Interbike is a fascinating place, and if you ever get the chance to stroll through the booths you will find tons of fascinating products. Jeff and I were both really impressed with some of the things we saw, and at other times we were thoroughly unimpressed by some of the downright-ridiculous designs. We made sure to swing by most of our usual stops to chat with folks such as e*thirteen, Fox, iXS, Spank, SRAM, Shimano, Intense, Santa Cruz, Osprey, THE, and Easton. Interbike is seriously the greatest when it comes to getting a sneak peak at the latest gear and talking with your favorite riders.

e*thirteen

One of my first stops was at the e*thirteen booth. It’s hard to believe you can improve on such a great crank, but e*thirteen managed to squeeze 60 grams out of last year’s design by using an alloy axle and machining a little bit off the spider here and there. Not only did the crank just go through a weight reduction, but they also managed to change up the bottom bracket, making it more durable and easier to install.

Along with the cranks, there are two clever new pedals from e*thirteen: the LG1+ and LG1R. The pedals feature an alloy body, plates that attach to the pedal, and user-selectable 4mm or 7mm pins. The LG1R has titanium spindles and pins while the LG1+ features chromoly. The difference in weight between the two pedals is 88 grams (380g and 468g, respectively).

Race Face

Hard Goods

Race Face was at the show, but you had to look really hard to find their booth. Essentially the hard goods line-up has changed ever so slightly with the introduction of the Chester cranks. The Chester is basically Race Face’s entry-level DH crank, the Respond is their mid-level, and the Atlas is their top-tier DH crank.

Race Face is also getting ready to launch the SIXC, which is a new DH crank modified with a longer-than-average axle. The SIXC cranks will be lighter than the new XO DH coming out from SRAM and the rubber boots are a nice addition meant to save the crank ends from damage.

Soft Goods

I spent some time talking with Wendy from Race Face and she was proud to show off some of the clothing and protection that will be offered for next year. It looks like the trend is toward simple colors with large contrasting logos and neat argyle prints (kind of like the Singletracks jersey). Needless to say, Wendy (who also does the design work) has done a great job at making gear that will look cool for both men and women.

The new trend in MTB armor is softer, more flexible pieces and Race Face is on the ball with their Flank line-up. This soft wrap-around leg armor features a ton of excellent elements such as D3O on the impact points of the knee and shin and a Terry Cloth liner.

Stay tuned for more from RaceFace in the near future.

Niterider

A brilliant example of lighting at Interbike was Niterider. With all their lights out on display, this booth really was a beacon in a sea of bike gear. Niterider’s best and brightest, the Pro 3000 LED, uses 6 large Cree LEDs and a massive Li-Ion battery; the whole package retails for less than $700. Along with the top model, Niterider has a light for just about every budget, including both rechargeable and non-rechargeable units. I had a chance to talk with Tom, the founder of Niterider, and it seemed that we both shared the same passion for good lighting systems and the conviction that there really weren’t any good bike lights available when Niterider started out.

FSA

FSA was displaying all of their 2012 gear nearby and the smell of high quality, nicely-finished carbon saturated the booth. The K-Force and SL-K gear for the XC-Trail rider may be a good idea for those looking to save some weight. I really appreciated the extensive use of uni-directional carbon in the products that were on display. The cranks feature a spine of aluminum to keep things stiff along with the monocoque structure that you see. With other carbon goodies in the form of bars, seat posts and stems, FSA was out to impress.

Ritchey 29er

Despite not being a big 29er fan, I just had to stop and stare a while at this beautiful 29er by Ritchey. For one thing, I owned one way back in the day that was made by Tom Ritchey himself, and my bike had the same “America F*$@ ya” paint job. I kinda miss that bike, and this beautiful ride, although very modern, still has that classic look to it. I found myself wishing I had the cash to pick one up.

From the integrated seat post clamp, to the adjustable rear dropouts that allow you to go either singlespeed or geared, to the highly-polished look, this bike really is a stunner. It’s a steel frame and has a projected cost of $999 (frame only). Depending how you build it up, you can get weights down to 21lbs for a single or 23lbs if you’re going with gears.

THE

THE was showing off their new colors for this year’s T2, along with some cool armor and gear. There’s a decent mix of mild to wild color schemes for you.

Loaded Precision

Loaded Precision was showing off a few new components for this year with their signature series wheels and pedals. For those of you who are interested, they will have a 150mm rear axle available soon in addition to all the present wheel configurations… and in a variety of colors to really pimp your bike out. Anthony from Loaded also mentioned the growing number of products in their XC line-up, including some fire-red 29er wheels!

Topeak

Topeak was there showing off their vast array of pumps and gear. Some interesting additions included a new chain tool called the Link Meister which is geared toward serious users and shops. The head on the Link Meister adjusts so that you can get the pins out perfectly straight without messing things up, thanks to an adjustable shoulder which cradles the chain in the link separator. A really robust set of mud guards for suspension bikes caught Jeff’s eye as well as mine. It may have been sheer fascination about the whole idea, but I have to say they looked pretty sweet. I was thinking about tossing a pair on my DH bike…

For the Apple fanboys and fangirls out there, Topeak showed an iPhone 4 (and now iPhone 4S) compatible stem mount. Unlike the other iPhone handlebar mounts we’ve seen and used, this one put the phone front and center and leaves a cut-out for the phone’s camera. Not only can you use your iPhone as a GPS/cycling computer, now you can use it as a POV camera. Brilliant!

