1. WORLD’S BEST BOLT-ONS...UNDER $100
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6. THIS MONTH
You know you want to upgrade
your fork. We show you what is out
there and give you tips on how to
get the most out of them. Page 60.
40 56
Photo by John Ker
Photo by John Ker
BIKE TESTS MBA SPECIAL SECTION FEATURES
40 The Specialized S-Works 60 MBA’s 2009 Forktionary 90 Riders Who Inspire
Stumpjumper FSR Carbon Your guide for speaking in forked Brian Bushway, leading the blind.
The Ferrari F430 of trailbikes. tongue
92 The Nine Most
56 Salsa El Kaboing 64 TURES Tricks And
Fork Tips, Underrated Components
Secrets
Spice of Life ...and one great bike get their
Get all the performance you paid long-awaited recognition.
80 The Yeti 303 R-DH for.
Ride the Rail 116 Who The Heck Is Aaron
68 2009 Fork Buyer’s Guide Gwinn?
108 The Cannondale F5 Front-end upgrades. Meet the USA’s top World Cup
Cannondale’s best-selling threat.
mountain bike.
TECHNICAL TRAINING & FITNESS
46 Bring New Life To That 96 The Lazy Man’s Guide To
Old Bike Gaining Speed
When upgrading makes a lot of Become a better bike handler
$ense. right now.
76 World’s Best Bolt-Ons
Five simple, cheap products that COMPETITION
will make you faster.
124 Focus On Winning
Elite gravity athletes specialize in
86 Inside The Pros’ Bikes
one discipline.
Melissa Buhl’s KHS world
dominator.
DEPARTMENTS
Fine tune: There
102 How To Fix A Flat Tire 12 Happy Trails
are plenty of tricks
You think you already know, Twenty years of innovation.
when mounting
don’t cha?
your bike’s stem.
14 Mac Attack
The Garage Files
112 The Garage Files Left out in the cold.
show you the ups
Stem research.
and downs.
Page 114.
6 www.mbaction.com
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8. MBA STAFF
www.mbaction.com
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
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RICHARD CUNNINGHAM • EDITOR-AT-LARGE
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JOHN KER • ASSISTANT EDITORS
RYAN CLEEK
KATHARINE McCOY
ED ARNET • CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
JEFF SPENCER • TRAINING CONSULTANT
JOHN TOMAC • CONSULTANTS
MIKE BELL
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BRAD ROE • ONLINE EDITORS
BradR@hi-torque.com
TOM HINZ
TomH@hi-torque.com
ART DEPARTMENT
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ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
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DIRECTOR, smccoy@hi-torque.com
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Telex: 58312 WGI Fax: 886-47-357860
www.fantamag.com
12. HAPPY TRAILS By Richard J. Cunningham
fork with adjustable preload. A reliable
Index shifting was still around the cor-
was assembling an afford-
I suspension fork in the mid ’80s—one
ner, and trigger shifting? Well, that was
able hardtail when I had
that actually worked? Come on! Four
somewhere in outer space. Mountain
one of those “ah-ha!” years later, when the first generation of
bikers of that period shifted gears man-
suspension forks did arrive, they
moments that made me realize ually with friction thumb levers.
gushed like pedal-powered oil wells.
Sealed components were premium
exactly how far mountain bikes
It boggles the mind that the lowest
priced items in the early days. The
have progressed. A dear friend common denomenator in Haro's
Haro’s no-name bottom bracket, name
had (reluctantly) returned a mountain bike lineup—a $500 hard-
hubs and headset had sealed cartridge
tail—reflects such an astounding
bearings. Cartridge-bearing hubs and
vintage steel-framed mountain
amount of innovation and (dare I say
bottom brackets were only available in
bike that I had built in the mid it?) performance. Of course, the value
mountain bike widths from Phil Wood
1980s. It was outfitted with the of the Escape S is mirrored by other
back then, and Chris King made the
bike brands, and this further under-
only cartridge-bearing headset. Low-
best components from its era
scores the fact that mountain bike
friction, Teflon-lined cable housings—
and probably would have
makers, through hard work and imagi-
the stuff that comes on every bicycle
retailed for a then-exorbitant nation, have placed a busload of tech-
made today—were patented, cutting-
nology under the saddles of bicycles
sum of $1800. The modern edge technology. The topper for any-
that almost anyone can afford.
one who squealed through mud or
mountain bike that I had just
The last components to come out of
moisture, however, would be the
pulled from the box was a Haro the Haro box were pedals—one-sided,
Haro’s “Bengal” disc brakes. The
Escape S. It retails for $490-- toe-clip style pedals—the items which
Taiwan knockoff of Hayes’ mechanical
first inspired me to glance over to the
disc brakes would most certainly have
which in 1985 dollars was prob-
vintage Mantis across the room,
been depicted in action on point-of-
ably $150. To put it mildly, the because it too was equipped with toe-
purchase videos near bike-shop cash
low-level Haro represented a clip pedals (and straps). It seemed
registers throughout the world.
quite comical to me that the only com-
Mountain bikers who flocked to bike
technological leap. Its most
ponents on the Haro left unaltered
shops to squeeze the mighty Bengal
insignificant features would
after 20 years of innovation were the
brake levers would be blown away by
have left both the press and the ones I despised the most. I love my
the radical lines of the Haro’s tapered,
racing community of the 1980s rectangular-tube aluminum frame.
openmouthed.
“Awestruck’ might
be a more appropri-
ate word.
The Haro had an
eight-speed cassette,
while the vintage Mantis
had six cogs—but the
term “cassette” was not
introduced until 1989.
