Albania Vs Spain Albania is Loaded with Defensive Talent on their Roster.docx
Mountain Bike Action noviembre
1. INTERBIKE
INTERBIKE SHOW PREVIEW BACKSTA
GE
PASS!
MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION
3
298
C0
CC
www.mbaction.com
NOVEMBER 2009
SNEAK PEEK!
ALL-NEW
HOT GEAR:
SEE IT
BEFORE
THE BIKE
SHOPS DO
$4.99
Att’n Retailer: Please
display until November 5
BMC TRAILFOX FELT VIRTUE
2.
3. 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
4. THIS MONTH
Don’t wait for the Interbike Show to
open its doors. We bring you the show-
stoppers early. Page 52.
46 70
Photo by John Ker
Photo by John Ker
BIKE TESTS FEATURES 104 Riders Who Inspire
South Mountain Bike Patrol,
38 BMC TrailFox 01 42 Trek Unveils Its 2010 stewards of the preserve.
Switzerland’s long-travel trail- Lineup
bike interpretation. Bet Lance wants to ride one of
these. TECHNICAL
70 The Ellsworth Truth
The truth and nothing but the 78 Giant Rolls Out The 74 As Seen On ET
truth. 2010’s Three components from our
Faster, lighter and Ellsworth Truth.
90 The Specialized Enduro color-coordinated.
SL Pro Carbon 84 Inside The Pros’ Bikes
Max Plaxton shows off his
Own the entire mountain.
TRAINING & FITNESS Specialized cross-country racer.
112 Gary Fisher’s 46 Ten Long-Travel Trailbike 106 The Downhill Workhorse
Hoo-Koo-E-Koo Tips Riding the 2010 RockShox
A hardtail with history. Make your bike do the work. Boxxer Team fork.
108 Damage Control
DESTINATIONS Tips for surviving a crash. COMPETITION
96 Sedona’s Warm Welcome 116 Crowning America’s
Where to go when the snow falls. 2009 Champions
MBA 2009 INTERBIKE America’s best battle at SolVista,
PREVIEW Colorado.
52 Backstage Pass To
Stop right
there: The
Mountain Biking’s
Annual Trade Show DEPARTMENTS
stoppers
that we Over 70 products that you’ll see 12 Happy Trails
compare all before the bike shops. Damon, Rebeca and Priority Cycles.
other
brakes to.
They are
16 Mac Attack
from PEOPLE The application store.
Germany. 88 Young Rippers
Page 74.
Introducing Cierra Smith. 20 Hard Tales
Specialized shows off the rest
of its 2010’s.
4 www.mbaction.com
7. In a perfect world.
DHXrc4
MTB FR/DH
The DHX® RC4 is a new from-the-ground-up,
rc2
purpose-built downhill shock with a World
40
Championship on its resume in its rookie
year. Externally adjustable high and low
rC2 speed velocity sensitive damping and
In a perfect world, you’d ride what the World Champ rides. At FOX we a completely redesigned Boost Valve® for
race what we sell. The 40® RC2 with FOX’s World Championship proven position sensitive ending stroke control,
and proprietary FIT ™ technology produces incredibly consistent, act independently so you can dial in the
fade-free damping, and FOX’s legendary chassis stiffness provides perfect balance of traction, small bump
unrivaled steering confidence so you can push your limits. compliance and big-hit absorption.
FOX Racing Shox. Purpose built. Race proven. We’re never done. Embrace your inner World Champion.
Visit our all-new website: foxracingshox.com
8. MBA STAFF
www.mbaction.com
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
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BradR@hi-torque.com
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TomH@hi-torque.com
ART DEPARTMENT
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ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT
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KATHARINE McCOY
TOM HINZ
JEFF SHOOP • CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
TIM LaPAGLIA • PROMOTIONS
ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL OFFICES
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Any change of address or subscription
problems please contact us by e-mail:
wanda@hi-torque.com or call (800) 767-0345.
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ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE IN TAIWAN
WHEEL GIANT INCORPORATED
P.O. Box 80, Changhua, Taiwan R.O.C.
Tel (047) 352555, 350500
Telex: 58312 WGI Fax: 886-47-357860
9. CARBON FIBER REPLICA HELMET
HILL SKULLS BLACK
SIMPLY THE BEST PROTECTION AVAILABLE FOR ACTION SPORTS
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10. C2C DRED TREAD
EXCAVATOR HAPPY MEDIUM BLUE KING
GROOVE john TOMAC TRACTI
signature series
Photo Credit: Photo Credit:
Chris Wood Dean Howard
11. Photo Credit:
Tom Lopes
OF TELONIX HFACTOR EL MOCO BBG
ON
Photo Credit:
craigglaspellphoto
12. HAPPY TRAILS By Richard J. Cunningham
F
rom Twin Falls, Idaho, to
Mountain Bike Action’s
offices in Southern
California is a long stretch of
driving for a one-day visit, but
Damon Madsen and his wife,
Rebeca, made the trip for the
opportunity to show me his
“Portafortuna” five-inch-travel,
dual-suspension design. We had
never met face to face, and I was
unfamiliar with Priority Cycles
(Damon is the lead designer,
fabricator, welder and founder),
so I had no preconceptions about
the bike’s design or its intended
purpose. All I knew was that the
plan was to shake hands, go over
the bike, take some technical
photographs and then head out
for an afternoon test ride. Damon
and Rebeca drove straight
through (check out Highway 93
on Google Earth, then tell me Damon Madsen
that was fun). They showed up
early, got the 25-cent Hi-Torque suspension rate, which drove a Fox Damon rode my Santa Cruz Blur LT-
tour and were ready to rock. DHX Air shock (“Its wide range of Carbon, Rebeca had a prototype
damping and rate adjustments made it Portafortuna much like the one I was
the only choice”). By the time Damon riding—and I was surprised (to put it
Damon’s candid, quiet demeanor did finished his dog and pony show, I was mildly) that Damon’s latest design was
not mask his enthusiasm for building really curious to ride the Portafortuna. a sweet performer. Without touching a
bicycles. He rolled the Portafortuna up During the pre-ride fiddling, our platform lever, the 29-pound trailbike
and admitted that he used many of conversation traversed Damon’s bud- breezed up the route’s steep single-
Brent Foes’ suspension concepts in the ding career as a frame builder. He and tracks and carved the twisting descents
design. The 7007-alloy aluminum his brother were inspired to build their with a nimble and balanced feel. It bog-
frame was beautifully painted with a first custom dual-suspension bike in gles the mind that such accolades could
creamy white sparkle finish, but its high school after reading a line in be bestowed upon an industrial-looking
construction was a bit rough and angu- MBA that mentioned that the easiest machine, but the reality was that every
lar—far removed from the curvy car- way to experiment with new designs attribute that Damon had previously
bon and manipulated aluminum tubes was to grab a hacksaw and modify an ascribed to the bike was brought to life
that grace the latest big-brand bikes. existing bike. “It was a Schwinn as I made my way around the test loop.