Randomness

When you go to Interbike, you will inevitably come across some oddities along with all the cool ideas. Below is one such product in the making (which type is it? that’s up to you). Still a prototype, this 4-wheeled pedal bike features full independent suspension using Rock Shox Monarchs. As Jeff and I chatted with the owners, we did see many places were weight could be removed. Presently this bike is pushing over 50lbs.

Azonic

Azonic proudly displayed the Outlaw wheels, which have been their staple product for many years and are now available in a 29er version and in an expanded color line. Along with that were bars and stems in the same color patterns for that perfect match.

Azonic has partnered up with O’neal to produce some cool looking threads and skid lids. Their focus seems to be all about color and a mix of retro patterns with modern graphics.

Twenty6

Before the show started, I got an invitation to visit Twenty6. Twenty6 is a small, high tech company that machines kick ass gear. Not only is the gear super slick, but they also have some rich color choices.

Below is just a sample of different color options. I’ll have a review written up soon on the Predator pedals, so stay tuned!

Pro Riders

Remember when I mentioned that Interbike offers access to celebrity riders? Well, great riders like Matt Hunter and Darren Berrecloth were at the iXS booth for a while signing posters and chatting it up.

I even got to spend a little while chatting with Matt. Having limited time, I just had to ask him how he did a particular jump in Seasons where he boosted off a kicker into a loose wall of dirt… it looked absolutely crazy! I got him to talk about how he felt going into it for the first time. It turns out a mix of confidence and fear with a bunch of adrenaline thrown in motivated him. I was really impressed to hear that he is human like the rest of us. Just in case you’re wondering, you can meet Matt in Whistler yourself during the summer months at the Summer Gravity Camp.

iXS

Speaking of iXS, they had a great line up of new 2012 gear on display. With a huge range of colors and improvements, I can’t wait to see when they will all be available. The new METIS shown below looks even better up close. The additional pad in back provides a perfect mating to a Leatt brace, and it provides excellent ventilation.

Not only does iXS make cool helmets, but they also produce a bunch of hemispherical goggles that really rock. They offer a dozen graphic styles to match or clash your helmets. iXS’s gloves and clothing are definitely something to behold. This is one website you must visit.

Spank

Spank had a bunch of shiny, new parts on display as well. They had a prototype stem that I thought looked absolutely amazing! The stem was beautifully CNC-machined, but I was told by Gavin Vos, the co-owner of Spank, that it is just a sample and that the final forged unit will be even stronger. The introduction of complete wheels from Spank also really peaked my interest. Even though I have no issues lacing up my own wheels, a complete solution with both hubs and rims is something I personally like.

The new Spike bar with another Spike stem prototype on display.

Speaking of Spike, stay tuned for a review of the new Spike pedals which, based on my initial rides, are excellent. These beasts have forged bodies with 20 pins on a true flat / thin body. How thin? 12mm to be exact. Not the thinnest, but in practical terms you can’t get much thinner without sacrificing strength.

In a previous post we talked a bit about wheels. Well, Spank has a few wheel sets bound to suit your riding style. The Spike and Spoon wheels look excellent with a bunch of innovative features like the BeadNip profile, the OhhBah inner wall, and zero eyelet construction. Again, Gavin explained why they decided to go without eyelets. They thought, “Why drill an extra large hole and add an eyelet, when precision drilling the holes with the correct angle will make a better interface and stronger wheel?”

Kore

Kore had a bunch of glossy parts out on display as well as a neat prototype of a new 35mm-diameter bar. They aren’t trying to set another standard just for the heck of it, but they reason that with bigger hit bikes, there is a real need for stronger gear that is more resistant to fatigue.

SRAM

One of my last Interbike stops was with SRAM. I talked with Tyler Morland for a while, and he showed off all the goodies to me. SRAM knows how to deliver! For one thing they had celebrities there with their bikes. Can you name the rider pictured below?

You know you done good when you have a tire named after you, like Danny Hart. Danny was around with his Giant showing off all the SRAM gear.

SRAM had all their components on display with new colors like the XO Silver, and there were other new additions to the line up like the XO DH chainring and bashguard.

Jeff and I both agree that the new X5 Group could be a game-changer next year. It looks like X9 but at a much lower price point. Tyler pointed out that essentially these two groups are the same and that the reduced pricing is a result of changes in materials. You will probably start seeing these on bikes in the $800 range – nice gear at a cheaper price point.

Shifting looks very X9ish as well.

The biggest story with SRAM is that you will have two more choices on gear for a total of 4 gear ranges for the chainrings: the original 42-28, 39-26, and now a lower 38-24 and an even lower 36-22. Another important set of products that SRAM will be releasing are easy-to-get repair kits for all your forks, shocks, and other gear.

Santa Cruz

The final stop that I had to make was Santa Cruz bikes. Like SRAM, you couldn’t miss this gorgeous booth with wall-to-wall wood and bike porn. Not to mention that Greg Minnar, Steve Peat, and Josh Bryceland were on hand as well.

