2011 SRAM X.9

Link:

Ride It

2011 SRAM X.O

Link:

Ride It

Santa Cruz Butcher

"Here’s the new Santa Cruz Butcher. Nope, it’s not named after a purveyor of meat, nor Pat Butcher from Eastenders, but named for the famous (and fantastic) Butcher Ranch Trail in Downieville, California. It’s a trail that drops 5,000ft in 16 miles of singletrack. Along it are chunky rock gardens, some fantastic flat-out, loamy corners, boulders, trees, steep drops down to a river and it’s hard work all the way down (yes, we’ve been there and ridden it). The Butcher was designed to excel at this kind of terrain, yet still be responsive enough to handle the tech-y climbs (at 6000ft plus) and flat out rock gardens that are an inevitable part of monster downhills.

Like the Nickel it features the new APP suspension system and a tapered headtube. It features 150mm rear travel and works best with 140-160mm forks. Angles for the keen are 67.5/72, with a 13.8in static BB height and a 22.5in top tube on a medium. The bike should build into something like 30lbs. There are ISCG5 tabs for chain devices and the like.

Here’s the bit you’ll have already read in the Nickel story
What’s the deal with the new linky links then? That’s what all Santa Cruz’ fuss is about. Although there are plenty of link driven single pivots out there, the APP system’s link not only changes the linkage ratio, but it does it to both lower and raise the shock ratio in different parts of the suspension stroke, rather than just raising, or just lowering the shock ratio over the travel. (Shock ratio is explained right here on the Santa Cruz website – But what does it do? It works towards that suspension nirvana of a super-supple bike on the little stuff, but that can handle the big hits while still feeling like it has bottomless suspension travel. The idea is that it gives a similar ride feel to the VPP bikes but in a less complex (and expensive…) way."

 Link:

Singletack World

Santa Cruz Nickel

"It’s based on their new patented APP system. Yes, APP is a ‘bogus acronym’ for Actual Pivot Point. As in, there’s no virtual or floating pivot point, just like the other single pivot bikes from Santa Cruz.

So what’s the deal? The Nickel fits nicely in the gap between the Superlight and Heckler. It’s a “marathon-y into trail bike” according to Santa Cruz’ moustachioed spokesbod, Mike Ferrentino. He also reckons it’s a relatively a slack angled (68/72.5) bike that’ll still go uphill, is great fun downhill and builds into a pretty competitive weight – 26lbs as pictured (without pedals). It even has a pair of bottle bosses. Top tube on a medium is 23in. Recommended forks are 130mm.

What’s the deal with the new linky links then? That’s what all Santa Cruz’ fuss is about. Although there are plenty of link driven single pivots out there, the APP system’s link not only changes the linkage ratio, but it does it to both lower and raise the shock ratio in different parts of the suspension stroke, rather than just raising, or just lowering the shock ratio over the travel. (Shock ratio is explained right here on the Santa Cruz website) – But what does it do? It works towards that suspension nirvana of a super-supple bike on the little stuff, but that can handle the big hits while still feeling like it has bottomless suspension travel."

 Link:

Singletrack World

Santa Cruz Nickel and Butcher APP Bikes

"The APP bikes get a shock rate similar to the VPP bikes, but in a more affordable, linkage-driven single pivot design. Check out the design and prototyping videos below with original prototypes dating back to 2005 and insight from the engineers during the R&D process"

 Santa Cruz Nickel

-$1350 with Vivid Air 3.3 (complete bike pricing expected to start under $2k)
- Available June 15, 2010
- 125mm travel
- Patented APP suspension with angular contact bearings at the main pivot
- Hydroformed aluminum tubing
- Tapered head tube
- Cable routing for dropper seat posts
- 2 waterbottle mount locations

 Santa Cruz Butcher

- $1350 with Vivid Air 3.3 (complete bike pricing expected to start under $2k)
- Available June 15, 2010
- 150mm travel
- Patented APP suspension with angular contact bearings at the main pivot
- Hydroformed aluminum tubing
- Tapered head tube
- ISCG05 tabs
- Cable routing for dropper seat posts
- Bottle opener on the derailleur hanger

Links:

Vital MTB

Santa Cruz Bicycles

New Avid Code

"Dirt/Norco’s Ben Reid had some pretty mysterious looking Avid Codes fitted that seemed to be causing a bit of excitement amongst the tech heads and keyboard warriors. Maybe we’ll see a new brake from Avid on the cards in 2010?"

