Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
MOUNTAIN
BIKE
ACTION
WPS
37199
www.mbaction.com
JANUARY 2006
INNOVATIVE, CLEVER
ACCESSORIES COMING TO
A BIKE SHOP NEAR YOU
STOP GUESSING:
DISC BRAKE SHOOTOUT
0 1>
70989 37199
THIS MONTH
12
46
SHOOTOUT
BIKE TESTS
26 Titus Moto-Lite
56 Specialized S-Works
Epic Disc
78 Specialized Demo 8
Race-ready ripper tested at the
Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
INTERBIKE SHOW
SPECIAL REPORT
41 Downhill Madness
Sir Isaac Newton would be
proud.
42 Show Weirdness
TECHNICAL
www.mbaction.com
DEPARTMENTS
8 Happy Trails
Racing and the modern age.
10 Mac Attack
Questions unanswered.
64
contents
90
12 Hardtales
A Kamikaze attack on Mammoth.
18 Trailgrams
Name that trail.
20 Ask R.C.
Finding a mountain bike gem in
the garage.
Happy Trails
happened?
The question came from a former bike
maker who had surfed the wave when all
eyes were focused upon the NORBA
National and the World Cup series. He
had just returned from the U.S. National
Championships at Mammoth Mountain,
Californiaan event that was once so
large that mountain bikers filled the city
to capacity. In its heyday, the fields were
so deep that there were four full days of
competitioncross-country at dawn and
dual-slalom after dark. Long after the
medals were awarded, bicycle box vans,
race-team semis and passenger vehicles
with bikes loaded on car-top racks would
be strung out on the highways for hundreds of miles to all four points of the
compass.
Yeah, I remember the good old
days, I said, when racing was mountain biking. Now, after a somewhat
ugly adjustment period, I think that
racing has taken its rightful place as
just one aspect of the sport.
Thats a black vision, replied the
man in the golf-logo shirt. Time will
prove you wrong on this one. The
whole industry took a beating in the
90s, not just racing. Attendance was
small potatoes at Mammoth, but the
vibe was strong. I think that racing is
making a comeback.
What that really means is that you
are planning a comeback, I laughed. Is
it a cross-country or a downhill bike?
I cant show it to you yet, his voice
lowered, but I can tell you that it has lots
of CNC-machined magnesium, over eight
inches of travel and that some big-name
pros are pretty impressed with its performance. Right now, were searching for
some talent to head up our race team.
Now, theres a marketing plan, I
chided. Choose the smaller of the two
most atrophied mountain bike markets
and then jump in with both feet. After
youve given away half of your fleet to
the pros, who are you going to sell the
rest of your production to?
Not so fast, Mister Black. (I sensed
that I was in for a lecture.) When
BMX spiraled in, GT bought up as
much business as they could. When
BMX came backboom! GT was sitting pretty and making bucks. The way
I see it is that downhill is the only
thing weve got going that has a visual
presence, and this countrys all about
the visual. All we need is a more exciting format, some TV coverage and
bingo, gravity racing will be back on
8
By Richard J. Cunningham
www.mbaction.com
10
By Jim McIlvain
Why do businessmen take over mountain bike companies and put them out of business?
Why doesnt
everyone
mountain
bike?
You can contact Jimmy Mac directly at JamesMac@hi-torque.com
www.mbaction.com
Hardtales
Surviving A
Kamikaze Attack
12
www.mbaction.com
Da winner: There are a lot of tricks to this course, explained Johnny T (above and
right) to a photographer he had almost run over while using a creative line. The
trick to winning the Kamikaze is in your tuck and use of the brakes. We figure use
of brakes means not touching them.
January 2006 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION
13
Hardtales
Seen in the pits: Mike David of Troy Lee Designs was spotted in the pits at the Mammoth Nationals wearing this prototype,
open-face D2 helmet. The idea is to meet the needs of Super-D racers who want more protection than a cross-country lid and
not as much claustrophobia as a downhill helmet. Mike wore the helmet in the Super D. Will we see a production version? If
enough riders want them, well make them, said Troy Lee.
14 www.mbaction.com
Hardtales
REALLY FAT TIRES
NEVER GET STUCK
AGAIN
Giving new meaning to fat-tired bicycles, Surly offers the Pugsley. The
Pugsley frame and fork will accept 4inch tires on 26-inch rims. The floatation and traction gained by using largevolume, low-pressure tires can get you
over and through otherwise unrideable
terrain, including ice, snow, sand, mud,
wet rocks and roots. In many conditions, bigger is better. Surly also offers
Endomorph 3.7 tires with a 3.7-inch
width and modest paddle-like tread pattern to allow the tire to float, rather
than dig. You can get more information
by calling Surly at (877) 743-3191.
What are teammates for?: Eventual 2005 National Mountaincross Champion (and
reigning 4-Cross World Champion) Jill Kintner had a rough morning of practice
before her event. A teammate accidentally took her out in practice. Its amazing,
isnt it? World Champions even crash gracefully.
Broken down and disgusted: Using carbon bars? Keep an eye on any clamping
area. If a clamp has a rough edge, it can
score the bar when tightened. That creates a stress riser where the bar will
eventually fail.
16
www.mbaction.com
Soil sample of the month: Winner Keith Kanawyer of Santa Clara, California, takes a
digger with style and class.
Trailgrams
HELL TAKE AN ISSUE
I cant believe the amount of negativism Jimmy Mac got towards MBA
when he was trying to give copies away
(Mac Attack, October 2005). What
planet are these people living on?
While I enjoy occasionally picking up a
copy of another bike mag to flip
through, I truly feel that MBA is the
only one that reads like it was actually
written by writers and edited by editors.
MBA was the first mag that really
grabbed me when I was a mountain
bike newbie (even if you did trash my
Mongoose MGX). See, I grew up with
another Hi-Torque publication: Dirt
Bike. It was the first motorcycle mag to
really test bikes and have the courage to
be honest in their evaluations. It made
a lot of companies mad in its early
days, and more than one rider predicted its demise; but its funny, all the
mainstream cycle mags started following their lead and getting a little
tougher in their tests. Its also interesting how quickly dirt bikes started
evolving in quality once there was
some critical reporting going on. Its
like dirt bikers were finally given a
voice to expect more out of the makers
than they were being given at the time.
