Here’s a quick guide to installing (or not installing) the Fox 32 Float 150 FIT RLC fork and how to dial it in for max performance on the trail. If you’re looking for a review, check this out.

Installation Tips

Don’t plan on installing this fork yourself unless you have all the proper tools handy and are competent enough for the task. Just in case you’re wondering, you will need either a pipe cutter with a new blade on it or a steering tube cutter guide and a hack saw. You will also need a star nut installation tool. Having said that, once the steering tube and star nut are installed, the rest of the installation is actually easy.

You’ll want to make sure you have enough brake hose for full travel (though you can step the travel down to 130mm using the included spacers). Always follow the recommendations on the included interactive installation CD when mounting the wheel and setting up your quick release for the first time. Keep in mind that the QR should not brush up against the fork at all when the QR locks in place.

Take your bike around a parking lot or on the street and jounce the fork for a while to get all the fluids in place. Let everything settle in for a bit before continuing onto bigger and gnarlier stuff. This is actually an important step and should never be skipped before setting op the fork, no matter how hard it may be to wait.

Setup

The 32 Float 150 RLC has four settings: air pressure, rebound, low speed compression, and lock-out threshold. The first setting you’ll want to adjust is the air pressure and sag. To do this you should have ridden around a bit to get all the bushings well lubricated to make sure that nothing sticks. Dial all the settings to the lightest levels by backing out the knobs (counter-clockwise) on both the compression bezel and the rebound knob on the bottom of the fork leg. Once that is complete you can set the sag on the fork.

Get dressed up in your full cycling gear and weigh yourself in. Look up your weight on the chart in the owners manual to find the correct pressure setting and use the provided shock pump to pressurize. For example, at my weight (full in @200lbs), Fox recommends 95 psi for the correct amount of sag.

Setting compression and rebound along with lock-out settings are all about user preference and will vary from rider to rider and will depend on your terrain, riding style, and ability. Ultimately you want the fork to track the terrain without feeling like it wants to toss you off the bike. You also don’t want a fork that feels like it’s about to bottom out on moderate drops. I generally like to set rebound first, then compression.

You can get a good idea of the initial rebound setting while standing in one spot and jouncing the fork. Start turning the rebound dial clockwise a few clicks at a time, and test each change by opening your hands and pushing down hard on the bars. The rebounding fork should not push your hand off the bars when it returns; if it tosses your hands off, there is too little rebound. Now, go for a ride and pay attention to how the fork is returning. On multiple hits the fork should not pack down (that is, lose travel every hit). Once the rebound is set, it’s time to get the compression and lock-out dialed in.

Compression should be set on the fly, preferably on a section of trail that you know well. With the compression knob you want to add enough compression (clockwise) so that when you take a drop / bump you don’t blow through the entire travel. Instead, you want to have a controlled compression without hitting the bump stop. You can also use the lock-out feature as a higher-level compression setting when taking larger drops or as a way to improve efficiency when pedaling through flats and climbs.

The 2010 Fox 32 Float 150 FIT RLC offers a wide range of settings you can tweak to get the perfect ride. Experiment to find the settings that work best for you!

2010 marks an exciting year for Fox Racing Shox with a ton of new and truly innovative products coming from Bob Fox’s team of engineers and factory test riders. Boost valve technology is now standard in the Float rear shock and there’s also a new DH-specific rear shock called the DHX RC4 that looks super promising. In addition, Fox has taken the hugely successful FIT damper technology from the DH and FR shocks and scaled it for 32mm XC and Trail forks for a new level of performance across the boards. Along with the new damper, the 32mm chassis is now compatible with QR15 thru-axle systems as well.

The 2010 Fox 32 Float 150 FIT RLC (MSRP $870) comes in at a feather light 3.88lbs with 150mm of travel (1 1/8 steering tube) compared to last year’s 140mm version at 3.97lbs. FIT stands for Fox Isolated Technology and the FIT damper basically reduces oil volume and weight by 71g. The damper also produces a reduction in un-sprung weight (weight not supported by the air spring) which ultimately increases tire-to-ground responsiveness and traction. Another major benefit of the FIT damper is the elimination of fluid aeration which translates into consistent damping, even over washboard trails. This is accomplished through a bladder that holds the fluid in a vacuum sealed, reduced volume chamber to prevent fluid from foaming up when traveling though the piston.

