2013 Bike : The Giant Anthem X Advanced 29 Reviews

The Giant Anthem X Advanced 29 is the latest iteration of the best selling full suspension bike by Giant.  It is a 4 inch travel full suspension bike  meant for XC riding and this year, the front triangle has been converted to carbon fiber.  The tapered head tube steerer has been increased to 1.25″ on top instead of 1.125″ and this along with the change to carbon has resulted in a 7% increase in stiffness. The BB area has increased in stiffness by 3% with the switch to carbon fiber.  These numbers might not seem large but these are improvements to an already awesome platform from the previous year.

Geometry is unchanged from 71.3 head angle and 73 degree seat angle. The chainstays stay at 462 mm or 18.1 inches.

The rear triangle is kept at aluminum since the stiffness benefit of switching to carbon fiber was not significant. In fact, the rear skewer is still the old 135 mm quick release instead of the emerging 12 mm thru-axle standard.  These two decisions were made based on the minimal performance benefit to the Anthem X design and passing on the cost savings to the consumer.  However, this will be no consolation to customers who want a full carbon frame and the latest axle technology and rear wheel compatibility. Also, buyers of the top end $8900 Advanced 29 0 may wonder where the cost savings went.

The Anthem X has switched to Rockshox for both front and rear suspension. While Rockshox makes excellent products, some may be disappointed with the migration away from Fox and all the wonderful new technologies like  Kashima, Talas, and lighter stanchions for 2013.

Product line-up comparion of Anthem 29 line. ‘W’ models are women’s specific models courtesy of the Liv/Giant team.

MY13 Spring Launch
Model Size Weight (imperial) LBS/ounces Price
Anthem X Advanced 29er  0 M 22.06 $8900
Anthem X Advanced 29er 1 M 25.05 $4650
Anthem X Advanced 29er 2 M 26.07 $3300
Anthem X 29er 4 M 28.03 $1925
Anthem X 29er 0 W M 26.12 $2950
Anthem X 29er 4 W M 28.10 $1925
Anthem X Advanced 29er frame weight, size medium = 2200 grams = 4.85 lbs

All bikes share the identical frame with different shock options.

The Giant Anthem X Advanced 29 Developed to give pro XC racers every advantage on technical courses, Giant’s first composite full-suspension 29e has arrived. With an Advanced-grade Composite front triangle and ALUXX SL rear swingarm, plus the legendary performance of Maestro suspension, this is the bike that makes fast riders faster. The handcrafted composite frame is engineered for 29-inch wheels. Its OverDrive 2 steerer tube design offers front-end stiffness and pinpoint steering. The MegaDrive downtube and PowerCore bottom bracket boost power and control in the rough stuff.

Key Upgrades (over Anthem X Advanced 29er 1)

RockShox SID 29 RCT3 with QR15 thru-axle, OverDrive 2 tapered steerer suspension fork and RockShox Monarch RT3 rear shock
SRAM XX 2x10-speed componentry
SRAM XX World Cup hydraulic disc brakes
Giant P-XCR Composite 29er 0 WheelSystem
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Color: Composite/Blue/White

(mtbr.com, giant-bicycles.com)

Posted on 4:31 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon

It seems like barely a year and a half ago we totally revamped our beloved gnarl-hound with updated suspension, geometry and a host of details that saw an entirely new Nomad emerging from where the old Nomad had been - lighter, sleeker, snappier and at the same time tougher. Time flies. It was just a year and a half ago that eight unlucky souls got mangled in the Hellride while claiming first saddle time aboard the new beast. And while the now tried and true aluminum Nomad is still a vital part of our lineup, we decided to splice some carbon fiber into it's DNA and see what happens.

Patented counter-rotating link design
Allows flexibility to design and manipulate shock rates for a huge diversity of uses, from razor sharp XC performance to bomber tough and ultra plush 10-inch travel downhill duty.

Short links
(Carbon Fiber Upper, Forged Aluminum Lower) and large diameter axles combined with angular contact bearings bring chassis integrity and handling precision to a whole new level.

Grease ports!
Tons of seals! Locking collet axle hardware! Super trick, low maintenance, superior durability, easy to service when the time finally comes.
You won't find this kind of stuff - whether it be quality of hardware or versatility of design or chassis integrity - anywhere else.

 

 

 Reviews

The nomad carbon is an incredible mountain bike. If you want one bike that can handle the climbs and descents, this is it. I ride this on mondo 30 mile with 4k ft of climbing and descending rides. Its not the fastest cllimber but it gets you to the top pretty quick. You can charge any aggressive line and the nomadc will hold its line like a champ. You can drop off a 5 ft rock drop, no problem. Hit a 10 ft gap with ease. You probably won't win an xc race with this bike but whatever.