Below are three of my favorite Santa Cruz bikes from the show:

The new carbon Nomad. This bike already was made even stronger than the aluminum version of the V10.

The new Carbon V10.

I got all goose-bumpy when I saw this rig! And to think that you can literally jump an entire highway with this bike and it’s still lighter than some XC bikes. What a testament to the strength found in newer carbon structures.

Santa Cruz Tallboy.

I have a lot of respect for this bike; the Tallboy is the bike that really turned me onto 29ers. A few people I know have this bike and they work magic on it–it climbs like a billy goat!

Well folks stay tuned for more – I hope to get a few more Interbike pics posted of even more sweet mountain bikes!

There have been some pretty great products coming out of Easton lately and after getting hands on with the Haven wheels (26 and 29er) we were interested to see how the other Haven components stack up. I got a chance to check out the Haven bars, stem, and seatpost recently and this is my review.

This year Easton introduced Haven bars, stems, and seat posts to go along with the high power wheels intro’d last year. Not only does this allow riders to put together a cohesive look for custom builds but the company is also building on the high quality finishes and materials (uni-directional carbon and Easton aluminum) found on the wheelsets. The upshot: matched graphics and anodizing plus even more ultra-precise machine work .

Haven Carbon bars

The Haven Carbon bars weigh in at a svelte 170 grams which is pretty good considering they’re lighter than some XC alloy bars yet stronger than many DH bars. With a 711mm width and a low rise of 20mm, these are ready for some serious steering. The Haven bars are offered with a clamp diameter of 31.8mm and feature a near perfect 9°degree back bend with a 5° degree up-sweep which leaves my wrists pretty straight on the bar with just a slight inward twist.

Compared to other carbon bars on the market, Easton didn’t waste resin to flash a fancy weave on the outside; instead, the uni-directional fiber construction yields a smooth matte finish.  What makes this bar so light and strong is the taper wall construction which varies the wall thickness along the bar. Also found in Havoc and EA series bars, tapered walls are thicker where stresses are greater and thinner where there’s not as much stress. As an added benefit, the bar doesn’t feel overly stiff. At $160 MSRP, this is definitely a premium cost for a lightweight bar.

Haven stem

The all new, all-mountain Haven stem takes everything Easton knows and tosses it into this lightweight yet strong stem. Using their proprietary CNC aluminum, Easton pulled out all the stops to make this jewel for your ride. The highly machined (both in a out) stem uses Easton’s tried and true 4-bolt top lock technology (where the top edge of the stem and face plate meet), ensuring very little stress on the bar at that point. Easton claims this design has the best stiffness to weight ratio to date.

The stem comes in four lengths to best suit your needs and body style (55mm, 70mm, 85mm, 100mm) with a 0° degree rise (sorry no choice there). Like the bars, this stem is only offered with a 31.8mm clamp diameter. Depending on the length, the stem weight varies from 143 grams and up. With two color choices (either black with mag cap or mag with black cap) you can match up your ride and look pretty smart. $105 MSRP.

Haven carbon seat post

The final item on the list is the Easton Haven carbon seat post. I’m pretty sure many of you are thinking a carbon post on a AM bike is a little crazy – but believe it or not this post is stronger than the aluminum counterpart. Once again Easton went to great lengths manipulating the tubing thickness to get the maximum strength into this taper-walled constructed unit.

Unlike the EC90 post which is totally carbon (minus the bolts), the Haven has an ingenius featherweight alloy top cap that resembles the landing gear support braces on a jet. Using the same two-bolt design allows for an index-free, infinitely adjustable saddle. Weighing in at 240 grams (31.6mm x 400mm), this post is about 50 grams heavier than the EC90 but to put that into perspective, only 10 grams heavier than the lightest post RaceFace has to offer. So I would have to say that the Haven is very light for AM or even for a trail bike for that matter. With three diameters (27.2mm, 30.9mm, 31.6mm)  and a 0° degree set back, this should fit a large selection of bikes out there today. Of course all this high technology has a cost: $140 MSRP.

Installation

Well once the gear arrived from Easton it took very little time to get everything installed. Because the gear is carbon or is being attached to carbon, it’s essential to apply the correct amount of torque. I always use my Topeak D-torq DX wrench to apply the correct amount of force to every bolt. The very last thing I want to do is crush the carbon… that would be bad.

With the stem and bar it’s a matter of following the clear instructions supplied by Easton. Do yourself a favor and pick up a good quality carbon grease while you’re at it, preferably one that does not use “grit” in it to provide friction. A Carbon grease like Motorex is a great idea to prevent slip and it reduces the amount of torque needed to get things tight. The key thing to remember with carbon gear, especially with seat posts, is to make sure there are no metal burs on your seat tube that may scratch or damage the carbon. Double check before installing anything.

On the trail

On the trails I really enjoy the feel of carbon. As stiff as it can be, a properly designed fiber-oriented bar really takes the sting out of the hits and these Haven components are no exception. The 711mm bar with the 55mm zero-rise stem is a perfect width / reach for my 5.5″ Opus Clutch. The shorter stem and wider bar helps me breathe better and keeps me a bit more upright and back on the bike. When conditions get rough I have ample control over the front wheel without going over.

