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Interbike Day 3 - Does it ever end? A new bike from Cannondale, new components from FSA, suspension from Manitou, and bikes from Canfield |
Words and photos by Stuart Kernaghan
Day three at the indoor expo of Interbike is always a bit of a challenge. This was the fifth day in a row for Cam and I, and we were both getting a little tired. Late nights, lots of meetings, and a serious shortage of good food were taking a toll. The fact that I was heading on holidays as soon as the show was over didn't make it any easier to concentrate on the task at hand.
But I managed to buckle down, and was glad I did, because the final day proved to have some tasty treats in store.
Cannondale
Cannondale made big changes to its top-of-the-line big hit bike, bringing in an all-new platform dubbed the Gracia - after team rider Cedric Gracia - that sits above the Gemini.
The Gracia takes advantage of the lessons Cannondale had learned with the Prophet all-mountain bike and the Rush marathon FS bike. In order to achieve target weights for the bike, existing frame technologies were seriously refined. The frame is designed to flex along certain planes, and the 64.5° head tube had reinforced below the top tube to take the stress of long-travel double crown forks.
The new Cannondale Gracia 1 bike - full squish for all your freeride needs
A close-up of the new rear end on the Cannondale Gracia - lots going on there, especially with the new brake link
There are three different models available to consumers: the Gracia DH Replica, the Gracia 1, and the Gracia 2. Frame weight is pegged at 6.5lbs, and the team replica bike will weigh around 42lbs. You can buy the complete bike, or build up your own ride if that's your thing. Bikes are scheduled to start shipping in January, and will be available in small, medium, and large sizes. |
 A close-up of the new linkage - a modified single pivot |
The Gracia Team Replica - outfitted the same way as Cedric's, complete with Marzocchi fork and shock, and Magura brakes
The successful Prophet platform is back in '06, with very few changes. One thing you'll notice, though, is that some of the bikes in this line are being spec'd with standard single-crown forks instead of Leftys. The 4X version of the Prophet also comes with an ISCG chainguide mount.
The bead-blasted Prophet, back for '06 with Fox suspension front and rear
Cannondale's Chase street / DJ bike, named after team rider Aaron Chase, has been tweaked for the new year. There are four different models to choose from, depending on how much cash you want to drop. The Replica bike gets shorter chainstays this year to make it more flickable. The Chase 4 can be set up as a singlespeed, thanks to the eccentric bottom bracket on the bike.
The Cannondale Chase 3, complete with Dirt Jam Pro fork and Truvativ guide
FSA (Full Speed Ahead)
FSA was originally known for its XC parts. Then it was known for its road parts. And now the company is trying to get the word out that it makes all that, plus big-bike parts. FSA has re-branded its oversized components and re-introduced them as its new Gravity line. There are also some new parts in the mix, specifically designed for freeride and DH applications.
The FSA Gravity crankset with their own clear bashguard
FSA's take on the external bottom bracket features a double row of external bearings. It's only compatible with FSA cranks, and the cranks only work with this BB, so you won't be able to mix and match components from other brands. ISIS BBs that are compatible with standard ISIS cranks will be available, though, so you don't have to throw out your old cranks. Each of FSA's three new big-hit cranks come with two-sided pedal threads, to ensure that they don't tear / strip out. |
 FSA's proprietary external bearing bottom bracket |
 Lots of adjustability, and fine tuning, too |
One of the really cool new things to come from FSA for the coming year is the new patented Data Head seatpost. Macro adjustments can be made by moving the head of the post, and micro adjustments using the screws. According to FSA, there's 150° degrees of adjustment, which will come in handy if you're running a bike with a really slack seattube. |
Don't expect to see big changes to the FSA bars or stems other than new graphics. And fans of the Pig headset will be pleased to hear that it's not going anywhere, either. There will be a new FSA freeride wheelset, though, once FSA gets all of the other products up and rolling. |
 The look is familiar, but the logo is different |
Manitou Suspension
Manitou has made a number of changes to its forks and rear shocks for '06. The company has refined its Minute line of all-mountain forks by switching to 32mm stanchions and a no-tool volume adjustment. The Nixon forks have the same 6" of travel as last year but get a new long-travel specific cartridge damper, open bath lube, and a no-tools hex lock axle.
The Sherman Jumper forks have been replaced by the new Gold Label series, which are available in 80mm or 100mm. They also boast steel steerers and 32mm stanchions. The Series II model has a thru-axle and a steel grind bolt on the bottom of the left leg.
The Stance line of forks is basically unchanged, but there's a lot going on with the Travis series of forks, which replaces the Dorado fork.
 The Travis Triple Ti |
 The Travis Single Intrinsic |
 The Gold Jump Series II |
At the top of the pile is the Travis Triple Ti Intrinsic, a 180mm or 203mm double crown fork. It uses Manitou's new Intrinsic cartridge damping system, as well as 34mm stanchions, semi-bath lubrication, a ti spring, tool-free hex thru-axle, and integrated stem that will fit either 25.4mm or 31.8mm bars. Weight on the fork is a claimed 7.0lbs.
The Travis Single Intrinsic is the long-travel single crown from Manitou, also available in 180mm or 203mm with the tool-free thru-axle. In addition to losing the upper crown, you get a steel spring instead of ti, and pick up a OnePointFive steerer. Weight is 6.5lbs. If you like the idea of the Travis but don't have the money for the Triple Ti, check out the Travis Triple Intrinsic, which is also a 180mm/203mm double crown but doesn't have the integrated stem or ti spring. Weight is 7.3lbs. The Travis Single 150 has - you guessed it - 150mm of travel, but doesn't use the Intrinsic damping system. It comes with either the tool-free or tool-required version of the thru-axle. Weight is 5.6lbs. Manitou also looked at its rear shock platform for this year. The all-new Revox rear shock is bigger and more robust than previous offerings, and is intended to match up with the new Travis forks. The big difference between this shock and others is the Intrinsic speed sensitive, SPV-based damping system. There's independent, externally adjustable high- and low-speed compression damping, SPV pressure adjust, no-tool volume adjust, preload, and rebound damping adjustment. If you're into aftermarket upgrades, there is a ti spring available for the Revox, and the no-tool volume adjust can be retrofitted into a Swinger shock. |
 The new Revox rear shock |
Canfield Brothers
The Canfield Brothers - Lance and Chris - have been quietly building a name for themselves in the bike business, and they rolled out two of their frames at the show. Each Canfield frame sports a 4130 cro-moly front triangle, a 7005 aluminum rear triangle and linkage, 20mm axles and bearings, and Fox DHX 5.0 rear shocks.
The Balance is a DJ / freeride frame that features 122mm - 155mm of adjustable travel, adjustable chainstays, is front-derailleur compatible, and comes in four sizes for US$1,799.
The Canfield Balance, set up for riding hard
The Formula 1 is Canfield's big bike, with 230mm of rear travel, an 85mm bottom bracket shell, and a 150mm x 12mm rear end. It's available in three sizes for $2,349.
The Forumula 1, complete with White Bros. fork - brothers hooking brothers up?
Thankfully, there's only one more piece of Interbike content left, and that will be up in the next week or so. Thank god, because there's only so much Interbike one man can take.
