Another Interbike show wrapped up a couple of weeks ago, and it was entertaining and tiring, and was fun to catch up with old friends and meet a few new ones, and see all the new products coming out for the following year. The weather was cooler than normal, and we even had a good rainstorm on day 2 of the outdoor portion. Indoors was the usual monstrous mess of booths, and the craziness was increased with the addition of a lower floor of vendors, some of which were part of the health and fitness show. I compiled together a Top 5 lists of products that I found interesting and innovative from this years show:

SRAM’s Lower 2×10 Gearing SRAM upped the ante this year for their 2×10 drivetrain, and is offering a lower front gearing. The current 42×28 and 39×26 ratios, is being joined by a 38×24 and a uber low 36×22. The new lower gearing should have a great place on a 29er, where the larger wheels can make use of the smaller gear ratio, and for micro gear aficionados. Visit SRAM 2×10 website

Slipnot Bike Chains Winter time is just around the corner, and what better product than a set of bike chains to aid in riding endeavors in snow, ice and mud. They are carefully thought out, and are easy to take on and off for variable weather patterns, and should provide increased traction when dealing with inclement conditions. Visit Slipnot website

Urge all M Helmet The helmet is an interesting blend of cross country, bmx and full faced designs, and Urge is adding some very innovative and safety-related ideas to the protection market. It provides excellent rear and side coverage, and internal reinforcements, which work in a synergistic manner for maximum protection. Visit Urge all M website

Magura MT Brake Series The Magura MT brakes were in development for 2 years, and they are a highly engineered marvel, which are powerful, with good modulation and an incredible feel in the lever. The top of the line MT8 is lightweight, and has full carbon levers and reservoir. All the technology has bled down to all the models, some of which have an affordable price point. Visit Magura 2012 brakes website

Ibis Ripley 29er Ibis announced the full suspension 29er Ripley, which has been in development for 3 years. The big bad beast is going to use twin-eccentrics (2Xentrics) for the links, and will have 120mm of suspension, with an option for a 140mm fork. Ibis and Dave Weagle did some wild innovations on the Ripley. Visit Ibis Ripley 29er website

Club Ride Apparel had two new items in the men’s line, and a slew of new colors for their jerseys. All of their products use technical performance materials, that have excellent wicking and odor properties, and use stretchy material for the utmost in comfort, and movability. Most of their models utilize a hidden full front zipper, with an overlap flap that closes with snaps, for a nice utilitarian usage. They predominantly use a stretchy lightweight polyester for their products, but they also use a bamboo fabric on a few models. It’s interesting bike apparel, that encompass men’s and women’s jerseys and shorts, that are functional, and have enough fashion to allow you to wear it in a normal environment, with a sort of bowling shirt meets western flair, combined together in a nifty package.

Their latest jersey is the Vibe (shown above), which has a simple and understated look, and comes in a Charcoal, Indigo and Maize color. It uses a lightweight, quick drying and wickable polyester, that has great stretch for moving around on a bike. It has the typical hidden front zipper, which is excellent for ventilation, and has a zipper chest and rear pocket.

Their product suite covers the gamut of looks, features, color schemes and patterns. The Nut Head has a more traditional bike shop design, with a nice set of vented back panels that works great with a hydration pack. The New West (shown above) has some fun plain colors, while the Go West has a very cowboy and western feel to its design, with some fun Pearl snaps added on.

The Drifter utilities a stripe pattern, and the pullover Biff is more like a polo jersey, and uses a combination of fabrics, a polyester on the top, and bamboo on the bottom. The long-sleeved Go Long, works great for sun coverage, and the jacket like Wind Nut helps on the inclement windy days, along with the hoodie Cross Wind.