If you want a fun bike that can handle pretty much anything other than resort downhill, this is it. You do sacrifice some speed on the climbs but the fun is on the downhills. My only regret with purchasing this bike is not purchasing it sooner. Get the nomadc it is so sick. Don't buy this bike if you are a pure xc rider. Buy this bike if you want to ride to the top and enjoy the downill to the fullest. It would be nice to have a water bottle cage for holding energy drinks on big rides.

My build is 30lbs with 7" travel in the front and 6.5" in the back.

 

 My fifth Santa Cruz bike and best to date. Use it for gnarly trail riding. Downhill the bike rewards being pushed hard and never seems to get fazed by anything. Get the best brakes you can get - you'll end up going a whole lot faster through the rough stuff ! Carbon frame is super stiff so suspension setup is super important - stiff wheels are also key to keep up with the frame ! Corners on rails - you have to get used to the razor sharp handling !
Brilliant on climbs - very very impressed. This thing climbs anything..

Rear shock:
Frame came with a DHX Air and I was never happy - dead rear feeling and blew through travel too quickly. Upgraded to a Cane Creek Double Barrel - 100% improvement - absolutely brilliant and no messing with air pressures again ! Transformed the ride - downhills through rock gardens are a breeze and I am always amazed by how much it can handle. Shock Setup is tricky and I have ended up running very little low speed rebound and low speed compression damping - rather let the VPP do its job.

(mtbr.com, santacruzmtb.com)

Posted on 8:05 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2012: Best Bike in The World with only 695g frame

Tour Magazine Test Winner March, 2012

In the past 10 years over 2,000 bikes have been tested, of which 6 of the best bikes qualified for the final.
The Cannondale Supersix Evo Ultimate was voted "Best Bike of the World".

Euro Bike
 695 grams and 142.3 nm/deg/kg.*
Being the lightest in the world, with the best stiffness-to-weight is impressive. but the true beauty of evo is its balance of light with strong and stiff with smooth that is efficiency evolved.

Light, Stiff and Strong
Our leading edge carbon construction utilizes our BallisTec Carbon Technology to create the lightest production road frame ever made, with the best stiffness-toweight ever measured, with the strength to outperform even most aluminum frames..

SPEED SAVE Vertical Compliance
Similar to the suspension on an F1 car, the SPEED SAVE vertical compliance features are engineered to help the bike roll faster. Subtle fl ex zones in the rear stays, fork and seat tube improve rolling speed, acceleration, cornering speed and control without negatively affecting power transfer.
     
Drag Reduction
The EVO achieves its incredible stiffness and strength with smaller diameter tubes than the competition. This dramatically reduces the EVO’s frontal area and reduces drag without the added weight and compromises of aero shaped tubes.


Light but strong?
We’d be concerned that a bike that gets down to a weight this low is going to be fragile, but Cannondale claim that the EVO’s complex layup and mixture of fibres actually makes this one of the strongest frames they have ever made. Even to the point of providing data from destructive tests showing the Evo to be stronger than their own super tough aluminium CAAD9 road frame.

The SuperSix Evo will be debuting under the seats of team Liquigas at the Giro d'Italia starting Saturday and the bike will be in the shops this June. Details of the ranges pricing are a little thin on the ground but we do know the line-up.
Heading the list is the SuperSix Evo Ultimate. This gets the 695g ultimate frame (the weight is kept down by the use of lightweight paint) shod with DT Swiss RRC carbon tubular wheels, Zero G brakes and SRAM Red. We put this one on the scales and it tipped them at a frankly astonishing 4.9kg. 

(bikeradar.com, cannondale.com)

Posted on 7:39 AM / 0 comments / Read More

GT Force Carbon Pro Bike 2012

The GT Carbon Force Expert benefits from a full 6" rear suspension in a world of 5.5" bikes. The I Drive design is noticeably efficient while the travel feels deep compared to similar bikes ridden including the Ibis Mojo and the Turner 5Spot. Once we swapped out the original bars and stem for something more suitable for a great trail bike we found the handling to be very predictable and the bike to pedal especially well over rough terrain. In fact I would venture to say that it pedals better over the rough than nearly any other bike we've tried. Frame rigidity is excellent with no noticeable rear end flex.