For those who might be skeptical about the QR15 thru-axle, it’s definitely time to reconsider. The QR15 was developed in collaboration with Shimano and the engineers optimized the design for weight, stiffness, and packaging for XC to light AM bikes. Bikes with the QR15 have 15% greater torsional fork stiffness with a full 25% gain in transverse shear. Ultimately this increases rider confidence and makes the fork a stronger, stiffer unit, with sixth-sense-like steering response.

On The Trails

Once everything was dialed in (see my article on Fox 32 Float 150 FIT RLC installation and set-up) I had some great opportunities to give this fork a workout with varied terrain from rollers and rooted terrain to fast, dry, hard pack on the Don trail network here in Ontario. To be honest I didn’t pay much attention to the fork for the first couple of hours of riding since most forks, including this one, need time to get broken in and to get all the seals set and working correctly. During my warm-up I found I needed to increase my initial compression and rebound settings.

After working the kinks out I really started paying attention to how the 32 Float 150 works. I have to say for a fork that has only 150mm of travel it rides like it has much more than that. The travel seemed especially long when the fork started hitting rougher, extended rooted surfaces where the 32 Float performed fantastically. Ultimately this fork seemed to perform nearly as well as the Fox 36 Talas despite the smaller diameter stanchions. This unit is a whole 1.1 lbs lighter than the 36 Talas and the narrower stanchions make this fork great for the aggressive trail rider who can make do with 10mm less travel.

Hitting 4-foot drops was nothing for this fork and it soaked up the drops as if they were sidewalk curbs. So with that bit of experience I started hitting bigger 6- and 7-foot set downs with smooth transitions with no worries and a big smile. I noticed that the harder the fork worked, the more comfortable it felt, much like the 36 Talas I reviewed not too long ago.

In the corners I definitely noticed a huge improvement over the 9mm wheel mount version that I tested last year. For starters I noticed my discs didn’t rub in berms and flat corners - the old version flexed enough that the hub would torque slightly and the disc would rub on my brake pad. Needless to say, the QR15 is well worth the upgrade by itself (that is if you have a QR15 wheelset or plan on getting one soon). The QR15 really did improve tracking on the trail and kept me pointed where I wanted to go.

If there were one thing I would improve on this fork it would be the compression dials and indicators. Unlike another fork I also ride often, the amount of difference from one click to the next on the 32 Float 150 FIT RLC is not as clearly defined which means it takes a bit of luck to find the right levels.

All in all, the Fox 150 FIT RLC is a great mountain bike fork. It tracks precisely, takes bumps, roots and drops with ease, and soaks up terrain like a mop. This fork may not be the lightest around but it is certainly very tough and responsive. I would definitely recommend the Fox 32 Float 150 FIT RLC to any of my long legged trail bike friends!

Performance Chart:

Specs from FOX:

WEIGHT (15QR-includes axle)
3.88 lbs / 1.76 kg (1 1/8″ steerer)
3.85 lbs / 1.75 kg (1.5″ taper steerer)

TRAVEL
5.9 inches (150mm)

ADJUSTMENTS
- Low speed compression- Lockout force adjust- Lever actuated lockout- Air spring pressure
- Rebound

DAMPER
NEW FIT

LOWER LEG
(post-style disc brake mounting only)
- 15QR thru-axle system

STEERER
Standard: 1 1/8″
Optional: 1.5″ Taper

SPRING
Air

FORK COLOR
White

INTENDED USE
XC, Trail, AM

Thanks to the folks at Fox for sending over the Fox 32 Float 150 FIT RLC for review.

Here’s one for the DH/FR crowd: the Easton Havoc DH-specific wheel set. Can you say awesome?! I can, and will. For starters, the Havoc DH wheels are reasonably priced at $799 MSRP (right now JensonUSA is selling the ‘08 set for just $359). And the Havoc DH wheels aren’t just a beefed-up version of the Havoc AM: the hub design is very different and although the Havoc DH shares a similar look to the AM with straight-pull spokes, the Havoc DH front wheel has a double-rowed bearing on the braking side and a single row bearing on the non-disk side. The Havoc DH rear wheel has a whopping 4 bearings and the drive side bearing sports a double bearing row for extra strength and precision.

When Easton set out to design these wheels, they started with a rim that is a full 32mm wide (the biggest they make) and focused on a careful design of the cross section. The designers wanted to make sure the rim was as light as they possible while maintaining great strength. Instead of designing an extra deep rim they came up with a rim design featuring stronger side walls that maintain roundness even if you do manage to pinch your wheel on a rock.

