Art’s Cyclery Blog

We’ve been working hard photographing and learning about 2012’s crop of hydration packs, and are excited about what we see! Stalwarts Camelbak and Dakine have their usual solid offerings, and new addition—for Art’s—Fox has some great product too. Here are three packs that really caught my eye this year:

Fox Low Pro

The Fox Low Pro is a great example of what a minimalist pack should be. It’s light, small, yet holds 70 ounces (two liters) of water—enough for at least two hours, depending on the temperature—and has a real storage compartment. The  main pocket has room for a full tube repair arsenal, plus a good-sized multi tool and a chain breaker. The bungee on the outside of the pack has room for a wind shell, arm, and knee warmers.

Camelback Charge LR

Backpackers know that keeping your pack weight low is important for balance, endurance, and comfort. Camelbak knows this too, which is why most of their multi-sport packs feature a reservoir located on the bottom of the pack. 2012’s Charge LR gets the Antidote lumbar reservoir, keeping water weight low for improved balance, endurance, and comfort, and allowing for a narrower footprint. There is still plenty of storage on the Charge LR, and enough water in it’s 70 ounce reservoir for an afternoon of riding.

Dakine Drafter

Ever since the first time I rode with a Dakine Drafter, it’s been my favorite pack, and 2012 sees the Drafter back in all its glory. With armor straps and a helmet carry capable of an XC or DH lid, it’s an all-mountain rider’s perfect pack. Even if you don’t use knee guards and keep your helmet on your head at all times, the Drafter is a fabulous pack with tons of storage options and a comfortable back panel.

So there are some recommendations to get you started on your hydration pack decision. Look for in-depth reviews throughout the season.

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Perhaps no other “outdoor” brand is more mainstream these days than The North Face. It seems like everyone and their mother has a North Face softshell jacket, likely because the brand is available everywhere from Back Country to Bloomingdales. With humble beginnings as a small mountaineering retail store in San Francisco in the 60’s, The North Face has evolved into an outdoor behemoth with an extensive line of performance apparel, equipment and footwear.

So when we heard The North Face was making mountain bike apparel, we were a little skeptical at first. What could these guys provide that’s better than what’s already out there? The answer is the same reason the brand has stuck around for as long as it has - The North Face has maintained an unwavering commitment to creating high quality, sustainable, functional products that deliver on performance. When The North Face decides to produce something, they don’t just throw stuff on the shelves with the expectation it will sell simply because it’s stamped with the half dome logo. The collection we have in our store is the result of years of product testing and refinement and we think there are some really great pieces that will appeal to a variety of riders.

We love the fact that The North Face is so committed to sourcing sustainable materials, increasing its energy efficiency in product production and lowering its overall environmental impact. The North Face works closely with Bluesign, an independent organization that sets industry standards for sustainability. To learn more about The North Face’s comprehensive approach to sustainability, click here. It really is an impressive undertaking for such a large company.

Now, let’s check out some products. My personal favorites in the collection are the Chain Ring Tee and Chain Ring Shorts. The tee looks and feels like a regular T-Shirt, but it’s made of VaporWick fabric so it wicks sweat away from your skin. This is a true two-in-one top - wear it on the trails or just cruising around town. I love the mountain biker’s take on The North Face logo with chain rings in place of the standard stripes.

The outer shell of the shorts is made of a durable, water repellent fabric that’s as breathable as it is tough. Zippered thigh vents help to keep the air flowing as your body heats up. The four-way stretch seamless chamois has plush microfiber padding to reduce friction points and relieve pressure in key areas. The chamois is also infused with fibers that reduce odor and regulate temperature.

Two front hand pockets are cleverly lined with mesh and one zipped cargo pocket provides ample storage. An optics wipe will conveniently clean your sunglasses or goggles and a brushed elastic waistband ensures your shorts won’t slide down or ride up. Additional features include reinforced stitching throughout all stress zones, a raised waistband for extra coverage, a seamless crotch panel and a reflective logo.

For really crappy weather rides, the Bracket Jacket is a must-have. This bike-specific shell is made of a water and windproof material that remains breathable even when you’re hammering on the trail. Technical features include elbow stretch vents and a removable hood that fits over a helmet. You’ll see several of our employees working the sales floor in the Chain Ring Hoodie. It may look like a normal sweatshirt upon first glance, but it’s actually made of a technical wind resistant material that can handle all but the most intense athletic pursuits.

The collection is pretty small compared to the massive catalog you’ll find from a company like Fox. One thing missing that I’d like to see in the future is a more substantial glove collection. But I anticipate The North Face taking off in our store and in bike specialty stores around the country because of the power behind the brand and the quality of the products.

