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Normally I don’t spend too much time discussing gear for road bikes but I have no problem making exceptions when something catches my eye and looks as though it’ll really shake up the biking scene. SRAM’s road gruppo is a case in point; the component group made waves at the recent Interbike trade show but journalists were sworn to secrecy and not allowed to reveal too much information about the system. However, the proverbial cat is out of the bag and Cycling News has the first detailed look at the upcoming SRAM road group.
The shifting system itself looks pretty standard on the outside, but SRAM took two years and, I’m assuming, a whole lot of cash to develop this product line. Downshifts and upshifts are controlled by a single shifting ‘paddle’, that is separate from the brake lever. What this means is that riders can shift from a number of different positions (from the hoods, from the drop, and even while sprinting with their hands fully on the bars) without having to worry about grabbing a bunch of brake.
The other bits of the group look pretty impressive too. SRAM’s rear derailleur is based on the 1:1 actuation ratio found on their mountain bike components. While the extra bit of tolerance that this system provides (as opposed to Shimano’s 2:1 actuation ratio) won’t be as beneficial on a road bike as it is on a mountain bike, I can’t see it hurting overall shifting ability. Apparently, the performance level of the two rear derailleurs will be similar to Dura-Ace / Record and Ultegra.
Check out the article on Cycling News for more information on parts like the front derailleur and the crankset, as well as a whole bunch of great photos.
Other thoughts on the SRAM road group
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Rocky Mountain Bikes has posted up their entire 2006 bike lineup.
Personally, I’m not super stoked on Rocky Mountain’s RMX series — each RMX that I’ve ridden has felt really tall in the front end and they didn’t pedal as well as I expected. That being said, the people whose bikes I rode love them and I haven’t heard of any major issues with the frame (which can’t be said for the now-retired RM7).
That being said, the 2006 Rocky Mountain Switch looks pretty sharp. I’m a little surprised to see such a heavy-duty freeride kit on the Switch, but the bike looks ready to take some serious hits on the way down while being well equipped to deal with the pedal up (if necessary). The glow in the dark Switch that I spotted on a couple of occasions up at Whistler doesn’t appear to be available as a production model, but word is that it will appear as a special edition later in the 2006.
My personal favourite in the ‘06 lineup is the ‘06 Slayer. In the months leading up to Interbike, the Slayer received a whole bunch of media coverage and, looking at the bike now, the press attention was warranted. The top-of-the-line Slayer 90 is spec’d with the type of great parts (X0 triggers, X9 rear derailleur, Fox 36 RC2) you’d look for on a high-end bike, even if some of the components are a little more ‘cross country’ than I’d expect on an all mountain bike.
You can draw your own conclusions by checking out the entire 2006 lineup on the Rocky Mountain Bikes website.
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The thing that first drew me to the Mace Gear dirt jump knees was the price – MSRP on the pads is about $30 cad. After finding a set at my local shop, I was impressed with the quality of construction – there were no loose seams, the ‘loop and hook’ (aka Velcro) fastening system looked good, and the pads looked versatile enough that I could take them out of their element (dirtjumping) and wear them while ripping down the trails.
I chose a size ‘large’ because that’s the size I’ve worn with leg armour for ages. Like many of the other knee-only pads out there, most riders will need to remove their shoes in order to slide the pads over your feet. Unless you’re in a hurry, it’s not a big deal and it’s not something that I feel takes away from the product’s ability to protect. The hard shell plastic knee cup fits well and, once the straps are tightened up, they don’t move around too much while riding.
The first time I wore the pads I was a little concerned because the pads felt uncomfortably tight on my legs. Granted, I could have picked up a set of pads in an extra large size but, after I’d worn the pads for a few rides and the strap material relaxed a bit, I was glad I didn’t opt for the larger size. I feel that the Velcro fastening material could be a bit wider on the pad proper and this adjustment likely would take care of the tightness I experienced while, at the same time, increasing the adjustability of the product.
