photo via UCI jersey Facebook page.

This year the UCI is requiring that all national champs wear the same jersey for the duration of the season and that has some top riders worried about their sponsors. In New Zealand top downhill rider Justin Leov decided not to defend his title at the national championships due to the new jersey ruling.

Last year, UCI champs were allowed to wear a simple arm band to designate their status which allowed the riders to give their sponsors the proper exposure. Leov is sponsored by Trek and races in the Northern Hemisphere half the year and, had he won this year’s national championships, would not have been able to wear his Trek jersey in competition.

According to this article, six other riders opted out of the championship race in New Zealand and top riders in the UK and Austria were considering doing the same. While there is no word from Trek or other sponsors about how the new rules would affect their sponsorships, clearly something needs to be done. I do find it hard to believe that Trek can’t find another place to put their logo – helmet, shorts, or (and I know this is crazy) their bike?

It’s a shame to see top riders dropping out of races, reducing the overall level of competition just because of sponsorship issues. Perhaps the sponsors will be willing to cut riders some slack rather than see their athletes give up UCI titles. Check out this online petition to register your vote.

Durango Mountain Park is poised to be renamed after one of mountain biking’s biggest names: Ned Overend. The Durango, CO resident was the first MTB world champion in 1990 and won the NORBA championships every year but one from 1986 and 1992. Today Overend is a product developer for Specialized and is one of the living legends of our sport. Here’s what he had to say about the prospect of the park being named Overend Mountain Park:

(Trails 2000 founder Bill Manning and others are) the unsung heroes here. It could easily be Manning Park. To me, it’s a real honor.

The park itself features 7 miles of singletrack spread out over 300 acres below Perins Peak. Overend and Ed Zink, owner of Mountain Bike Specialists, sold land to the city at below market values to help expand the park. But Overend and Zink want to share the park with all Durango residents, even non-mountain bikers.

It’s really important that mountain bikers don’t think they own the trails. I’ve run into some who don’t watch their speeds or watch out for others.

An article I read said Overend has even asked other riders to slow down on the trail (and that’s something coming from one of the fastest ever!).  We’re stoked to see this trail named for such a humble and generous mountain biking legend.

photos: CBP

Man tries to smuggle marijuana across border in bike tires

Yep, that headline just about sums it up but here are some more details (the Examiner said it was a mountain bike but clearly we’re looking at BMX tires here). Apparently the guy managed to stuff two and a half pounds of marijuana into his tire tubes before attempting to ride across the border at Tijuana. Officers noticed some “abnormalities” with the tire and drug dogs alerted them to the cache.

Next time we recommend a 29er mountain bike (fits more drugs) and perhaps a tubeless arrangement (not as bulky). Also, consider stuffing the drugs into the bike frame itself – dogs are less likely to smell it and the X-ray won’t detect a thing.

Stolen bike recovered using Craigslist sleuthing

We’re sure this happens a lot but it’s a good lesson for those who have high-end mountain bikes stolen. A guy in San Luis Obispo had two mountain bikes stolen – a $4,000 Specialized SX and a $2,000 Specialized P.3 – so he started trolling Craiglist to see if the bikes turned up for sale. Sure enough, the SX was posted on Craigslist for just $1,000 and after attempting to arrange a sting himself (the seller got suspicious), he turned it over to the cops and they got his bike back.

The other lesson here is that if an online bike deal seems too good to be true, it’s probably a stolen bike. If you buy a bike that is later identified as stolen, not only will you have to give it back but you’ll also be out the money you paid to the thief. Double ouch. Tackling the stolen bike market involves attacking both the supply and demand side – don’t be a demander (or supplier for that matter).

photo: ANNIKA ENDERBORG, Manly Daily.

Here’s an example of what not to do if you want increased mountain bike trail access: get quoted in the local paper saying you’ll continue to ride trails closed to bikes. As if that’s not enough, get a photo of yourself inserted in the article so officials can ID you on the trail. That’s just what Australian Aaron Dunford has done and we’re anxious to see the results.