Another great design detail many riders may overlook is the way the straight-pull spokes are single-butted with a 2.3mm cross section at the base of the spoke tapering to a 2.0mm cross-section at the spoke nipple. Constructing the wheel in this manner places weight toward the center of the wheel rather than toward the outside which speeds the wheel in both acceleration and braking as well as in cornering. Running these wheels with just 28, 2.3mm butted spokes results in a wheel that is 46% stiffer than one with 36, 2.0mm spokes.

The Easton Havoc DH hubs use high quality bearings with double rows on the braking and drive sides (front and rear, respectively). This results in a hub that’s smooth as butter in rotation and wheels that are very stiff laterally. The new and improved 7050 aluminum freehub body and drive mechanism are super durable and promise to last for years. All the bearings rotate on a new 7050 alloy tapered axle which reduces flex significantly over previous designs. Easton increased the width and the diameter of the pawl carrier to improve torque capabilities as well. Overall weight on the Havoc DH wheel set is 2,295 grams for the pair which is hard to believe based on the light ride feel.

After installing a set of Maxxis High Roller DH tires on these wheels I was off to the slopes.  I had Bob_the_Builder give these wheels a shot and after his first run he was amazed to find out how much the wheels actually weighed. Like I said before, the Havoc DH wheels feel super light and very free rolling, riding like a much lighter wheel set. Just like the Havoc DH’s little brother Havoc, these wheels also have a super smooth and quick-engaging cassette body. That fast action is great for those who also plan on using these wheels for their FR bikes running skinnies and such.

Tossing the Havoc DH wheels around the slopes, getting big air off jumps and drop downs, and railing built-up berms we always got a solid laser-like feeling without a hint of flex or fear of collapsing a wheel. The really amazing thing is how fast these wheels got up to speed and how light they felt through sudden direction changes.

The only bad thing that I encountered with my wheelset was that someone assembled my wheels with too much grease which gummed things up a bit, resulting in less than smooth operation. Fortunately all it took was five minutes to take the wheel apart to remedy the problem. Once that was taken care of there were no further issues and the cassette worked flawlessly. After a few events and runs the wheels didn’t come out of true nor did they need any tensioning. To me that is a good indicator as to how well-built the wheels are.

I have to say if you’re looking for a tough, well-built wheel that can go the distance down a slope, take a good look at the Easton Havoc DH wheel set. This is a great pair of wheels built to last! Just make sure you can take what these wheels can dish out - this is one piece of equipment that can probably take more than you can!

Specs from Easton:

Thanks to the good folks at Easton  for providing these wheels for review.

Selecting the perfect mountain bike saddle usually involves balancing the trade-off between comfort and weight. Super lightweight saddles often feel worse than metal folding chairs while really comfy seats are generally wide, bulky, and heavy. Fortunately Selle Italia has hit upon a winning design that carefully balances comfort and weight in the SLR XC Gel Flow.

Weight and Durability

Selle Italia claims the SLR line is the best selling high-end saddle in the world and there’s an SLR model for just about every style and budget you can imagine. While all the SLR saddles are rated for road and off road use, only the XC and XC Gel Flow are designed specifically for off road and free riding. At just 170g, the XC Gel Flow is the lightest MTB-specific saddle I know of and 30% lighter than my previous saddle thanks to the Vanox rails, lightweight silicon gel, and carbon composite shell.

The SLR XC Gel Flow is ultra durable and is, in fact, bullet proof, thanks to kevlar reinforcement. The saddle cover is made from something Selle Italia calls “Lorica” which is abrasion resistant and mud tends to slide right off the shiny, slick surface. Despite the slick surface, the saddle feels grippy under standard nylon/poly bike shorts. Unfortunately the middle and edges of the saddle don’t use the same material so mud and dirt stick in these areas (though grip is still excellent).

