The MTB Hopper booth had two ramps set up out front and it was a popular attraction for the shreddy kids out there. The brand makes everything from small kickers to large, send-ready lips that are adjustable and relatively portable.
The top-level XT build on Trailcraft's Timber Carbon. The Timber Carbon is one of Trailcraft's 26" options and weighs in at just over 19 lbs at the lightest - much lighter than most kids' bikes, though any bike is heavy compared to a kid's body weight. The brand's stated goal is to create the lightest production 26" bike to make biking as manageable as possible for kids.
Trailcraft offers both full suspension and hardtail options, with builds ranging from entry-level to top-of-the-line. Each bike is built to order at the company's Colorado facility.
The enviable kids' bikes these days are definitely the coolest way to get to school.
TRP continues to push toward 2.3 mm rotors for everything except XC.
I know I already put this in another article, but come one, just look at it.
Not one, but two sets of magnetic pedals.
Lots of brands, like Diamondback, have full demo fleets available. Diamondback had its Release trail bike line at the event, along with some e-commuters, gravel bikes, and some of Redline's urban bikes.
Session is a Brazilian brand that makes, well, a bit of everything. The latest is some chain lube, but there are also carbon handlebars, tire inserts, aluminum and carbon wheels, and much more.
Those frame graphics...
I found a happy home for myself at the snack tent. Thanks, Enduro Bites.
@Unrealityshow: @tacklingdummy definitely don't forget to stretch. My observations are also that cyclists forget to stretch the inner leg muscles, this is imperative for balancing of the tissue in the legs.
@nickfranko: Strengthening as well as stretching all of the muscles. You can't have strength without stability or mobility. Hence targeting all of the muscle groups. Having worked with a variety of demographics, most people would stretch (if but briefly), quads, and hamstrings. Some times would stretch glutes and calves. Calves/Soleus and "groin" muscles play a HUGE role in cycling, and many people omit stretching those groups.
@kazwei: I get it for a family that does casual rides with their kids and want to extend their reach. Kids that are in to mountainbiking and love playing around with their bikes don´t fly for those heavy tanks. My son loves the DH part but is not a fan of the uphill part (can´t blame him at 7 years of age) but he rather pedals up the hill or asks me for a tow than having to ride a e bike which is about the same as his body weight. But I can see that kids e bikes can make sense for some.
@chize: Our local weird-ass (in a good way) bike park, SkyPark, just put in a little course with Stacyc electric balance bikes that the little ones can zoom around on. My 5yo, who rides a pedal MTB, took a few laps on one and loved it. My 3yo, who is a little more cautious than his older brother, and isn't on a pedal bike yet but can balance his strider, tried it out. Even in the slowest setting it was too much for him. He grabbed a whole handful of throttle, crashed, and didn't want to get back on.
Related: SkyPark isn't lift-served, you gotta pedal back up, but eBikes are allowed. That's where I typically see parents on eBikes towing kids.
So Graves doing eEWS? With Hill also sampling it in Tweed, joining Vouilloz it's shaping up to be the retirement EWS for the already retired DH legends.
2.3 rotors should be standard on all bikes. Not the biggest TRP fan but they get huge props from me for this. MTB brakes are, as a rule, puny. Fatter rotors is the first step towards making them actually fit for purpose.
I just don't think it was necessary for the majority of bikers and adds unsprung weight. The only other place I can even recall a vented rotor on a 2-wheel vehicle is on the rear wheel of a Repsol Honda MotoGP bike. Either way though, this is going to be a superior design to just making the rotor twice as thick.
@Sweatypants: Yeah I remember when those vented rotors came out. I run Hope v4's on my DH bike so could actually fit vented rotors if I wanted, but like you I figure they are overkill for all but the heaviest riders. They are 3mm thick though. I think 2.2mm is plenty enough to add a bit of stiffness to mtbs traditionally overly-bendy rotors, without the extra cost or complication of the central vented layer. To be fair, I'd happily run the hope vented rotors if they were cheaper. As it is, I'll buy some TRP's and be happy.