On the trail, the pads offered decent protection from the minor injuries that can result from falls or crashes. During the test period I laid the bike down a couple of times and came away with nary a mark on my knees, although the plastic shells did gain a couple of scrapes and shallow gashes. In terms of fit, I did find that the Mace DJ knees would shift a little bit over the course of a trail. This movement wasn’t enough to limit the effectiveness of the pad but it is something that might be an issue for some riders.
While I had few problems with the fit of the pads on descents, I found that the armour was restrictive during climbs. Like most other types of leg armour that I’ve used, I preferred to remove (or release the top strap) when I was heading uphill for a long ascent.
To sum up, I feel that the Mace DJ Knees are a decent option for mountain bikers seeking affordable protection for their knees. While there are other products on the market that offer a better fit, they’re more expensive and the Mace DJ pads do fit fairly well and don’t shift too much while offering decent protection against bruising and cuts. I probably wouldn’t take them along for an all-day epic that has intermittent climbs and descents but I have no problem recommending them for trail riders whose descents are not broken up by a bunch of climbing.
Manufacturer’s website: Mace
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I know I wrote that there wouldn’t be any more updates about Interbike, but there were a few worthy late additions to the mass of writeups that came out of Vegas.
Bike: Bike Magazine has a couple of writeups that surfaced after the show and I’m going to let you uncover those on your own. The fourth installment in the Bike’s Interbike 2005 series has a number of great product shots and some good thoughts on new products from SRAM (2006 XO, road group), Hayes (7″ rotors), and steel frames from Salsa Cycles.
Update (14 October 2005): Despite the show being over for a couple of weeks, Bike continues to crank out some solid writeups on the annual bike trade show. The latest Interbike installment features good information on the Marin Quake, the Fox 36 (Van and TALAS), the Fox DHX Air, new stuff from Marzocchi, and a brand spanking new U-Lock from Kryptonite.
NSMB.com: NSMB had some great coverage during the event and continued to pump out some decent stuff after the event. One of the latest Interbike updates from NSMB includes gear from Dakine, Rocky Mountain, Knolly Bikes, and a pimpin’ wheelset from DT-Swiss.
Pinkbike.com: Pinkbike stumbles across the finish line with a strong smattering of images from the trade show. There are too many individual products to list, but highlights include the United Bicycle Institute, Sinister Bikes, 5:10 Shoes, and some good shots of the Rocky Mountain Slayer and RMX, the Cannondale lineup, and many more.
Update (20 October 2005): One last update from Pinkbike, and it includes great shots of gear from Iron Horse, SRAM, Norco, Rock Shox, and Scott, among other exhibitors. In addition to the others, the piece includes some excellent shots of the Giant Glory and the trail-oriented Reign.
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Salsa Cycles has cranked out frames and accessories for quite a while, and the company’s expertise shows. Salsa skewers are like Chris King headsets — they’re not necessary, but they’re something that people in the know love to use. Of course, Salsa Cycles produces more than just skewers. The company creates a full range of road and mountain bike frames, accessories like bars, stems, and seatposts, and a full range of clothing.
Salsa continues to expand its lineup for 2006 with the addition of the Dos Niner, a 29″ wheeled bike that features 1″ of rear wheel travel on a pivotless suspension platform. For ‘06, Salsa made a couple refinements for its sexy El Santo cross country / trail frame, including greater standover height and some additional support bracing.
In addition to Salsa’s mountain bike frames the company has some mean looking road frames, if that’s your poison. Bike Magazine grabbed some good shots of Salsa’s 2006 road bikes at Interbike. Also, there are some good tidbits about some of Salsa’s mountain bike frames.
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Mountain Bike Action is digital. The print mag that’s been around for ages has made a step towards embracing digital delivery. Starting with the November 2005 issue, Web heads can read and search the latest issues of MBA online. Annual subscription rates are priced at $14.99 (usd) and you don’t need to wait for the thing to show up in the mail. You can check out the first 30 or so pages of the November issue online to see what MBA’s digital format will look like.