I really love the fact that even on those long rides my hands don’t get fatigued thanks to the combination of the natural vibration dampening of the bar and optimal bend. Over the duration of the test the bars, stem, and seat post never came out of adjustment or slipped in any way. Even with rocks and debis flying about, the finish never got damaged despite an over the bar experience (or two).  I did a bar tap or two on some saplings on a tight trail but nothing that caused too much alarm. The wider bars are definitely a good choice for an amazing amount of steering control.

I would like to thank the folks at Easton for sending down the gear for review.

Part two of the Easton Havoc line-up is the all new wheelset. Talk about an upgrade! Wow. Yup, they really went and listened to the demands from aggressive all mountain and freeride mountain bikers and the result is the new Havoc 26″ wheels.

To start things off, Easton made some major changes to the rims. The company added a full 1mm to the inside width, bringing it to 23mm (28mm outside) which makes these stronger than ever before. The new Havocs are also UST compatible so you can run those UST tires with no special rim strips! If you choose not to run UST tires you can simply remove the valve cores and run tubes.

Of course Easton didn’t stop there – the hubs were redesigned as well. With sealed cartridge bearings and a re-tooled hub design you’re looking at a wheel that is designed for abuse. No only that, the new dedicated 20mm front hub increases performance over the previous model. The rear hub comes in QR10x135 or 12×135 with 12x142mm spacers, making the Havoc wheels very adaptable to a wide range of bikes. What does carry over from previous models is the same great 3-pawl cassette body.

Weighing in at 1750 grams (about 150 grams lighter than the 2010 Havocs) these new wheels are much snappier on the trail. Speaking of snappy, 24 butted Sapim spokes laced three cross front and rear is what holds everything together and helps balance between a fast energy-transferring wheel with one that’s supple enough to take some harshness out of the trail. For those of you who are running Shimano Center Lock rotors, you will have to get a set of 6-bolt rotors as these wheels only come with that rotor interface.

Bling-wise you get fresh matching graphics like the ones on the bars and stems I reviewed earlier on. A new high-end water transferred graphic circumscribes the entire rim looks hot when riding, not to mention the bright orange anodized hub which is sure to catch a look or two on the trails. If orange isn’t your thing, Easton also offers a toned down grey finish. Either way they both look great.

Installing tires on the Havoc wheels was a snap. I wrapped mine in a set of Minions with 4oz of Stan’s for a satisfying dual snap of the beads locking everything firmly in place. Best of all, it only took 10 minutes.  Just remember to generously apply soapy water on the sides of the tire and you’re golden. Installing and torquing down the rotors (4.5 – 6Nm) took another few minutes with no issues. The final step of tossing on a 9spd cassette burned less time that it took me to write this sentence.

I decided to install the Havocs on my Freeride bike instead of my AM/trail bike. Seeing that the Haven’s are doing such a great job in that area, and the Havoc’s come with the 12/135mm axle, I figured the freeride bike is the way to go. The first thing that came to mind is the fact that the Havocs are in direct competition with the Mavic Crossmax SX wheels. Both wheels are very similar, with weights that are grams away from one another (the Havocs are 5 grams lighter) and rim cross sections that are 2mm apart (Havoc 23mm / Mavic 21mm inside widths). Heck, both wheels are UST and have 24 spokes which adds to the similarities. It was definitely going to be interesting to see how the new Havocs stood up.

One of my biggest concerns with wheels is how well they engage when riding. Nothing spoils a ride more than not being able to put the power down or losing balance because you’re rocking the cranks too much to engage the freehub. As in previous models of Easton wheels, these Havocs feature the same welcomed and familiar engagement. At slow speeds or riding over a skinny I have no problem maintaining my cranks at 3 and 9 o’clock, allowing me to barely tap the cranks while still gaining forward movement. That’s a big, big plus here. With the three cam pawl engagement you need very little movement to get the freehub to catch. Now what I also picked up on while hitting trails is the quick acceleration you get due to the low mass (keep in mind the tires you choose). For what these wheels are, they are fast. I was really impressed with how fast they change direction – definitely not what most freeride wheels feel like.

As for strength I have had no issues so far with these wheels. Taking them to Kelso, Horseshoe Valley, and another few choice spots in and around Ontario I haven’t encountered any reliability issues; the wheels remain straight even after sailing over rock gardens (remember to keep up your momentum). Landing some pretty big doubles and step downs with smooth transitions is also no big deal. The over-sized bearings still spin like new, though I did have to adjust the front hub once during my test but it really is not a big deal.  I also tweaked the rear wheel a touch (remember the momentum comment) but fixed it up with a truing key to keep the rim dead straight.

So what do I think of the new Easton Havoc wheels ($945 MSRP)? They are certainly on par with other brands as far as pricing so that is not an issue at all – the value is definitely there. For strength I would also say these can take a beating like Rocky Balboa and still come back. To recap. Strength – check. Performance – check. Value – check (although pricy). Good looks – check. UST compatible – check. Hmmm there’s a lot going on here isn’t there? Check out a set for yourself and you tell me what you think! Cheers.

Thanks to the folks at Easton for supplying the Havoc wheels for review.

