Gear Reviews

River City Cycle Club - 1st Annual Bike Swap Saturday, April 28th

Skifreak — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:47:00 GMT

The River City Cycle Club is holding its first annual Bike Swap on April 28th at the Navy League Hall in Campbell River. So dust off that gear that you're holding on to but know you'll never use and bring it down. Seller registration is $5 and 20% of all sales go to the club. There will also be a couple bike shops there selling discounted merchandise. Its only $2 to get in to see the goods.

2007 Marin Rift Zone Quad XC Test Ride

Skifreak — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 05:47:00 GMT

Much anticipated since Interbike in October, the Marin Quad XC Series looked to be a contender for a light all mountain bike to rip up Vancouver Island trails. When they rolled off the freight truck yesterday afternoon, it was too much temptation to not take it for a ride right away. But alas 24 hrs later it was time to put it through a first test.

A bit dirty during the first ride.

For this ride I was to take a new Rift Zone ($2899) from Dodge City Cycles for a local Cumberland Trail - Bucket of Blood. This 11km ride provides 5km of climbing and 6km of descending, with a total elevation gain of 680m. A good mix of terrain from compacted and loose logging road with rocky and technical single track. Quite a good test trail. The conditions were wet and somewhat slippery at this time of year with remenants of snow at the top of our climb.

2007 Marin Quad-XC Bikes

The Marin Quad-XC Series provides a range of bikes from the East Peak ($2199) to the Mount Vision Pro ($5499). The component spec ranges from LX through XTR with all frames spec'd with Fox Float Air rear shocks. Marzocchi forks grace the East Peak to Fox 32 Float RLC on the top end.

Tires upgraded for the local conditions

All frames have the same Hydroformed main frame, a 4-bar link platform producing 5 inches of travel vs 4 on the 2006 models. The new design reduces the leverage on the shock.

Marin's patented Quad Link frame design uses an everchanging axlepath moving around a Instantaneous Pivot Center (IPC). This ever changing pivot location produces a wheel path independent of the pedaling, braking or bump forces. The end result is a bike that has great traction and big hit control.

Initial Impressions

The bike was modified slightly from the stock kit including the stem / bar combo, crankset and seat. Tires for this ride were 2.4 inch vs the standard 2.1 inch WTB XC tires. Frame size is a medium measuring approx 17.5 inches, 70/72 head/seat angles, a 42.2" wheelbase and 12.8" bottom bracket height. From what I have been told, the Marin bikes are measured based upon standard sag, and as such even with my larger 6'2" size, I was comfortable on the medium frame. Figure to purchase a frame size smaller than you typically would ride.

Factory specs on the bike included Deore LX/XT shifting with the new double action rapidfire shifters, Avid Juicy 5 brakes, Mavic 317 Disc wheels on WTB hubs.

The Bike is well built. with beautiful swooping lines, a stiff and smooth linkage and careful details to gusseting, frame finish and colour selection. This bike was in Gloss Ocean, a deep blue colour which changes with the light. The bike is also available in a womens version in Gloss Pink

For Island trails, most riders would probably look to change the stock stem and bar, which tends to be long and flat and more suited to the xc race crowd. The stock tires will be great summer rubber, but nicely there is room for a larger tire front and rear. A 2.4 squeezed in but depending on the actual tire design up to a 2.5 might fit.

Climbing

As this is a test, we had to get out on the trails, and with Daylight Savings kicking in earlier it was easy to get out after work for a loop. The trail starts with a consistent climb, and right away I found a winner. While my rear air pressure was slightly low, a quick adjustment and I was locked in for the climb. The sweet spot for rear traction is quite large, both in and out of the saddle, keeping the wheel firmly planted. Seated climbing produced minimal to no pedal action in either the middle or small ring, and the Fox Float R with Pro Pedal was doing it's work just fine.

Hydroformed Goodness - Stiff linkage but smooth and supple

The climb continued for a few km's with a technical rocky section for which I quickly tossed the low 30lb bike over my shoulder for a short climb.

