Seen and Heard at Interbike, 2013

Sep 24, 2013 at 6:44

by Richard Cunningham

Experts say that a man walking averages three to four miles per hour, so if one accounts for the time spent standing and talking, a journalist will cover between eight to fifteen miles each day plying the Interbike Cycling Expo's red carpeted floors. There is a lot to see, and even more catching up to do with the many friends one meets along the way. The day began with a smile on the news that the most decorated male downhiller in the history of the sport was finally inducted into the mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Nicolas Vouilloz could not make the ceremony because of surgery, so his sponsor, Gilles Lapierre, stood in for him. 'Bout time. All hail the king!

Pivot Mach 6 Carbon

Chris Cocalis, founder and designer of Pivot Cycles, has been criticized by some for putting a higher priority on physical attributes, like bottom bracket stiffness, suspension performance, durability and light weight, at the expense of beauty. Well, Cocalis put those demons to rest with the Mach 6 Carbon. With its smooth, flowing lines, anodized pivot hardware and stunning blue paint, the six-inch-travel Mach 6 was easily one of the best lookers at Interbike. Pivot's carbon frames are built in a facility that, arguably, is the most exclusive composite shop in Asia.

Chris Cocalis began his career building titanium frames. When he switched to aluminum, Cocalis changed the landscape of frame design with out-of-the-box innovations, like hollow, two-piece forgings - but he really hit his stride when he moved to carbon fiber. The new Mach 6 is a stunning blend of aesthetics and functional performance.

The Mach 6 is designed around 27.5-inch wheels and while it is intended to be an elite-level enduro racing platform, Pivot offers a number of builds, based upon Shimano and SRAM components, that also cater to AM/trail riders. Geometry is very contemporary, with a slack, 66-degree head angle, a low, 13.6-inch bottom bracket height, and relatively short, 16.9-inch chainstays. In keeping with the modern trend, the top tubes are amply long in each of the five frame sizes offered (X-small to X-large). ISCG-05 chainguide mounts, internal dropper post routing; a recessed, rubberized leather chainstay protector; double sealed pivot bearings; room for gravity-width rubber, and outstanding stand-over clearance are a few of the Mach 6's notable features. Like all Pivot suspension bikes, the '6 uses a sharp-pedaling four-bar dw-link configuration, although Cocalis moderated the anti-squat a bit to provide a deeper, more supple suspension feel. To that effect, the shock is a reservoir-type Fox Float X, tuned to work with a lower leverage ratio and Cocalis says he uses the pedal platform settings quite often. Pinkbike will be testing the Mach 6 this Fall.

Pivot Cycles

American Classic Wide Lightning Wheelset

Bill Shook has devoted his life to fine tuning every aspect of the bicycle wheel - he designs his own spokes, nipples, rims, tubeless systems and hubs - and has worked to develop new aluminum alloys for rim applications. Bill's testing reveals that the combination of a wider rims and the next size smaller tire produces a lighter weight and better performing overall package than a larger tire on a conventional rim.

American Classic founder Bill Shook has devoted his lifetime to perfecting the bicycle wheel. Most recently, Bill has been pushing the widths of both road and mountain bike rims and has discovered that the combination of a wider rim and the more hemispherical profile that the combination gives the tire lowers rolling resistance and better supports the tire for better cornering. Bill's newest mountain bike rim and wheelset is called 'Wide Lightning' and it comes tubeless ready with American Classic rim tape applied. The aluminum rim has a very short flanges, a deep profile and the inside well is shaped to catch the tire beads to quickly seal while mounting up tubeless tires. The rim well has a bead lock channel to keep the tire on the rim should it flat at speed. Wide Lightning rims measure 32 millimeters OD and 29.3 millimeters ID and are laced to American Classic hubs with 32, 14/15-gauge butted stainless steel spokes. Hubs are convertible to QR or through-axle (QR15mm front or 142/12mm, rear). Weight for the pair is only 1512 grams in the 27.5 inch size. A 29er version is also available. MSRP is $850 USD for the set in either size.

American Classic

Three New Enduro Tires From Michelin

Michelin has three new tires and some new rubber compounds which were developed in partnership with its sponsored enduro riders - most notably, Fabien Barel and Nicolas Vouilloz. The tires are all from Michelin's 'Advanced' range and all feature its reinforced casing design and tubeless-specific bead interfaces. New for 2014 are the fast-rolling Wild Race'R, The hard-condition Wild Rock'R and a mud spike specifically designed for 27.5 and 29-inch wheel diameters called the Wild Mud. Somewhat new for 2014 is the Wild Gripp'R, which was introduced last season as Michelin's gravity-oriented all-purpose trail tire. The Wild Gripp'R has been upgraded with a second compound option called 'Magi-X' - a soft, 50-A durometer compound that has been treated to reduce its resilience. Michelin says that Magi-X rubber is specifically intended for use as a front tire, so riders can now buy it in front and rear-specific compounds. Michelin designed a new compound called Gum-X that is actually a dual-durometer design. The tread crown is a harder, 55-A rubber, while the edging tread is softer, 53-A durometer rubber. Gum-X and Magi-X options will be offered in Michelin's Gripp'R and Rock'R series only. The Wild Mud and Race'R tires will be sold in one hardness or one combination of durometers only. Expect to see Michelin's new tires around April, 2014 in stores. Prices and exact weights are not yet fixed.

The Wild Race'R is designed for hard and dry tracks - it is fast rolling, reinforced to take a beating and tubeless ready. Michelin's Wild Race-R tires are cross-country treads, supercharged to handle descents which require a lot of pedaling. The dual-compound tread is slightly harder at the center blocks and the softer transition and edging blocks are angled to catch drifts and for braking accuracy. Triangular center blocks are designed to roll seamlessly on hard surfaces. Sizes: 26 X 2.10, 26 X 2.25, 27.5 X 2.25 and 29 X 2.0 and 2.25. Michelin measures the casing widths, so its tires run larger than most.

Michelin's Wild Rock'R 2 is Fabien Barel's favorite tire and Michelin bills it as a tire designed to grip dry-to-extreme terrain. In short: the chalky, loose and steep descents that Fabian practices on. The tread design is familiar, with angled blocks down the center and a pronounced ridge of heavily buttressed edging blocks on the sides. There are no transition blocks to speak of, which encourages an aggressive cornering style. To keep the Wild Rock'R sensitive at slower speeds and to help find traction where nature fails to provide it, each block is siped with grooves at varying depths and angles. The casing is reinforced and the beads are tubeless ready, Wild Rock'R tires come in 2.35 inch width only, and in all three wheel diameters. By April, 2014, Wild Rock'R tires will be available in both Gum-X and Magi-X tread compounds.

Wild Mud tires are slightly narrower than most, because Michelin intended them specifically for larger wheel formats. To this end, the Wild Mud will only be available in a 2.25-inch casing for 27.5 and 29-inch wheels. The Magi-X rubber compound is formulated specifically for the mud tire, and the tread blocks are designed to twist when they are loaded in traction or when cornering. When the tread blocks are unloaded, they untwist, reportedly shedding mud in the process. Michelin designed the tread blocks with a step to allow mechanics to cut the spikes to a uniform height. Wild Mud tires are tubeless ready, of course.

Wild Gripp'R was Michelin's first Advanced-series tire. Its aggressively-shaped all-purpose tread pattern is designed to be used on ether the front or the rear of the bike. We tested the Wild Gripp'R when it debuted in Morzine, France, where it delivered consistent traction on both wet roots and steeps as it did on dry bike park trails. The addition of a softer, Magi-X compound, front-specific model should elevate the Grip'R to a new level of performance.

