Trek World's sphere widens next year

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We've already shown you much of Trek's 2010 mountain bike lineup - including the revised Top Fuel, the lighter Fuel EX, and new carbon fibre Remedy - but the company still reserved a few additional models for its annual Trek World show near its Waterloo, Wisconsin headquarters.

New Scratch platform for freeriders

Last year's Session FR will be replaced by a dedicated freeride range for 2010 called Scratch, which aims to provide as much hucking performance as its competition along with pedal-friendly manners for those that don't always have a lift or shuttle vehicle handy.

The new 170mm-travel aluminum frames will share much of the Session's proven suspension technology - including the ABP (Active Braking Pivot) rear dropouts, Evo link and Full Floater dynamic upper and lower shock links - but with a few key tweaks to better suit the intended application.

First and foremost, the ABP-equipped rear end will use the new 142x12mm rear hub spacing standard that allows for a stronger rear wheel and a straighter chainline than 135mm thru-axle setups along with proper slotted dropouts to guide the hub ends into their correct location for easier wheel installation - something most rear thru-axle configurations currently don't offer.

Wheel selections will include models from both Bontrager and DT Swiss and the dropouts are also adaptable for standard 135mm hubs if needed.

Up top, the forged upper link features a pair of reversible 'Mino Links' that will allow users to select between a 66.5° head tube angle and 14.4" bottom bracket height or a slightly slacker and more stable 66° head tube angle and 14.1" height.

Trek's now-familiar E2 tapered steerer and head tube is found up front for stiffer and more durable single-crown fork setups while burly hydroformed aluminum frame tubes throughout promise good long-term durability.

Built-in housing stops for remote-operated telescoping seatposts and Truvativ's HammerSchmidt drivetrain plus ISCG03 mounts also hint at Scratch's versatility.

Four Scratch models will be available, all using the same frame: two with coil-sprung rear shocks and forks and two-ring drivetrains along with two air-sprung versions equipped with triple cranksets for weight-conscious riders that intend to do a bit more climbing.

Top-end versions of each will weigh in at a surprisingly svelte 15.6kg (34.5lb) and 14.3kg (31.5lb) (without pedals) and will carry retail prices of US$5699.99 and US$4599.99 respectively.

Take to the jumps with Ticket

Trek will also introduce a new Ticket hardtail for dirt jumping, urban riding and pump track sessions. The stout aluminum frame's sliding rear dropouts (with 20mm of adjustment range) can be used with geared or singlespeed setups. Rear spacing is designed for standard 135x10mm thru-axle hubs.

A tapered 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" E2 front end makes for extra strength and stiffness during landings and ISCG05 tabs readily accept the latest chain guide systems.

More strength enhancements can be found at the bridgeless forged bottom bracket yoke - that also allows for a more tightly spaced rear end if desired - the gusseted head tube and seat stay cluster, and the relatively thick tube walls throughout for impact resistance.

Ticket will be offered as a frame only in short or long geometries.

Gary Fisher 29er range goes faster and bigger

Gary Fisher's premium 29"-wheeled cross-country Superfly range will actually consist of three carbon models for 2010: the Superfly 100 with 100mm of travel at both ends, the Superfly hardtail, and even a singlespeed variant that will be offered only as a frameset for now.

Subaru-Gary Fisher team rider Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski recently used a Superfly 100 to win the US national marathon championship in Breckenridge, Colorado, complete with its composite front triangle and net-moulded chainstays and seat stays that don't even use aluminum for the pivot bearing seats or ABP dropouts.

Aluminum inserts aren't required for the net-moulded bottom bracket shell either, and the carbon upper link reportedly weighs just 44g. Claimed frame weight is an ultralight 2.2kg (4.85lb) including the rear shock and associated hardware.

The Superfly 100 geometry has also been tweaked to minimise any handling disadvantage owing to the bigger wheels. An offset seat tube and direct-mount front derailleur bring the chain stay length down to a reasonable 452mm (17.8") and the tapered E2 head tube houses a Gary Fisher-exclusive Genesis 2.0 custom-offset fork for a more 26"-like trail figure.

The Superfly hardtail, on the other hand, is intended as full-blown race rocket with an approximate 1.3kg (2.87lb) frame weight. Chainstays measure an even-tighter 440mm (17.3") while the Genesis 2.0-specific 80mm-travel Fox F29 fork is housed within a standard non-tapered head tube to save a few grams.

New for '10 will be the singlespeed version with pivoting rear vertical dropouts that reportedly have enough range to accommodate a four-tooth cog spread without altering the chain length. Gary Fisher will offer the Superfly SS in a frameset only (complete with a Fox F29 fork) and team rider Jesse Lalonde supposedly has built his down to just 7.3kg (16lb) or so. Yowza.

At the opposite end of the spectrum lies the all-new Rumblefish, again using 29" wheels but in a more capable 120mm-travel aluminum package. Rumblefish is essentially the 29"-wheeled version of Gary Fisher's successful Roscoe all-mountain bike, complete with the unique Fox Racing Shox DRCV-equipped (Dual Race Control Valve) rear shock for a more linear and coil-like stroke, ABP dropouts for improved braking performance in rough conditions, custom Genesis 2.0 frame geometry, a tapered E2 front end and a 15mm thru-axle dropouts.

Revised XO range just in time for 'cross season

Trek's X0 family of aluminum 'cross bikes will receive mostly minor revisions for '10. Press-fit bottom bracket shells save some weight relative to last year but they're also wider, allowing for more separation between the chain stays and more mud and tyre clearance.

Threaded brake housing stops will make for easier adjustments than before, too, while the top tubes have gained a newly flattened profile for more comfortable shouldering.

Expanded WSD trail and road offerings for '10

Trek's WSD (Women's Specific Design) bike line continues to grow with new entry-level mountain bikes and updated premium road models for '10.

The recently debuted 6 Series Madone will feature new WSD editions for '10, though not with the shorter top tube dimensions of the rest of Trek's women's-specific road range. Instead, Trek has opted to exclusively use the standard Performance geometry for its women's flagship as 80 percent of the company's high-end female road customers prefer to stretch out a bit more, according to product manager Heather Henderson.

Contact points such as bars and saddles will continue to be female-oriented items, however, and new paint jobs will also reflect a slightly softer side. Of particular interest is an upcoming Project One scheme developed by new employee Stacy Carnell (formerly of Burton) called 'Quick Like a Bunny'. The eye-catching design is surprisingly ornate (and impressively clever in its details), and like all Project One signature options will be offered in a wide range of colours.

The less expensive Madone 4.7 will add an extra-small 43cm size with 650c wheels, too, and Henderson says the company's eight-race Trek Women Triathlon Series has also been wildly successful with up to 2000 participants per event so Trek is also expanding its Equinox WSD range with a carbon frame for '10.

On the off-road side of things, a new Skye hardtail range is aimed at newer riders with its Alpha Black aluminum frame and modest build kits that are easy for novices to understand and use. Three models will be offered in total, all with a choice of two color schemes: one with a more 'nature-inspired' theme and the other with more sedate and serious hues.

Up next: Trek's vastly expanded range of pavement and commuter bikes