Deity, Guerrilla Gravity, Race Face - Sea Otter 2014

Apr 12, 2014 at 10:50
by Mike Kazimer  
Deity Bladerunner pedals
Deity's new Bladerunner pedal.

Deity Components

The Bladerunner is the latest addition to Deity's pedal lineup, featuring a thin (11mm), wide platform with 10 traction pins on each side to keep riders' feet securely in place. The aluminum platform measures 105mm x 100mm, and the claimed weight of a pair is 378 grams. Inside the Bladerunners a chromoly axle rotates on a DU bushing and sealed cartridge bearing combination. There's also an adjustable spin resistance feature, and the pedals can be serviced without being removed from the bike. Although pricing is still to be determined, the pedals are expected to be available this fall in black, red, green, purple, and blue anodized color options.

Deity Cryptkeeper Blacklabel handlebars
The Cryptkeeper gets a tapered headtube for 2015, and the Blacklabel bars gain more rise options.

Deity's popular Cryprkeeper frame has undergone a slight revision for 2015, gaining a tapered headtube and losing some weight in the process. The 5.1 pound, singlespeed-only frame keeps the same proven geometry as the previous version, but the switch to a tapered headtube will give riders a greater number of front fork options. MSRP: $479.

Riser bars seem to be making a comeback, and to meet the demand Deity announced that their aluminum Blacklabel handlebars will be available this fall in 25mm and 38mm versions, in addition to the 15mm rise currently on the market. The 787mm bars have a 9 degree bend and 5 degrees of upsweep, and are expected to weigh in at 310 grams with 25mm of rise, and 316 with 38mm of rise. Colors: bead blast black, red, greeen, purple, blue anodized. MSRP: $95 USD. www.deitycomponents.com


Guerrilla Gravity Megatrail
The Guerrilla Gravity Megatrail.

Guerrilla Gravity

Guerrilla Gravity is an young company based in Denver, Colorado, that is trying to make their mark by offering simple, full suspension bikes that are made in the United States. Their first bike was the GG/DH, an 8" travel single pivot DH bike that's billed as being for the working man, the rider who wants a reliable bike they can ride hard and put away wet without losing precious time to maintenance needs. The Megatrail is the follow up to this initial offering, a 150 or 160mm, link-driven single pivot machine. The crew at Guerrilla Gravity wanted a bike that felt as much like a downhill bike as possible on the descents while still being pedal-friendly, so they designed the Megatrail with two distinctly different geometry modes, Trail and Gravity. Switching the bike to Gravity mode, which is done by changing the rear shock bolt position, drops the head angle from 66.5 to 65.5 degrees, and also lowers the bottom bracket from 13.3 inches to 12.7 inches. This change also alters the leverage curve, and Guerrilla Gravity says there is more mid-stroke support in Trail mode and less in Gravity mode. Looking at other geometry numbers, the Megatrail has a roomy front center, and its top tube length of 635mm puts it on the longer end of what's currently on the market. The Megatrail is available for either 26" or 27.5" wheels in sizes XS-Large. Frame only: $1925 USD. www.ridegg.com

Guerrilla Gravity Megatrail
The Megatrail uses a link driven single pivot suspension design and can be switched between Trail and Gravity mode by changing the rear shock bolt position.


Race Face Indy knee
The Indy knee pad's minimalist design uses a layer of D30 for impact protection and one velcro strap to keep things in place.

Race Face

We're big fans of Race Face's Charge leg guards, which have thin layer of foam at the front of the knee covered with a Kevlar reinforced fabric that offers a bit more abrasion resistance than your typical Lycra knee warmers would. The problem is, despite their super comfortable fit and low profile design, the Charge guards don't actually offer any impact protection (and Race Face never claimed that they did). To solve this, Race Face designed the Indy knee guard, which takes the best attributes of the Charge and adds the impact protection of D3O, along with an upper velcro strap to prevent them from moving position. The guards slip on, and have a mesh backing to help prevent things from getting too steamy on long rides. Available in sizes S-XXL, the Indy knee pads retail for $69.99 USD. www.raceface.com



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59 Comments
  • 32 4
 I personally like Guerrilla Gravity's marketing scheme. The best newest, most expensive bikes are nice to have, but companies like this are needed for those who can't dish out megathousands, but still want a nice working bike
  • 45 1
 that frame still costs two grand. The 'working-man' blurb was more about reliability and low maintenance.
  • 9 2
 Indeed. You can get El Guapo for half that.
Or add $500 and get a Nicolai frame.
  • 7 1
 on-one codine frame set. 1350 with ccdba. nuff said.

