Interbike First Day Impressions
September 27th, 2006 by Guitar TedI have said in the days leading up to this event that the tag line for the show just might be “Interbike: The Year of the 29″er”, and I think that’d be fair to say. My impressions of the first day are as follows:
Positive feedback from shop owners: I heard alot of 29″ers were seen out on the trails at the Outdoor Demo this year and exhibitors have verified that today. Stories of dealers riding and coming back smiling were the norm. Several companies 29″ers never saw any rest and had lines of folks waiting to take a ride on them. This is good news for those of you who have been frustrated by having to search for dealers savy to the big wheels. It looks like the times are a changin’
The New Tires: Some of the new tires are awesome- (Panaracer Rampage, Kenda Nevegal 2.2) some of the tires were a bit of a let down, well only one really- (Weir Wolf LT) and some weren’t there but listed- again only one, (Kenda Small Block 
So we have a better selection, but maybe there’s a few holes left.
Forks, what forks? I’m a bit disappointed that there wasn’t more to talk about in the arena of front suspension. I have to do more digging on this, but the only “new” front forks I could find were the Pace and the Manitou, (read- unobtanium) There wasn’t a Reba on dispaly at Rock Shox in a 29″er flavor and no one else had anything either. Hopefully I can uncover something in the rigid fork arena tomorrow.
Handle bars: While not 29″er specific in nature, handle bars that are out of the norm are seen quite often on 29″ers. Salsa’s 17* bar was really nice in the 25.4 size at 180 grams. Several other funky bars are out there, so perhaps I’ll have to scour the floor for more of that. So far I’ve seen the aforementioned Salsa, a bar by a company named “Viking”, and the WTB flared drop which appears to be available in 25.4mm thankfully!
…..and the bikes: Of course, there are the bikes. So many really nice bikes! Salsa has a new race hardtail made from Scandium with a carbon seat stay and a revised headtube/ downtube junction that eliminates the gusset used previously. This feature will be applied to the Dos Niner as a running change. The Mariachi will be offered as a complete bike, 1 X 9, with details such as color matced CroMoto stem, and skewers. The Badger Dorothy was unvieled here and is super sexy! Fillet brazed joints, blue panels on blue paint with a headbadge rendering of Dorothy herself. Way sweet! Orbea, Bianchi, GT, and Van Dessel were all fun to look at with big wheels. Jamis and Raleigh had geared only bikes in reasonable price ranges. Lots of high end bling with Ventana’s newest 29″er and the Intense Spider 29″er. (Hint: look for a longer travel Intense 29″er in the future!)
Okay, there’s more, but my brain is fading from lack of food and drink. Yes: when you are a bike freak, you neglect the necessities!
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GT - thanks for the update. It’s getting really frustrating here waiting for information on the new stuff, most specifically tires.
I’m glad you mentioned the Nevs were awesome, and a 2.2″ size. Did you get a weight for them? Availability date? IIRC, Webcyclery had told me they should have been in last week to dealers…any word? Any info on the SmallBlock, weight, etc…??
Also, what about the Geax Saguaro 29″er tire? Is it there, and additional info we didn’t already know?
Once again thanks, get something to eat and something to drink and keep up the good work!
GT - thanks for the reports.
Any sightings of a Marin 29er??
downhillfaster: I’ll check on your tire requests. The weird thing about the Smallblock 8 was that there was a tag on the rack for it but no sample. A late delivery to the show is not out of the question. I’ll probe some more tomorrow.
MMcG: I looked at their booth, but I was told before the show that there would be no 29″er or single speed bike from them. I’ll probe that tomorrow, as well.
Awsome job g-ted!
That new surly 29er with the xteracycle built in looks right up my aelley for making whiskey runs =)
Here is the info QBP has posted on the Nevegals (notice the 10/23 delivery)
The Kenda Tomac Nevegal Mountain Tire features tall knobs designed to penetrate and hold on loose terrain.