Technical Trails

Once to the top of Bucket, there is a few minutes of technical fairly level xc trails with many roots, short slippery rock sections and log obstacles. The bike felt very comfortable in this terrain, soaking up the roots and rough sections effortlessly, and upon later inspection I still had a bit more travel to go. The bottom bracket height and chainring position remained high enough to clear most marked logs, further helping my forward momentum. Shifting was effortless with the new XT derailleur and double thumb action shifters, and without fail the bike worked on down the trail.

Descending & Speed

This progressive trail begins its long and downward travels with rooted drops, rolling rock sections, steep pitches and more. The 70 degree head angle and Fox Float fork worked well to keep the bike stable underneath while nimble and flickable on the small lips and jumps in the trail. Save for my desire to inflict as little damage on the bike (the owner hadn't even ridden it yet) I found the further down the trail I was, the more I was comfortable and working the bike. Another few rides dialing in the suspension would provide some great results.

The last section of trail, Broadway, is a steep bermed trail with some great flow, and by this point, I felt very comfortable on even the steepest and loosest of sections. The Juicy 5 brakes were working hard to slow my burly body, but without fade, they kept up to the task.

Riding home, a last fast gravel logging road section provided for some top speeds and a very smooth and stable feel. Loose gravel was no match for this bike and I returned to the house with a big smile and mud covered face!

Conclusions

One of the biggest challenges these days comes from the vast selection of bikes in many categories. On Vancouver Island we have a great selection of trails, and finding a fully capable machine can be a challenge.

In this case, I felt the bike with some personalization provides for a very smooth and nimble ride, with great climbing and inspiring decending. For intermediate to advanced riders, this bike along with a DH / Freeride bike would provide for a trusty stable, capable of all options imaginable.

We hope to follow this test up with a review of the Quad-XC's bigger DH brother, the Quake XLT.

If you'd like to find out more about the Marin 2007 bikes, Stop on by Dodge City Cycles in Cumberland and ask Dan about this seasons Demo program.

The 411

2007 Marin Quad-XC Rift Zone

MODEL - Rift Zone
COLOR - Gloss Ocean, Gloss Pink
SIZES - XS, S, M, L
FRAME - 6061 Aluminum, Fully Hydroformed Mainframe and Swingarm, Quad-Link XC 2.0 Suspension System, Disc Specific
REAR SUSPENSION - Fox Float R with Rebound Adjustment
FORK - Fox 32 Float R, 120mm with Rebound Adjustment, and Air Spring Preload
HEADSET - FSA Alloy TH-857, 1 1/8”, Threadless
REAR HUB - WTB LaserDisc Lite, 32 Hole Disc
FRONT HUB - WTB LaserDisc Lite, 32 Hole Disc
SPOKES - DT WTB 15 Gauge Black Stainless
RIMS - Mavic XM-317, 32 Hole Disc
TIRES - WTB MotoRaptor Comp, 26” x 2.14” (49/52)
SHIFTERS - 9 Speed Shimano LX, with 2 Way Release
FRONT DERAILLEUR - Shimano Deore
REAR DERAILLEUR - Shimano XT Shimano LX
CASSETTE - 9 Speed Shimano, 11-32
CHAIN - Shimano HG53
CRANKSET - TruVativ Firex 3.2, 44/32/22 with 2 Alloy Chainrings and Giga X Pipe Exterior BB System
BOTTOM BRACKET - TruVativ with Giga X Pipe Exterior System Integrated with Crankset
SEATPOST - Comp Alloy Micro Adjust, 30.9mm x 350mm
SADDLE - WTB Laser V Comp with Love Channel, Comfort Zone and Cromoly Rails
HANDLEBAR - Double Butted 6061 Alloy, OS-31.8mm, 25.4mm Rise
STEM FSA - OS170 Threadless with Alloy Face Plate and 31.8mm Bar Clamp
GRIPS WTB - Moto Grip
BRAKES - Avid Juicy 5 Hydraulic Disc
BRAKE LEVERS - Avid Hydraulic
PEDALS - Shimano M520 Clipless

Testing Conditions

Weather was cool with rain earlier in the day, wet trails, some late season snow, and nice wet slippery roots.