The bike is great on the down hills and climbs. I've had my bike for a year and it's beginning to creek. The bolts come loose in the pivot points so I'm always having to make sure they are tight so my bike can't be heard a mile away. I believe the bike should be serviced every 6-12 months. Grease needs to be added to reduce the metal on metal grinding. Overall it's a good bike but I'm not sure it's worth the price. It's a good intro bike for the beginner but I would not recommend it for advance riders.


Great bang for buck, gt rep told me lifttime warranty on frame. Which isnt much lighter than metal frame because its built to be strong not uber light weight. So a carbon force is stronger than metal force it should be up to par which sanction. With this understanding i hucked my stock bike over six foot no breakage. I wouldnt recommend that on daily basis though. im six foot two and got xtra large which i like cuz i can stretch out and earn my turns and when trails get tight and tech i drop my fork which sharpens handling. Get one while there on sale!


fter putting about 150 miles on this bike I wanted to write a review. I have the 2009, GT force carbon expert, size small, with all XT components. I am 5’ 7’’ about 140lbs.
I mostly ride XC single track but wanted a bike that rides more like an AM bike. I was looking for a bike that had more than 120mm travel but something I could still race on. I like the feel of the 69% head tub which gives it more of the race feel than a downhill or even AM bike. So this bike fix what I was looking for. The only thing I have changed are the tires to something lighter and now have the bike down to about 26.3 lbs.

First I love the carbon I have never rode on carbon before but it really dampens the ride and its not as bumpy. So far the carbon has been great and very efficient. Both Fox shock and Fork works really great with this bike. The fork can be adjusted to 110mm 130mm and 150mm but does not have any lock out which is a disadvantage if your use to one.
With any full suspension you will get some bob in the rear shock and that is true with the I drive design. But once I got everything set to what I like the bob was not bad, one of the best full suspension I have ridden. When going up a long climb you can always lock out the shock and this bike will really climb with the best of them. When riding with a group the group losses me when I am going uphill or starting to get my speed back from a turn. But once we go downhill or on a strait I catch up. Not the fastest or slowest bike but a sturdy bike. With that said this is a really fun bike to ride, you can ride it all day and throw just about any type of trail at it.

The one item I do not like is how GT brought the rear brake line through the seat tub and triangle. Because these parts move the cable started to wear the clear coat off of the frame. I ended up moving the cable outside so I don’t have this issue anymore I just zipped tied to the frame and works great.

Over all a great bike and I would suggest this bike to any one if it fits their needs. 


(mtbr.com, bikeradar.com)

Posted on 5:00 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Specialized SX Trail 2 2011

With some changes came to the SX Trail 2011, it designed to help them polish their older air skills, comprise unfailing durability, and swear solid traction.

SX Trail Benefits

• Durable, yet maneuverable M5 alloy frame build with proven Freeride geometry
• Reliable strength merit to 32-spoke, 142+mm rear core and big-volume Butcher tires
• Big air capability with brand new, beefier 180mm-travel FSR suspension (fills the shoes of the Demo 7)
• Quality spec package, as well as FOX shocks and SRAM components

 (video pinkbike.com)

Details:

M5 Alloy Frame w/ Freeride Geometry. With Ultra-durable, yet small fry alloy frame with Freeride-focused geometry. It  used to hold up older jumps and highspeed hits, done and done again, while giving the rider superior management. By redesigning the frame, Specialized was able to put up scope in place of more travel and carefully manipulate the tubes to swear strength, while keeping load low. Their freeride geometry keeps the frame angles slack and low in place of well-behaved management.

With  Customized seat tube sculpt, achieved through hydroforming processes. Eliminates forgings and, therefore, reduces weight-all while maintaining the strength mandatory by aggressive freeriders. High pressure fluid is unnatural through all tube to eliminate welds and do more precise tube shaping.

Proprietary linkage logic featuring a most important pivot with eccentric spindle and wishbone shock repression. Creates a stiffer rear side in place of more dependable management in all place. The eccentric spindle uses an offset bolt location with the purpose of can simply explanation in on individual put, leaving the two sides of the link veto scope to twist. This prevents every not needed loosen or rotation with the purpose of might sacrifice precision and confidence on the rear side of the bike.

(sicklines.com)

Posted on 7:30 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Cube AMS 110 Pro 2011

To accomodate the high demand of mountain bike, one of the best short travel alumunium bike variant is the AMS 110 Pro. By spending £1649 you will get reasonable spec plus – Formula RX hydraulic stoppers and custom Schwalbe rubber, 30 speed Shimano XT/SLX transmission, Sun Ringle custom color ‘bling’ red anodized tough yet light wheelset, Fox forks plus RP23 Boost Valve rear shock combo. 