Wheels are what make a 29er a 29er and despite early reports, big wheel bikes aren’t just for cross-country riding anymore. So it makes perfect sense that component manufacturers are looking to beef up 29er wheel options for more aggressive all-mountain riders. Easton is leading the way with 29-inch versions of the venerable Haven series and over the last couple months I’ve been using and abusing the 2011 Haven 29″ wheelset.

Materials and Tech

The Haven 29″ rims are made from Easton’s proprietary aluminum alloy and are UST/clincher style which makes them perfect for rolling without tubes. In fact, Easton recommends using UST or tubeless-ready tires exclusively for best results (in my experience, finding 29er UST tires can be difficult but I suspect that will change). With a 21mm internal rim width, the Haven 29″ wheels can handle tires up to 2.5″ which is perfect for aggressive AM applications. I got a tight fit with both UST and tubeless-ready tires and didn’t burp a tire once over hundreds of miles of often gnarly singletrack (including the infamous Snake Creek Gap course – twice).

UST and tubeless wheels are often heavier than standard wheels due to the required rim strip but the Haven 29″ wheels do away with the need for a rim strip entirely, saving precious grams. The wheelset officially tips the scales at 1785 grams which, for burly 29er hoops, is downright airy. That’s just 65 grams heavier than the old XC Ones from Easton but if you factor in the weight of tubes (say, 200 grams each) you’ll end up SAVING more than 300 grams (assuming you’re able to run the same tires).

photo courtesy eastoncycling.com.

The Haven 29″ wheels are laced with Sapim black spokes (24 front / 28 rear) in a 3-cross pattern for maximum durability and stiffness (more on that later). The spokes are regular straight-pull spokes which makes the wheel easy to true and maintain. Every wheelset is hand-built by Easton using a proprietary “acoustic method” to check for true. Needless to say, mine showed up ready to roll. The hubs feature silky smooth cartridge bearings and sport distinctive machining and Haven graphics.

Axle options include standard 15mm through-axle and 9mm quick release configurations PLUS a 20mm version that’s new for 2011 (which I’ve been testing). And unlike many 29er wheelsets available today, the Haven 29″ wheels can also be configured with a 12×135/142 rear thru-axle (in addition to the standard quick release option). Clearly these wheels are ready for aggressive 29er AM and Trail bikes.

On the trail

I like testing mountain bike wheels over an extended period because it’s important to see how they wear over time – do they need constant tuning, how do they hold up to big hits and crashes, etc. As I mentioned in a previous 29er wheel review, I’ve destroyed two 29er wheelsets in the past couple years so it’s important to me to find big wheels that are lightweight yet durable enough for everyday abuse. I started testing these wheels mid-way through my 29 trails in 29 days challenge which allowed me to put on a season’s worth of mileage in less than 2 months.

First things first: these wheels are stiff, exactly what you’d expect from an AM wheelset but not necessarily from set of 29er hoops. And that’s a good thing – these stiff wheels offer precise control through turns and dodgy rock gardens and send big hits right to your suspension system rather than bending (and potentially fatiguing/breaking your spokes and rims). I was able to land 3-foot drops to flat landings with nary a ping or bend on my hardtail, something I hesitate to do with XC-specific wheels. To date the wheels have stayed true and flat-spot free – zero maintenance required.

The freehub pawl system offers quick engagement in my experience which is great for navigating skinnies and low clearance sections where power and wheel control are key. As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, I’m not a big fan of super-clicky freehubs and along the spectrum I’d say the Haven 29″ hub is medium-clicky.

Overall impressions

Just looking at the Haven 29″ wheels you get the impression that this is a high quality product – from the hubs to the rims to the spokes, everything just looks and feels solid and well-built. My cassette slid on with ease for a solid fit, the thru-axle sits tight, and even the rear quick release lever is better than most. Yeah, the hubs are a little blingy and the rim graphics are over-sized but the neutral tones balance the overall look and feel.

At just 1785 grams, these UST/tubeless-ready all-mountain wheels should get the attention of the XC riders out there. And 29er AM and Trail riders can rejoice that the venerable Haven 29″ wheels are ready for black-diamond duty. At $925 MSRP for the set (front and rear wheels can also be purchased individually), the Haven 29″ wheels aren’t the cheapest but they’re easily some of the most versatile you’ll find. As Easton says on their website, “Yes, they’re that good.”

Thanks to the folks at Easton for providing the Haven 29″ wheels for review.

Easton has been very busy indeed: new for 2011 is the totally revamped Havoc component line up. On the control side of things, Easton looked at what mountain bikers wanted in quality parts and boy did they deliver! This line is stocked with highly machined components, both inside and out, super sexy lines, cool graphics, and solid products just waiting for riders to send it.

Havoc Stem

The photo above offers just a peek at what Easton has in store for 2011 – the Havoc 50mm stem. Easton is offering the 1 1/8″ version in three reach choices (35, 50, and 65 mm) while the 1 1/2″ steering tube version comes in 50 and 65 mm lengths.