Period mountain bikes
had screw-on freewheels
that tightened with each
power stroke until the
hub and freewheel were
pressure-welded together.
They required a Herculean
effort to remove—and
quite often were destroyed
in the process. The novelty
of an eight-speed hub alone
would have knocked the
socks off of mountain bike
enthusiasts in the eighties, Shimano SPD pedals. I remem-
when the largest cog a bered fussing with cages and straps
Most would have never seen a welded
derailleur could shift numbered 28 while negotiating technical trails, and I
aluminum bicycle frame of any kind in
teeth. They would have killed for the realized that I could live without
person—and manipulated tubes simply
Escape's 34-tooth low gear and the almost every modern mountain bike
didn’t exist. But the wonder of all won-
SRAM 3.0 long-cage rear derailleur. So invention, but I never wanted to flip a
ders would be the Escape’s unprece-
imagine their shock at SRAM's SX.4 toe-clip pedal again. Of course, in 1985,
dented innovation: the SR Suntour 3.9-
under-the-handlebar trigger shifting. nobody would have noticed that. J
inch-travel, spring-action suspension
12 www.mbaction.com
www.fantamag.com
14. THE MAC ATTACK
Cold Weather Riding
mitt over the gloves.
iving on the northern edge
L Dang it, I’ve got to snap
of Southern California my helmet. The mitts
doesn’t present a lot of op- come off. A Buff head
gasket gets slipped over
portunities for true cold-weather
my head so it covers my
riding. So when a cold snap blows
ears. I should have put
through the Heritage Valley, like that on before the jer-
it did recently, I’m stoked. But I’m sey, but it is going to be
not just stoked, I’m prepared. July before I leave for
this ride, so I compro-
I wanted to share what may have mise and tuck it in best
been the last cold day of the season and I can. The helmet goes
I had made a number of calls to invite on, glasses in place,
friends to join me for this ride. No luck. mitts back on. I slip on
The sun was starting to climb into the the CamelBak and the
gray sky, so I knew I couldn’t waste straps are digging into
any more time trying to find a partner. my shoulders. Have to
I wanted to be on the trail while it was let them out to accom-
still crunchy. I started to suited up. modate all those extra
It takes 30 seconds to get ready for layers. I’m ready to
most rides, but not when it is frigid go. Total dress time:
outside. You have to plan carefully. The 27 minutes!
operative word is layering. I start slip- I don’t know if it
ping into a thermal top and then ther- is the anticipation of
mal tights. I slide a set of regular riding the adventure ahead
tights with over-the-shoulder holders on or over-hydration,
top of the thermals and a baggy short but I take two steps
over those. towards the garage
Next come the socks. Then I realize and nature calls.
I’ve blown it. The long socks should Actually, it yells. I
have gone between the thermals and have to go through
tights for a better system seal. The the drill of stripping
shorts and tights come off and I pull on layers away, but I am getting good at do-
the long socks. Then I put all the other The trailhead is just up the road. I
ing each step in its proper order. I only
stuff back on. A recycled plastic bag roll down the driveway, make a left and
waste another ten minutes.
goes over each sock, and I put another am surprised by a sheet of ice. The front
I open the garage door. Flat tire! I
pair of socks on to hold the bags in wheel shoots to the right like somebody
keep my spirits high. It could be a slow
place. My toes are toasty, even if there attached one end of a rope to the right
leak. I get to pumping and it is hard to
is the faint smell of peanut butter and slider and the other end to the bumper
hear through the Buff. I pull the Buff
jelly (the plastic bags were used for last of a garbage truck. I go down so fast that
down to uncover one ear. The tube is
week’s lunch). I don’t even get my hands out to soften
leaking faster than a New Orleans levee.
I blow the dust off the awesome the blow. Luckily, all that layering takes
I’m not giving up.
Gaerne Polar cycling shoes in the back the brunt of the impact. I have to rock
I strip halfway down, change the tube,
of my closet. The shoes, that look more back and forth a few times to build
pump up the tire and slip the wheel
like boots, are five years old and still ap- enough momentum to get to my feet.
back into the bike. My feet are sweating
pear to be brand new. That’s because I The front brake lever is snapped and the
by now and one of my two chamois is
only get to wear them about three times stem is pointing at a 45-degree angle.
soaked. I follow the drill to get all my
a year. Once I get these guys laced up I roll the bike back into the garage and
gloves, layers, helmet, Buff and glasses
and zipped, I slide a set of booties over I walk inside my warm house. I strip
back on. I’m finally ready for my nine
them. I don’t like numb toes. down to the thermals and turn on the
o’clock ride. It is 10:22.
I look at the clock. It has been twenty computer. The Weather Channel pre-
The phone rings! I don’t take any-
minutes since I started dressing. I try dicts a high of 67 degrees by tomorrow
thing off as I press the receiver against
to focus. A long-sleeve jersey. A jacket and the TV listing shows an episode of
my Buff-covered ear. “Speak up,” I
shell. A vest. It will be snowing, so I put Law And Order is just starting. I’ll have
yell into the phone. It is Sanders. He’s
another shell over all those layers. to try that cold weather ride next year.
returning my call about going for a ride
Uuuuugh, did it again. My gloves! I and just wants me to know he thinks
wanted them under the jersey. Off with I’m nuts. I thank him for calling back
Don’t be left out in the cold. Write to
the shells, vest and jersey. On with the and wasting another two minutes of
me at Jamesmac@hi-torque.com.
gloves (the thin ones). Jersey, shell, vest my ride. I head back into the garage and
and shell two go back on. I slide another grab my bike.
