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As usual rumours were afloat in Vegas. One of the most potent ones suggested that Rob Roskopp of Santa Cruz is out to sign Steve Peat - the goal being to win a world championship DH title. Another unconfirmed report hinted that SRAM was close to a deal to purchase Dave Weagle's E13 components - giving them access to some of the best chainguides on the market as well as one of the most potent design minds in the biz. A frightening story that was floating around suggested that the Sands is actually condemned. Apparently underneath the convention space where Interbike is held there used to be a parking lot. The theory is that the space was converted for indoor use and many of the supporting columns were removed. All day long you can feel shocks that would probably register about two on the Richter scale - every time a bus or a stretch Hummer rolls by on Sands Avenue. Apparently the Sands just pays a fine at regular intervals to keep the place open. Whenever the place started to vibrate I began to imagine what it would be like tumbling through the concrete floor surrounded by carbon fibre road frames.
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They probably should have seen it coming. The whole two fingers ad campaign run by Shimano hasn't been a huge success. They chose riders on their Saint team (Andrew Shandro, Thomas Vanderham, Richie Schley and Wade Simmons) to pose for Sterling Lorence's camera while holding up two fingers - trying to convince the world that dual control is indeed the way forward. Looking at the ads might lead you to believe that the boys take care of their hucking business using dual control. The ads don't say this and the riders aren't hucking (apart from Wade who is on a cruiser they aren't even on bikes) in the ad campaign but it's a logical conclusion to come to; Shimano hired them as freeriders not for their lycra skills. Shimano doesn't view this as a contradiction. They'll tell you that Richie, Wade and co. use Dual Control on their XC bikes. Why then did they launch Dual Control Saint levers and why didn't they choose only XC athletes to promote the product? The point is moot now because the ads won't be seen again and because Shimano is launching a new Rapid Fire style shifter for Saint - the SL. It works with the Saint Low Normal (formerly Rapid Rise) rear derailleur so pushing with your thumb will move the chain to a smaller cog/higher gear and clicking with your index digit willd have the opposite affect. Apparently you could use the SL with an old style 'high normal' Shimano derailleur as well. |
 Thomas Vanderham (top) and Wade Simmons. |
The Saint SL shifter is Rapid Fire style but it operates in 'Low Normal' and can be mounted between brake lever and grip.
The best feature of the new shifter in my eyes is the ability to mount the shifter between the brake lever and the grip. This way you can put your brake in the optimum position for one-finger braking and still have your shifters at the ready. It's also compact and tucked away for protection and the absence of the shift indicator - which always breaks - is another welcome change.
For more on two fingers click here as well as the Dual Control micro site here.
The DX shoe gets a facelift this year. There are some slight changes to the last but for the most part this is the same shoe as last year only the battleship grey colour is gone. I've been doing a long term test on the DX shoes and I can honestly say they are fantastic - in terms of function at least. Pictured below is the SPD version but the flat pedal model will look the same.
The DX shoe - now available in stealth mode.
| Greg Hammond of Shimano Canada was very excited about a program they are running with Fanatykco bike shop in Whistler. They provided Fanatykco with 20 Saint groups to be used on the rental fleet. Many of these bikes log more than a million vertical over the course of the season - perfect real world testing for the group. The Saint team riders are too smooth and skilled to really trash the Saint goods but it's hard to get access to Joe Public's bike so the rental scenario is perfect. The bikes are thrashed all season by renters - many with less developed skills -and Shimano can evaluate any failures and use that data to fine tune an already stellar group of components. Last year Shimano sent Hideki Ikemoto - one of their product development staff - to the North Shore to absorb the culture. He spent a lot of time working at John Henry bikes but much of his energy was focussed on riding the Shore and meeting people. When I met Hideki he had bro speak down and had been accepted in the fold. As I recall he was here for about three months and when the time came to pack his bags he was wishing he could put down some roots on the Shore. There is no question that they do things differently in Japan and that they will go to great lengths to improve the brand. |
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Fox Riders Co. always has some fly goods on offer at Interbike. This year they launched a line of three hydration packs. You would think it would be tough to come up with a fresh design but the Fox packs look like nothing else. They have a modular look that would be quite at home on Luke Skywalkers back but they also look stealthy and unobtrusive. They look good but until a pack is given a few months of abuse there's not much more to say.
Fox has discontinued their Huck shorts - which were a personal favourite of mine - and gone toward a more casual and less technical look. You will find a rear stretch panel to allow your bones to move freely. The Misfit fills the hole left by the Huck and it comes complete with a formidable web-style belt.
Fox Racing's Oasis hydration pack is their mid sized model.
Onthe right is the Misfit short.
Another new product from Fox is the Rampage DH helmet. It's CPSC approved and it builds on Fox's succesful line of moto helmets. There is a removable inner liner and cheek pads and a d-ring closure. It'll set you back USD$120 down south. Look for a carbon fibre model next year.
The Rampage DH helmet from Fox Racing.
There wasn't much new for free huckers from Race Face this year but they have decided to jump into the chainguide game. The timing may be good as well - the SRAM/E13 deal may slow slow down product delivery as it did for Truvativ leaving a gap in the market.
The guide doesn't reinvent much but there are some nice refinements made possible by RF's manufacturing experience. The extensive use of plastic in areas where chain contact occurs will likely keep the noise down as well.
Flame on - Race Face's new chain guide.
We've got heaps more content for you this year - including another installment from the Las Vegas Virgin. Stay tuned for more on Scott bikes, Knolly, Marin, Intense, Foes, SRAM and Norco to name but a few - as well as a look at some of the quirkier products out there.
