After three seasons on my Giant Trance full suspension 26er, I was feeling the itch to try something new. Specifically, I was jonesing for a hardtail 29er with a 2×10 gearing setup.

Enter the Focus Black Forest 29er 1.0.

With its 72° headset angle and 11×32 cassette, this bike falls squarely into the XC and racing categories. But will it also be a good all around trail bike…?

Arrival and Unpacking

My wife IM’ed me at work to let me know that a Fedex semi had just dropped off a box roughly the length of her SUV. I knew 29ers were big, but jeez…what had I done? Not to worry though, the Focus had shipped fully assembled! All I had to do was remove the huge MADE IN GERMANY banner, straighten and flip the bars, make a few sizing adjustments, and it was ready to ride.

Sorry about the camera shake, I was just so excited!

Fit

I am 5′ 8″ with a 29″ inseam on a good day, with shoes on, and maybe some dirt stuck under my cleats. The Focus is a 16.5″ frame and the manufacturer’s website does not list a stand-over height. Suffice it to say I can stand over it, but there’s no room to spare. It also has a 603mm effective top tube length combined with a 90mm stem. With my torso length it places me in an aggressive, but comfortable position. A rider with a shorter torso would want to switch out the stem. A really short rider will probably need to look elsewhere for a better overall fit.

Components and Frame

The bike comes with a mix of SRAM X9 and X0 in the drivetrain and a 100mm Rockshox Recon Silver fork. The wheelset is from DT Swiss and comes wrapped in Continental Race King tires. The brakes are Avid Elixir 3s with a 185mm rotor in the front and 160mm in the rear. The same Fi’zi:k Tundra saddle that has cropped up on every other bike in this price range is present here, the cockpit aluminum bits are all supplied by Focus, and the included ergonomic grips were a pleasant surprise. The frame features beautiful welding and the red and black powder coat looks sharp. Overall it has a clean look, and it does not look like every other bike on the trail.

First Impression

After a few minutes dedicated to bedding in the brake pads, I set off on a quick ride through the neighborhood, including some dirt, but mostly pavement. The bike is easy to adjust for size and provides a very comfortable ride. I immediately found myself throwing it around and having fun with it. On a performance note, this bike is FAST! Between the efficient hardtail design, the 29er wheels and the aggressively geared 2×10 set up, this thing will haul. Out of the box, the shifters were properly indexed and the brake calipers were aligned perfectly. The only real issue I had was getting the seatpost to stay put. I cranked the quick release clamp down as tight as I could, and after a few rides it got enough dust in there to finally settle down and stop slipping.

Break-in and Adjustment

The brakes have given me zero issues so far, and the rear derailleur has required only one click on the barrel adjuster. The front derailleur, however, was going crazy. I thought I had encountered the worst case of cable stretch ever, but it turned out that the cable clamp was not quite tight enough and the cable had pulled through a bit. A moment with the multi-tool and it was sorted. The Rockshox Recon fork has the recommended air pressure listed right on the side, and the turnkey rebound adjuster is pretty cool

Long Term

I’ll be pedaling this bike all over Colorado, and hopefully racing it at 24 Hours of Moab. I like the overall setup, and it is performing well thus far, but time will tell if it holds up to genuine Rocky Mountain abuse and high desert racing. Stay tuned for the final word when I’ve finished putting it through its paces.

Thanks to the folks at Focus for sending over the Black Forest 29er for testing.

We don’t post a lot of product review teasers here on singletracks but the Syncros FL Carbon Fork is particularly drool-worthy and we just couldn’t resist. The FL Carbon is an all-carbon 29er mountain bike fork that weighs 1 lb, 5 oz. according to our postage scale. And that’s before cutting the steerer to size!

I had the fork mounted on my Redline d660 just a few days ago and haven’t had a chance to ride it yet but I can tell you this: my 29er mountain bike now weighs just 2 lbs. more than my carbon fiber road bike. Ridic.

This is one of those forks you take into the bike shop and a crowd of customers and employees starts to gather around to gawk. The FL Carbon is a fork that looks like it belongs on a mountain bike unlike some of the other rigid carbon forks out there. Let’s just hope it doesn’t completely harsh the ride on the trail.

Stay tuned for the full review within a few weeks!