Links:

WideOpenMag
Ride It

2011 Shimano XTR??

Link:

Ride It

Steve Peat's Santa Cruz V10 2010

Link:

Ride It

UMF SS Prototype

"New Slope Style prototype from UMF. 130 mm of travel, adjustable dropouts"

Link:

Ride It

New Santa Cruz Prototype

Minaar bike for sea otter dual slalom??

Link:

Vital MTB

New Transition Double

"For the 2010 Double it was all about refinement and taking an already dialed frame to the next level. We looked at every tube, yoke, cnc'd bit and hardware to come up with the cleanest and trickest frame we could imagine. The result is a stronger and lighter Double that is more capable for a wider use of disciplines.
1. New proprietary formed tubeset for the front triangle. No more headtube gusset and a design that mates up perfectly to the tapered headtube for increased strength.
2. Adjustable travel via our new flip chip in the rocker arm. Travel options are now 80 or 100mm.
3. Internal chainstay cable routing for the rear derailleur.
4. Trick new custom pivot bolts that are our own design that match up nicely to dials on Fox forks.
5. 3 new colors to choose from, Raw, Lemon Lime Green, Cyan Blue."

Link:
Transition Bikes

Commencal 2010 Team

"April 7th saw Commencal and the Athertons launch their new look team, as the complete family roster prepare for a 2010 season back at full strength."

 Link:

Dirt

Santa Cruz New Bikes??

"About those new bikes. All will be revealed by next Monday sometime, but some of the guesses out in the internets are getting close. Others, well, not so much. In the interests of playing along, we can say that these next two bikes won’t be made out of carbon. Nor will they be hardtails. They will have tapered head tubes:

 

"And they will have suspension, and, just in case anyone was wondering, they will be getting ridden by Rob Roskopp’s posse of Good Looking Tall Men With Accents at the Sea Otter in select events":

"Mike Ferrentino brainwashing us on the Nomad Carbon. He also had some extra tricks up his sleeve to show us. Check back on April 12 for more details."

 Links:

104bronson

BikeMag.com

Gee Atherton - 2010 team launch for Wideopen

Rocky Mountain 2011

Rocky Mountain 2011. from Rocky Mountain Bicycles on Vimeo.

Shaun Palmer at Sea Otter?

"Looks like Shaun Palmer will be racing the Ottery Classic, here’s some exclusive photos of his custom D3 lid."

Link:

Dirt

Santa Cruz Syndicate Nomad Carbon

The new Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon with Syndicate colors, Edge wheels and WTB Custom Peaty saddle

Links:

Steve Peat Twitter page

Carbon Copy Components Groundbraking 450g Frame

"The carbon fibre parts and accessories company claims that frame weight for the new Air-O is a jaw dropping 450g (0.99lb) – for a large size.

Rather than jump on the currently fashionable aero bandwagon, the new Air-O (say "aero" – get it?) eschews drag reduction goals entirely in favour of the proven light-and-stiff formula for faster climbing and more efficient power transfer. 

And in keeping with cc:'s original edict, the frame design is a familiar-looking combination of massively oversized tubes here and frightfully spindly ones there that is wholly lifted from shapes already produced by the likes of Cervelo, Canyon and Specialized for the ultimate blend of lateral stiffness and vertical compliance.

So if the tube shapes aren't exactly new, how do cc: achieve such an insane weight figure, you ask? The answer's in the frame's very name: it's air.

One of carbon fibre's inherent structural limitations is that it works best when loaded in tension. In other words, while the fibres themselves are incredibly strong when pulled and highly resistant to bending, they're conversely very susceptible to compression. As a result, conventional frames generally have to use excess material to deal with ancillary issues such as impact strength and crumpling under clamp-type loads.

The Air-O's patented 'BlowOut' technology, on the other hand, incorporates a trick fully sealed internal architecture that is pressurised via a built-in Schrader valve.  Once inflated up to the recommended 300psi operating pressure (a conventional suspension pump is included), all of the fibres in the system are thus acting solely in tension and reinforced pneumatically from the inside so much less material is needed to achieve the same levels of stiffness, strength and durability as a conventional frame.  