Three labels that appear on Advanced-level Michelin tires: Magi-X is Michelin's slow-rebound, super soft tread rubber. Gum-X is a dual-compound 55-A/53-A durometer tread. Reinforce is an additional layer of a durable nylon fabric to resist abrasion and punctures.

Michelin

Park Tool

Riders, frame builders, garage mechanics, pro team wrenches, bike factories and bike retailers all trust the tools with the blue handles. Most people know that Park Tool has the widest selection of industrial-quality bicycle related tools. Some know that Park Tool has a series of educational workshops for aspiring mechanics, but how many readers know that Park Tool has a massive archive of how-to tips that cover everything on the bike - from bleeding brakes, to removing hub bearings, to servicing bottom brackets to frame-alignment checks - if you need help, Park's probably got the know-how waiting for you, and it is free.

Park Tool's GLV-1 Mechanic's Glove is designed for professional mechanics to wear all day long. The index finger and thumb have a touch-screen-sensitive grippers, the back of the thumb has a soft, fleece nose wipe and the knuckles are reinforced. The glove has thin padding where the palm of the hand is most pressure-sensitive and Park Tool says the gloves are good for riding as well as wrenching. Sizes are small, medium, large and X-large. Anyone with an older Park wheel-truing stand will appreciate its TS-2EXT extender ($38.95) and through-axle adapter, which allows truing 29er wheels with tire in place and also accepts wider, DH rear hubs, as well as through-axles in 12, 15 and 20-millimeter diameters. Seriousness aside, Park's pizza cutter and spork would be a conversation piece in any race-pit.

Park Tools

New Racks From Yakima

So, I asked Yakima what they made that would be a good fit for the digging, shuttling, travelling kind of rider. The first was a simple clamping device that clamps Yakima's rooftop bars to the bed-rails of any pickup truck. Yakima's Summer Henderson said that the locking 'BedRock' clamps are sold separately from the bars, because many Yakima customers already own roof racks. Bedrock clamps allow up to five bikes to be loaded above the truck bed, and frees up a humongous volume of storage space in the truck bed for digging tools, chainsaws, camping gear - or human cargo that smells too bad to occupy the cab while shuttling. Bedrock clamps are $199 for four towers. The bars are sold separately for $89.

Yakima's Bedrock towers adapt all of its rooftop accessories. That means you can carry boats, snow gear, cargo pods and even bikes in the space behind the cab of your truck where once, only paper cups and beer cans occasionally floated.

Those who want a trailer-hitch mount rack should check out Yakima's HoldUp system. HoldUp carries two bikes of any size and its 'StrongArm wheel-locking arch will handle wheels from 29 to 20 inches. The wheel trays can be repositioned left or right to eliminate handlebar or pedal interference between bikes and a second pair of bikes can be added by sliding in Yakima's HoldUp-2 adapter. Heavy or hard to load bikes are made easier by the HoldUp's tilt feature. The same red pull-knob that disengages the tilt feature also allows the rack to fold vertically out of the way. The trays also fold up, which makes HoldUp into a tidy package when not in use. A sturdy cable lock is included that tucks away into the rack's upright - and should you be holding an adult beverage without an opener, Yakima added a bottle opener near the center of the cross-bar. HoldUp racks fit 1.5-inch or two-inch receivers and retail for $439. The HoldUp-2 option retails for $329 and is only available in the two-inch-receiver version.

Yakima's HoldUP trailer-hitch-mount rack tilts back to assist loading heavy or difficult bikes. The trays fold up and the entire rack then can be tilted 90-degrees to stow it when not in use. A cable lock slides out of the rack upright, so you'll never have to search for it behind the seats. Easy-to-clean, gloss-black powdercoat paint replaces the matte finish of previous models.

Yakima

Shimano Dynalast XC 90 Shoe

Shimano built a dynamometer which measures the output of a cyclist at every degree of the crank revolution. The dyno' also can be adapted to any cycling position and it can measure how the foot puts pressure on the pedals and from what angle - radially or laterally. One result that Shimano gleaned from its new machine is that the exaggerated "S" curve sole that has become the accepted shape of every high-performance cycling shoe is wrong.

Shimano's Dynalast XC 90 racing shoe is dyno-tested to reduce stress on the legs while making more power throughout the pedal circle. Its $370 MSRP includes Shimano's vacuum-forming custom fit process. Three extra screw-in cleats better balance the foot for walking or running.

Testing shows that a less exaggerated "S" curve with the addition of a more secure heel cup makes for a more efficient pedaling stroke - and takes unwanted pressure off the planter, calf and hamstring functions of the leg. The new shape reduces what Shimano calls 'braking forces' in the ineffective 'back-stroke' of the pedaling circle. Braking force is the resistance created by one leg lagging, which transfers effort to the pushing leg. If Shimano is correct, and there is little evidence to refute their findings, then its new Dynalast XC racing shoe should be one of the most comfortable (and walkable) in its class. To that end, Shimano introduces three extra removable cleats to the carbon-soled shoe that better support the foot when walking or running. The soft composite cleats can be replaced with soccer types. and grippy plastic is added where the carbon sole could slip on rocks or roots. The foot is secured with two hook-and-loop straps - one is reversed to reduced point contact on the foot - and also a traditional ratchet lever. Arch supports and a special insole are heated to take a permanent mold of the customer's sole and toes, and then the entire shoe is heated and vacuum-formed to the customer's foot at the Shimano retailer. The $370 MSRP of the Dynalast XC shoe includes the special vacuum fit.

Shimano

Tom Ritchey

Mountain bike pioneer Tom Ritchey poses with Ritchey number one - the first to come out of his tiny factory in 1979. Note the slack head and seat angles, wide rims and 'high-volume' tires. Tom designed his own seatpost and a stronger saddle interface that would not break in a crash. For 2014, Ritchey reintroduces the concept with modern materials and calls it the Evo-Rail Saddle and Evo-Link seatpost system. The carbon reinforced nylon mono-rail weighs 40 grams, the same as the carbon-rails of a conventional saddle - with 100-millimeters of adjustability. Ritchey says that the 175-gram, $149 Evo-Rail saddle can survive a crash that would tear a carbon or ti-rail saddle to pieces. The Evo-Link seatpost can adapt to conventional rails with an optional clamp-head.

Ritchey proudly displayed a forged spoke interface that allows J-bend spokes to be used in a direct-pull hub. The simple-looking piece required a large development curve to perfect. The advantages are two-fold: the owner has more options when buying replacement spokes, and the J-bend spreads stress over a wider area of the flange, reducing the chance of failure at high spoke tensions. Ritchey's Phantom Flange hubs are only available for his road range, but the SwissPower team has been testing a mountain bike version that will be available soon.

Ritchey Logic

Prototype Powerbars

The word "prototype" is rarely heard in the context of food, but Powerbar was using Interbike attendees to beta test its new protein-rich recovery and energy bars that are not yet slated for production. I promised to say that the wrapper graphics are also pre-production. The white chocolate crunch flavor was good, but the mint chocolate was the best bar at the show. I made Powerbar a regular stop.

Powerbar

Deuter Compact 10 Air EXP Pack

German soft-goods maker Deuter manufactures over-the-top quality bags and packs. I took pics of the Compact 10 Air EXP hydration pack at outdoor demo that looked way better than the ones from inside the expo, so pardon the breach of continuity.

Deuter's Air EXP packs feature an ultra-breathable 'Aircomfort' mesh back that is in tension, so it keeps the pack away from your back and air flowing continuously through the space in between. The Compact 10 model is expandable, so nothing rattles when you are riding light. A helmet retainer net is a plus for enduro riders, and a rain fly is stowed in a lower pouch for Northwestern riders. Two layers of organizer pockets in zippered sections keep everything handy and the three-liter water bag is the slider-sealing type. Deuter's Compact 10 Air EXP pack comes in a male or female version for an MSRP of $129.