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With the calendar year winding down and the holiday shopping season in full swing, we wanted to compile a list of the best products 2011 had to offer. The products on this list were picked by our staff of buyers, an enlightened collection of cyclists with expertise in every genre of two-wheeled machines. We have sorted through literally thousands of products to bring you our top picks for Gear of the Year. The products on the list stand out to us because they meet one or more of the criteria on the list below:

1. Revolutionary
2. Technological and functional superiority
3. Aesthetically awesome

So there you have it. Without any further ado, hype or puffery, we present our first annual Gear of the Year list, starting with bikes.

Road Bike of the Year

Cervelo S5

Cervélo has been the pioneer in aero road bike design since 1996 and the S5 is the latest evolution in Cervélo’s lineup of wind-cheating machines. Evolving from the S3, the S5 is stiffer and more aerodynamic. The most obvious visual difference of the S5 compared to the S3 is the extended rear wheel cutout, which smoothes airflow from the frame to the wheel. Another aero advantage is the dropped downtube, which minimizes turbulence behind the fork crown. The seat stays of the S5 have also been designed to shield the rear brake, further improving aerodynamics. The BB area is massive thanks to the BBright bottom bracket; an improvement on the BB30 design.

The S5 had an impressive 2011 campaign, most notably in the Tour de France where Thor Hushovd rode it to two stage wins and a week in the Yellow Jersey. Not a bad debut for the bike of the year.

Honorable mentions go to the Specialized Venge, ridden my Mark Cavendish to a road world championship and the BMC Team Machine, ridden by Cadel Evans to victory at the Tour de France.

Mountain Bike of the Year

Yeti SB-66

Revolutionary. There is no other word that better describe Yeti’s newest 6” travel trail/all-mountain bike dubbed the SB-66. The “Switch Technology” suspension that sets this Yeti apart from other bikes utilizes a unique eccentric pivot above the bottom bracket to build a bike that takes the best characteristics of two radically different suspension designs and combines them while eliminating their drawbacks. Another improvement is a nearly flat suspensionleverage curve. This means the amount of leverage the rear wheel has over the shock stays essentially unchanged as it moves though the full range of travel. All this adds up to a bike that pedals and climbs crisply without sacrificing small bump sensitivity.

HED Aredennes SL Wheelset - $1,099.99

The HED Ardennes SL is our best selling wheelset, and understandably so. It delivers a tubular-like ride quality without limiting you to only using certain tires like tubeless compatible wheels do. It’s under 1,500 grams for the set, rolls insanely well, is stiff and aerodynamic. Lastly, with the new graphics, it just looks better than ever. What’s not to love?

Garmin Edge 800 - $449.99-$649.99

Garmin’s Edge 800 is the ultimate companion to have along with you on almost any bike ride—it always knows the way and can tell you just how far you’ve come, how far you have to go, and give you multiple options on how to get there. With maps available for almost everywhere on planet Earth, you can just start pedaling and make it back home before dark no matter where you are, even if you’ve never been there before, and you’ll be able to find all the Thai restaurants on the way.

It’s hard to assign one feature that makes the Edge 800 so remarkable, besides the high-resolution, touch-screen display, the near-perfect GPS capabilities of Garmin’s GPS chip, the ANT+ capabilities for speed/cadence and power, and the high-level of customization. Custom maps can be used as well, such as those showing all the cycling routes and trails in an area, or any map you can find. Training regimens can be programmed and a virtual training partner used to help push you along. When you’re done riding, you can upload your data to Garmin’s own Garmin Connect to compare with others, view your route, or look for new routes. Available as a basic speed/distance setup or with cadence and heart rate for training as well, the Edge 800 is our choice for gadget of the year.

Schwalbe Hans Dampf Tire- $66.99

The tire of the year award goes to the Schwalbe Hans Dampf. It takes one seriously awesome tire to virtually surpass all other mountain tires in sales and be more expensive (and it’s only been available since April!). The Hans Dampf is the perfect all mountain and trail tire. It rolls well, grips even better, is tubeless compatible, light for its size and level of protection, and performs exceptionally on every type of terrain. Jack of All Trades indeed.

Lezyne Dirt Floor Drive Pump - $59.99-$109.99

There is no better way to inflate your mountain bike tires than with Lezyne’s Dirt Floor Drive floor pump. Designed specifically for larger-volume mountain bike tires, the Dirt Floor Drive outperforms traditional floor pumps by a margin of at least two-to-one. This innovative pump makes life easier for dirt riders everywhere. Sorry roadies, the DFD will only pump up to seventy PSI; it’s for mountain bikes only!

