Sampson have been in the bike industry for ages- their pedals were quite popular at one point, and they never quite went away. They'd dropped off our radar for quite a while, but seem to have been hard at work, potentially with (the now Chinese-owned) Sturmey Archer, storied maker of 3 speed hubs. We saw some mention of this at Interbike, and now VeloNews have a brief article on their new shifters, brakes, crank, and bars. 
While we thought we'd seen the end of CNC-machined jockey wheels, the shifters look good- we particularly like the integrated gear display (a la Shimano Tiagra), two easily-reached shift paddles, and replaceable shift mechanism.
velonews.com
30 October 2007
Sampson building road group
29 October 2007
bikefix Review update: 2007 Marzocchi XC Retro SL 700
Thanks ridemonkey!
To fix the issue with the travel winding down: 1. Loosen the top cap on the ATA side. 2. Tighten the two set screws in the middle of the threads on either side of the top cap til you have nice firm detents (1 turn each tops). 3. Thread the top cap back in. DONE
OK. Now that that's sorted (we had to do it twice actually- you might want to use Loctite the first time), its back to riding our 3.6lb, 5in travel fork- without having to zip tie the travel adjuster in place. So far, not much has changed... Very plush on slow-speed and moderately-sized impacts, but overwhelmed a bit on the faster stuff, though no worse than anything else we've ridden lately. We took a field trip up to ride Santa Fe's fantastic Windsor Trail on a beautiful fall Friday, and the fork did well. The weight was nice when climbing for two hours, and the fork was well-behaved and predictable on the 45 minute descent. The 130mm of travel were nice when poor line choices were made, but the bike never felt too big or wallowy.
Going forward, we may decrease pressure in the top spring and increase the bottom spring for a bit to see if the small-bumps can be handled better without causing it to sit half way into its travel. At almost 1 year old, the XC Retro's white paint is showing some signs of wear, but that may be as much a function of the color as anything else. Those pimp chrome stantions aren't showing any signs of wear, and the crown paint is holding up well to cable rub as well. We'll keep you posted...
marc
OK. Now that that's sorted (we had to do it twice actually- you might want to use Loctite the first time), its back to riding our 3.6lb, 5in travel fork- without having to zip tie the travel adjuster in place. So far, not much has changed... Very plush on slow-speed and moderately-sized impacts, but overwhelmed a bit on the faster stuff, though no worse than anything else we've ridden lately. We took a field trip up to ride Santa Fe's fantastic Windsor Trail on a beautiful fall Friday, and the fork did well. The weight was nice when climbing for two hours, and the fork was well-behaved and predictable on the 45 minute descent. The 130mm of travel were nice when poor line choices were made, but the bike never felt too big or wallowy.
Going forward, we may decrease pressure in the top spring and increase the bottom spring for a bit to see if the small-bumps can be handled better without causing it to sit half way into its travel. At almost 1 year old, the XC Retro's white paint is showing some signs of wear, but that may be as much a function of the color as anything else. Those pimp chrome stantions aren't showing any signs of wear, and the crown paint is holding up well to cable rub as well. We'll keep you posted...
marc
bikefix Review update: 2008 Fox 32 TALAS RLC
After talking with a number of folks here & there, checking out the competition, seeing what they were going for on ebay, we've decided not to bother with the 5W oil Fox Talas experiment we mentioned in the Midterm Review. As interesting as it would be to try to salvage it, there are just too many other forks to try. One of which, we hope, will work well out of the box. Besides, ours was still in very good, salable shape. Charlie is working on a 2008 Fox 32 VAN RLC review as we speak, so there may be hope for Fox yet. He's been making positive noises so far. Our hopes were high for the new 32 TALAS, but our opinion is still that their best features are the 3-position travel adjust and, of course, their fantastic resale value.
A RockShox Revelation, on the other hand, could be interesting...
marc
28 October 2007
Bike Radar tests the Cervelo Coloist CSC-SL
We were fortunate enough a year or so back to spend a week with a carbon Cervelo Soloist. Thanks to the contrast between their vaguely-European sounding name and Canadian/Chinese heritage (think Scattante, Forza, Sette, etc.), their ugly-as-sin two-tone paintjobs and massive graphics, Cervelos haven't ever done much for us. Of course, there's a reason that they're so popular, and it turns out that these bikes are damn fast. Maybe a bit harsher than we'd like for a 100 mile day, but fast nonetheless. Stiff laterally, aerodynamic, and fairly lively, we'd almost overlook all of the above if we were in the market for a race bike.
