Gear Shots #55
Everything you need for fun
Date: 2009-06-17
2009 Rocky Mountain Flatline Unlimited
Words by Andrew Gower
A couple of weeks ago, Cam sent me an email and asked if I wanted to test an ’09 Rocky Mountain Flatline Unlimited for nsmb. I figured I had better do some research before I started writing, so it was off to the Rocky Mountain web site to get the particulars on the Flatline Unlimited before I even threw a leg over the bike.
The 2009 Flatline Unlimited, ready for action on the trails
Based around Rocky’s Flatline DH/freeride frame, the Unlimited is one model down from the top-level Flatline Pro. It’s spec’d for all your park and freeride needs. Sporting a fully adjustable Marzocchi 66 RV up front with 7” of travel and adjustable rear travel of between 170 and 213mm (6.7 to 8.4”), this is a versatile set-up that should be at home on local trails, the bike park and who knows, maybe even a downhill racetrack. Rear squish is handled by a Fox DHX 3.0 coil shock with adjustable rebound damping and factory set Pro-Pedal. The linkage out back looks complicated, but pushing up and down on the seat a few times makes it clear what’s going on.
The linkage on the Flatline looks pretty complicated, but it isn't.
The parts spec, while not spectacular, doesn’t appear to have any weak links either. Shimano BRM-575 disk brakes and SRAM X-9 shifting complete with the new HammerSchmidt planetary drive system get you going and slow you down. The wheels keep you rolling with Wheeltech hubs, Mavic EX 325 rims and a WTB Prowler MX 2.5” Comp front tire paired with Dissent 2.5” comp RR A.V. out back. Cockpit parts are Rocky’s own house label and an FSA headset gets your bars spinning. Your bum is kept comfy with a WTB Pure V Race (one of my faves). All of the above can be yours for a MSRP of CAD$4,295.00.
Fit and finish is what you would expect from a high-end mountain bike these days. Good, clean welds, solid paint job and some well designed decals make for a slick looking bike. There were some bubbles in the decals here and there, but this was the exception, not the rule. A nice touch in the parts spec department is the shadow-style decals on the Mavic EX 325 rims. Unlike some aftermarket EX-325s, the decals are charcoal, which keeps the visual noise factor down. Also impressive are colour-matched seat and pedals, and pedal reflectors that match the paint job exactly.
The HammerSchmidt system is one component on this bike that I’m very excited to be able to get some trail time with. I have long been a proponent of ditching the derailleur, and the HammerSchmidt shows a lot of promise. The parking lot test proved very interesting, and it was fun to shift between the granny gear and the virtual big ring while not pedalling – or even pedalling backwards. It even makes lots of noise, which always makes my riding buddies happy: the system ratchets more loudly than any rear hub on the market whenever you pedal backwards in the “big ring” setting. More on this intriguing component in the full review.
Hammerschmidt planetary drive system is something that will be showing up on a lot of bikes.
I’ve had the Flatline for just over a week now, and have been lucky enough to get out a few times on the local trails for both some shuttle runs up Forbidden Plateau and a couple of quick rips in Dodge City (that’s Cumberland, on Vancouver Island, for you Mainlanders).
I have to say – and this will sound weird for a review of a freeride bike – this thing can climb. Whatever magic the engineers and developers at Rocky Mountain used to design the rear suspension, it pedals up almost bob free. Just sit down, pick your gear and spin up to your favorite trail. This also bodes well for going down, as a stiff and stable rear end will allow for quick acceleration when you really need it.
My regular trail ride is a six-by-six light freeride / all-mountain bike from a popular competing company, and I immediately noticed two significant differences when on the Flatline – way slacker head angle and significantly more weight in the frame. This combined for stable high speed riding, but not exactly precision steering. I also took advantage of some of the easier local stunt trails to try a few jumps, which gave me a feel for the Flatline’s flight characteristics. I immediately noticed the extra weight, much of which comes from the linkages, and will have to adjust how I pop up to keep the bike from falling away from me in the air.
The author, in action on the Flatline Unlimited. Flying is a different experience in this kind of bike.
The shuttle rides around here are all on Forbidden Plateau, and with some wide-open fast sections, I had a chance to see how the Flatline performed when going flat-out. All that weight from the linkage is in the right place, and combined with a relatively low bottom bracket, makes for a bike that really hugs the ground and rips through turns.
I plan to keep riding the Flatline on my favourite local gravity trails – shuttles and even rides where I have to earn my turns. There are a few lines in Dodge that I am really looking forward to trying on the Flatline in the next month or so. I may even take it to one of the upcoming downhill races I am planning on attending. I’d also like to see how she fares at the jittery, braking bump-prone Mt. Washington bike park.