Ok, so we don’t do a lot of product “previews” like this but two MTB products caught our attention this week and we wanted to share. Hopefully within the next few months we’ll get an opportunity to go hands-on to give you the deets.

NiteRider DIY Software

Maximizing existing mountain bike light systems involves trading off light output (lumens) with battery life and until now riders were forced to accept pre-packaged settings from the manufacturers. In the latest Pro models from NiteRider, engineers have added a software layer to the lighting hardware so riders can customize output and run-time to fit the trails and conditions they’re riding. Riders can even come up with their own flash modes and can store up to 4 custom lighting programs for quick access on the trail! Read more at NiteRiderServices.com.

Magellan ToughCase for iPhone

We recently wrote about a handlebar mount for the iPhone and while it works pretty well we’re still a little sketched out about crunching our phone on the trail. Enter the ToughCase from Magellan. At first we thought this was just a really beefy case but it also incorporates a high accuracy GPS chipset to augment the phone’s GPS capabilities PLUS a built-in power supply to keep you juiced on epic rides.

The case is waterproof yet all the phone’s touch screen capabilities are still available while the phone is inside its case. Magellan offers multiple mounting solutions, including a handlebar mount, though there’s no word on whether it comes with an iPhone replacement guarantee.

The Sun Ringle name always makes me think of a rising sun – a new day, a new adventure. Well for 2010, Sun Ringle has done it again with exciting new XC and AM wheels fit for any epic adventure. And looking forward to 2011, Sun Ringlé is working on fresh wheels for the FR / DH / DJ crowd.

I recently got a chance to talk with Scott Boyd, Product Manager from Sun Ringlé, about the history of the company and about some exciting new products that will be released this year. I also managed to squeak in a few questions about what we can look forward to in 2011.

History

Sun Metal Products dates back to 1946 when Ken-Jen Metal Products started producing tricycle seats. In 1948, Ken-Jen became Sun Metal Products and started a wire-spoke wheel line. In the 70s, Sun began production of alloy rims for high performance, off-road motorcycle racing and the technology eventually made its way into high-end bicycle rims in the 1980s. In the 1990s, Sun expanded production facilities in Indiana for high-end alloy rims and built manufacturing plants in China to provide products for the growing Asian bicycle manufacturing industry. Sun Products purchased Ringlé Racing Components and in 2005, Hayes acquired the merged company.

Scott, like many of us who are passionate about MTB, started off early enjoying mountain bikes. Like me, Scott worked at a bike shop in high school and college which landed him a position at Hayes starting in 1998. In the early days he provided technical support at NORBA and World Cup events and after a few corporate acquisitions he moved into the role of Product Manager at Sun Ringlé, where he’s been for the last two years.

After speaking with Scott for just a few minutes you get the sense that he’s an extremely focused individual which in this line of business is a good thing. At the same time he’s very personable and digs talking about bike products as much as you and I dig riding them.

New stuff

So what can we expect from Sun Ringlé this year?

We have an exciting new tubeless compatible wheel platform and we’ve partnered with Stan’s No Tubes to license their patented BST (Bead Socket Technology). The line consists of the Black Flag Pro and Expert (XC) and Charger Pro and Expert (AM) models. Each are available in 26” and 29er.

(Our) focus (this year) is on the Pro series: The Black Flag Pro is a sub-1600g cross country wheel set using a 24mm wide rim and the Charger Pro is a sub-1700g all mountain wheel set using a 28mm wide rim. The 26” versions (feature) a 24-hole direct pull lacing pattern and the 29er versions (feature) a 28-hole direct pull lacing pattern. Both wheel sets have two color options to choose from. Additionally, the wheels are available and compatible with today’s axle standards. For the front: standard quick release, 15mm, and 20mm. For the rear: standard quick release, 135×12, and the new X12 or 142×12 axle.

The other hot item we are working on is our SRD Carbon wheel. It’s a 26mm wide, 1550g wheel set. It utilizes the same hubs as our Black Flag Pro, allowing for the flexibility of all today’s axle standards.

Are you aligning the way you name parts like Manitou (Pro, Expert, Comp, Sport)?

Yes. It is a system that is universally understood by cyclists and helps identify the level of the product.