For Gear of the Year honors, aesthetics is as important as performance, and the DFD comes up aces in the looks category as well. Depending on the model you purchase—Classic, Alloy, or CNC—you’ll get a classy, varnished wood or stylish aluminum handle topping off the oversized piston. Sitting inside a huge barrel, the piston can push enough air to seat tubeless tires with only normal pumping effort required. We know, we use these pumps all the time. Tubeless or conventional tires are inflated in half the time it takes to inflate a tire on a traditional high-pressure pump. Looking at the taller/wider than average Dirt Floor Drive chassis and minimalist base, you might wonder about its ability to remain upright in a cramped workspace. Don’t, because the cleverly designed base is as sturdy as they come, employing a tripod design, which uses an oversized pressure gauge as one of the supports.

What puts the latest version of the DFD into elite status is the new ABS Flip Thread Chuck. Thread-on capability for both Presta and Schrader valves, and push-button pressure release (ABS stands for Air Bleed System), allows you to effortlessly remove the chuck from your valve with no loss of pressure or damage to the valve core. Of course, if you prefer to press rather than thread on, the DFD also comes with Lezyne’s Speed Fit Chuck, which fits Presta valves only.

Giro Factor and Code Shoes - $289.99

Our favorite shoes came from an unlikely source, not heavyweights Specialized, Sidi or Shimano, but we felt newcomer Giro created the best all-around product with the top-end Factor road shoe and Code mountain shoe. The best part about these shoes is the refined fit, which feels so perfectly dialed in, they’re ready to wear right out of the box. The unrivaled fit is largely thanks to Giro’s SuperNatural Fit Kit, which provides three different arch options to customize the amount of support. Stiff carbon soles, supple yet supportive uppers and effective closure systems leave nothing to be desired. We predict Giro will carve out a huge chunk of the market in 2012 and wouldn’t be surprised to see their shoe lineup expand in years to come. An Honorable Mention goes to the Fizik R1 and R3 for the classic, retro styling and handmade Italian craftsmanship.

Swiftwick Olefin Four Aspire - $15.99/pair

Socks are socks, right? Wrong. Socks are really important - if your feet are uncomfortable, it can significantly affect your performance. Our staff is totally sold on the amazing comfort and durability of Swiftwick socks. Once you try them, they’ll be your go-to socks for every ride. Features that set the Aspire Four apart from the rest - 200-needle construction, Olefin material with seamless toe and a four inch compressive cuff. As a special bonus, you can save 15% when you buy two or more pairs! We absolutely love this sock and think you will too, which is why it made the list.

Giro Aeon Helmet - $199.99-$249.99

After years of developing an extended high-end road helmet line, Giro has finally streamlined its offerings and settled on the Aeon as the do-it-all, race-level brain case. Merging the weight of the Prolight with the ventilation of the Ionos, Giro has created the perfect helmet in the Aeon.

Registering 219 grams in a size medium, with all straps and retention systems in place, the Aeon would be a Mini Flyweight boxer. As a helmet, the Aeon disappears once you strap it on your head, thanks in equal measures to the lack of grams, the Roc Loc 5 retention system, and its design. Keeping contact points with your head minimal makes the Aeon very comfortable, and moves material to the outside of the helmet, increasing impact resistance. Upon first look, the Roc Loc 5 looks like it might be a bit obtrusive, as there is no padding on it’s plastic frame. The plastic is soft and pliable, however, and combined with the shape of the “pads” the Roc Loc 5 is as light, comfortable, and as easy to use as any tension device on the market.

If you had to judge by the defunct Prolight, there must be a trade-off between feather-weight and ventilation. The Aeon proves that isn’t true, with more vents than on an old leather hairnet helmet. Giro took advantage of two different technologies to create the Aeon; a reinforcing frame called the SL Rollcage, and a special EPS foam. Since the new thermoformed SL Rollcage—basically a second shell under the outer shell—is so effective, Giro was able to use a lower-density foam to keep weight down. Thin webbing with tiny adjusters also contribute to the increased airflow on your skin, and of course reduce weight as well.

An Honorable Mention goes out to the Kask Vertigo for its revolutionary retention system.

Shimano XTR M985 Shadow Plus Rear Derailleur

After checking out the new XTR Shadow rear derailleur , one of our mechanics remarked, “This is a real monkey touching the monolith moment’” Who can disagree? The Shimano XTR M985 Shadow Plus Rear Derailleur is a revolution in rear derailleur design, allowing the cage to swing backward, but limiting forward motion. The result is a chain that stays in tension, never slapping the stays. This derailleur is a chain guide and rear derailleur all in one.