never been a niner guy, but im thinking about it now Wink
  • 4 1
 That's just the price you pay for good quality stuff that's made in country. One of the trail guides at Trestle bike park is sponsored by Guerrilla Gravity and he loves their downhill bike. They're pretty bomb-proof too.
  • 8 15
flag poozank (Apr 12, 2014 at 14:29) (Below Threshold)
 Supporting local companies is cool but they also need to be worthy of support. Personally the bike does nothing for me, its a dime a dozen link actuated single pivot. Something new and radical I could get behind but not a generic run of the mill design for boutique prices.
  • 8 1
 @poozank: Functional design, aesthetically pleasing, great frame geometry and easy to maintain. So its everything that Spec, Giant plastic bikes aren`t and the buck and jobs stays in the neighbourhood. Yes, they are worthy of you supporting a small machine shop instead of a multinational parking your dollars on the Caymans while running sweatshops throughout Asia and polluting your planet.
  • 2 0
 I bought an el Guapo last year when I snapped my banshee.and couldn't afford a $2000 frame...I have been really impressed with it for the money
  • 5 0
 I've got the Guerrilla Gravity GG/DH. I'd say it's comparable to the Intense 951 and Giant Glory. After demo'ing several different bikes, I found it had the geo and suspension I was looking for . I'm really happy with the bike. And I'm stoked to have found it in an American made company. I'm glad to see they're getting some exposure and putting out new product.
  • 5 0
 I second what cmkneeland and wakabe have to say about buying something made here on home soil, that is pretty awesome! At least I know where my money is going! I think its time to start saving again for a new frame.
  • 5 1
 See ya later SB-66, hello megatrail. Can't wait to get back on a single pivot.
  • 4 2
 @Poozank then tell me what other bikes have similar geo to the megatrail? I'm yet to see a 12,7'' bb on a 150mm trailbike. That is what some people wanted for some time because it may make it feel like a dh bike in corners (13.3'' still feels higher than modern dh bikes).
  • 2 2
 You do not see 12.7" bb on 150mm bikes because most people pedal their trail bikes on trails, not on bike paths.

Or you can track one of those El Guapos with lower than nominal bb that they recalled.
  • 3 5
 Sub 13" BB are generally a shitty idea, thats why.
  • 3 0
 So happy with the Megatrail test ride, especially coming off of a Yeti 575. Hardest's part's going to be deciding on a color!
  • 2 1
 @Axxe, Poozank you base that on riding your dh bikes? Because yeah 12,7'' is a bad idea on a dh bike but on a trailbike after sag 12.7'' is similar to a trailbike. The 12.7'' setting is for people who pedal their bikes up on even trails to go back down fast with as much pedalling you would do on a dh bike. It's a great idea when you take into account dynamic BB Height, not static one.
  • 2 1
 @poozank, Bb height numbers don't mean much, how the bike rides in the travel does. A bike that rides high in the travel is tons of fun with a low bb. Static numbers only go so far. For reference, my trail bike is at 12.5" and is the most fun I've ever had on the trail.
  • 2 3
 I base that on the fact that no other manufacturer has a BB that low. GG is not the first the experiment with a low BB and the fact that they are the only one says something.
  • 5 1
 You do know it's adjustable right? 13.2 for normal trail riding, 12.7 if you go to the bike park or have a lot of descending ahead of you.
Enduro sx, 12.24, Rocky Mountain slayer 50, 12.4, evil uprising 13, gt sensor 13.1.
Honestly, not terribly low.
  • 1 2
 I simply do not enjoy any bike who's BB is higher than the axles, corners come alive once it drops to where it should sit.
  • 7 1
 I love the deity with the tapered headtube hopefully more dj frames go that way
  • 3 0
 Can't wait for my Megatrail. going with 170mm cranks should be fine for climbing. I'm over riding bikes with short top tubes and high bb
  • 1 1
 Was it really a smart idea to take a pic of the Guerrilla Gravity Megatrail with the Lapierre tents standing out as the background?
As for the bike, its nice to see more bikes with the x12 syntace rear setup. Beats using one of like 10 billion hanger shapes for one universal shear bolt, that easy to tell if its straight or not.
  • 2 0
 12.7 bb height , holy crap way too low IMO my Entourage has a faily low BB and i smack pedals every ride interesting design thou
  • 1 0
 That was my thought too. My Entourage is the lowest thing I've ridden, that's obscene.
  • 4 0
 It's the same sagged height as the GG/DH, which is how we got that number. Granted, it's a bit low on tech climbs (which is one of the main reasons we have Trail Mode), but fire road climbs are fine. It rips on the way down!
  • 3 0
 Your entourage has more travel. GG speaks the truth. Rode a Knolly with 13.3'' bb and it felt higher than my Legend (13.7'' static)
  • 1 0
 Wellll the entourage only has 170mm, 10 more then the Mega Trail but most people would obviously be running way more sag on the entourage.
  • 1 0
 Have an Entourage and it's never been a real problem. It's not to hard to read the trail and figure out where you can get strokes in.
  • 2 0
 Those raceface knee pads are on my list for sure. I think the balance between protection and comfort will be just right.
  • 1 0
 Yes exactly what I was looking for, I own some 661 EVO D3O but bro after 4-5 hours on the bike it ain't that comfy anymore ...

