Interbike 2010 - The Best Of The Rest

Contour will shortly be releasing their GPS enabled HD camera that should excite those who are always looking for more and more information from their rides. The ContourGPS will let you keep track of your speed, elevation, and location while it's filming your every move. Once you are done your ride you can upload the video to the Contour website and let everyone watch you shred while being able to keep track of the details. At first I thought that it was a bit much, but then I pictured myself being able to watch helmet cam runs down the same trail, side by side, while comparing speed and position. Bring on the geekery! It should be noted that as of right now the GPS video data will only be viewable on the Contour site, but just like with their previous camera you'll be able to share the video anywhere you'd like.

From cool computer stuff to cool bike parts. Next up is Twenty6 and their updated F1 direct mount stem. The original was already a work of art, but Tyler of Twenty6 was looking to improve the stem's stiffness while retaining the same look. To that end the F1 is now a two piece design that will come in two versions that each offer two reach options - a 40/45 mm and 50/55 mm - that weigh in at a svelte 143 grams.

Tyler must have locked himself in his one man, Montana shop over the last few months because he has yet more updates to share. The much sought after PreRunner pedal goes from a dual bushing design to a freer spinning sealed bearing at the axle's outer end, combined with a bushing at the crank end. The axle itself is also larger for '11, as is the thin, but wider, pedal body. The area around the pedal pins gets a bit of extra material added for better support as well. Even though it still bears the same name, it looks to me like this is nearly an entirely new pedal!

The long fellow on the left is the new Kali Aazis+ which is new for 2011. It will come in two lengths depending on the level of protection that you're looking for, 130 mm or 180 mm, and is built to be soft and comfortable while still offering loads of protection. Four sizes are offered, from small to extra large, and it uses the same ABS knee cup and tear resistant kevlar fabric that the standard Aazis knee-only pads take advantage of.

Tioga may not have released too much over the last few seasons, but it looks like they have been working hard behind closed doors. They will have two new tires to show off soon, both having been in development for quite a long time. The lug design looks quite different than what you may have expected to see and I've been told that there is an impressive amount of science and thought behind the layout. Stay tuned for more...

After showing me their new rubber, Kai from Tioga took me behind closed doors to show off their upcoming pedal. Does it look thin? That's because it is only 6.5 mm tall! I was given all the information, including how they are able to make such a thing, bearing and axle design, and materials... but was sworn to secrecy. I really do enjoy teasing you guys though!

Like every other mountain bike website covering Interbike 2010, I thought I better include a photo of Sam Hill's World Champ's bike. I heard he did pretty well there...

Cole had their entire wheel range on display, from the fancy carbon rimmed, lightweight wonders to their Massif heavy duty wheels. They use straight pull spokes to eliminate the J-bend, the spoke's weakest link. The wheels can be made to fit pretty much anything and everything just by changing out the axle end caps, including standard QR, 15 and 20 mm thru-axles, as well as all of the common rear axle sizes. If you've been watching the Coastal Crew videos that are released first here on Pinkbike you have seen a lot of these wheels, probably without knowing it. They've been rocking them all season, reportedly with no issues, which says a lot considering what they get up to. World Champs silver medalist Stevie "Canadian chainsaw massacre" Smith also uses Cole wheels on his race bike. Listen to the audio for more!

Nope, this bad boy isn't breaking news, but I never do get sick of looking at it. If you caught our in depth Eurobike coverage you'll have listened to the audio of Santa Cruz's Josh Kissner explaining the technical details of the carbon frame, so for now let's not try to learn anything new and just take in the beauty.

The Geax booth had Mike Montgomery's bad ass Banshee Legend on display. This is the bike that he'll be rocking at Rampage and you'll be able to watch him get his huck on, live on Pinkbike during the event.

Yeah, I know I already showed you Knolly's new Chilcotin, but this is my article and I can show it off again if I want! The one that we featured during the first day of the Outdoor Demo was done up in an incredibly bright neon yellow, this version is only slightly more subdued in green. Then again, if this was my bike I'd want to show it off as well. It is almost as if the boys at Knolly asked me exactly what numbers I'd like to see when they were penning their new back country bike. With 6" of travel, a 66 degree head angle (you can steepen it up to 66.75), and what looks to be a solid 7.5 lb frame weight, I can already see myself spending very long days getting lost in the bush on this bad boy. My name is on the list for a long term test, even if it is for strictly selfish reasons.

Another super bike that you may have already seen, but that deserves more coverage. If you track down our Crankworx video interview with Dave you'll be able to learn all about the new DHR, including the clever system that it uses to look after its pivots. Turner is making the move away from painted frames, the DHR being available in anodized or raw options. I'd love to see more and more companies offering the raw look, it makes me feel oh so factory!

Andorran company Commencal had their latest and greatest Supreme DH on display, which is very different from the previous two versions. There are all sorts of new things going on here, including a lower center of gravity from a shock that sits low in the frame and is actually offset to one side for more drivetrain clearance. If you were to snoop around you'd also find that the blue bike uses press in BB cups, adjustable chainstay length that you tweak with removable chips, and super slick cable routing from front to back. The all important head angle sits at 64 degrees, but by spec'ing a 1.5" head tube Commencal lets you tweak it by using offset headset cups.

You're either going to love or hate this one. POC's new Trabec helmet stands out from the crowd with both its colors and its style. Word is that there will be two models to choose from, a "standard" Trabec and a race model version with the same shape, but more protection. Not going to lie, at first I was not a fan, but the more I stare, the more I want.

Pop quiz: Which brand of tire were the top three slope style riders using at Crankworx? You have no excuses for not knowing this one...

The big news at GoPro this year was the introduction of a second HD model that has been added to help bring the same near-bombproof HD video to the masses at a very attractive pricepoint. Here's a run-through of the goods. The new camera, the HD Hero 960 is designed to be price conscious with simplicity in mind. GoPro has cut out a few options (1080p, 60fps recording and the Hero Bus expansion port) to bring it in at an even lower price. It keeps its 720p and 960p at 30 fps, and also retains its 5 megapixel photo function. The cutback in features on the 960 equates to a rather large cut in price. The HD Helmet Hero released last year retails for $299.99USD while the new 960 starts shipping to retail stores this week for just $179.99USD.

Part of GoPro's booth included a DVD loop of footage collected from their new 3D setup. The 3D Hero Housing fits two of the 1080p cameras side-by-side which feed together using a sync cable kit. GoPro has slated the unit for release early next year.

While Aaron managed to go for a spin on this big wheeled unicycle without falling off and harming himself, the rest of our crew beat him black and blue with a pillowcase fill of Chris King headsets once we saw this photo.

I've been to Interbike enough that I usually don't get excited about too much, but this bit of metal in the Fox booth is cool enough to get another mention. This is a one piece titanium crown and tapered steerer that Fox may or may not be using on some mega high end Float race forks. The single piece unit is investment cast. There were two at the show, this one pictured above and one on the front of Adam Craig's Giant Anthem race bike, but the bike was stolen during one of the nights. Fingers crossed that the thief is riding along without a helmet and gets doored. Karma is coming for you, bitch!

After the beating he received from riding that unicycle, Aaron was eager to please and shimmied 30 feet up a post in order to get this shot. You're looking at only about 1/8th of the inside of the Sands Convention Center, which is why you can look forward to at least a few more Interbike updates until the wells run dry.