So, when I started getting into mountain bikes and saw this Hi-Torque pub
called Mountain Bike Action, I expected
no less from itand it hasnt disappointed me. As far as Im concerned,
you guys are the gold standard that all
the other mags are judged by. Sure,
youre not going to make all of us
happy all the time, but I think you
come the closest to covering the full
spectrum of our sport and doing it in a
well-written yet easy-reading way.
Doug Minor
Nine Mile Falls, Washington
Doug may be slightly biased because he
is an honorary wrecking crewer. He
penned an excellent story on obtaining
sponsorships in our November 2005 issue.
mba@hi-torque.com
READER PHOTO OF THE MONTH
JESME IN FLIGHT
I took this photo at the 2005 Crankworx. It is a series of three shots, and
my mate compiled them together to create this sweet sequence. This is John
Jesme laying down a superman during
the Jump Jam session. I have just started to mountain bike in the last two
years. Your magazine has been the single best source for learning about tech-
KEEP IT REAL
18 www.mbaction.com
Can you name the trail in the photo of my Specialized Epic out on an epic ride?
Roy White
Bend, Oregon
Trailgrams
FOLDING FORKS
TRAIL DECORATION
HANGMANS TREE
BETTER NUTRITION
You made a couple of terrible misjudgments about Crested Butte (MBA,
October 2005). Im a diehard Crested
Butte fan and resident and was psyched
to see you highlight the amazing riding
and beautiful scenery of our town.
Unfortunately for you, someone steered
you in the wrong direction on your
visit. First of all, the food in Crested
Butte is quite amazing for a small town.
You just happened to hit the absolute
worst restaurant and most overpriced
restaurant in town. Second of all, most
locals do not ride hardtails. Sure, we
have lots of buff singletrack, but we
also have lots of rugged downhills and
technical trails. With the exception of
the people on rental bikes, and the
occasional hardtail purists with back
problems, youll see way more 4-5-inch
trailbikes than anything else. I welcome
you back to Crested Butte, and Ill take
you out for some delicious food and
sweet riding. Just let me know when!
Oh, and your magazine rocks.
Janae Pritchett
Crested Butte, Colorado
A COOLER ARIZONA
In response to Abe Golds letter from
your October 2005 Issue, I think the
one who has it all wrong is Abe. I am
proud to see that he is knowledgeable
of weather conditions here in the Valley
of the Sun, and while it is true that we
still retain triple digits through most
parts of the day, McDowell Mountain
Regional Park is located outside the
city, which helps lower the temperature
considerably. I have participated in the
parks night ride, and its a great experience due to the huge participation and
GET A GRIP
I find it frustrating that Grip Shift is
not speced on almost any new highend bike because it would not sell
well according to product managers.
Grip Shift is simple, light and compact.
Nothing dumps or grabs a bunch of
gears as well as Grip Shift, and it has
stood the test of time.
Dual Control, conversely, is a crock. It
is clumsy, heavy and ugly. Its vague
under pressure, terrible to change up
with an unnatural back-of-the hand
movement, and slow to move large gear
numbers quickly. Plus, it is reliant totally on spring pressure, which can be
tricky mid race, or epic, if the cables
start getting a fraction sticky. Did I mention the limitation of brake choices?
Wake up, people. Dual Control
19
Ask R.C.
By R. Cunningham
Post no drills: Manitou forks (like this Nixon Elite) use a pair of cast posts to
mount the brake caliper. Would steel thread inserts improve their strength?
www.mbaction.com
NOT HYPNOTIZED BY
HIS TRANCE
Q: I have played with the suspension settings of my Giant Trance 1
all summer, and I still find it to be
the worst bike I have ever ridden!
It climbs pretty well, but on
descents it has a rough, chattery
ride that really beats me up. I feel
like I get no small-hit compliance,
and the bike has a cheap feel.
Should I sell it?
R.C.: I also noticed that the Trance
can feel rough in the rear while
descendingespecially when I am dragging the rear brake. That said, I am a
fan of Giants Maestro chassis, so,
before you sell it for scrap, try two
important setup changes:
First, add some low-speed compression damping up front. This will make
the fork ride higher in its travel, and it
will force the shock to work harder on
the descents.
Second, set the shock to its correct sag
(25 percent of its stroke) so that the rear
suspension rides farther into its travel. I
have noticed that the Giants dual-link
rear suspension will not function
www.mbaction.com
www.mbaction.com
27
TITUS MOTO-LITE
Price...$1395 (frame), $4775 (as tested)
Country of origin...USA
Weight...26.8 pounds
Frame size....................................Medium (19")
Bottom bracket height ............................ 13.5"
Chainstay length...................................... 16.85"
Top tube length ...................................... 23.25"
Head angle ..................................................70.5
Seat tube angle ..............................................73
Standover height ......................................28.75"
Wheelbase ................................................42.75"
Suspension travel (front) ........5" (adjustable)
Suspension travel (rear)............................5.25"
Frame material ....................................................................Aluminum
Fork ..........................................Fox Racing Shox F100 TALAS RLT
Shock ......................................................Fox Racing Shox Float RP3
Rims ......................................................................DT/Swiss XR 1540
Tires .... (F) Kenda Kinetics (2.35"), (R) Kenda Kharisma (2.1")
Hubs................................................................................DT Swiss 540
Brakes ......................................................................Magura Marta SL
Brake levers ..............................................Magura Marta SL carbon
28
www.mbaction.com
colossal show held once a year, Interbike is where bicycle shop owners and
their staff gather to peruse the latest offerings from individuals and companies
who make products for mountain bikers. Of course, the MBA wrecking crew
was in the house, running up and down the aisles like kids in a candy store. Come along
and enjoy the sweetest treats we could find.
A
30
www.mbaction.com
31
Show grid: This expansive view reveals less than five percent of the exhibits floor. Over 1000 vendors vie for the attention
of bicycle shop buyers. This show is a make-it-or-break-it proposition for new companies.
32
www.mbaction.com
OUTFOXING AWARD
Foxs Launch knee/shin pad ($69.95)
utilizes their patented X-up strapping
system. The retention strap locks in
both sides of the knee cup, making for
a super-snug, slip-resistant fit. It also
eliminates Velcro rash! A killer idea.
33
LOCALS
ONLY AWARD
One of the original
Vancouver North
Shore bike shops, Cove
now offers a line of ten
bikes that were conceived between gondola rides at Whistler.