Shout-Outs
First off, a big thanks to nsmb.com and Cam for taking a chance on me as tester. Thanks to Black’s Cycle in Comox for checking the rig over after I built her and finally, big thanks to the Forbidden Freeriders, Harvest Trail Crew, all the guys at UROC and all the builders on Forbidden Plateau for making and maintaining a world class trail network in the Comox Valley.
Dakine Apex hydration pack
Words and photos by Stuart Kernaghan
There are a lot of different hydration packs to choose from these days. My personal favourite has always been Dakine packs. They’re well built, comfortable and have some of the best features going. I’ve used different sizes of Dakine packs for everything from XC jaunts to days in the bike park and epic back-country rides, and I’ve never been disappointed in the performance of my packs.
Dakine is always tweaking their packs, so good keeps getting better. When my old Apex pack – the largest bag in the Dakine bike series – started really showing its age after five years and a whole lot of serious abuse, I got my hands on a new Apex pack.
It's a big pack, made for big rides, big adventures, and big loads.
Like all of the company’s hydration packs, it’s well thought out. The fact that it’s stylish is an added bonus. Features on the Apex include a moulded back panel with air channel ventilation, full face helmet and armour carry straps or a pocket for XC helmet carry. There are two straps on the bottom for securing leg armour. The pack itself is made of heavy-duty nylon and polyester, and gets spec’d with beefy zippers and buckles for secure closure. There’s also a durable nylon loop at the top for carrying the bag to and from the shuttle vehicle.
The back panels are curved, so they hold the pack out from your back a little bit, and perforated to allow airflow. The same goes for the shoulder and waist straps.
As with all Dakine hydration packs, there’s a back panel pocket for holding the reservoir. The Apex gets a 3L / 100oz reservoir with a quick disconnect hose, so you can fill it without removing the hose from the shoulder strap routing. The new reservoirs don’t have a screw top, instead using a fold-over top with a plastic sleeve to seal it shut. The whole system hangs on a hook in the pocket.
The new reservoir in Dakine packs does away with the standard screw top. It's handy if you want to clean the reservoir.
The Apex is 26L in size, which means there’s tons of room inside the pack to carry whatever crap your little heart desires. You can fit a complete change of clothes, food, and all your riding tools without any problem. I use my Apex pack for carrying my camera gear, safely stowed in a Pelican case, on the trail. And there’s a still lot of room for other stuff.
The Pelican case in the Apex is large enough for a camera body and two lenses. And there's still lots of room for other things.
There’s an abundance of pockets on the Apex. There are two on each side just behind and above the waistbelt attachment points, one of which is fleece lined for a point-and-shoot camera. My multitool has found a home in one of the other. You can even fit small snacks in these pockets, for quick access. One often overlooked pocket is the waterproof map pouch in the back flap of the helmet pouch. Digging around the inside of a pack for a map sucks almost as much as a wet map.
The map pouch in the back flap (left) and side pockets are great for carrying everything you'll need on the trail.
A large fleece-lined pocket on the top is plenty big enough for those fancy goggles you wear when ripping up the trails, or you can use it for your cell phone, iPod, wallet and sunglasses if your goggles are attached to your helmet (as they should be).
The second largest pocket on the pack is what I refer to as the tool pocket. There are two mesh-sided zippered pockets, and two sleeves for tubes, a pump, energy bars, smokes or your BroCard. The bright green lining makes it even easier to find things when you’re digging around in the bag.
Enough pockets to keep Type-A personalities satisfied, and the rest of us happy.
I’ve been using the Apex for a couple of months now, and it’s been great. The pack was a little stiff to start with, but it’s loosened up. The wide shoulder straps make it comfortable in just about every situation, and the moulded back panels are a nice touch. I’m almost always hot on when I ride and I usually work up a pretty good sweat, so I’m not sure that they keep me any cooler. They should, in theory, and they certainly don’t make me any hotter.
Nothing in life is ever perfect, and this pack isn’t an exception to that rule. What could make it better? Some sort of a clip for keys, for added security. A longer reservoir hose – the hose is a little short when you’re wearing upper body armour. Longer straps on the bottom, so it’s possible to carry upper body armour and leg pads. Some very tall riders might wish the shoulders straps were a bit longer, or that the chest stabilizer strap was a little lower, but those aren’t deal breakers. And neither are the rest of those things.
I’ve been very happy with the Apex. It's comfortable, durable, well made, stylish and highly functional – without any of the gimmicks that other hydration pack companies inflict on the hard-riding public far too often. The fact that there's enough room to carry a large load is an added bonus.