Deuter

Juliana Furtado

When Juliana Furtado was racing cross-country, nobody in the world could even come close. Occasionally, Julie would roll back from a comfortable lead and join her competitors to break the loneliness from being a half a lap or so ahead - every weekend during the World Cup season. The girl is a force of nature. Juli works at Santa Cruz Bike now, and was at Interbike to launch her new women's-specific Juliana range.

Santa Cruz Bike

Boeshield T-9 Lubricant

Boeing developed Boeshield to protect and lubricate parts that were difficult or impossible to reach inside their commercial aircraft. The stuff can work its way into microscopic passages and when Boeshield dries, it becomes a sort of wax that doesn't attract dirt. The name and the packaging is very Boeing, but the product is remarkable. Many hard core riders swear by it. Boeshield sells for $12 in the four-ounce bottle shown and $4.00 for a pack-size, one-ounce container.

Boeshield

Reynolds 27.5 AM Carbon Wheels

When we visited the Reynolds headquarters in Utah last Spring, they were finishing the pilot production run of its new 31-millimeter-wide all-mountain wheelsets. We were impressed by the operation. Reynolds controls the resin formula, buys the carbon and has it impregnated to its specifications, and owns its production factory in Asia outright. The AM Carbon wheels are now rolling out of the factory in Asia and will be in bike shops soon. Reynolds says that the hubs are new, with 180 points of engagement and a six-pawl freehub. The axle system is toolless and almost all through-axle types are supported. Reynolds' AM wheels come pre-taped for tubeless and in 26, 27.5 and 29-inch diameters, the 29-inch version, however, is built with a narrower, 29-millimeter-wide carbon rim. MSRP is $1900 for all diameters. weight for the 27.5 wheelset shown here is 1620 grams.

Reynolds carbon wheels are priced well and have proven to be quite durable. The new 31-millimeter OD/ 23-millimeter ID carbon rim should be a game changer for all-mountain and enduro riders who wish to add size and footprint to their tires without the additional weight burden of trading up to the next larger tire available.

Reynolds Cycling

Kenda's New Nevegal X Pro

Kenda's original Nevegal was designed with input from mountain bike legend John Tomac. The pronounced edging blocks made for secure cornering and its then-revolutionary angled center tread rolled faster than existing knobby type tires. Fast-forward to the present and the original Nevegal is still a well respected do-everything trail tire, but it is being pressured for a replacement by some of its more modern competitors. Kenda once again contacted Tomac to assist with the design of its new Nevegal - the X-Pro, which will appear at shops soon. The new Nevegal shares only the name of its predecessor, but it is designed towards the same purpose: fast and furious riding over a wide range of terrain. Kenda's national sales manager, who had a large interest in the tire's development walked us through the Nevegal X Pro's key features.

First off, Kenda's new Nevegal X Pro has a rounder profile at the tread and more pronounced transition blocks that are angled to match the slip-angle of the tire when it is cornering, The idea is to give the tire a more consistent feel as it is leaned through various bank angles. The tread lacks the pronounced edging blocks of the original Nevegal, but Kenda is confident that its dual-durometer tread and engineered tread block design will more than make up for the brute force of a wall of edging rubber. The crown rubber is 60-A and the edging blocks are a softer 50-A on the hardness scale. Elsewhere, the new Nevegal has a smoother, 'SCT' bead profile that is designed to catch and seal the rim for easier tubeless installations, and Kevlar mesh guards the sidewalls against rock damage. The Nevegal X Pro is intended to be a trail/enduro tire, says Kenda, and is available in different widths according to wheel diameters. The 29er version is a 2.2 inch width weighing 787 grams. The 27.5 vesion is 2.35 inches in diameter and weighs 777 grams, while the 26-inch version, which presently only comes in a 2.1-inch width, weighs 640 grams. Kenda measures the widest part of the tread, so its tires can run smaller than those who measure casing width only. Kenda's MSRP is $64.95 for all sizes,

Kenda's Jake Scott poses with the new Nevegal in his right and the original Nevegal in his left hand. A closeup look at the tread patterns (New Nevegal X Pro on right) illustrate the rounder profile and engineered tread design of the new tire.

Kenda Tire

John Tomac's Gravel Racer

John Tomac laughed that now he is better known as Eli's dad. The multi-time mountain bike champion's son has made a name for himself as a motocross racer. John's signature bike brand has been acquired by Planet X who will be bringing out new models mid-way through 2014. The prototype here is his 'gravel bike' made by Saratoga Bike Works. The titanium frame is fitted with a bonded carbon top tube, presumably to reduce vibration. Paragon makes the bolt-on dropouts, which can be switched to single-speed or through-axle applications. The drivetrain is a Shimano Ultegra Di2 electric shifting setup with prototype hydraulic brake levers. Brakes look like XT calipers and six-inch ICE rotors. Tomac raced DH with drop bars while he was under contract with Team Seven Eleven, road racing in Europe, so he is no stranger to the concept. The vintage Tomac-Signature Cinelli bars are 46 centimeters wide.

Shimano's Ultegra Di2 is a very clean installation. The shift buttons require no internal mech, so the brake levers can be thinner - even with a master cylinder tucked inside the hoods. Shimano's quick release hydraulic fittings had prototype stickers on them. Formula has a similar quick release system that allows bleed-free disconnects of the hydraulic hoses. Paragon Machine Works' rear dropout forms the caliper mount. The small box beneath the stem is the brain for Di2 and the battery, reportedly was in the seat tube. The 'Montezma' is intended to be ridden primarily off pavement on dirt and gravel roads. Tomac says they are evaluating it for future production.

Planet X

Loaded Precision

Loaded Precision is based in Southern California. The jewel in their crown for 2014 is the Napalm carbon XC stem made with nano-tube infused carbon and fitted with Ti hardware. The 90-millimeter version weighed only 91 grams. The aluminum all-mountain stem wasn't much heavier - the 60-millimeter stem shown is CNC-machined from 6061 alloy and also has Ti hardware.

Loaded's Napalm carbon handlebars are among the lightest on the market. The flat bar weighs only 118 grams at 710-millimeters wide, the Napalm riser bar in the center weighs 114 grams at 680 millimeters wide and a 15-millimeter rise. The AM Carbon riser bar at the bottom of the group is reported to weigh only 210 grams at 760-millimeters wide and a 15-degree rise. Prices are $239 for the Napalm series bars and $159 for the AM Carbon handlebar.

Loaded Precision has been producing wheelsets for a number of years now. The AMX Carbon wheel is based upon a 30,8-millimeter OD, 24-millimeter ID carbon rim that is profiled for tubeless tires. The bead area has a detent molded in that locks the bead in place to keep it on the rim should the rider flat. The rim weight is stated at 410 grams and it is only available in 27.5 at this time. Loaded President Mike Mulder says that the carbon matrix has an elastomer substance in the compound that gives the carbon rim a high degree of impact resistance. Wheelsets will be available with either Loaded Precision X-Lite or DT Swiss 240 hubs. Spokes are quad-butted and ovalized stainless steel. The price is $1995 with Loaded and $2095 with DT Swiss hubs.

Loaded Precision

New from One Industries

One Industries has been on a charge this year with the Athertons spearheading the Southern California action sports company's mountain bike lineup. We thought we'd show you a couple of kits and a very affordable full-face helmet - the Ion zip jersey: $60, and short: $120. Atom Fragment Helmet: $170. Atom Traverse Jersey: $35, and pant: $100.