The Peeler offers 8.5
inches of rear wheel
travel out of a rear suspension that operates
on a massive four-bearing single pivot. They
sell it with a Fox DHX
5.0 shock. You wont
find these bikes in
many U.S. bike
shops, so call
them directly
at (877)
929-2683.
34
www.mbaction.com
GOT-YOU-COVERED AWARD
The Pressure Suit (top) from
SixSixOne offers an open weave stretch
fabric, injection-molded plastic shoulder
cups, large cutout areas under the
shoulder for increased mobility and a
removable plastic chest plate. It sells for
$190. The SP2 (bottom) is a more compact version of the Pressure Suit, with
EVA foam in the chest. It will go for
$170. You can get more info by calling
(888) 520-4888.
35
IF-THE-SHOE-FITS AWARD
Sidis Daniele Signori and Eleonora Canal were showing off their most popular
mountain bike shoe, always the MBA wrecking crews favorite-fitting shoe, with a
new twist. Riders with wider feet now have a size just for them. These wider shoes
bring the legendary Sidi fit to all of us who spent our childhoods in flip-flops. Get all
the size breakdowns from Sidi at (831) 394-7114.
36
www.mbaction.com
37
38
www.mbaction.com
SHOCK-IN-A-POCKET AWARD
Unknown to most of us in America, Focus Bicycles are a major
player in Europe. Their line of marathon bikes has the shock
tucked into a pierced top tube, giving the bikes the cleanest profile of any dual-suspension bike out there. They dont have a contact in America yet, so if youve got to have one, e-mail them at
info@focus-bikes.de.
MAKING-AN-APPEARANCE
AWARD
Specialized introd the 2006 line to their
dealers at a big bash in Santa Cruz,
California, months ago. Their presence at
Interbike was subdued; they showed only
select models and accessories. And speaking of accessories, their helmet line is
impressive.
CLOSET
ORGANIZER
AWARD
What do you do
with all the space
in a Cannondale
Leftys steerer
tube? You design a
mini tool that
folds into a bulletshaped container,
and then you slide
it into the steerer
tube. Very clean.
40
www.mbaction.com
Downhill
Madness
Sir Isaac Newton
would be proud
NOT-NEW-BUT-WHO-CARES? AWARD
Santa Cruz doesnt play the new-model-year game. When they come up with an
improvement, it is made right then and there. So even though the V-10 is not a new
downhill bike, it packed the gravity junkies into the Santa Cruz booth.
BEST UPGRADE
AWARD
Many riders
were worried that
GT might replace
their perennial
favorite, the GT
DHi, with the
internal-transmissioned iT1. Why
worry? The 2006
GT DHi was the
slickest downhill
bike at the show.
You get a beautiful
carbon fiber seat
mast and GTs
proven i-Drive
underneath. This is
the every-man
downhill race bike.
41
ShowWeirdness
The strange and unusual
42
www.mbaction.com
POP-A-WHEELIE AWARD
LOOK-BUT-DONT-TOUCH AWARD
SRAM, RockShox, Truvativ and Avid commissioned an artist to construct these
Alien-like creatures out of their components. The results
were stunning.
January 2006 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION
43
Faces
In The
Crowd
Cannondales
Doug Dalton
The place
to be seen
44
www.mbaction.com
Tinker Juarez
and mom Rose
Melissa Buhl
Marla Streb
Fabien Barel
Shonny Vanlandingham
John Tomac
Alison Dunlap
Kathy Pruitt
Brian Lopes
45
MBA FEATURE
R. Cunningham
resently, 23 states have proposed wilderness legislation in their books. This amounts to hundreds of miles of trails that will potentially be
lost to mountain bikersand that is singletrack. Add in dirt
roads and it could easily add up to thousands of miles.
www.mbaction.com
47
Access
issues were erased in 1975 by the Eastern Wilderness Act, which was enacted
because there were few, if any, wild places East of the Mississippi River that were
devoid of mans handiwork or large enough to qualify for wilderness designation.
This little modification means that lawmakers from any state, who hang out in
Washington D.C., can close any patch of land to mountain bike use on the advice of
a lobbyist who may never have visited the place. Such is the present trend, and it
leads to the question: If everything now qualifies as wilderness, has it lost its
meaning?
48
www.mbaction.com
Access
www.mbaction.com
block development, close trails and expel recreationists from public lands.
What this means to mountain bikers is that we can be evicted from our trails by
a law firm in San Francisco, in the name of a plant or animal that doesnt exist
where we ride and may never live there. No local input and no prior warning necessarySorry, say the park rangers. We settled out of court, and mountain bikers have to leave.
Another important aspect of the proposed bill is an emphasis on local management. The present trend of environmental
law is to remove control from state and
local land managers and impose the
authority of Washington-based legislators
who have little or no connection with the
specific region, its resources or its recreational user groups.
Amador isnt blind to the impacts of our
sport and the land access problems cropping up within the mountain bike community that OHV riders shareespecially
now that heavier, long-travel bikes are
becoming popular.
The popularity of both sports has been
causing management issues. A lot more
people are using trails, yet the budget to
sustain these trails is going down. We are
going to have to find new sources of funding to sustain these activities.
When asked what mountain bikers can
do to stem the tide of land and trail closures, Amador gets right to the point: Join
and pay! The legal issues cost a lot of
money. Become part of an organization
that will do something to help you.
Access
Not extreme: The lions share of mountain bikers dream about exploring beautiful
places on moderate trails, as far from the hustle of civilization as possible. IMBA has
worked every angle to convey this fact to Federal land managers.
PROTECTION WITHOUT
EXCLUSION
The BRC has been pushing for a new
second-tier level of congressional protec52
www.mbaction.com
Access
IMBA wasnt the only agency that Boxers bill snubbed. It was
timed to override three years of public and interagency hearings that
the National Forest Service had conducted to comply with its mandatory ten-year revised management for California. One of the five
plans offered up for comment included the vast expanse of new
wilderness that was encompassed in Boxers bill. Throughout the
hearings, however, private citizens and recreational users of all types
voted against wholesale wilderness designation and opted for a more
moderate plan that the agency eventually adopted. Boxer went ahead
with the bill as if the NFS management plan didnt exist, and the
Sierra Club allegedly sued to force the NFS to adopt the more wilderness-oriented version of their plan. Does that sound familiar?
IMBA TRIES AGAIN
Building strong relationships with local land managers and various
trail users has been the strength of IMBA. Combined with the addition of legal assistance and a full-time presence in Washington DC,
IMBAs bridge building helped to turn the tide in a landmark Virginia
Wilderness bill.
