MTB Puerto Rico: January 2010

Saturday, January 30, 2010

SRAM Takes X-Dome MTB Cassette Down to 9-Speeds, Will Road Groups Follow Suit?

Taking the X-Dome technology from its XX component line, SRAM has debuted the XG999 9-speed cassette.

Set to release in mid-March, the XG999 is very light at 175g for the 11-32… a full 100g from their PG-990 cassette and about 50g lighter than a comparable Shimano XTR cassette. Like the XX model, all but the largest and smallest cog are milled from a single piece of billet steel, forming a dome shape. The large cog is a replaceable press-fit aluminum gear, and the smallest keeps it real with steel.

Because it’s mostly steel, SRAM claims it’ll be more durable, too, making it the obvious choice for all us weight weenies that are still on 9-speed bikes (ie. most of us). Well, obvious if you can plunk down $300 and don’t need the extra range that a 34-tooth cog would provide.

Bikeradar quoted SRAM’s U.S. road products manager Mike Zellman as saying “our best technologies consistently find their way across our product platforms.” And that March release date comes just before Sea Otter, where SRAM is known to launch most of their new goodies for the year, so our hunch is we’ll see something like this on the road side before too long. Funny, just the other day we were just wondering how they were going to improve RED now that Force is so similar…

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Breaking News: Hayes to Unveil All-New Prime Hydraulic Disc Brakes

Coming in full color and detail on February 8, Hayes Disc Brakes is getting ready to unveil their all-new PRIME hydraulic disc brakes.

Two years in the making, the new brakes will feature several category firsts and new technologies that they promise will make use and maintenance much better and easier. We don’t want to totally spill their beans for them, but look for totally tool-free adjustments, big power and new reservoir bore designs…wait, we’ve said too much already.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Outerbike - Like Interbike, But Open To Everyone

Interbike’s Outdoor Demo has long been the place to try out all the new models coming out for the following year, but it’s been a trade-only event. If you didn’t work in the cycling industry or for a bike shop, you likely weren’t able to get in.

Now, the people from Western Spirit mountain bike tours have put together Outerbike, a four day outdoor demo that’s open to everyone…and it’s in Moab! For $150, you get to ride 2011 road and mountain bikes from Yeti, Maverick, Santa Cruz, Rocky Mountain, Kona, Specialized, Pivot, Ibis, Turner, BH, Marin and Trek, plus demo new suspension from Fox. Our guess is there’ll be other brands and products exhibiting by the time September rolls around.

You’ll also get lunch at the trailheads and shuttles to downhill runs, plus discounted admission to evening parties and film screenings. During the day you’ll get to ride Bar M, Sovereign Trail and Slickrock trails and paved canyon roads to put the new bikes through their paces. If you’re in the market for a new bike later this year or early next, this is a great way to check out bikes in real world conditions before destroying your credit score.

Proceeds will go to IMBA and the Moab Trails Alliance.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Ibis Cycles Releases Photos, Pricing on 2010 Mojo HD Mountain Bike

At Interbike, we spotted an unpainted prototype of the 2010 Ibis Mojo HD and got some shots and info. Now, Ibis has unveiled the first of three paint jobs that are available, along with pricing and full frame specs and detail photos.

The Mojo HD takes the classic and well-received Mojo full suspension mountain bike concept and blows up the travel to 160mm. The full carbon frame uses the DW-Link suspension platform and incorporates a tapered headtube, a custom MRP chainguide (or you can run it fully geared, as shown) and the ability to run up to a 180mm fork in the front, and it does it all in a svelte 6.3lb package.

Brian Lopes has been thrashing this thing for most of 2009 as proof of concept, including racing it at the ‘09 Downhill Worlds, and here’s what he has to say about the frame:

“Let people know that this frame, although it looks very similar, it is a completely different beast when the limits are being pushed. When I am charging down any hill I can feel the differences in every aspect. The angles, stiffness, and that added amount of travel all are huge factors that translate into the ability to ride steeper, rougher, more technical terrain with more ease and confidence. While the regular MOJO is NO whimpy bike, the HD enhances the capabilities of a rider to the next level, especially when pushing the limits.”

Even if you’re not in the market for a bike like this (or you think you aren’t; it’s priced pretty competitively), the glossy pictures of shiny, curvy bikes are worth looking at. Go ahead, make the jump…

Thankfully, not all of the carbon is covered up, and there’s a Matte Black / Carbon finish that’s available, too. Ibis says there’s a third surprise colorway coming, too. The top tube has cable guides for the front derailleur and a remote height adjustable seatpost…run ‘em if you want ‘em.

The headtube uses a tapered 1.125″ to 1.5″ design with an inset hidden top section and normal outboard bottom bearing race. It’s compatible with both the Cane Creek Frustrum and Chris King InSet headsets.

While the Mojo HD bears resemblance to the Mojo and Mojo SL, these are entirely new molds and links. It uses the same UHM (Ultra High Modulus) carbon fiber layup as the SL. Ibis provides an optional $30 polycarbonate cable guard for the downtube to protect the brake line and rear derailleur housing for extremely aggressive riders.

For those wanting to run a normal geared triple up front, the front derailleur uses a standard clasp mount around the seat tube. If you want to run it with a single like Lopes-ey, they’ve custom engineered a front chainguide / bash guard that mounts to the main pivot bolt on the lower link. It’s being manufactured by MRP to their specs.

Ibis points out that the HD’s frame is not ISCG compatible because the upper ISCG bolt would interfere with the movement of the lower link. And, per Lopes’ request, they didn’t want to use a bottom bracket mount chainguide that could swivel if it was bashed on a rock. Thus, the custom made MRP unit. This also means that the HD won’t work with Truvativ’s Hammerschmidt, but Ibis says that the small gearing it uses isn’t ideal for the leverage ratios designed into the HD’s suspension anyway.

Speaking of the lower link, it’s been beefed up with dual row angular contact bearings in the front, and large radial bearings in the rear. Combined, they offer a stiff, long-wearing package that can take some real abuse.

The DW-Link suspension design offers an efficient pedaling platform, and you’ll find it on other well regarded bikes like Pivot and Turner, too. Another cool feature about the Mojo HD’s links? They’ll be available in colors:

Red, blue and black, to be exact.

The rear stays are designed to accommodate up to a 2.5″ tire, depending on knob design.

The left dropout is forged Magnesium, offering all the strength of aluminum at 2/3 the weight…I just hope it’s been treated to resist corrosion. The post mount design will take up to a 200mm rotor. That hole for the axle is made to fit the 12 x 135mm Maxle. The drive side dropout is carbon fiber.

PRICING:

Base price for the Ibis Mojo HD is $2,399.99 for the frame and a Fox RP23 air shock. There are a number of upgrades and packages available, including a Fox DHX Air 5.0 shock for an additional $133.99. Ibis recommends only air shocks for the frame due to the way the suspension ramp is designed to work, here’s why:

The leverage ratio, like the Mojo and Mojo SL is designed for air shocks. The Mojo HD comes with a 8.5″ x 2.5″ Fox RP23. A DHX air will work on all but the small size. A coil shock is not offered because the linkage rates weren’t designed for it. We lowered the top tube to get slightly better standover than the regular small mojo while having a higher BB because of the longer travel (we managed to retain the DHX air compatibility in 3 of the 4 sizes)

There are two complete bike build kits available: SRAM X9 ($4,099) and Shimano XT ($4,999), both with various upgrade options.