Bikeradar have posted a review of the 2008 CSC-SL version of the Soloist, and they seem to agree- its a bike that was designed to be ridden hard and fast, and to reward you for doing so. Heck, they've even suck with a single color. What's more to want?
bikeradar.com
23 October 2007
Honda gearbox is...
A normal drivetrain, in a box. Yes, the ultra-secret, uber high-end gearbox is nothing particularly revolutionary. No CVT, no automatic transmission, and what was all that about them breaking the bikes in half and storing in different hotel rooms whilst traveling to keep the whole things from being stolen? Hype, apparently. 
That said, someone at chinamtb.com seem to think that the whole thing will be available at retail at some point. Seeing as they've wound up the team, that seems a bit unlikely... Oh well...
mtbcut.tv
chinamtb.com
BIKE magazine posts a load of bike reviews
BIKE magazine has opened up the archives and posted quite a few reviews (originally from the magazine) online. We've always enjoyed BIKE's reviews, but beware: some of these go back a ways (as in 7 years). Still, worth checking out if you're looking for a particular model (or have some time to kill).
bikemag
17 October 2007
Formula recall our favorite brakes (of late)...
Edit: Instructions for a fix are now available on Formula's website.
From Bicycle Retailer & Industry News:
The set screw which secures the pin which attaches the brake lever to the master cylinder may come loose. If these set screws come loose, the brake levers may separate from the brake, rendering the brakes inoperable,” said Greg Thrash of Formula Brake USA...
This recall involves Oro disk brakes typically installed on mountain bikes. The brake is operated by a hand lever, which is mounted to the handlebar. Included in the recall are the Oro K18, Oro K24, Oro Puro and Oro Bianco models with serial numbers less than 295237. The serial number can be located on the brake's body above the "Made in Italy" label.
Well, at least now we have a reason to go back to testing those '08 XT discs...
Charge!
Who doesn't need a Ti fixie? Charge are apparently doing 25 of these. Again, the graphics are fantastic and almost make up for the heinous Thomson stem.
roadcyclinguk.com
Of course, a wooden headset would be nice too...
roadcyclinguk.com
09 October 2007
bikefix Review: Blackburn Mars 3 LED Tail light
Do not look directly into this light- at least not at close range. One of about a billion blinking LED lights for the back of your bike, Blackburn's Mars 3 LED tail light has a few features that means that I now, personally, own three. Every time I've bought one, I've had a look at what else was available and gone, again with the Mars. Here's why:- It's bright. From the rear, drivers are exposed to five quite bright red LEDs that are bright enough to walk around with in the dark. Not as fire truck-bright as Dinoette's rechargeable 1W units, but very bright nonetheless.
- It has side lights. A pair of amber LEDs provide good visibility from the sides (if your thighs don't block the view).
- The seatpost mount is unusually solid. Using a worm gear-type clamp (think hose clamp) and worm gear-driven angle adjustment, the provided mount holds the belt clip quite solidly, with little chance of the light bouncing out.
It lasts forever. On two (supplied) AAA batteries, the Mars 3 is rated to 150 hours blinking.- Its cheap. $17 or so at many local bike shops, or less on the interweb (but then there's shipping...).
What isn't there to like? One thing that I've noticed is a major drawback. The balance on the belt clip seems a bit off. If it were mounted a bit higher, the weight of the light would keep it in a better spot for most bag blinky tabs. If you're thinking about using one on your bag (not a bad idea if you leave your bike locked up for any amount of time), try it first. Also, the three tiny screws that keep the back on are a bit fiddly, but given the time between battery changes and good seals, that seems a small price to pay. This has to be the nicest all-around rear LED that I've seen, and if you're in the market, it worth seeking out.
marc
marc
bikefix Review: Descente D-Vente Sleeveless Baselayer
Sleeveless baselayers are something that few people really consider. Long-sleeve jerseys and arm warmers seem much more popular, and it's a shame, really. Lately, temperatures have been dropping below what is comfortable for short-sleeved jerseys (particularly in the morning), but a windbreaker or long-sleeved jersey has seemed a bit much. This, for us, is baselayer weather. A good baselayer, for us, is sleeveless (or long-sleeved), moves sweat well, and adds just enough insulation to keep us comfy for a few extra degrees.