One Industries

Derby 40-Millimeter Carbon Rims

Occasionally, when the bike industry at large fails to recognize an important trend, privateers step up to lead the way. Kirk Pacenti - the father of the modern 650B mountain bike was one of them. Ray calls himself 'Derby' and his story is that he was disappointed with the performance of some carbon rims he purchased and decided to design up a set himself. The result of his lengthy toil and a considerable learning process was a modest production run of 40-millimeter-wide carbon rims to fit 27.5-inch wheels. The rims weigh 465 grams and cost $279 each. A 29er rim that is 35-millimeters wide is just around the corner. Spoke drilling is 32-hole and the inside profile is designed for tubeless, with bead-lock channels to keep the tire secure if it loses air. When asked about testing, Derby said he had the factory run the standard impact and spoke-pull tests that all MTB rims must pass and it made it through with ease. Derby wheels are available on line at his website store.

Derby Rims

Blackburn Off-Road Touring Gear

Blackburn off-road touring setup for fatbikes

Perhaps the best use of a fatbike would be to toss some gear on it and explore a section of the country that has more bears than people - or coyotes. Blackburn can make that happen.

Jim Blackburn began welding up pro-quality touring racks when the USA turned 200 years old in 1976, and it seemed like half the nation hopped on a bike and set out to cross the country. No piece of touring gear has been copied more than the Blackburn rack. The company has returned to Jim's roots, making top-level gear and targeting it at the hard core riders who ride longer than one day on a weekend. Because some of those folks are Pinkbike members, I thought a few samples would be in order. An overnight or two in the backcountry should be on every mountain biker's bucket list.

Blackburn's Interlock seatpost-mount rack can carry a bit more than 20 pounds - not a lot, but plenty if you pack lightly. It could be the perfect chainsaw carrier. The post-mount makes a rear rack possible for a dual-suspension bike.

Blackburn Barrier bags and touch-sensitive sleeves for tablets and phones.

Blackburn makes a range of cases for tablets and smart phones that feature touch-sensitive, clear-plastic windows so you can access information in wet weather. The Barrier panniers ($89) are tough enough for all day brush bashing. Good stuff from a good name.

Blackburn

Fairwheel Bikes

Fairwheel Bikes is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it is a specialty shop that caters to cyclists of all disciplines who like insanely lightweight, expensive or simply impossible to get items. Want Shimano electric shifting for your XTR trailbike? Can do. Want a 16-pound 29er hardtail, ask and you shall receive. If you are looking for every titanium fitting that you can screw onto your bike, or the lightest brake rotors on the planet, they are in stock. That said, the bike I end my 2013 show coverage with an item that was a special order from Japan - road bike built by Shinichi Kanna, the son of the man who founded San Rensho and who follows the family tradition with wild and imaginative designs that are so far out of the box that you have to like them.

The frame is steel with chrome accents. There are thin lines of chrome down the frame tubes. If it could be ridden, and it would not have been constructed if that were not possible, it should be a comfortable ride.

Details abound. I like the fact that the maker went to great lengths to run the cables internally and then exposed the adjusters in the most conspicuous way. It gives the bike a vintage aircraft vibe. Check out the chrome cable entries and exits.

Fairwheel Bikes

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RichardCunningham

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179 Comments

45 1

trozei (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:08)

Two years ago I was in a bike shop to buy lube and they insisted I buy that T9 stuff. I'm glad they did. I'm telling you, it works.

240 4

mrgonzo (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:30)

yeah but can you use it on an enduro bike? I need enduro specific lube!

45 2

steve9train (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:47)

still waiting on the 29er specific, heard 2014 is the year !

138 3

kaijumps (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:27)

WD-40 works great on 29ers

97 5

meSSican (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:39)

I was going to buy some too but the bike shop said that the company was working on a 27.5 oz bottle that: weighed more than the 26 oz bottle, lubed only slightly less, was only a bit harder to put on but lasted 3% more......and was only twice as much. I will defiantly wait for that one.

17 95

WildnXxs (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:59) (Below Threshold)

WD-40 is the absolute worst thing to use. NEVER USE IT. It collects the dirt and dust into everything and therefore your bike turns into a squeaky, rusty piece of poo.

57 2

Mutiny5050 (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:18)

WD40 for the win..... I ran out last year so I just use the hose.

17 2

Lastpikd (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:27)

@wildnxxs - pretty sure that guy who said "wd40 is good for 29ers" was being facetious.

73 2

konabike4321 (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:48)

WD-40 works great for cleaning my disc brakes! I've beaten all my previous times ever since.... I'm not sure why.

22 2

Albe23 (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:52)

Doesn't WD-40 have a bike specific line now with two different lubes?

cool3 FL (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:57) (Below Threshold)

^^^LOL!

sublimaze (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:10)

Spray it on your tools and they'll never rust again.

6 30

WildnXxs (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:12) (Below Threshold)

For tools yes, but I've used WD40 on my bike and gotten f*cked over. Are we talking about the spray or the lube ??

19 4

kdubsteezey (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:15)

Just my 2 cents but WD-40 is actually not a lube, its a solvent, like soap. So it rids the oil and dirt from your bike, but it does not lube or protect from rust and corrosion like oil. Meaning if you use it to clean your bike, your better off going through your bike after and using a proper light oil to lube everything back up. But, to each their own. Just a friendly bit of advise.

5 21

WildnXxs (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:18) (Below Threshold)

Exactly K-Dub, but I've read articles before that WD40 cleans but also can attract dirt and particles into the small openings on your bike (Headset, BB, Hubs). Maybe I was lied to ? lol Probably seeing how many negative props I just got from my previous comment. But it's up to you, but for me I'm NEVER using WD-40 on my bike again. For tools and maybe a quick solution to a squeaky BB yes, but only until I get proper lube for my babe

twozerosix (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:36)

Boeshield is the cat's ass. Get it in the spray formula and just hose everything down, PNW style.

MikeyMierk (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:52)

@ meSSican - That's good stuff right there! Ha! Cheers to you!

33 2

reallybigmantis (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:59)

wow sarcasm detectors are on the fritz today. the answer is- never use wd40, can't believe it inspired a tangent here. unless you have a 29er, in which case you should get your brake pads and rotors with an extra thick coat

fercho25 (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:01)

@mrgonzo oh men that was hilarious! you my friend are a nominee for comment of the year!

pb67 (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:05)

So does petrol and a match

12 1

hampsteadbandit (Sep 24, 2013 at 12:45)

WD-40 = water displacer formula #40

not a lube but a solvent / water displacer

should not be used anywhere near a modern bicycle, there are much better products for that application

rmx1 (Sep 24, 2013 at 12:49)

I wouldn't lube my bike with traditional WD-40, but their new bike line of lubricants is really impressive. Ive been using it for a few months now and love the stuff.

TomShark (Sep 24, 2013 at 14:56)

If you want something awesome to clean your bike with I recommend CT-18. Look it up. Awesome stuff, usually used by truckies to get crap off their rigs, but I use it to get my bike all shiny. It resists corrosion and all, but I still make sure to oil the chain after use!

ryancoonya (Sep 24, 2013 at 14:57)

Some of the best WD 40 lube comments ive ever read. Had me cracking up!