The result of this technology is a much quieter bike and far fewer dropped chains. One employee here experimented using this derailleur with a single front chainring and only a bash guard to guide the chain. Over a one-mile trail littered with softball sized rocks, the chain never dropped. He plans on removing the bash ring soon. We can’t think of a better endorsement than that. We can’t wait to see this technology spread to all levels of mountain derailleurs.

Gore Ride-On Cable Sets - $36.99-$54.99

Cables are often overlooked and frankly a little unglamorous, but since installing Gore Professional Ride-On cables last October (2010 mind you), Brad, our components buyer, hasn’t needed to adjust his derailleurs once after the cables broke in. This bears repeating: he hasn’t even touched his cable adjustments in over a year and they still work like new. And yes, he does ride… a lot.

Niterider Pro 3000 - $649.99

Apparently Niterider grew tired of the slow-paced lumens competition, seeing each manufacturer’s output creep up by a couple-hundred L-M’s each year. In an effort to put some distance between themselves and their adversaries, Niterider teamed up with the Cree LED company (who have been supplying Light and Motion for years) and came up with the unbelievable Pro 3000, more than doubling last year’s high-output lamp without a price increase.

The Niterider Pro 3000 uses a single head housing and two reflectors loaded with three LED bulbs each. Niterider’s mounting hardware is solid and secure—once you get the light aimed where you want it and tightened down, it won’t move. Another distinguishing feature to all the Niterider Pro series lights is the ability to customize output levels, and thus, burn times as well. This would come in handy for racing where you want a climbing mode to save energy and a descending mode to maximize visibility, with no shuffling through medium output and flash modes. All these things are nice, but really, it’s the sheer power of the Niterider Pro 3000 that we most appreciate. It’s like riding with the sun!

Runner up: Light and Motion Seca 1400. This was a tough choice since the Seca is much lighter, has a much lower profile, and has a smaller battery. In the end, though, we just couldn’t overlook the huge output of the Pro 3000.

So there you have it, our favorite products of 2011. If there are any awesome products you’ve been riding that should have made our list, or if you think any of these suck, we’d love to hear from you. Just leave a comment below.

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Overview: Designed to be your go to tire for any situation, the Scwalbe Nobby Nic is a true all-around performer.

Price: $64.99-71.99

It is commonly known that if something is a ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ it must be a master of none. On the contrary, we mountain bikers look for products that are designed to tackle everything, from steep technical climbs to descents scattered with rock gardens and twisty single-track. Not only do we expect our gear to be tough and responsive, we have come to demand it.

Nearly every bike manufacturer offers a steed that is presented to the ever growing ‘all mountain’ market. It is easy to find a frame, fork or handlebar designed for this type of riding. What is tough to find are tires that provide enough traction to keep your rear wheel from slipping during climbs in addition to deflecting sharp rocks when it’s time to get medieval on the way down. Schwalbe comes to the rescue with the Nobby Nic, a tire that is remarkably light, extremely tough, tacky and durable.

My mission was to put these tires to grueling tests of epic rides through a variety of terrain. My first ride on the tires was exceptional. I set out on my favorite local trail here in the hills of  San Luis Obispo and set a new time record on both the climb and descent. The Nic gave me constant traction on the way up and gave me added confidence when the terrain got nasty on the way down.

Schwalbe calls the Nobby Nic an ‘all grounder’ tire, which rang true when my rides turned muddy, sandy, rocky, loamy or dusty. The knobs are spaced perfectly adding to its traction by deflecting mud and tearing away at the trail. The ‘phase shifted blocks’ evenly space the tread for excellent grip and eliminate tire vibration. You will notice the tread creates a ‘U’ structure. This U block pattern angles the outside knobs 20 degrees to mold over the trail surface which comes in handy when the corners are sharp.

My initial perception of the tires being too tough to roll was destroyed by the Pacestar compound specific to the Nics. Pacestar rubber compound keeps the knobs agile to grip and move fast over a variety of terrain. These tires deserve to be on your bike, continually keeping you locked to the trail with the durability to last all season long. Besides, why would you want to buy a tire designed for one season when you can have a set that keeps you rolling ride after ride?

My only negative remark about the Nic is that it lacks traction in tight turns. Compared to a WTB Weirwolf that grabs even the loosest berms, the Nic tends to loose traction in these instances. Granted, this is the performance characteristic the Weirwolf is designed for, while the Nic is an all grounder tire capable of any terrain. At a killer 250 grams lighter than a 2.3 Weirwolf AM TCS, the Nobby Nic is just as durable, leaving the competition lagging behind on those long, grueling climbs.