Comes with well finished alloy, this bike boasting many features. This AMS is pretty light in this price and class, only 12.1kg (26.5lb) without the pedals.

Cube AMS 110 Pro 2011 is an ideal bike for anyone who’s searching his first nice full suspension MTB, a bike which will do it all.

Cube AMS Technologies : 

- HPA. High Performance 7005 aluminum alloy

- Efficient Ride Control

- Hydroforming System. A plain tube is placed in a mould with the specific form

- FSP4 link. 

- Press Fit BB. With press-fit bearings, the outer bearing ring is pressed directly into the frame housing and not screwed-in as usual

- Fox DTC. Connected with the new Fox Float RP23 Boost Valve shock and the DHX RC4 shock, we could achieve the best optimized performance

- FSS Frame Save System. built with the CUBE Frame Save System replaceable derailleur hanger.

- Laser Design Surface. 

- Wet Paint Surface.

- Integrated Post Mount.

- Integrated Cable Routing.

(img/chainreactioncycles.com)

Posted on 7:30 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Colnago CX-1 EVO

A true modern classic road bike. It is that I want to say about this bike. With brand-new look for the 2012, CX-1 Evo has a  seasonbike series have been singled out at Giro d’Italia, Paris-Nice and Tour de France.

Designed with a monocoque front triangle with polygonal cross-section tubes moulded in one piece, combined with the square cross-section chainstays to maximize stiffness and give precise manoeuvrability.

The main feature of the CX-1 Evo is frame for a mechanical or electronic groupset. The rear brake cable routing is internal, while the mechanical groupsets cabling remain external under the down tube part.

roadbikereview.com reviewers gave some review of this bike.

Strengths
- Strong, excellent geometry, cool graphics
- Stable and predictable handling
- Fast, Responsive
- The Sloping Fit- awesome person of avg height - 5'9"
- Light considering the strength of frame
- Power transfer is awesome makes hills easier

Weaknesses:
- Short TT
- Cables scratch the clear coat though wish they'd run them inside
- Well it is expensive :D

(roadbikereview.com)

Posted on 9:00 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Scott Foil R1

When Scott unambiguous to enter the aero bike arena, it had more or less unusual design parameters to many other manufacturers: The bike would give birth to to be a stiff as their current zip engine, the Addict, and surrounded by five for every cent of its heaviness - as well as being very, very slippery.

Traditionally aero bikes purpose NACA (the American National Advisory Committee intended for Aeronautics) aerofoil shapes. The difficulty at this time is with the intention of the narrow shapes aren't a stiff as standard gigantic tubing. To cancel out this, thicker walls are used to resist more or less of the lots. The product? Heavier, flexier bikes. So Scott twisted to Simon Smart. The ex-F1 aerodynamicist has approach up in contrast to related problems as difficult to recover the performance and airflow around the suspension struts on Red Bull Racing's cars.

Truncated aerofoils are not in mint condition - Trek uses a related design (a Kamm tail) on its Speed Concept TT bike but slightly than simply slice the rear section rancid an aerofoil, Smart had found dated in his before life with the intention of the rear twist, and its changing transition had a enormous influence on the air's skill to mimic a broad aerofoil's affect. N statement, the torsional-load-resisting top and down tubes are three-to-two. The product is a supremely stiff make up with the intention of, according to Scott's data, is surrounded by a gnat's of the aero promote leaders. With lone part complete, it may possibly shot roughly finalising the lay-up to care for self-imposed stiffness figures.

Scott didn't merely match the Addict's information, the Foil is in fact stiffer by both the head tube and underside bracket. Two dated of three wouldn't be bad, but thankfulness to exacting attention to facet, the heaviness element was knocked into submission. Miniscule 17g full-carbon dropouts with shorter tubing overlap saved just about 40g, carbon bit and headset demeanor inserts a only some more and improvements in the Integrated Moulding Process low-price domestic locale material by 11 for every cent.

The purpose of proprietary high-modulus fibres (HMX) allow stiffness to be added exclusive of spare bulk and the Naked External Tubing (NET) does away with a final cosmetic layer to save more heaviness. The product: An 840g finished frame heaviness compared to 790g from the Addict.

Hanging a broad Dura-Ace groupset rancid such a frame and rolling it on Mavic's all-rounder Cosmic Carbone SL wheels would seem to be the makings of an exceptionally lovely bike, after that. The stiffness figures, low accumulation and wind tunnel data are all well and lovely but, as continually, the truth will all the time dated.