We were lucky in Virginia, because we had good contacts
with mountain bike organizations there. We were able to work
with hunting and hiking groups, and there were many new legislators in place.
Mark Eller, IMBA
IMBA learned early on about the proposed wilderness in the
Jefferson National Forest and got busy with local mountain bike
groups to map out the trails that we stood to lose in the original documents. Eventually, the team was able to convince the legislators to
re-designate some of the proposed wilderness into National Scenic
Areas. The new designation permanently protected the lands in
BRC photo
Tolerance works both ways: Few mountain bikers know that motorcyclists put up the routes in Moab, Utah. Elsewhere, hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles of trails and primitive roads were made and
are maintained by OHV usersover half of which are now banned
for motorized vehicles. We should treat responsible OHV riders with
the same tolerance and respect that we wish to receive from hikers
and, in a perfect world, from environmental extremists.
54
www.mbaction.com
www.mbaction.com
57
www.mbaction.com
S-Works
Modular: Look carefully and you can see the fine line
where the carbon wrap is added to strengthen the
joints between each frame member. The piece-bypiece monocoque construction allows for greater
control of stiffness and weight.
SPECIALIZED
S-WORKS EPIC DISC
Price...$7100
Country of origin...Taiwan/China
Weight...25.1 pounds
Size tested ......................................................19"
Bottom bracket height ................................13"
Chainstay length ........................................16.8"
Top tube length ..........................................24.2"
Head angle ..................................................70.5
Seat tube angle ..............................................74
Standover height............................................31"
Wheelbase ..................................................44.1"
Suspension travel (front) ............................3.9"
Suspension travel (rear)..............................3.9"
Frame material ....................................................Carbon/Aluminum
Fork ................................................................................Fox F100 RLT
Shock............................................................................Fox Brain Fade
Rims ....................................................................Mavic CrossMax SL
Tires ................................Specialized S-Works FasTrak UST (2.0)
Hub ......................................................................Mavic CrossMax SL
Brakes....................................................................Shimano XTR disc
Brake levers ..................................................................Shimano XTR
60
www.mbaction.com
Crankset........................................................................Shimano XTR
Shifters ................................................Shimano XTR Dual Control
Front derailleur............................................................Shimano XTR
Rear derailleur ............................................................Shimano XTR
Chainrings ................................................Shimano XTR (44/32/22)
Cassette..........................................................Shimano XTR (11-34)
Pedals ............................................................................................None
Hotline ........................................................................(877) 808-8154
MBA FEATURE
mericas 2005 National Mountain Bike Champions were decided in a one-day battle at
Mammoth Mountains Canyon Lodge in
Mammoth Lakes, California. It was the
second year that NORBA (the National
Off-Road Bicycling Association) crowned
its champions using the American-citizen-only, winner-take-all format instead
of presenting each championship to the
top American points earner in the
NORBA National Series.
THE GOOD
How is the new one-day system working? Well, and not so well. The good part
is that our borders are protected and foreigners are kept out. And before you start
shouting racism, understand that all the
countries who compete in the NORBA
National Series, World Cup Series and
the World Championships go home to
race their respective national championships (and Americans are not invited).
The decision to stage an American-only,
one-day championship puts us on par
with other countries. The absence of foreign riders changes racing tactics, giving
the National Championship its own
unique feel. Another benefit of the notemporary-visas format is the chance for
our top racers to, in theory, plan their
training to peak for the event, which is
64
www.mbaction.com
65
MAMMOTH
Mountaincross: The
newly crowned 2005
World 4-Cross
Champion didnt have
a cake walk to her
national championship.
Jill Kintner was taken
out during practice by
her own teammate!
She brushed herself off
and then brushed off
her competition. This
young racer could very
well dominate mountaincross for the rest of
this decade.
66
www.mbaction.com
67
MAMMOTH
Super D: Kelli
Emmett chose
to use her
cross-country
race bike on
the long
Mammoth
Super D
course. It was
a wise decision. She left
her competition in the
Mammoth
dust.
Inspiration:
Ned Overend
finished on the
cross-country
podium in
celebration of
recently turning 50! By the
way, Ned was
racing the pro
class, not the
50+ class. Jay
Henry, who
finished just
behind Ned,
said, I was
getting tired of
people yelling,
Dont let that
old man beat
you.
68
www.mbaction.com
69
MAMMOTH
Cross country: Jeremy Horgan-Kobelskis blistering pace wore down early challenges from
Adam Craig and a newly un-retired Walker
Ferguson until JHK had built up a comfortable
lead. Only GTs Todd Wells had a shot at the
championship after that, but JHK would have
had to have cracked. He didnt.
70
www.mbaction.com
MAMMOTH
Pro Men Cross Country
Rider, age, state, time
1. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski*, 27, CO, 1:50:39.87
2. Todd Wells, 30, CO, 1:54:32.45
3. Adam Craig, 24, OR, 1:55:38.80
4. Walker Ferguson, 23, CO, 1:56:08.80
5. Ned Overend, 50, CO, 1:56:24.58
6. Jay Henry, 30, CO, 1:57:09.10
7. Michael Broderick, 32, MA, 2:00:04.88
8. Carl Decker, 30, OR, 2:00:26.66
9. Cody Peterson, 26, CO, 2:01:38.90
10. Erik Tonkin, 31, OR, 2:02:19.89
Pro Women Cross Country
Rider, age, state, time
1. Mary McConneloug*, 34, MA, 1:40:54.04
2. Alison Dunlap, 36, CO, 1:41:03.46
3. Willow Koerber, 28, NC, 1:41:03.87
4. Shonny Vanlandingham, 36, TX, 1:41:39.85
5. Susan Haywood, 34, WVA, 1:41:53.54
6. Heather Irmiger, 26, CO, 1:41:56.36
7. Dara Marks-Marino, 30, AZ, 1:43:25.91
8. Georgia Gould, 25, ID, 1:45:16.77
9. Kathy Sherwin, 32, UT, 1:45:33.63
10. Kelli Emmett, 28, CO, 1:48:27.12
Pro Men Short Track
Rider, age, state
1. Adam Craig*, 24, OR
2. Todd Wells, 30, CO
3. Carl Decker, 30, OR
4. Cody Peterson, 26, CO
5. Alan Obye, 23, CO
6. Brian Laiho, 28, CO
7. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, 27, CO
8. Ross Schnell, 23, CO
9. Chris Eatough, 31, MD
10. Michael Broderick, 32, MA
72
www.mbaction.com
MBA FEATURE
ABOUT CHROMAG
After leaving the retail world, Ian set out to create a family
of products that he wanted to use, resolving flaws he found in
current designs. According to Fritz, Chromags success is the
result of living in such a mountain bike oriented community.