I suppose things are a bit different down under but here in the US, Dunford would probably be attacked by hikers first then cited for trespassing by local law enforcement. IMBA would issue a press release saying Dunford doesn’t represent mountain bikers everywhere (if they haven’t already) while going into major damage control mode. And this guy appears to work for a bike company!

We’re all for trail advocacy and standing up for our rights as mountain bikers but honestly there are a million better ways to do so. Gandhi demonstrated the power of the “sit -in” so why not organize mountain bikers to suit up and take a seat on the trail one weekend? Demonstrating the number of mountain bikers who want trail access while playing by the rules works more often than you might think…

photo by Nicole Goodhue Boyd, WickedLocal.com.

I feel like this is something we’ve written about before but a recent article about ice biking got us thinking about this extreme form of MTB once again. Last week the Ipswich (MA) Chronicle wrote about members of the New England Mountain Bike Patrol who are into “ice biking” and the article goes into a good amount of detail about the studded bike tires the guys use to ride on slippery ice. Unfortunately the article didn’t shed much light on why mountain bikers would want to go ice biking – it is, after all, just riding on a flat, frozen pond – so we decided to do some research of our own.

Our friend Steven Regenold (the GearJunkie) wrote a great piece back in 2007 describing the competitive side of ice biking. An oval course is marked out on a frozen surface and riders race hard through the straights while slowing to hold their line through the turns. With the Olympics in full swing, the whole thing sorta reminds me of short track speed skating where the ability to stay upright is just as important as being fast. Now that I think about it, why isn’t ice biking part of the Winter Olympics?

While ice biking is mostly akin to short track MTB racing, we’re thinking there should be room for an icy dirt-jump equivalent as well. Just think: jumps and banked turns built from compacted snow, tabletops glazed with an icy crust, and landing zones filled with soft, fluffy snow. The Kona White Style event is basically an icy/snowy DH/DJ course built using snow cats and bulldozers but a fun course could just as easily be constructed using friends and a few shovels.

Riding on frozen trails is yet another form of ice biking but in our experience, it’s mostly just an exercise in frustration (plus in some cases it can be bad for the trails). The great thing about ice biking on ponds is there’s a consistent surface for studded tires to bite into and riders get to create their own courses. Safety is key when biking on frozen ponds and it really only makes sense in the far northern US and Canada. Just this year two teenagers in our area died after walking out onto a frozen pond and falling through the ice so don’t try this at home unless you’re absolutely certain the surface is safe.

Mountain bikers are an industrious bunch and cold/freezing weather can’t stop us from riding our bikes. Give us extreme conditions and we’ll always find a new way to ride!

An Idaho legislator is seeking approval for a special vehicle license plate to benefit mountain bike trails. While many states (including our home state, GA) offer cycling-themed plates, as far as we know this would be the first mountain bike specific plate in the US. Those who choose the MTB plates would pay a $35 special tag fee initially and $25 each year upon renewal. The extra funds would go to support the 12,000 miles of bike-friendly trails in Idaho.

While some supporters of the MTB plate point to the revenue potential, we think the awareness potential is a much bigger deal. By some estimates the plates would generate $10,000 each year for trails but with 12,000 miles of trail, that’s less than a buck a mile! Nope, bringing awareness to such an awesome state resource (mountain bike trails) will be the real win here and could go a long way toward opening even more trails.

One final note: based on the article linked above this measure appears to have politicians split along party lines. We’ll leave the political commentary to our readers

As a mountain biker for many years, I’ve seen dozens of riders and companies come and go. One company I have always admired is Manitou but lately (the past few years) I feel like they haven’t been seen around much. Besides sightings of the Dorado (more on that later), the R7 on some winning XC bikes, and mentions of the Minute forks, the company seems to have been keeping a low profile. Well, I had the great opportunity to speak with one of the many people who are pushing Manitou back into the spotlight with an all new, shiny line up. Richard, or Rich for those who know him, has a passion for anything with two wheels and a frame. Before his present position at Manitou he was the product manager during the development of the Stroker line of brakes at Hayes.