Bottom Line: The Schwalbe Nobby Nic is a killer tire designed to keep you rolling strong and efficiently to destroy any trail that lies in front of you.

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Revolutionary. There is no other word to describe Yeti’s newest 6” travel trail/all-mountain bike dubbed the SB-66. The “Switch Technology” suspension that sets this Yeti apart from other bikes utilizes a unique eccentric pivot above the bottom bracket to build a bike that takes the best characteristics of two radically different suspension designs and combines them while eliminating their drawbacks.

The two types of suspension are rearward axle path designs and neutral pedaling suspension designs. Examples of the first type are rare and limited primarily to downhill bikes such as Canfield, Balfa, Nicolai, Honda, and nearly every gearbox bike ever made. Examples of neutral pedaling bikes include Specialized and Ellsworth.

Bikes with rearward axle paths have a chainstay length that increases as the suspension goes through its travel. This is desirable for a number of reasons. The first is that as pedaling places tension on the chain, it will pull the suspension down thereby resisting compression, resulting in better pedaling performance. The second is that as the front and rear suspension of a bike compress, so does the wheelbase. This is due to the head angle of the bike requiring the wheel to move backward toward the bottom of the head tube. At the same time the rear wheel moves backward, the suspension compresses keeping the wheelbase length more constant and keeping handling in high-G corners more predictable. Lastly, all things being equal, rearward axle paths react to bumps in the trail better than other suspension designs by moving away from the object that activated the suspension.

There are huge drawbacks to this design however. As the chainstay lengthens the rider has less leverage on the handlebar to loft the front wheel making it difficult to manual. Even worse however is that the further the suspension goes into its travel, the more tension is placed on the chain eventually causing pedal kickback. This is a jerk felt at the pedals that can be truly annoying on a steep rocky climb. The only way to combat this is to use an elevated drivetrain pulley to keep chain growth to a minimum. But these pulleys make it impossible to use a front derailleur and consequently double or triple cranksets. This is the reason why this type of suspension tends to be limited to the downhill world.

Neutral pedaling bikes are nearly the mirror image of rearward axle path suspension designs. In order to avoid pedal kickback the chainstay length shortens to avoid adding tension to the chain. Of course these bikes work great with double and triple cranksets and pedal well in nearly every gear. However, in order to accomplish this the rear wheel is forced to move forward when activated by a bump making it less responsive to the terrain and giving the bike a rougher ride.

The SB-66 takes the best of both designs. During the first third of the suspension travel the eccentric rotates the lower pivot rearward which in turn moves the wheel in the same direction to get out of the way of bumps. The rearward axle path also keeps the suspension firmer while pedaling.

Once the suspension reaches 100mm of travel, the eccentric rotates back to its original position, shortening the chainstay and thereby eliminating the possibility of pedal kickback. In this way Yeti’s Switch Technology emulates the neutral pedaling suspension designs.

But this is just the beginning of what makes the SB-66’s suspension special. Another improvement incorporated into it is a nearly flat suspension leverage curve. This means that the amount of leverage the rear wheel has over the shock stays essentially unchanged as it moves though the full range of travel. Flat leverage curves produce predictable suspension that matches the feel of suspension forks (which are always linear geometrically speaking) for a balanced ride that is easy to set up. It also allows for a wider range of working sag settings so you can get the geometry and feel of the bike just how you like it.

As if that were not enough, the SB-66 comes packed with a number of great features. These include splines on the bottom bracket shell to mount removable ISCG tabs. These tabs are available in either ISCG 03 or ISCG 05 to fit whatever chainguide you have. Then there is the Yeti chip system to convert the dropouts from 10×135mm to 12×142mm giving you nearly unlimited hub options.

Geometry wise, this bike follows the Yeti tradition of long top tubes, medium chainstay lengths, low bottom brackets and slack head angles. The SB-66 has a 67 degree head angle with a 150mm travel Fox 32 fork. This angle slackens out to just under 66 degrees when used with a 160mm travel Fox 36 fork. The tapered headtube uses inset style pressed in cups and is fully compatible with the Cane Creek Angleset if you prefer even slacker geometry.

The bottom bracket height ranges from 13.4 to 13.8 depending on which fork you choose. Either way, it is low enough to make the bike rail corners with confidence. Chainstay length is 17.1 for all sizes and top tube length for the SM, MD, LG, XL sized bikes are respectively; 23.1”, 24.1”, 25.1”, and 25.9”.

All of this adds up to a bike that will never hold you back. Yeti has all the bases covered with the SB-66. All that’s left is for you to get on the bike and enjoy the ride.