Style

Just looking at the profile of the SLR XC Gel Flow might make your cheeks sore but looks can often be deceiving. The SLR XC Gel Flow cuts a low profile and is fairly narrow (131mm) which gives it a super aerodynamic shape perfect for racing. The narrow tail also makes it easier to remount the saddle after behind-the-seatpost descents. I chose the white version because white bike components automatically make you 10% faster - or at least that’s what I heard

Comfort and Performance

The saddle is one of the main contact points between rider and mountain bike which makes comfort a top priority. If you’re looking for a magical saddle that won’t leave you a little sore after a 50-mile epic, I hate to break it to you but there’s no such thing. The SLR XC Gel Flow does incorporate some features to at least make epic XC rides more bearable like a center cut-out to reduce pressure points (and also weight) plus increased gel thickness around the cut-out itself. On 20+ mile rides I’ve had no issues with soreness, though your mileage may vary and will depend on your chamois choice as well.

The nose on the SLR XC Gel Flow is elongated (275mm) which adds to this saddle’s race cred. Transitioning from out-of-the-saddle climbs, the long nose made the saddle easy to find and also makes for a convenient shoulder mount during hike-a-bike sections.

The Vanox tube rails felt super solid throughout my testing and didn’t creak or groan once despite some serious saddle time. Vanox is actually a steel alloy which means these rails flex a little more than aluminum or even some carbon rail set-ups. The upside? A little added protection for your tush on rocky trails.

Overall the Selle Italia SLR XC Gel Flow Saddle is a race-ready, lightweight, and high performance saddle that doesn’t skimp too much on comfort. It’s honestly hard to find fault with a best-selling design like the SLR - give it a try and see for yourself!

Thanks to Selle Italia for proving this saddle for review.

Living in the Great White North I get very cold weather and snow during the winter months so staying motivated and in shape for mountain biking can be a challenge. When the weather is too bad to ride I often get bored and look for other things to do. I figure I could drink or just play MTB video games but that’s counter-productive and catches up to me when the trails finally do thaw out. Lifting weights is a good idea but it doesn’t give me the cardio I’m looking for so I had to come up with a better solution. Fortunately I found the CycleOps Super Magneto Pro from Saris. From full-on pro-level indoor exer-cycles that would fit in at any serious gym all the way down to rear-wheel trainers like the Super Magneto Pro, Saris has your indoor bike training needs covered.

The CycleOps Super Magneto Pro ($399 MSRP) is second from the top level Saris rear-wheel trainer and it converts your mountain or road bike into a stationary exer-cycle. Just in case you’re wondering, the top performer Power Beam Pro ($1,199 MSRP) is the wireless, customizable unit with all the bells and whistles. Now if I were training to race Geoff Kabush I might be worthy of the Power Beam Pro, but seeing I am not the Super Magneto Pro is more than enough for my training needs.

The Super Magneto Pro comes almost fully assembled and ready to go - all you have to do is change over your quick release to the one that is provided by Saris. Out of the box you get the Super Magneto Pro fully assembled, the special QR, a training video called Race Day, and the warranty card. When unpacking the unit, fold out the legs and make sure each one clicks into place before leveling the trainer using the adjustable leg. Turning the thumb-wheel clockwise or counterclockwise will extend or retract the leg. Next, set the bike on the trainer using the Pro’s secure skewer clamp and make sure you engage the lock pin. The lock pin will prevent the skewer clamp from backing away - just follow the well written user guide and you’ll be ready to sweat in no time!

Once the bike is situated on the trainer it’s time engage the resistance unit with your rear wheel. The Super Magneto Pro will work even for those folks who have 29ers - just adjust the trainer to accommodate your wheel.

NOTE: I HIGHLY recommend getting a slick MTB tire which will spare your knobbies. Using a knobby mountain bike tire will also generate excessive noise and vibration.

With the Super Magneto Pro you get four levels of resistance which offer up to 680 watts of power at 30 mph which is pretty good considering that most people will have a very hard time maintaining that level of power output. Using the Super Magneto I found I was using the top two settings the most (Mountain and Interval). Seeing that I have little time at home to spend on the trainer those two settings were the most suitable for my style of training (more on that at a later date). The Easy and Road settings are better for those who are just getting started with cycling or for those who want a lower impact session.

I have to say, after trying out a few trainers the Super Magneto Pro is one of the smoothest and quietest units I have used in a long time. This allows me to spin late at night while my son is asleep without waking him up with the noise that can be generated by some other units. This trainer provides good resistance and has a fairly realistic pavement feel to it. With my 26″ inch wheels I got the best results in my 44 tooth ring (big gear).

For those who really want to take indoor training to the next level, be sure to also get yourself a bike computer that can measure wheel speed and cadence. Without a way to measure speed and cadence you will only be able to judge how well you’re doing by sweat and perception of feel which for me, wasn’t enough.