In essence, the Air-O isn't all that different from conventional bladder-moulded frames – it's just that the bladder is now designed as an integral part of the structure and isn't removed after the carbon has cured. According to cc:, the frame can be ridden without any pressure at all in the event of an emergency but stiffness and impact resistance will both fall by 80 percent.
Ultimate weight weenies will undoubtedly note that the frame could theoretically also be pressurised with helium – or even hydrogen – to further negate the effects of gravity, though the use of either will void the warranty and it should go without saying that the latter is just plain dangerous (remember the Hindenberg?).
As long as the recommended pressure is maintained, cc: decree the Air-O to have no rider weight restriction and also cover the frame under the same no-questions-asked lifetime replacement policy applied to the rest of the company's carbon fibre componentry – so whether you crash while racing in a criterium or slam the bike into your garage, you can get a replacement at no cost aside from shipping. 
Ironically, since the new technology can't yet be applied to forks, the matching 350g Air-O unit nearly doubles the weight of the chassis but faithfully adheres to the 'stiff' theme with oversized carbon legs and a tapered steerer. Cc: are already testing BlowOut-equipped fork prototypes for inclusion in the 2011 version, however, with target weights falling near 200g, again with no rider weight limit.
Air-O framesets are available now direct from the cc: web site but, not surprisingly, that level of technology won't come cheap. Retail price is a whopping US$8,000 (roughly US$10 per gramme) but that will at least also include cc:'s own press-fit bottom bracket and integrated headset – both with industry-exclusive carbon fibre bearings – along with a matching carbon seatpost, two carbon bottle cages and even a replaceable carbon derailleur hanger."

 Links:

Bike Radar

cc: web site

Rock Shox Domain Dual Crown

"Rockshox has just unveiled the new Domain Dual Crown suspension fork aimed at the freeride, park and jump crowd.  It features the same Domain characteristics built on a 200mm dual crown chassis.
The single crown Domain forks are offered in 115-160mm U-Turn and 160mm and 180mm coil spring versions, so the Dual Crown isn’t bumping up travel too much, but should offer big improvements in stiffness at the upper end of travel.  For the record, 200mm = 7.87″, putting the Domain DC’s travel on par with Rockshox’s top-of-the-line Boxxer DH forks.
Indeed, the Domain DC carries over all the core features of Domain, hardened steel upper tubes and easily adjustable compression and rebound damping, and actually borrows parts of the BoXXer’s World Cup winning chassis.  That means the uppers are 35mm, but you’re getting tapered steel tubes rather than the Boxxer’s anodized 7000 Series Straight Wall Aluminum.  Privateers, here’s your new DH fork!


Key Specs:

• Domain’s proven park durability in a dual crown 200mm chassis
• 35mm chassis based on BoXXer
• NEW Maxle Lite 20mm
• Tapered steel upper tubes
• 1-1/8″ Aluminum steerer
• Comes with both short and tall crowns
• 200mm, coil spring
• Motion Control IS
• Comes with two tuning springs
• MSRP: $660 US"

Link:

Bike Rumor

Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon

"The carbon chassis is a lot lighter than the aluminum version to no surprise, which makes it barely heavier than the Blur LT, putting it somewhere in between. Go figure. Santa Cruz will have more details about this Cabrone on their website soon. Here's some photos of the new bike shown in Stormtrooper DeathMetal White."

Links:

Decline Magazine
MTBR-Forum.com
Santa Cruz

Steve Peat World Champion: Seventeen Years in the Making

"Steve Peat the book is out, this is going to be THE book of 2010, get it while it’s hot folks.

In this new book, Steve Peat gives an insight to his 2009 World Championship winning season.
Through a stunning collection of photographs, we follow Steve from his winter training at home in Sheffield, through eight rounds of the World Cup series, where he set new records for the most World Cup race wins and podium appearances. Then another win at the Lisbon Downtown, before finally culminating with his victory at 2009 World Champs in Canberra. This is an underdog story to top all others, and it has been seventeen years in the making."

Book Details
* Printed to the highest standards, 160 pages, hardback
* More than 200 photographs by Victor Lucas, including previously un-published gems
* Additional photos by Sven Martin, Kathy Sessler, Dominic Worrall
* Foreword by Rob Warner
* Introduction and captions by Steve Peat
* Price £29.99 plus shipping, delivered Worldwide
The first 100 copies ordered online will be signed by Steve!

 Links:

Dirt

Steve Peat

Banshee Nano Carbon

"Prototype nanotech carbon fiber Banshee Nano medium frame with fox RP23 weighs just 3.86lbs"

Link:

Banshee Bikes Blog