I created some designs, met a good welder, and learned
about what it took to make the process a reality.
Chromag was born in 2000 when the first frame, the TRL,
was made. Fritz was intent on building quality frames and
components, uniquely targeted towards the demanding and
diverse trails of Whistler. Although a small operation (just a
few people make Chromag happen), it offers three steel hardtail frames (with a six-inch-travel suspension frame in the
works), stems, and handlebars.
My frames combine the simplicity of classic steel hardtails
with modern features and angles catering to todays riders
and terrain, explains Fritz. Although the current frames are
hardtails, theres more than meets the eye. We use a lot of
CNC-machined dropouts and yokes. The CNC capabilities are
amazing these days, but its not common to steel. Its particularly difficult and hard to tool, says Fritz.
THE FRAMES
TRL: The original Chromag design, the TRL is a hardtail
made from 4130 chromoly. This is no cross-country hardtail.
It is a frame made to withstand the abuse of Whistler, day
after day,
The TRL has vertical dropouts and disc brake mounts
designed to eliminate brake flex and frame fatigue. Reinforced
head and seat tubes optimize overall strength. The TRL will
feature the RockShox Maxle quick-release-style rear throughaxle for increased rigidity.
Samurai: Named after the famous cult bike race Samurai
of Singletrack, its a trimmed down version of the TRL,
tougher than most steel hardtails, but light enough for an
occasional cross-country race.
Gypsy: Built from 4130-chromoly tubing, the Gypsy is an
all-purpose trailbike with an emphasis on jumping and mountaincross. It features the same construction as the TRL, but
offers more standover height and quicker handling geometry.
All models sell for around $915.
Good start: The TRL frame design is the steel hardtail that
got the Chromag ball rolling. Its evolved into a proven allmountain design and incorporates new technology like
RockShox Maxle rear through-axle.
January 2006 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION
75
Ian RitzFounder/Creator
Ian
76
www.mbaction.com
78
www.mbaction.com
Race-Ready Ripper
Riding The 2006 Specialized Demo 8 II
DEMO RIDE
We scored a new Demo 8 during the Crankworx festival in Whistler, B.C.,
Canada, and ripped it through the world-class terrain. Heres how it performed.
Pedaling: The Demo 8 uses Specializeds patented FSR suspension, with a
sub-seatpost-actuated shock. For a bike with eight inches of front and rear travel,
the Demo 8 pedals exceptionally well, with a very efficient transfer of power from
the crank arms to the rear wheel.
79
Demo 8
www.mbaction.com
Fly high: The 42-pound Demo 8 is unexpectedly light, and can be flicked around
with ease. This is a racebike with serious podium potential.
Demo 8s low center of gravity and standover height. The Demo 8 corners with a
sensation of driving through turns with the cranks and bottom bracket. The
Chunder tires are meaty, but have a smooth-rolling ramped tread, and the side knobs
offer sufficient bite through off-camber terrain.
Technical: Whether taking flight or rumbling through rocks and roots, the Foxequipped Demo 8 exceeded all expectations. The Fox RC2 fork, with 40-millimeter
stanchions, weighs less than seven pounds, features externally adjustable rebound,
compression and preload, and smoothes even the surliest terrain. When in doubt on
steep technical trails, lean back and ride the 40 to safety. The 36-hole Mavic EX721
rims seem bombproof, taking the brunt of drops and rock hits.
Braking: The versatile Avid Juicy Seven brakes have been at the top of our premium brake list for a while now. The Speed Dial adjustment controls the pad contact point with the rotor without compromising power. Whether set up on a fourinch-travel trailbike or an eight-inch beast like the Demo 8, the Juicy Sevens have
superb stopping power.
Big surprise: The Demo 8s low center of gravity and sticky rubber
compound tires make it corner like a champ.
ONE OF A KIND
No downhill race bike the MBA wrecking crew
has ridden feels like the Demo 8. It successfully
combines characteristics of two custom downhill
designs into one all-inclusive package. The Demo 8
plows through gnarly terrain with the ease of a
Foes Mono DH, yet is as nimble as the maneuverable Turner DHR.
The Demo 8 has a topnotch component spec and
excellent geometry for downhill racing. If youre a
dedicated downhiller looking for a high-end rig,
you could pursue a high-zoot custom frame maker
and tackle the headache of building it up from
scratch. Or simply contact your local Specialized
dealer, grab a Demo 8 and hit the course this weekend.
SPECIALIZED DEMO 8 II
Price...$4,900
Country of originTaiwan
Weight...42 pounds
Frame size ..............................................Medium
Bottom bracket height .......................... 14.25"
Chainstay length........................................ 16.7"
Top tube length ........................................ 21.5"
Head angle ......................................................66
Seat tube angle ..............................................65
Standover height............................................31"
Wheelbase .................................................... 47"
Suspension travel (front)................................8"
Suspension travel (rear)..............................8.1"
Frame material ..................................................................Aluminum
Fork ..................................................................................Fox 40 RC2
Shock..............................................................................Fox DHX 5.0
Rims ................................................................................Mavic EX721
Tires ......................................................Specialized Chunder (2.3")
Hub (front) ........................Specialized disc through-axle (front),
disc bolt on axle (rear)
Brakes........................................................................Avid Juicy Seven
Brake levers ............................................................Avid Juicy Seven
82
www.mbaction.com
MBA FEATURE
I
86
www.mbaction.com
Take A Ride
With Iron
Horses
Brain Trust
A conversation
with Dave Weagle
R. Cunningham
ANTI-SQUAT
EXPLAINED
Another take on instant center: The DW Link causes the swingarm to rotate
about a point just behind the front wheel. This allows the suspension to operate
to some degree under braking. The instant center constantly changes because it
is formed by the intersection of two lines that pass through the center of the
upper and lower links.
January 2006 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION
87
MEET THE
IRON HORSE AZURE
PRO-LEVEL
CROSS-COUNTRY
CONTENDER
Desert rose: MBA
test rode the Iron
Horse Azurea
3.5-inch travel
pro-level cross
country racerat
Bootleg Canyon,
Nevada. Dave
Weagle found a
perfect balance
between ultra-firm
pedaling and supple suspension
performance. The
Azure was our test
bed for the DWLink technology.