They added a really neat set of full knickers (22-inch inseam) to their short lineup, and named the Zeal Pant (shown above). The pants uses a blend of durable and stretchy nylon and bamboo fabrics, an easy to use side adjustment system that uses a lockable cam, articulated knees and a protective cuff at the ankle, and comes in Raven and Charcoal colors. The other excellent shorts include the Car-Go Away, Days 2 Short and Half Rack knickers.

kuat
The bike rack company kuat, had a couple of new items in their booth. They have a downscale version of their fancy NV rack, and the new NV CORE, forgoes the NV’s integrated cable locks and bike stand Trail Doc attachment, and come in a flat black color scheme. They added two roof baskets, the Vagabond and Vagabond-X, the former has a built in skewer, and the latter is deeper and has fancier colors and graphics. The most interesting item was their new Bottle Lock, which is a water bottle that has an integrated 5 foot long x 8mm cable that locks back onto itself. The bottom of the Bottle Lock has a compartment for the keys or other paraphernalia (college memories), and it comes in white, black and pink. The cable wraps around the inside circumference of the bottle in a sort of helix pattern, and it was easy to snake in and out. This would be a great item for commuting, going to the grocery store, etc., albeit not in a high-crime area.

2Toms
The 2Toms booth has a large placard for their ButtShield product, that immediately cut my eye and attention. I spoke with the rep for a while on the products, and was pretty intrigued. The product is silicone based, and prevents unwanted friction that can lead to saddle sore and rashes. I applied some to my fingertips (not my butt), and it leaves a very thin layer of what feels like lubricant, but it’s not greasy, is waterproof, and doesn’t rub or come off unless soap and water are used. It would be an excellent product to add to the travel bag or pack, especially when you are doing long rides, big adventures or any activities on hot days. I love their product spiel “Do you suffer from Butt Irritation while participating in your favorite sport?,” and I think it will definitely prevent getting the dreaded monkey butt.

180S
The company 180S is known prominently for their behind-the-head ear warmers, but they are entering into the biking and running apparel world with their new QuantumCool products. The concept behind the QuantumCool material is that it provides a cooling effect when the material wick’s moisture into its pores, and it is supposed to help cool the body by 3%. I got a mini test of the product on some arm sleeves, and when they dropped water on the material, you could feel a sort of air conditioning effect on the skin, and I will be interested in how it works in real-world activities. The material has UPS+ 50 sun protection, is anti-odor, reflects the sun’s rays and has what they call pulse point cooling. The latter feature, is that cooling elements are located at particular pulse points, which help increase the cooling rate of your skin. They’ll be making jerseys, arm sleeves and headband out of the material, and I am looking forward to trying some of the gear out, and putting it through the wringer and sweat box. They created the material to help with spring and summer activities, and assist athletes with overheating, overexposure to the sun and decreased performance due to some of the former issue. Their bicycling line includes a Compression Arm and Calf Sleeve, Head Band, Wrist Band, Cycling Jersey and Packable Cycling Jacket, which utilize varying designs and features, but all of them feature the QuantumCool system.

QuantumCool Specs:

• Activation -Occurs as soon as you begin to sweat, cooling your skin up to 3%
• Thermal Ray Protection – The fabric reflects the sun rays adding to the overall cooling effect
• Pulse Point Cooling – The cooling element is located on pulse points at the wrist and inner bicep, increasing the cooling rate of the body (arm sleeve – 17020)
• Advanced Moisture Management – Quickly absorbs moisture allowing the body to naturally cool itself
• Anti-Odor – Provides a virtually odor free garment
• UPF 50+ – Provides added protection from the harmful rays of the sun
• Bike products – Compression Arm Calf Sleeve, Head Band, Wrist Band, Cycling Jersey, Packable Cycling Jacket

Speedplay
The long awaited SYZR pedals from Speedplay should finally be available in 2012. The new pedal has some interesting and innovative features in its design, and it appears, they have gone to a more traditional system. The pedal itself has good mud shedding capabilities, and has been beefed up for more robustness, which is always a good thing in the tough world of mountain biking where rock and pedals get bashed together regularly. The plastic or rubber outer body should greatly aid in protection for the innards of the pedals. The cleat contact area is quite large and offers foot stability, and the interface keeps it above the shoe’s bottom, to remove interaction issues between the sole or lugs of the shoe.

