Tested: Avid XO Trail Brakes
Four-Piston Stopping Power with Great Modulation and Lever Feel
The evolution of mountain bike brakes has continued at an amazing rate fueled by the constant improvements each manufacturer has made each year. Avid has continued to improve upon the finicky Juicy’s of yesteryear and have come up with great results. Featuring a new Four-piston Caliper paired with updated,levers, the XO trail brake has created a significant buzz throughout the Trail/All-Mountain scene.
Interbike: New Components
Fox iCD Electronic Lock-out, DT Swiss 29er Wheels, New Goods from Thomson, and Easton EC70 Carbon MTB Hoops
Companies unveil new 2013 components at the industries tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV
Tested: Pacenti TL28 Rims
Trail-Ready, Weight Conscious Hoops
In a time when most wheelsets come complete from the factory, these Pacenti TL28 hoops offer a nice alternative for those who’d rather build up a super-tough, versatile trail wheelset the old fashioned way: from the hub up.
Tested: DT Swiss FX1950 Tricon
Bright and Durable: Thrashing the FX1950 Tricon
Yes, these euro-flashy hoops are bright, but these bomber freeride wheels from DT Swiss have a surly side with tried and true DT quality hubs laced up to a sealed tubeless compatible rim utilizing top notch DT bladed double butted spokes. This combination creates a solid and laterally stiff but otherwise forgiving wheelset that is capable of taking on some pretty insane riding while helping to smooth out your ride.
Tested: Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29er with Snakeskin
Excellent Traction and Durability but are they Worth the Premium Price?
Schwalbe has quickly gained a reputation as a high-end tire manufacturer that creates highly functional bicycle tires. Although they also sport a high-end price tag, Schwalbe has shown time and again just how great its tires are.
First Look: Sram XX1 1x11 Drivetrain
SRAM reveals details of New 1x11 Drivetrain
SRAM was adamant to point out that XX1 is not designed to replace current 10-speed drivetrains. 2x10 mountain bike systems are still relatively new and continue to offer huge benefits for many riders. Instead, XX1 is aimed at riders looking to simplify their drivetrain.
First Look: Sram XX1 1x11 Mountain Bike Drivetrain
Srams XX1 sets to up the standard for a simplified drivetrain.
Designed as a compliment to the increasingly popular enduro/all-mountain segment, Srams new 1x11 drivetrain pairs with their newly released Type 2 clutch derailleur system to create a simple yet effective drivetrain for technical trail abuse.
Riding the Rough Side of Sedona with Magura Direct
Magura Launches New 29er and 650B Fork, Road Brakes
By Trina Ortega and Brian Riepe
SEDONA, Ariz. — The Magura Direct employees work hard every year to host their annual press camp on the ultimate testing grounds (whether testing gear or fear) of Sedona, Arizona’s notoriously technical and demanding trails.
Tested: Mavic Crossmax SX Wheelset
Mavics durable all-mountain wheels provide an upgrade for capable trail bikes.
Pairing XC weight with downhill durability can be a difficult formula, but the redesigned 2012 Crossmax SX steps to the plate with its trail/enduro specific improvements. For 2012, the SX sees subtle yet strategic changes throughout the wheel, but together they create a lighter, stronger, and more versatile wheelset.
Sea Otter 2012: Shimano's New Gravity Groups
Shimano updates Gravity specific groupset and introduces a more budget friendly version.
As the first component manufacturer to develop a gravity specific component group, Shimano has continued to improve on the DH components. For 2013, Saint sees some significant updates along with a new, more budget friendly gravity group, Zee.
Sea Otter 2012 - First Look: Mavics new 29er Wheel lineup
Mavic introduces a Line of 29er Wheels, finally.
With the exponential growth of 29" wheels in the mountain bike industry, most wheel manufacturers were quick to adopt and develop high-end 29" wheels. Mavic was a little bit slower to react though and has been a bit behind in the big wheel market, but for good reason.
Sea Otter 2012: X-Fusion Introduces 2013 Suspension and New Height Adjustable Post
X-Fusion Shox introduces new 34mm stanchion Forks, Height adjustable seatpost and ultralight rear shock.
For 2013, X-Fusion plans to create more buzz around their products by creating some new, possibly market-changing improvements introducing a new stanchion size, new gold slick ano stanchion coating, and a one piece forged crown and steertube combo along with a brand new height adjustable seatpost proves X-Fusion has been hard at work.
Industry News: Sram Releases 10-speed Gripshift
Gripshift returns, But More Refined than Those Disposable Pieces of Plastic on your First Mountain Bike.
For those who pine for the days when they could grab a fistful of gears in one, throttling twist of the wrist, Sram as answered your many prayers and forum posts with the introduction of a new 10-speed Gripshift system. Built from the ground up, Sram has made substantial strides to create a twist shift system that will rival the performance of top notch shifting systems currently on the market.
New Products: SRAM Type 2 - Clutch Equipped Derailleur
Improving the Riding Experience is Exactly Why Drivetrain Technology continues to Move Forward. Creating a Quieter, Smoother Drivetrain that Will Remain Consistent even over the Most Demanding Terrain is the Goal.
SRAMs new Type 2 clutch equipped rear derailleur provides one way tension that keeps chain slap to a minimum while improving on the fly shift quality. But does this technology improve the riding experience or is it just marketing hype?