The Azure, Iron Horses premier crosscountry platform, is completely new for
2006, with flared and taper-butted main
tubes, a redesigned front section, and a
lighter, more-refined rear suspension. The
06 model represents the East-Coast bike
makers first shot at a true cross-country
racing bike, and at 26 pounds, its almost
there. Iron Horse had one prepared
with Shimano XTR everythingeven
wheelsfor MBA to test ride at Bootleg
Canyon in conjunction with the Las Vegas
Interbike shows Dirt Demo.
Those who have witnessed Bootlegs
network of cross-country and downhill
trails know that good suspension and
keeping air in your tires is key to surviving
the steep volcanic ridges and irregular lava
foothills just north of Boulder City,
Nevada. It is a perfect proving ground for
a featherweight racing chassis that was
designed to handle the rigors of the Pro
racing circuit.
Set the shock and fork so they have 25percent sag, advised Dave Weagle. The
linkage will take care of the pedaling, so
you wont need to use much platform in
the shock. You want the suspension to be
transparent when you are riding.
He was right. When we hit the trail, the
Azure would remain firm under power
very firm, while the shock was cycling
smoothly. With too much air in the shock,
the rear end felt excessively harsh. Up
front, Iron Horse chose a Fox inertia-valve
Float 100-X fork that complemented the
Azures 3.5-inch-travel anti-squat suspension by keeping the bike riding level and
feeling balanced in just about any situation.
The medium-frame Azure we rode had
a 22.5-inch top tubeperfect for riders
around five feet, seven inches. There is
one size smaller and two larger, so everyone should be able to choose the perfect
88 www.mbaction.com
Iron Horses
Brain Trust
EXPERIENCE
EXCELLENCE
velosaddles.com
P r o n t o S L - S 2
P r o n t o S L - Z 2
P r o n t o S L - T C
P r o n t o S L - Z 3
Cycling Team
ADVANTAGE
B E N E F I T S
CYCLING TEAM
Winter
Transitions
Tips to winterize
your bike and body
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
MBA knows all about riding in the
cold and wet. But theres a big difference
between living in the snow for a week
and freezing your Lycra off for half a
year. To serve up the hottest range of
winter riding tips and setups, we enlisted the aid of the experts:
Calvin Brownlee of Bikes On Howard
in Hibbing, Minnesota.
John Bielik of Benidorm Bikes in
Canton, Connecticut.
Todd Phelps of Black River Adventures
Shop in Watertown, New York.
90
www.mbaction.com
91
Winter
Plan For Warmth: Says Calvin Brownlee, Its when you
stop that you get in trouble. Plan the ride so you dont stop.
Also, keep shedding and donning layers as needed. You might
overheat and shed clothing when climbing a hill. But as soon
as you reach the top, put it back to keep warm on the fast
descent.
In the Wet: Dan Remsen explains, We mostly get rain,
and it only snows a few times a year here in Bellingham.
Theres a lot of water covering the roots and rocks, and you
dont always know what youre hitting. Because of that, we
like big tires with spaced knobs and sticky compounds. Thats
perfect for us, because almost everyone around here is riding
the big bikes that fit em. Kendas 2.5 Nevegals are really popular winter tires, as well as the 2.5 Bontrager Big Earls with
the Stability Control Casing option. Some folks are even riding 2.7 Big Earls.
Go Rigid: Todd Phelps adds that, Suspension isnt going
to do much good during the winter. If its below zero, the only
types that work are the ones with just a spring and no
hydraulics. For serious ice riding, we use rigid bikes with disc
brakes.
Popular Wisconsin Snow Setup: With four feet of snow
in the woods, you cant ride unless it has already been packed
down by people or snowmobiles, explains Paul Belknap.
Thats why Surly Pugsleys are so popular around here. The
frame is built to fit four-inch tires mounted on Surlys extrawide Large Marge rims. For good clearance, only use threeinch downhill tires with 12 psi of pressure. The big tire will
keep you on top of softer snow.
Studded Tires: We stud our own tires here in the shop,
says Todd Phelps. It costs a fair amount of money to do, and
its not a good idea to ride them on the pavement because
theyll just dull out. If your ice riding includes any pavement,
buy studded tires from Nokian, IRC, Kenda, Innova, Nashbar,
Schwalbe or Velotique. The production studded tires arent as
sharp, and you can ride them on the road without ruining
them.
You can stud almost anything. Its best to use a tread with
knobs that arent overly tall, but big enough in diameter to
support the stud. Try to select a knob pattern that complements the stud pattern youre planning on. My back
Continental Explorer Pro has 150 studs, and the front
Specialized Adrenalin has 300.
How To Stud: Use number-eight pan-head Phillips
sheet-metal screws, continues Todd Phelps. The trick is
to first position and drill a 1/16-inch inch hole from the
outside of the knob in. Then reverse the tire and put the
screw in from the inside out. With a pre-hole, the pointed
end of the screw will end up exactly where you wanted it
to be in the knob. Generally, youll be using 1/4-inch or
3/16-inch long screws, depending on the knob height and
how much exposed stud you want. For hardpack snow, a
longer screw will work. If its glare ice, like a lot of the riding we do around here in Watertown, shorter studs work
better because they dont roll over on you. To protect the
tube from the screw heads, we gut a standard tube and
wrap it over another one. Dont run more than 50 psi, or
you can pop a tube on the screw heads. Black River
Adventures Shop charges $150 to custom screw a tire with
300 to 400 studs.
92 www.mbaction.com
Winter
Keep it clicking: Freehub bodies
are one of the more ignored maintenance
areas. Cables, too. Replace gear housing
and cable at the start of the wet season,
and keep them well lubed throughout.
Routinely pull the housings out of the
guides, move around and wipe the cable
beneath. I like to lube the cables with
Judy Butter because it stays on the cable
where it belongs when you put everything back together, says Dan Remsen.
Use Those Gears: When riding in
freezing conditions, keep shifting to
minimize the chance of having the
derailleurs freeze over, says Todd
Phelps. Most of the time, the cause will
be a frozen gear cable. Grease the gear
cables often.