The cleat can be adjusted to allow float from zero to 10 degrees, and inboard and outboard rotation is independently tunable. In the floating mode, the outer portion of the cleat rotates. I poked around with a prototype at the show, and it looks very promising, although I am unsure of its durability when doing lots of hikes-a-bike forays, or when it fills up with mud or dirt? It was easy to click in and out, and the float was pretty smooth, with a good solid interface with the shoe. Spring release tension is rider adjustable, for additional tuning per personal requirements. They should retail for around $120.

Bonelocker
They were hidden over on the very back wall of the Sands Convention center, but this very innovative and secure bike carrier was well worth seeking out. They created a hitch mounted bike carrier, that is simple to use, highly adjustable for various bike frame geometries, durable and strong, and utilizes an integrated theft prevention locking bar for the utmost in safety. The carrier is made in the USA at their Spokane Washington factory, and uses cold steel for strength and flexibility, stainless steel for corrosion resistance and hardness, and the trays use soft and durable rubber padding to protect the bike’s frame.

The Bonelocker only weighs 21 lbs., so it’s easy to carry around and install. The unit consists of the main hitch, which connects to the vehicle’s receiver (2 inch or 1 1/4 inch options), the theft prevention locking bar, and the adjustable frame trays for three bikes. The main bike carrying bar has a round shape, and the three rubber padded trays, which have a seat tube stabilizer (shown above as the drooping prong) for anti-sway purposes, can move forward and backward and rotate 360 degrees on the bar, for maximum flexibility. The theft prevention locking bar connects over the top of the bike, and locks up on the backside of the hitch, and when the bar is not needed, it can be stowed within the carrier.

The Bonelocker is simple, easy to use, rugged, and will help prevent common theft (a determined expert criminal not withstanding).

Giro had a couple new items for 2012, the most interesting was the All Mountain Feature helmets and the Privateer shoe. The Feature is meant for All Mountain and Trail usage, and is a cross between a skate board design and a more traditional cross country. It has excellent coverage, drooping deeply towards the neck, and up and over the ears, and has a full-face helmet type visor which to rotate 15 degrees. In keeping with a more cross country feel, it has 12 ventilation holes with internal channeling for cooling, and uses their In-Form fit system, and has internal fore-and-aft tilt adjustment. It uses the industry-standard In-Mold polycarbonate shell with EPS foam liner, weighs in at 305 grams and costs only $75.

Giro Feature Specs:

• MSRP: $75
• Usage: All-mountain, Trail Ride, Super-D
• Features: Adjustable moto-style visor
• Construction: In-Mold Polycarbonate Shell with EPS liner
• Fit System: In-Form
• Ventilation: 12 Vents with internal channeling

The new Privateer shoe gets some of the trickle down technology from the top of the line Code, but at a much better price point. The outsole is comprised of the DuPont Zytel nylon sole for stiffness and power, dual-density high traction lugs, and a mid-foot scuff guard for grip when not clipped-in, and to protect the sole. The upper is made from a breathable synthetic microfiber, and includes a warp around welded scuff guard for durability, well padded tongue, and for closure, it uses a ratcheting buckle, and offset Velcro straps to alleviate pressure spots. The insole uses a molded EVA footbed with medium arch support, and Aegis anti-microbial treatment for odor control. They come in White/Black and Black, and are available in full sizes from 39-48, and half sizes from 39.5-46.5, and weigh approximately 350 grams each.

Giro Privateer Specs:

• MSRP: $149.99
• Upper: High-quality, breathable microfiber. Strong and secure ratcheting buckle closure (replaceable). Offset strap “D-ring” at mid-foot
• Outsole: DuPont™ Zytel® nylon. High traction lugged outsole. Mid-foot scuff guard. Accommodates steel toe spikes
• Footbed: Molded EVA footbed with medium arch support. Aegis® anti-microbial treatment
• Weight: 350 grams (size 42.5)

Hidden around the periphery and back bowels of Interbike you always find some small companies that have interesting, innovative, thought-provoking and sometimes just plain weird products. I stumbled upon Slipnot (not the band), which makes a bicycle chain product, or in their terminology ‘bicycle traction system’ for riding in inclement weather. Bad weather and hazardous conditions mean you are dealing with slippery environments, such as ice, snow and mud. There have been some other products in the same vein as the Slipnot, but their system is carefully thought out, provides some amazing traction, is easy to use, seems durable and has very minor clearance issues.

