3100 cubic-inches of
space and weighs 1.4 pounds. Made
from polyester and twill, the Rider’s
Duffle features a U-shaped opening,
tarp-lined side pockets, a shoulder strap
and internal mesh organizers. $60,
(541) 386-3166
7 Team issue: Made from durable
nylon fabrics, the Team Pro Bag from
Specialized can hold all of your gear and 7
more. The stiff bottom has sliding rails,
and the inline skate-type wheels are
smooth and durable. The telescoping
handle retracts easily for storage, and a
separate compartment houses dirty
clothes and gear. $145, (877) 808-
8154
8 Supersized: The Ogio 9800 is made
to move with its oversized, off-road
wheels and a retractable handle, but its
protected compartments appeal to any-
one who travels hard and heavy. The
redesigned 9800 features the new SLED
(Structural Load Equalizing Deck) sys-
tem, along with a front accessory pocket,
goggle pocket, large main area, a fold-out
changing mat for muddy conditions and 8
compression straps. $179, (800) 922-
1944
9 Kick it: Designed to organize and
protect all of your gear, the Kicker bag
from Thor has over five cubic feet of
space, oversized zippers and a PVC base. 9
The Kicker has three compartments that
can be combined to form one large main
compartment. $109, (619) 448-8467 ❑
128 www.mbaction.com
DOWN THE TRAIL Illustrations by Dwight Wanhala
t was ten years ago in our November 1999 issue that we were
I warning riders about training traps. We still see riders falling into
the same traps today. Okay, sometimes we are looking in the mirror
when we see these riders; so let’s take a quick refresher course.
Not getting enough rest. Only concentrating on what you are good at.
130 www.mbaction.com
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