H-MONSTER (Sep 24, 2013 at 15:57)

WD26+14 , WD27.5+12.5 , WD29+11

richierocket (Sep 24, 2013 at 17:07)

Can the Blackburn's Interlock seatpost-mount rack be used on my RS Reverb??? Probably not but I'm still curious. Thanks.

cyberhawk (Sep 24, 2013 at 23:59)

if someone asks me for wd-40 to "lube" their chain.. i bitchslap them.. sometimes knowledge must me beaten into the brain..

ctd07 (Sep 25, 2013 at 1:01)

That red loaded stem looks great, my current stem weighs 115gm's and its a bit heavy was looking for something a bit lighter, think this might be the answer!

timkoerber (Sep 25, 2013 at 10:22)

You guys should try Slick Lubes. Its made from algae, its biodegradable and it works really well. Super impressed with it so far! slicklube.com

oakrunbike (Sep 25, 2013 at 13:57)

WD40 smells good

cyberhawk (Sep 25, 2013 at 14:28)

Well Thats true..

cool3 FL (Sep 25, 2013 at 18:22)

Hey guys, I was "LOLing" about konabike4321's reply... :/

jlhenterprises (Sep 25, 2013 at 20:11)

Everybody knows not to use WD40 on a bike, Gasoline and spray bottle works way better on 29ers.

mrsnipes82 (Sep 27, 2013 at 6:30)

Don't forget lit matches!

28 1

SuperPus (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:09)

Ohh man ,That pivot :o

16 7

14pslope (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:58)

I was praying to God to see 26" in the write up.... but was already prepared to see the dreaded 27.5"....

AT LEAST GIVE US 2 OPTIONS

jclnv (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:00)

Nice bike but for elite level racers only. Shame as I was interested but I'm an amateur.

alexridesbikes-13 FL (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:39)

It kills me sometimes how some people can't seem to see the whole picture and stick to two words. "While it is intended to be an elite-level enduro racing platform, Pivot offers a number of builds, based upon Shimano and SRAM components, that also cater to AM/trail riders.

Intended to be does not mean ONLY.

cool3 FL (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:58)

@alexeyter: I'm with you on that one... it seems 26-inch wheels have been wiped out from Planet Earth... :/

gotshovel (Sep 24, 2013 at 13:57)

I put a deposit down for the mach 6 frame as soon as news droped a couple weeks ago. Can't wait!!

14 0

PLC07 (Sep 24, 2013 at 17:20)

"AT LEAST GIVE US 2 OPTIONS"

Instructions unclear, developping a 29er version.

beeekilbee (Sep 25, 2013 at 4:14)

^^^ Haha! Doh!

CaptainSnappy (Sep 25, 2013 at 11:18)

"No, I ride 26" wheels and I'm frikin' core, laddy" "No, I am 'cause I have a garage full of 26ers and I burned my buddy's 29er on a stake fueled by the guts of 27.5, cause this industry, The Man, just doesn't listen to the people's demands! We're gonna rise up and build a new world order of 24.5's, that are even more maneuverable, roll faster, less rotating weight than 26s and it's gonna work!". "Hey crazy, good luck on that"

22 0

mudmandhbrazil (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:21)

Thats a nice article from Interbike. Lots of photos and nice text to read the details....

richierocket (Sep 25, 2013 at 18:45)

PB heard our cry!

16 0

mitcht (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:03)

Those 40mm Derby Carbon rims look promising for $280! I've been waiting for the price point to come down from almost $1000/rim with Enve.

ajh4446 (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:38)

Exactly what I thought. Though my thought process went:

"Yay, affordable carbon rims......No, only in 650b and 29"

The majority of riders I know still ride 26", so why these aren't being offered I'll never know. If he changes his mind then I'll gladly be the first to order.

mamrd (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:34)

I am a happy customer of Derby, his rim is amazing. Lightweight, stiff and super wiiiide. And you can build it with your existing 260mm long spokes from your old 26" wheel, too.

mestapho (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:01)

Another extremely happy customer of Derby. 100 grams lighter than a FlowEX and more than a cm wider. This rim completely changes how a tire feels. It's an entirely different world of cornering and climbing traction.

11 1

leelau (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:05)

Those rims look badass. FYI he's planning to offer 26" rims but he's just one guy and slammed

deeeight (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:00)

There are 26" versions from the same factory in Asia, Phat Moose Cycles here in ottawa has their own Woven line of carbon rims and you can get complete wheelsets with 9QR/15QR - 135QR/142-12 convertible hubs for $1100 cdn.

www.phatmoosecycles.com

5 11

silvbullit (Sep 24, 2013 at 16:28) (Below Threshold)

Who is buying $280 rims?! What are they smoking?!

deeeight (Sep 24, 2013 at 16:56)

As far as carbon rims go, $280 is a bargain, and people who are about the absolute best in performance are the people buying them. Derby's already sold out of his initial couple shipments.

PLC07 (Sep 24, 2013 at 17:24)

I'm cheap and not sold on carbon but at 280$ for that width, I'd definitely consider them if I was on the market for that size of wheels. I think that says a lot on the pricing.

14 2

Saidrick (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:55)

Hello Kenda,

I was interested in purchasing your new tire, but you don't care about me, so I will go buy new tires from Maxxis.

Signed,

26" rider who likes 2.35" tires.

2 15

laynehip (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:01) (Below Threshold)

At least you have options.

I want a 26" tire that is 3.0" wide. Damn
I want a 10" travel fork. Damn
I want a long travel frame that has a reasonable bottom bracket height and not so slack of a headtube. Damn.

TomShark (Sep 24, 2013 at 15:06)

Michelin do a 2.6" wild grippr that rides more like 3.0", can't help with your ridiculous need for 10" upfront, but on that last want of yours, it already exists, all you need to do is go back to 2003!

Its-That-Guy (Sep 24, 2013 at 19:24)

Just buy an old stinky, has like a 1m high bb

Granitematt (Sep 24, 2013 at 19:54)

@laynehip - Here is a 12" travel fork for you. risseracing.com/store/product_info.php/cPath/21/products_id/60/osCsid/da04c508ee61307475b7f5989eaa15c6

jmc361 (Sep 25, 2013 at 10:45)

Other outlets are reporting that the 26 will be offered in 2.10 and 2.35. The thing isn't in production yet, so I guess the final specs could change.

rizz121 (Sep 25, 2013 at 17:01)

Am I the only one who dont like "tubeless ready" alias flat tire ready stupid f'king leaking standard?! UST is wayyy better imo.

Saidrick (Sep 25, 2013 at 17:20)

I have never tried UST, but when I tried Stan's, both the conversion and his rims, I found that the tires were always flat and a pain to re-inflate without an air compressor. So I run tubes and my bike is always ready to ride.

10 2

twozerosix (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:40)

As someone searching for a decent trail/AM frame for 26" wheels from a reputable manufacturer I have to say the exclusive move to the next coming of Jesus 27.5 Christmas is putting a screw in my bike future. "Hey dipwad, I know you've been riding mountain bikes for 23 years but your time is up, you need to save up five large and getcho self one a these here bikes".

Misery loves company however - I can't wait until some rocket scientist/marketing hack decides that the next big thing for ROADIES is 30" wheels, and that everyone should dump their 700c stuff. Oh the agony!

Cam86 (Sep 24, 2013 at 14:03)

Buy a carbon Devinci Dixon, they still make 'em

twozerosix (Sep 24, 2013 at 14:17)

yeah good call. I can be just like Stevie, already have the stasche.

gunners1 (Sep 24, 2013 at 23:23)

Banshee and Nukeproof Still make them, took me a while to find them both but they are there

Extremmist (Sep 25, 2013 at 2:00)

"decent trail/AM frame for 26" wheels from a reputable manufacturer"

Intense? Santa Cruz? Rotwild? I'm looking at frames quite regularly and while most of the manufacturers advertise mainly the 27;5" models, the choice of 26" frames is still wide enough.

ninjatasic (Sep 25, 2013 at 3:44)

Yeti's still runnin the sb-66 too

jaydawg69 FL (Sep 25, 2013 at 10:37)

Specialized Enduro and Stumpy EVO.

