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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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13 September »
Gear shots »
Cory
Chris King has made high-precision headsets since the mid-1970s and you can tell: from the finish on each item to the quality design of the bearings, you know quickly that you’re getting the best headset on the market.
Over the years I’ve had a couple of Chris King headsets and they’ve performed exactly as expected. Aside from a bit of routine maintenance and cleaning, I’ve never actually done any work on the component. The bearings remained as smooth on the day I parted ways with them (my current bikes use internal cup headsets. Sigh.). And if there are any doubts about the company’s own expectation of the product, Chris King backs up its headsets with a ten-year warranty.
Priced at $129 usd / $199 cad the Chris King headset definitely falls at the high end of the price spectrum but, considering you’ll likely never need to purchase another headset, it’s an option that every rider should consider when they’re looking to replace a headset.
Other than the price, I have no criticisms of the Chris King headset. It’s a high end piece of bicycle componentry that really is without rival in the industry. Sure, there are plenty of good headsets that will meet the needs of most riders but there are none that apporach the standards set by King Cycle Group.
And if this review isn’t enough to pique your interest in a King headset, King Cycle Group is an active supporter of breast cancer research and is committed to an environmentally responsible production process.
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On a recent ride, my aging cross country lid started bouncing around on my head as I made my way down a technical trail. This new ‘feature’; certainly made for an interesting descent, with me pushing the helmet back onto my brow while struggling to keep my speed. Needless to say, the ride was the last for my old shell and I retired it in favour of the Giro Indicator.
When I went into my local shop, I was set on picking up the pricey but slick Giro E2 helmet but after trying the Giro Indicator, I had a change of tune. The Indicator is an affordably priced (MSRP: $35usd | $50 cad) helmet that comes in a one-size-fits-all format. The helmet uses Giro’s ACU-LOC fit system, which is decent and keeps the shell from moving around on my head once it’s snapped in place. I have a normal-sized head and the helmet sits comfortably and in the proper position. Future adjustments can be made easily and without hassle.
On the trail, the Indicator stays where it should and doesn’t rattle around or create any distractions on descents. At slower speeds the helmet’s 20 vents work, but not to the same degree as Giro’s higher end models. However, once you get up to speed, the helmet’s venting system keeps your head cool and comfortable.
However, my experience with the Giro Indicator hasn’t been trouble free. First, there was quite a bit of ‘stretch’ in the helmet’s straps over its first month of use; after the initial break-in period, I needed to readjust the helmet so that it fit appropriately. Second, the latch mechanisms used to adjust the straps on the side of the wearer’s head have a tendency to open. I don’t know how they open, but I’m assuming they get caught on my gloves, sleeves, or some other part of my apparel.
The verdict: I like the Giro Indicator and think that it’s worth the purchase price. It fits well, has a decent range of adjustments, and provides good coverage in the case of a crash. Although it’s not perfect and it won’t be confused with the higher-end (and higher-priced) helmets on the market, the Indicator is a worthy purchase for budget-minded riders with high-performance demands.
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When it comes to grips for mountain bikes, I’m a strong advocate of the various lock on systems that are available at pretty much every serious bike store in North America. However, a couple of months back, I decided to replace my worn Intense Lock-ons with a pair of low price Ritchey TGV grips. I paid under $8 (cad) for the grips, which feature a dual compound rubber and a contoured profile, installed them on my bike and set out on the trail.
The first thing that I noticed about the grips was the fact that the grip’s contoured ‘bump’ weren’t located in the same spot where I position my hand (near the outside of the bar). Over time, I found myself moving my hand around on the bar to get a better hold / hand position for aggressive breaking. This constant movement didn’t have an adverse effect on my riding but it was another thing that I was forced to think about — and it was something I didn’t need to do with the grips the TGVs replaced. Additionally, while one of the grips stayed in place, the other tended to drift inwards towards the stem.
The wear life on the grips I tested was below average. Typically, I can get between three-quarters and a full season out of a set of softer lock-on grips — the TGVs lasted three days at Whistler before wearing through to the secondary rubber compound. When I purchased the grips I didn’t expect a full season out of them, but I did expect a little more than three days worth of riding.
The verdict: The Ritchey TGV grips perform well when they’re fresh out of the package — the rubber compound is soft and easy to grab and they are easy to install — and they’re cheap enough to be considered ’short term’ accessories.
However, as soon as they get some serious trail time, the grips’ shortcomings come to the surface. The dual rubber compound — while soft and easy to grab — wears quickly and limits the long-term effectiveness of the product. Similarly, the contoured design of the grip won’t necessarily fit your hand, limiting the utility of the extra padding.
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I’ve been relatively quiet in the past couple of weeks, primarily because there’s been a bit of a lull on the announcement front as manufacturers get ready for the Season of the Bike Show (Eurobike, which is followed by Interbike). Another reason that I’ve been more quiet than normal is that it’s prime cycling season in my neck of the woods and I’ve been riding more than I’ve been sitting at my computer doing writeups like this one.
Anyways, this entry is to announce the creation of a new category on this site — the Gear shot. Gear shots will look at items that either don’t warrant a full review or haven’t been tested enough to merit a longer writeup. For example, while I could do a product review on a set of grips or a bike pump, chances are most people aren’t especially interested in a full length dissertation on something that either works or it doesn’t. Items featured on gear shots won’t receive the same sort of rating as full review items, but it’ll be clear whether or not the item under discussion is worth a serious look.
Stay tuned…
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