Richard has moved on to the Manitou division and is presently building momentum with Manitou’s strengths while finding weaknesses and either discarding them or finding out what the issues are and fixing them. Having the right people is all part and parcel of his vision: “It’s great having the right people working with you.”

I spoke with Richard on the phone and he had this to say:

We’ve spent the last 2 years sorting through Manitou technologies, creating a new, more reliable brand of suspension. While understanding the history surrounding Manitou suspension we’ve aligned ourselves with our past but lean forward with a new level of suspension expertise.

That past for Manitou includes a very interesting history and Richard was able to fill me in on some of the highlights. Manitou’s history includes several important dates in the development of suspension technology that we all enjoy today so here’s a brief summary of Manitou’s contribution to suspension design.

History

Manitou started in 1985 with Doug Bradbury and Answer Products where many industry firsts occurred and standards were set. For example, the 1.5 steerer, post mount, TPC (Twin Piston Chamber), and even the edgy/bold graphics that paralleled Johnny T and Palmer’s style all had beginnings at Manitou.

Since the purchase in 2007, HBG (Hayes Brake Group) has invested heavily into Manitou owning and operating our very own suspension factory and we’ve hired the best suspension experts on island. We’ve also hired specialists from outside the industry (Showa and Honda) and adapted a new global quality system to track our products from factory to field. This suspension team has only been together for 2 years fixing all the inherited problems, throwing out the bad technology and improving upon the good. They also came out with ABS+, MILO, Dorado Pro and host of new forks for MY (model year) 11. I’m really proud to be part of this suspension group.

I was personally really glad to hear this from Richard. There’s always something positive that comes from taking inventory of what you have and what you need while being honest about what is not working. It takes a lot for a company to say, “OK this is not working, Lets get it right.”

While at Interbike, trek7k and I did get to see a few new Manitou products for MY10 and have heard some rumors of what to expect for MY11. Next year Manitou is preparing to come out with a bucket full of new items which really sound interesting. For one thing, Manitou will be releasing a female specific platform which, as far as I know, is a first! Think about it, specific dampening for women with their specific needs in mind. There will be two new forks in the line up as well: the Marvel 32mm fork for the XC rider and the Circus, a DJ fork that has been sorely needed for some time now.

New for 2010 & 2011

New products and suspension platforms launching soon and for the MY11:

• Absolute Plus, replacing the older Absolute damper.
• MILO, Manitou integrated lock out, developed for the ABS+
• QR15 Hex-lock
• Marvel MRD & PRO 32mm XC race forks
• Circus Dirt Jump and Slopestyle fork
• Tower, 29er specific platforms
• Female-specific platforms
• Dorado MRD & Pro

One hallmark of a successful brand is consistency across product line designations (ex: pro, expert, etc.). Parent company HBG intends to incorporate their tiering system over the entire line up, ultimately making it easier for us to find the level of performance and price we’re looking for with a particular product.

• MRD
• PRO
• Expert
• Comp
• Sport

These designators are common threads among mountain bikers and industry professionals. Our intent is to use this system to further delineate our price points and performance options. It’s a road map for HBG product groups.

Speaking of technology, the following is summary of what to expect from Manitou for the next little while. Going forward there will be three platforms for their front shocks and 4 types (two coil, two air) for the rear shocks.

Damper Technology

TPC: Twin Piston Chamber: this is the umbrella technology Manitou has utilized since 1998. We think the TPC rivals any thing out there (based on) weight, cost, function.

Absolute +: race-proven damper with needle orifice LS and shim based HS, technology common among all motor sports racing applications. ABS+ comes on all forks offering our best damper technology on our most cost conscious forks.

TPC+: race-proven damper with big hit and gravity based technology, relies on energy dependent floating TPC+ pistons activated on big drops and hits. The TPC+ piston is a floating piston that is preloaded by a spring. In essence the system is dually Displacement and Speed Sensitive which makes it an “Energy dependent circuit” aka TPC+.