14 www.mbaction.com
www.fantamag.com
16. HARD TALES
Gear
Troy Lee
Speaks
Italian
Troy Lee Designs is best known for
its riding gear, casual wear, hel-
mets and custom helmet painting.
Hard to believe that Troy Lee
and his zany crew of designers Look fast (clockwise from bot-
and painters find time to take on tom left): The $170 Vertebrae Yutaak,
the $99 Shiver Paint Can, the $210
more projects, but they do.
SLR T1 25 Years of Troy Lee Designs,
Recently, the TLD group got
the $210 Flight Eyeballs and the $188
paid the ultimate compliment
SLR XP Spider Web.
when the 112-year-old Italian saddle
company, Selle Italia, asked for some
graphic input. Italian companies are
renowned for their design expertise, so
tapping the Corona, California, compa-
ny for design input was flattering to
say the least. Compliments aside, Troy
and the gang dipped into their bag of
tricks and came up with saddles that
look so cool, you’ll want to pedal out of
the saddle for the first month after you
get one.
The limited-edition TLD Selle Italia
saddles are available from your local
bike shop. You can get more informa-
tion from Selle Italia’s importer,
ProNet, at (800) 279-3793.
Where are the rails?: The monocoque car-
Hard tail: Not part of the TLD Selle Italia sad-
bon CX Zero saddle has integrated rails.
dle line but equally eye-catching is this three-
Our advice is to invest in a great torque
ounce, all-carbon CX Zero saddle. Only the
wrench if you are willing to plunk down
most hard-core weight weenie will be attract-
half a grand for this saddle. You don’t
ed to this expensive (around $500) saddle
want to crimp these rails.
that needs to be carefully cared for.
Cross Training
Ivan Basso
Shreds Snow
What do top roadies do to get in shape
for the road season? They ride mountain
Photo by Roberto Bettini
bikes! Elite professional road racer Ivan
Basso was spotted riding a carbon fiber
Cannondale Moto at the Team Liquigas
training camp held in Italy’s Dolomite
mountain range. The focus of Ivan’s train-
ing is to knock off Lance at the Giro
d’Italia this coming May.
16 www.mbaction.com
www.fantamag.com
17. Demo
Wanna Ride
A Pivot?
Pivot Cycles is on the road
again with their demo fleet of
Mach 4s, Mach 5s, Mach 429s
and Firebirds. This is your
chance to throw a leg over
these impressive bikes with-
out committing to a purchase.
(Warning; after your ride it
may be tough not to commit.)
The fleet will appear at the
Sea Otter Classic in Monterey,
California, before heading to
Colorado and New Mexico in
May. They haven’t figured out
where the highway will lead
them after May, so you can
check their website or call
(480) 467-2920 to track the
demo fleet’s progress
Fact
Pivot Demo Tour
May 14-21, Ride the Rockies,
28,724 April 16-19, Sea Otter Classic,
Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Monterey, California
May 16, Sports Garage,
May 2, Wheatridge Cyclery,
Boulder, Colorado
Wheatridge, Colorado rts,
May 23, Santa Fe Mountain Spo
May 3, Golden Bike Shop,
Mountain bikes in use Santa Fe, New Mexico
Golden, Colorado
by police departments May 30, Fat Tire Cycles,
May 9, Old Town Bikes,
Albuquerque, New Mexico
across America. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Truck Stop
You Too Can Own A
Former Downhill Champ!
In 2001, former MBA photo rider
Todd LeDuc won the NORBA
National Series downhill
championship. LeDuc left
mountain bike racing to join
his father Curt and brother
Kyle (also a former MBA
photo rider) to race trophy
trucks. The LeDuc name rings
in the off-road truck world like
the name Andretti in open-
wheel racing. Thanks to
Todd’s truck racing success,
Winning w
you can now buy a replica
2001 Azo ays: Todd LeDuc in
decal kit of his Rock Star ride for Stick up: The Todd LeDuc graphic kit for nic advert
isement. a
your RC truck.
your R/C truck.
17
April 2009 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION
www.fantamag.com
18. HARD TALES
Winners
GT Wants To Make
You A Star
The GT Golden Bike Series is like a reality TV show made just for cross-
country racers. And unlike TV’s secretly scripted “reality” shows, there are
no fixes or behind-the-scenes manipulations going on at the GT Golden Bike
Series. It works like this:
GT has chosen seven races that make up their Golden Bike Series. The
amateur cross-country racer (over 18 years old) to turn the fastest time
becomes the GT Golden Bike Winner. This rider doesn’t have to be racing a
GT bike to be eligible, but there’s a catch. The Golden Bike winner must
Moral support: The Golden Bike winner gets
defend the bike’s ownership by racing it at the next event in the series or for-
an unfair advantage at the next race—the
feit the prize package worth more than $10,000 to the second-place finisher. encouragement of The GT Gold Diggers.
“The only way to get the Golden Bike is to crush the competition,”
explained Jenni Cathcart, Director of Marketing for GT Bicycles. “There’s no
silver or bronze in this competition. It is all about the gold.”
