Interbike ‘07: Floor Highlights: Part III
September 27th, 2007 by Guitar TedToday starts the second day of Interbike and I’ve got some more 29″er news for you all here.
Shimano 29″er Wheels?: Today it has been reported that Shimano has a trekking wheelset selling in Europe that they are going to bring into the U.S. market sometime in late ‘08 as a 29″er wheel set. Whether Shimano will respond to the move towards wider rim extrusions, I am not sure.
The Really Big Tire: By now it’s pretty well known that the big 29″er tire that showed up on Niner’s WFO 9 prototype bike is a WTB prototype tire. The word on the show floor is that the working name for the tire is the “Kodiak”. WTB is supposedly bringing this tire on as an ‘09 product, and some minor tweaking to the tread is still planned to help enhance the grip further. The compound being used is a stickier rubber and is meant for all mountain/DH 29″er type applications. I’ve seen this tire mounted up on another bike and it is absolutely the biggest 29″er tire by far, and this was on some Stan’s flow rims. On Kris Holm rims they are even wider! It’s a fact that most all 29″er frames out there wouldn’t be able to swallow this tires girthyness. It’s heavy, but I did get a chance to ride it, and it rolls really well for such a behemoth of a tire. Very quiet. Great traction in corners and for climbing. Think I could score one for the front of my single speed? Please?!
Rocky Mountain Joins The Fray: Rocky Mountain was showing this “Hammer 29er” single speed bike at the show. It’s scheduled to show up at dealers by early ‘08 and will feature an eccentric bottom bracket and ability to be geared. Made of Reynolds 853 steel, this should be a relly nice riding bike if the geometry is right.
Single Speed? Full Suspension? 29″er? You Bet! Lenz Sport, the Colorado based one man band 29″er shop is introducing their full suspension single speed 29″er bike at Interbike. The design works by pivoting around the bottom bracket which eliminates chaun growth and allows the single speed application. I have it on good authority that this bike is a hoot to ride. Another tid bit: Lenz Sport showed some killer snow “bikes” at the show. Basically a full suspension frame fitted with skis, only it’s purpose built for the snow. Cool stuff! (ha ha!)
Sun Rims Introduces New 29″er Rims: Sun was showing a pair of rims dubbed the “Equalizer” which were 29.5mm and 31.5mm wide each. They were single eyeleted and both in black anodized finish, disc only. A new complete wheelset called the “Charger” for 29″ers was also shown
Skate On Down To Your Local Mart Store Tony Hawk, the well known skate boarding star, has inked a deal to have his name branded on a line of mart bikes. The line just so happens to include this full suspension bike and a hard tail as well. I guess the movement is complete now. I’m going to have to find a new muse…….maybe a 36″er………..”B” bike maybe…………I don’t know!
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Nice work, GT!
Thanks for the updates!
Guitar Ted,
This really isn’t about this post, but I know I had talked with you before about the fit of the new 2008 G2 geometry Fisher 29ers, and I’m looking for some advice. My local bike shop has a new 2007 X-Caliber on sale for $900. I could get a new 2008 Cobia next year for about $900 also. Based on your riding of the new G2 bikes, do you think it is worth it to get the Cobia next year because of the better handling, or would getting the 2007 X-Caliber be a better deal? I think I could get either bike in a 19 in. frame to fit me well.
Also, if you know these trails, the trails I would be riding the most would be the trails at Nine Mile in Wausau, WI, and the Human Powered Trails in La Crosse, WI a little.
If anyone else has had experience riding both the regular Genesis geometry 29ers and the new G2 geometry 29ers and would want to give me some advice/input I’d appreciate it!
Thanks,
Michael
Michael, I think that you should get the ‘08 Cobia, but mostly for the improved frame over the ‘08. The G2 thing? Yeah, that’ll be the gravy!
why aren’t there More FS SS bikes in any size out there??
Tony Hawk huh?? What did I say about the Wal-Mart 29er??
Thanks Guitar Ted! I think I will wait for the 2008 Cobia then. Have you ever ridden at Nine Mile?
wow… tony hawk 29er? found at walmart, target & kmart? Is that right????
GT, thanks for the updates. I can’t wait to hear some reviews of the Milk Money. Any details on how the chain is tensioned?
Michael, make sure you head up to Winona, MN and ride at Holzinger sometime when you are in the LaCrosse area.
To Michael:
I ride a 06 Cobia at the Human Powered Trails in La Crosse and love it! Hope to see you up there.
Dustin
that “hawk” bike looks a lot like the mountain cycles zen…..
Equalizer … I like it. The card seems to indicated it’s an AM/FR rim. At 31.5mm wide, it’s perfect for a Clyde XC rim!!!! I assume they’ll be offering them in 36H.
Sun understands 36h, I bet they’ll make it.
GT, did you get to see the Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.4″? I wonder how you’d compare that to the size of the Kodiak.
The bigest shock to me, is the Rocky Mountain 29er. Other than Norco, I did not expect another Canuck company to put out a 29er.
Oh, and Tony Hawk knows about 29ers? I live about 20mins form Tony, and I do not see him out on Elfin Forest riding a 29er.
Micheal, get the 08 Cobia! Yeah the Xcal’s got better parts, but the new Cobia will handle sooooo much better, especailly on the HPT system. And I second the Winona call. Great trails there. Also you must head to Decorah. Viroqua has a nice system shaping up. FDR in Dubuque is a kick in the pants. Blue Mound is great. And then there’s all the trails in Mpls/St. Paul.
The wheelbase on that rocky mountain looks small doesn’t it? That good or bad or is it just the camera angle playin tricks?
Cloxxki: The Ralph looks skinny in comparison to the WTB tire.
MMcG: Must be the camera angle. It looked right to me.
I was looking at that same 2007 X-Cal at the same shop!!! $900 is a sweet price for the X-Cal!
That SS Lenz probably has a similar BB pivot as the Dean Ace. I ran the Ace as a SS for 24HITOP - Only. Ace was not much fun as a SS, maybe the Lenz will be better.
Inre: to the Rocky Mtn. Hammer
Well of course it will be a nice riding bike if the geometry is right as most bikes do ride well with good geometry. I’d wager that correct geometry regardless of wheel and tire size is one of the more important factors of how nice a bike is.
Looks like the Tony Hawk bikes have slightly better jewelery on them than Wally-world bikes do. Most likely it’s going to be more of a sporting goods store level bike (east coast thinks Dick’s northwest think GI Joes/Sports authority).