What can we expect to see come April from Sun?

During April, we will be attending the Sea Otter Classic, and the new Black Flag Pro and Charger Pro wheels will be the highlights.

Are there any restrictions as far as (rider) weight is concerned with the SRD Carbon wheels?

The SRD Carbon wheels are still in the development phase. I can say the wheel set has a stout 26mm outer width carbon rim. The wheel isn’t meant to be the lightest race day wheel, but (it’s) a 1550g wheel set that is light enough for XC racing and durable enough for everyday AM use.

When I was at the show I noticed many different colored wheels like blue, yellow, black, white, and red. Which ones are you going with?

The wheels at Interbike (actually) showed just a few color options. The Black Flag Series and the SRD Carbon will use a touch of gold (anodized finish). The Charger will use red (anodized) hubs.

I also noticed Sun Ringlé offers many 29er wheel models. How many model options are there?

We currently have 5 wheel set offerings and 6 rim offerings. One of our newest 29er offerings is the DH MTX33 model. This is currently being tested by a top World Cup team. Time will tell if they give up the 26” DH bikes for 29ers.

I see you’re offering direct pull wheels, are you using Wheelsmith spokes on those as well?

Yes, the direct pull spokes are Wheelsmith spokes made in our Milwaukee facility.

Tell me a bit more about the Stan’s technology that you plan on using on the wheels for this year.

SunRingle is the first in the industry to license the Bead Socket Technology from NoTubes.com for both the Black Flag and Charger series.

The rims are wider inside than other designs with similar outside dimensions, meaning a wider base for the tire and improved ride quality. The design also incorporates shorter sidewalls, reducing pinch flats and the risk of denting the rim when using low pressures. In addition, the design allows for the use of NoTubes yellow sealing tape and valve stems for a tubeless application using standard tube-type or tubeless tires and NoTubes tire sealant.

NoTubes yellow sealing tape will be pre-installed on the wheels making the wheels tubeless-ready. The valves and sealant will also be included in the box (with our) aftermarket wheel sets.

I’d like to thank Scott and the folks at Sun Ringlé for giving us a glimpse on what’s to come for 2010 and 2011. Goodbye winter – here comes the Sun!

It’s that time of year when I get to call up my good friends in the industry and see what’s up and coming and possibly squeeze out some interesting tidbits about new products. I recently got a chance to talk with with Joel Richardson, Production Manager at Hayes Disc Brakes, which is always super fun and exciting. I enjoy talking with Joel because we speak the same language – “Techish” – and he’s a person who is super stoked to talk about new products in development.

Joel managed a bike shop in Wisconsin from 1994-1998 and as things go in this kind of business he ended helping Len Cabaltera (the original Hayes guy) with development of the Hayes Mag brake back in 1996.

“Len would come into my shop and ask for design and feature feedback on the prototypes.  We had no idea what it would lead to. He hired me straight out of College in 1998 and I started in tech, hand bleeding brakes and answering phones.”

Joel moved around the company a few times before landing in his current position as the brake Product Manager.

Our conversation started out with a bit of small talk, chatting about the usual challenges riders have with disc brakes and set-up. It’s during conversations like these that new ideas are introduced and Joel and I actually came up with a few good ones – perhaps you may even see one or two in the near future, you never know. Anyhow getting into it, we talked a bit about technology and key product characteristics Hayes will carry forward and improve upon and even touched on some of the new stuff under development.

Above: a Hayes design that never went into production but got some serious consideration. Back in 2002 Hayes came up with a two piece rotor for Shimano’s centerlock hub design.

One of the most exciting new products at Hayes this year is the Prime braking system. Prime is the name of the eventual replacement for the Stroker brake line-up and the Prime Pro and Expert take all that is great about the Stroker – forged calipers, compact master cylinder design, and tool free reach adjustment – and make it even better. Prime brakes feature a new caliper design that can withstand a set of bigger pistons and allow you to change up the pads without removing the caliper thanks to a top-loading design. The new brakes also throw in a floating two-piece rotor for the icing on the cake.

The new Prime master cylinder design was put under heavy scrutiny during the design phase. Keeping the basic Stroker design, Hayes tilted the cylinder 10 degrees to maximize finger positioning and changed up the master cylinder internals to allow for easy position adjustments and pad placement. As if that weren’t enough, Prime brakes features a new hose design that minimizes expansion and improves feel while sporting a plethora of exotic materials to reduce weight – now that’s Prime!