Descente's D-Vente Sleeveless Baselayer hits the nail on the head. Ours was made in Canada of a fairly tight, but still open, mesh material and cut very snug (perfect for a night clubbing, we would imagine). The tail is on our Large sample is long enough to tuck in nicely without adding too much bulk under Lycra shorts. What sets this piece apart from others we've tried, though, is the fabric. Because of its open-ness, the mesh fabric traps loads of body-heat-saving air when covered by a jersey, but let a nice breeze through when that jersey is unzipped. Its stink-resistant enough to wear to work for a week (in the morning- packed in the bag in the afternoon). After over a year of spring & fall use, ours shows no signs of wear. At about $30, its not cheap, but very reasonable for something so useful and well-made.
marc
descenteboulder.com
08 October 2007
Cayne selling 3s lugged commuter - for $450
We've been playing with a fixed-gear road bike, the Cayne Uno, from J&B Importer's house brand for about a year now. For $499, its a heck of a deal, with an Alex wheelset that we've seen elsewhere for $200. Sure, the stem and bars were too flexy and its heavy, but it's a training bike, right? They've been back at it for 2008 with a lugged steel euro/cafe-type commuter and a revised Uno. Both are set to sell for under $500, 
which is very reasonable given what this sort of thing has been going for.
bikeradar.com
commutebybike.com
see our review of the Cayne Uno, elsewhere on the site...
Shimano's custom fitting makes its way down-range
Unfortunately, though, only on the road side. Their SH-R220, SH-R160G and women's SH-WR80 will all have the company's well-recieved heat-moldable heels and insoles. Shoes still OK? The heat-moldable insoles will be available on their own as well...
www.cyclingnews.com
07 October 2007
bikefix midterm Review: Marzocchi XC Retro SL 700
The Marzocchi XC Retro SL 700 is an odd duck. Not only because of the long and unwieldy model name, but because it defies easy catagorization. Weighing in at 3.5-3.6lb, its on par with Rock Shox's Reba and Fox's F100 series. With adjustable travel from 90-130mm, its closer to those companies' Revelation and TALAS models. As a result, its a bit heavier than a full-on XC 'race' fork without being as heavy or stiff as what's being called an 'all mountain' or 'trail' fork.
Available only in white (boo!) with naff faux-carbon decals (ugh), this fork also has, oddly enough, optional v-brake bosses, and a somewhat functional hose-management system (we still had to use one zip tie to prevent the hose rubbing on the front tire). The stantions are nickel-plated and quite shiny, though they don't quite match our polished Formula Oro Bianco brakes. Marzocchi have done away with their tiny valve adaptor in favor of nice, standard Schrader valves. There isn't a ton of tire clearance, but 2.2s and 2.3s fit just fine.
We've been riding this fork on and off since last November, when they landed in the US. To be honest, after being very happy with 2004 and 2006 Marathon SLs (this fork's predecessor), in their 120mm versions, we were pretty disappointed right off the back. In place of the Marathon's adjustable positive and negative air springs were two positive air chambers. The adjustable negative springs allowed us to set up the Marathons to work very well over small bumps yet remain progressive enough to prevent bottoming. The XC700SL (for short) instead uses what is effectively a two-stage positive spring. In theory, this would allow good small-bump sensitivity (through low air pressures) for the first third or so of travel and bottom-out resistance from higher pressures in through the remainder of the stroke. Thanks to awful rider weight-based recommendations in the manual (far too high), it took a lot of experimenting to get right and, once set correctly, stiff seals throughout meant that the transition between springs could be felt while riding. Small bump sensitivity was nowhere near where it was with the Marathons, which was a huge disappointment.
But what was good? The ATA travel adjuster, while nowhere near as nice as Fox's TALAS adjuster was easy enough to use, thanks in part to the flip-up 'wings' on the adjuster knob (right)- easy to use with gloves and no sharp edges at all. Can't complain there. While a bit harder to grasp and turn, the 5-position TST compression damping adjustment (full open to lock out) worked well. We liked it full open most of the time, but racers and bob-o-phobes would likely have liked one click in. The lockout worked well, with only the audible gasp of a blowoff valve reminding you that you really should have turned it off if you were going to be doing any drops.