I make no bones about being a fan of digitized content, but I must admit that I’m not a fan of the Zinio reader being employed by Mountain Bike Action. While it’s obvious to me that MBA went with a format that minimizes ‘pirating’ of copyrighted content (and that’s fine), I do feel the system will put off web users who are used to the type of quick-loading, plain text documents used on most websites. Publications like the Wall Street Journal and The Economist offer paid access to their archives but they’ve taken a path that, in my opinion, is more user friendly than that of MBA.
Will the delivery format chosen by Mountain Bike Action be successful? I think it depends on a number of things, including price point, ease of use, and accessibility. Also, how will readers of digital content react to the pages and pages of ads that grace the insides of print magazines?
It’s an interesting move by MBA, and I encourage you to check out the digital version for yourself.
Source: Mountain Bike Action / Zinio
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6 October »
Tech tips »
Cory
We’re now into early October and, for those of you who aren’t lucky enough to get out during the daytime, it’s time to break out those lights and get out for some night riding action. This writeup is meant both as a primer for nocturnal noobs and a refresher for those of you who can’t wait until darkness starts to come by 4:30 in the afternoon.
Some differences between night riding and daytime riding
The obvious difference between night riding and riding during the daytime is light. When you ride at night, familiar descents become more treacherous, with unseen snags reaching out from all angles trying to grab at derailleurs or twist your front wheel without warning. Similarly, unfamiliar climbs seem to go on forever; this makes pacing a little more difficult and sometimes leaves you spinning your wheels when you’re looking for more traction.
Because of these differences, one of the things I try to remember when I’m riding at night is to go a little slower, enjoy the ride, and try to get home in one piece. And since my riding schedule doesn’t include 24 hour endurance races, I don’t need to worry about winning or losing a race in the dark.
The other thing that you need to remember when heading out for night rides is that it’s colder in the evening. I prefer to layer up on night rides because I’m almost always cold for the first ten or fifteen minutes and looking for a bit more comfort until my heart rate increases and my body is more accustomed to its surroundings.
Types of light mounts – handlebar mounts vs head lamps
There are two different styles of mounts for bicycle lights: head lamps and bar mounted systems. Head lamps are affixed to the rider’s helmet, with a power cord running to a battery located in a hydration pack or a pocket in their clothing. Bar mounted systems are secured to the handlebar of your bike, with the battery pack usually being held in a water bottle cage on the frame.
Ideally, you’ll be able to run one of each type of system – one set of lights affixed to your bike and another to your helmet – but, obviously this isn’t an option for everybody. Personally, I prefer running a headlamp over a bar mounted system, if only because the headlamp points in the direction that I’m looking while I’m riding. If you have a tendency to look off into the bush at night, head mounted lights might not be the best option for you. I’d recommend trying out each system and deciding which is best for you; if your regular riding buddies don’t have any extra sets to go around, try and hook up with a group of riders that does.
There’s a very good writeup at MountainBikeAz.com that goes into a little more detail about the types of mounting systems for bike lights – check it out for another take on night riding.
Types of bicycle lighting systems
I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert in this field, since I know little about electrical systems or lighting technology. There’s a good writeup at Wikipedia discussing the numerous different types of lighting systems for bicycles. I’d suggest starting there and exploring further on your own.
Common brands of lights
There are a number of popular brands commonly affiliated with this niche in the mountain biking market. Companies like Cat Eye, Night Sun, Night Rider, and BLT have been around long enough that you can be sure you’re getting a quality product if you purchase one of their lights. There are other companies out there — many of which make excellent products — but be sure to do your research beforehand.