I watched a short video that Justin Shaw, the owner and president of Slipnot, had on his iPad showing the system in use. The video showed some hilarious crashes on ice without the system installed, and then the impressive traction control in icy and snowbound conditions with them in place. I was pretty impressed watching the footage, and can’t wait to see how they’ll work in real life once the snow flies. Justin said that the system provides better traction then studs, and obviously would be more beneficial since then can be easy be swapped out for normal riding. The system will work with disc and caliper brakes, and fenders, and only requires 1/4″ of clearance around the tire, so it should usually not be an issue with most frames and bike setups? It’s best to use the chains on both tires, and installation takes around 5 minutes for both tires, and is very much like doing a set on a car. Longevity depends on usage, terrain, care and environmental conditions.

They get my small company innovation award for this year, and the Slipnot looks to be a great addition to anyone’s winter time arsenal if they live in non-temperate locations.

Slipnot Specs:

• MSRP: 26″ $84.99 and 29″ $94.99
• Kits Includes mesh bag for rinsing and drying.
• Sizing as follows:
• 26″ Combo – 1 small 26″ x 1.95″ – 2.5″ and 1 large 26″ x 2.5″ – 3.5″
• 26″ Large – 2 26″ x 2.5 – 3.5″
• 26″ Small – 2 26″ x 1.95 – 2.5″
• 29″ Combo – 1 small 29″ x 1.95″ – 2.5″ and 1 large 29″ x 2.5″ – 3.5″
• 29″ Large – 2 29″ x 2.5″ – 3.5″
• 29″ Small – 2 29″ x 1.95″ – 2.5″

The G-Form company makes protection gear for consumer electronics and extreme athletic endeavors. The basis of the product is their RPT, which is Reactive Protection Technology, and is a combination of the PORON XRD material and their proprietary G-Form technology. What the product does is stiffens instantly on an impact, and it absorbs over 90% of the energy, providing excellent protection in a lightweight and flexible format. They had a small demonstration in which they dropped a bowling ball on some M&M’s that were in cased inside the product, and they survived with very little damage, showing how much energy was dissipated, and protection was provided.

The ridges, shape and hinges of the gear, which look very skeletal, help the padding flex and bend when in use, to prevent any binding and to aid in better conformability, for comfort and proper impact absorption. The product is lightweight, very flexible and can be tossed into the washer when needed. The way the pad is shaped and molded, and that it’s attached to a compressive and stretchy fabric, keeps the padding close to the body, so that it won’t move out of place during usage, enhancing its functionality and protection properties. I will be testing the elbow and knee pads, which seemed to fit nice and snug, and were quite comfortable.

I also got one of their computer G-Form Extreme Sleeve units to try out, but I doubt I will try purposely drop my laptop to see if it survives? They have a wicked video on their website in which they drop an iPad from 60 feet up to show the amount of protections their product provides.

Dainese
Dainese’s new top of the line Oak Pro elbow and knee pads, use the Boa Closure System, which offers a uniform fit, low profile design and maximum comfort. It comes in two versions, a hard-shell model that uses an aluminum knee or elbow cup, and the same soft but without the cup, and both use their ProShape honeycomb, and Crash Absorb systems. It’s constructed of a sandwich of elements, using an outer polymer layer, for impact absorption, elasticity and protection, which is bonded to a thick inner polyethylene foam layer with viscoelastic nitrile rubber, that is highly conformable and flexible, and it’s all finally faced with a 3D polyester stretch fabric. The Boa system, which uses a braided steel cable, runs through hard guide loops, and wraps inside the pads routing slots. The system will allow you to fine-tune the fit, and even make adjustments on the fly, all with the turn of its dial, and it’s simple to pop it open to remove the pads. I am most interested in the soft padded version, and can’t wait to try one out. They should be available early next year, and the Oak Pro Aluminum retails for $199 and Oak Pro for $149.

