Now we have moved the show indoors and out of the windy, dusty environs of Bootleg Canyon. Here are some of the things we saw while pounding the carpet this time…….
Niner Bikes did not do the Outdoor Demo this year, so we had to wait for our first hands on look at the Carbon Air 9 bikes when the doors opened on Day One of the show. The bike, which is still in prototype form here, is due out the first of the year. An extensive rundown of the research and development on the Carbon Air Nine was given to me by Steve Domahidy. I’ll be back with more on the story, but suffice it to say that the testing and processes behind this bike are amazing.
The frames will be compatible with any bottom bracket system out there with Niner supporting BB-90, BB-30, threaded shells, and its own eccentric bottom bracket interface, of course. Final production bikes will have carbon fiber brake guides molded right into the tubes. The geared cable stops will be internal, so the Carbon Air 9 will have a great, clean look as a single speed. The head badge with the inlets will be magnesium on the final production bikes. Pretty cool stuff.
Intense Cycles showed this Tracer 29″er which we had a sneak peek of from our Eurobike coverage. The bike is a convertible travel frame from 4.7″ to 5.2″ by changing the shock mounting spot on the linkage. The front end is suspended by Marzocchi’s new 44 fork with 140mm of travel and features the 15QR standard. The frame is said to be much stiffer laterally than the old Spider 29″ers, which was really a XC frame, while this is all about trail riding.
Look for a head angle just a smidgen less than 70 degrees and a 72 degree head angle. The tube formations and swing arm work looked like it will back up the suspension travel just fine. Tapered steer tube here as well. This looks like one fun rig. Hopefully we will be getting Grannygear on board one as soon as production kicks in in about two months. Stay tuned.
Raleigh had the Talus 29″er on display in its booth along with the greeness that is XXIX for 2010. The Talus basically is a replacement for the old Mojave 29″er of ;09.
Diamondback will again have the Overdrive models in the standard flavor, (white) and Pro levels, (green) complete with snake skin-like top tube decals.
Moots had quite possibly the prettiest bike on display with this full suspension example featuring a mix of SRAM Design Your Ride and Chris King pink anodized components.
Look for Report #2 coming soon!
I am curious as to the ride quality of a full rigid all carbon rig. Too bad niner had no demos. Of all the new products worthy of a good ride this year the AIR 9 Carbon rigid would have been the one.
I like it on paper. I like the vibration dampening and weight savings potential, However if the vertical compliance is anything like the carbon road bikes I have ridden, then I fear this bike is a short trip bike in the least.
Anyone have any thoughts on full rigid carbon SS?
@Big Chris: I can quickly tell you that the ride quality of the Carbon Air 9 was high on the list of impotance for Niner as the development process was undertaken. I was privvy to a testers report to Niner on the carbon fork and he was very complimentary of the ride of the fork. I can only imagine that the frame will be similar, but a ride report would be in order. The bikes are not due till January or so, so I guess we will have to wait until after then to really know for sure.
Look for more on this frame coming soon here.
Love the new Intense, however the rear tyre clearance looks a little tight. Thoughts? Also, you say Intense have made the rear triangle of the Tracer laterally stiffer than the Spider. Do you know if they’ll adopt a similar rear triangle for future versions of the Spider? And a non-29er question, what is the saddle on the Tracer? I noticed that the Santa Cruz Tallboy was running a similar looking one too. Is it a new WTB for ’10?
@Stevo: Those are WTB weirWolf Lt’s on there and those are pretty fat tires. Most any 2.4″er should fit fine. The saddle looks dead on for a WTB Silverado.
I don’t know about any changes for the Spider. I’ll have to ask about that.