That said, the Priority Cycles design Crossroads 700C bike,” Damon Before I rode Damon’s
sported a number of unusual features laughed. “We made a crude shock on Portafortuna, I would have scoffed at
that begged for explanation. an old lathe and grafted a swingarm the suggestion that at such a late point
Any skepticism that I harbored onto the frame. The rear wheel was in the mountain bike’s development
about the utilitarian machine before like, five inches off center, and it had cycle, an aspiring garage builder
me faded as Damon glided around his something like a 76-degree head angle. could produce a single-pivot suspen-
creation, describing the purpose of We quickly learned a lot about bikes.” sion trailbike that could go wheel to
each detail. The triangulated swingarm Damon’s interest lies in dual-suspen- wheel with the likes of Specialized
was long and Foes-esque, with a scissor sion trailbikes, but he has built a num- and Trek in both the handling and
link above to control lateral flex and a ber of designs, including hardtail 29ers pedaling departments—but I would
single pivot located well ahead of the and even a few road bikes. He freely have been wrong. Damon has to
bottom bracket center. Machined arch- admits that his Priority Cycles enter- smooth out the cosmetics before his
es and dogleg fittings reinforced the prise has not grown large enough to Portafortuna will be ready for prime
lengthy chainstays and directed the support him—yet—so Damon day-jobs time, but the engineering and perfor-
swingarm beneath the front derailleur as a machinist. Miracles happen; it mance are spot-on. I hope we hear
and bottom bracket. He explained that, wasn’t so long ago that I, too, was more good things from Priority
as complicated as it seemed, the for- burning up welding rod well past mid- Cycles, and I guess I should thank
ward pivot was the simplest way to night, hoping to break into the moun- Damon and Rebeca for driving such a
achieve good pedaling without adverse- tain bike biz. great distance to remind me to dig a
ly affecting the suspension. Like Foes, The three of us set off on a local little deeper when I search for innova-
Damon settled upon a low-leverage 2:1 loop that I often use for bike testing. tion—where the new sprouts live. ❑
12 www.mbaction.com
14. GAME
CHANGER.
“WHEN SPECIALIZED SHOWED ME THEIR CONCEPT FOR BRAIN TECHNOLOGY, I THOUGHT ‘THIS IS A GAME CHANGER’.
I’M PROUD THAT FOX RACING SHOX HAS BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER WITH SPECIALIZED ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION
OF THE NEW BRAIN REAR SHOCKS.” — BOB FOX, FOUNDER FOX RACING SHOX. TEST RIDE THE NEW STUMPJUMPER FSR AT
YOUR SPECIALIZED DEALER AND SEE HOW BRAIN, FSR, AND TOTAL SUSPENSION INTEGRATION MAKE IT THE FASTEST CLIMBING,
BEST HANDLING, AND MOST CAPABLE XC TRAIL BIKE OUT THERE.
15.
16. THE MAC ATTACK By Jim McIlvain
Visiting The Application Store
A
s a rider who just a few years Software from Apple’s application store Perfect Shift: Use the iPhone’s built-in
ago fell on the leave-it-behind turns the iPhone (or iPod Touch) into a camera to shoot a photo down the chain-
side of the cell phone debate, it is supercomputer that would make Dick line (including the derailleur pulleys and
hard to believe that today I feel naked if Tracy jealous. The application store has cage) and this simple program instructs
I leave for a ride without my trusty hundreds of applications that were writ- you which way and how much to turn the
Apple iPhone stuffed in a hydration ten just for mountain bikers. Strolling barrel adjusters on your shifters for per-
pack pocket. The little device has the virtual aisles of the mountain bikers’ fect drivetrain shifting performance. It can
become as essential as the helmet on my applications section, I couldn’t believe identify Shimano or SRAM components
head and the cushy chamois under my the apps being offered. (including the Truvativ HammerSchmidt
other end. SpinCycle: Place the iPhone in your crankset), and a SRAM XX group update
The reason for jumping ships started baggy short pocket (or tuck it in the leg is promised. An added feature alerts you
out with safety concerns. Knock on of your Lycra short) and this application to a bent derailleur hanger.
wood, but after 20-some odd years of monitors your spin. It instructs you to Disaster Avoidance: Using all the
mountain biking, I’ve never found shift up or down based on your cadence, tricks the iPhone offers (accelerometer,
myself lost or seriously injured while on the incline of the trail and your exact proximity sensor, ambient light sensor and
a ride. A good sense of direction and location on the mountain (based on memory), Disaster Avoidance learns how
never giving in to peer pressure (“Come input from the built-in GPS sensor). You fast you ride in different situations and
on Jimmy, you can jump down that.”) can choose between race, training or calculates your riding ability. If it senses
has worked pretty well for me. Still, the cruising modes, and you’ve got 32 voices that you are riding over your head, it
phone gets stuffed between the spare to choose from for receiving instructions broadcasts “Danger, Will Robinson!
tube, patch kit, tire pump and Clif Bars, (mine is set on Sgt. Hartman, the gun- Danger!” in the voice of the “Lost In
so I might save the day for some other nery sergeant from the movie Full Metal Space” robot. It’s already saved my skin
trail user. Jacket). on a number of occasions.
But my iPhone has turned out to be Cheater Line: Using data acquired Virtual Joe: Say you come to a tricky
so much more than a 911 terminal. from GPS, enhanced satellite imaging switchback and would like some coaching
and the U.S. Department of Interior on how to clean the section. Take a photo
maps, Cheater Line charts a cross- of the section and let Virtual Joe do the
country, Super D or 24-hour rest. In a few moments, Virtual Joe deliv-
course and suggests where an ers an animated video of Bikeskill’s Joe
unscrupulous rider can cut the Lawwill riding the troubling section while
course with the least likely chance giving tips for proper positioning and use
of being detected. While the com- of the bike’s controls.
pany protects the identity of the Skunk Dunk: Alerts the rider when an
riders who have already purchased article of riding gear is omitting an offen-
the program, they claim, “A num- sive odor. We’ve heard this is one of the
ber of top professionals, including best-selling applications used as a gift. Bet
two former national champions, you know somebody to give Skunk Dunk
are currently using the program.” to.
Lift Line Time: Tired of wait- Stuff Yo Face: This app calculates how
ing in the lift line at your favorite many calories you’ve burned on a ride and
bike park? Lift Line Time moni- then suggests the appropriate amount of
tors the length of the lift line and food to consume after the ride. It can be
the number of riders coming down programmed for bakery, burger, pizza or
the mountain, beeping you when Mexican food and, using the GPS feature,
you will experience the shortest will actually order you the meal from a
lift line wait. local restaurant so it is ready when you
In The Bag: Ever drive to a arrive.
trailhead only to find you forgot to Ride It Off: The same as Stuff Yo Face
pack your shoes, or gloves or hel- except it tells you how long you have to
met? Enable In The Bag, place ride to burn off the pizza, burrito and
your iPhone inside your gear bag donuts you ate yesterday.
and lift it up. The phone’s built-in Leave Me Alone: My favorite. It dis-
accelerometer senses the bag’s ables all the other programs and lets you
weight and will alert you of what enjoy your ride. ❑
it thinks you are missing. “You for-
got a shoe,” is broadcast in the
ber his iPhone
voice of Jill Taylor (the “Home He cannot remem to reach
have
Improvement” mom). I don’t number, so you’ll ing him at
know how it does it, but this app Jim my Mac by e-mail
even alerted me to a missing Halo Jamesmac @hi-torque.com.
headband.
