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Race Tech: Sea Otter Classic, April 14, 2007
Big wheels and big air
By James Huang in Monterey, California
Mavic and Hutchinson team up again for 29" UST
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You wished, you whined, you waited… and now the wait is over. Two French
companies have again joined forces for another UST tubeless project, only this
time the players are Mavic and Hutchinson (instead of Michelin) and the rim
is sized for 29" tires instead of 26" ones. Part of the long delay
in developing the new bits was reportedly due to the lack of a 29" UST
rim and bead standard that all industry players could agree upon, but with that
issue settled, the ball is officially rolling.
The new Mavic C29ssmax is essentially a 29" version of the Crossmax
SL: Zicral aluminum spokes are arranged in Mavic's new Isopulse lacing pattern,
and join the milled Maxtal rims to the latest generation of FTS-X hubs. The
C29ssmax rims will also use the FORE drilling process to retain a solid (and
airtight) outer rim wall. Quoted weights for the set are 1660g and 1745g for
the quick-release and 20mm versions, respectively.
The new wheels will be disc-compatible exclusively, and only with six-bolt rotors. However, Mavic will offer both standard quick-release and 20mm thru-axle front wheels. Each version will use a dedicated non-convertible hub in order to optimize spoke flange spacing, and both sets will carry a retail price of US$775.
The Python 29x2.10" will use Hutchinson's new Tubeless Ready configuration which incorporates a UST bead with a standard casing. As on other such tires, users can opt for either a standard inner tube or can convert the tire to true tubeless capabilities through the use of an approved sealant (Hutchinson's own Fast'air, in this case). At 645g and US44.95 each, Hutchinson claims this setup saves as much as 160g per tire as compared to standard UST.
Hutchinson will offer just one 29" tire for now, but additional models are sure to follow. More importantly, though, the establishment of a true UST standard means that more tubeless 29" tires will also arrive shortly from a variety of other manufacturers.
Ellsworth returns to the DH scene with new Dare
The folks at Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles were painfully aware that its Rogue didn't exactly receive a warm-and-fuzzy reception by the true DH crowd, who woefully lamented the passing of the old Dare and religiously awaited its second coming. That second coming is still a little ways off, but the gravity component of Team Maxxis was spotted using new prototype Dare frames at this year's Sea Otter Classic.
"The new Dare is going to be reintroduced for '08, and we made these specifically for the Maxxis team," said Mike Burgess of Ellsworth. "So far these are the only ones we've produced. We've made them really close to our old Dares, and we've given the team these bikes to tentatively test. We're going to let them ride them a little bit, and we're going to go back and adjust anything they find necessary to adjust. We're working with Fox trying to get the rear ends exactly the way they want their race bikes dialed in."
Some of the differences between the old and new Dare are plainly obvious, especially in the front end which now uses a pseudo-monocoque construction with two formed aluminum sheets welded down the center in combination with conventional tubes. Frame stiffness is said to be improved over both the Rogue and old Dare, and the new front triangle configuration is also claimed to be somewhat lighter. Out back, the new Dare retains the excellent 230mm-travel ICT rear end from the previous generation.
Relative to the more freeride-oriented Rogue, the Dare wears significant frame geometry changes that supposedly make it better suited to the bike's target closed-course DH crowd. Changes include a slacker head tube angle as well as a uniquely interrupted seat tube design that allows Ellsworth to retain the existing suspension pivot geometry and tire clearance, but gives the team racers a more rearward seating position.
Ellsworth devotees will have to wait until around Interbike time to get one for themselves, and costs will reportedly hover around the US$2200-2300 range.
Intense displays next iteration of M-series downhill bikes, expands 29" range
The Intense Cycles M-series of downhill bikes has been among the winningest designs on the race circuit, and Jeff Steber displayed the latest test mule at this year's Sea Otter Classic. The new M5 "is the next progression of our flagship M3 downhill bike," said Intense founder Jeff Steber, but the significant changes clearly warrant the new model designation.
An all-new front end helps yield a dramatic 0.9kg (2lb) reduction in frame weight, and the geometry has been tweaked to better accommodate "the new style World Cup courses that have lots of technical rocky sections and really fast high-speed areas." Rear wheel travel remains at 240mm (9.5"), but a longer 10.5x3.5" Manitou Revox shock delivers a lower leverage ratio for better rear-end performance. The front end also gains an integrated-style headset.
The M5 is still in the prototype stage and won't likely be available until this fall's Interbike show, but Intense's factory team will begin racing it on the World Cup circuit this May in Vigo, Spain. According to Steber, "We're pretty excited about it, and the racers can't wait to get on it."
Otherwise, Intense continues to build on its 29" line with a longer travel 5.5 29, but is also playing with the so-called '69er' concept with the new Spider 69.
Niner Bikes releases new short-travel XC model
Niner Bikes was conceived from the start as an exclusively 29er-only brand, and the CA-based company has definitely benefited from jumping on the bandwagon early on. For 2008, Niner will supplement its already healthily proportioned six-model lineup with a new dedicated short-travel XC rig called the Jet 9.
