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Sea Otter Classic Expo
Monterey, California, USA, April 16-19, 2009
Part 7 - April 24: Grip and vision in all the right places
By James Huang in Monterey, California
Santa Cruz adds second carbon model with Blur LT Carbon
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Santa Cruz Bicycles has taken the lessons learned in developing the recently-debuted Blur XC Carbon and now applied them to its longer-travel cousin to yield the new Blur LT Carbon.
At a claimed weight of just 2.54kg (5.6lb) with the included RockShox Monarch 3.3 air shock, the new model is a full pound lighter than the old alloy version and is nearly as light as the old alloy Blur XC. Even so, Santa Cruz claim that the Blur LT Carbon is not only stronger than before, it is the stiffest and strongest chassis in its entire range - downhill, freeride or otherwise.
The Blur LT Carbon retains several revisions already proven on the the alloy version - such as 140mm of travel with second-generation VPP suspension geometry, a carbon upper link and grease port-equipped alloy lower link, and the improved pivot seals and locking collet hardware - but adds to it a tapered 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" head tube for more fork flexibility as well as a direct-mount front derailleur for easier setup.
Other details include a stainless steel ‘chain slap guard’ on the bottom of the swingarm just aft of the bottom bracket, a replaceable rear derailleur hanger, lower profile cable stops and housing guides, carbon rear disc tabs, and a moulded chainstay protector.
Santa Cruz will offer the Blur LT Carbon in four sizes beginning in June for a suggested retail price of US$2399. The alloy Blur LT will remain in the lineup at a cost of US$1850 for powdercoated frames and US$2050 for anodized ones.
Trigon brings factory-direct carbon to US consumers
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Trigon is hoping to emerge from its current status as a Taiwanese carbon frame and component manufacturer for other brands with its own eponymous range now available in several markets, including the US.
The factory-direct model obviously brings with it certain advantages in pricing, as demonstrated by Trigon’s top-end RQC-929X road model. Just US$1,699.99 gets you a 980g carbon frame (claimed weight) with an integrated seatmast, BB30 or standard threaded bottom bracket shell, carbon rear dropouts, and a tapered 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" front end. Add another US$374.99 for the matching 390g full-carbon fork with carbon steerer and dropouts and you’re quickly on your way to a fully UCI-illegal machine.
Features and buzzwords are one thing but ride and construction quality, handling, and fit are another entirely. We’ll see about throwing a leg over one for a real-world evaluation sometime in the future but given Trigon’s comprehensive range of products - including road, mountain, time trial and cyclo-cross frames plus a slew of parts - this may be one to watch.
Check out www.trigonbicycles.com to see more but be forewarned: some of the items may look a bit familiar (if you know what we mean).
New gravity rubber from Continental and Schwalbe
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Continental’s new Kaiser features a meaty 2.5"-wide double-walled reinforced casing plus an aggressive downhill competition-specific tread made with a soft Black Chili rubber compound for improved grip in dry conditions. An open centre section promises good purchase on mixed terrain while the stout shoulder looks to provide secure cornering hold. Claimed weight is 1000g.
For wet conditions, Continental now offers the Rain King, which uses the same 2.5" casing as the Kaiser but with a more open tread pattern and different Black Chili compound to shed mud. Claimed weight is 950g.
German competitor Schwalbe also debuted a pair of new tyres - the Dirty Dan and Wicked Will. The 2.35"-wide Dirty Dan is a mud-specific downhill tyre sporting Schwalbe’s tacky Gooey Gluey rubber compound, a double-walled casing with pinch flat protection and Snakeskin sidewall reinforcement, and an aggressively siped and spiked tread pattern to dig into soft surfaces.
Additionally, Schwalbe has also added its unique ‘Curve Claws’, a series of short knobs positioned radically far down the side of the casing for extra grip at extreme cornering angles.
Drier conditions will call for the Wicked Will, which uses the same casing construction as the Dirty Dan but with shorter and fatter knobs for better bite on hard surfaces plus a more stoutly reinforced shoulder tread. Schwalbe adds the Curve Claws here as well, and the Wicked Will will be offered in both Gooey Gluey or Triple Nano tread compounds.
Higher thread counts and new ‘cross treads from Vittoria
Vittoria has increased the thread count of its already-high Corsa tubular and clincher tyres from 290tpi to 320tpi for an even suppler ride, while a second-generation puncture-resistant belt supposedly offers better protection than before as well.
Vittoria will continue to use the 290tpi casing on its new Cross Evo XM ‘cross tyre, though, which features a more open tread for wetter conditions plus specially angled knobs to provide better grip in corners. The Cross Evo XM will be available in both tubular and clincher varieties in 32mm and 34mm widths.
Riders who insist on both racing and training on tubulars will also solace in Vittoria’s new Rubino Pro, which uses a more conventional 120tpi thread count but a seamless construction for easier mounting and rounder profile. Claimed weight is 290g and retail price is a modest US$50.
Expanded eyewear options from Giro and Tifosi
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Giro has expanded its eyewear range into the more casual realm with two new models - Fader and Cymbal. Giro expects the squared-off Fader to appeal more to men and the decidedly more rounded lines of the Cymbal more to women.
Both feature Zeiss-certified optics in a variety of tints and subtle metal details around the temple hinges, and the Fader also adds in rubber pads on the nosepiece to prevent slip.
Giro will also add yellow and orange lens tints to its sport performance range - including Havik, Semi and Filter - to better suit lower light conditions.