Vertical Profile of Test Ride

2007 Gear Swap to be bigger and better than ever

Skifreak — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 01:40:00 GMT

Last year we reported on the 2006 North Shore Gear Swap - Read article here

Whether you are new to the sport of cycling or a veteran rider, you don't have to spend a small fortune on quality bikes, equipment, and clothing.

Check out this year's Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show and visit the NSMBA Vancouver Bike Swap on February 17 & 18 at BC Place Stadium.

A $2.00 donation gets you into the swap. All proceeds go toward programs for responsible and sustainable mountain biking.

Please bring in any and all cycling equipment from all cycling disciplines, bikes, frames, clothing, shoes, parts, rollers, trainers etc. You clear it out and we will help you sell it!

Sell that bike that no longer "turns your crank" and find one that does, or swap that cycling jersey that doesn't quite fit anymore for something different. The NSMBA Gear Swap is THE place to outfit the whole family for a new season of mountain biking with quality used bikes, clothing and equipment all in one stop.

NSMBA Gear Swap will be open to purchase gear during the following hours:

Saturday, February 17th 11:00am to 7:pm
Sunday, February 18th 11:00am to 3:00pm

Cash, debit, VISA, or Master Card accepted

Dekerf Cycle Innovations to Continue Operations

Skifreak — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 01:31:00 GMT

31/01/2007 - Dekerf Press Release

After having announced the closing of Dekerf Cycle Innovations back in September of last year,

Chris Dekerf, the founder and owner of the company, has reconsidered that decision. Since announcing the close, the company has received a flood of support from both retailers and consumers in the form of orders and encouragement to continue producing the legendary frames.

Today, the company launched its new 2007 website. The new site amalgamates the former UK and Canadian sites into one new site with much more depth, and consumer participation.

For 2007 the company also brings forth an expanded product line including new road, cyclocross, titanium, and 29R models. The company will also forge ahead with a new and innovative business model, allowing consumers to have better access to Dekerf products and information, and at the same time continuing to support retailers who in turn support the brand.

Chris Dekerf wishes to thank all those whose voices of support and encouragement have led to this decision to continue the brand.

www.dekerf.com

2007 Denny's Bike Expo & Vancouver Outdoors Show

Skifreak — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 19:52:00 GMT

Vancouver, Feb 17 & 18, 2007 - BC Place Stadium

There is no better stage to showcase a Bike Expo than Vancouver, BC … this is the home of biking! With a wide selection of trails for mountain biking, sweeping mountain roads for cycling, purpose-built ramps for BMX buffs and the perfect balance of land and water for triathletes - the Vancouver market is flooded with consumers keen to enjoy the thrill of two-wheeled adventure!

The 2007 Vancouver Bike Expo offers manufactures, retailers and associations an unparalleled opportunity to get face-to-face with consumers. This coupled with our heavily reduced pricing structure for exhibitors and an aggressive, grass roots marketing campaign targeted at those 25 - 50 years; will ensure that your participation delivers a high return on investment.

To add to the excitement we are delighted to be bringing Kris Holm, multi World Champion in Mountain Unicycling to the Expo! Plus we will be running a NSMBA Bike & Gear Swap all weekend long - raising money for local trails and ensuring that consumers are in the market for new and improved bikes, gear and accessories!

Help take a bite out of crime!

Skifreak — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 19:47:00 GMT

Article from 24hrs Daily Newspaper in Vancouver http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/2007/01/05/3175381-sun.html

January 5, 2007

High-tech crime fighters

Property

By MATT KIELTYKA, 24 HOURS

Police see it all the time. Someone on the street has a shiny new $2,500 bicycle that the officer knows is stolen but they can't do anything about it because the theft hasn't been reported.