The Golden Bike Series
GT doesn’t expect the Golden Bike winner to fund the bike’s defense
alone. That’s why GT will cover an all-expense-paid trip for two to the next April 19,Sea Otter Classic,
race in the Golden Bike Series, bestow the use of a commemorative GT Monterey, California
Golden Bike, supply a $250 Sugoi gift certificate and top it off with a swag May 2, GHORBA Big Ring
bag of cycling gear. Challenge, Coldspring, Texas
It gets better. A professional bike mechanic, and a personal cheerleading May 17, Spring Thaw
squad known as The Gold Diggers, will support the Golden Bike winner. Of Mountain Bike Festival,
course, if another rider throws down the fastest time at the next event, all Ashland, Oregon
these rewards are taken from the last event’s winner and transferred to the June 7, Massanutten HOO-HA!,
new winner. Harrisonburg, Virginia
Since professional riders do not qualify for the Golden Bike Series, we pre- July 4, Firecracker 50,
dict a few of last year’s back-marker pros will not renew their pro license so Breckenridge, Colorado
they can go after the Golden Bike. After all, the Golden Bike winner will get August 9, Ore to Shore,
treated way better than most pro winners. J Marquette, Michigan
September 13, Landmine
Classic, Hingham,
Massachusetts
Golden opportunity: The
series leader gets to choose a
GT Zaskar or GT Marathon
(shown here). Both will feature
a golden monocoque carbon-
fiber frame and Shimano XTR
components.
18 www.mbaction.com
www.fantamag.com
19. TRAILGRAMS
THANKS FROM TONY
Thanks again for the story on
my Forward Motion
Foundation (MBA,
December 2008). We have
already received interest in
helping out as well as donations
to the Re-cyclery. One of the contacts
was from a guy who works with the
Metro Transit System here in San
MBA,
Diego. He is helping us set up the
routes so folks without cars can get
January, 2009
to our events. This is really cool, as
we are working with many folks
who do not have driver’s licenses.
Tony DiLorenzo
Forward Motion Foundation BE AN INSPIRATION
www.forwardmotionfoundation.org After reading about Tony DiLorenzo
in the January “Riders Who Inspire,” I
thought of a friend who is worthy of
THE LAST PROFLEX LETTER
I bought my ProFlex 956 in 1996. I being featured in a future story. She
still ride it. Not much of the original would never think about promoting
bike remains, but it is still essentially a herself, so what is the best way for me
short-travel, stiff-backed, dual-suspen- to submit her for consideration?
sion, cross-country bike—absolutely Bill Hess
perfect for the type of riding I do. Chicago, Illinois
SLOW YOUR SPIN
Curiosity has led me to test a few MBA encourages riders to spin at 80 Many riders who deserve to be featured
modern bikes, but I just don't seem to rpm (“New Years Riding Resolution”, in “Riders Who Inspire” would never
“gel” with them. Although they float January 2008). This works for smooth recommend themselves, and that’s why
along the trails, they seem too heavy, trails, but when the going gets rough friends like you are so important. Drop us
bouncy and detached compared to the (extended rock gardens, and extended an email (mbaction@hi-torque.com),
ProFlex, which tells me absolutely rooty sections), I find I get better and it will speed things up if you type
everything that’s going on underneath results in a bigger gear. Use more mus- “Riders Who Inspire” in the subject line.
its skinny wheels. cle and, voila, you make it through the Tell us about the person who deserves a
Mark Lovatt rough stuff. I understand the dynamics little recognition and how we can contact
Newtown, Wales of the pedal stroke, but the advice of them. As you may already be aware, we
pedaling at high rpm does not always have a broad definition of who a rider
have its place. Push the gear and learn who inspires is. It can be someone who has
MORE COLD TIPS
the burn! done things to benefit the entire mountain
I ride all winter in Salt Lake City,
Tom “Lefty” Lowrie biking community, a rider who helped
Utah, and when the trails are too
Dalton, Pennsylvania you out of a tough situation, or a rider
snowy, I climb the steep roads in the
who is fighting against great odds.
They’re your knees, Lefty.
foothills near the state capital to keep
my muscles ready for slickrock in the
spring. The trick is to layer with wick-
ing materials and wear a big CamelBak
pack. I begin the ride with an amount
of clothing that makes me feel a bit
cool to start the climb and usually
includes a polypro underlayer, long-
sleeve jersey, wind vest, windproof
jacket and appropriate leg covering. As
I ride up, I stop briefly to shed a layer
as needed before heat builds and caus-
es profuse sweating. At the top of the
climb, I start pulling layers out of my
pack and putting them back on (fleece
jacket, windproof jacket, head band
with ear muffs, a fleece-lined face pro-
tector, thick gloves, knee/shin guards
to break the wind). Then I bomb down
to the bottom secure in my clothing
capsule. What a blast, and what a way
to turn heads!
Brooks Carter
Salt Lake City, Utah
19
April 2009 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION
www.fantamag.com
20. TRAILGRAMS
CRAIG FAN
Thanks for the profile on
Adam Craig (“America’s Best
Mountain Biker,” MBA,
January 2009). I have been a
fan of Adam based on his
results, and now I’m more of
a fan based on his attitude. If
there were more well-rounded
riders like Adam racing today,
I believe cross-country racing
in the United States would be
a lot more interesting.
Chris Lewis
Boise, Idaho
RE-TREAD
SLIDE GUIDE
MBA recommends putting a Kenda
I tried Paul Thomasberg’s cable
Small Block Eight tire on the rear of
tricks (“Garage Files,” January
the bike to lessen weight and improve
2009) on my Santa Cruz Blur LT
momentum. Nowhere do I see a dis-
that uses Shimano XT components
claimer stating not to follow this
and could not believe the results.
advice if you live in the Northeast. The
The rear derailleur shifting is
Small Block Eight tire might do what
noticeably crisper with less pressure
you say, but at a cost of lost time due
needed at the shifter. The added
to lack of traction with all the mud we
benefit of keeping dirt out of the
have here.
housings is just a bonus to the mod-
Peter Inserra
ification. Please keep these kinds of
Oriskany, New York
tips coming.