There’s a quiz later this week to see if the kids were paying attention.

Springs

MARS, TS, and ACT Air systems have been proven on the trail with reliability, tuning and specific applications. Our spring technologies have been refined, tuned, and proven more durable with a wider range of rider usage.

Rear Shocks

Four basic models have been established utilizing the new naming/designations to make rear shock easier to understand. All of the previous models and eye-to-eyes have been preserved and applications have not changed.

• Coil (Metal Comp and Revox Expert & Pro)
• Air (Radium Comp Expert & Pro and Swinger Expert & Pro)

So a couple of final questions

What is to be expected with the new aluminum version of the Dorado?

Same great internals, less cost, taste great..! But seriously it’s the same fork as the MRD Carbon just with aluminum legs, it tracks a little better than the carbon and has proven bombproof in our lab and field testing. Although a race fork like the MRD, this fork should be considered for all freeride applications.

What’s next after the Dorado?

Maybe a single crown Dorado in 160 – 170mm , I didn’t just say that, did I…?

After revamping the R7, Minute, Drake, ABS+, what can we expect with the newer forks?

They get lighter. Minutes improves on damper and spring technologies and Drake is replace by a Minute Expert.

TPC+ or Absolute+ (which is better for you) and why is Manitou going with these?

TPC+ is for bigger, longer travel forks and ABS+ can and will be tuned from 80mm XC to 160mm All Mountain forks.

So what is new from Manitou for the 2010 year that folks can buy right now?

For Calendar year 2010 you can buy: Dorado Pro 26 / 29′, 3 newCircus dirt jump and slopestyle forks, ABS+ upgrade kits, MILO lockouts, Marvel high end 32mm stanchion XC fork

Well folks, stay tuned for more from the folks at Manitou and the Hayes Group. There are some really great products that can be purchased now and in the very near future. Check out the blog for previous articles and keep looking for more info on the up-and-coming products from Manitou. We’ll keep you posted.

Cheers!

photo via RidingtheSpine.com

Incredible news: After three and a half years and 21,000 miles in the saddle, the Riding the Spine crew has made it to the southernmost city in South America. The guys started out in Alaska in 2006 to mountain bike the longest continuous mountain range in the world and on January 10, 2010 they completed their journey.

From what I read, the team faced some unusual obstacles along the way: wolves, gun-toting drug lords, active volcanoes, freezing temperatures, and of course, monkeys. The guys “wild camped” each night, cooked their own meals, and did their best to avoid paved roads in favor of dirt and singletrack.

You can read more on the Riding the Spine website where there are tons of pics and videos. TopoFusion is hosting a Google Map showing the route just in case anyone else is thinking of making the trip. Word is there will be a book about the journey sometime early next year and we can’t wait! Why aren’t these guys on TV and all over the news right now?

Over the last few months we’ve been reviewing Easton products and the Haven wheel set in particular stirred up a lot of interest. Even when I’m on the trail I get questions and comments about my Havens so here’s a quick press release that talks about the new Easton wheels. Enjoy.

Easton Wheels: The Choice of the Best Off-Road Athletes
Effort to test new technologies in the heat of competition results in better wheels and components for all types of riders.

(Scotts Valley, Calif., Jan. 19, 2010) Easton Cycling has announced their support of the sport’s top teams and riders including the Lapierre International Team, Kona Clump and Trek-Brentjens Racing Team. New Zealand’s Sam Blenkinsop, will join riders like Bart Brentjens, as they train and race with Easton’s support throughout the coming season. Greg Watts will fly the flag for Haro in slopestyle and freeride events on Easton wheels.

“Working with leading athletes across multiple disciplines allows us to develop quality feedback on a consistent basis around our products and helps push our development process farther and faster than would otherwise be possible,” shared Tom Larter VP of Easton Sports. “Our riders chose Easton in order to have access to cutting-edge technology and wheels that will take them to the top step of the podium.”