Flat Pedals: Most people use a flat
pedal with a toe strap or a studded platform pedal, says Todd Phelps. The
beauty of a flat pedal is that it allows
you to wear almost anything to protect
the feet. Size a lightweight hiking boot
to fit a Gore-Tex bootie over a wool
sock. Seal Skinz makes a nice waterproof and windproof sock.
ICE PANEL
WARM PEOPLE
Bay City Cycle, Ashland,
Wisconsin; (715) 682-2091.
Benidorm Bikes, Canton,
Connecticut; (860) 693-8891.
Bikes On Howard, Hibbing,
Minnesota; (218) 262 0899.
Black River Adventures Shop,
Watertown, New York;
(315) 786-8800.
Kulshan Cycles, Bellingham,
Washington; (360) 733-6440.
Cycling-Specific Boots: Brands that
rated high with our Winter Riding
Dream Team include cycling boots from
Lake, Sidi and Answer. John Bielik adds
that The Answer Kashmir cycling boot
is highly recommended by every single
person we sell them to. Size them to fit
thicker wool socks. Cover them with
winter booties if its below zero.
Supermarket: One cheap trick is to
put plastic grocery bags over your
socks, says Paul Belknap. Or, if you
want to protect the shoe, put the bag
over the shoe and duct tape the top. Its
a better idea to just use a dedicated winter shoe so you wont have to worry
about them getting thrashed.
ULTIMATE REFERRAL
WINTERS LITTLE BLACK BOOK
Answer
Bontrager
CamelBak
Canari
Clif
Continental
Craft
Crank Brothers
Dakine
Finish Line
Goodridge
Gore Bike Wear
Innova
IRC
Kenda
Kool-Stop
Lake
Louis Garneau
Marzocchi
Nalgene
Nashbar
(661) 294-4109
(800) 879 8735
(800) 767-8725
(800) 929-2925
(510) 558-7855
(800) 223-3207
(781) 631-9544
(949) 464-9916
(541) 386-3166
(631) 666-7300
(310) 533-1924
(800) 455-4184
(877) 328-8868
(866) 878-8473
(866) 536-3287
(714) 738-4971
(847) 491-9205
(802) 334-5885
(661) 257-6630
(800) 625-4327
(800) 627-4227
Nike
Nokian
Pearl Izumi
Phil Wood
Pit Bull
ProGold
RockShox
Schwalbe
Seal Skinz
Smith Optics
Sidi
Specialized
SRAM Corp
Surly
Toko
Trek
Velotique
White Lightning
Wipperman
WTB
(800) 806-6453
(310) 944-3747
(303) 464-6118
(408) 298-1540
(303) 646-1027
(404) 766-3990
(312) 664-8800
(250) 598-0397
(800) 868-2629
(208) 726-4477
(800) 578-5790
(408) 779-6229
(312) 664-8800
(952) 941-9391
(866) 865-6872
(800) 879 8735
(800) 363-3171
(720) 855-7870
(800) 422-2104
(415) 389-5040
MBA TECH
Stopping Power
The big four disc brake shootout
o sooner had the MBA test fleet
been delivered (four identical
Giant Trance 2s) than we knew
what the first product comparison
would be. Brakes! The four-bike test
fleet gives us the unique ability to test
products simultaneously. No swapping
parts in the middle of testing or evaluating similar products on different bikes.
Our fleet allows us to swap bikes anytime during a ride, making comparisons
far easier to document and adding credence to our conclusions. Comparing
four brake systems was the obvious
place to break-in (no pun intended) the
test fleet.
96
www.mbaction.com
Brake test: The Wrecking Crew outfitted four identical bikes with four different hydraulic disc brakes and hit the trail. The
result was a rotor-to-rotor battle with a surprising outcome.
97
Stopping Power
THE TESTING
The test fleet bikes were ridden on our favorite trails to
properly scrub in the pads and introduce them to their
rotors. The hard-core testing took place at Snow Summit
in Big Bear Lake, California. Riding the lift up the mountain allowed us to spend the majority of our testing time on
downhill, cross-country and Super-D trails.
THE RESULTS
While mountain bike disc brakes have been available for
over a decade, their wide acceptance is still a fairly recent
development. Early disc brakes had plenty of issues,
including pad rubbing, overheating, poor modulation,
noise, excessive pad wear and added weight. Those issues,
at least on the four brakes tested here, are problems of the
past. Not one of the brakes we tested faded during descents
(even when we intentionally dragged the brakes). None of
our class squealed. The four contenders proved mostly
trouble-free and bulletproof. That made this shootout a
tough one.
MBA shootouts have traditionally ranked the tested
products from the winner to the last-place finisher. We
cant do that in this shootout. Why? The competition was
too close. No matter how we tried to score the brakes, the
winner always won by the slightest of margins, and there
wasnt a loser in the bunch.
We are not copping out. There is still a winner. This
brake is the one that received the most praise from the
wrecking crew. It is the brake that wed put on our personal bikes and would recommend to our best friends
(thats you). The brake shootout winner is marked with
Best overall award on the following comparison chart.
Fine-tune Award
MODEL
Juicy Carbon
PRICE (each)
$269.95
$24.95
WEIGHT1 (front)
11.4 ounces
WEIGHT1 (rear)
12.1 ounces
ROTOR WEIGHT2
3.7 ounces
LEVER CLAMP3
Two-piece
98
www.mbaction.com
PAD REPLACEMENT
LEVER ADJUSTMENT
LEVER FEEL
POWER
NOISE
Super quiet.
COMMENTS:
HAYES
MAGURA
SHIMANO
Power Award
Ease-of-use Award
El Camino
Marta SL
XT
$249.99
$269.95
$265
$19.95
$25
$18.95
11.2 ounces
8.7 ounces
11.1 ounces
12.1 ounces
9.2 ounces
11.3 ounces
4.5 ounces
3.7 ounces
4.9 ounces
Two-piece
Two-pieTwo-piece
Two-piece
Two-piece
s
s
s
One-piece
One-piece
Absolutely silent.
99
Should
You Be
Training?
Not just for racers
By Dave Wiens
www.mbaction.com
Fun ride: Dave Wiens carves up a trail near his home in Gunnison, Colorado. What
looks like a casual ride can be part of Daves (and any riders) training program. Dave
explains how training rides can be fun as well as beneficial to your conditioning.
Training
102
www.mbaction.com
THE BEGINNING
I was into my third year as a pro
back in 1990 and I knew nothing of
training; I just rode my bike. I was off
the back in the races early that summer and decided to learn about training. I took four days completely off the
bike, and during that time I got a copy
of Greg LeMonds Complete Book of
Cycling and an MBA with an article
called Ned Overends Training Tips.