MBA Disclaimer: Riders who ride
Joe McAdams
on frozen lakes, in deep snow, mud bogs
San Diego, California
or quicksand shouldn’t use a Kenda
Small Block Eight tire on the rear either.
THE SANTA CRUZ DEBATE FUNNY AND INFORMATIVE
GOES ON I realize it is only your January
I have to side with Santa Cruz. They issue, but the photo of Dan
are not attacking consumers with a Gaudenzi using a glove and tire
quot;loophole,” but rather sticking to their tube to dress his head wound has
guns. Why should they release a new my vote for the funniest photo of
bike when nothing has changed? Should the year. It was funny and at the same
they offer a new color next season, hop time informative. I wonder if I would
the price, and tell riders it is the all-new have been so resourceful if I found
Blur LT? They have, in fact, differentiat- myself in the same situation as Dan?
ed their models—not by year, but by Eric Rhodes
characteristics, design, and technology: Calgary, Alberta, Canada J
Blur, then Blur LT and Blur XC (these
were different bikes and different from
i-torque.com or
the Blur); and now the new BLT2, or Write us at mbaction@h
Trailgrams, 25233
Blur LT2 with VP2. A shop that does hard copy us at MBA
91355. Include
not know how to explain this to cus- Anza Drive, Valencia, Ca.
you live.
tomers isn't committed to the lines they the town and state where
month: Don’t fill up
carry, and that consumer should find a Trailgrams tip of the
to the top. Measure
shop they can rely on. your hydration bladder
’ll need for the
Josh Dennis the amount of water you t.
to carry the extra weigh
Salt Lake City, Utah ride. No need
20 www.mbaction.com
www.fantamag.com
23. BATTLE PROVEN.
The HollowGram SI Crankset. The lightest, stiffest crankset on the planet.
Standard on the Cannondale Factory Racing Team Scalpel.
The good fight. cannondale.com
www.fantamag.com
24. TRAIL MIX
A FOXY LADY
Riding during my
vacation to the Alps.
Elayna Caldwell
Fox Racing Shox
IDAHO EPIC
In mid November people in our area are
thinking about skiing and snowboarding on
some of the best snow on earth, at Jackson Hole,
Wyoming’s Grand Teton Village. But we were
not done riding. We needed to go on one last
ride. It was the first time my wife and I had rid-
den on snow and ice. Your bike tires make a dif-
ferent kind of sound going over snow. The bikes
handle differently, and even though you know
the six-mile trail, it has changed. The bumps,
climbs, drops and rock gardens all make the trail
different. As we continued down the trail, the
snow turned to mud and we got dirty in a very
good way. It was an epic ride that I would
recommend to anyone.
Cody Saxton
Sheryl Saxton
Danny Kelly
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
24 www.mbaction.com
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26. TRAIL MIX
LIFE FOUND ON MARS
This is me riding the Fin
on Thunder Mountain Trail
near Bryce Canyon, Utah.
Shannon Lynch
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Celebrating my 54th birth-
day at Plattekill, Roxbury,
New York. If you ride, you
understand.
Tony Suppa
Stamford, Connecticut
TAKE A PICTURE
This is my wife and I riding just
north of Quebec City, Canada, in the
Jacques Cartier National Park.
Biking is time we take to spend
together, enjoy life and have a blast.
As for the most part we are running
with too many things to do and too
little time to do them. On this ride,
we managed to figure out how to run
the timer on the camera to get a pic-
ture of both of us to remind us how
much fun we have biking together.
Michelle LeBlanc and Rheal Jaillet
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
WATCH YOUR STEP
Mark Dimond (left) and me sitting on the edge of
a cliff next to the Slick Rock Trail in Moab. The
black line on the middle right is a road, and you can
see a car down there. Probably wasn’t the smartest
thing to do, but we got some pretty cool pictures
with our cell phones!
Bryson Chamberlain
Oak City, Utah
26 www.mbaction.com
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27. RIDE
BELIEVE
With 150mm (6”) of fully active travel, the 2009 Compulsion utilizes our award-winning patented Equilink™
technology to achieve true pedaling e ciency. No longer must you “pepper” your pedal stroke to o set rear-end
travel. Experience a plush, fully-active suspension operation that is completely isolated from drive train influence.
Aggressive, agile and lightweight, the Compulsion’s trail design is capable of tackling all-day, all-mountain riding,
no matter the conditions. One ride will make you a believer.
Felt’s 2009 Compulsion family of bikes includes the One (shown), Two and Three.
RIDE…Fast. Hard. Forever.
www.fantamag.com
28. TRAIL MIX
FAMILY RIDE
This day out with Dad comes to you from Phoenix, Arizona. Got to love A REAL CAMEL BACK
Phoenix in the winter months, and having two boys, Dylan and Luke, who love My wife Jill and I on a 35-mile
to mountain bike with their Dad! epic ride in Judea Desert, Israel. The
Vince Kaderabek. photo was taken in a dry riverbed
Phoenix, Arizona called “gmalim” that means camels
in Hebrew. Dry riverbeds in the
Judea Desert are the only places
TAKING IT ALL IN
where you’ll find vegetation for food
Cris, Dave, and Bill taking
and shade, so a lot of local Bedouins
time to check out the view
bring their camels to this place for
of Castle Peak from the Hole
rest and grazing.
in the Ground Trail at
Samuel Bachar
Donner Summit near Lake
Richmond, Virginia
Tahoe, California. The place
has awesome singletrack,
slickrock and views. You
would never know you are
so close to Interstate 80.