By: Daniel Slusser

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It’s been a while since we introduced a new bike brand here at Art’s Cyclery, so we are pretty excited to announce that we are now carrying Yeti bikes. Yeti has deep roots in the mountain bike industry dating back to 1985 before mountain biking was even considered an industry. Yeti is a company of riders with an anti-corporate approach to designing bikes - product guys make decisions at Yeti, not accountants.

Starting with Julie Furtado’s World Championship win in 1990, Team Yeti has become one of the most widely recognized teams in the history of the sport and has been home to some of the biggest names in mountain biking including Aaron Gwinn, Jared Graves, Missy Giove, Miles Rockwell, John Tomac, Jill Kitner, Sam Blinkensop, Tara Llanes, Paul Rowney, and Marla Streb. This commitment to racing has driven their innovative suspension designs that continue to push the limits of what is possible at a time when most of the bicycle industry has given up investing resources into radically new suspension designs.

Beyond Yeti’s racing heritage and their commitment to innovation, their bikes have always had a distinctive style that has set them apart from the crowd. Some signature traits include oval top tubes, loop tail one-piece seat/chain stays, external headsets, and their unique turquoise and yellow color schemes.

As a result of their consistently unique approach to bicycle design, Yeti owners have a tendency to remain loyal to the brand. Ride a Yeti, and you may become a member of the Yeti tribe that congregates every year at their headquarters in Golden, Colorado for a BBQ and ride. Yeti still has the same kind of company it did back in the day - small, passionate, independent and proud.

Here’s a brief rundown of the bikes we’ll be carrying:

Yeti 575

The 575 has been the most successful bike in the history of Yeti. Why? It’s light, has loads of travel (5.75″), is efficient and descends well. But most importantly, it rules on rough terrain.

Yeti ASR-5

The ASR-5 is an amazingly versatile all-arounder. Long, gnarly back-country rides? No problem. You wanna race a little cross country? This bike is light enough to help you stomp your lycra-clad friends uphill and then put more time into them on the downhill.

Yeti Arc BigTop 29

This 29er has a carbon fiber rear end that provides vertical compliance, great lateral stiffness with a forgiving, comfortable ride.

Evan Mountain, Product Reviews

Overview: Troy Lee Designs has long been a major player in the motocross world, and downhillers have worn TLD gear for many years. Troy Lee has been making XC apparel for a few years, but is coming on strong for 2011 with some great offerings that are perfect for trail and all-mountain style riding. The Sprint collection is a tough but light and breathable blend of jerseys and shorts, suitable for downhill but great for trail riding also.

First Impressions: I have always been a big fan of the Troy Lee Moto Shorts, so I thought I’d try out the Sprint Shorts; they’re lighter, better ventilated and have a new waist closure for 2011 that is much better than the 2010 version. One area the Sprint’s are lacking in is pockets. I like to carry several things with me when I ride, but since most of my rides are short, I don’t usually wear a hydration pack. Thus, I love the big pockets on the Moto’s. They swallow up gear but keep everything tight and close to the leg. There is a small zipped pocket at the waistband of the Sprint shorts that can hold a cell phone, key and a pack of gel, and for most people that’s plenty. Obviously, pockets are not an issue if you use a hydration pack or wear the Sprint’s on race day.

The Kit looks great. If you can’t ride like a pro, you can always look like a pro, and you will in this gear. The Ruckus Jersey matches the red zipper accent on the Sprint Shorts, and obviously the Sprint Jersey is designed to go with the Sprint Shorts.

At first I was a bit miffed that TLD had messed with my all-time favorite pair of gloves, the Air Gloves, but as soon as I rode with them I found that I had a new pair of favorites!

On The Trail: Luckily, the Ruckus Jersey has a hidden side pocket that’s big enough for a cell phone, so between the short’s pockets and that one, I had enough storage for my ride. Don’t put anything heavy in the jersey pocket, though, as you will feel it swinging around. Fit-wise, the Ruckus is great. I especially like the moto-inspired neck. There’s plenty of room, I never felt it at my throat, yet it’s not loose and floppy either. I am becoming a fan of 3/4 length sleeves, also. The sleeves on the Ruckus are loose enough to encourage airflow, but if you push them up, they stay. The fabric is comfortable and soft. Unfortunately, the Ruckus is not the most breathable jersey, so I’d avoid it during the hottest months of the year. If you want a long sleeve jersey to wear in the summer, then the Sprint Jersey is for you. The Sprint Jersey is half mesh, and therefore has tons of ventilation. Of the two, the Sprint was my favorite, which might be due to the mid-day temps I usually ride in.

