The Trek Rumblefish is a beautiful mountain bike with clean lines, modern hydroformed tubing, asymmetrical chainstays, and hot graphics that I had to ride during my time at Interbike. Like the other Gary Fisher 29er descendents, the Rumblefish has a reputation for being a solid big wheel bike with excellent handling characteristics.

The 2012 Rumblefish is currently spec’d with 110mm of rear travel and a 120mm travel fork which is a bit unconventional – most manufacturers prefer to match front and rear travel numbers. The rep I spoke with admitted the set-up wasn’t ideal and that the frame designers were still trying to make the geometry work (early adopters beware!).

Even with just 110mm of rear travel, Trek classifies the Rumblefish as a Trail bike which is traditionally 5-inch (120-140mm) travel territory. Of course some will argue that a 29er effectively rides like a longer travel bike than one with 26-inch wheels, making it difficult to pinpoint equivalent ranges of travel for big wheel bikes (XC vs. Trail vs. AM, etc.). Anyway, enough with semantics and classifications – I wanted to see how the Rumblefish handled itself on the trail.

On the climbs the Rumblefish definitely felt dialed in and efficient. While other companies are turning to carbon frames to moderate the 29er weight penalty, the Rumblefish is actually quite light despite its fully-suspended aluminum frame. On the descents the Rumblefish was agile and responsive and I had a hard time finding fault with the mismatched front and rear travel. This bike, like most of the other FS 29ers I rode, was a lot of fun on the trail and the geometry felt just right to me.

Still, I never got the feeling that this bike was more of a “Trail” bike than any of the other 29ers I rode at Outdoor Demo. Just about the only thing that screamed Trail to me about the Rumblefish was the wide, 2.4″ Bontrager tires on the demo model. If you ask me the Rumblefish (starting around $2,400 MSRP) rides like a fast, fun big-wheel XC bike in the same way as the Giant Anthem X does. It will  definitely be interesting to see how the frame and geometry on the Rumblefish evolves over time!

Update: The Trek website is now showing the 2012 Rumblefish comes with 120mm of travel front and rear (thanks Neil!). The rep we spoke with at Interbike apparently didn’t have the latest information – either way, the bike rode well!

Not since the premier of Happy Days has Milwaukee been stoked for such an occasion: the grand opening of Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park November 12-14. Of course at this point Ray’s name has become synonymous with indoor mountain biking, having opened the original (and IMBA-certified epic) indoor MTB course in Cleveland in 2004. The grand opening festivities in Milwaukee will include a park preview on Friday (no bikes allowed) followed by a celebrity BBQ on Saturday with legends like Cam McCaul, Dave Mirra, and Ross Schnell in attendance. Then on Sunday you can ride with the XC Pros all day or check in during BMX night from 4-10pm with Dave Mirra. Seriously. Here’s a bit from the official press release:

After an extensive search, the location for a second Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park has been secured and Milwaukee-area mountain bikers can now rejoice!  The 110,000 square foot former Menards Home Improvement Center is currently undergoing the transformation from empty warehouse to the most exciting indoor mountain bike park the world has yet to behold.

Building upon the success of the our original Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park of Cleveland, Ohio, Ray’s of Milwaukee will provide cyclists from across the Midwest an unrivaled place to ride, train, and develop their skills throughout the long winter months when local trails are closed or often unridable.

Ray Petro, founder and namesake of Ray’s Indoor MTB Park, had quietly planned the opening of a second Ray’s Milwaukee locale for the past few years. When financing stalled at the last minute, Trek Bicycle stepped in to purchase the business and ensure the continued expansion of Petro’s indoor MTB park vision.

In case you missed that last little bit, Ray’s is now owned by Trek which is convenient since Trek’s HQ is located less than 100 miles from Milwaukee in Madison. Does this cash infusion mean we may see indoor mountain bike parks popping up in more cities around the world? Let’s hope so!

Get more info about both parks at raysmtb.com.