CaptainSnappy (Sep 25, 2013 at 11:36)

I rode 26ers since '86 and jumped to 29 for Trail/AM rides on the Shore and it's great. Worst case scenario, buy a new 26" frame, some new wheels and port the rest over. Whatever you do, it's gonna cost you. That's not a surprise.

twozerosix (Sep 25, 2013 at 12:38)

OK ok ok ...
5" to 6" aggro trail/AM bikes in 26" wheels:
Santa Cruz - Nomad
Intense - Carbine
Devinci - Dixon
Spec Ed - Enduro and Stumpy Evo
Yeti - SB66
Banshee - Rune, Spitfire
Rotwild - no USA distro
Nukeproof - Mega AM and TR (close cousins to the Transition Bandit)
Transition - Bandit, Covert
Cannondale - Jekyll
Turner - 5spot

But...
Rocky Mountain - nothing
Kona - nothing
Trek - nothing, well the Slash
Giant - nothing
Scott - nothing
BMC - nothing
Norco - nothing
GT - nothing

MortifiedPenguin (Sep 25, 2013 at 14:08)

HEY! YOU JUST JOINED THE 26" vs. 27.5" BATTLE! I AM ANG.....oh. Wait your post was actually useful. Carry on.

Extremmist (Sep 25, 2013 at 15:39)

You forgot Ellsworth - Moment

But anyway, you wanted a bike from reputable manufacturer and as long as I can choose between Santa Cruz, Intense, Banshee and Cannondale I don't gife a f*** if Giant or Scott do or don't make 26" bikes.

MortifiedPenguin (Sep 25, 2013 at 16:02)

As long as I can buy a 26" from the private sector (which will be forever) I'm happy

twozerosix (Sep 25, 2013 at 16:14)

Yup! Forgot Moment. Even though I had one. Sold it. Glad you like those manufacturers.

cool3 FL (Sep 25, 2013 at 18:26)

Hey Extremmist, I think it is NOT cool that Giant ditched all 26" wheels models for 2014. That could be a bad sign for other major brands like Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, etc.

Cam86 (Sep 25, 2013 at 18:31)

Rode the latest Trance last weekend, it was a very nice piece of kit. But I have a Carbon Dixon custom build to pick up Saturday that will blow it out of the water...

bholton (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:40)

"Jim Blackburn began welding up pro-quality touring racks when the USA turned 100 years old in 1976.."

In 1976 the United States celebrated its 200th birthday, not 100th.

Great Article, always good material from PB!

J-Chap (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:18)

I hoped someone else caught that

kdubsteezey (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:16) (Below Threshold)

Typical Canadians lol!!

16 0

RichardCunningham (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:20)

HAHA! I wish I had an excuse for that typo, I am, um, 'Mericun, RC

10 0

ryancoonya (Sep 24, 2013 at 15:00)

Ha, cracks me up that a Canadian had to correct this!

CaptainSnappy (Sep 27, 2013 at 14:04)

We's no dummies.

pdizzle (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:34)

Its fun to read about the stuff I will be riding in 10-15 years!

mega-turtle (Sep 24, 2013 at 13:04)

American classic stealing a bit of syntace's marketing blurb there..

"Bill's testing reveals that the combination of a wider rims and the next size smaller tire produces a lighter weight and better performing overall package than a larger tire on a conventional rim."

groghunter (Sep 24, 2013 at 16:38)

Because, from my experience, it's absolutely true. I'm hoping for "wide rim specific" tires to be everywhere next interbike, if they start shortening sidewalls to keep up with the trend, we'll start seeing some amazing improvements in performance.

mega-turtle (Sep 24, 2013 at 16:43)

I agree

Enduro27 (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:09)

FYI T-9 is the greatest lubricant ever and can fix anything

foggeloggliod (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:28)

i need to feel it to believe it.

compaqnc6340 (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:30)

it is, trust us aha

trozei (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:32)

It doubles as a multipurpose oil which is awesome. I use it on bolt threads all the time.

dirtworks911 (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:55)

Can it fix this? www.pinkbike.com/photo/10130922

Spykr (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:32)

No, but Stans will seal that RIIIIIGHT up!

bigburd (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:56)

Mr.zogs sexwax is pretty hard to beat

rck18 (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:02)

So, if I want American Classic's new wheelset, I have to replace my race-winning "26er?"

Fail.

WoodenCrow (Sep 25, 2013 at 20:06)

what he said!

jpcars10s (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:13)

If this means no more standard Nevegal, I better stock up on 2.35 tubeless DTC ones. Perfect front tire for my local trails!

kiponga (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:22)

So I have to have a 27.5" bike to get Nevegal bigger than 2.1"? Smart Kenda, the tire that is supposed to be so versatile comes in one crappy size for trail bikes.

rclugnut (Sep 24, 2013 at 17:12)

They're great up front but i can't stand them out back, i just feel like they slip around too much.

maxyedor (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:43)

That Tomac CX bike is dead sexy, Eli's dad doesn't need to evaluate that for future production, he needs to put it in a box and ship it to my LBS. Damn you Tomac, shut up and take my money!

throttlemire (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:51)

Excellent article again on PB! The trend toward wider rims is great to see. I had Gordos and now I'm running Velocity P35. Upgraded from Flow EX and instantly notice the differenc. They are heavier, but you can run 20psi with tubes and not worry about a pinch flat. The tires are so stable and don't "roll over" like they do on a narrower rim, even with low pressures. Not sure 40mm is needed. 32mm seems like the sweet spot. The American Classics seem to hit it perfect for weight, width and price.

CustardCountry (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:45)

So has ritchey basically designed an I-Beam seat rail?

Kimbers FL (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:02)

exactly what i was thinking

Spykr (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:38)

It looks like it's somewhere between traditional rails and the I-Beam system. If it worked for boy clamp types somehow, that'd be a product worth seeing, but...this looks like it's just some unnecessary BS to me.

GBeard (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:02)

Normal I-Beam seats have the entire length of the rail attached to the seat. A lot of the complaints with that is that it doesn't flex over the rails like a traditional seat. This seat appears to float over the rails so it might be the best of both worlds. Light weight of the I-Beam system with the comfort of a traditional seat. Sure, a good percentage of pinkbike readers don't care about this type of innovation but some do. XC racers or road bikers come to mind.

Iamwarthog FL (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:25)

Although it doesn't state this in the article, that "new" Ritchey saddle design is actually an update of something he did in the late 70's, well before any I-Beam saddles were introduced. That's the original one in the top right photo, which was a modified Avocet road saddle.

RichardCunningham (Sep 24, 2013 at 21:00)

Ritchey's design has more room between the beam and the saddle when compared to the I-Beam system, so you get the same comfort as a rail type.

Kimbers FL (Sep 25, 2013 at 2:40)

looks very much like the 'rails' on my I-beam fx saddle (which is comfy -for an i-beam)
www.sicklines.com/news-images/sdg_micro_adjust_seatpost3s.jpg

silvbullit (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:06)

Wide rims were a no-brainer since MX went that way 30 years ago, I wonder why it takes MTB so long to catch up. Just think of pinch flats being nearly impossible. Oh so dreamy. Make them available 26" like Syntace is doing please. How to you get the nipples in the American Classic rim anyway. Wouldn't Gorilla tape be easier?

genericmk (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:26)

Gorilla tape is not the best for tubless. AM Classic got it right, IMO. They're using Kapton tape which is thin, light and very hard to stretch (ie. over spoke drillings). I've run Gorilla tape and the glue didn't hold up to the sealant washing it out.