The new graphics are a big departure for Easton and in this case, beauty isn’t just skin deep – it’s also in the details. I’m big on proper machining practices because you can destroy a perfectly good component by not following good engineering practices. Clearly Easton understands this. All the machined surfaces flow together well with no sharp points or sudden thickness changes. Everything has a radius or chamfer to minimize stress risers and all the exposed surfaces are clean and burr free.

Easton’s four bolt DST bar clamp system works a little differently than other stems on the market. The top two clamp bolts are tightened all the way in, leaving no gap, while the bottom two bolts are torqued down afterward with a gap. This feature spreads load across the stem, reducing stresses which could lead to damage.

Havoc Bolt-on Stem

Taking a look at the sub-140-gram Havoc Bolt-on stem you can see that a ton of consideration went into saving weight as well as keeping the strength up. The Bolt-on version will work on BoXXer, FOX 40, and Dorado forks without a hitch.

The Havoc Bolt-on offers three positions at 45, 50, and 55 mm, making this stem very versatile (10mm either way for a DH rider will make a considerable difference). Unlike the standard Havoc stem, the bolt-on features a 5-degree rise; that is, the bar is mounted a bit higher than the fork crown. This configuration is perfect for those who want to keep their center of gravity low. The Havoc Bolt-on is a two piece stem unlike some other brands that offer direct mount stems made from three pieces. In terms of mounting, a two-piece stem is easier to install – the Havoc Bolt-on literally too me just a few minutes to mount.

Havoc Carbon and Aluminum Bars

Along with the new stems, Easton also added a duet of new bars in the Havoc line up: a super slick carbon bar and an equally sexy new aluminum bar. Now what is really awesome about the carbon version is the fact that it’s lighter than most all-mountain carbon bars. At 235 grams and 750 mm wide, the Havoc carbon is impressively light as well as tough.

The Havoc aluminum bar is pretty light as well, weighing in at 315 grams. This version is made from tough 7050 aluminum (high strength with just enough flex to it) and features Easton’s Taperbore technology. Taperbore doesn’t just mean the center is thick and the ends are thin; Taperbore actually tunes the thickness of the bar throughout to ensure there is sufficient material where it needs to be, improving vibration and stiffness characteristics. The chart below shows how the bar thickness varies over the length of the bar.

Both bars have the same bend at 9-degrees back sweep and 5-degrees up sweep with a 20mm rise. What does all that mean? With a bar at 750 mm (29.5″) wide and my shoulders at 520mm (20.25″) wide, this places my wrist in a very neutral position without feeling uncomfortable at all. A slight inward bend is perfect when traveling through the rough stuff and for hitting jumps or needing more control, the width really stands out and gives a major boost in both precision steering and torque. The good thing is you can always shave some width off the bars if you find it’s too much. For me the extra width even worked on my trail bike – the wider bars allowed me to breath easier on the climbs.

Installation

Installation is a breeze thanks to the instructions from Easton that are easy to understand with pics to back everything up. When playing with new products such as these, it’s important to torque everything down per the instructions – you don’t want anything to fail due to installation errors. In the case of the carbon bar I added Motorex anti-slip for carbon on my stem before installing. This adds a measure of safety and increases friction to prevent galling if the bar were to rotate. Swapping the Easton parts between my FR, trail, and DJ bikes I had no issues with fit or installation.

The Ride

Playing on my DJ and FR bikes with both bars and stems, hitting jump after jump on the progressive tables I felt really comfortable without any real shock to my hands when landing. Everything stayed tight with no hint of creaking. Of the two bars I did enjoy the carbon Havoc better as it transferred a bit less shock to my wrists and hands.

On the trails I noticed improved control over my front wheel (750mm provides ample torque). The added width may take a bit of getting used to, especially if you’re upgrading from bars that are 660mm (26″) wide or less but in the end, it’s worth it. On my FR bike the Havoc bars are similar in width to what I had been running so the lighter weight is a big bonus, especially when you consider that the front end can get heavy near the end of a day’s riding.

My only complaint so far is I’d like to have a slightly larger clamping area on the stems. Seeing that everything held up well during my tests, I wouldn’t say this is a problem – it’s really just a style point.

So, how much is all this high performance gear going to cost? Well, considering the quality or workmanship, the damage isn’t too bad: the stems are both priced at $90 MSRP (black or orange) and the aluminum bar comes in at $75 MSRP (black, orange or gray). The carbon bar is a bit pricier at $150 MSRP (matte black). All these products will also match the new Havoc wheels (review on that later) which come in grey or orange hubs.

Thanks to the folks at Easton for sending down the new Havoc components for review.

At this point I’ve ridden 240 miles in just under four weeks and the vast majority of those miles have been on singletrack. The conditions I’ve encountered along the way – ice, snow, mud, rocks, and rain – have been great for putting my gear to the test. Although I’m not ready to share full reviews of these components yet, I thought I’d give an update on how everything is holding up so far.

SRAM X0 2×10 Drivetrain

I debated about switching over to the SRAM X0 2×10 drivetrain before my Durango to Moab ride over the summer but I just didn’t have enough time to get everything installed. I really wish I had done it sooner because I could have used a few more gears on some of those steeper high altitude climbs.