(Neil Webb, cyclingweekly.Co.Uk)

Posted on 7:30 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Boardman AiR/9.4 Review

Boardman's Elite range separates into two type: The wind-cheating AiRs and the anorexic SLRs.
The AiR/9.4 by main glance looks like a very the traditional aero bike with aerofoil-shaped tubing,
Sitting tall and slim. A narrow front profile augmented with home cable routing enhances the traits.

Despite these traditional looks, approximately a small number of relevant details so as to may well go away ignored and warrant expand examination. With Contrast colour, the home faces of the fork legs and rear stays are flattened to allow air To flood finished them uninterrupted as it comes turbulently rancid the rotary wheels. Many of the other details syndicate to resist the flaws so as to can bother approximately aero bikes, namely a flexy, disconnected ride

Rather than going away down this route, Boardman's designers manufacture the underside bracket and chainstays as lone section, Preferring to assert the join in the down tube, anywhere the oversized tubing offers more material to combat pedalling forces. Popular a comparable vein, the chainstays are a more constant size in their boxy taper, stepping down with a defined pointed Box configuration by the rear abandon

Boardman has quickly gained a reputation in favor of exceptional specification by a certain charge item and the AiR/9.4 excels in this sphere. Other than the BB30-specific FSA SLK carbon chainset, the Boardman has the same Dura-Ace groupset as the Scott Foil R1 - which is almost twice the cost.

There are stiffer bikes, and more aero ones, but Boardman seem to assert found a compromise so as to belies the nature of the word. Whether it is the hidden home lay-up, or the stiffening nature of the conical front closing stages, steering was bang on.

There is an adequate amount pointer to feel as the front tyre is bringing up the rear grip, and an adequate amount stiffness in the frame to relocation the corresponding - slide avoidance - body schedule.

The superb ride and spec level are an adequate amount to search out it a anticyclone attain; add to so as to the aero settlement and you are on top of a winner.

(Neil Webb, cyclingweekly.co.uk)

Posted on 12:00 PM / 1 comments / Read More

Range Rover Evoque Road Bike

Range Rover is individual of the a small number of automotive companies to creates high-end bicycles. Introducing the Range Rover Evoque Road Bike.

The Range Rover Evoque road bike, urbanized by Gerry McGovern, who is a cyclist himself, skin an smooth and unimportant monocoque frame made from carbon fiber with a a small number of practical techniques from Formula 1. It’s built with an oversized carbon handlebar stem and aerospace alloy handlebars with a color to good wishes its steering components and a 20 gear Shimano Ultegra transmission routine.

The Range Rover Evoque road bike in addition skin an cutting edge composite construction to allows the seat tube section to be integrated into the frame, saving emphasis and extending the austere arise of the full package. The drivetrain and braking systems are finished in black chrome with the saddle upholstered in fine leather.

Overall. It was designed to capture the attention of all roadie, a fundamental part of Range Rover’s sensation.

(bikereviews.com)

Posted on 3:22 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Crud Roadracer Mk2

All-plastic construction and tool-free right has made the 180g Roadracers wildly fashionable since their introduction on the goal of 2009. Rubber rings on the seatstays and zip-ties around your brake bolts and seat tube unite them in place, and the clever brushes inside the stays keep them rotten your tyres.

Roadracers need patience to fit. At slightest 4mm of break among tyre and brake is essential. A tape on the Crud website is packed with hints and tips – we’ve found the type is to rotate them around the seatstays and fork to remove them into place. Sometimes they only won’t fit, especially if you obtain very little clearance and hanker after to use up 25mm tyres.

The super-long rear lengthening and front derailleur guard fix a unlimited job of keeping spray rotten your connect and feet and riders behind you. Front coverage is proficient too, though we’d like an goal sample to facilitate flares like the rear individual to minimise spray. One release: The rear is so long it hits the ground if you pop the bike up on the rear circle.

The largely considerable weakness of Roadracers is to facilitate the ‘releasable’ zip-ties around the brake bolts forever need heartless to perceive them rotten. That completed, you can take the guard rotten the seatstay mounts in support of a sunny daytime.

(bikeradar.com)

Posted on 3:09 AM / 0 comments / Read More

SuperSix Evo SRAM Red

Among the originally things I noticed on Cannondale's SuperSix Evo were the slender frame tubes. The narrow pipes are a departure from the fatter-is-better idea many bike makers take these days, an come close to Cannondale helped to usher in with its vast aluminum bikes in the 1980s.