The fork felt good, then, on isolated bumps. Really nice, that is, until it found itself in a rock garden, at which point it became overwhelmed and stopped working. This was odd and very, very bad. Furthermore, on occasional high-speed (25mph+) hits, it would suddenly blow through its travel, almost like a massive blowoff valve had opened. All of it. It didn't happen often, but it sure was scary when it did. So, a Pace was ordered up and back to Marzocchi it went under warranty.
The fork came back in about a week (very good), but as there were Paces and Fox's to try, it sat for a while before being ridden again. Marzocchi had updated the internals to whatever was 'current' mid-summer (it sounds like there have been a few running changes) and the fork felt immediately better.
At full travel, the XC700SL is visibly flexy fore and aft, though we didn't feel it much except under hard braking. at 110-120mm or so, though, it seemed both stiffer and to work better on small bumps, so we took to winding it all the way out and then back in a turn or two, which made for a nice match with the 130mm of travel on the Maverick ML7/5 and Durance it was tested on. In fact, it made for a nice match to the bike overall. As far as air pressures go, Marzocchi have revised recommendations on their website, and we settled on 70psi and 100psi (top and bottom). We were able to use all of the travel without it being too dive-y or the transition between springs apparent. While not as plush over small stuff as the Marathons, it was far better than the 08 Fox TALAS, and almost as good as the coil-sprung Pace RC40 Fighter. Bigger riders may be bothered by a a bit of flexiness, but it is 1/2lb lighter than the longer-travel competition, so that's to be expected.
That was the review until the other day, when we noticed that the fork was winding down into its travel while riding. Its a bit disconcerting to get to the bottom of a descent and find your handlebars an inch or so lower than you expected and your bikes handling that much twitchier. Ready to send the fork back, we did a quick internet search and found a 3-minute fix. Using a cassette lock ring tool to remove the ATA (travel-adjustable air spring) cartridge, turn the ATA knob to a position between detents, and tighten the two set screws near the top of the cartridge almost to stopping. This increases pressure on the detents and reduces self-winding. Or so we thought. While the next ride saw far less shrinkage than previously, it would wind in a notch or two on rough descents. We'll keep an eye on it, call Marzocchi, and let you know.
While it seems like an odd fork, we'd consider it an aggressive XC fork- perfect for one of the new 5in (or so) travel XC frames on the market (Ibis Mojo, Ellsworth Epiphany, Blur LT, etc). Something that's at home for technical XC riding as well as the odd race or lift-supported day out. We were thrilled with the fork after it came back from its initial service, but the winding down is a problem. Which is a shame, because this is one of the only new forks we've ridden in the past year that we really liked. Given the terrible MTBR reviews, you should be able to pick one up cheap, though.
For 2008, it looks as though the XC700SL has been extensively reworked (including a new casting), which may well help things. They look to be available already. If they've addressed the flexiness and self-winding, we'd love to get our hands on one...
marc
bikefix Review: Cateye HL-EL410 light
Fall has arrived- long-sleeve base layers are coming out of the closet and it seems like its staying darker later and getting darker earlier by the day. With that in mind, its not a bad idea to dig out your blinkies, check the batteries, and mount 'em up. Commuting 3-4 days a week by bike is an easy reminder of just how important a decent light can be. Walking around our fair city at dusk this week, I've witnessed two near-misses for completely unlit cyclists. Lights may be geeky, but they could save you a whole lot of pain.
What we've been using for over a year as a 'just in case the ride goes long' handlebar and supplemental helmet light is Cateye's recently improved HL-EL410 LED light. While not really bright enough to navigate by, this blinking LED is a great aid to visibility. Twice as bright as its predecessor (the EL400), this little jobbie kicks out 180 candlepower thanks to three AAA batteries. Its pretty small (under 4in long, under 1in diameter), taking up very little handlebar space. While there are loads of white blinking LED lights on the market (most significantly less expensive), the EL410 sets itself apart with very solid (and waterproof- to 50m) construction and a unique mounting strap.
