Favorite New Product: G-Form pads
Given my opportunity to sample the latest and greatest suspension and carbon fiber wonder-parts, some readers are likely surprised that I chose a set of knee pads as my favorite new product of 2011. I'll even admit that I couldn't help but poke fun when I first saw them being worn by a Euro journalist at a press camp earlier in the year (in my defense, he was sporting the bright yellow version), but once I got my own set to try, I was convinced. So many riders out there who used to be pure downhillers now spend a lot of time getting rowdy on their trail bike, but the majority of knee pads are just too bulky and uncomfortable for a proper mountain bike ride. The G-Form knee pads feel as if you're wearing a set of slim knee warmers, but do a far better job of keeping your knees scab free without the chaffing and heat of full sized pads that were never intended to be used on three hour trail rides. The deal closer for me is that they retail for just $49.95 USD, putting them at the very top of my recommendation list of 2011 products.
g-form.com
Best Product Under 50$: Dakine Ventilator glove
There are a lot of great products out there, but the list gets substantially shorter if you add the stipulation that they also have to retail for less then $50 USD. I would surely have to include Dakine's $35 Ventilator glove on that list, though, as they quickly became my favorite gloves to wear out of the countless pairs I have to choose from. True to their name, they are a lightweight and very breathable glove that is a great choice when conditions aren't too nippy, but they still offer substantial palm protection via thick gel inserts that shield the base of the hand when you try to do your best scorpion impression. The Ventilator's touch screen compatible fingers also mean that you won't be racing to pull your gloves off if you need to answer your phone or take a photo, something that this unabashedly phone-centric rider quickly fell in love with. I've been known to be notoriously picky about what I put my hands in to, but the Ventilators tick all the boxes for me: super comfy and lightweight, a reasonable amount of protection, and not unreasonably priced.
www.dakine.com
Most Promising Technology: 29'ers
29'er evangelists will be quick to point out that big wheels are far from new, already filling the pages of many other websites and magazines. Pinkbike has been somewhat hesitant to investigate the 29'' movement, though, largely because the majority of 29'ers are short travel bikes that don't fit into most of our reader's interests. That is beginning to change. Companies like Maxxis and Specialized are producing high volume tires in 29" sizes, wheels sets are coming along nicely with wide and stiff options that cater to aggressive riders, and while it could be argued that the bigger wheels don't play well with long travel frame designs, riders are also coming to the conclusion that a shorter travel 29'er rides very much like a 26" bike with an extra inch of suspension. The opponents will be quick to point out the facts that get repeated over and over again: the heavier wheels will accelerate slower and flex more, a still limited component selection to choose from, and a bike selection that leans far more to the XC side of the fence. Those are the very words that I used to preach, but a funny thing happened when I threw my leg over a few different 29'ers: I didn't want to get back on my 26" wheeled bike. And guess what, I'm not some super fit cross-country weapon or fanny pack wearing randonneur. I may like to earn my turns, but my main reason for mountain biking is to push myself on the downhills, to get the tires sliding and generally have loads of fun in the forest, just like many of you. A dialed 29'er, even a short travel one, rides very different than its 26" counterpart. It literally feels as if you are sitting within the bike, something that translates to a very surefooted sensation on the trail. I'm not trying to convince anyone that 29" wheels are the future, they aren't, and 26" wheels will likely always have a place in our sport, but the latest crop of 29'ers do add another element that is different enough to warrant their place on the mountain. No one will be forcing you to ride one either, but having the option of two wheel sizes, each offering their own personalities on the trail, can only be a good thing.
Best Destination: Sedona, Arizona
I consider myself very lucky to be able to travel the world and ride in some of the most amazing places with great people, but one location always seems to get me more excited than the rest. Located in Arizona, Sedona is known for its red rock terrain, a result of the iron oxide left over from when a post-glacial age ocean filled valley, as well as numerous "vortexes" that are said to be centers of high energy. Whether or not you believe the vortex theory, there is no arguing over the area's amazing trails. The terrain definitely caters to riders who prefer a technical challenge, with many sections that will test both your climbing and descending skills, but the rock surface also blesses you with incredible amounts of traction. It's the kind of riding that rewards skilled riders, not just those who are super fit, largely thanks to knowledgable trail builders who seem to know exactly how to build a line that gives you the most bang for your buck. I live in B.C., known as the promise land to many riders around the world, but there is nothing I look forward to more than my yearly pilgrimage South to Sedona. If possible, do yourself a favour and make the same trip. You won't regret it.