16 www.mbaction.com
20. HARD TALES
Going Big With Specialized
Specialized introduces their long-travel line in Whistler
I
n our October issue we brought you a first look at Hit and Demo downhill bikes. Along with ripping through
Specialized’s refined and redesigned cross-country and Whistler on Specialized’s latest downhill creations, we had
trailbike lines from Snowbird, Utah. For their gravity the opportunity to ride with Specialized team riders Sam
bikes, Specialized hosted media from around the world at Hill, Brendan Fairclough, Matt Hunter and Darren
Whistler Mountain, the world’s premiere gravity park. Berrecloth.
Whistler was the ideal spot for throwing a leg over the fifth We’ve included highlights of Specialized’s 2010
generation of the Enduro all-mountain trailbike, and the Big long-travel bikes in this month’s “Hard Tales.”
SPECIALIZED SX TRAIL
One of the most versatile and popular long-travel bikes,
the SX Trail sees some major revisions for the 2010 model
year. Most noticeably is the straightened-up top tube. The
frame has trimmed down by a quarter of a pound thanks to
new tubing and shock mount configuration. The bike park
oriented SX Trail now has a 29.5-inch-wide handlebar,
Specialized’s Clutch tires with the SX casing, FSA Gravity
cranks and a Gamut shiftable chainguide.
A favorite of Specialized team riders Darren Berrecloth
and Matt Hunter, The SX Trail has dialed geometry for
throwing big tricks or charging technical downhill terrain.
Race-specific: The 2010 Specialized Demo 8 features race-oriented
fixed geometry, such as the 64-degree head angle and a 13.5-inch
bottom bracket.
SPECIALIZED DEMO 8 II
At first glance, the 2010 Demo 8 II downhill race bike may not
appear to have undergone any changes other than new Team
graphics. Not true! Specialized altered the D8’s geometry to meet
the demands of their World Cup downhillers Sam Hill and
Brendan Fairclough. The new Demo 8 has a 1.5-inch head tube
and features the refined “Team” geometry with a lower bottom
bracket, slacker seat tube angle and integrated bearing head tube
for a lower handlebar height. In order to achieve the geometry
tweaks, Specialized had to basically redesign the entire Demo 8 Built to go big: With relaxed geometry and short chainstays, the
frame. The Demo 8 is built up with a Fox Shox DHX RC4 coil SX Trail is an agile long-travel machine built to shred bike parks.
shock, a 29-inch-wide handlebar, the air-sprung RockShox The 2010 SX Trail is claimed to weigh about 36.5 pounds.
Boxxer World Cup, and custom Avid Code brakes. You’ve heard
us sing the praises for Specialized’s downhill tires, but we’re not
the only ones who know their capabilities. Sam Hill and Brendan
Fairclough are free to run any tires they choose, and they prefer
to run Specialized’s downhill rubber. The 2010 Specialized Demo
8 is equipped with a Specialized Clutch front tire and a
Specialized Chunder rear tire.
We’ve ridden nearly every generation of the Demo 8 line, and
we can say without a doubt the revised 2010 has the most active
rear suspension to date, which means you’ll have more control
on high-speed rugged terrain. Specialized says the complete
Demo 8 II package weighs in at 38.5 pounds.
Performance tune:
The Demo 8’s FSR
suspension separates
suspension actuation
from the wheel path. Badge of honor:
How progressive the Specialized cold forges
suspension feels is frame junctions that
connect the bike, such Trail tuned: The SX Trail is equipped
governed by the sub- with the new Fox Shox RC4 shock
seat stay driving the as the head tube, to
maximize frame featuring a custom yoke that goes
shock. around the seat tube.
strength.
20 www.mbaction.com
21.
22. HARD TALES
Specialized
S-WORKS ENDURO
The fifth generation of the Specialized Enduro gets a com-
pletely redesigned six-inch-travel “X-Wing” carbon fiber frame
and custom-tuned Fox RP23BV shock with Fox’s Boost Valve
technology. Specialized says the size medium S-Works Enduro
weighs 26.8 pounds without pedals.
The new frame aligns the shock and the seat stay for
increased rear-end rigidity, and the drivetrain features a cus-
tom Shimano double ring 22/36 cranks and a Gamut shiftable Cool cap: No part of the 2010 S-Works Enduro was
chainguide. left unrevised, including this ultra-lightweight top cap.
Specialized ditched their dual-crown fork found on the high-
end Enduros over the last
few years, opting for the air-
sprung, single-crown
Specialized E160 Future
Shock fork. It has adjustable
travel from 5.3 and 6.3 inch-
es and a 20-millimeter
Maxle thru-axle, and a
claimed weight of just 3.9
pounds.
Claimed to come in at
under 27 pounds, the S-
Works Enduro is an
extremely capable bike, as it
can crest the toughest climbs
and roar through technical
descents.
Do-it-all: The 6.3-inch-travel
Enduro is built to conquer
whatever the mountain throws
your way, including technical
climbs and challenging down-
hills. The Specialized Eskar
tires and adjustable Command
Post seatpost speak to the
Enduro’s versatility.
SPECIALIZED BIG HIT
If you’re looking for a capable
downhill or park bike but are on a
limited budget, the seven-inch-travel
Big Hit was made for you. The Big
Hit uses technology that has trickled
down from the Demo line of bikes to
create an affordable downhill
machine. The Big Hit III features
Specialized’s FSR suspension and has
geometry dialed in for aggressive
riding and agile handling. The Big
Hit III features a Fox DHX 4.0 shock
and a RockShox Domain fork with a
20-millimeter Maxle thru-axle. The
Big Hit is equipped with a 29.5-inch-
wide handlebar and Specialized’s
Clutch downhill tires.
22 www.mbaction.com
23.
24. TRAILGRAMS
sive trail-riding tune and found on
numerous pros’ bikes. Moreover, Fox’s
owner’s manual recommends that rid-
ers leave their fork in the locked-out
position. So what gives?
David Yarden
Newbury Park, California
Lockout is no longer an on/off switch
on most new suspension components
(although it can be adjusted to feel that
way). The damage outlined in Fox’s
answer (bushing wear, performance dete-
rioration and oil breakdown) is caused
by extensive lockout use when the lockout
force adjustment is set near or at its
maximum resistance. Fox does not rec-
ommend this setting for extended use
GOING BIGGER keeping agile handling, plus you get (and neither do we). Reducing the lock-
I was reading Richard more fork travel. It would look funny, out force and riding with the lockout
Cunningham’s August “Happy Trails” but 29ers look funny anyway, so, no lever engaged is a recommendation that
and thinking about his obvious addic- harm, no foul. Fox and MBA have suggested for riders
tion to 29ers. I could not help thinking Jonathan Dodds who want a firm riding fork. Never
that he is already a generation behind. Kansas City, Missouri engaging the lockout and instead adjust-
Everyone knows the real future is in ing the low-speed compression is another
32ers. The 32er size will easily carry YEAR OF 29 way to arrive at close to the same ride
you over any obstacle, including curbs, I just read Richard Cunningham’s characteristic.