I read an article several weeks ago that talked about how Trek and Schwinn have been using landmarks around Madison, WI to name their bikes and it got me thinking: Where do mountain bike model names come from? After sifting through a list of popular mountain bikes, here are some of the naming conventions we’ve identified so far:

Places

Apparently Trek uses the names of Wisconsin lakes on some of its road and commuter bikes but in the mountain bike world there are way better locations to choose from. Although naming mountain bikes for places isn’t as popular as it once was, there are still plenty of examples most of us can remember: Schwinn Moab, Jamis Durango, Litespeed Tsali, and the Fezzari Abajo Peak.

Specs

This naming scheme isn’t the most imaginative but we have to admit it’s helpful when comparing models. Most notably, Yeti names some models based on suspension travel (the Yeti 475 has 4.75 inches while the Yeti 575 has 5.75 inches). And Pivot uses a similar system for naming Mach models with some exceptions (the Pivot Mach 5 had 5 inches of travel while the Mach 429 is a 4-inch travel bike with 29-inch wheels).

Foreign Languages

As good mountain bike names get used up over the years, companies may find themselves turning to other languages for inspiration. This year I was introduced to the Morewood Kwela, which in Zulu means “to climb.” Ventana makes a bike called the El Ciclon which is Spanish for “The Cyclone.”

People

Naming a bike brand for a person is fairly common (Gary Fisher, Breezer, Ritchey, Ellsworth, etc.) but naming a bike model after an individual is still rare. Only one example comes to mind off hand – the Blue Ryno, named after Blue’s marketing manager, Ryan “Ryno” Barnett, a Cat 1 racer who was injured after being hit by a car on a training ride. It’s surprising there aren’t more bikes named after pro riders – after all, think about sneakers like the Air Jordans.

In Jokes

Some bike model names are so ridiculous they have to be part of some kind of joke that only insiders will understand. The Kona Stinky and Gary Fisher Fat Possum come to mind here.

Contests

Kona recently held a contest to name a mountain bike – the Kona Abra Cadabra. Crowdsourcing a model name seems like a smart move to us, perhaps we’ll see more bike names chosen this way in the coming decade.

Utilitarian

Some bike companies just don’t seem to have any creativity when it comes to naming mountain bike models (or they just have so many models it’s hard to keep track). Either way, the result is bikes like the Trek 4300, Redline d660, Trek Fuel EX 6 (7, 8, 9, 9.9), and the Rocky Mountain Element 10 (30, 50, 70). Sure, most of the differences between these models are driven by component groups but c’mon – it’s starting to get confusing.

Cool Sounding Words

Finally, some mountain bike model names just seem to be cool sounding words that fit the personality of the bikes (or designers) themselves. The Giant Trance, Ellsworth Oracle, Ibis Mojo, and Scott Spark are just a few examples.

While it may not seem like the name of a mountain bike model is really that important, it does play a part in the overall success of a given bike. After all, not many of us would buy a Specialized Turtle, no matter how lightweight it was or how much travel it had. What are your favorite mountain bike model names?

With the Gary Fisher brand folding into Trek this year, I was interested to demo a bike from the new “Gary Fisher Collection,” the Superfly Elite. The Superfly Elite is a carbon fiber, hardtail 29er that, beyond the new name, really hasn’t changed that much for 2011. Gary Fisher 29ers always had a reputation for being great bikes and fortunately I can say that’s still the case.

One of the things that makes the Superfly Elite unique among 29ers is the shorter chainstays made possible, in part, because of the direct mount front derailleur. Shorter chainstays make the bike more agile on the trail and eliminate the “tractor driving” feeling some might expect from a 29er. Plus direct mount is definitely the way to go with carbon bikes – nothing worse than cracking a seat tube from over-torquing a bolt.

The Superfly Elite is shockingly lightweight for a 29er thanks to the carbon frame and SRAM X0 2×10 groupo. It climbs super efficiently and accelerates well despite the big wheels.

On the trail the Superfly Elite felt extremely stiff which is good for going fast but honestly it’s not the most comfortable ride out there. This is a race machine and it shows, right down to the narrow, flat handlebars.