When working out you may want to place your trainer in front of the TV and watch the video that comes with it. I found the video helped burn the time and gave me some great ideas about how to train on my own. I would love to see an MTB version of this video but hey, maybe next year.

Overall I am very happy with the performance and ease of use of the Super Magneto Pro. It’s ultra stable with just enough flex so that when you’re hammering on the pedals the bike moves well on the unit. I only wish there was a trainer in between the Super Magneto Pro and the full-blown Power beam Pro to measure performance indicators like heart rate, cadence or speed.

In the coming months I will set up a training log and post some more tips and tricks on using a trainer like the Super Magneto Pro. Resolve with me to get in your best biking shape this winter!

Thanks to the folks at Saris for providing the Super Magneto Pro  for review.

It’s a good idea to update your MTB components every few years and the timing was perfect for me to give some 2010 Easton XC components a try on my Opus XC bike. Knowing very well that I toss my bikes around and really put them through their paces, I was stoked to install the Easton MonkeyLite SL low rise bar ($150 MSRP), the XC90 Zero seat post ($200 MSRP) and the EA90 stem in white ($90 MSRP). All three items sport new graphics and look clean on any XC bike.

My old carbon bar and seat post held out great over the years but both were showing signs of fatigue - chips, scratches, and small compression marks. The important thing to remember when installing carbon components is to follow all instructions to the letter using a torque wrench - otherwise you may cause serious damage. For the Monkeylite SL bar, tighten the stem bolts to 15 in/lbs and the master cylinder and shifter pods at 30 in/lbs. Careful attention here will also ensure you don’t develop compression marks on your shiny new equipment.

Starting at the front of the bike, the MonkeyLite SL CNT is not your run of the mill carbon handlebar. For starters you don’t see a flashy carbon weave. Easton decided way back in 2005 to use an enhanced resin which contains very small carbon nanotube structures that essentially fill the voids that would otherwise be pure resin. The upside is this makes a structure that’s much stronger than normal carbon and resin structures. At 135 grams and 635mm wide, this makes for a very lightweight bar that’s wide enough to help expand the rider’s chest and enhance breathing. The low rise, 9º back sweep, and 5º up sweep keeps both hands and wrists exactly where you want them.  Like the MonkeyLite DH bars, these felt very comfortable over roots and rocks without the unpleasant sting you would get from an aluminum bar.

The white EA90 stem is a great addition to any XC bike, with lengths from 90 to 130mm and a sub-130 gram weight for the 120mm version. This is a stem with significant engineering behind it starting with the way the front plate is mounted. The front plate design evenly distributes stress loads onto the bars and the top locking mechanism improves stiffness and strength without adding weight. At a 0º, ±10° you can opt for a low front  position or a slightly higher position which worked well for me. When installing this unit remember to tighten the top bolts first, then the bottom for an optimal fit.

Last but not least is the EC90 Zero seatpost. Available in three sizes (27.2, 30.9, or 31.6mm), I have to say this is one sexy seat post, as far as seat posts go. The EC90 Zero is full carbon, including the rail clamps. Easton uses a technology called EMC to shape the seat post, using essentially the same process used for forging metals. Extra long carbon fibers are compressed in a mold with a fiber to resin ratio of  60% and heat from the compression cures the carbon in the detailed mold. The result is a 3-dimensional carbon component that is both lightweight and strong.

The finished product comes in at 190 grams, is 400mm long, and uses CNT technology just like the MonkeyLite SL Bar. The EC90 Zero includes a clamping relief on the back side of the seat post which prevents the seat tube from digging into the post and causing damage.

Installation was mostly a snap - just remember not to use lube on a carbon post. There is a friction modifier that you can get from Finish Line called Fiber Grip which is probably the only thing I would consider using on this post. I had a somewhat difficult time setting up the angle and torquing the forward bolt because there’s very little clearance there. But once installed and on the bike, I haven’t had any issues - the post hasn’t slipped an inch or generated any creaks.

If you’re ready to upgrade your XC bike for next year’s race season, these are the lightweight, high performance components from Easton you need to make the podium. Next thing you know your mountain bike will be packing more tech than an F-15 fighter jet!

Thanks to the folks at Easton for providing the components for review.

Here’s something all you who own 2007 and newer Manitou forks are going to be extremely interested in hearing about. The best part? It won’t cost you an arm and a leg to upgrade your front suspension.