Tifosi will add at least three new models to the range including both casual and sport applications. The Salvo definitely falls into the former category with its stout metal frame and military-inspired styling. Polarised and standard versions will be available for US$59.95 and US$39.95 respectively.
At the other end of the usage scale is the Scatto FC (full coverage) with a feathery 24g claimed weight and customizable temples and nosepiece. Standard and photochromic Fototec lens-equipped versions will be available US$39.95 and US$59.95, respectively.
Tifosi has also removed some frame material from its popular Pavé model, making them less bulky overall and a tad lighter while also easing lens swaps.
Lizard Skins debuts grippy bar tape
‘Cross season is still several months out but Lizard Skins is prepared with its new DSP Road Tape. The textured Dura Soft Polymer material offers superb dry grip - and only barely affected wet grip - and a slightly cushioned feel.
The closed-cell surface also cleans up easily, the tape is lightweight at 56g per set including plugs, and it’s also available in a generous range of eight colours.
Lizard Skins is also now offering custom-etched lockrings for their range of lock-on grips. Though there is a minimum order of fifteen sets, Lizard Skins let you mix and match colors between red, blue, and black and designs are apparently limited solely by what you can fit in the limited real estate.
New T-Bones hitch rack from Saris
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Saris marketing coordinator Maggie Walz was her own mobile booth at Sea Otter, carrying the company’s latest T-Bones hitch rack designed as a dual-purpose car rack and indoor storage system for "urban cyclists and people on the go".
Saris intends the rack’s sturdy four-point plastic base to remain indoors while a clever four-way convertible hitch base stays mounted in the receiver hitch. A handy Qwik Dock lever secures the 4.5kg (10lb) aluminum upper section to either one, meaning you don’t have to leave the rack on your car when not in use and - at least in theory - you also always have a place to store your bike inside your apartment or loft off the ground and away from walls.
The upper section folds into a fairly compact form and fits into the included backpack-style carrying bag for transport back and forth with room left for other gear such as shoes and helmets.
The T-Bones uses the same folding arms and rubber-coated cradles as Saris’ popular Bones trunk rack and an integrated cable lock and lock cores helps keep everything reasonably secure, too.
Saris will offer the T-Bones in both two-bike and three-bike versions for US$349 and US$379, respectively, both of which will include the rack, both bases, and the carrying bag.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Santa Cruz doubles the number of carbon frames in the lineup to two with the launch of the new Blur LT Carbon.
- The new Blur LT Carbon uses the same second-generation 140mm-travel suspension design as the alloy Blur LT.
- A newly tapered head tube offers additional stiffness plus extra flexibility in fork choice.
- The upper link is carbon, too, and all pivots feature more thoroughly sealed cartridge bearings and locking collet-type hardware.
- The lower link includes handy grease ports for creak-free running.
- The dropouts are carbon as well and the cable and housing stops are lower profile for cleaner lines.
- Trigon makes frames and components for other brands but now look to make a name for themselves.
- The top-end RQC-929X features a tapered steerer and full-carbon fork.
- An integrated mast is also included.
- The RQC-929X will be available with either BB30 or standard threaded bottom bracket shells.
- Carbon dropouts are augmented by a replaceable rear derailleur hanger.
- The top tube features recessed routing for the rear brake cable.
- Continental's new Kaiser features an aggressive DH-specific tread and a reinforced double-wall casing.
- The Kaiser uses an open pattern and well-bolstered shoulder for cornering grip.
- The Rain King is Continental's new DH-specific tire for wet conditions.
- Taller and more widely spaced knobs penetrate soft ground.
- Continental's versatile Rubber Queen is now offered in both 2.4" and 2.2" sizes.
- As compared to the Kaiser and Rain King, the Rubber Queen uses a slightly more squared-off profile.
- The new Schwalbe Wicked Will uses stout knobs with lots of biting edges for use on harder terrain.
- The slightly squared-off shoulder provides a stable platform in corners.
- The Schwalbe Dirty Dan is intended for wetter conditions.
- Tall knobs penetrate the ground and the siped knob surfaces multiply the number of biting edges.
- Schwalbe's unique Curve Claws provide extra security at extreme cornering angles.
- Vittoria have increased thread count to 320tpi in their top-end tires.
- The new Vittoria Cross Evo XM is intended for muddy conditions and is offered in 32mm and 34mm casing widths.
- Giro add two new casual models to the lineup such as the Fader.
- The squared-off Fader will presumably appeal more to men.
- Rubber pads on the nosepiece prevent slipping.
- The Cymbal offers a more rounded and softer profile.
- Metal details adorn the hinge area.
- Giro also add new yellow and orange tints to the range of available lenses for the Havik, Semi and Filter frames.
- Tifosi's new Salvo uses a metal frame for its military-inspired styling.
- The new Tifosi Scatto is said to weigh just 24g.
- The tight curve presumably offers good protection from both wind and sun.
- The popular Tifosi Pavé model gets a revised frame that is less bulky than before.
- Lizard Skins' new DSP Bar Tape is impressively grippy.
- The non-porous surface is also easy to clean.
- Saris' new T-Bones rack is aimed at urban cyclists that might not want to leave their rack on their car all the time and yet also need a place to store their bikes indoors.
- The four-point plastic base is meant to stay inside while the hitch base stays on the car. Simply flip the Qwik Lock lever and move the rack car…
- …to apartment or loft.
- An integrated cable lock and a number of lock cores help keep things secure.