DIY lighting systems
If you’re really on a budget and don’t mind working on a lighting system yourself, there are a number of solid sources of information available on the Internet. One of the best set of home made bike light instructions that I’ve seen online provides simple, straight-forward directions, plenty of photos, and looks as though it creates a cheap, effective lighting system. If you choose to go this route, take your time, follow the instructions, and enjoy yourself.
Turn on the lights
This writeup isn’t meant to be the end all for information on riding your bike at night. Instead, I hope that it’s something that provides those of you who are moping around the house on a clear autumn or winter evening with the incentive to strap on your lights, gear up, and head out onto your local trails. Remember to have fun, be careful, and watch out for low hanging branches (or fallen trees)!
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Over the last couple of years, Manitou made a serious move into the all-mountain / freeride fork market with the introduction of their Sherman lineup. While the forks did have a number of issues on early production and OEM models, by 2004 Manitou had done a decent job of ironing out the biggest kinks in the line. In 2005, Manitou bumped up the travel on their Sherman forks (from 5.3ish” to a claimed 6″) and moved them more firmly towards the freeride end of the market. To fill the gap in the all mountain arena, Manitou introduced the Nixon, a fork that was lighter than its freeride brethren and featured a little more adjustability when it came to travel.
BikeMagic has a review of the 2005 Nixon Platinum, the high end offering in the Nixon line. I’ve played around with one of these forks in the past, and I agree with most of the comments regarding the product’s feature set — mediocre small bump compliance, lots of rigidity, and a convenient and useful travel adjust system (much more so than the ‘lockout’ on the Firefly and the Flick).
Unlike the BikeMagic reviewers, I never had any issues with Manitou’s hex thruaxle and appreciate the snug fit that it allows. For me, it’s never been a whole lot more difficult than the ‘conventional’ system. And, while I’m not a huge fan of using four pinch bolts to cinch up the fork’s axle, it’s good to see that Manitou now uses threaded inserts for those tiny bolts — I know far too many people who stripped the holes on theirs…
Check out the BikeMagic review — it has some good technical info on the way that the fork’s travel adjust and damping systems work.
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Since Norco first unleashed its downhill bikes, the company has continued to revamp and remodel the line based on rider feedback and some good research and development. The Team DH bikes had a number of important refinements over the years, including the move away from a noisy monocoque front triangle and the implementation of a bunch of changes to the bike’s geometry. For 2006, Norco has continued to develop a bike with an excellent parts spec, a reasonable cost (for a bike of its pedigree), and a good chance at a regular spot on the podium.
For 2006, Norco has made some minor changes to the parts spec for the Team Dh, including the use of flat crowns on the stock 888. Almost every rider I know swapped out the stock drop crowns for flat ones from their 888s in 2005, so this move is a welcome one. Another interesting change for 2006 is the move away from Hayes El Caminos to Shimano’s Saint disc brakes. I’m assuming this swap is meant to counter the brake fade many riders dealt with during the ‘05 race season, but I’ll ask around and see what I can come up with. Norco went with a white colour scheme for this year after many people voiced their displeasure with the F1 stylings of the 2005 bike; I thought last year’s bike looked pretty sharp (especially in person), but the anodized black finish that graces the production version of the Team DH is as sleek as they come.
It’s always interesting to read about rider experience on downhill style courses — and asilvertouch ‘zine has some good thoughts on the soon-to-be-released 2006 Norco Team DH. The article documents some of the geometry changes Norco made for the 2006 bike and describes how different geometry settings influence the bike’s ride characteristics. It’s a good read that doesn’t sugar coat any of the bike’s perceived weaknesses.
Sources: Norco | asilvertouch
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Well, now that Interbike 2005 is officially over, and the reports from all over the ‘net are starting to slow down, I expect that most of the major bike brands will be updating their websites with their 2006 product lineups.
First out of the gate in the post-Interbike days is the official 2006 mountain bike lineup from Haro Bikes. Be forewarned — the site’s a little touchy and not all of the links point in the right direction. Even so, you can get the official specs for bikes like the Haro Sonix.
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