A good bit of motorsports technology was put into the Prime brake design. These brakes will outperform all of the present systems that Hayes produces thanks in part to the largest pistons they have ever produced @ 26mm. Many hundreds of hours were needed to develop a brake that would feel consistent under the tremendous forces generated in the caliper. Early in the product development Hayes decided that the calipers needed to be forged to achieve performance expectations (just like the previous model Strokers).

Hayes takes product testing very seriously and one of the tools they use is a Dynamometer capable of testing real world situations such as high speed/high input and wet conditions, shock, and vibration, while monitoring hydraulic pressure, force, speed, torque and temperature. After the dyno test, Hayes slaps the brakes on real bikes rigged with data capturing tools for actual testing on the dirt.

Here’s more from my conversation with Joel.

So when can we expect the Prime for sale to the public?
Everything is pointing to a June 2010 release date.

How powerful is the Prime and where does it fit in the line-up?
It surpasses the power of the Stroker Ace 4 piston brake by 23% on average.

There are two versions here, are we going to see another model or two in the future?
You bet, we are investigating the possibilities for a carbon version.

Are you planning on matching the finish on the brakes to other components produced by Hayes group of companies?
Maybe you can find the ANSWER.

I noticed there are no weights listed yet, any clue as to how light these units will be?
You’re looking at about 385 grams for the Pro and approximately 415 grams for the Expert, give or take a few grams.

On the new Prime brakes I noticed Hayes is going with a two-piece rotor. How long has that been in the making? I recall there were rumors that you were thinking about that…
Back in 2002 there was consideration and work on a two-piece rotor but for various reasons it never made production.

Along with Prime, what other things are changed up for 2010?
The Stroker Gram now comes in all white with a white brake hose. The Stroker Ace has a revision on the friction material making it easier to burnish the brake pads while the caliper and brake lever now come in black. We also started selling the Stroker Ace tool kit as well as the Feel’r gauge to set up your brakes. In 2010 the familiar HAYES logo is back on our brakes as well.

Well folks, stay tuned for a product review or two of the new 2010 Hayes brake offerings. I’m not sure about you but I’m stoked to give the new Prime brakes a run for their money!

Hayes Company History

1972 –  Schwinn 200E Series bicycle disc brake
1993 –  Production of DiaCompe Speed Check Disk Brake
1997 –  HFX Mag
1999 -  Cable Actuated Hydraulic
2000 -  Redesigned flip-flop Mag MC 2 piece clamp, G1 Caliper 74mm post mount
2001 -  HMX-1 Mechanical
2002 -  HFX-Comp, HML Mechanical Levers
2003 -  HFX Mag Plus, HFX Nine MC, G2 Caliper
2004 -  HFX Nine Carbon, MX-1 Mechanical, MX-2 Mechanical, Wave Rotors
2005 -  El Camino, Sole, , BFL Levers, V-Series 6 & 8″ Rotors
2006 -  MX 3, V7(180mm) Rotor, SRL Lever
2007 – Stroker Trail / Ryde, Stroker Carbon/ V9 (224mm) rotor
2008 – Stroker Ace / Stroker Gram/ V5 (140mm) rotor
2010 – Now the PRIME

Hayes firsts

• Flip/Flop universal lever design with 2-piece clamp master cylinder body

• Three layer hose construction

• Tool-free brake pad change

• Magnesium master cylinder bodies

• Bladder/cartridge master cylinder design

• Ball socket caliper pistons

• Flip/Flop radial master cylinder

Hayes industry standards

• 74 mm post mount calipers with slotted mount feet

• 203 mm rotor size

• 10 mm quick release hub rotor offset

• 15 mm 20mm thru and rear hub rotor offset

• .070” thick rotors

• Forward arcing rotor splines for thermal capabilities and strength

• T25 low profile disc screws

Over last 5 years, more and more riders have been choosing to equip their DH and freeride bikes with Syncros FR Wheelsets. These wheels are easy to identify thanks to their distinctive white rims and prominent logo placements. Syncros parts are quite popular in British Columbia, Canada, where the company started and the Syncros-sponsored NSMB team is also located in B.C. Here in the east, however, Syncros wheels are not as widely used which is a shame. As a former resident of Vancouver’s fabled North Shore, I’m excited to test these wheels since many of the riders I look up to used Syncros FR Wheels.

