05/16/2008

2006 Rocky Mountain Switch
Words by Corey Anderson

Every year bike designs change. They change to meet the increasing demands of the sport, and to meet the increasing demands of riders. If you want to survive in the bike business, you need to stay on top of what's happening on the trails in order to keep making bikes that are up to the task.

The Rocky Mountain Switch is a bike model that Rocky has had in its stable for several years, overhauled and refined more for 2006 than it's ever been since its inception. Not to be outdone by its peers, the RMX and the Slayer, the Switch brings a whole new bag of tricks to the table for '06.

The Switch 2.0 blending in with the urban environment || Photo: Cam McRae

Johnny Rock-On was nice enough to slide a Switch 2.0 out the back door for us to play with. The 2.0 Switch is the middle model between the 1.0 and 3.0, sporting a competitive build at a price point that won't leave you eating canned food for the next year. Up front you'll find a 170mm Marzocchi 66VF single crown fork featuring the new flat lower crown to bring the ride height down. Rear suspension travel is increased to 177.8mm, handled by the Fox DHX 4.0 shock. Race Face X-Type Evolve DH cranks help you put the power down, and the bike rolls on stealth black Mavic 325 disc rims. Traction is handled by Marzocchi's Bomber 2.6" FR/DH tires and Hayes HFX-9s regulate your speed. The drivetrain uses a Shimano XT rear and LX front derailleur. The 2.0 uses a Race Face Evolve DH stem, bar and seat post.

Rocky's locally hand-made frames are always easy on the eyes and the Switch is no exception. The burly new Switch frame is finished in a flat army green paint with clean, small silver decals, and a retro Fro-Rider decal that brings you back to Wade Simmons with an Afro and a Rocky hockey jersey. Classic. MSRP for the 2.0 is CDN$3,499 and US$3,099. This is a hefty bike that's intended to be able to get you up the hill under your own power, and let you pin it the whole way down with enough travel to keep up with the big bikes.

Details, details... || Photo: Cam McRae

Specialized Buzzsaw freeride shoes
Words by Stuart Kernaghan
Shoes can be a tough call when it comes to freeriding, especially if you're using flat pedals. I've seen everything on the trail from hiking boots to running shoes or skate shoes. There are also a few (a very few) bike-specific shoes for flat pedals. Most of the shoes people use with flats, however, aren't designed for cycling.

They don't have the same features that make cycling-specific shoes work well - things like a stiff shank in the sole for more efficient pedalling, a soft sole compound for good grip on the pedals, and aggressive tread for hike-a-bike sections. Freeriders and downhillers who ride clipless don't have an easy time, either. There aren't that many shoes choices out there designed specifically for them, and most people end up using low-cut XC-style shoes. Fear not, Specialized has introduced a new freeride shoe for '06 that should appeal to both flat and clipless pedal users. The Buzzsaw shoe can be run with either two-bolt clipless pedals (like SPDs or Crank Bros. Mallet pedals) or flat pedals.

The Buzzsaws - good looks, good protection, and flat or clipless possibilities || Photo: Scott Johnson

It features nubuck leather upper with a padded asymmetrical 3/4 collar to protect your ankle as well as offering some additional support, and uses the relatively soft Umma Gumma rubber compound on the soles to grip flat pedal pins.

Lots of traction for pedal and trail, when you have to hike || Photo: Stuart Kernaghan

The TrailTraction™ outsole is stiff for pedaling efficiency, while still being flexible in front of the cleat for hiking. You also get Specialized's patented Body Geometry technology in the footbed to reduce hotspots and swelling. This full-lace shoe also uses the LaceLock™ closure system to keep laces out of the chain rings. Suggested retail price for the shoes is US$110, and CDN$199. Sizes range from 38 to 48.

One final note - if you've got big feet and are looking for a freeride shoe, head to your Specialized dealer to try on a pair of these babies. I usually wear a size 14/15 skate shoe or a size 49 Sidi shoe, and the size 48 Buzzsaws fit me just fine, thank you.

BLT Dual Radium Light System
Words by Trevor Hansen
BLT (Better Lighting Technology) Light Systems has been pioneering bike lights since '86. BLT was the first company to produce a high-power bike light system and it was their idea to manufacture a battery in a water bottle. My first light system was a BLT six watt system with the extra large silver light deflector behind the bulb.

The Dual Radium 15 is a brand new light system for 2006 that might appeal to the night rider who wants good light output without the dollar output associated with the high-powered HID lights on the market. (A good set of HID lights can cost upwards of $600 or $700.) The system provides mounts for the helmet and bar, two batteries, two chargers, two switches and two back-up bulbs - all for an MSRP of CDN/US$319. You can also buy individual Radium15 lights for CND/US$169.

The complete Dual Radium package - mounts for the helmet and bar, two batteries, two chargers, two switches and two back-up bulbs || Photo: Cam McRae

The batteries are fairly light, and each case can be strapped to the bike frame or put in a backpack. The batteries are fairly large, though, making the strapping a bit difficult on some bikes. The cable connecting the bulb to the battery is long enough to allow a lot of placement options.

Each nickel metal hydride battery gives off 100 minutes of light at the 15 watt setting. The batteries take 10 hours to charge but you cannot keep the battery plugged into the charger for more than 20 hours. This means forgetful types like me will have a have to pay attention in order to stay on top of the charging times.