Check out light-bicycle.com's 33mm carbon AM rims for 26ers.

rzalewski6 (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:04)

Extra wide rims are great for opening up the tire contact patch. But much more susceptible to rock damage because the tire no longer sticks out and protects the rim. If you are running 2.4s or very wide, large volume tires they work well. But for a lot of riders who use the normal 2.2-2.35 medium volume tires in rocky terrain, the rims will suffer from a lot of rock hits. Why do we need a 40mm wide rim for trail riding when DH racers are using 28-32mm wide rims with larger tires?

silvbullit (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:33)

I have had many rock strikes on everything from my old 19mm XC rims to Rhyno Lite XLs that are 30mm wide. If the rock is going to hit a 30mm rim, it will most likely hit a 20mm rim. Enduro MX bikes still run the same width rims and they are constantly encountering rock gardens. I would prefer that rock to hit an aluminum rim as opposed to a wimpy tire casing that may or may not hold up against the rock in which case your ride/race might be over. The Pro DHers run whatever is under the umbrella of their sponsors. They are not worried about longevity so long as the rim makes it down the mountain one run, they will choose the lightest option available from their sponsor(s) and as of now, no large rim companies are offering wide rims. There is less tendancy to pinch-flat, far more resistance to burping tubeless, and nearly none of the odd squirminess on hard transitions and aggressive cornering at low tire pressures. There are multiple articles here on Pinkbike and around the 'net about the drastic benefits of wider rims. It is the future but rim-makers have to re-tool to make them and that costs $$. That being said I think carbon rims are dumber than dumb. My rear rim (27mm) has so many rock strikes that the carbon would be severely compromised. And that is from just a couple days at resorts for Enduro races.

genericmk (Sep 24, 2013 at 13:11)

Going wide on aluminum is tough. If you look at the Pacenti (Velocity) 35mm rims and the Syntace ones, they're approaching coke can thin. They're very prone to denting as a result. You may have a bias about carbon but it's the only material we currently have to allows us to go wide while retaining structural integrity. I had very similar doubts until I saw that Santa Cruz clip of the carbon Nomad getting bashed on a concrete corner without issue. Can't imagine rock strikes are going to be worse. Carbon rims are not perfect, yet, but rock strikes is not what typically kills them; it's either spokes pulling out or the tire bead cracking.

silvbullit (Sep 24, 2013 at 16:21)

I have not yet seen any of the wide rims in person, if they are real thin than they should probably thicken them some. I am content with a 530 gram rim so long as it takes a beating, if it is wide enough than you can save some weight running a lighter tire. I was surprised at how light the Syntace 33mm rim was (somewhere around the mid-400s) and I sorta wondered about durability since that is approaching tolerable XC weight for a 26" hoop. Unless there is a carbon fiber rim that comes with a reasonable price and a disclaimer that I can gouge the s#!t out of it and still retain strength than I will still gladly take the weight penalty of aluminum. I have broken a carbon bar and frame with zero scratches that I could see so I am a little jaded on carbon.

groghunter (Sep 24, 2013 at 16:31)

Have you guys seriously never heard of Spank? spank-ind.com/index.php?a=info&do=pro&id=4&tid=4 heavier than most rims? yes. Can you make up more than that by going down one tire size? yes. and you get a better contact patch by doing so. That said, those carbon 40mm rims are the first thing that makes me seriously consider building a carbon wheelset.

rzalewski6 (Sep 24, 2013 at 23:21)

Wide tires with a durable casing protect the rims from damage, i think that's pretty obvious. Pinch flats don't exist if you are up with the times and run tubeless. I know some riders who run 35mm rims with 2.25" tires and it's nothing but rock hits and dings. Just saying I think wider than 30 ish is overkill for most applications.

silvbullit (Sep 25, 2013 at 9:13)

I run tubeless and pinch flat (gash) the tires with anything less than 40psi on a 27mm rim. Granted I do not brake for rock gardens. For the Killington (and Attitash for that matter) enduro, everyone and myself were scrambling for DH casing tires (read: 950+ grams) because tubeless or not, everyone was flatting. I have two automotive tire patches on the inside of my EXO 2.5 Minions from pinch flatting the tire on the rim while tubeless. It is physically MUCH less likely when the rim is wider by a large amount. My rims do not need protection from rocks because they are aluminum, but my tires do because they are very thin rubber. Rims getting gouged by rocks will not ruin a ride or race run but a flat will. When we are trying to make lighter rotating mass, if the rim can remain the same weight and gain a little width while allowing for a lighter tire as a result, than we have just made progress even without regard for flatting, burping or cornering stability improvements.

mamrd (Sep 25, 2013 at 11:59)

Where alum rim gets dented/weakened, carbon rim usually escapes with a shallow surface scratch affecting the cosmetics but not its integrity. Carbon fiber is a superior material for many applications including rims, period. At 440g, the Derby rim is much stiffer and stronger than a 570g P35, which is also significantly narrower. A wide rim gets your wide tires a real nice profile. And it rocks tubeless, too.

lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cytHZokSoeo/UitEQZ_Eh9I/AAAAAAAAD1s/BVWr52HQ6bw/s800/CAM00256.jpg

silvbullit (Sep 26, 2013 at 8:19)

For me and probably lot of guys that just want to ride, the price of carbon is ridiculous. In reality we are thrashing our bikes through the woods, bouncing off rocks and roots and that exotic of a material is for the .5% of riders with deep pockets. The irony is that, at least locally, the $5k+ bikes are usually piloted by the slow guys. MX bikes have contemplated that route before without success as the consensus seems to be that the cost is not worth the weight savings. I concur.

jtorlando25 (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:55)

"enduro" tires.....

dirtnapped (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:02)

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love following Enduro races, and the one I did was one of the funnest things I've ever done, but this latest catch phrase had gotten out of control.

jtorlando25 (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:38)

I'm with you. I've never done an enduro race though it does seem like it would be a blast. But holy hell the marketing game is getting ridiculous!

justincs (Sep 24, 2013 at 16:05)

i need enduro tyre levers, mine only work on 26er's......

reddirtrides (Sep 25, 2013 at 3:20)

I have an enduro tie, I use it for work every day, It is pretty much the same as all my other ties, just has the words "enduro" on it in neon green. I paid 237$ for it.

PHeller (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:51)

Hurray for solid Interbike Coverage. The DH World Cup finale probably distracted everyone from interbike, so its good we're still able to see some of the new releases.

sngltrkmnd (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:35)

This is the kind of stuff I was hoping to see from Vegas on Pinkbike. Still waiting for more info on new Transitions, Canfields, Diamondback, Ventana, Intense, Seven, Sycip, Ibis, Evil, and other smaller brands.

PHeller (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:20)

I got railed on for making a comment on the women's gear post that I felt like the women's stuff got more coverage than the new bikes. I'm glad the women's stuff is getting coverage, but like you said, there are lots of new bikes from the manufactures we're not seeing.

deeeight (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:03)

Anyone else catch the bit where RC used the word "diameter" in place of width throughout the article. Apparently the Wide Lightning rims were 32mm Outside diameter and 29.3 inside diameter, the 27.5 version nevegal pro is 2.35" diameter, etc...

Mutly (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:38)

I tried the new Advanced Reinforced 2.35" Michelin Wild Grip'R 'Enduro' tyres and am pleased with them. However, they certainly do not 'run larger than most' as written. I have no idea about the other tyres from the range but the Wild Grip'R sizes up a little narrow on width and a little on the small side on outside diameter. Hence, like a High Roller 1, its carcass width makes it less prone to aquaplaning through mud puddles compared to the big carcass offerings that I have seen from the likes of Schwalbe, Continental and Specialized. That just helps make it a little more versatile in UK & Alpine weather conditions than some I believe. I am not ignoring that bigger carcass tyres will protect your rims better and might have ride quality benefits.