The narrow tubes help the Evo entitlement Cannondale's desirable emphasis crown--it's the lightest frame yet evaluated by self-sufficient German bicycle hard agency Zedler Fahrradtechnik: A 56cm frame tips the climb up by 695 grams. But while ancient times ultralight frames hold now and again been ungainly, intently all ears savants, this lone has been to last drill. It's well-rounded and a pleasure to ride.

The managing is chilly and sprightly, but devoid of the fickle, edgy feeling you now and again stumble on in lightweights. At recently above 13 pounds built with Cannondale's press-fit BB30 crankset, a SRAM Red drivetrain, and Mavic R-Sys SL wheels (the carry bike is heavier with Mavic Ksyrium Elites), our test Evo was born instead of climbs, by its preeminent as we were seated and rotating. On a long, steady slope it displayed admirable zip, although as I stood on a particularly grunty pitch of road, the slim tubes yielded a hint of wag by the rear triangle that's not present-day on stiffer (and heavier) bikes such as Specialized's Tarmac. That bend is an indication with the aim of Cannondale sacrificed a little in its quest to realize emphasis benchmarks. At 140 pounds, I noticed the wag, but it didn't unduly affect my ride. Heavier riders, though, such as burly sprinters and gear mashers, possibly will mean something a trace stouter.

But compromises on stiffness are small and justifiable in the service of I beg your pardon? Is otherwise a well-balanced ride. The Evo is fastidiously calibrated, with comfort prized recently faintly into the future of stiffness. Indoors a top-flight line bike, with the aim of characteristic is perhaps even more ghostly than the gram count.--Joe Lindsey

 Suggestion : Buy It If : You can sacrifice, a little, to enthusiasm lighter or, forget It If: You live in a place so completely you can point of view on a coffee can and go to see subsequently Tuesday.

http://www.bicycling.com

Posted on 7:35 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Testing Rocky Mountain Element 70 MSL

The Element MSL is designed to be lone of the stiffest and lightest 120-millimeter bikes on the sell while still retaining the qualities so as to wobbly Mountain is acknowledged in favor of: Hurry pedigree, rough-and-tumble durability and technical descending prowess. By rising approximately fresh technologies, we were able to punch our performance targets and create a bike so as to rides like a wobbly be supposed to. —D’Arcy O’Connor

Tester 1: Vernon Felton
Years Riding: 22
Test Locale: Bellingham, WA

I main rode the Element MSL in trying sessions in favor of our Bible of Bike Tests and was at once floored by how fast it accelerates. Ridden back-to-back with other top-tier trail bikes, there’s nix comparison: The Element rips. Pedaling efficiency is jaw-dropping and while I’d express the Element’s suspension feel (even as running 25 percent sag) as stiffen, the bike still scales rocky climbs with traction to standby.

The Element truthfully shines, however, as conditions search out nasty. The bike has an extraordinarily group feel to it—both by blazing speeds and in slow-speed military exercises. The full-carbon frame is too excellently stiff, making in favor of a bike so as to corners like it’s on rails, even in the rockiest of hairpin turns. When you breed your XC bike on the North Shore, this is the beast so as to pokes its head on show of the birth channel.

It’s winter as I compose this check, and western Washington’s singletrack is filthy in a thick coat of earth phlegm. It’s the while of time as I normally take it down a notch and ride the “safe” trails. Every while I climb on the train the Element MSL, however, I get myself tackling the truthfully evil routes—and grinning. Don’t search out me wicked: This is nix all-mountain bike. It requires a skillful employee by the controls and the suspension is nowhere so as to forgiving. Likewise, nearby are a a small number of excellent trail bikes on show nearby with more pliant rear trimmings. The Element, however, is lone of the preeminent trail bikes to assert under your arse as you’ve deceased and gotten manually in finished your head.

Tester 2: Brice Minnigh
Years Riding: 22
Test Locale: Southern California
We’ve been singing the praises of the wobbly Mountain Element 70 MSL in favor of several months at this moment, and, gone a different extensive rotation through our line-up of test riders, it’s safe to say we’re all still singing from the same tune order. And the chorus continues to be: “This is an XC bike with giant balls.”

Given Rocky’s reputation in favor of building burly bikes, this probably shouldn’t arrive as a interrupt. After all, the Element is a cross-country beast designed and perfected with Vancouver’s North Shore trails in mind. So it stands to dispute so as to it would cleave to up soundly to the rigors of comparable terrain in nearby Bellingham, Washington.