The Jet 9 is loosely based on Niner's existing r.i.p. 9 dual-link full-suspension model, but a variety of changes drops the weight of the 100mm travel down to an impressive 2.45kg (5.4lb) for a medium frame with a Fox Racing Shox RP23 rear shock. Changes include the use of bushings instead of bearings at all pivot locations, pared-down suspension linkages, the omission of the r.i.p. 9's modular dropouts, plus a new 6000-series aluminum tubeset with revised butting profiles as well as a new rear end configuration.
Pricing was yet to be determined, but Niner Bikes anticipates an August/September release date.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Mavic finally brings a 29" mountain bike wheelset to the table with its new C29ssmax wheelset.
- Hutchinson will offer the first true UST 29" MTB tire , based on its popular Python tread pattern.
- The new C29ssmax is basically a larger diameter version of its Crossmax SL, complete with Isopulse lacing pattern on the rear using Mavic's Zicral aluminum spokes.
- Rims are milled in between the spoke holes for lighter weight, and the C29ssmax rims also utilize Mavic's FORE drilling process.
- Front C29ssmax wheels will be offered in both standard quick-release…
- …and dedicated 20mm thru-axle versions. Sadly, the two won't be interchangeable.
- April Lawyer of Team Maxxis was found using a new prototype Ellsworth Dare at the Sea Otter Classic.
- The new Dare sports a variety of changes , including the all-new front end with shaped-and-welded aluminum sheets instead of extruded tubing.
- Rear end of the new Dare retains Ellsworth's excellent ICT suspension design with 230mm (9") of rear wheel travel.
- A new lower shock mount dresses up the lower section of the frame. Seat tube indentation is necessary to clear the piggyback reservoir on the Fox DHX-Coil rear shock.
- The seat tube on the new Dare looks standard, but if you look closely, you'll see that the upper section is offset just a bit to deliver a more rearward seating position.
- Ellsworth is working directly with Fox Racing Shox to dial in the suspension performance on the new Dare.
- Chris King is a Team Maxxis sponsor , and team rider April Lawyer is a perfect spokesperson for its Pretty and Pink line of components, which helps raise money for breast cancer research.
- I don’t know what we expected to find when we looked down here, but the builder's 'signature' is laser-etched right on the frame.
- Lawyer and the rest of Team Maxxis aren't the only ones that benefit when they do well. Each time the team reaches the podium, the rider, the team, and the team's sponsors all donate money to Project Pink, an organization originally started by Ellsworth employee David Weisenteiner to help find a cure for breast cancer.
- The Ellsworth Legend (whose name will soon be changed to Oracle) is a limited edition of the company's popular Epiphany trailbike platform.
- Changes include a titanium front end (made by Merlin) , a carbon fiber rear, and a premium parts spec.
- As does every Ellsworth, the Oracle uses the excellent ICT rear suspension system.
- Mmm… look at that carbon fiber seat stay assembly , and, um… the Ellsworth carbon mountain bike rims?
- Yup, Ellsworth plans to sell its own wheelsets.
- Intense Cycles factory riders will start racing the prototype M5 at the World Cup race in Vigo, Spain.
- Changes to the front end yield a whopping 2lb weight reduction relative to the current M3.
- The rear end still uses VPP suspension geometry , but a lower leverage ratio promises better performance.
- The new M5 will wear an integrated head tube.
- Intense will switch from Fox Racing Shox to Manitou's Revox coil shock for the new M5.
- Intense expands its 29er lineup with the new 5.5 29.
- Integrated head tubes are becoming increasingly common on 29" bikes as a means of reducing front end height.
- Intense is also playing with the newer '69er' concept , as seen on this Spider 69.
- Niner's new Jet 9 is a dedicated XC 29er rig with 100mm of travel and a light 2.45kg (5.4lb) frame.
- The Jet 9 utilizes a similar dual-link suspension layout as on Niner's r.i.p. 9, but with pared down links and reduced travel.
- The premium build kit on Niner's display Jet 9 included a DT Swiss carbon-bodied shock, Industry Nine wheels, and FSA carbon crank, Magura Marta SL brakes, and SRAM derailleurs.
- Gobs of tire clearance are a Niner Bikes trademark.
- Big names continue to jump on the big wheel bandwagon , as seen on this new Stumpjumper 29er from Specialized.
- Plenty of tire clearance on the Stumpjumper 29er.
- Check out the modular dropout design on Specialized's new Stumpjumper 29er. Did I hear someone say 'singlespeed conversion'?
- Specialized will also add to its 29er tire selection with the new Captain.
- Felt showed this clean-looking Nine Pro model at Sea Otter.
- The Felt Nine Pro makes heavy use of hydroformed tubing. An integrated head tube helps keep the front end height down.
- With many 29er riders using larger volume tires , frame clearance has become a top priority.