stumps and Smart cars. The contact August “Happy Trails” about this being
patch delivers insane grip, even with the year of the 29er. I agree with all of
lightly knobbed tires, allowing smooth the 29er advantages, but disagree that
rolling and high traction. Sure, it will the 26-inch-wheeled hardtail will be
take frame designers and component “left without a chair.” Having lived in
manufacturers a little to optimize the West and now the Midwest, I have
everything, but at this size, 1.5 inches learned that the location and local ter-
of travel will feel like five inches on a rain should decide what type of moun-
less wheeled bike. The 32er will also tain bike best suits a rider’s needs. If I
allow for radical simplification of the were still living in Idaho, the bike I’d
drivetrain. There will be a need for plan to buy would be a long-travel 26er
only a 1x9 drivetrain with a granny or short-travel 29er, because the terrain
out front. This will primarily be used is rough and technical. Here in Iowa,
for climbing, as the momentum from our trails are hardpack with short hills
the 32er will carry the rider over any and tight switches. There are a few
flat and downhill section once up to small drops and logs to ride over, but
speed. Yes, change is always difficult, nothing big. Riding these trails with
but once riders get a hold of the 32er, suspension or big wheels makes it too
nothing else will do. Okay, I think easy and takes away the challenge and
27.5-inch wheels are a better answer, the reason I love mountain biking. BEND IN THE ROAD
but could not resist. Riding anything other than a 26er Our friend Jim (the guy on the
Jeff Bradley hardtail on my trails would be just like right) is getting ready to return from a
Denver, Colorado riding on the road. It is for this reason seven-year stint in Germany. After
my new mountain bike in 2010 will be reading your article about Bend,
96er BACKWARDS a Specialized Stumpjumper Comp HT Oregon, (MBA, May 2009), Jim added
I don’t care for 29ers, but I see them with 26-inch wheels. Bend to his short list of places to settle.
as acceptable from a scientific stand- Jonathan Olson He flew back on a scouting mission
point. A bigger wheel will increase Cedar Rapids, Iowa and asked my husband, myself and our
pedaling efficiency and have a better mutual friend, Gordon, from Phoenix,
contact patch, etc. The flipside is you LOCKED UP Arizona, to join him. We started near
have extra weight, decreased agility I was very surprised to read in the Mt. Bachelor and rode the Whoops
and slightly slower responses on the August “Inside Line” that riding with a Trail to this convergence of trails
front end. Fox fork locked out causes premature marked with a red Phoenix (the locals
My random thought is this. Run a wear and is not recommended. I have say it’s a magical place). After riding
29er frame with a 29-inch rear wheel been riding my Titus Racer X with the the sweet, twisting singletrack through
to take advantage of the bigger contact Fox 32 F-Series RLC fork locked and the pine forests, we have to agree. Jim
patch. Then run a fork with 1.5 inches the blow-off threshold set low for about bought a house in Bend before the bike
more travel than intended for the six months (ever since another MBA trip was over.
bike’s frame and run a 26-inch wheel article recommended this very setup.) Linda Straub
up front! This would maintain the MBA editors said that this setup is con- Boise Idaho
intended geometry of the frame while sidered to be the best all-around aggres-
24 www.mbaction.com
25. DANGER ABOVE
John Neiley (August “Trail Mix”)
probably had Steve’s Loop to himself,
because off in the distance it looks like
there was a storm a brewing. Being out
there in an electrical storm is not
where I’d want to be. The lightning is
one thing, but it is the risk of flash
floods that would worry me. The
Steve’s Loop and Mary’s Loop trail sys-
tem winds its way in and around
canyons and washes where flash flood-
ing is prevalent. Just a little safety tip
for those unfamiliar with the risks of
riding in the backcountry.
Andrew Jarolimek
McKinleyville, California
,
MB,A2009
August
Carbide. Thanks to Joel Smith and
everyone affiliated with Tomac Bikes
for looking after people who love to
ride and race, whether they are
beginners or pros.
Chris Sharp
STAY AFTER SCHOOL TAKING SHOTS Team Director
I can tell from the August “Mac Great write up on the Tomac Backbone Adventure Cycling
Attack” that you get it. It’s true that Snyper (MBA, August 2009). Our
thunder in the distance is getting loud- entire fleet of Tomac Bikes is on its NEW TEAM
er! You can’t go to a race (NorCal or second full season of racing without a A company who wanted to form a
SoCal) and not be swept up. It’s inter- single frame failure. Some of these mountain bike team approached me. I
esting to see where SoCal started at bikes are even from 2004 when they remembered reading the story about
this year and where NorCal is now. It were retired from racers like Jeremy starting a team (MBA, July 2009) and
was also eye opening for the SoCal kids Horgan-Kobelski and Dave Wiens. grabbed the issue. It’s been a great help
who went to the first state champi- These bikes are still raced almost with getting ideas and knowing what
onship as they saw the “promised every weekend. Charles Libolt (Pro to do. We now have a bike company
land” of large fields and deep, high- DH), Austin and Cody Benge (U-23), backing us and a shop offering deals
level racing. They saw what SoCal will and Jim Roff (Cat 1) regularly race on parts and service. We are a small
become. But the fantastic thing about downhill and slalom/4-Cross on their squad of four riders from a Cat 3
the state championship is that, even Snypers if the course dictates a faster, Clydesdale to a first-year Cat 1 rider.
though the level of sophistication was shorter-travel bike. Vanessa Humic Thanks for a great article and support-
higher in NorCal, the spirit was the (Cat 1) has landed podium spots in ing grassroots mountain biking.
same. Everyone was helpful, welcom- downhill, cross-country and Super D, Kerry Waldman
ing and hugely passionate. In my mind, all on her two-year-old carbon Tomac Rodder Racing ❏
the high school movement is the future
of the sport. And 25 years from now, Write us at mbaction@hi-torque.com or hard copy us at MBA Trailgrams,
when these kids have kids, it will be 25233 Anza Drive, Valencia, CA 91355. Trailgrams tip of the month: The
even more magnified! amount of pressure you apply to your brake levers depends on the surface you
Matt Gunnell are riding. The worst braking technique is locking either wheel. Keeping the
Executive Director wheels rolling is the key to control. A locked-up wheel cannot be steered.
SoCal Interscholastic Cycling League
November 2009 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION 25
26. TRAIL MIX
Our bikes during the bumpy
After having crawled through the concrete jungles of trek down to Gooseberry Mesa
Tokyo Metropolis for one sultry day, my bike, Marin, near Hurricane, Utah.
eventually found what was all around that could help Shalyn and Jason Gates
make it get going on...love. Temecula, California
Chaturong Yongsiri
Tokyo, Japan
While mountain biking the New
Hartford Town Park Trail system in
New York, I came across a field of tril-
a liums in bloom. I leaned my bike
made with a camera. I went out for
This is the coolest mistake I’ve ever against a tree so that I could take the
ted a self-portrait. I set the timer on the
night ride in the fresh snow and wan like it picture with my cell phone.
t-mode. After the red light flashed
camera and set the camera to nigh Peter Inserra
was done, but it wasn’t. The shutter
usually does, I thought the camera picture Oriskany, New York
cam, and I thought I had a useless
sound went off as I picked up the
of my palm. Not true at all.