Over the past 26 days of my 29 Trail quest I’ve ridden all kinds of trails – from fast, flowy big ring stuff to steep, slippery granny gear climbs – and I’ve found that somehow I always have the gears I need to keep moving. In fact, on many trails I’ve been forcing myself to stay out of the smaller ring for as long as possible because I know it will make me a stronger rider (plus once I go small on a ride, I typically stay there far too long).

Georgia horse trails can be muddy in winter.

The challenge has been pretty rough on my drivetrain as you can see from the photo above (there’s a front derailleur somewhere under all that mud). The rear derailleur has frozen solid twice with a thick coating of ice that restricted the overall movement to just a few gears. But thawed out, everything was back to normal. I’ve also managed to pick up a number of sticks in the rear derailleur on seasonally neglected trails and every time the X0 has snapped back to normal (despite giving me a scare or two).

I’ve already de-greased my cassette twice during the 29 Trail challenge (something I typically do just a few times a year) and I can’t count the number of times I’ve cleaned and lubed my chain, partly due to conditions but also due to the mileage I’m putting in. All the SRAM stuff goes on and off smoothly so it’s easy to maintain and looks brand new and shiny after it’s all cleaned up.

SRAM X0 Hydraulic Brakes

These are the best hydraulic disc brakes I’ve ever used on a mountain bike. The X0 brakes were super easy to install and I haven’t had a single issue with them over hundreds of miles of riding (even before the challenge started). I love the lever “snap” I get when I release the brakes and the quiet operation on the trail. I did manage to freeze the brakes during my ride at Dawson Forest after running the calipers through deep water but that’s what happens when you play with water in freezing temps…

Easton Haven 29er Wheels

I just managed to get these wheels installed for trail #11 of the 29 Day challenge but man, I wish I had done it sooner. The Haven 29ers are well constructed and mega strong yet they’re still lightweight enough for a mainly-XC guy like myself. Pinging off rocks at Cheaha State Park and bouncing over the granite at the 1996 Olympic course, these wheels performed like seasoned pros.

Beyond the blingy good looks and solid construction, the Haven 29er wheels are UST compatible which is a big plus for a lot of riders. Until this point I hadn’t gone all in with tubeless mountain bike tires but the owner’s manual convinced me to go for it (Easton recommends tubeless ready or UST tires only). What a difference! On a hardtail the ability to run lower pressures without fear of pinch flatting is reason enough but there’s also the simplicity of the whole thing that appeals to me. I love these wheels so far!

Other Stuff

A set of UST wheels is pretty much a waste without compatible tires so I’ve been experimenting with the Maxxis Ardent LUST 2.3 29er tires and the Hutchinson Pythons. I also have a Specialized “The Captain” 2Bliss tire waiting in the wings that I can’t wait to test.

Before the start of the challenge I also lopped a few centimeters off my Answer Pro Taper Carbon bars and added ODI Ruffian lock-on grips (my first set of lock-ons). The grips are working really well – no slippage in wet conditions – though I do wish they had a little more padding. Hey, at least they’re lightweight!

My GPS, however, hasn’t fared quite as well. To be fair, this unit is 3 or 4 years old now and has been smashed in the car door a time or two, but it still works great (except for the fact that I need to use my smallest allen wrench to access the stop and lap buttons). The rubber band is there because the handlebar clip broke long ago.

Pulling off 29 Trails in 29 Days is a physical and mental struggle but without reliable gear it would be nearly impossible. Case in point: I nearly freaked out after stripping my crank threads on trail #7, worrying about how I would get to 29 with my bike stuck in the shop. Thanks to the guys at Andy Jordan’s it was a quick fix but that’s not always the case with repairs. Being able to jump on the bike whenever there’s a clear day is crucial so I’m thankful all my gear is holding up so well!

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

Four mountain bike news items to start off the week:

Easton Seatpost Recall

Easton is recalling approximately 200 EC90 Zero seatposts manufactured in 2010. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the carbon top clamp on the seatpost assembly can crack which, as you can imagine, would really suck for the rider. The release we read made it sound like the seatposts may have been included on some Turner and Ibis bikes so if you bought one of those bikes this year, check your post and the Easton website to see if yours is affected.

Although no injuries have been reported, consumers should immediately stop riding the bicycles and contact any authorized Easton Sports (dealer) for a free replacement top seat clamp.

Croc Trophy Race Wraps up “World’s Hardest” MTB Competition

photos courtesy crocodile-trophy.com.

To be more specific, race organizers claim the Croc Trophy is “the world’s hardest longest hottest and most adventures (sic) MTB race in the world” and this year’s competition just wrapped up a few days ago at the northeastern tip of Australia. Apparently the course takes riders into the Australian Outback and some daily stages are nearly 100 miles long. Just to finish all 10 stages of the Croc Trophy takes serious stamina – congrats to this year’s winner Urs Huber who finished 5 minutes ahead of second place finisher Bart Brentjens and 40 minutes ahead of third place finisher Mike Mulkens. Now’s the time to start training for next year’s epic!

Singlespeed World Champs Recap

We wrote about the Singlespeed MTB World Championships a couple weeks ago ahead of the competition in New Zealand and today we discovered ESPN.com’s entertaining take on the event. My favorite quotes from the article:

“If you are riding really, really fast but don’t want a tattoo, then don’t win the race. The winner will be tattooed at the finish line so decide before you start if you want a tattoo or not.”

