The 2009 edition of Interbike, North America’s biggest bicycle trade show for the industry, is upon us once again. Grannygear and I will be your reporters this go ’round and we’ll be focusing on all things 29″er. Here’s a short preview of what we expect to be the biggest trends in wagon wheelers for 2010.
Expect to see lots of carbon goodies!
Carbon Fiber Gets More Prolific: We are aware of several carbon fiber rigs that will be making an appearance at Interbike for the first time. Everything from single speeds to full suspension rigs will be showing up made from the material once reserved for road bikes. Notable in this category are Niner Bike’s Carbon Air 9, Santa Cruz’s Tall Boy full suspension rig, and even an offering in big wheels from the ultra high end brand Storck, most notable for it’s road rockets priced in the five digit realm.
Expect to see a few “long legged” 29″er full suspension rigs as well.
Long Travel 29″ers: They’re Here!: I have been reporting on this for three years, but finally it can be said truthfully that the components and designs are in place for real long travel 29″ers to start hitting the trails in 2010. Most notable in this category are Niner Bike’s W.F.O.9 and LenzSport’s as yet un-named “DH” rig. (We hear Devin Lenz will have a name by the time the show opens). Other longer travel 29″ers will also be showing along with many trail bikes. Expect this to be a hot topic this coming week and afterward.
Components: We are expecting to see the introduction of some tubeless wheels, (Most notably Easton’s “Haven” 29″er wheels), more tires, (WTB Dissent 29″er, Kodiak, and others), and possibly a fork or two. We’ll be cruising the show for signs of anything new cropping up in this area for sure.
Expect to see powder coated rims in various colors on 29″ers for 2010.
Trends: We’ll also be scouting the aisles for any new trends, fashion or otherwise, that will feature in what we see for big wheelers in 2010. Look for pictures and descriptions to be posted throughout the show. We’ll also have our take on things afterward coming in our Interbike 2009 Reports.
Stay tuned! The fun starts on Monday as Grannygear and I hit the Outdoor Demo.
Could you please provide some coverage (especially spec, weight, etc.) of the Rocky Mountain Vertex 29? I can’t wait to see what the production models look like, but there has been no word on RM 29ers since all the Sea Otter hype.
Will Shimano have an XTR 12/36 cassette, will it work with King or Hope hubs. If so, when and how much?
thanks
Any beta on some more longer travel forks, like a pike or lyrik?
I would also like to know if anyone other than Marzocchi or White Bros. comes up with a ±140mm. 29 Trail/AM fork.
I’m also hoping someone is going to have a proper UST/TLR rim wider than the Cr29max.
Ronnie.
Also interested in any longer travel 29er forks. 140+ please
@ ejeppson – I was asking my LBS on Saturday and they said RM will have Vertex 2 models. An entry level model (equivilant to a Vertex 10) coming in at $1700 (I think it was black and white) and a high end model (about Vertex 70) running around $3000 (same color scheme as the Sea Otter pics). These prices are in CAD. I saw the specs too, but don’t remember specifics.
Ronnie, the Bontrager Duster is available, it is wider than the Crossmax and it is tubeless ready. I have a pair laced up to King hubs and they are fantastic. The offset spoke bed is nice in that it greatly decreases the front in deflection under heavy breaking. Overall solid, stiff and well worth it.
Oderus, Thanks for that. I’ve heard about them and just did a search on the web for some details, including Bontrager’s own site but came up with nothing. Who sells them?
Ronnie.
I’d like to see 36H duster version TLR
Here is a link for the 2010 RMs – on a German site: http://www.bikeaction.de/
Thanks, Gord. Do you think the spec will be the same for the North American models? If so, that should be a great workhorse. I guess the only missing piece is the geometry. I wonder if a 36″ top tube is too much to ask for on that 22.5″ frame?
Of course, I mean a 26″ top tube. I’m not that tall.
Hey Ronnie, the duster rim is the same rim as the one on the Rhythm wheels, just not laced up, any Trek dealer should be able to order them up nice and quick for you.
I’ve been doing a bit of research and the impression I’m getting is that the Duster rim, because of it’s light weight is more XC and not an AM rim.
Ronnie.