Eric Whiteside
East of Osan AB, South Korea
26 www.mbaction.com
27. Used to be, you had to choose. Balanced, confidence-inspiring trail bike or quick and agile race whip. Now you can have
both in one race-ready package. The all-new 22.5-pound Felt Nine Team, with a superior Ultra High Modulus (UHM)
carbon fiber frame that’s custom designed to make the most of its 29-inch wheels. The Nine Team is one of five new
bikes in Felt’s 2010 Nine series.
http://www.feltbicycles.com
Go big. Go fast. Go Felt.
28. TRAIL MIX
A photo taken after a long day
riding the Palo Duro Canyon located
in the Texas Panhandle. A great
place to ride and camp.
Rick Kieffer
Austin, Texas
Are there any bad trails in Tahoe?
Riding through Big Meadow.
Brian Bartholomew
Santa Clara, California
28 www.mbaction.com
29. My ’05 Norco Six in its element,
Alpine Country, Pemberton, B.C.,
Canada. All mountain...all of it.
Cookie Blosee
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
30. TRAIL MIX
Nothing compares to Moab, Utah, for the trails, views and people.
I recently completed six days of riding that words can’t describe and
pictures that don’t do it justice.
Kell Heikoop and Daryl Goodfellow
Burlington Ontario, Canada
This is the view enjoyed by my Specialized
and me from the top of Santiago Peak, at
5700 feet, the highest peak of the Saddleback
Mountain range in Orange County,
California. Clouds were around 4000 feet, so
it felt like being in an airplane looking down
at the clouds. It took over four hours to get
here, and it was worth all the effort.
Jeff Eales
Mission Viejo, California
BECOME ALMOST FAMOUS
We want to make you a star. 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:
Matt Fritzinger ❑
30 www.mbaction.com
32. THRASH TESTS Thrash test rating:
★★★★★ Perfection
PRESTAFLATOR ★★★★✩ Delivers above average value and performance
★★★✩✩ ★★★✩✩ Recommended for intended application
Never have to pump again ★★✩✩✩ Shows potential but has drawbacks
★✩✩✩✩ Save your hard-earned bucks
Wish the air compressor in your
garage had a presta valve adaptor so
you didn’t have to hand pump every
presta-valved tube and tubeless tire? After the thrashing: The first without incident (or breaking a
PrestaFlator gives you that adaptor— time we used the PrestaFlator, we sweat). The PrestaFlator really comes
and a lot more. blew a loose-fitting Kenda Nevegal in handy for tires that just don’t want
Tech features: The PrestaFlator tire right off the rim. After the ring- to seat properly. The PrestaFlator
connects to your air compressor with a ing in our ears had subsided and we made short work of those jobs. We
replaceable I/M compressor quick- had collected the shards of rubber found the tool’s gauge to be accurate,
release attachment. It has a cast alu- from the ripped tube, we took and the big printing makes it easy to
minum pistol grip handle with bead- PrestaFlator’s instructions more read. The PrestaFlator feels like a tool
blasted finish. A two-finger, variable- seriously. It says right there in the that will last for years. Get one and
rate trigger valve controls airflow. An manual to take it easy with a light you will have the most popular garage
air gauge (up to 174psi) is protected in trigger squeeze when adding air. From on the block.
a rubber housing. The brass presta that point on, we filled tires and tubes
chuck is rebuildable. The tool will
work on presta and Schrader valves.
The PrestaFlator sells for $39.95, and
the company offers an array of accesso-
ry attachments and rebuild kits.
You can reach PrestaFlator at
(518) 577-2150.
LAZER GENESIS RD 1 RACE
★★★✩✩
For the hard-to-fit head After the thrashing: The Rollsys fit-
ting system is not a cute gimmick. The
Lazer Helmets knows that no two Rollsys dial reels in or takes out a tiny
heads are the same, and instead of monofilament line that runs through the
designing a helmet with a liner that helmet’s fit pads. We didn’t have trouble
might favor one type of head over anoth- fitting any of the wrecking crew with a
er, they came up with an idea to fit single helmet. Lazer was also nice
everybody. enough to use different colors for the
Tech features: The $175 Genesis RD retention straps so it is easier to know
Race helmet has an internal fitting har- which strap to pull on when adjusting.
ness that Lazer calls the Rollsys. Plop The helmet feels light and offers ade-
the helmet on and turn a dial (popping quate coverage for cross-country racing
up from the shell near the rear of the or trail riding. Some riders will experi-
helmet) to adjust the harness to the size ence slight changes in their head size
and shape of your noggin. The helmet’s during rides due to temperatures (of the
liner and shell are in-molded (they start environment and their bodies). These
production as two pieces and come out riders will love the Rollsys, because they
as one). The helmet has 19 vents. Pads can adjust the fit on the fly. The Genesis
are removable for easy cleaning. The RD 1 Race is highly recommended for
helmet weighed ten ounces. You can riders who have had fit issues with con-
reach Lazer at (952) 236-4440. ventional helmets.
32 www.mbaction.com
33. WOOLRICH WEATHERCHASER VEST
★★★✩✩
It does more than keep you warm
A must-have accessory in your clothing arsenal is a high-
quality riding vest. A vest will help you survive a cold ride
in comfort and may get you out of a bad situation.
Woolrich offers the $70 Weatherchaser Vest that is ready to
do both.
Tech features: The Weatherchaser Vest has a 100-
percent Polyester Microfiber shell and 90/10 poly-
ester/cotton liner. It is available in Cinder, Burnt Orange
or Tidal colors in sizes medium through XX-large. The vest
has a full-length zipper, three zippered pockets and a 2.5-
inch-tall collar. The vest (size large) will increase your
hydration pack load by 11 ounces. You can reach Woolrich
at (800) 995-1299.
After the thrashing: This is not a cycling-specific vest,
so why did we like it so much? It’s warm. The shell does a
great job of blocking the wind, and the thin liner holds
body warmth in. We were caught by a surprise cold snap
while on an overnighter, and the Weatherchaser was the
warmest item we had next to leg and arm warmers. We are
happy to report that it kept us toasty in mid-30-degree
temps. The construction is impeccable. It’s hard to believe
that we are headed into fall, but that’s why we opted for
the Burnt Orange color. That color helps eliminate you as
a target during hunting season. One tip is to buy one size
CONTINENTAL KAISER TIRE smaller than usual if you are looking for a snug cycling fit.
★★★★✩
Tires handmade in Germany
Continental brand tires are good enough for the first fami-
ly in downhill racing—the Athertons. The new Kaiser tires
have a downhill-specific tread pattern and sell for $75 each.
Tech features: The Kaiser features a double-walled,
three-ply casing, and is constructed with Conti’s special soft
and tacky Black Chili compound. The Kaiser is sold in only
a 2.5-inch width and for 26-inch wheels. The ramped center
knobs are designed for minimal rolling resistance, while
broad shoulder knobs provide cornering bite. The
Continental Kaiser tires weigh two pounds, three ounces
each. (877) 395-8088.
After the thrashing: From a distance, the Kaiser tire
looks better suited for a monster truck than a mountain
bike, so the first thing we did was weigh the tire side-by-side
with proven downhill treads—the Maxxis 2.5-inch 3C High
Roller and Specialized’s 2.5-inch S-Works Chunder. Despite
its appearance, the Continental Kaiser was six ounces lighter
than the Maxxis High Roller and ten ounces lighter than the
Specialized Chunder.