If “The Dude” from “The Big Lebowski” was into mountain biking instead of bowling he would have been a singlespeeder.

I think this is one of those things I gotta experience for myself at some point – sounds like a blast! Though I guess that means I’ll need to shed some gears first…

Loch Raven Reservoir Cracking Down on Mountain Bikers

Mountain bikers in Baltimore have been enjoying the 30+ miles of trails around Loch Raven Reservoir for years but lately rangers have been issuing $100 citations for things like night riding (read the recent trail reviews for more examples). According to this article, land managers are becoming concerned about erosion issues affecting water quality and it seems mountain bikers are an easy target. Specifically new “unofficial” trails are popping up and land managers want it stopped – though hikers are just as likely to create unauthorized “social” trails as bikers. Keep an eye on this issue as local club MORE works with reservoir managers to resolve the situation…

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.

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:

Size	26 inch
Weight	2295 grams
Hubs	F-28h Havoc DH 20mm dedicated R-28h Havoc DH 150x12mm dedicated rear
Spokes	DT™ Single-butted 2.3-2.0 black, brass nipples Precision Handbuilt 3-cross
Nipples	Black brass
Details	Proprietary DH spokes are 46% stiffer than 36 2.0sg spoke, and 23% stiffer than standard Havoc 2.34/1.85/2.0 spoke.Advantage of thicker butting towards center is lower rolling inertia, 38% more area in 2.35 section as compared to 2.0 section. This makes for faster acceleration, a livelier feel and better braking

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

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:

Size	26 and 29 inch
Weight	1650 grams
Hubs	F-M1, R-M1
Spokes	DT™ Double-butted black 24F 3-cross 24R 3-cross
Nipples	F: Alloy Black RNDS: Alloy Black RDS: Alloy Black

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

Interbike is basically like a strip-club where you aren’t allowed to touch any of the dancers. This year I got all worked up seeing the latest from Easton but left the show feeling pretty unsatisfied. After flipping through the catalog hundreds of times and burning up the Easton website I finally got a chance to test the goods for myself.

Easton hooked me up with a component trifecta that’s geared toward all-mountain / freeride / DH rigs. Most of us don’t realize it but handlebars, stems, and seat posts need updating and/or replacing every few years, particularly if they’re abused day in and day out (guilty). Fortunately Easton has just the ticket: the Monkeylite DH bar (now in 750mm width), the 65mm Havoc stem, and the Havoc two bolt seat post. These products alone or together offer the perfect complement to your long travel mountain bike.

First on the block is the MonkeyLite DH bar (MSRP $150). The first thing you’ll notice about the 2010 MonkeyLite DH is the new graphics and flat white center.  More importantly you also now have a choice of either 750mm or a slightly narrower 711mm version. The DH bar weighs around 230 grams which means it’s still lighter than most bars and incredibly strong. You get a very comfortable 9° back sweep which keeps your wrists fairly straight rather than twisted.

You also get a 5° upsweep which I noticed reduces fatigue when turning (that little amount of rise rotated my wrists slightly towards the center of the bike and made me use more triceps). The 40mm rise placed my body in just about the right spot for hitting the slopes, reducing that unsettling “over the wheel” feeling. Since this is a carbon bar you’ll notice reduced sting from taking hits. Carbon allows the bar to flex without transmitting the full force of rocks, logs and drops through the bar.

The Havoc DH stem (MSRP $85) comes in white or black this year and has new graphics as well. There are three lengths to choose from (50mm, 65mm, or 80mm) and each sports a 10°rise. The Havoc stem is made from 6061 aluminum making it durable enough for the demanding rider without worrying about it breaking. I chose the 65mm stem (203 grams) which is not the lightest I’ve seen but I’m definitely willing to trade off a little extra weight for improved durability. The four bolt front cap was made as wide as possible to evenly distribute clamping forces, making it safe for carbon bars as well. The double pinch bolt at the steering tube is really a must for the all-mountain / freerider crowd. This is a very stiff unit that’s a great addition to any front end overhaul.

NOTE: whenever installing stems or bars, always refer to manufacturer info for torque specifications and sequences. Failure to do so may permanently damage the stem and bar.

The double bolt Havoc seat post (MSRP $80) is the third piece of the all-mountain pie. At about 285 grams for the 350mm unit you’re getting an Easton EA70 aluminum tapered wall unit that can take a ton of abuse. Available in four sizes (27.2, 30.0, 30.9, or 31.6mm), the post will fit almost any MTB seat tube out there.  The killer feature here is that you can switch between either 7mm or 8mm rails by orienting the clamp plates. Perfect for those saddles with beefier rails!

The double bolt design allows you to easily set up your seat angle and provides a strong clamping area to prevent saddle movement. I did find the angle of the bolts a little annoying because I couldn’t use a tee-handle Allen key and ended up using a slower L-shaped tool.  On the bike and hitting trails the seat post held up great with no creaking and no slipping of the saddle position – a definite plus.

Overall the fresh new graphics, solid construction, and trouble-free installation of all these components make them a great choice for updating your all-mountain rig. Bring all three into the champagne room with you the next time you’re out!

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