The Troy Lee Air gloves are awesome. That’s all there is to say. If you wear full-fingered gloves, you should wear these. End of story. The only reason not to wear these is if you trim branches with your knuckles instead of a saw.

How did the Sprint Shorts perform? Flawlessly. The fit is dialed. Troy Lee sizes their shorts by waist size (32, 34, 36, etc) so you are almost guaranteed to get the perfect fit. Adjustment tabs on the side of the waistband let you cinch down the Sprint Shorts up to a full size. The legs are just long enough for style points, but don’t get in the way of knee pads. In fact, the leg opening perfectly fits around knee guards without bunching or getting hung up at all. Compared to my beloved Moto Shorts, the Sprints almost made me a believer; they are lighter weight, seem to fit a bit better, have massive mesh panels on the front and rear for ventilation, and have a trimmer profile as well. A rational person would declare the Sprint’s the winner and move on from there. I, however, can’t get over the lack of storage. I know that many riders hate riding with stuff in their pockets, and for them, the Sprint Shorts are going to be perfect.

Stylin' in TLD!

Bottom Line: Troy Lee’s Sprint Shorts are an affordable alternative to their Moto Shorts, and many riders will like them better thanks to the superior ventilation, reduced weight, and perfect fit. The Ruckus Jersey is stylish and comfortable, but not well-suited for warm temperatures if you have to earn your turns. If you are shuttling or on a chair lift, you will love it. For hot weather or anyone who pedals to the top, the Sprint Jersey is awesome; it’s light, insanely ventilated, and breathes so well you won’t need to push the sleeves up. And the Air Gloves? Get them. Thats all. Just get them.

Luke Gear, Mountain, Product Reviews

Overview: Purpose built for the diverse demands of true all-mountain riding. Available in 9mm/15mm/20mm front and 10mm/12mm rear as well as a 29’er option. At a scant 1650 grams and a 21 mm rim width, these wheels spin fast and hold strong, letting you focus on the trail ahead and leaving your buddies behind.

Price: $379.99 front, $424.99 rear

First Impressions: The attention to detail is remarkable and the Cnc’d hub body makes you feel instantly at ease with their $800.00 price tag. A less flashy detail comes in the form of Easton’s spoke selection. By opting to use a standard straight pull spoke, Easton ensures that in a pinch you could find parts at virtually any bike shop.

It wasn’t until I mounted them to the bike that I could offer my first criticism…. Easton surely doesn’t want you or your riding buddies to forget what wheels you are riding. The hub body may be the only piece of real estate that isn’t sporting either the Easton or Haven logo in large block letters. Obviously no draw on functionality, but expect a little flak from your riding buddies.

On The Trail: My inaugural ride on the Havens was a solo night ride, needless to say I got a little spooked. Feeling like I was being stalked by a Bandersnatch, my pace was a little faster then normal, which is where I really noticed the strength. These wheels spin fast! Seeing as I dropped about a pound from my prior wheel set this was a very noticeable change, and I found myself staying in gears lower on the cassette than usual. Night ride, high heart rate, and the relentless pursuit of my imaginary Bandersnatch forced an error. I missed my line on the climb and had to try a restart on a rocky, steep, and loose hill.. This is where I noticed how quick the hub engagement was. Pedal response was snappy and precise which got me rolling again on the first attempt.

The descent was no less inspiring. The 21mm rim profile coupled with the acoustically tensioned spokes leaves you with a strong wheel set that can take hit after hit without folding or denting. The balance of weight, tension, and a wide rim profile amplified control input and gave me a sense of authority that was much appreciated through the rock gardens. I’ve noticed that I’m able to hold a line and corner better than ever, which I’m going to attribute 50% to rim width and 50% to the placebo effect that always accompanies shiny new parts. They climb fast, make your bike feel like it is on rails, and have no problems coping with the vast array of situations that all mountain riders incur. After a dozen rides in rocky, muddy, unforgiving terrain the Havens spin as true as the day purchased.

Bottom Line: If you ride a mountain bike with 4-6” of travel, you will love these wheels.

Evan Gear, Mountain, Product Reviews Easton Haven, Easton Haven Review, Easton Haven wheels, Haven review, Haven wheelset

Overview: The world’s first adjustable-width mountain handlebar lets you find the perfect width without cutting. Constructed of 7075 T6 Aluminum. 25mm rise, 5 by 9 degree sweep. Length adjustable from 750mm to 775mm to 786mm.

Price: MSRP $79.99, Art’s price $69.99.