Oak Pro Specs:

• Boa Closure System
• Aluminum knee/elbow cup or Non-cup Soft version
• ProShape and Crash Absorb systems
• Shock absorbing composite sandwich
• Airnet elastic fabric
• Open back
• Silicone side grip strips

Formula has been busy pumping out new products like crazy, and they added two new brakes, the R1 Racing and RO, upgraded the R1, and are finally getting the Volo wheels and Thirty Three suspension fork released.

I had seen a prototype of Formula’s new downhill RO brake at Sea Otter 2010, and the very trick brakes have come a long way since then. The uber powerful RO brakes, utilizes an ovalized piston (25.4mm x 24mm), which allowed them to create a piston with a larger surface area, for maximum pad contact and pressure, without having to resort to a four-pot design. The oval design increases power by 18 percent over ‘The One’ model, and the performance upgrade might allow you run one size smaller rotor in some circumstances. In addition, they bumped up the reservoir capacity by 33% over ‘The One’, and gave it an improved diaphragm, which all combine for some impressive power generation.

The RO comes with their FCS (Feeling Control System) which adjusts the lever stroke to compensate for pad wear, and the TFRA (Tool-Free Reach Adjust) for on-the-fly lever reach adjustment. Like all their brakes, it uses top loading pads and DOT 4 brake fluid, has a removable handlebar clamp and a flip-flop master cylinder. It weighs in a 361 grams, using a 850mm hose, 160mm rotor, and complete attachment hardware, which is pretty respectable considering the kind of power this beast tosses out.

RO Specs:

• MSRP – $382
• MC Body – Polished/anodized
• Caliper body – Polished/anodized with black cap
• Lever Blade – Forged aluminum, anodized glossy black
• FCS – Black included
• TFRA – Silver knob included
• Hose – Black: 100cm and 165cm
• Rotor – 1 piece: 160mm, 180mm, 203mm
• Brake pad – Sintered
• Mounting – Standard PM 6″
• Weight – 361 grams (PM – including 850mm hose, 160mm rotor, complete hardware)

The R1 line gets a new lightweight version, aptly name the R1 Racing, and the normal R1 gets some new tweaks. The R1 Racing is a weight weenie dream, and gets a carbon-fiber lever, Kevlar wrapped hydraulic hose and titanium hardware. Both the R1 Racing and R1 gets a 25% larger reservoir and a new diaphragm. The brake comes in at a svelte weight 270g using a 850mm hose, 160mm rotor, and complete attachment hardware, and a price tag of $412. For maximum bling, you can save some more weight by getting the optional two-piece rotor. The trick 2-piece rotor uses an aluminum spider, and comes in 140, 160, 180 and 203mm sizes, and has a weight saving of 10%.

R1 Racing Specs:

• MSRP – $382
• MC Body – Polished/anodized
• Caliper body – Polished/anodized with red cap
• Lever Blade – Carbon fiber
• TFRA – Silver knob included
• Hose – Kevlar braided: 100cm and 165cm
• Rotor – 1 piece: 160mm, 180mm, 203mm
• Brake pad – Organic, w/ergal back plate
• Mounting – Standard PM 6″
• Rotor and mounting bolts – All in titanium
• Weight – 270 grams (PM – including 850mm hose, 160mm rotor, complete hardware)

The standard R1 and ‘The One’ get the TFRA (Tool-Free Reach Adjust) for on-the-fly lever reach adjustment, while the RX brakes stay the same for 2012. Another interesting option for all the brakes is their SpeedLock, which uses a quick-release for the hydraulic hose, and works much like an air tool quick-connect, so you can disconnect the brake hose without fluid loss. The SpeedLock will be really useful for dismantling and shipping purposes, and it comes with options for placement in-line, at the master cylinder or caliper.