@gabriel-mission9: I'd say their use would be more relational to your speed + duration of braking, duration being the key factor there. Probably come in handy on like some Megavalance type deal or something that is steep forever and ever. or Psychosis. The 2.3 with more material will I guess just be able to fight off the heat for a little bit longer, its still not gonna dissipate it like the vents will and I'm sure will still soak given enough time. To the one point you made though, I feel like every single time I buy new rotors, at least one of them has some tiny bend in it that needs to be straightened no matter who its from. Maybe it'll help that. Or maybe it'll just make it harder to bend straight haha.
@Sweatypants: Yes and no. A rider that is twice the weight has twice the energy to get rid of. On any given track you start at the top stationary, and end at the bottom stationary, so the amount of work the brakes have done basically works out as the altitude lost times the weight of the bike+rider. It's not quite as simple as that, but that is roughly it. So yeah braking duration does have a big effect, but on similar tracks heavier riders need bigger/more efficient brakes to achieve the same heat dissipation.
But yeah, my main issue is how bendy rotors are. If they aren't wobbly when they arrive, they will be after the first time you donk them on a rock or something. It's really bloody irritating. 2.3mm rotors are gonna bend waaaay less than 1.8mm rotors. Straight rotors provide much better stopping power than bent rotors, so basically 2.3mm rotors should make your brakes noticeably better, with the only downside being a very small weight increase.
@gabriel-mission9: sure fair enough. on short park laps and little bursts though they have a better recovery time. I know it has an effect, but me being 30-40lbs. more than the next guy would seem to have less of an effect than dragging them for 2 miles straight without letting up. Either way though... even one of my new Hopes had a slight bump that I had to straighten out. Seems totally fine now, but to your point, maybe that will happen less. at least floating rotors are floating. Nothing like having that with a 1-piece straight out the package to really harsh your mallow.
Curious what the stroke is on Curtis' Epic Evo shock (and the yellow one behind his). I'm guessing it's overstroked for more than the stock 110mm. Been wanting to try this on mine, but Specialized says the flexstays won't handle anything more. Anyone know??
I just walked past that exact Cake bike model locked up to a bike rack in NYC in Midtown East. Amazed it was still there. Crappy lock. Bike looks tough!
Is 12 that unusual though? Just done my trance and I think it had 12. GFs fuel ex is now in bits, there's 12 on there so I assume the same on most (all?) ABP bikes.
That said halfway through the job I was heard to be shouting "f*ck it, I'm buying an Orange".
@thegoodflow: I've ridden e-bikes for three years with not one digital/electrical failure...none. I have had to do the ballaching job of change bearings on each bike, twice per bike. I do 2-3,000 miles a year in the shite. But your opinion was insightful and helpful. Thankyou.
Has anybody tried the magnetic pedals? Clip pedals hold your feet in and you can get out predictably. I don't know if you could say the same about magnets.
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Look up Ben Patrick, aka @kneesovertoesguy
Has literally been a life-changer for me.
My son loves the DH part but is not a fan of the uphill part (can´t blame him at 7 years of age) but he rather pedals up the hill or asks me for a tow than having to ride a e bike which is about the same as his body weight.
But I can see that kids e bikes can make sense for some.
been out for a few years.
Related: SkyPark isn't lift-served, you gotta pedal back up, but eBikes are allowed. That's where I typically see parents on eBikes towing kids.
i0.heartyhosting.com/www.bikemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/wpid-Hope_Vented_rotor.jpg?resize=1200%2C600&ssl=1
I just don't think it was necessary for the majority of bikers and adds unsprung weight. The only other place I can even recall a vented rotor on a 2-wheel vehicle is on the rear wheel of a Repsol Honda MotoGP bike. Either way though, this is going to be a superior design to just making the rotor twice as thick.
To be fair, I'd happily run the hope vented rotors if they were cheaper. As it is, I'll buy some TRP's and be happy.
But yeah, my main issue is how bendy rotors are. If they aren't wobbly when they arrive, they will be after the first time you donk them on a rock or something. It's really bloody irritating. 2.3mm rotors are gonna bend waaaay less than 1.8mm rotors. Straight rotors provide much better stopping power than bent rotors, so basically 2.3mm rotors should make your brakes noticeably better, with the only downside being a very small weight increase.
That said halfway through the job I was heard to be shouting "f*ck it, I'm buying an Orange".
I'll see myself out.
Esp with all the nor cal c19 mandates; rampage and sedona so close too.
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