Lots of folks are buzzing about Ibis' new Tranny, a carbon fiber hardtail frame with a movable rear triangle that allows for single speed (and hopefully 29er) use. It also allows the rider to break the bike in half for easier travel. Wicked.
bikemagic.com
bikeradar.com
28 September 2007
Trannys in Vegas
bikefix midterm Review: 2008 Fox 32 TALAS RLC
An early player in the long-ish travel, XC-ish fork market, Fox have built quite a reputation with their versatile 32 series forks. Introduced (in mid-2006) for 2007, the 32 series has 32mm stantions, is available in air- or coil-sprung versions, and have either 140mm or 100-140mm (adjustable) travel. TALAS designates the company's adjustable travel models and the letters at the end stand for the optional adjustable [R]ebound, [L]ockout and [C]ompression. Vans (previously Vanillas) are fixed-travel and coil-sprung, while Floats are fixed-travel and air-sprung.Having previously owned two Fox forks (an '04 adjustable-travel TALAS and an '07 air-sprung Float RLC), which felt overdamped and unwilling to move over anything much smaller than a tennis ball, I was interested when Fox claimed that their '08 models were designed with more compression damping and lower air pressures. Counterintuitive at first, but it makes sense if (as a suspension designer) you suspect that your forks' unwillingness to move is the result of excessive stiction, caused by seals trying to hold in high pressures. They even went so far as to claim that the '08 forks felt like the corresponding '07 models, only with 5psi less pressure in the front tire. Interesting...
The change to post-type disc mounts is also welcome. Compared to IS mounts, post-type mounts are a bit harder to manufacture, but allow you to ditch the 30g or so of adaptors that most disc brakes are using now. Post type mounts also don't rely on bolts in shear to stop the rider, which is a good thing. Dropouts are also angled forward a bit, normal to braking forces, which solves a largely hypothetical scenario where the rider grabs the front brake hard and the wheel is twisted down and out of vertical dropouts. Removing that possibility can't hurt.We've been riding the '08 TALAS for about a month now, so it's time for a midterm review. First of all, Fox's 3-positions adjustable travel switch is fantastic.
Moving the lever (right) 45deg takes the travel from 140 to 120 to 100mm, shortening the fork and keeping more weight on the front wheel for steep climbs. Compared to the Pace RC40 and Marzocchi XC700sl, which use multi-turn knobs (as many as 10 full turns), the Fox is much easier to drop for *oh crap* climbs. That's good. I found my self using it so much that I could almost see the use of a remote handlebar TALAS adjuster- a 140mm fork can be a handful on steep climbs, and lowering even 20mm makes a big difference. I also couldn't feel any lateral flex in the fork either, but at 145lb I would hope not.Now, there are forks out there that the bikefix crew like. Pace make some fantastic feeling forks, as have Marzocchi and even RockShox. Yet, Fox seems to have the most cachet. Of the six or so forks that I've used (hard) over the past 18 months, the action of the TALAS is unfortunately the worst. In order to get even decent performance out of the fork, I had to drop the air pressure to 40psi (60 is recommended) and (to keep the fork from diving excessively) increase the low speed compression damping to 3 or 4 clicks (out of 5) from the bottom. Yet, it still felt harsh, even surprised, over smaller bumps. Because it doesn't feel like Fox have done a particularly good job at de-coupling the (non-adjustable) high-speed compression damping from the (adjustable) low-speed compression damping, I kept backing the low-speed compression damping off, increasing fork dive and bobbing, in the search for some forgiveness over bumps. I was amazed when I'd dive into rocky streambeds at speed and feel nearly everything. That shouldn't be the case at all.
Adding injury to insult, I came off a few times whilst climbing, something I attributed initially to a crap day, but came to believe was the result of the fork stopping at (rather than rolling over) bumps I shouldn't have had to lift the front end over. That said, though, bigger hits seemed well within the fork's capabilities, but if we're going to deal with the complexity, weight (4.1lb actual), and cost (over US$700), it should have a broader range.
So, this is a mid-term test. On talking with a former suspension engineer (who feels similarly about Fox), we're going to pull the fork and rebuild it with lighter (5wt as opposed to the stock 7.5wt) oil. This should reduce the compression damping all around and could either make the fork work better or turn it into an uncontrollable pogo stick. It could also be that the seals and bushings need to bed in a bit, but after well over 100 hard off-road miles, it should be starting to improve. We'll let you know...
24 September 2007
More goodies from Trek/Bontrager
Trek's component arm doing variable-with saddles and probably the sexiest aero brake levers that I've seen...
bikeradar.com
Marin's Attack Trail reviewed
Marin haven't done particularly well here in the US, but are a force to be reckoned with in the UK. Catering to UK-specific concerns (mud room, lifetime pivot warranties) and having fantastic distribution over there have certainly helped. While XC bikes, particularly in the mountain West, are headed toward 5in travel front & rear, the 140mm Marin Attack Trail is decidedly burlier. through-axles front & rear, a Rock Shox Pike fork and FSA Gap crankset certainly say 'trailbike' or 'I'm really hard on bikes' to us. 5/5 stars, though, despite concerns about the 08 XT discs (which have been great so far in our testing)...
bikeradar.com
Shimano's custom-fit M300 shoes reviewed
New for 2007 are Shimano's M300 mountain (and R300 road) bike shoes. They use the standard carbon soles, fancy grippy interiors, and -the really cool feature- a head-moldable body. I've had a hard time justifying these (especially given the lack of tread under the carbon), but by and large, the reviewers seem think they're worth the US$300...