Best Underdog Performance of 2011: X-Fusion suspension
Ask your riding buddies what fork or shock they would choose if they could pick anything and the answer likely won't be X-Fusion, which just goes to show how strong of a hold the major suspension players have on consumers. X-Fusion may not have the marketing force and rider lineup that the competition has, but their high-end products can get into the ring with more popular offerings and more than hold their own. The Vengeance fork in particular outclasses many rivals with its very effective adjustments and incredibly smooth action, all at a price that is hundreds less than many other options. X-Fusion's rear shocks have also proven to be reliable and adjustable, even if they don't get the same respect as more expensive choices. I love seeing an underdog rise up, and while their smaller lineup doesn't offer as many options as larger brands, X-Fusion is doing just that with excellent performing suspension at a reasonable price.
www.xfushionshox.comBest Gear Trend of 2011: 1 x 10 drivetrains
It would be pretty narrow minded of me to think that all riders can get away with running a single chain ring up front - varying degrees of fitness, bike setup, and local terrain are all factors that determine if one ring is for you - but converting my personal bike was the single best setup change that I made all year. The benefits include a simpler drivetrain with less to wear out or go wrong, a shorter chain that reduces chain slap, less weight, and how a single chain ring setup can build fitness faster than if you had a bailout gear to rely on. There are certainly drawbacks, though, with the higher gear range being harder on the knees, and that you are also bound to end up at the bottom of a climb that you can't pedal up, no matter how fit you are. I also have to mention the complete lack of proper chain guide mounting points on XC and trail bikes - manufacturers need to get their heads out of their asses on that front before 1 x 10 systems really take hold. SRAM and Shimano's large range 11-36 tooth cassettes (which is also available in a heavier 9 speed version from Shimano) have made running a single ring an option for more riders than ever before, but many are still hesitant to make the jump. All I can say is this: you're likely fitter than you think you are. And if you aren't, you will be after spending a few months with one chain ring on your bike. From my humbling experience I can say that the first while involved me cresting hills at my redline, very near meltdown point (I have some monster climbs nearby), but after some suffering through the first part of the Spring riding season I suddenly realized that I was fitter than ever before, earlier in the year than ever before. It may not be for you, but then again, you may surprise yourself.
Favorite Bike of 2011: Trek SuperFly 100
Are you wondering how I could choose a 110mm travel 29'er over all of the other bikes that I've spent time on this year, especially when the SuperFly clearly doesn't fit the mold of the usual Pinkbike test machine? The answer is simple: the bike blew my notions of not just how a 29'er behaves, but also what a properly done trail bike is really capable of. Looking at the numbers shows that the bike has an impossibly steep 71° head angle, massive 17.8'' chainstays, and just 110mm of rear wheel travel, but all of those gel together in the 29'er mixing bowl to create a package that can easily hang with longer travel 26" wheeled bikes on technical trails. No, the SuperFly isn't intended to fly over gaps or keep up with bigger travel rigs when things get gnarly, and I never rode with those intentions, but I've yet to ride such a competent machine when it comes to proper, technical trail riding. Simply put, I have a quiver of bikes to choose from, but when not having to ride a test bike I reach for the SuperFly for the majority of my saddle time.
www.trekbikes.com
Best Product of '11: RockShox Reverb seat post
I'm long over trying to convince anyone that dropper posts are a must-have component that will forever change the way you ride your trail bike - if you don't believe it yet, you simply need to try one. There is a very clear leader in the dropper post category, with RockShox's Reverb proving to stand head and shoulders above the rest of the field. No, at $370 USD it's not inexpensive, but its hydraulic actuation gives it a level of consistency that I haven't found from any other post in my wet and muddy B.C. testing grounds. It's looking even better for the future, though, with the new Reverb Stealth employing hidden hose routing within the frame that eliminates that pesky extra loop when the saddle is slammed, even if that is only found as OE spec on select Trek and Scott models for next year (installation and routing complicate aftermarket sales, but we're crossing our fingers that it will happen). The dropper post category can sometimes feel as if it is still in its infancy, given the general unreliability found in many of the choices out there, but the Reverb is by far the least problematic of the bunch and the one product that I insist to have on my personal bikes.
www.rockshox.com
Do you agree with Mike's choices? Think that he is completely out to lunch? Let's hear what you have to say about Mike's top picks of 2011.