Maverickdh00 (Sep 24, 2013 at 12:19)

PMach 6 is a sweet looking bike, well thought out. Also big fan lf those Yakima bedrock fittings and racks awesome! Really on the wider rim Bill smaller tire, are these guys serious and just figuring this out now, Ive been saying this for over ten years but Im just a rider not a wheel desinger or manafacuter so wth would I know, just amazing.

wildwood (Sep 24, 2013 at 14:56)

Tomac and Planet X, hope all goes well this time around but please provide replacement parts and warranty support for the older Tomac frames (it was lifetime) or just slap all your old customers in the face. I have a 2009 Snyper and replacement pivot hardware is currently obsolete as I found out while trying to replace some broken hardware that has now rendered the bike useless. I ended up buying a new bike (Banshee) and am recycling some of the Tomac's parts onto a hardtail frame. I wouldn't mind getting my Tomac rolling again. Bike was a ripper but I can't say I would trust your brand to be around anymore. This is Tomac's third try, hopefully it's the charm and lasts more than a few years.

Exbmxpro (Sep 27, 2013 at 3:35)

I second the comments above. I have a 2010 Automatic 120 and a last year Vanish 160. Both are awesome bikes in their categories, light, great handling and pedal really well. Far better than many of the established brands more expensive offerings. The marketing is what let them down. The tape measure even suggests that the Vanish was designed to take 27.5 wheels ( gonna try it soon). I see no need for radical reworking, just subtle tweaks, colour choices more than black or white and some strong aggressive marketing. Good luck and yes, please honour the lifetime warranty.....

LiquidFlame8 (Sep 25, 2013 at 3:19)

Boeshield T-9 Lubricant is seriously some good stuff. it seeps through thread and is awesome to use on shifters and Derailleur parallelograms

mackienz (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:09)

Cant believe no one else sees it but that one industries full face helmet is the s★it.. red heads never did it for me before but this one does

macross87 (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:28)

Park Spork to accompany my Park Pizza Slicer. Awesome!!!

nohyphens (Sep 24, 2013 at 15:57)

it's perfect for when you eat shit on the trail!

el-nombre FL (Sep 25, 2013 at 14:51)

I've got the pizza cutter too (thanks Santa). Sure likes going rusty though. The crappy supermarket brand one is better (apart from not looking like a bike).

jrocksdh (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:51)

I'm confused with the fairwheel bike from 2003...?
Are we showing 10-11 years of progress or is that a typo?
Where was shimano's answer to 1x11 and/or rumored trailbike e-shifting?

Masenc (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:43)

The Cheribum was built less than a month ago

nsp234 FL (Sep 24, 2013 at 13:21)

Yay! American classic just beat Syntaces ass. Wider wheels quite a bit lighter. Only thing is the Syntaces look better. And they're selling the rims separately, which saved me some money.

mega-turtle (Sep 25, 2013 at 1:16)

They look nice, but that beat just looks stupidly small, one tiny dent and it won't seal tubeless, and tyres are going to be almost impossible to mount on the trail with a 1-2mm bead hook

mattsavage (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:06)

Give me those Shimano shoes and Tomacs bike, and I'm set for the winter...

pbrazil (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:25)

Those Deuter packs are amazing. I have a big one for backpacking and it's VERY appreciated on a hot day.

Karpiel073 (Sep 24, 2013 at 23:51)

Say what you want, but in the end as long as I can still buy somewhat inexpensive parts to just get out and ride, I will be a happy camper.

rootbird (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:37)

That Pivot is going to break speed records.

mtbkr2006 (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:06)

That pivot looks cool but I think they might have an issue with that cable routing...

ryanmtb93 (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:28)

that fatbikes rear wheel is looking a bit low on PSI, even for a fatbike...

crossland (May 5, 2014 at 11:41)

Hi Guys Does any body out there have diy plans the y will share for a cycle rack to fit a tow hitch (l200)

superbikes (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:58)

Park tool gloves you can do murders in :-)

Saidrick (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:57)

Great article, RC. Tomac, Furtado, and Ritchey in the same article . Well played.

dgm10 (Sep 24, 2013 at 20:09)

Hey Mr. Tomac, your chain is on backwards.

reddirtrides (Sep 25, 2013 at 3:21)

park tools gloves... where can I buy??

wake-n-rake (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:07)

Phantom Flange - I'd buy that.

eatridegrow (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:14)

Is the XT wheelset hub compatible with 11 speed?

Lmackall6 (Sep 24, 2013 at 8:48)

Can I put Stan's in those Nevegals?

og-squid-mtb (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:23)

Pivot Cycles taking over

sngltrkmnd (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:43)

What model Kenda is on that Loaded wheel?

kwymore (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:49)

the same one's mentioned earlier in the article. nevegal x.

machuqueiro (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:37)

soo many brands going to china just to change the stikers of the rims

EnduroriderPL (Sep 24, 2013 at 11:59)

John Thomac with road bike - the world is ending

RichardCunningham (Sep 24, 2013 at 12:05)

It gets worse: JT quietly asked me if I had spent any time on a fatbike. Then he admitted that he had been riding his all the time. Who's going to argue with a guy who can climb technical ascents on a road bike and follow Gwinn down a DH track on a big bike? Not me.
RC

deeeight (Sep 24, 2013 at 23:39)

Hardly newsworthy.... John Tomac was a member of the 7-11 and motorola professional road teams in 1990-91.

twozerosix (Sep 25, 2013 at 12:29)

Unlike Bob Roll, who couldn't survive in the mountain bike world (coulda been his bike), Tomac kicked ass in both disciplines.

EnduroriderPL (Sep 27, 2013 at 21:36)

JT should have court order to pose only with MTB bikes. I don't mind fat bikes.

Axxe (Sep 24, 2013 at 14:06)

I want those shoes.

Lilshredman (Sep 24, 2013 at 16:06)

I love me some Park Tools, they are unbeatable!

chris9888 (Sep 24, 2013 at 16:39)

Pivot M6! Can't wait for Pinkbike test review!!!

DBomberMan (Sep 24, 2013 at 20:33)

Mach 6. I...MUST...HAVE...

wozhoubo (Sep 24, 2013 at 23:03)

Always give a person the sense of flashy PIOVT bike.

mctavish (Sep 24, 2013 at 7:28)

Great article guys

roddo24 (Sep 24, 2013 at 10:25)

why no dh

dockjump (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:52)

WOW, there is a whole lot of "don't give a shit" in this article.

taskmgr (Sep 24, 2013 at 14:02)

THAT PIVOT!!!

rippinrob (Sep 24, 2013 at 15:50)

michelin finally made their own maxxis clone, only took em 15 yrs...

mojojojoaf (Sep 24, 2013 at 17:03)

Juliana frickin Furtado. Awesome.

Tonyota (Sep 24, 2013 at 9:55)

How can such a claim be made. The 'Legend' that is Steve Peat has surely surpassed Mr Vouilloz!

RichardCunningham (Sep 24, 2013 at 21:05)

um, ten world championships....

deeeight (Sep 24, 2013 at 23:46)

eight CONSECUTIVE world championships (junior 92/93/94 and senior 95/96/97/98/99) and then another two in 2001 and 2002. Also 4 time world cup DH series champion. Steve Peat has a SINGLE world championship and 3 World Cup DH titles. He has passed him in world cup DH event wins (17 vs 16) though.

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