Plus $70 sounds good to me. D3O is a fantastic material for sure, and now that lightweight and minimalist gears are using it everyone should be happy Smile .

Good guy RaceFace Smile
  • 2 0
 What sets the bladerunner pedal apart from the skyscraper? they seem like the same concept
  • 4 0
 The Skyskraper V2's are 98mmx99mm and and have a claimed weight 381g. So these new pedals are a little bigger and a little lighter. They look different too, but I like the look of my Skyscrapers better than these Bladerunners.
  • 3 0
 Are the GG guys on here? Speak up if so! We gotta chat!
  • 1 0
 Yup yup! Hit us up. Bikes@RideGG.com also works.
  • 3 0
 So stoked to see Merican made goodness! And I find myself drawn to the simplicity of the bikes...so much so that I'm pondering selling my banshee legend to get on them!
  • 3 0
 GG will be in Bellingham next weekend with their demo tour. Give you a chance to throw a leg over one and check it out
  • 2 0
 Word! Is there a location or home base in mind?
  • 1 0
 We'll be at Mt. Galbraith on Saturday. Come on out! Oregon, Idaho, and Utah are also on the stop list for folks in those states. Here's the deets: RideGG.com/demo-tour
  • 1 1
 why would you want more tapered head tubes in the jumping frame market? I've never seen one on a chromo frame, and don't believe aluminum to be ideal for jumping.
  • 1 0
 Have you noticed how many quality 1 1/8 straight steerer forks are being made now days for hard riding?

Exactly. There are almost none besides argyles and the older 831. Unless you want to buy something used from 2008...
  • 1 0
 what's wrong with the Fox 36?
  • 1 0
 I hope they leave the Street Sweeper's head tube alone, and offer it in that sick baby blue that comes on the Crypt Keeper.
  • 2 1
 The bb height of that frame is sooo low in dh setting (lower than a smack heads morals), love it though
  • 1 0
 XXL for the knee pads is nice to see, I find some run a little small
  • 1 0
 Don't get your hopes up, I'm pretty slim and a large is tight.
  • 1 0
 what fork is on that deity? looks like its got no crown offset..
  • 1 0
 looks like a Rockshox of some sort.....
  • 1 0
 Might be a lowered revelation.
  • 2 7
flag ryanme (Apr 12, 2014 at 12:28) (Below Threshold)
 There is no need for a tapered headtube on a steel frame, alu, yes. Steel is real, bored of companies doing things like this to either force the consumer to buy new parts, a tapered headset or new forks to fit the frame. Just keep it straight, there is no need.
  • 6 0
 ryanme, im going to speculate that the reason they put a tapered ht on it is not due to structural necessity or to force people in to buying new parts. There may be no need for it, but look at the amount of forks that are tapered only. They have to evolve and conform to standards, or components just simply wont be compatible with there frames.
  • 1 1
 Lowered revelation.
  • 2 0
 At this point it's almost necessity. I prefer straight steerers myself, but they're getting phased out, and for the sake of future compatibility tapered just makes sense. I'd be pissed if I bought a frame and then a year later there wasn't a single suitable new fork on the market that fit. The headsets may be slightly more expensive up front, but adapter crown races are pretty cheap so it's not a huge deal. Deity doesn't sell forks anyways, so they don't really have any incentive to push new fork standards.
  • 2 0
 Was thinking that ^ so many forks you can't get in straight 1 1/8th and would you not rather be able to get any tapered and straight fork than just straight? (obviously not 1.5)
  • 1 2
 also, how real is steal again? maybe the frames could use it. http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/10780685/
  • 1 0
 Deity is just future proofing their frames I guess. Straight 1 1/8 steerers are probably a bitch to find in a few years, so it's nice that your frame with a lifetime warranty will take new forks after a few years.
  • 1 0
 Luckily Fox is making the new 36 with a straight steer tube. Just put two 20mm spacer and you got yourself a robust DJ/SS fork. But oddly enough, the DJ/SS bikes are finally starting to get tapered since it's been the norm for t least a few years now.
  • 1 1
 its a reba
  • 1 0
 When my VP's crap out, those Deity pedals look like a nice replacement.







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