But how would it act on other landscapes, such as the typically dry and dusty trails of Southern California, or the physically demanding ups and downs around Bend, Oregon? On all accounts, we were blown away by the versatility and playfulness of this bike, which has struck a sublime synthesis concerning the climbing performance of an XC rig and the descending capabilities of an all-mountain device. The 69.5-degree head tilt keeps the front closing stages astoundingly well-trained on climbs, while still inspiring confidence on terrifying descents. And its creatively stiff carbon front triangle absolutely begs to be thrown into tense corners.

We’ve ridden the Element on the spectrum of Southern California trails, from the rocky burl of Chiquita and dignified Canyon to the fast-and-flowy San Juan trail. We’ve even raced it in the Super D by Fontana. And it continually seems to be genuine in its element.

Rocky’s Two Cents
We’re ecstatic to hear so as to the Bike mag testers echo how we feel on the subject of the Element MSL. When we hard on show to design the bike, we had condescending goals. We desirable to pressurize somebody into a bike so as to Geoff Kabush possibly will hurry and win on, and so as to would be able to be prosper on our gnarly district trails daytime in and daytime on show. Geoff has proven it’s a winner and the Bike mag crew assert evidently position the bike through the wringer.
—D’Arcy O’Connor, BASc.
R&D MTB Design Manager

(http://www.bikemag.com)

Posted on 10:14 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Sunn Seasons S1, Marin Attack Trail 6.7, Rocky Mountain UK

The Seasons is a bike built to cope with the more aggressive demands the trails can throw at you. Its double-butted 7005 frameset and adjusted head angle allows the 120mm fork to carve through whatever terrain you can find. Whether it’s a muddy ride with friends or a winter epic in the mountains, this is the bike for you. After the success 2010 brought, the Seasons is to be offered in two versions to widen the appeal of this trail fighter.

The 2010 Attack Trail was engineered with a need for speed and is the most capable all-rounder in Marin's arsenal. Its continuing refinement pushes the boundaries of what you thought possible from a 150mm chassis and it's light, agile and an unbelievably strong descender. Meanwhile, the 6061 alloy hydroformed tubing and optimised machined linkages give unparalleled stiffness so you'll excel on the climbs after blasting the descents.

A fun, simple and dependable bike to hammer the trail centres on, or just your local trails.
Built with an eye firmly on reliability and quality, the equipment spec is a checklist of brands and parts you'd choose for yourself: Shimano brakes, RockShox Recon XC 120mm fork, Race Face Ride XC chainset... the list goes on all the way down to the most capable all-conditions tyre available, the Maxxis High Roller, for true 'no upgrades required' simplicity


src: bikeradar.com

Posted on 9:12 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Santa Cruz hardtail for 2011

Santa Cruz are using the experience gained from the creation of their most modern carbon fibre full-suspension bikes to build a newborn super-light carbon 29er hardtail.

Details of the yet-to-be-named bike exhibit been leaked through the company's 104 Bronson blog, with a smidgen of photos and a diminutive explanation. The bike weighs honorable 20lb 9oz with a high-end build consisting of SRAM XX components, a Fox F29RLC fork and ENVE carbon clincher wheelset (with tubes).

The frame looks to be a size means and sport a pointed head tube. It has a regular threaded underneath bracket shell and externally routed cables. The IS disc mount and rear dropouts look as though they're molded from carbon.

Santa Cruz say the newborn prototypical ought to be glad “sometime with the crimson blossoms fall from the tree”, which, according to the American National Cherry Blossom Festival’s website, instrument around the third week of April. Price, frame emphasis, equipment specification, availability and one sort of approved comment exhibit yet to be released by Santa Cruz, so stay tuned

Posted on 3:52 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Featured User Review: Cervelo RS Road Bike

I bought this as a training frameset in 2009 (frame is 2008 and cost is for that alone in US dollars). What appealed was the reasonable cost, the stable geometry and promise of comfort for longer rides.

The RS has met all my expectations. It is laterally very stiff, particularly the chainstays and bottom bracket, yet horizontally compliant and so very comfortable. The scary thin looking seatstays really do the job well. Compared with a Specialized Roubiaux that I previously owned it is a little less comfortable but has far better road feel – I could not really tell what was happening under the tyres of the Roubiaux but can with the RS – the Specialized was a little too remote from the road for my liking. The RS is reasonably light and is a fine climbing frame, a good descending frame (better than the rider!) and a great everyday riding bike. I have been riding and racing road bikes almost 30 years, and this is certainly the best training bike I have ever had. It can also handle rough roads and light gravel with no worries at all. If I had to limit myself to one road bike (perish the thought) this would be it.