MSRP for the new Dakine Apex pack is US$125 / CAD$140, and you’ve got four colours to choose from: black, Dirt Patches, Black Chop Shop and slate.
Whistler Mountain Biking
A Guide To Trail Rides In The Whistler Valley by Brian Finestone and Kevin Hodder
Words and photos by Cam McRae
The Whistler Mountain Biking guide book has 174 pages of juicy info in a sturdy compact package. The book, which is smaller than my out stretched hand (I have small hands), will easily slip into your pack or your back pocket.
I'd hate to be charged with putting together a comprehensive mountain bike guide book. The workload is enormous, a thousand little details need to be perfect and you may feel compelled to give up your secret stashes. Whistler Bike Park manager Brian Finestone along with Kevin Hodder managed to complete the grunt work, get all the details nailed and package it all beautifully. And they give up some sweet secrets as well. As I said - glad it wasn't me.
Each map is detailed and clear with accurate contour lines to help you plan your route. Every trail in the book also appears on a map like this.
Every trail has a saucy little write up with some history and a concise but effective description of what you'll encounter. Many trails have a telling photo and every single one has access information and an elevation profile. The bike park is in there (22 solid pages worth) but the juice is really the trails outside the lift access zone.
If you are into epics, Comfortably Numb is in there. Stunts without much climbing? There's a detailed map of River Runs Through It and the other trails in that zone. Steep gnarly downhills? You'll have to buy the book for those because I'm not spilling here. Whether you are a beginner on a department store bike or a pro looking to be scared, there are trails in here for you - and everyone in between. There is enough riding in the Whistler area, outside of the park, to keep you busy for weeks.
Comprehensive info will help you choose your trail and find your way. Check out the elevation profile for each trail as well as access info.
I have seen a lot of trail guides and the vast majority of them have been mediocre. Bad directions, poor maps and inaccurate information are the norm. Brian and Kevin's book blows all the others I've ever seen out of the water. This is far and away the best mountain bike guide book I have ever seen - and if you are heading to Whistler, having one is a must. In fact, it's so good even locals buy it.
A closer look at a portion of the info for Danimal.
I wish there was a book like this for every place I visit with my bike. You can pick up Whistler Mountain Biking at MEC in Vancouver, and in Whistler at Armchair Books, the Village Grocery Store and what Brian Finestone calls "better" bike shops. You can also snag it online at Chapters for $17.44 and Amazon for $18.21.
Wondering what the Flatline is like in the bike park? Whether you can fit enough clothes for a weekend trip in the Apex? Or whether it's worth buying the book to read about trails like Anal Intruder and Shit Happens? Maybe someone on the board will have the answers.
Previous Gear Shots
- Gear Shots #60 - Norco, Race Face & Chromag - We ride the '10 Norco Vixa, Race Face's new Sixc carbon cranks and bar, and Chromag's seat collar QR.
- Rase Seatpost - What do John Holmes and this post have in common? The Black Mamba won't leave you asking for more...
- 2010 Trek Session 88 DH - To the Alpine! Connor Macleod kicks off a long term test with a trip to Brohm Ridge near Squamish...
- Gear Shots #60 - WTB, Race Face & Fox - WTB Stout tires, Race Face 3 Over 4 pants and Fox Launch Shorty knee pads
- Interbike Day 315 - It never ends...
- Gear Shots #58 - Sugoi RSX 3/4 jersey, Truvativ Stylo OCT crankset and Fox Launch knee/shin and elbow pads
- Gear Shots #57 - Mace Caliber Jersey & Gloves, Mace Task Shorts and Kali Durgana Helmet
- Vholdr Contour HD - Mounting Options - Mounting options for the Vholdr ContourHD
- Gear Shots #56 - VHoldr Contour HD POV vid camera, Kona CoilAir Supreme, and the Mace NOS Short
- Gear Shots #55 - Rocky Mountain Flatline Unlimited, Dakine Apex hydration pack and Whistler Mountain Biking guide book
- Gear Shots #53 - 2009 Norco Fluid LT2, Geax Booze Light tires and size XXL Dakine gloves
- Gear Shots #52 - We check out the Specialized Big Hit III, Manitou Dorado first rides, and the SKS Airchecker digital tire gauge
- Gear Shots #51 - 2009 Manitou Dorado fork, Fox 32 TALAS RLC 150 fork and the WTB LaserDisc Trail 15mm wheel / wheelset
- Gear Shots #50! - Some stuff to dream about while we wait for the snow to melt around here...
- Gear Shots #49 - Sugoi Majik shell jacket, Chromag Fubar OSX handlebar and Ranger stem, Point One Racing spacers and integrated stem
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