If you want to win races, it’s hard to go wrong with the Gary Fisher Collection Superfly Elite. It’s lightweight, climbs like a champ, and isn’t too shabby in the corners thanks to its refined geometry. Just don’t plan on riding this one on all day epics – that might be painful.

photo courtesy trekbikes.com.

Word on the street is that Trek is folding the Gary Fisher brand into Trek bikes to cut design costs and expand distribution. The Gary Fisher name will live on, however, as the “Gary Fisher Collection” from Trek. According to a news release we read, the man himself, Gary Fisher, approves of the move because of the promises of increased distribution.

The heart of the issue seems to be the financial implications of parallel development of mountain bikes, particularly 29ers, currently being shouldered by the two brands. Even if the two teams shared technology and designs, forward there would be very little differentiation between Fisher 29ers and Trek 29ers going forward, for example.

Current Gary Fisher owners should have little to worry about in terms of service and warranty support since the GF brand will remain owned by Trek. There may be some minor changes at the dealer level but those changes should only affect shops that stock GF brand bikes but not Trek. Read more at trekbikes.com.

If you’re bummed about being shut out from Interbike every year, the folks at Western Spirit in Moab have just the thing for you: Outerbike. From September 30 through October 3 this year, regular Joes can saddle up and demo the latest mountain bikes from big manufacturers like Kona, Trek, Santa Cruz, and Yeti (just to name a few). Perhaps best of all, the event takes place in a true mountain bike mecca, Moab, UT.

Putting on a large scale consumer event like this is an ambitious project but it’s one we’d like to see succeed. Interbike has experimented with opening Outdoor Demo East to consumers and the Sea Otter Classic in California has become the de facto consumer mountain bike show over the years but Outerbike just may have some legs of its own. Who’s in for 2010?

Believe it or not there are things happening in the MTB world that have nothing to do with Interbike this week.

Chris Eatough is retiring. Yep, the man who won six straight 24 Hour Solo championships will call it quits after racing 24 Hours of Moab this month. Eatough has been a professional racer for 10 years and his retirement plans call for working for sponsor Trek doing product testing while offering coaching services on the side. The highly recommended movie 24 Solo features Eatough and his attempt at a 7th straight 24 Hour Solo title that takes place at the 1996 Olympic MTB course outside Atlanta. We’ll miss you Chris!

Trek working on Chicago Olympic bid. President Obama isn’t the only heavy hitter working to bring the Olympics to the Windy City in 2016 – Trek Bikes is doing a little lobbying and planning of its own. Chi-town’s Olympic plans call for cycling events to take place in and around Madison, WI including MTB events at the Tyrol Basin ski area which Trek officials helped scout for the committee. We’ll keep our fingers crossed!

10 day MTB stage race in the Himalaya. The Hercules Mountain Biking Himachal claims to be the third toughest mountain bike race in the world after Trans Alps and Trans Rockies but I’m not sure how official that claim is. Everything is tougher in a third world country where access to simple things like clean drinking water can be a challenge and the fact that only 12 of the 70 competitors are from outside India tells you something about the difficulty of this race.

The route is quite tough and passes through trails on lofty mountains and gurgling streams. The expedition will not only enable the participants to test their skill, strength and spirit but also enable them to enjoy the countryside beauty of the state.

Plus, any race that also bills itself as an “expedition” has gotta be a real challenge

Aside from the test rides Monday and Tuesday, there were a number of interesting things we learned at Outdoor Demo. Here are a few quick hits:

Trek 69er discontinued. If you’re a Trekkie you may have already heard the odd mashup between a 29er and 26er known as the “69er” is no more. I spoke to a Trek rep who said while the bike was “really popular” and sold well they had to drop it to make room in the product line. Sounds like marketing doublespeak to us but we’ll leave the final judgement up to you.

Salsa Big Mama: I actually demoed this bike on Monday and frankly I didn’t have much to say about it. It’s a 29er, it’s full suspension, and it rides like a pretty solid bike. Salsa bikes are typically a good choice for those who like to start with a frame and customize so check this one out if you’re into plush 29ers.