The French helmet manufacturer Urge had a new and very interesting helmet on display at their booth, the all M, which is meant for aggressive All Mountain riding. The all M is pretty cool looking, if you don’t mind the Urge family look, and the design is both innovative and functional. For Urge, it has a sort of traditional venting system, with eight vents, including some rather prodigious front ones, that have some internal channeling to help pull the air through the helmet, keeping things cooler and more comfortable. Encased within the EPS foam is a tubular alloy frame for strength reinforcement, acting just like a roll cage. Like their Endur-O-Matic, it has the low slung rear, that droops down towards the neck and over the ears, offering excellent rear and side coverage, and additional safety characteristics.

It uses the industry-standard In-mold EPS foam construction, with a durable high gloss outer polycarbonate shell, weighs in at 300 grams, and meets the US and European certification standards. It features a flexible visor, eight venting hole, and comes in a wide range of colors, two sizes (Sm/Md and Lg/X-Lg), use their very functional ‘Gangsta Pad’ anti sweat system, and retail for $120, and it should be available early next year. Urge Bike Products is based out of Cogolin, France, and is co-owned by multiple time World Champion Fabien Barrel, who also does product testing and development for the company.

I applaud Urge and some of the other innovative helmet companies, like Kali Protectives and POC, for thinking outside the box on helmet safety. The current helmet protection system, includes the outer shell, the foam liner, the retention system and the padding. The hard shell helps spread the impact over a larger surface (specifically to the liner), accentuates sliding and prevents object penetration. The EPS foam helps prevent or reduce brain injury by managing the energy of an impact through its own compression or destruction. Its main duty is to slow the stopping process so that the head slows down during its inertial of the impact (deceleration), by cushioning and redirection. Although this system has been around for quite some, I think helmet safety, design and testing are in its infancy, and the entire realm of things needs some additional research and rethinking to protect the human noggin. Since the NFL and the players union is pushing for better helmet protection to deal with concussion issues, some of their technology and designs might trickle over to the multiple sport world?

 all M Specs:

• CE1078 Certification
• Unique Urge design
• In Mould construction(unmatched ratio Protection / Lightweight)
• Large shaped vents
• Alloy renforced vents and structure
• X straps on neck
• Stylish and flexible, anti crash visor
• Featuring Gangsta pad, anti sweat system
• Available in 2 sizes(S/M, L/XL)
• Weight: 305 g

Urge is also offering their new Veggie line, in which they replace the fiberglass and polycarbonate shells with a 100% natural vegetable fiber, for a more green oriented product. They weave a linen fiber from the Linum usitatissimum plant to manufacture a fabric that can be molded into a substituent for glass fabrics. The end product is compostable, is 100% natural, non-allergic and is safe, for the end user and employee building the helmets. Due to the additional labor, processing and complexity, the helmets cost a bit more than the traditional layups. Currently, they are offering the Down-O-Matic downhill helmet (shown above), and Archi-Enduro enduro helmet with this option.

• CE1078/ CPSC Certification
• Linen/fiber construction (Veggie model)
• Stylish and flexible anticrash visor
• Internal venturi effect
• Removable and washable pads
• Grilled vents
• Available in 2 sizes (S/M 54/57, L/XL 58/60)

Schwalbe released the Hans Dampf at Sea Otter this year, and it used their Triple Star Compound series with the sticky TrailStar variant, which has an easy rolling base, grippy center and extra grippy shoulders. At Interbike, they rolled out two new versions of the Hans Dampf. One has the faster cross country oriented PaceStar Compound (harder variant of the Triple Star Compound series), and the other is part of their single compound Performance series, which has a reasonable price point of $50. I have been thrashing my set of Hans Dampf’s since Sea Otter, and they’re a good all around tire with excellent durability. One of the great aspects of this tire is there do it all character, and the outer knobs don’t need to be rolled over quite as far to hook up while cornering and steering. The 2.35-inch tires come in both a 26 and 29er versions.