While it works well as a handlebar/stem/fork leg/steerer tube mount (fitting a wide range of sizes quite easily), the coolest thing about the mount is that it pivots 90deg in either direction (in 10deg increments), allowing for helmet mounting (pictured, right). Having a lightweight, long-lasting (60hrs blinking) helmet-mounted light in addition to my bar-mounted HID (or other 10W+ light, to see with) has been great- allowing the rider to point it directly at (and get the attention of) cars merging from side streets.
What else? A cool magnetic switch doesn't break the waterproof seal, the lens has a wider viewable angle than many competing lights, and a ring around the bezel provides (limited) visibility from the side. Available in silver and black, this light runs US$35-40 at most good bike shops and, given its durability, is money well spent. Certainly the nicest I've seen (short of NiteRider's $175 MiNewt), though I'd love to see anything else this nice.
marc
01 October 2007
Gore keep riders' bellies cool
Gore Bikewear is pretty rare in the US, but what we have seen has been quite nice. Shame about the exchange rate, though, as its getting more expensive by the day. Their Xenon jersey take advantage of body thermal mapping and Gore's considerable fabric library and expertise to make a very well-cooled summer jersey.
roadcyclinguk.com seem impressed
10.7lb, $20k Storck Reviewed...
...and apparently, its actually ridable. The Storck Fascenario 0.7 (as in kg, for the frame) proves to be a bit whippy under bigger folks, but apparently not too scary. While the build is surreal, the frame isn't that pricey (though the fork is), as far as these things go, and the reviewer makes the point that, with an Ultegra or Dura Ace kit and some nice wheels, you could have one for around the price of a high-end Trek or Specialized. That's like a decent Porsche for the price of a nice Ford or Pontiac, as far as we're concerned, and that's no bad thing.
bikeradar.com
Interbike 2008
Alright. Everybody's back from Interbike and while there was apparently some neat stuff (I wasn't able to make it due to other commitments). Lots of carbon fiber (especially as frames, wheels, and cranks evolve), some silly-light road bikes, and new 'hot' colors. I haven't picked up on anything groundbreaking., though, so here are a few highlights:
The guys at our local shop were all abuzz about a 2.75lb carbon hardtail mountain bike with no rider weight limit. Why? Its built using a truss structure, with 'tubes' made of relatively small strings of carbon. Calfee has also done something similar for the road (see BikeMagic post). It certainly is striking, but at $7k for the frame, we'll wait for someone to figure out mass production...
cyclingnews.com
bikemagic.com
www.singletrackworld.com
Apparently, the bike industry is sick of the hassles associated with flying with their bikes. After having my flight case damaged (and paying handsomely for the privilege) on my most recent trip, I can sympathize. There have been more than a few mentions of folding or disassemble-able bikes.
www.singletrackworld.com
Chris King are making a buzz with some high-flange road/touring/'cross hubs and a 1.5in headset. They're still resisting the integrated thing, but at least Hope are filling that gap, not that I've seen many of them stateside.
cyclingnews.com
singletrackworld.com
Maverick are also attracting some attention with a 4.5lb, 165mm (6.5in)
travel version of their DUC fork, this time with freakishly large 36mm stantions. If it's anything like the 6in DUC32, it'll work well, but be better suited to folks willing to dive into the internals to get it working really well. Fun if you like to experiment. The Durance frame (which is what at least two of us at bikefix are riding) is up to 140mm travel, and the 4in travel Matic was pictured in a fetching chocolate color...
singletrackworld.com
In more carbon-forked news, Pace were on hand with their recently purchased line of forks (formerly Pace), which have some of the nicest dampers we've used. Now if they can get the quality control under, erm, control, they'll have a winner.
Finally, Pivot are a new brand headed by former Titus guy Chris Cocalis. They've released two bikes using the same DW*Link suspension platform as Ibis and Iron Horse, in 4in and 5in travel versions. Some neat features include an integrated front derailleur mount and integrated BB cups. Priced within US$5 of the Ibis Mojo, with some nice looking build kits, it could be a nice ride, especially if they've gone for a bit more small bump sensitivity on the 5in model.
No word on weight, but the 4in model could be a nice little racer.
bikemagic.com
Mountain Bike Action
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