The LeMond book had a chapter
called Training and Fitness and the
MBA article had Neds weekly program, including some of his workouts.
I learned about microcycles,
macrocycles, training logs, intervals, rest days, all kinds of stuff,
and proceeded to hammer out my
first seven-week training plan. I
stuck to it, and four weeks in I
almost quit the sport. I was just
getting killed in the races. But
then, after week five, I had a good
race in Crested Butte and gained
some confidence. Beginning the
next weekend, I went on to win three
races in a row, including two NORBA
Nationals! Wow, this training thing
seems to work!
GETTING ADVICE
I worked with two different coaches
in 1992 and 1994. Both experiences
were similar in that I did way more
early in the season than I ever had; I
was really fit in the early season, and
then I crashed hard, as far as my fitness went, and never recovered for the
rest of the season.
In hindsight, had I stuck with the
coaches, especially Dave Smith in 94,
I think I would have realized greater
success. But thats just me, a little
impatient and a bit of a nonconformist, and a mountain biker first
and foremost. I wanted to go for epic
rides instead of doing intervals on a
road bike! My wife, Susan DeMattei,
stuck with him for three years, and
together they earned a bronze medal
in the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996.
TRAINING FOR LIFE
Now, while Im not racing Norba
Nationals or World Cups anymore, Im
still training. I train for a few ultra
endurance races like the Leadville 100
and the Vapor Trail 125; I train for
some adventure races; I train for our
local flag football league; I train for ski
season; and I train for general life fitness. My training program for all of
this is not complicated or even very
scientific, but I do very specific things
MBA TECH
Integrated Performance
A downhill rig built from the SRAM family of components
104
www.mbaction.com
CRANKSET: Truvativ
Holzfeller cranks have long
been the choice of top racers and riders. In 2006, the
Holzfeller uses a new arm
design resulting in a
stronger, lighter and stiffer
crank arm. Combine the
new Holzfeller with the
Howitzer bottom bracket
and Truvativ BoxGuide and
youve got a smooth and simple
design that can take all you can
dish out.
Key Features: The four-bolt
Holzfeller cranks are made from
7050 Aluminum. The oversized
Howitzer bottom bracket uses externally mounted bearings. The BoxGuide has an adjustable composite upper
guide and polyurethane, cartridge-bearing lower roller.
The guide features adjustable plate angles and is available
in both ISCG and bottom-bracket-mounted versions. The
cranks sell for $220, and the guide for $70.
SHIFTER:
SRAMs X.0 trigger shifter is the
most advanced,
highly anticipated
trigger shifter to
hit the sport. The
nine-speed shifters
weigh nine ounces
(225g) a pair and
use a 1:1 actuation
ratio.
Key Features:
The X.0 shifters
are made from
brushed aluminum
and carbon fiber.
The trigger is compatible with SRAM
1:1 rear derailleurs
and Shimano front
derailleurs. The X.0 shifter has been designed to fit
either inside or outside of the brake mount on the handlebar. The X.0 triggers have unmatched adjustability for
personal preferences in relation to handlebar grip. The
X.0 shifters sell for $248.
DERAILLEUR:
The SRAM X.0
derailleur features
their BlackBox technology, is available
in eight or nine
speeds, and in long,
medium and short
cage lengths.
Key
Features:
The X.0 derailleur
uses 1:1 actuation
and Direct Route
technology to produce lighter-effort
shifting. Weights on
the X.0 derailleur
are 7.4 ounces for
the long cage model,
6.9 ounces for the
medium, and 6.8
ounces for the short.
The X.0 is made from forged alloy, has machined and
heat-treated oversized pivots, a CNC-machined long cage,
and carbon fiber medium and short cages. The SRAM
X.0 derailleur sells for $235.
105
MBA TECH
Inside
the
Pros
Bikes
Easton seatpost
EA50.
Maxxis downhill
inner tubes.
108
www.mbaction.com
Cane Creek
headset.
Manitou Revox
shock.
Titanium
spring.
E.thirteen
chainguide.
Shimano DX pedals.
I think theyre model
636. Theyre the clipin style. I use clips
because I dont like
having my feet
bouncing around.
Shimano
Saint hubs.
Shimano Saint
disc brakes, with
eight-inch rotors.
DT Swiss
straight-gauge
spokes.
109
Quick Releases
1
GIFTS
Looking for a last-minute Christmas
gift for that special mountain biker on
your list? What could be better than a
subscription to the very magazine you
are holding in your hands? The gift
includes twelve packed issues that
include our annual MBA buyers
guide and coveted tire shootout. Plus,
you get the lowest sub rate of the year
of only $14.99 by calling (800) 7670345 (or aim your web browser at
www.mbaction.com).
2 GOGGLES
The High Voltage is the top-of-theline motorsports goggle from Scott
USA. Perfect for downhill, mountaincross, and park riding, the $69.95
High Voltage features Scotts NoSweat foam, Chrome Amplifier lens,
strap clips, and removable Voltage
nose guard. The Voltage also features
a patented frame ventilation system.
For more information, call (800) 2925874.
3 SHADES
The unique looking Oakley
4 FORKS
The 5.1-inch-travel, air-sprung Fox
Shox Float RLC fork weighs
just 3.69 pounds and features externally adjustable rebound, lockout and
compression. The $600 RLC is the
lightest five-inch-travel fork on the
market. For more information, call
Fox Racing Shox at (831) 274-6500.
5 TIRES
Schwalbe says the Fat Albert
tires started out as a secret, but they
are ready to let you in on it. It is a
large-volume tire with a versatile
tread pattern that is intended for loose
surfaces. The $56.11 tire comes in a
26x2.35-inch size with the Schwalbe
SnakeSkin light and flexible carcass
that makes the tire sidewall extremely
resistant to scrubbing. You can get
more information on this aggressive
trailbike tire by calling Schwalbe at
(888) 700-5860.
112
www.mbaction.com
1995
es, it was a simpler time. Two riders, two lanes, one jump, and wide, fast corners. This classic dual-slalom course on
the big mountain at the Mammoth Mountain Mountain Bike Park makes one long for the good old days. Dual-slalom
has been replaced by mountaincross in the States and 4-Cross in Europe, but it will never be replaced in the hearts of
riders who competed here.
114
www.mbaction.com