Just in time for the holidays, Manitou has released the new Absolute+ damper cartridge (MSRP $44.99 -$69.99 depending on fork model). The Absolute+ is basically a new damper unit that will give you 8 low speed compression levels and a shimable high speed compression circuit on your Manitou fork. It’s super simple to install and you can be up and running in just 15 minutes.

The Absolute+ unit is similar to a TPC damper but the Absolute+ allows you to change up both hi (called the Pro Stack) and low speed compression (called the Speed needle). Out of the box the Absolute+ is set up for the average rider, however if you find yourself riding super rough trails or are on the heavier side of the spectrum, (180+ lbs) you will need to re-shim the high speed compression unit for maximum performance (your local shop can help you out on this).

A close look at the damper side by side to a TPC you can see a totally redesigned piston assembly.

In this article I will give you the low down on installation which will allow you to decide if you want to DIY or get a pro to do it for you. For this job you’ll need a few socket wrenches (20mm and 24mm) and one 2mm allen key. Pretty simple tool list, huh? You may want to consider changing the fork oil at the same time but it’s not necessary. Factory oil will work well with this damper unless you’re over 250 lbs. (in which case you’ll want a heavier oil).

Installation

For most home mechanics, replacing the damper will take less time than reading this article. First, turn the TPC knob full open (soft, counterclockwise). Then with the 2mm allen wrench, remove the solitare screw that holds the adjuster knob on. After you remove that screw carefully remove the cap and remove the two detent bearings and springs. Once that step is done you can remove the damper cartridge by turning it counter-clockwise with a 20mm wrench until it is totally off. You can now compare the two damper cartridges.

With the cartridge out you can either dump the oil and replace with fresh stuff or just check the level and top it off as necessary. Use a measuring tool like a vernier caliper or a simple tool cut out of cardboard with graduations on it and top off the level using the chart provided by Manitou. Each fork has a different recommended oil level so it’s important that you get the right amount (my Minute needs a level of 87mm for example).

Once you have the right oil level, you can insert the damper cartridge and torque to 45 - 55 in/lbs or 5.1 - 6.2 Nm. Carefully install the springs and then the bearing detentes (180 degrees appart). For this step, make sure you have the fork level, otherwise the detents will fall out. The final step is to install the cap with the allen screw; torque it down and then you’re ready to go.

Performance

On rocky trails with big drops I found the Absolute+ improved performance over the TPC unit that it replaced. For one thing the new control knob is easier to adjust and makes it much easier to identify settings at a glance. There are eight levels of control which offer distinct differences in slow speed compression. The shock worked equally well on washboard technical stuff and even the larger hits. One great thing I observed was how the fork didn’t feel like it was blowing through its travel too quickly on drops around the 4- 6 foot level.

For about $50 this upgrade is well worth the coin and will really improve the performance of your older 2007+ Manitou fork. Once you get the fork dialed in you will see that the separated circuits really do a great job controlling how your fork behaves.

Manitou has been doing a lot of  work revamping their product line-up and beyond the Absolute+ they have several new and exciting products just around the corner. Thanks to the folks at Manitou for providing the Absolute+ damper for review.

Pro downhill mountain biker Brian Bartlett has come up with an innovative replacement knee built around the Rock Shox Monarch 4.2 Air Shock. According to the tech manual, “the Bartlett Tendon System is a muscle driven system that increases feedback, and will always be under some tension.” Unlike most prosthetic knees, the Bartlett is designed for unconventional applications and extreme activities like mountain biking and climbing.

Taking a cue from high end mountain bike components, the Bartlett Knee is made from 6061T aircraft aluminum, cold rolled steel, and R6 sealed bearings. There are even carbon fiber connectors on the top of the unit to limit damage to the rider’s clothing. The shock can be tuned and adjusted just like on a bike so the athlete can maximize his or her performance on the fly.

Perhaps the coolest part about the Bartlett Knee is seeing what Brian has been able to do with it on the trail. Check out the video below (one of many I found on YouTube) and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Plenty of riders with two good knees would love to be able to ride like that but just don’t have the skills or the guts.

You can find out more about Brian and the Bartlett Knee over on LeftSideInc.com. Via singletrackworld.

HAVEN on earth and good will toward men! This is the Easton product I was most excited to test after Interbike and a few weeks ago it finally arrived.  The Easton Haven wheel set is a truly new design from the ground up and at $849.99 MSRP is meant for the 5 to 6 inch Trail / AM crowd.