Cris McReynolds
La Honda, California
LITTLE JUMPER
Cameron Ory at the Snowmass
NEW FRIENDS
Colorado State Championships. At 11
Friends I made on
years old he finished second in the
a bike trip through
mountaincross and smoked the field in
the Congo.
the downhill. Junior racing and develop-
Tracy Price
ment is the future of the sport.
Phoenix, Arizona
Mo Ory
Denver, Colorado J
FACE IT
We want your face in MBA. Here’s how:
1) Image file size needs to be 600 KB or larger.
2) Tell us what is going on in your photo
(include names).
3) Include your name and the city and state
where you live.
4) E-mail it to Trail Mix (mbaction@hi-torque.com).
Trail Mix rider of the month: Ryan Trebon.
28 www.mbaction.com
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30. THRASH TESTS Thrash test rating:
##### Perfection
####$ Delivers above average value and performance
###$$ Recommended for intended application
IBERT SAFE-T-SEAT ###$$ ##$$$ Shows potential but has drawbacks
#$$$$ Save your hard-earned bucks
Giving Junior a front row seat on your next ride
Many riders have a youngster who is too young to pedal
along on a ride, so iBert Inc. has come up with the safe-T-
seat, a $94.95 child seat that attaches to the steerer tube of
your mountain bike.
Tech features: The Safe-T-Seat is designed for children age
four and under. The minimum age is 12 months, because the
child needs to be able to sit up and have the strength to hold The stinger
the weight of a helmet. The maximum height of the child that
can use the Safe-T-Seat is 42 inches. Kids much taller than
that will be uncomfortable. The recommended max weight is
38 pounds. You can reach iBert at (801) 440-4024.
After the thrashing: The Safe-T-Seat slides onto a patented
stinger mounting system. The stinger clamps to the bike’s
steerer tube below the bike’s handlebar stem and above the
headset (so you need at least 3/4 inch of steerer tube from the
headset to the stem). We mounted the Safe-T-Seat on our
Managing Editor Sean McCoy’s tandem mountain bike, which
now let him include his youngest child on rides.
The installation of the stinger clamp was a simple task and the
directions were easy to follow. The Safe-T-Seat slides on and off
the stinger clamp easily. We found tolerance between the Safe-T-
Seat and stinger to be loose, and this resulted in a bit of play. The
loose fit makes the seat slightly sway from side to side, which takes some time
to get used to.
The drill for getting your child in the Safe-T-Seat works like this: straddle the bike,
lift and place your little critter in the Safe-T-Seat. Slip the harness buckle over his or
her head, then close the pivot lap bar and you are ready to go.
On the trail, we found that the Safe-T-Seat was positioned perfectly to allow the
rider total access to the handlebar for normal steering, and pedaling was not hin-
dered at all. The weight distribution of the child is also far better for bike handling
than a seat that positions the child behind the saddle.
A few things to remember: your little riding partner is doing a great job of shelter-
ing you from the wind, so remember to dress your child warmly. Also, pick your trail
wisely. Leave the technical loops and fast sections for rides you’ll do solo.
CYCRAGUARD TWINPACK #####
Deflect your tires’ spray
Commutes or dirt road exploration on rainy days become a drag fast with a
constant spray of water and mud coming off the tires and into your face. This
Cycraguard Twinpack contains universal front and rear fenders that are designed
for quick installation and removal. Cycra suggests a retail price of $44.99.
Tech features: Cycra includes all of the hardware necessary to mount front
and rear fenders to almost any frame and seatpost. Both the 15-inch-long front
and 20-inch-rear fender measure four inches wide. They are injection molded
from an unbreakable composite plastic. Two quick-hook rubber bands attach
the front fender beneath the bike frame’s downtube. A bracket with a quick-
release clamp holds the rear fender off the seatpost. The fenders are available
in black, white, or titanium colors. Cycra Bike can be contacted at (800) 770-2259.
After the thrashing: The complete Cycra fender assembly weighs 11 ounces. The
fenders mount to the bike in an instant. Spacers are included that will adapt the front
fender to bikes that run the gear cables beneath the down tube. Tuneable position and
angle features make it easy to adjust the rear fender to the lines of the bike.
The fenders do an amazing job of eliminating the splash that tires throw up while
riding in the wet. Besides keeping mud from splashing up on your glasses, the Cycra
fenders keep the rider from getting soaked by tire spray. You stay drier, warmer and
more comfortable in inclement conditions. This is one of the best mods that a rider
can make to his bike for wet-weather riding.
30 www.mbaction.com
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32. THRASH TESTS Thrash test rating:
##### Perfection
####$ Delivers above average value and performance
###$$ Recommended for intended application
##$$$ Shows potential but has drawbacks
ADVENTURE MEDICAL KITS #$$$$ Save your hard-earned bucks
EMERGENCY BIVVY ###$$
Something right for the times when things go wrong
There may come a time when a mechanical failure, poor
map-reading skills or lousy planning leaves you stranded
on a trail overnight. If that ever happens, you better hope
you were smart enough to pack a $16 Adventure Medical
Kit Emergency Bivvy in your hydration pack.