Hans Dampf Specs:

• MSRP:  TrailStar $90, PaceStar $90, Performance $49
• Size: 26×2.35, 29×2.35 (only 26er in Performance)
• Weight: 26er – 760 grams, 29er 850 grams
• Casing: 67 EPI, Snakeskin Sidewall on Star versions
• Compound: TrailStar, PaceStar, Performance
• Tire Bead: Folding
• Tubeless Ready on the Star versions

The Racing Ralph gets a new tread pattern this year along, and will utilize the cross-country PaceStar Compound. The new profile has rearranged the knobs, and should give a more consistent feel, with better transitioning and traction. The 29er profile was also tweaked, and is more spread out then the 26er, to take advantage of the big wheels larger contact area. They did a major overhaul on the casing, changing it from 67tpi to 127tpi, giving it a more supple feel, and losing 30 grams and decreasing the rolling resistance by 20 percent. The new tires are certainly light, coming in at 455 grams for the 26×2.1, 495 grams for the 26×2.25, 495 grams for the 29×2.1, and 535 grams for the 29×2.25 size. The tires are all tubeless ready (except for the Performance series), and come in a slew of version and sizes, including 26×2.1, 26×2.25, 29×2.1, 29x 2.25 and a big wide 2.9×2.35. The TL ready tires have some optional sidewall versions, such as SnakeSkin and DoubleDefense, and they even have hand-made tubulars. They also added a 4Cross edition of the Racing Ralph using the new GateStar compound with SnakeSkin sidewalls and come in a 26×2.25 sizing. The GateStar is a combination of the PaceStar for the center section, and the downhill VertStar for the shoulders, giving it great usage for 4Cross, SuperD and Enduro racing.

Racing Ralph Specs:

• MSRP:  Performance $49, PaceStar $84-$95, Tubulars $150-$160, GateStar $90
• Size: 26×2.1, 26×2.25, 29×2.1, 29x 2.25, 2.9×2.35
• Weight: 26er => 455 -695 grams, 29er => 495 – 620 grams
• Casing: 127 TPI, with optional SnakeSkin and DoubleDefense sidewalls
• Compound: TrailStar, PaceStar, Performance
• Tire Bead: Folding and tubular
• Tubeless Ready on the PaceStar versions

The Nobby Nic get a couple of additions, including a sticky TrailStar edition in the 26×2.4 size, and a 4Cross edition with the new GateStar compound, which has the SnakeSkin sidewalls, and come in a 26×2.25 sizing.

SRAM had a bunch of changes to their line up, including new gearing, an addition to their 2×10 group, a 10 speed Gripshift and a sweet color option for X.0.  The Silver coloration on the X.0 (shown above), is actually a metal filament, and I think it looks really trick, and the new color scheme comes on the groups shifters, rear derailer and cranks.

SRAM – New Gearing
The most interesting addition to me, was the new lower gearing for their 2×10 series. The current 2x chainrings of 42×28 and 39×26, is being joined by 38×24 and the micro granny 36×22. Although it was predominately designed for a 29er, which require a lower gearing for the big wheels, it appealed to me on my 26er, because a enjoy having an uber granny gear for long grinds up steep and unrelenting hills in Colorado. Their current lowest ratio of which uses a 26 front and 36 rear, was .72, and it was still not as low as the older 2×9 or 3×9, which had a 22×34 setup with a ratio of .65. By switching to 22×36 or 24×36, you get .61 and .67 ratio’s respectively. I ride lots of terrain that has decent traction, and long grunt climbs, and the lowest granny gear possible will facilitate less energy output, and maximize enjoyment! I recall riding many moons ago with a 20×32 setup, back when everything was 7 or 8 speeds. The new gearing will be available on everything but the XX group, so X.0, X.9, X.7 and X.5 will have the new gearing options.

