Transition Bikes - Sea Otter 2010

Transition Bikes is located in Ferndale, Washington and is a rider built brand through and through. For 2010 they have really taken a big step into the scene of gravity racing with their new DH team (Lars Sternberg, Bryn Atkinson and Jill Kintner) and the introduction of the TR450, as well as the refined Double and Bank models.

Details and pics inside,I think that it would have been impossible to have left the Sea Otter and not have covered the newest Transition offerings. Ok maybe that was because they all have my cell number and made sure to make it known that Kevin was looking for me. Kevin and I were able to find some shade and really go over the changes to the Bank hard tail, the fully retooled Double, subtle changes to the Covert and we even woke Bryn up for a picture too.

The original Double has a lot of friends in the Slope Style world and our own Casey Groves has been throwing down on his for a few years now. Like all good machines, times change and things need to be updated and revamped, enter the new Double.


Details:
-The new tapered head tube is joined with an all new proprietary tube set that is internally reinforced and has no need for external gussets. This tube set can also be found on the Bank hard tail.


-All sharp/square edges have been machined away from areas like the shock mount link. Bearing caps have received some extra love aesthetically too.



-The new Double has two travel settings in the rear that can be adjusted via their "Potato Chip". Initially calling the "Chip" something else, Transition was approached and told that the word they were using was actually copy written and that they could not use it. Having a good sense of humor for the bike industry's on going patent and copy write woes, they came up with the "Potato Chip". The two settings are Salted (100mm) and Unsalted (80mm), so you should be able to dial in your preferred set up.


-The rear derailleur cable has internal routing options through the chainstay like the TR450 now too.

-Jill Kintner won the Pro Women Dual Slalom at this year's Sea Otter Classic on her new Double.


Here are more details on the new Double that were released just prior to the Sea Otter.

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The Covert is Transition's AM bike offering and after a very successful year, it remains unchanged besides graphically for this season. You'll still find the tapered head tube, 160mm of rear travel and ISCG tabs. New colorways are White, Red and Blue.





Check out our long term test on the Covert from last season.

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The Bank has seen some retooling since its first introduction and now shares the same front end tube set as the Double with its tapered head tube and internally gusseted top and down tubes.






The drop out system is what really set the Bank apart from other hard tails in this class. The ease of wheel tension adjustment is stupid easy and has been made even easier on this newest Bank.




The bottom bracket and ISCG tabs are all made from one piece of aluminum for strength and precision.

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Kevin also had a new pedal to check out that was mounted up to Kyle's bike. Not a lot of details on them at this time, so enjoy the pics.

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Just before I left, Bryn was getting up from a nap and I got him to give us a posse with his all new TR450.



www.transitionbikes.com