Power Bar Protein Plus Bites: element22 and I agreed that this energy/protein solution doesn’t taste terrible which is a pretty high complement. The bites look like donut holes and chew like a cross between a Clif Bar and a Powerbar.  I ate a whole package of chocolate peanut butter Protein Plus Bites for breakfast and felt fantastic.

Trends: obviously the 29er thing continues to gain momentum and this year we’re seeing more and more FS 29er rigs from virtually every manufacturer. Hardtails running standard size wheels have all but evaporated and the market for longer travel bikes seems to be exploding. Even companies like Scott, long known for sleek carbon XC mountain bikes seemed to be (exclusively?) pushing long travel DH bikes at the demo.

The carbon Trek Fuel EX 9.9 performs exactly as you would imagine it does: flawlessly. I had the chance to demo a shiny extra-large EX 9.9 today and here are the not so surprising conclusions I came to:

1. It’s lightweight. At around 26 pounds for a size XL stock model (minus the quick release seat post clamp) the Fuel EX 9.9 climbs like it’s on a t-bar up the mountain. Pedal bob is virtually non-existent and of all the full suspension XC bikes I rode today, the Fuel EX 9.9 rode closest to a hardtail going up.

2. Scandium wheels. Although it was tough to zero in on the performance of the wheels themselves, these babies are clearly lightweight and roll ultra true. Plus they look pretty sharp too

3. The Fuel EX 9.9 is a smooth ride, even at fast speeds over rocky terrain. With nearly 5 inches of rear travel this bike can take pretty much anything a serious cross country rider can throw at it and then some. I found myself picking lines not because I needed to avoid the hits – I just wanted to avoid flatting in the cactus! This bike transforms rocky, dusty trail into marshmallow.

4. It’s responsive and surprisingly stiff in the corners. Maybe it’s because I’m tuned to riding a 29er but the Fuel EX 9.9 felt super agile on tight sections. There was very little muddiness in handling despite having 120mm of travel up front and in back.

In the words of Ferris Bueller, “If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”

This week there are several large MTB recalls involving suspension forks and frames:

Trek is recalling 16,000 mountain bikes due to faulty suspension forks that can become misaligned leading to a loss of wheel control. No one has been injured yet but the recall affects 2009 Trek 7300, 7300WSD, and 7500 bikes. The suspension forks are marked “Bontrager SPA” and are manufactured by a Taiwanese company called JD Components.

Cannondale is handling a similar recall, though far fewer bikes are affected (just 1,500). The recall includes the 2008 Cannondale Adventure 2, Adventure 3, Adventure 2 Feminine and Adventure 3 Feminine which also use the JD suspension forks (these forks are labeled “cannondale AT35 adventure trail”).

Finally, Norco is recalling 36,000 2007 Team DH, 2008 Team DH, Aline Park, Aline, Atomik, Shore 1,2,3, and 2009 Atomik (without gussets) MTB frames due to an issue that may cause the frame to crack and separate. One rider fractured a collar bone after a fall due to a cracked frame. And these ain’t cheap frames either – most of these bikes sold for between $2,000 and $7,000.

In all three cases manufacturing was completed in Taiwan which may raise some eyebrows within the industry. It’s also interesting to note that Cannondale and Trek are using the same manufacturer for suspension forks on their low end mountain bikes leaving very little differentiation (other than marketing) between manufacturers.

Google Street View of Trek’s Waterloo, WI facility.

In February 300 workers at Trek’s Waterloo, WI road and mountain bike assembly plant were forced to work one week on, one week off without pay to help the company cut costs according to a human resources manager. There are 900 employees at the Waterloo plant and in March a “smaller number” of workers continued to work one week on, one week off. Side note: did you know Trek offers tours of their Wisconsin factories? Check this out.

Anyway, getting back to last week’s discussion about MTB price trends, this seems to be another indication that demand for bikes is slowing just a bit (after all, total employment at Trek was reduced just 5% as a “proactive” measure). Lower demand means even better deals at the bike shops. Maybe bike shops will start offering mountain bike two-for-one deals like some car dealers are doing – I’ll take one XC and one DH bike please