Source: Pinkbike.com
Woodland Riders are proud to announce the arrival of a race series at Gawton in Devon UK at last!
This year the South has another venue with a fantastic race series lined up for the summer! (more…)
The rain slowed up and riding sped up as Finals kicked off here in Maribor. Rachel Atherton returned to her winning ways with a convincing 10 second margin over Sabrina Jonnier in second even after breaking her finger only one week earlier. A lot of riders came off trying to make the podium including top qualifier Sam Hill, but Gee Atherton stayed on and posted a great time only to be beaten by just 0.25 seconds by race winner Greg Minnaar. Great results for British riders Brendan Fairclough in 3rd and Joe Smith in 8th.
You may remember Andy Yoong’s film documenting the downhill scene in Ireland (if not check it out HERE).
Well he’s come up trumps with this sweet little edit documenting the last few days at the Maribor World Cup. Short, loud and sharp as a pin, check it out…
More pictures from Sea Otter. Doesn’t ‘seem’ to have changed much since they were letting it get seen this time last year.
We still think it will be the 225, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they change the name.
Red Bull Rampage is back in 2010. New format. New features. Same epic location. More information coming soon.
To check out photos from past events, go to www.RedBullRampage.com
Launched in 2001 and held annually through 2004, Red Bull Rampage brought the creative, unrestricted ethos of freeride mountain biking to the contest arena while staying true to the sport’s core ideals. Poised on a sandstone ridge in the brutal landscape near Virgin, Utah riders were free to chose whatever line they dared between an established start gate and the finish line 1,500 vertical feet below. Exactly what happened between those two points has become legendary.
In 2008 Red Bull Rampage: The Evolution returned to Utah, mixing the challenges of the natural terrain with hand-built features, paying homage to the popularity of the slopestyle scene that emerged in the years since Rampage began. The winner of the event was the 17-year-old Brandon Semenuk, who was still in grade school when the first Rampage took place.
In 2010, there will be new features, new riders, a new format, and another chance for the next generation of mountain bikers to prove their ability on the world’s best terrain.
The Fluid is still a proto, with the top tube bulge being slimmed down somewhat for production. The AMX is nearly done, there’s just some angle tweaking in progress before the production models hit the jig.
Details are scant at the moment but the pictured build is 37.2lbs and it’ll be running 2:1 like all Foes.
Foes Fluid DH bike…
Foes AMX Long travel hard tail…
With the launch of SRAM XX last year it was inevitable that arch rivals Shimano would soon follow suit and launch their own 10-speed mountain bike groupset.
Industry rumours suggested they would introduce the extra gear on their top-end group, XTR. But instead they’ve chosen to debut it on updated versions of Deore XT and SLX.
Shimano are calling their new drivetrain technology Dyna-Sys, and insist they haven’t simply added an extra cog to the cassette. In fact, they’re calling it “a whole new way of shifting.” Both groupsets will get new cranksets, chains, cassettes, derailleurs and 2-Way Release rear shifters.
Only a triple chainset will be available (42-32-24T) – an interesting decision, given that one of the main perceived advantages of a 10-speed cassette is that you can ditch a front chainring yet still retain an adequate number of gears.
The Big S say that having a wider gear range at the back, more closely spaced gears at the front, and improved rear mechs and shifters, creates smoother and more intuitive shifting, more efficient and powerful pedalling, and allows the rider to stay in the middle and largest chainrings for a higher proportion of the time.
“The larger the chainring size, the lower the chain tension, the lower the impact on rear suspension and ultimately the most efficient transfer of power,” they say. It should also produce a straighter chainline, which will reduce drivetrain-induced suspension movement on bikes with rear shocks.
Shimano also reckon the Dyna-Sys setup with its smaller large chainring (42T rather than 44T) and larger small chainring (24T rather than 22T) will reduce the number of ‘recovery shifts’ needed at the rear when changing at the front, making it easier to maintain your pedalling cadence.
Cosmetically, the updated groupsets will look identical to the current XT and SLX, and brakes and front shifters will be unchanged. All Dyna-Sys components will be inter-compatible, so, for example, you’ll be able to use an XT chain with an SLX cassette. However, Shimano say the new parts – which will be available from June 2010 – won’t be compatible with their nine-speed mountain bike components or 10-speed road components.
Deore XT Dyna-Sys
Cassette (CS-M771-10): The XT cassette is available in three configurations: 11-32 (not available at launch), 11-34 or 11-36T. To save weight, two three-ring spiders are used, along with an alloy lock ring. RRP is £59.99.
Chain (CN-HG94): The new HG-X 10-speed chains are directional (the right-hand side is optimised for front shifting and the left for rear shifting), so make sure you fit them with the logos on the outside. The zinc alloy plated XT version costs £34.99.
Crankset: At present only a triple crankset is available (24/32/42T), with alloy inner and outer chainrings, a carbon fibre/steel composite middle ring and a choice of four crankarm lengths: 165, 170, 175 or 180mm. RRP for the Hollowtech II unit is £189.99.
Front mech (FD-M770/1): A key aim with Dyna-Sys was to offer riders a range of front mech mounting positions in order to get the best possible chainline and minimise chain rub. The XT derailleur is available in four versions: Top Swing (£34.99), Down Swing (£34.99), Direct Mount (£29.99) or E-Fit (£29.99). It features a hollow link pin to save weight.
Shadow rear mech (RD-M773): The low-profile rear mech is available in GS (medium cage) or SGS (long cage) versions for £64.99. Both pulley wheels roll on sealed bearings (on current nine-speed XT, the guide pulley runs on a ceramic bushing).
Rapidfire shifter (SL-M770-10R): The new 2-Way Release rear shifter with alloy main lever and removable optical gear display is available on its own for £49.99 or with a front shifter for £89.99.
SLX Dyna-Sys
Cassette (CS-HG81-10): The SLX cassette is only available in two sizes: 11-34 or 11-36T. It doesn’t have its big brother’s second spider or alloy lockring. RRP is £49.99.
Chain (CN-HG74): As with XT, the SLX chain is directional. RRP is £29.99, and it comes in a grey finish.
Crankset: The SLX Hollowtech II crankset gets a steel inner chainring and glass fibre/steel composite middle ring in place of the XT’s alloy and carbon fibre/steel equivalents. It’s available with 170 or 175mm arms, for £139.99.
Front mech (FD-M660/1): The front derailleur is available in the same versions as the XT unit: Top Swing (£29.99), Down Swing (£29.99), Direct Mount (£26.99) or E-Fit (£26.99).
Shadow rear mech (RD-M663): Available in an SGS (long cage) version only, the rear derailleur costs £49.99.
Rapidfire shifters (SL-M660-10R): The SLX shifter does without its bigger brother’s alloy lever. Cost is £59.99 a pair or £29.99 for right-hand only.
Non-series
A cheaper non-series Dyna-Sys crankset will also be available, the FC-M552, in black or silver. It has solid instead of Hollowtech arms. Pricing has not yet been set for this crankset, and it may be an OEM-only product (ie. supplied with complete bikes but not available aftermarket).
Heres a pic of the 2010 Transcend Team 225, apparently its pretty close to the production shape.
