Eurobike 2010 Day 1: Demo Day

Eurobike's version of the Outdoor Demo, but with less desert and more green. This is a chance for the public to come and ride new bikes and talk bike parts. The location for the Demo Day is about 40 minutes outside of Friedrichshafen, where the big show is being held and everyone gets shipped there like cattle in big buses. Its great to be outside and enjoying the fresh air before we head into the different massive hangers that house all of Eurobike. Interesting note: The Zepplin factory is just across the road... Hopefully my media pass will also get me a guided tour!

The rains came in last night and left everything a bit wet for the Demo Day, but thankfully held off during our time at the venue. Unfortunately for the companies who were displaying their wares, that meant that they begin the day by building drainage trenches and pushing as much water out of their booths as possible. The sun came out later in the day, but everyone was bundled up tight in the brisk morning air.

There would be no losing track of GT's Fury in a dark room, this thing looks like it would glow in the dark. GT builds the Fury frame with kevlar reinforced carbon with the goal of creating a bike that is insanely strong, not eye opening light. Frame weight without shock is said to be about 8.5 lbs, nothing to brag about, but there are plenty of offerings that are heavier. Rear wheel travel sits at 211 mm.

This is the view that a lot of riders got of Marc Beaumont's Fury during his 2010
World Cup campaign. Marc and the Fury stood on the top step of the podium at
Italy's Val di Sole round, a fast and burly track with loads of different line choices.

Tech nerds rejoice. This is the I Link assembly found on the bottom of the Fury frame. It is
what allows GT to use such a high bump eating pivot without suffering from massive amounts
of chain growth. You can think of it as a floating bottom bracket system, or a work of art, your
choice.

You have to love those wings. The Fury's 1.5 headtube accepts different offset headset cups
that allow it to be slackened off to 63.5 degrees if the terrain demands it. The stock setting
has the bike sitting at 65 degrees.

This is ave's electric mountain bike. While I'm sure that a lot of you are not going to be in the market for an electric powered mountain bike, you have to admit that it is pretty neat. This model will power you up to 25 kph with 250 watts of power, but there are plans in the works for a 500 watt version as well which could make for an interesting time out on the trails!

Part folding bike, part rubik's cube? The commuter bike market in Europe is massive and there
were plenty of different brands to try at during the Demo Day.

This fellow seemed to by trying to ride with a second bike hanging from his handlebars. As you can see from this photo, it isn't working out too well for him!

Anyone need shoes?

How many mountain bikers out there recognize this man? A high five goes out to
whoever can name him first.

May as well finish of the story with a pretty frauline. Although she seems to have been crowned as the queen of something, I wasn't able to read her sash to figure out what! I have high hopes for love overcoming the language barrier that stands between us!