As handlebar widths have continued getting wider and wider, numbers like 750mm don’t seem that extreme anymore, especially with 1000mm Syncros‘ out there. The benefits of wider handlebars (increased control in turns and greater stability in the rough) have caused gravity riders to enthusiastically embrace the extra alloy. What I was wondering, however, was how would an “extra-wide” set of bars benefit a regular old trail rider like myself? Well, thanks to the ODI Flight Control, I could finally find out, and if I didn’t like the results, go back to my old length without having to buy another set of bars.

I have been using Sunline V1 745mm handlebars for a few years, which some people would consider wide already. After a few guys here went with 780mm-plus handlebars, I needed to give them a try too. I went with the 750mm Flight Control Bars, since that was a width I was used to if I didn’t like the extra bit, and added the 19mm Flight Control Extensions for a total width of 786mm.

My first impressions were positive: sweep and rise felt very comfortable, and similar to the Sunline’s I had been riding. The extra width did feel odd at first when pedaling around the parking lot, and while it eventually felt less wierd, they still feel wide on the steepest climbs. Descending, however is another story… I Immediately felt comfortable with the ODI’s when the trail turned downhill. The extra width increases your leverage on the bars, which results in reduced perceived effort when steering the bike through turns, making it easier to stay on a line, and make corrections if you need to. Straight-line control was noticeably improved also, with the wider bars allowing me to muscle through rocky sections that sent my front wheel skipping and bouncing on my narrower bars.

Unfortunately, when a bike points uphill, the laws of physics still apply. That extra leverage which made my descending so much better now works to lift the front wheel off the ground and amplifies every little bit of steering input I give to the bars. This effect is only slightly detrimental, and only on the extra steep parts. By moving my hands inboard, and by leaning forward a bit more I can mitigate the effects, but I would not recommend 786mm bars to XC racers. That said, bars of this width are obviously intended for riders who get more enjoyment out of descending rather than climbing, and they noticeably boosted my descending enjoyment.

Bottom Line: These bars did everything they were supposed to do — allowed me to experiment with different lengths without fear of ruining a new pair of bars. While I like the extra width, it’s nice to know that I could have gone back to what I was comfortable with. The increased width provides markedly increased control in all types of turns and in rocky situations. A common issue with extra-wide bars is flex, and while these aren’t entirely flex-free, they are pretty darn close. I have also seen lighter bars of this width, but they are about as stiff as a pair of shoe laces.

The only drawback to extra-wide bars like these is felt when climbing. During very steep ascents, the front end feels like it wants to come off the ground, and it takes more effort to keep the bike straight. Moving your hands inboard and/or leaning forward during these situations will get you through them.

I recommend the ODI 750 Flight Control Bars to All-Mountain and trail riders, but pure XC riders who want to experiment will be better served by the 711 width bars.

Luke Gear, Mountain, Product Reviews

 

Masters of design Troy Lee and grip manufacturer ODI have teamed up to produce an awesome new MTB grip. Many of us here at Art’s Cyclery are already sold on the Troy Lee/ODI Signature Grip, and after looking at all of it’s features it’s not hard to see why.

 

You will never be at a loss for traction with this grip. It’s three-dimensional grid pattern has tons of edges cut to bite into your glove and eliminate slipping. Riders in wet conditions should love this grip, as the grid pattern creates channels so water and debris will clear quickly, or at least stay below the surfaces of the grip that provides traction. These grips are on the thin side, with a bit more volume than ODI Ruffians, but not as thick as the Rouge or Oury grips. 

 Another stand-out feature of the Troy Lee/ODI hand holder is the use of small flanges on either end of the grip. You might look at the minimal projections and wonder what, if any, effect they have on performance. Well, in this case, less is definitely more. Because they are so small, they don’t get in the way of shifting (on the inboard side), or feel uncomfortable when you are climbing (outboard), yet still provide landmarks so you know exactly where your hands are positioned. Feeling the outboard flange against your finger somehow gives you a little extra confidence to weight your bars in a turn. Additionally, the “ramp” on the opposite side of the grip that the flange is on prevents the locking collar from digging into the heel of your hand.

 These grips come in several colors; Red/Black, Black/Silver, White/Red, and Yellow/Purple, and are all available from artscyclery.com.

Troy Lee/ODI Signature Grip

Pro

• Full-wrap traction for limitless grip
• Flanges provide points of reference without hindering performance
• Thin for control
• Grid pattern clears water and debris
• Easy installation and slip-free, lock-on performance

Con

• On the thin side, so might not provide the cushion you’re used to if you like thick grips
• The flanges take up a little room; if you wear XXL gloves you might feel cramped

Luke Gear, Mountain, Product Reviews