* Tall knobs designed to penetrate and hold on loose terrain
* All tires feature Stick-E rubber, a slow rebound, high-grip compound for downhill, freeride or trail, 50A durometer
* All tires 60 tpi unless otherwise noted
* DH: models made with CAP ply casing with bead insert
* Lite: models made with DTC, and L3R Pro, 120 tpi
* ==========================================
* CAP ply: Casing Added Protection helps prevent flats
* L3R Pro: compound has longer tread life, less rolling resistance and improved grip
* DTC: Dual Tread Compound
Tire Use: Mountain
Color Tread/Side: Black/Black
Tire Type: Clincher
Tire Diameter: 29″
ISO Width: 54 mm
ISO Diameter: 622
Tire Bead: Folding
PSI: 40 - 65 PSI
Weight:
Catalog Page:
Invoice Description: Kenda Tomac Nevegal 29 x 2.2 DTC Blk Folding
Manufacturer Part Number: 070U9051
Estimated Arrival Date: 10/23/06
Country of Origin: TW
Is the Surly confirmed a 29″er? Looked 26″ to me, which does make sense.
What was the letdown regarding the WTB WW 2.55? I’ve been looking forward to this tire for months!
I think the weight is the biggest letdown IMO….900+ grams
undead: The letdown was the size of the tire. Shiggy of MTB Tire fame said the same thing to me. Although Shiggy hadn’t brought along his calipers, we both agreed that this new WTB tire is not a 2.55. It looks the same as an Exi Wolf. The knobs aren’t a whole lot bigger than the Exi either, so yeah, a big let down.
Cloxx: Yes, that’s a 26 inch wheeled rig, but way cool! I think it’s an awesome thing for folks that are looking to free themselves from the automobile.
GT-
Thanks.
What a bummer! I don’t understand why/how the protos could look so promising and then they drop the ball and give us another tire in the current volume/width range. SOMEBODY PLEASE INVEST IN THE TOOLING FOR A WIDE 29er TIRE!! NOW!! NOT IN 2008!! (Kenda - are you listening?)
I couldn’t even fit a 2.1 on my Gunnar without it rubbing.It wouldn’t turn if it were 2.55.
Gp, you need to change your name if you keep baggin’ on the Gunnar’s.
OK,I’m not baggin.Just stating the facts!
The 2.55 at Eurobike, normal low riding pressure, was 58mm wide on a 28mm rim. To me it looked big. There are few tires over 2.3 that are true-to-size, or just close on a wide rim, measured at the knobs.
so if Cloxxki’s sample was larger at 58mm, do you think there are two sized samples flaoting about? Is there still hope for a truely big tire? GT, if the tire did measure up to advertised size, whould it be worth it? For dry to tacky days around here[midwest], it looks like the bomb.
One pic on MTBR showed it in a rigid fork. Tire sure looked huge to me there too.
Cloxxki said:
“One pic on MTBR showed it in a rigid fork. Tire sure looked huge to me there too.”
My thoughts exactly.
Fingers crossed,
Undead
Well, on the WTB tire: I went back and scrutinized the booth sample as it was right next to the Exi. I would say the casing itself is slightly wider. Maybe a millimeter or two at best. Not by much. The knobs are NOT any wider than the casing. They do not stick out beyond it at all. In tread width, it appears to be equal to an Exi. As I stated previously, Shiggy didn’t have calipers, so we really are just eyeballing a show sample that’s right next to an Exi in the booth. It could be pre-production, as many things that are here are.
Martini: Yeah, on volume and tread design this tire should rock on our terrain. On weight…….no. 900grams is way too much for our style of riding, in my opinion. I’d opt for the Kenda Karma in the 2.2, Bonty Xr, or the soon to come Smallblock 8, which I think will be the bomb for Mid-West riders. (at least when it’s dry!)
More little surprises yet to come……stay tuned for another post!
ekoostick. The spec list you found for the Nevegal covers the whole line. Those features are not all on one tire.
The WW 2.55 did not seem any larger than the Big Apple 2.35 or seem to be as wide as the 26″ version. I saw a pair on bike at the WTB demo day tent, personally mounted a new pair on American Classic rims for a Niner show bike and saw the display tire in the WTB booth.