The Haven is the first UST wheel that Easton has produced for mountain bikes. With an internal 21mm cross-section and a 22mm section depth (see diagram below), this is a wheel that will hold up to abuse while remaining true for a very long time. I love the fact that this wheel set is just 1650 grams, only 35 grams heavier than the 19mm internal rim width Crossmax ST wheels and a full 105 grams lighter than the 22mm Crossmax SX. This low weight makes any long climbs you might encounter a little more bearable.

The 2010 Haven is maximized for QR15 wheels but also includes a QR9 adapter. For those of you with a 20mm through-axle, be patient - it’s coming soon (just don’t tell anyone I said so). Unlike Mavic wheels, you don’t need a special spoke tool to adjust tension (not that you’re going to need to do that for a while). Instead, Easton uses an innovative spoke nipple that is both threaded internally and externally and screws into the eyelets in the rim.

Looking at the Haven hubs you can see Easton added a little bling for an awesome look on top of nearly flawless performance. This time around Easton profiled the flanges and cut a neat pattern in the center of the hub, an interesting way to shave off extra weight while adding visual interest. Keeping in tradition with the Havoc and XC-One wheels, the Haven wheel set also has the ultra quiet, highly efficient 3-pawl freehub and internally cut carrier body which makes for a feather-light, quick-engaging cassette.

Wrapping these wheels with a set of WTB Prowler 2.3’s and a set of ultra-light tubes, I was off to the trails. I chose the Prowler tires because I wanted to get a feel of the wheels with familiar rubber. From the start I could tell the new design didn’t mess with the characteristic smooth, solid feel of an Easton wheel. These wheels proved to be very fast rolling with quick acceleration and allowed military-GPS precise changes in direction. I found the Havens stiff enough to prevent unwanted flex without being overly harsh.

While riding and hitting rooted trails and rock gardens, I heard the wheels complain just once with a twinge from a single spoke settling in but that was about it. I cannot stress enough how light and responsive the Havens are. Climbing up a long ski slope these required very little energy compared to some other wheels I have tested in the recent past, making this a truly perfect wheel for those bikes in the 5 - 6 inch travel range. I dare say that you will probably see these popping up on some production mountain bikes soon enough.

Changing over to a set of Maxxis High Roller UST tires, I hit the same trails looking for any performance differences. This time around, mounting the tires was fairly easy using an air compressor at home. If you don’t have access to an air compressor, you can use a floor pump but I recommend using a lot of soapy water when attempting to place a set of UST tires on these rims. Once the tires were on I was off to the trails once again.

I did feel a few differences with the UST tires but mainly due to the tire’s characteristics rather than those of the rim. The slightly lighter setup gave me a little more gas on the climbs and the ability to run at 35psi rather than 40 psi without worry of pinching gave me a bit more traction.

Overall these wheels are easily in my top 5 favorite sets that I’ve ridden thus far. For the money I would have to say these are a steal so check them out and get yourself a pair. I really doubt you will be disappointed with the Easton Haven wheelset!

Specs from Easton:

I would like to thank the folks at EASTON for providing the HAVEN wheels for review.

If you were on singletracks back in 2001 you might remember a site feature called “Sweet Bike.” To our surprise it actually became one of the most popular features on the site despite the basic capabilities at the time (see screen shot below). Well, Sweet Bike is back for 2009 and we’re stoked to fill you in!

Sweet Bike 1.0 circa 2001

With Sweet Bike 2.0 you can create a customized mountain bike using any one of the 700+ mountain bikes in our catalog as a starting point. From there you can choose to upgrade as much or as little as you like (wheels, suspension, drivetrain, etc.). Name you bike, give it a description, and get an idea about how many duckets your dream rig will set you back.

Beyond creating custom bikes, you can also review the Sweet Bikes others have created and share using various social media tools. Saved bikes are linked to your profile and on the individual component pages as well.

View Sweet Bikes using the “Customs” tab found on any gear page; Use the “Customize Bike” link in the dashboard on any bike page to get started

Use Sweet Bike to show off your current build or spec out your dream DH rig, an ultralight XC rocket, and that single speed 29er you’ve been wanting to build up. There are millions of possible combinations based on the bikes and components on the site right now and if there’s a part we’re missing, you can add it using this form.

We’re stoked to see where this goes - get started building your Sweet Bike now!

