Randoms: Crankworx Whistler 2015
Five Ten have a range of new shoes on display at their booth here at Whistler Crankworx. Although their reps were a bit shy to divulge any information as to these new products, the majority of the shoes appeared to be women-specific versions of the Maltese Falcons and Freeriders. For the men's range, there were various new colors and what looked like a fresh version of the Freeriders with lace covers.
Lots of new features and colors, but we were refused any specific information.
 | I've been riding A-Line, Crank It Up and Freight Train today. I made chunks of the trike myself, but you can buy most of the kit out of Utah. I just adapted it to make it work on the Aurum. The only way to go is 24" wheels on the back. I can't ride a two wheeler to save my life, so this lets me ride. I've had lots of years on trikes. When they came up with this kit, it made it easier to do downhill. I used to do cross-country and I didn't bother with downhill because we would break axles and stuff all the time. Joel Capplet |
The trike uses a Shimano Alfine hub for transmission.
Two brake levers, one controlling a caliper on the left wheel and the another on the right, are fixed together for even braking.
Brian Earle built his 'Smash Master' in his garage in North Vancouver.
| It's a trail bike with DH geometry, fillet brazed 4130 true tempered seat and head tubes, and the rest is all aircraft-grade chromoly. I just fillet brazed it in my garage with a torch and cut it with a hacksaw and hand files, no jig, it was all free-fit using some old school techniques. The main pivot is a 44mm head tube with two upper headset caps pressed in and then a steerer tube used as the main axle. Then I used pinch bolts to attach the swingarm to the axle, and bearing preload is done with star nuts on either side. Yeah, it rides really well. I finally put a good shock on it and it's pretty sweet. I tried to have it built last year for the EWS, but I got a metal shard in my hand, never finished it and had to ride blind on a borrowed bike. I'm pretty stoked that last year's plans have come together this year! Head tube angle is 64.5-degrees, and the seat tube angle is 74-ish, with 432mm chain stays. The wheelbase is 1206mm, so that's in large-sized DH bike territory, but in a medium-sized frame. It has157mm rear travel, matched with a 160mm fork. No plans to make them for anybody else, just for my own pleasure. It's a project I have wanted to do for ages. I had a tax return come in and decided to buy the torches and stuff to finally make it happen. It rides really well, I'm stoked! Brian Earle |
Alpinestars Pathfinder Shorts and Mesa LS Jersey
Alpinestars have some new kit launching this week here at Crankworx Whistler. This retro styled Mesa long sleeve jersey and Pathfinder short have a slim, 'enduro-aero' fit and details like credit card/cash pocket, lens cleaner and a sturdy waist adjustment.
Brian Lopes' intense Tracer 275c appears to have a prototype X-Fusion fork
Brian Lopes is in town to race the Fox Air DH and a few other events using this X-Fusion damped Intense Tracer. It looks like a Revel fork up front, but all black, instead of the gold prototypes that have been seen over the last few years. Judging by the adjusters on top of the right fork leg, it looks like the new Roughcut HLR damper found on the Sweep and Trace series of forks is inside of Lopes' Revel.
Smith says that its Squad Goggles are the first design it has offered that were made specifically for mountain bikers.
Scottish Enduro racer Chris Hutchens is one of the first guys to get his hands on the new Smith Squad mountain bike-specific goggle. It will be interesting to see how they fair in adverse conditions with the foam-less ventilation area. Chris said he had no issues with fogging or any foreign objects getting in there yesterday when he rode to 39th place in the EWS race.
The successful Carve knee pad from iXS has been updated for 2016 in to the Carve EVO. A little extra padding above the main knee pad and straps than double up on themselves so they won't wear against the fabric of the pad. Also the Velcro has been upgraded to a more robust medical grade where the loops are sewn through the material rather than just glued or bonded on top. The X-Matter foam has has improved ventilation and sweat channels and they offer eight 8 sizes to suit young kids all the way through to XXL adults.
iXS also have a whole new range of clothing, including this 'Backcountry Collection' which is made entirely from PET recycled plastic bottles. All of the 2016 clothing range is made from this fabric which is said to be breathable, wicking, quick-drying, anti-bacterial and gives UV protection. There's plenty of other features including laser cut mesh ventilation and lens wipes. iXS sales manager Marco Hofer says, "the 2016 collection is 100% rider approved and inspired by Geoff Gulevich, Dan, Rachel and Gee Atherton. The feedback of those riders are enormously valuable in order to improve existing or to develop entirely new products."
iXS says in its press information: "We take responsibility. As a company that manufactures and markets top-quality sports textiles, we are concerned to give due weight to the aspect of sustainability. Sustainability is a product property, a lifestyle, a conviction, and above all a responsibility - not just in the area of raw materials, but also in connection with the procurement and processing of those materials, and right through to the distribution of the finished product on the global market. We would like to ensure in the middle term that appropriate aims are pursued and realized in this area, so as to realize successive optimizations in our production processes, in development and in the products themselves - with the aim of bringing about sustainable and lasting change."
Britney White is racing the Fox Air Downhill on her new Evil. White was stoked with it and says that it seemed to be carrying way more speed than downhill bikes on the smooth, high speed race track. We spotted another Evil earlier this week which was actually a long travel 29er. Britney's Insurgent, however, has 160mm of travel and 27.5" wheels. The carbon frame members are huge, especially at the head tube junction and chainstays. One feature we have never seen is the top chain guide molded into the frame.
The head tube junction is massive, and it looks like there's an option for stealth dropper post routing.
The new Trailforks app from Pinkbike is now online, expect the full launch sometime this week. Click here to get started now.
MENTIONS: @FiveTen / @norcobicycles
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I myself was dreaming when I typed that ^
Clipless riders get velcro. You're welcome
Flats riders don't get velcro. Sorry about the loose laces.
I want one!
Kudos to that man for giving the bike industry the finger with a smile.
Also want to get my hands on those goggles!
www.pinkbike.com/u/shirk-007/album/Smashy-Bike-Build
Are the goggles just for looks? The only reason I wear goggles is for all the dust, especially at mammoth.
-CF-
I can never understand why mountain bikers would want others not to enjoy themselves. If you love the sport so much, shouldn't you be understanding of why other riders might as well? I don't like cyclocross, but they are on bikes that aren't dissimilar to the one you're riding. You also appear to live in Edmonton - a major city with higher population. There are ways to have less crowded trails: build more, build in secret, or go elsewhere.
I do get your point man, I was just trying to help. Next time ask before you build, I've done the opposite several times; also, nothing lasts forever, so let those trails go.