This is not to say the bike is perfect. I have had chain suck a couple of times, which I have never had on another road bike and was not due to poorly adjusted mechs. Not a good feeling at the bottom of a steep hill. The 73 degree standard head and seat angles are a bit daft on a 61cm frame, particularly when the standard supplied seat post had zero setback. The frame is built to a budget, and the fit and finish show this a bit.

Posted on 3:56 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Scott Speedster S35 A well-mannered bike

Scott's Speedster S35 lives up to its name. This is a quick, enjoyable bike with no major vices and a thoroughly planted feel that’s deeply reassuring in bad weather and comforting on longer rides in the hills. Along with the cheaper S55, this is one of two UK-specific models in Scott's Speedster range for 2011. They're variants on the S30 and S50 respectively, with more space for mudguards and fatter tyres.

• Frame: Tidy and forgiving, the S35’s frame wouldn’t be embarrassed by substantial equipment upgrading, and lends itself well to year-round adventures (8/10)
• Handling: Predictable, accurate and surefooted, it doesn’t put a tyre wrong in poor conditions, yet remains light and inspiring for better days (9/10)
• Equipment: Great to see Tiagra shifters and a well thought out gear range in an overall good spec, but we’d like mudguards in the package, and the brakes are unimpressive (8/10)
• Wheels: Competent but not flashy, the Alex rims, Scott-branded hubs and Continental tyres are tempting targets for eventual upgrades (9/10)

The heart of the Speedster is a double-butted 6061 aluminium frame and carbon fork with aluminium steerer. This is mature technology, and the frame that Scott's designed around it is stable and precise. It drops evenly and accurately into corners and makes short work of high-speed descents. On one test ride we had no hesitation in letting it rip down the 40mph plummet back to the office, despite being buffeted by gale-force winds.

The carbon fork takes the edge off rough road surfaces while still being adequately stiff. With its aluminium steerer it’s no featherweight, but that helps keep the S35 firmly on line: it simply shrugs off minor deflections such as road debris and potholes and ploughs on merrily.

At a little over 9kg (20lb) without pedals, the Speedster S35 is decently light for a size 56 bike in this class. That manifests in its cheerfully cooperative nature when the road points up. The compact chainset and 26-tooth largest sprocket help, though on the steepest of our local climbs we were wishing for the 28-tooth listed in the official spec.

Nevertheless, the only thing holding the S35 back on climbs is your ability, not the bike’s. The Truvativ Touro compact chainset and SRAM 12-26 cassette are mated to a mix of Shimano components: Tiagra shifters and front derailleur, and a 105 rear derailleur. The rear plonks along with typical Shimano efficiency, but the front upshift is a shade slow. It gets there eventually, but if you’re going to slap it into the big ring for a speed-limit-sign sprint, you’ll want to pick your gear early.

The S35’s Continental Ultra Sport tyres are decent compromise rubber. In this 25mm incarnation they provide cushioning and fair grip in the wet, but aren't the fastest or toughest around. You might want to swap to something quicker for the summer, or more puncture-resistant for the winter.

The Alex 28 Aero rims are built onto basic hubs to make light, laterally stiff wheels that contribute to the bike’s overall feel of reassuring solidity. The white paint finish looks good on the shop floor but cracks when you take a tyre lever to it – we’d prefer good old silver.

The cockpit is all Scott own-brand gear, with a comfortable, flat-profile, well-padded saddle and a short-reach shallow drop bar for a cruisy riding position. The bar won’t suit everyone, though. One of our longer-bodied testers was unable to get comfortable on the hoods despite fitting a longer stem and dropping the front end right down.

The only really significant negatives are the Scott-branded Tektro brakes, which lack authority, especially in the wet. While an upgrade to something like Shimano R650s won’t be cheap, it would pay off in terms of better control. Other welcome features include rack mounts on the chainstays so you can press the S35 into luggage-carrying service, and a chainhanger pip on the inside of the left seatstay so you can hook the chain out of the way when you drop the wheel out.

We’re disappointed not to get mudguards included in the price, though. Not only would this save £25 or so, it would spare you the faff of fitting them. That said, we threw on a set of Crud Roadracers and they worked well.

Overall, the Speedster S35 is a really well-executed all-rounder for UK conditions. With room for fat tyres and mudguards it’ll get you through the winter, and when the weather turns good its ride manners are impeccable.

source : bikeradar.com

Posted on 3:08 PM / 0 comments / Read More