It goes far beyond bicycles, according to David Brierley, founder of PropertyCop.org and a Vancouver police officer by day.

"It's extremely frustrating, but the only database police have access to is for stolen goods," he said. "There is no way to check property and see who the registered owner is."

Coupled with police jurisdictions and budget issues, officers often find themselves with little power over potential property crime.

Brierley decided to go outside the realm of policing to find a practical solution.

After two years of discussions, feedback and development, Property Cop is set to launch and Brierley hopes retailers and police adopt the online program.

"It's a viable strategy to help prevent crime," he said. "Say you go to the store and purchase a bike. Then you log onto the website, create an account and put in photographs, serial numbers and descriptions of the bike into a secure database."

Should the bike ever be stolen and found by the police, an officer can call the Property Crime call-centre and find the owner of the bike.

Brierley says people can enter anything into the database, from bikes to laptops and other electronics.

Several bike shops in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island have already agreed to endorse the program, and Brierley is in discussions with larger store chains as well.

Despite the early support, the hard work is still ahead of Brierley.

"Once we have the final build ready Jan. 11, I'll show it to retailers and police," he said.

The success of the multi-jurisdiction program will hinge on whether police agencies feel Property Cop is secure enough to use.

New 2007 Santa Cruz Bullit Released

Skifreak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 20:10:00 GMT

available spring 2007

Resurrection Time!

The Bullit is Back! Bigger, bolder, badder and better than ever before, the new and freshly evolved Bullit marks another chapter of Santa Cruz's single pivot revival.

Available Spring 2007

After taking a couple years off, this all-duty workhorse returns to the lineup ready to tackle anything and everything, smoothing out trail rides and sucking up downhill punishment with sweet handling, low maintenance simplicity.

20mm Swingarm Pivots = Stiff!

Custom drawn double-butted aluminum tubes form the completely redesigned front triangle, while a new and vastly stiffened swingarm pivots on a massive 20mm axle riding in oversize bearings (oversize bearings that come with a lifetime guarantee, no less).

Lifetime Bearing Warranty

There's over 7-inches of rear wheel travel, it'll fit 8-inch brake rotors in the back, and the stout 1.5" headtube and gusseted top and down tubes allow you to put whatever the hell kind of fork you want up front.

New Gussets and a burly 1.5" headtube

Combine that with the ability to run either standard, q.r friendly,135mm rear dropouts, or 150mm thru-axle dropouts, as well as an optional floating rear brake kit, and the Bullit is equipped to handle any kind of terrain imaginable.

Choose your target, and squeeze the trigger...

Huge 20mm swingarm pivot
Lifetime pivot bearing guarantee
135 q.r OR 150mm thru-axle rear dropouts
Optional 150mm axle fully floating rear brake kit
178mm rear wheel travel
1.5" headtube
Wrench friendly! All frame parts can be disassembled (and assembled) with four readily available allen wrenches, and the swingarm bearing cups use a Shimano external BB tool.
Hard anodized 7075 aluminum hardware
Available in either powdercoat or anodized finishes
Multiple cable routing options (either full housings or split housings, take your pick)
Build it up anywhere between 32 and 44 pounds, climb it like a long travel trail bike, kill it like a freeride bike. It's even built to be bar-spin friendly...

New Bullit pictured in Lime Green with the X9 AM kit (with E.13 Chain Guide upgrade). Totem Coil Fork and Fox DHX 5 Air rear shock Available spring 2007

Powder Coat paint, with DHX3 coil shock - $1199
Ano, with DHX3 coil shock - $1350

Powder Coat Colors

Lime Green (as shown)
black
white
orange
gangreen
liquid blue

Upgrade Color Options

Polished
2 Anodized color to be announced later

More information here http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/mail/2007bullit.html