The Kaiser does not roll as fast as other downhill tires on
hardpacked terrain, but in loose, rocky and damp conditions,
it blew us away. This is a tire built for the dynamic terrain
of the World Cup circuit, and it showed its capabilities on
the steepest and rockiest trails. The tacky Black Chili com-
pound maintains excellent traction through slick rock gar-
dens and high-speed off-camber corners. Despite the Kaiser
being significantly lighter than other top downhill tires, we
had only one pinch-flat puncture during testing. The
Kaiser’s superb performance on steep, technical terrain and
its relatively light weight make it the ultimate sleeper in
downhill race rubber.
November 2009 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION 33
34. THRASH TESTS
OAKLEY RETRO GRIP FLEECE HOODY
★★★✩✩
Stylish performance outerwear
The Oakley Retro Grip hoody is designed for riding in
breezy weather, but is stylish enough to be worn off the bike
as well. The Retro Grip hoody sells for $85.
Tech features: Made from 100-percent polyester, the
Retro Grip has a special pocket for your media player and a
port for your earphone cables. It has a fixed hood, thumb-
hole cuffs, and the Retro Grip gets its name from the graphic
on the chest. If you look closely, you’ll see it’s a closeup shot
of Oakley’s first product, a grip for a motocross bike. Oakley,
(800) 431-1439.
After the thrashing: To be honest, this is one product
we didn’t want to completely “thrash,” because it’s a stylish
and versatile product that we hope to wear for months to
come. The Retro Grip hoody is perfect for cool weather rides
and commutes, as polyester doesn’t absorb sweat, and the
thumbholes will keep the sleeves in place when you’re pin-
ning down the trail. We regularly found ourselves reaching
for the Retro Grip hoody and stashing it into our hydration
pack before rides instead of our old standby jacket. The best
aspect of the Retro Grip hoody is that it can function as a
brisk-weather riding jacket and fit the bill for casual wear.
SPECIALIZED PHENOM SL SADDLE
★★★★✩
Road-race style turned dirty
two widths, 130- and 143-millimeters,
Specialized took the high-performance and weighs 6.7 ounces (130-millimeter
qualities of their elite road racing Toupé version). Specialized, (877) 808-8154.
saddle and adapted them to cross-coun- After the thrashing: The saddle is
try riding and racing. The Phenom SL often an overlooked component of the allows your hips and lower back to
sells for $150. mountain bike, which is unfortunate, curve in a natural manner.
Tech features: The Phenom saddle because besides being a contact point The rounded corners and top cover
features Specialized’s Body Geometry between you and your bike, it greatly on the Phenom mean you won’t snag
design to assure blood flow to a man’s influences your position on the bike and your shorts on the edges of the saddle
sensitive areas. The carbon-reinforced can reduce the aches and pains associat- when moving front to back and side to
shell is tuned for sitbone flex and is ed with long rides. All of the features side. Often we reached for the
more rigid than the Toupé road saddle. Specialized set out to address with the Specialized Phenom SL after riding a
The Phenom has a snag-free recessed race-oriented Phenom are evident when test bike with a saddle that caused lower
cuff, and the down-turned perch is on the bike. You may not necessarily back pain or excessive numbness, and it
designed for seated climbing. The hol- notice the increased blood flow, but remedied the problem.
low titanium rails support the ultra-light, relieving pressure on certain nerves If you’re unfamiliar with Specialized’s
dual-density foam padding, and the reduces numbness. The sloping nose of Body Geometry products, we recom-
cover has a water-resistant Micromatrix the saddle is important, because it does- mend visiting a dealer to see if the gear
cover. The Phenom SL is available in n’t interfere with the male anatomy and can improve the quality of your ride. ❑
34 www.mbaction.com
35. INSIDE LINE
GETTING TUBED
Does it matter what tubes I use in my tires? ness (these are Kenda
Danny Macrone thicknesses. Other
Redmond, Oregon makers may have dif-
Short and sweet. That is how we like “Inside Line” ferent thicknesses). A
questions. Your to-the-point question is something very fast cross-country
few riders pay much attention to. That’s why we con- racer may want to
tacted a guy who devotes most of his attention to the shave weight, so he
subject. Jim Wannamaker, Kenda’s North American could opt for a thinner
Bicycle Division marketing director, explains the wall tube (0.73-mil-
importance of picking and using the right tube. limeters) compared to
Does it matter what tubes you use in your tires? Absolutely. a standard wall thick-
To begin with, you need the appropriate tube size for your tire. ness. The typical week-
Check the sidewall of the tire for this information. If the tire is end warrior will do
marked 26x2.35, then use a corresponding size, such as a best with a normal
26x2~2.4 tube. This will fit best. wall (0.95-millime-
A tube is a bag that holds air and will fit the cavity it is ters) thickness tube.
placed in. So a 2.3~2.4 tube will fit the 2.35 tire pretty easily Keep in mind your
and not give you grief. If you take that same tire marked 2.35 weight, riding type,
and insert a tube that is marked 26x1.75~1.95, the tube will bike type, where you ride and the air pressure you run. Each
fit, but it will be undersized. Once the undersized tube is one of these has an impact on what tire/tube combination is
inflated inside the tire, it will stretch and thin out its wall right for you. A 220-pound rider has different needs from a
thickness. This is when you are more likely to have a blowout 150-pound rider. Someone who is really hard on the bike needs
or become more susceptible to a puncture, as the tube is very to consider the forces applied to the tire/tube.
thin. The fork and shock of a dual-suspension bike will absorb
If you use a larger tube, say 2.5~2.7, in this same 2.35 tire, more of the bumps and keep the wheels on the ground better
the first problem is mounting it and getting it to fit inside the than a hardtail bike. Hence the tire may wear faster. Riding
channel of the rim and the tire. You will have trouble getting where there are lots of sticks and sharp-edged rocks is different
the tire on the rim with this oversize tube. And once on and from riding on hardpack or soft dirt trails.
inflated, it will be heavy and may not roll as true as a tire Nothing affects the ride more than air pressure. Tubes with
with the correct size tube in it. no air mean you are not going anywhere. Tubes with 40 psi
The next thing to take into consideration is the type of rid- (pounds per square inch) mean you can pedal, but you may
ing you are doing. Tire and tube manufacturers make tubes in bounce too much. Start high and lower the air pressure by
different wall thicknesses for different purposes. Tube wall increments of 2 psi until you feel a better ride.
thickness can range from a very thin 0.45-millimeters to a Finally, try to use tire and tube products from the same
thick 2.25-millimeters (these are Kenda sizes). Obviously, the manufacturer. Why? Many manufacturers have different ways
thicker the wall, the harder it is to puncture the tube, but also of calculating size, and if you have a tire marked 26x2.10 from
the heavier the tube becomes. And tubes can come with a one company and a tube from another marked “Fits
sealant inside them to seal punctures. 26x1.75~2.35,” you may run into difficulties. It is like shirts
What tube to use? A downhill or gravity rider with a big- and shoes. Companies have different measuring methods. One
hit bike most likely will have 26x2.5 or larger tires on his company’s large is another company’s medium. One compa-
bike. The ideal tube for this tire is one that has a thicker wall ny’s size 10 is another company’s size 11. So you have to check
of rubber, and this would be a 1.2- or 2.25-millimeter thick- them out as to what is a good fit. ❑
November 2009 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION 35
36. INSIDE LINE
Got a question about mountain biking? Send it to “Inside Line” and let some of the most know-
ledgeable folks who ride answer it for you. E-mail your question to Inside@hi-torque.com, and we’ll
get it answered.