Tech features: The Adventure Medical Kits Emergency
Bivvy, when stowed in its pouch, is small
enough to fit in the palm of your hand and
weighs 3.5 ounces. Once unfolded, it mea-
sures eight feet long by three feet wide. The
ultra-thin Heatsheet material used to con-
struct the bevvy has a burnt orange outer
color and a reflective metallic interior. This
vacuum-metalized polyethylene material is
claimed to reflect up to 90 percent of your
radiated body heat back to you. The mate-
rial, while thin, is stretchable so it resists
rips. You can reach Adventure Medical
Kits at (800) 324-3517.
After the thrashing: Remove wet
layers of clothing, leave on anything that
is reasonably dry, unfold the bivvy and
crawl inside. It feels too thin to be effec-
tive, but you will sense your body heat
being reflected almost immediately. The bivvy has zero
padding, so you’ll need to find a soft place on leaves or
grass before calling it a night.
We spent a fitful night under the stars in the bivvy as
temperatures dipped into the 40’s. The bivvy reflected
enough heat to allow us to sleep for around five hours, and
no moisture came through the bag. While not the most
comfortable night we’ve ever spent in the great outdoors, it
fold it up tight enough to fit it back in its pouch. Amazing.
felt like a five-star hotel compared to sleeping on the ground
Hopefully you will never need to use the Emergency Bivvy,
in cycling gear.
but since it only weighs ounces, fits into a small pocket of any
In addition to warmth, the bivvy sack makes a great wind-
hydration pack and costs a measly $16, we can’t think of an
breaker too. One more benefit of this bivvy: turning it inside out
argument not to carry one. It could end up being a real life-
would make a large reflective target for anyone looking for you
saver.
from the sky or neighboring mountaintop. We were even able to
MUC-OFF BIKE CLEANER ###$$ chemicals work immediately to lift dirt stains and surface
grease, which after two minutes easily wash away during a
Keeps that bike looking new
second rinse. Muc-Off’s protective coating reduces water
spotting and gives the surfaces of the components and chas-
You want to keep your pride and joy looking as clean as the
sis a smooth look. It also contains non-oily ingredients,
day you bought it. Yes, that’s impossible, but there are products
which means that it is safe on discs and pads. Your bike is
that can help you keep it looking, if not new, at least pre-
only going to get dirty again, but Muc-Off will make it look
sentable. Muc-Off is a non-aerosol spray-on bike wash in a bot-
sweet until then.
tle. A one-quart, hand pump-bottle of Muc-Off retails for $11.99.
Tech features: Muc-Off touts nano technology. What that
means is that it contains cleaning and protective components
that at the very finest molecular level have been custom
restructured to elevate effectiveness. Whatever. That’s their
pitch, not ours. Muc-Off is claimed to contain no harsh ingre-
dients, is safe to use on all surfaces, and is friendly to the
environment. Give Muc-Off a call at (562) 945-9944.
After the thrashing: Muc-Off does not magically blast
caked mud off your stays, downtube or bottom bracket area.
It also does not degunk an over-lubricated drivetrain. It is a
detailing spray. Get the offending stuff loosened up using a
sponge and brush before rinsing with water (no power
sprayers!). Now spray Muc-Off on the bike. Its nano-tech
32 www.mbaction.com
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m
33. 2008
N°
Beijing
MEDAL
1
GOLD
OLYMPIC
FULCRUM
Julien Absalon (Orbea TeaM ) &
RED CARBON
www.fantamag.com
D stribute
Distributed i U.S.A. by: Qualit Bicycle, Security Bicycle, Sinc air Imports BTI
Distriibuted in U.S.A. by: Quallity Biicyclle,, Security Bicycle,, Sinclair Imports,, BTI
st SA Qua ity cy e ecur t B cycle incl mport TI
t cycle nclai p t WWW.FULCRUMWHEELS.COM
34. THRASH TESTS Thrash test rating:
##### Perfection
####$ Delivers above average value and performance
###$$ Recommended for intended application
##$$$ Shows potential but has drawbacks
LOUIS GARNEAU DURANGO SHORT #$$$$ Save your hard-earned bucks
#$$$$
A short made from earthy materials that comes up short
The $109 Durango shorts from Louis Garneau take a holistic approach to
cycling apparel. Can you feel the difference?
Tech features: The Durango short is made from Bamtex, an eco-friendly fabric
made with bamboo. Bamtex is abrasion-resistant, moisture-wicking, and has anti-
odor qualities. The Durango comes with a mesh inner short featuring Garneau’s
new HD chamois. There are LT-Stretch inserts on the hips, at the back and at the
crotch area. This fabric has four-way-stretch and is designed to ensure breathability
and fit in motion. You can reach Louis Garneau at (800) 448-1984.
After the thrashing: The Durango short fits snugly at the waist and hangs
low, crossing the leg just below the kneecap. The Bamtex material is breathable,
yet it stood up to scraping along trail shrubbery without ripping or snagging.
The pockets directly above the knee do not seem to serve a purpose other than
being a convenient place to briefly drop your car keys while you’re unloading
your bike at the trailhead. If you store anything in those pockets while you ride,
say a multi-tool, energy bar or car keys, it will flop from side-to-side as you
pedal. There are tension straps with buckles on the front of the short at the
waistline. We never needed these straps to achieve a secure fit; however, they
interfere with the waist belt of a hydration pack, digging the buckles into your
mid-section. After a couple rides in the Durango shorts, we cut the buckles off
the front of the shorts for a more comfortable fit. The stretch-like material in
the crotch area is comfortable before or after a ride, but on more than one occa-
sion this material snagged on the saddle when we stood up to pedal or dis-
mount. The Durango shorts have a lot of features that may look good on paper,
but on the trail it becomes clear that they’re better suited for lounging around
the house.