The 2010 Syncros FR Wheelset features their strongest rim yet, the DS 32, laced to the Syncros FR hub, which uses an impressive 4 bearings per wheel. All that strength comes with a slight weight penalty as the Syncros FR wheels weigh 2725 grams as tested which is about 500 grams heavier than many DH racing wheel sets. However, if you value long-term durability and build quality over weight, the Syncros FR wheels should fit the bill.

These wheels are individually hand-built with DT Swiss spokes and nipples, ensuring excellent quality and maximum durability. The FR wheelset is built with standard J-bend spokes in a 3X pattern. They come in matte black or white hubs while the rim is only offered in white. These wheels are available in 135×10 and 150×12 rear hub spacing and a 20mm thru-axle only front hub.

First Impressions

These wheels feel much lighter than they are when installed because the bearings roll so well. The distinctive white rim looks great and makes your bike stand out. The tolerances on the FR Wheelset are very tight, so much so that installing the thru-axles required more force than usual both front and rear. This isn’t a bad thing, because there is literally no play – an important feature when you’re hucking around. These wheels are true and still spinning fast after weeks of pounding at Joyride 150, an indoor bike park. Stay tuned for a full review in the spring after I have a chance to test these wheels on some real DH terrain.

Thanks to Syncros for providing the FR Wheels for testing.

About Syncros

Syncros started operating out of a Vancouver bike shop in the 1980’s, producing parts that could withstand the pounding riders dished out on the nearby North Shore Mountains. Syncros was bought by Ritchey in 2003. Today Syncros produces high-end components built tough enough to withstand the most difficult trails while maintaining competitive weights and prices.

Hi folks, not too long back I wrote about the Formula RX brake set and since then I have really been enjoying the great modulation and awesome power. I recently installed a set of sintered pads in place of the stock organic ones and the performance has been pretty amazing. But wait, this little article isn’t about the RX brakes but the new 2010 THE ONE brake set. If you thought the RX brakes were impressive wait until you take a look at these!

THE ONE brakes utilize a patented forged caliper that encases huge 24mm caliper pistons to generate über amounts of stopping force. I am sure that those of you who follow what’s new and hot on the the slopes and World Cup events have heard about THE ONE. For those of you who haven’t, these are Formula’s top dog, no-holds-barred brakes for DH racing. At just 308g these are lightweight – very lightweight to be exact. In fact, with some brands it’s tough to find XC brakes this light! With rotor sizes of 160mm, 180mm, 203mm, 220mm, you’re sure to find the size you need.

Once I get these on my test bike I will have a chance to see how well they perform on the mountain. Formula claims THE ONE brakes modulate extremely well and if the RX is any indication I’m pretty sure these brakes will blow me away.

Taking a peek at the construction I have to comment on how small and tight the overall package is. Talk about really shaving weight where you can – the forging process allows these brakes to achieve a small form factor without loosing any strength. Compared to other brakes, THE ONE’s forging process results in tightly squeezed metal molecules, resulting in a more dense, stronger, and uniform material to start the machining process. The only drawback to this is the higher cost of manufacturing and thus final retail cost. Once the weather gets better I will give everyone the skinny on THE ONE’s.

Here are some of the highlights:

MASTER CYLINDER

• Forged radial master cylinder (M/C)
• Patent-pending high capacity, integrated reservoir
• Removable handlebar clamp
• Flip-flop master cylinder assembly
• Dual M/C bleed ports for easy-on-the-bike-bleeds
• Forged aluminum lever blade (optional carbon)
• Laser etched logos
• MiXmaster available

CALIPER

• Patent-pending forged one-piece post mount caliper
• Huge 24 mm caliper pistons for amazing power
• Top vented caliper allows for wheel on pad changes and eliminates overheating effects
• Bottom vented caliper pistons provide additional cooling
• Laser etched logos
• Top loading pads simplify pad changes

Thanks to the folks at Formula brakes for providing these brakes for the article.