WHAT A DRAG, PART II
I ride a five-inch-travel, 2007 Specialized Stumpjumper Conversely, the steeper head angle when the fork is lowered
equipped with a Fox fork that adjusts from 5.5 inches means more of the force is transferred into the horizontal vec-
down to 3.1 inches of travel. When I’m climbing and drop tor. The reason for the drag is that the horizontal vector is
the fork to its lowest travel setting, I immediately feel drag pointing into the incline (i.e., there’s more force trying to
in the drivetrain. Pop it back to full travel and the drag is drive the bike into the mountain, instead of moving you up
gone. What is going on? Is there a way to prevent this it.) Add in the fact that the rider usually shifts his weight for-
feeling? ward while climbing, thus compressing the fork and steepen-
Dan Newman ing the head tube, and the effect is even more pronounced.
Sacramento, California The benefit of lowering the fork is that it puts the rider in a
We ran this question in our May 2009 issue, and better position for effective and powerful pedaling, but the
many riders wrote to say they felt the same sensation trade-off is that it also increases the horizontal vector of the
as Dan. David Roman of Thousand Oaks, California, force pushing forward on the front wheel.
who is a schoolteacher by trade, put some thought into As a quick experiment to demonstrate the effect, place a
the phenomenon and came up with this explanation. book on an incline (simulating the incline of the mountain).
I have an explanation for the sensation of drag when lower- Place a pencil (eraser side down) on the book and hold the
ing a fork for climbing. The reason is actually fairly simple. pencil toward the top. The pencil represents the front end
The force that propels the bike forward is transferred forward (head tube/fork) of the bike. With a finger on your other
from the center of the rear wheel in a straight line from the hand, apply horizontal force (not parallel to the book’s
rear axle to the front axle (i.e., parallel to the ground, whether incline, but perfectly horizontal) near the bottom of the pencil.
on an incline or level ground). This “straight-forward” force Try it with the pencil at different angles. The steeper the
pushes the front wheel forward at the axle. Because the front angle, the more the pencil pushes into the book and, thus, the
end (fork/head tube) is at an angle to that forward force, the more force required to move the pencil up the incline. The
force acting on the front end is split into vertical and horizon- slacker the angle, the more easily the pencil moves up the
tal vectors (shown below). The slacker the head angle, the incline, until the angle becomes too slack and it just rotates
more force going toward the vertical vector, which is why upwards (like a slack bike doing a wheelie on a climb).
slack/long-travel bikes tend to wheelie (succumb to the vertical Hopefully, the image and the experiment will demonstrate
force) or at least get squirrelly on steep climbs. the simplicity of the concept.
36 www.mbaction.com
37. 351g
www.formula-brake.com
A well-rounded brake at a
competitive price. At 351g
(160mm rotor, front, post mount),
the RX is a lightweight brake
with the power to handle all of
your XC, Trail, All-Mountain,
and Enduro needs. Featuring a
1-piece caliper, the RX delivers
impressive modulation and power.
Experience the value of Formula’s
RX on your next ride.
38. MBA est
Switzerland’s Long-Travel Trailbike
Interpretation BMC TrailFox 01
B
MC hails from Switzerland and is a name that
American riders will be hearing more of. Its presi- WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?
dent, Andy Rihs, is a Swiss visionary who believes With its over-the-top design and engineering, you’d expect
that the only way to succeed is to make every design an that the TrailFox 01 would be outfitted with a flashier-than-
over-the-top effort. The BMC TrailFox 01 is a stunning necessary component group. Not the case. BMC splurges
expression of this belief. where performance must never be compromised (Fox Racing
Shox suspension, DT Swiss X 1800 wheels and Schwalbe
WHO IS IT MADE FOR? tires). BMC then opted for Shimano’s workhorse XT group
Trail riders seeking a longer-travel machine will find the for the TF01’s drivetrain and brakes. For the cockpit, BMC
BMC a near-perfect blend of aggressive and efficient quali- specs its home-designed Scor Race saddle, seatpost, stem and
ties. bar.
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM? HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
The TrailFox 01 is an aluminum-framed work of art, BMC’s TrailFox 01 takes a mile or so to make friends
crafted with triple-butted tubes that are so wildly profiled with. At first, the chassis feels tall and its geometry
too cross-country to be taken seriously by those
with a ride-aggressively-or-go-home attitude.
However, the first-time TrailFox rider quickly
discovers that BMC knows a lot about trail
riding.
Pedaling: The TrailFox’s rear suspension
dips slightly with every pedal stroke, but its
effect on performance is negligible, so we were
not tempted to flip the shock’s ProPedal lever
on except during long climbs or
endless fire road sessions.
Use the Fox fork’s
TALAS travel adjust-
ment to further
brighten the
TrailFox’s climbing
performance. The
BMC’s steering
responds more
quickly with the
fork travel short-
ened, and the slightly
steeper effective seat
angle leaves your legs
feeling fresher on steep
climbs.
and manipulated that it rivals the curvy lines On the trail: Steering feels
of cutting-edge, carbon fiber designs. BMC gave the TrailFox quicker than we have come to expect from a 68-degree head
01 5.5 inches of suspension travel on both ends with their angle, probably due to the TrailFox’s short, 90-millimeter
own rendition of the ever-popular dual-link rear suspension. stem and mid-width handlebar. Drop the air pressure in the
The beautiful BMC’s design features are beyond skin jumbo-sized Schwalbe tires to 28 psi front and 30 rear, and
deep, as evidenced by its upper rocker link and bottom they roll faster than many 2.0-inch cross-country tires, but
bracket assembly, which are created by welding mated alu- with gobs of traction in reserve for steep climbs and fast cor-
minum forgings together. This construction method results ners. The bike’s ride-everything-from-the-middle handling
in lightweight, yet rigid, structures. The TF01’s dropouts are makes any type of ride a delight, because the rider is always
similarly constructed, with the rear brake caliper cleanly in the sweet spot for climbing traction, balanced cornering
integrated into the left-side forging (BMC calls this “Natural or hard braking. The front end can feel light up steep grades,
Born Post Mount”). but this is due more to the abundance of grip afforded by the
Other BMC treats can be found at the head tube, where 2.4-inch tires than a flaw in the bike’s geometry.
the headset bearings are integrated into the frame, and at the Descending: Open up the TrailFox 01’s suspension and
seat tube/seat stay junction, where BMC works some metal let it rip. The BMC rolls smoothly over some gnarly bumps,
magic to split the top tube into a tubular Y-shape to rein- and it keeps the tires on the ground around fast corners.
force the area. BMC’s wrap-around, quick-release seat tube The feel of the BMC is trustworthy, but if you push it deep
clamp is quite impressive. The frame and shock can be had into the realm of a black-diamond bike, bouncing through
for $2249. boulder fields and sticking bad landings from sizable jumps,
38 www.mbaction.com
39. Switch hitter: The BMC will climb
smoothly without switching on the
Fox RP2 shock’s ProPedal feature,
but the addition of the pedal plat-
form gives the TrailFox 01 an ener-
getic feel under power.