easy to select the wrench needed and the wrench into the wheel, and the
SERFAS ST-SL SLIMLINE to fold the unneeded ones back into four-sided socket design gets a good
CHROME MINI TOOL the body. All of the tools have suffi- bite on the spoke nipple. The ST-SL
####$ cient extension and can reach into the Slimline actually has 12 tools and gives
tightest spots. you more than claimed. It doesn’t come
You don’t have to break the
On the opposite end of the body is with useless features like bottle open-
bank for a reliable multi-tool
the chain breaker, which is the most ers. It only offers the tools needed to
useful one that we have seen on a
A new entry into the multi-tool service a modern mountain bike,
multi-tool. A two-inch-long handle on
game, the Serfas Slimline offers 11 including brake lever reach.
the driver supplies more than enough
tools in one and carries a suggested The only drawback is the lack of an
torque to extract a chain pin.
retail of $20. eight-millimeter Allen key, but the price
Additionally, swinging the handle out
Tech features: The Slimline mea- is right. J
to the side provides effective torque for
sures three inches by two inches, is
the Allens and
5/16 of an inch thick and weighs four
screwdrivers.
ounces. It includes a chain tool,
Finally, included
Phillips screwdriver, flat-head screw-
on the end of the
driver, T25 Torx driver, a 3.23-mil-
foldout handle is
limeter and 3.45-millimeter combo
the combo spoke
spoke wrench, and 2-, 2.5-, 3-, 4-, 5-
wrench. The two
and 6-millimeter Allen keys. The
wrench sizes are
Slimline is produced by Serfas, which
the same as the
can be reached at (800) 424-0047.
most common
After the thrashing: The Slimline
black and red
is a simple, effective and easy-to-use
shop spoke
mini multi-tool that is a steal at its $20
wrench sizes and
price. It has no detachable parts (so
will service both
you won’t lose them) and is bullet-
cross-country
proof. The Slimline is much easier to
and downhill
use than a pocket knife-style multi-
rims. The handle
tool, which likes to tangle its individ-
extension makes
ual wrenches. With the Slimline, the
it easy to reach
tools fold out together on one end; it is
34 www.mbaction.com
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36. INSIDE LINE
A SAGGING QUESTION
Many of your tests recommend setting suspension sag. I
understand how to measure and set sag, but can you explain
why suspension needs sag? Doesn’t setting sag (let’s say 20
percent sag) rob you of 20 percent of your travel?”
Howard Kinunen
Orlando, Florida
Jose Gonzelez, who worked on motocross suspension at
Team Green and designed mountain bike suspension
components for Manitou before establishing Trek
Bicycle’s West Coast test facility, explains why sag is so
important to your mountain bike.
“Suspension sag is critical for proper performance for numer-
ous reasons:
1. Suspension sag is a key factor in maintaining traction. Due
to sag, the suspension is constantly in traction mode, driving the
tire into the ground and maintaining contact as the surface
undulates. This is especially the case when weight transfer is
taken into account under braking, in off-camber turns, climbing
and descending.
2. One of the biggest myths about suspension is that sag robs
you of travel. This is not true, especially in off-road situations.
There are as many bumps that are cavities in the surface as
there are protruding from the surface. Suspension sag allows the
suspension to “track” the bump’s shape and respond to bumps
and holes that are below the surface. Without suspension sag,
CUSTOM RIDE
your bike would not be able to “track” the bump and it would
drop into the bump—just like what happens when you ride a
hardtail. Sag is what gives that “floating” feeling when travel-
Is there a big advantage to buying a custom-made
ing at speed over uneven terrain.
frame over an off-the-rack production frame?
3. Sag also serves to allow the suspension to achieve a “set-
James Kehoe
tling” point for chassis stability. The sag point is basically a sta-
Brattleboro, Vermont
bilizing point that reflects the proper spring force required to
Sherwood Gibson, a prolific fabricator and the man
carry a given load (rider
behind Ventana Bicycles (a company that offers both
weight plus bike weight).
custom-made and production bikes) explains:
But all it takes is a small
“There are advantages to both. With production frames
you get the opportunity to participate in lower pricing and
market-driven design trends that are supported by their
sheer volume of sales. For example, a big bike company can
be both trend-setting, with swoopy-tubed frame designs, and Do you know the
way to sag, Jose?:
also offer affordable pricing because they sell a whole lot of
It doesn’t take up
them. But in order to meet volume requirements, production
travel and it makes
frames are generally offered in five or fewer sizes per model, your bike ride bet-
and geometry is determined by the manufacturer with very ter. Trek’s Jose
few customization options available, if any. So, if you are Gonzalez talks
about the impor-
looking for value, your body proportions fit stock sizing
tance of setting
jumps, and the stock geometry is to your liking for your rid-
suspension sag.
ing style, then a production frame is your best bet.
On the other hand, a custom-made frame has the advan-
tage for all those riders who lie outside of the “normal” pro-
duction sizing and geometry envelope. All people are not
built in equal sizing increments. Really tall or short folks
with long or short legs and long or short arms, riders with
physical ailments restricting their movement or body posi-
tioning, and riders who just want something different are all
candidates who should consider getting a custom bike.
Ventana offers three levels of customization ranging from
a simple lengthening of a top tube to a full-custom build
with tube diameters, wall thicknesses, and frame geometry
tailored to the rider’s intended use and needs. To top things
off, we also offer custom powder coat colors and additional
bolt-on upgrades to further customize your ride. So the big
advantage to going custom is that you can get a bike built
specifically to fit you, to your exact specifications, and with
a more individualized look.”
36 www.mbaction.com
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