All SRAM’s cranks have interchangeable or removable spiders, and since their current 120 BCD won’t fit a 38 nor 36 tooth chainring, they have a new 104 BCD spider carrier for the smaller setup, whether it’s the 38×24 or 36×22 option, and it was engineered to keep the same chainline as the larger gearing. They will also sell a kit, so that existing owners of the SRAM 2×10 cranks, could retrofit on the new gearing. The system will have an option for an All Mountain bashguard, for additional protection purposes. For the front shifting purposes for the smaller drivetrain, the X.0 and X.7 series will have a 38t and 36t dedicated derailer. I can’t wait to try out the new system on some of my local sick terrain.

 SRAM X.5
The other big SRAM news, are they brought the X.5 group into the 10 speed fold, which will be a nice addition to lower priced bikes and the budget-conscious buyer. It gets a lot of trickle down technology from the fancier and more expensive groups, albeit at a significantly lower price point, but still retaining good performance. The nicest addition is the trick cassette, which uses the same spider system as the expensive brethren, with attached steel cogs, and forgoes the usual stamped steel method of manufacturing. It will have the same gearing selection as the other groups, including the new low gearing 6-22and8-24. It will include a short, medium and large-cage rear derailer, which will make it a cost-effective replacement for those that break derailers regularly, like downhill and freeride users. The X.5 group includes, trigger shifters, rear and front derailer, cassette and a crank, and will come in silver or back finish.

SRAM Gripshift
SRAM had World Champion Jaroslav Kulhavy Specialized S-Works Epic 29er bike on display, and it was sporting the 10 speed BlackBox GripShift shifter that he has been racing on. The prototype Griftshift’s inner mechanism are all very top secret, and no release date or pricing was mentioned, but they are at least in the queue to be available. We can assume some additional refinements and tweaks, and of course they will feature some carbon bits and pieces. Since next year is the 25th anniversary of the original DB1 shifter, we can only hope some will trickle out? I didn’t test the shifting on his bike, as it seemed sort of sacred, well ok, I did click it a couple of time.

RockShox Reverb
The Reverb adjustable seatpost gets a couple of minor changes. They have added a 100mm travel option for more cross-country oriented riding, a new Enduro collar and an updated compression fitting for better hose/head connection durability at the seatpost junction. During my testing and usage of the Reverb, that exact issue was a great concern, and this more robust upgrade should help with longevity, and lessen any damage issues, especially when working in a bike stand. The latest incarnation comes in 100mm and 125mm travel, 30.9mm and 31.6mm post diameters, and 355mm, 380mm and 420mm lengths, and black or silver collar options.

They introduced the Reverb Stealth, which routs internally through a frame into the bottom of the seatpost. Currently the system is only available OE on selected Scott and Trek bikes for a one year time frame, and after that we can hope to see it on a plethora of frames. This nice tweak to the Reverb, makes for clean lines, a lack of complex routing and interference issues.

RockShox

Rear Shocks
The Monarch and Monarch+ get a new white color option, and there is a Monarch Carbon, which gets a carbon air can to save 15 grams over the normal aluminum version. You can set it up with the XX hydraulic remote, which will blend nicely with the XX SID for the ultimate in cross-country racing purposes. The Monarch Carbon will certainly be coveted by the weight weenie crowd. The Kage is a nice entry-level coil shock for the longer travel market, and it being used on everything from a Nomad to World Cup racing, and it comes in at a good price point.

Forks
They moved their Dual Position Air technology into the Lyric and Totem lines, and it offers a climbing mode around 30mm below the maximum travel. They delved deeply into the 29er market, and now have a SID (80/100) , Reba (80/100), Recon (80/100), XC (80/100) and Revelation (120/130/140). Each of the fork lines has specific models under them, to cover the gamut of colors, dampers, features and steerers. I think the most interesting 29er fork line is the Revelation, and having a 120, 130, and a whopping 140mm travel will be ideal for the new longer travel big wheeled bikes. In addition to having the Dual Position Air feature, it has the Motion Control DNA system which has four models, the XX, RCT3, RLT and RL. The very trick RCT3 damper is the highlight of the bunch, and its three distinct positions, open, threshold and lock, is easy to use and offers usable compression, for on the fly terrain adjustments, and it blends nicely with the Monrach+ rear shock.