November 2009 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION 39
40. Trailbike Interpretation
an aggressive rider will notice flex in its rear suspension.
Speed control is not an issue aboard the TrailFox, because
the seven-inch rotors and fat rubber make for impressive
braking. Shimano gets high marks for its no-rub XT disc
brakes. XTR and XT stoppers usually develop a rub at least
once during a day’s ride, but not this time. They were
responsive and powerful without being grabby.
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?
We hit upon one troublesome detail that was probably an
assembly mistake at the factory. The left-side retaining
screws backed out of the suspension’s lower pivot linkage,
twice. A call to BMC North America netted new screws and
helped us find the root of the problem. It seems that the alu-
minum screws should have been secured with a thread-lock-
ing fluid. Our TrailFox pivot bolts were assembled with
grease. A thorough cleaning of the pivot assembly and the
application of some thread locker was an easy fix.
Most accomplished bike handlers will toss the TrailFox’s
narrow 25-inch handlebar and opt for a wider one. Finally,
riders who are more gravity oriented will accuse BMC
designers of making the chassis too lightweight for no-com-
promise descending.
BUYING ADVICE
Riding the BMC TrailFox 01 was an unexpected pleasure. Quick, like a fox: Brisk steering and a light feel at the pedals
make the BMC TrailFox 01 a great choice for racer types who
Its performance is well-suited for all-day rides over technical are making the transition to a dedicated trailbike.
terrain, and its easy-going manners and smooth-riding sus-
pension make the hours pass by in a most enjoyable fashion.
BMC TRAILFOX 01
BMC’s long-travel trailbike joins MBA favorites like the
Giant Trance for do-it-all, cross-country performance. ❑
Price $4499
Country of origin Taiwan
Weight 29 pounds
Hotline (952) 941-9391
Frame tested 18.5 (medium)
Bottom bracket height 13
Chainstay length 17.125
Top tube length 23
Head tube angle 68°
Seat tube angle 73°
Standover height 30
Wheelbase 44.25
Suspension travel (front) 5.5
Suspension travel (rear) 5.5
Frame material Aluminum
Fork Fox 32 TALAS 140
Shock Fox Float RP2
Rims DT Swiss X1800
Tires Schwalbe Nobby Nic (2.4)
Hub DT Swiss X1800
BMC’ing: (Clockwise from Brakes Shimano XT
top) BMC uses a dual-link Brake levers Shimano XT
suspension configured much Crankset Shimano XT
like Giant’s Maestro system.
Paired halves, which are then Handlebar Scor Race (25)
welded together, form a light- Shifters Shimano XT
weight and rigid rocker link. Front derailleur Shimano XT
The same construction tech-
nique is used for the bottom Rear derailleur Shimano XT (Shadow)
bracket shell. Shimano XT Chainrings Shimano XT (44/32/22)
disc brakes delivered no- Cassette Shimano XT (11-34)
drag and right-now stopping
performance. Pedals None (weighed with Shimano XT)
40 www.mbaction.com
41. Passion Driven.
Our brand was
bred from the
very roots of
mountain biking,
rider: Nick Pescetto
NOT borrowed
from the
automotive or any
other industry.
We are unique and
exclusive,
photo: Matteo Cappe - www.mc-photographer.com
designing and
manufacturing
tires specifically
for your sport,
your lifestyle,
your passion.
www.geax.com
42. I
n 2007, Trek Bikes under-
went a significant change in
their mountain bike culture,
and in the company itself. The
2010 Trek
decision was made to invest in
the terrain around the company
by building over ten miles of
MBA TECH
trails and hiring a full-time trail
builder. Around this same time,
Trek began development on
what has become their bread
and butter ABP (Active Braking
Pivot) and Full-Floater suspen-
Mountain Bikes
Trek debuts new suspension bikes in Austria
sion, found on their high-end
cross-country bike the Top Fuel,
the Fuel EX trailbike and the
versatile Remedy all-mountain
platform. We’ve been impressed
with each of the above-men-
tioned bikes and were eager to
find out how Trek would be
able to improve on these plat-
forms for 2010.
We had the opportunity to get
a first glimpse at Trek’s Top
Fuel, Fuel EX and carbon fiber
Remedy in the Salzkammergut
area of Altaussee, Austria.
2010 BIKE UPDATES
Although Trek’s entire line of moun-
tain bikes receives revisions and
upgrades, we’re going to focus on the
updates to their flagship and upper-end
models. You will find many of the tech-
nologies applied to these bikes will
trickle down to more budget-friendly
versions.
Top Fuel ($2599-$6499): Trek
claims their carbon fiber Top Fuel 9.9 is
their fastest race bike ever, that’s also
versatile enough for trail riding. The
eye-catching carbon fiber frame retains
the no-cut seat mast, BB90 Net Molded
bottom bracket with drop-in bearings, fications we’d like to see on the bike, ear shock feel of a coil spring. The Fuel
ABP Race System and magnesium Evo such as utilizing one of the new thru- EX will carry the DRCV shocks down
Link. New for the 3.9-inch-travel Top axle trailbike forks. The 2010 Fuel EX the line to the aluminum EX 8 model.
Fuel is the custom Race Cam shock that 9.9 now is equipped with an air-sprung The carbon fiber-framed Fuel EX 9.9
takes a Fox RP23 shock and makes it Fox Shox 32 F-Series Fit RLC fork with and the 9.8 receive Trek’s OCLV carbon
equal parts race, and equal parts trail. a tapered alloy steerer tube and 15QR seat stay. The carbon stay uses Trek’s
The ProPedal positions 1 and 2 maintain thru-axle. However, the biggest news Net Molded precision-fit bearings and
that same plush trailbike feel, while comes in the area of the Fuel EX 9.9’s all-carbon disc brake tabs.
position 3 gives the highest degree of new shock and rear triangle. The EX 9.9 Taking a page from the Top Fuel, the
lockout ever offered by Fox, ideal for receives Fox’s DRCV (Dual Rate Control Fuel EX line will utilize the lighter, one-
out-of-the-saddle sprints and extended Valve) RP23 shock technology that Trek piece ABP Race rear axle down to their
climbing. The premium 21.2-pound Top describes as having two shocks in one. aluminum EX 7 model.
Fuel 9.9 features the SRAM XX group, The goal of the DRCV is to provide effi- Remedy Carbon ($2600-$6499):
Bontrager XXX Lite wheels and has a cient pedaling while being able to transi- Trek takes their OCLV carbon frames to
price tag of $6499. tion into soaking up big hits without any the all-mountain category as their six-
Fuel EX ($1399-$6499): We fell in compromise in suspension performance. inch-travel Remedy gets a carbon
love with the 2009 4.7-inch-travel Fuel The Fox DRCV shock is designed to makeover. Designed specifically for the
EX 9.9 (tested in our August 2009 seamlessly transition between the first carbon Remedy, Trek deploys their
issue), but had a short wish list of modi- and second chambers providing the lin- Carbon Armor to protect against rocks
42 www.mbaction.com