bikemagic.com
21 September 2007
SRAM intends to buy Zipp
Announced just in time for next week's Interbike expo- SRAM has announced a deal to purchase Zipp, adding wheels to their growing empire. Zipp's existing management structure is expected to remain in place, in Indianapolis. What will this mean? Probably little for '08, but hopefully lower prices and better distribution going forward.
bicycleretailer.com
bikeradar.com
cyclingnews.com
Rapha gears up for winter
Last winter, one of us blew nearly our entire tax refund on a Rapha Softshell jacket. For those who aren't familiar with Rapha, they make beautiful, over-the-top cycling clothing. Expensive, especially with the tanking US dollar, but with fantastic materials and attention to detail. Despite somewhat retro (classic?) styling, they do introduce new product from time to time, and even make revisions to successful gear. For this winter, a long-sleeve jersey, lightweight softshell, and 3/4 length bibs (see right) have been introduced and the original weight softshell jacket revised. Check out the reflective bits on the knickers, which are increasingly appealing as the days get shorter.
What happened to our Softshell? It ran big (the Large more like a Castelli XL), so it had to go back on ebay, from where it had come. Man, that was one beautiful jacket, though...
roadcyclinguk.com
20 September 2007
Review: Shimano revises their SPD-SL pedals
Several years ago, at Lance's urging, Shimano ditched their narrow and inconsistent SPD-R design and replaced it with the SPD-SL. The SPD-SL was good enough to find a home of many of our customers' otherwise Campy-only bikes. For 2008, they've increased the pedals' contact width by half:
roadcyclinguk.com
More details on Trek's new Fuel EX
Trek have done quite a bit of work to bring their Fuel full suspension design up to date. Formerly a glorified single pivot, the new design adds more glory, in the form of a rear pivot concentric with the rear axle and a floating rear shock, à la well regarded German Fusion range. Nobody seems to have ridden it yet, though.
bikemagic.com
More raciness from Cannondale
BikeMagic have just reviewed Cannondale's Taurine SL Team Replica (say that five times fast), a carbon fiber bike that uses 'dale's proprietary crankset, fork, and Crossmax SLRs to build up a 20lb racer's wet dream:
bikemagic.com
19 September 2007
Charge Plug, a classy-looking ss/fixie commuter
When will Charge get US distribution? On*One have had for a while and they bring something special to the market... The new Charge Plug could do quite well, I'd imagine, even at $800:
roadcyclinguk.com
Intense's 5.5 FRO reviewed
MBA reviews the lightweight (FRO) version of Intense's 5.5in travel aggressive XC/trail frame. They didn't notice the high BB or short top tube that we did whilst riding one, but if you're looking for a US-made Ibis or Santa Cruz alternative, this would be a good place to start:
MBAction.com
18 September 2007
Eurobike Coverage
It's that time of year ago, and most of the major magazines are reporting back. Bear with us- there's loads to cover here. Maybe next year, we'll attend.
Folks around here are excited by news of Formula's new One brakeset. Given the performance and light weight of their Oro's (look for a review here soon), a super-light DH brakeset should be well within their reach:
cyclingnews.com
Campagnolo is back in the dirt! Sort of- their Fulcrum wheel division has been working on a tubeless mountain bike wheel, which should be fan-freakin-tastic. Can't wait to see them in the flesh. Also, a bigger, color screen from Garmin:
cyclingnews.com
Sram is seeing Red. More expensive than the pricey Force groupset- we'll see how it flies. Plus, Felt continues to grow:
cyclingnews.com
Crank Brothers with extra shininess (also see below), FSA with more carbon:
cyclingnews.com
The coolest Singlespeed BB yet:
singletrackworld.com
cyclingnews.com
Ibis Mojo SL: sub-5lb, 5.5in travel XC frame. Not to mention stuff from Kona and some USE (exposure) lights:
singletrackworld.com
Italian & Danish bike gallery:
bikemagic.com
Germans love their uber-light rides:
bikemagic.com
And we love single speed road commuters:
roadcyclinguk.com
UK focus: new Orange Prestige, Cotic, and a Hope BB:
bikemagic.com
Orange, and clever stuff from Crank Brothers too:
singletrackworld.com
Schwalbe, a 3-LED Night Rider light, and BMC keep things moving:
cyclingnews.com
After something like ten years, the SID was overdue for an overhaul... It was a good, simple fork, but it'll be nice when it goes where it's pointed:
bikemagic.com
cyclingnews.com
Looking for an 18lb XC race bike? A rigid Lefty? Cannondale's got you covered:
singletrackworld.com
bikemagic.com
bikemagic.com
cyclingnews.com
Yeti 2008
Bigger, better, faster and more from Yeti cycles. Check the missing chainstay on the new "Seven":
bikemag.com
Bikeradar also has a look at some '08 offerings at Eurobike. Of particular interest (to us, at least) isn't so much the carbon ASR-X, it's the press-in Shimano BB, which should work something like current integrated headsets. If those are any indication, there will be loads of naysayers, but it'll work fine and make frames both stronger and lighter:
bikeradar.com
new Crank Brothers goodies for 2008
Crank Brothers unveils new wheels, headsets, and (hooray!) external bearing cranks:
bikemag.com
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