You can take a look at my Sweet Bikes: 1, 2, and 3. Or see all 3 on my profile page.

Since some of us use our mountain bikes for more that just hitting the trails so I thought I’d talk about a great accessory I found for the morning commute. The Keen Commuter Bag is a bike courier-style side bag with a few tweaks to make it even more stylish and versatile for the workday rider.

One of the things that makes the Commuter Bag (MSRP $100) unique is its green design and manufacturing process. Using recycled aluminum for the clips and recycled rubber for the base, Keen is working hard to make a positive impact on the environment with this bag and many other products in their line.

The Commuter features a water resistant main compartment and a padded sleeve which is suspended to keep your laptop comfy (fits notebooks up to 15.4″). The bag also sports water bottle pockets on both sides, each large enough for a 20 ounce bottle. Inside the main compartment there are several pockets for organizing pens, pencils, business cards, etc. Even with all these pockets and compartments, the bag isn’t too bulky - 16.1″ x 16.5″ x 5.1″ - which is just barely wider than a laptop itself.

The strap system is great and holds the bag neatly to either side of your body without slipping. Adjusting the bag is pretty easy: just set up the sternum strap on either side (right or left), place the shoulder pad in the correct position and away you go! There’s even a dedicated pocket to store the strap when it’s not in use.

Riding around town with my laptop, a small camera, and some snacks I found the bag gave me the freedom to move about without slapping the bag with my knees when pedaling. The bag stayed securely on my shoulder and didn’t try to sneak around front like other shoulder bags I’ve tried. Best part about this bag is that when I got crud on it from my rear tire I just used a bit of soap and water and most of the stains came off with a brush and a little elbow grease.

If your day includes a mixed bag of biking and doing business around town, the Commuter Bag from Keen may be a nice addition. Save the earth by commuting and buying this bag made from recycled materials!

Thanks to the folks at KEEN for providing the Commuter bag for review.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what does this one tell you? Clearly there must be guide wires holding this rider up. Actually there are just two forces at play here: centrifugal force pushing the rider outward and a counter-reactive force being applied by the Maxxis High Roller 2.5 UST tires. For about $73 MSRP you can get these two-ply UST tires for your DH rig and while they may not be the lightest in the category (1,230 grams), they’re clearly some of the best gripping tires around.

The High Roller is super easy to install on any UST-specific rim - just remember to use a lot of soapy water to help seat the beads in place. When I installed these tires on my rims I made sure the bead was always in the drop center which made for an easy installation and required no tire irons. As with any UST tire, I try to avoid using any tools on the beads since I don’t want to risk damaging them. I used an air compressor to pop the tires into place in no time, inflated to 40psi, and was off to the trails!

I took these tires to Bob_The_Builder’s secret trail stash where we could really push the High Rollers to the limit. These tires offer very high levels of traction on surfaces that can be anywhere from soft to medium hard, both in loamy soil and even rock gardens. Speaking of rock gardens, I found that even with a full head of steam there were no issues with these tires. I can’t recall hearing a single complaint from my rims due to excess tire compression. I guess that extra layer of butyl really prevents rim dings.

The ramped knobs in the center of the tread kept me rolling quickly with surprisingly little vibration along the trail. The center knob tread pattern also produced great traction even on the rare occasions when the bike was pointed uphill. Stopping power is awesome and felt consistently smooth and grippy during decelerations (very important when it comes to switchbacks in the trail).

The angular side knobs really bite hard when you pitch into corners, keeping the bike pointed where you want it without the side-to-side squirm you may notice with other tires. I found the side knobs on the High Roller to be very stiff and secure compared to other tires where the side knobs are a bit softer and more flexible.

I would definitely recommend these mountain bike tries to anyone who is going to hit the slopes in a serious fashion. If your rides include large drops, rock gardens, or heavily rooted trails, then these tires are for you. The dual-ply casing and great tread pattern will keep you sticking to the trails!

My overall impressions for the High Roller

8 out of 10 for rolling and efficiency
9 out of 10 for loose conditions
9 out of 10 for cornering
9 out of 10 for stopping in a straight line

Specs from Maxxis:

Durometer 42 rubber compound
Usage: All Mountain / Freeride  DH
Conditions: medium to wet
Size: 26 x 2.50
Weight: Rear 1230 grams (foldable)

Thanks to the folks at Maxxis for providing these awesome bike tires for review.