Team La Pierre International

Easton’s Havoc DH wheels will be ridden by Nico Vouilloz and 21 year-old World Cup sensation Blenkinsop on the new Team Lapierre International. The new squad also features Sam Flockhart, a rider that finished 15th overall in the 2009 Maxxis Cup despite the handicap of being just 16 years-old. Team Lapierre will also feature a cross-country squad that includes leading French athletes: French U23 National Champion Alexis Vuillermoz, back-to-back French National Champion Cécile Ravanel.

Kona Clump
The Kona Clump will run with Easton Havoc wheels and components. Having  22 year-old Paul Basagoitia, one of the most celebrated slopestyle riders ever, and John Cowan who founded Clump. Spanish show stoppers 19 year-old Andreu and 22 year-old Lluis Lacondeguy, and last but not least Graham Agassiz and Grant Fielder.

Trek-Brentjens Racing
Bart Brentjens and his Trek-sponsored cross-country squad will be running on the new Haven wheelset and provide valuable feedback as Easton develops the next generation of cross-country race wheels.

Haro/Greg Watts
Greg Watts will head out for a season of freeride and slopestyle competitions aboard Easton’s Havoc and Havoc DH wheels. Being close to Easton makes him invaluable resource for pushing Eaton prototypes way past the limit.

Titus Cycles is running 3 contests to give away some seriously sweet bikes to some seriously dedicated fans. They’re handing out a total of 4 bikes and here’s what you can do to earn yours:

1. Get a Titus tattoo. First you’ll need to come up with an original design and other Titus fans will have a chance to vote for their favorite. The winning designer will have to get the image permanently tattooed somewhere on their body to receive a 2010 Titus FTM Trail bike worth $5,170.

2. Have a Titus “spandex wedding.” This one may be the most difficult to pull off but Titus is asking a couple to complete their nuptials in matching Titus jerseys and have the ceremony taped (presumably to be posted online). I know I’d be up for this myself but convincing my other half would be the real challenge. The upside? Matching 2010 X Carbon bikes for the bride and groom.

3. Legally change your name to “Rockstar 29er.” I figure someone will get this done on a technicality (change your name on Monday, change it back on Tuesday) but it will still be fun to watch. The winner will get – you guessed it – a $6,265 2010 Titus Rockstar 29′er mountain bike.

The ad agency that came up with this promotion seems to be pretty stoked about such an innovative campaign but this whole thing (especially #3) sounds vaguely familiar. Oh yeah, that’s right – I offered to do this back in 2007. OK, so the offer was only to change my screen name but I think I used “Titus Racer X” as an example name at one point. Anyone else need a good MTB marketing idea?

Last week I got a sneak peek at Canada’s first indoor bike park, Joyride 150. When Bob_the_Builder found out I was going to Joyride 150 ahead of the official opening Dec 14th, he just had to come along. I dunno who was more stoked Bob or myself. On the drive up there I was trying to imagine exactly how big a 90,000 sq ft building is; needless to say, it’s large – very very large.

Walking into the facility you get a sense of the scope of the place. With the sounds of the finishing touches going on in the background, I was greeted by Leslie, one of the owners. A very nice person with a warm smile, Leslie was quick to excuse the bits of saw dust. After a little small talk about the place, we met up with two instrumental partners, Mike and Scott, both looking a bit tired, and for good reason. Both men, along with a few volunteers, were putting in 100 hour work weeks for the last 3 months to get Joyride ready for the grand opening.

Leslie took us on a tour from the entrance to the spinning classroom which is still under construction. The room is a nice size with 20 ft ceilings and room for about 30 riders. The height and shape of the room should provide good acoustics once the music is pumped in. After a quick visit of the spinning room, we really got a good look of the rest of the facility. Heading back into the front entrance we then started our main tour. The complex is divided into four main areas.

The first area, right across from the main counter, is the beginner section where you can practice your skills on various styles of skinnies and features that you will encounter at the park. The photo above on the left shows the practice rollers and skinnies. The photo above and right is the practice pump track which in itself is great. I have to say the quality of the build is absolutely top-notch. No expense was spared in making these ramps and skinnies smooth and flawless. Even up close you can’t feel the gaps in the wood.

After admiring the beautiful wood work and moving along, we passed the still unfinished advanced skinny area which promises to be something else with many elevated features. Across from that there are lockers and an area where folks can rest, eat, and talk shop. There’s also an advanced pump track with a massive corner. Leslie was mentioning that it would be perfect for two cross (hmmmm perhaps competitions could be just around the corner). Of course at this point BTB  had to ride the course and judging by his big smile I could safely say he loved it.

The cross country track (yes they have one of those too) is elevated and travels around the entire complex. From here we got a great view of the main progressive jump and trick area. I have to admit doing laps on the XC circuit will be fun because you get to see everything: the foam pit, the stunts, all of it. Can you imagine riding around and taking a look at everyone having fun, jumping, and ohh yeah, taking a tumble? Heck, even BTB got into flying into the foam pit and the jump area.

All kidding aside, Leslie was mentioning the thousands of possible lines that riders can take to make a flowing line. A few days prior to my visit there were some circuit riders visiting and commenting on the set up, all of them making the same comment of how flowy and complex Joyride can be. One even mentioned how it would take a very long time to master the Joyrides Vert park set up.

As we were walking around the XC course and having a wonderful chat with Leslie, saws busily cutting in the background, Leslie talked to us what folks should expect to pay for a visit. It will cost about $20-$30 per visit and they are also planning on setting up season passes (price is TBD). Once things start to move more smoothly they will be concentrating on discount packages with nearby hotels and a rental fleet of bikes for those who don’t want to bring in their own rig.

Joyride 150 is located just north of Toronto in Markham ON, and their closest intersection is McCowan and Highway 7. The location is pretty close to many hotels and shopping malls, for those who don’t know the area and are wondering what else is around.

Well folks, I have to say you need to add this place to your ride wishlist. Unfortunately for me, when I went with BTB I was still nursing my broken clavicle so I couldn’t ride – otherwise I think I would still be there. Expect Joyride 150 to be up and running Dec 14th and make your way over. If you build it, they will come – they built it, so get over there!

More info on the joyride150 website.

More details:

• beginner/sport/expert sections with skinnies, lines & features to test your skills and help you progress
• a foam pit (beginner & expert ramps) with a matching resi jump and box jump
• rhythms & jump lines (beg-exp)
• a BMX-style street park with quarter pipes (MASSIVE!), spines, rails, drop-ins, bowls etc.
• pump tracks (pump & dual race-style)
• cross-country loop with elevation (climbs), log-overs, features etc…sure to get your heart pumping and your legs burning!

Other park features:

• cozy lounge with fireplaces & free Wi-Fi hotspot
• concessions (snacks, drinks etc.)
• bike rentals (various bike types)
• bike storage
• private party room available for rent (corporate events, birthday parties, etc.)

Coming soon to the park:

• coaching services
• spin studio
• programs (skills workshops, day camps)
• races/competitions
• demo days/PK sessions

Pack your bags and get your tickets. This is a place to be when the snow is piling high!

The National Collegiate MTB Championships are being held this weekend at Northstar resort in Lake Tahoe and the men’s and women’s cross-country races are kicking things off today. Tomorrow it’s short track and mountain cross and on Sunday the long travel bikes make their appearance for the downhill race. This year’s race is being hosted by the University of Nevada Reno and any USA Cycling collegiate-eligible team is welcome to compete.

It’s sad to think we’re already at the end of the racing season here in the US as cool weather and shorter days approach. Want to delay the end of summer riding just a little longer? Check out the Week of the Dead, a Mexican adventure full of mountain biking, surfing, paddling, and drinking set at the Punta San Carlos resort in Baja, California. This resort sounds super sweet with its own 60 mile MTB trail system, private landing strip (for your jet!), and direct access to some killer waves. If you’re looking to blow some coin, this definitely sounds like a fun way to do it!