Art’s Cyclery Blog

The Troy Lee/ODI Signature Grip in action

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. 

You can see the many edges that provide endless grip.

 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.

The flanges look small, but they do a lot of work!

 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

We’re huge fans of WTB products and are super stoked on the new TCS tires. For those who want to know what all the hubbub is about, Decline Magazine has done an excellent review. Though they state the TCS tires are the same weight as the race versions, our own independent testing has shown that the TCS tires are in fact heavier (considerably in some cases) than their Race counterparts. However, they are every bit worth the cost – and weight. Actual weights can be found on our website. Look for our own review soon. We’ve been thrashing around a set of Weirwolf 2.3 AM TCS’s and are so far in love with them. In the mean time, check out this article, as it does a great job of explaining the technology behind the tire.

Hammer On

Bradstone Mountain, Product Reviews

Cerro San Luis (San Luis Mountain) lies smack-dab in the middle of San Luis Obispo and is a big part of everyone’s mountain-biking experience here. It’s the go-to ride-from-the-shop during the summer, and if you live or work in SLO, it’s easy to ride Cerro San Luis before or after work, and the mountain has a little bit of everything; singletrack, fire road, steep sections both up and down, and rocks. Lots of rocks. The trail on the backside of the mountain is known as the Rock Garden, and while it’s not the gnarliest trail around, it definitely has consequences if you fall. Many local riders have intimate relationships with the Rock Garden, and Anthony Medaglia, SRAM engineer, is one of the fastest. Enjoy this POV video and if you live here, compare Anthony’s run to the lines you usually take. Also, always send a buddy down ahead of you to make sure there aren’t any hikers. Don’t risk having mountain bikers kicked off the mountain.

Luke Mountain

The anxiously awaited Troy Lee D3 helmet has finally hit the shelves at Art’s Cyclery! Be assured, the wait was worth it. The Troy Lee D3 is an awesome helmet. Amazing looks, very light, and incredible protection all come together in this very special helmet. 

The concerns about the helmet looking “bulbous” are unfounded. The D3 has an extra 1/4″ of foam compared to the D2, but it is a very sleek-looking lid. There is no way you will look anything but pro with the D3 on your dome.

The graphics on the D3 line-up are probably the coolest of any  Troy Lee helmet—moto models included. Check ‘em out and buy one now—supplies are limited.

Luke Mountain

Many of you remember the glory days Mountain Biking, when small part, home-grown companies ruled the market and the more parts you had anodized on your bike the better. Well those days are back… almost. The new Truvativ Noir Cranks, along with PG-990 cassettes, X.O rear derailleurs, and X.O shifters are available in colors! Now these aren’t full blown, fully colored pieces, but they’re a small step inthe right direction. We’re slowly returning to the day where my bike could have the same component spec as yours yet they don’t have to look like it. Finally, some individuality for all us individualists. Check them out here.

Hammer On

Bradstone Mountain, Product Reviews

Further proof that Art’s Cyclery permeates the world of cycling can be found in 2010 Specialized bicycle catalogs. Art’s very own Matt Gutowski, who makes sure our products are responsibly accounted for so we can then ship them to you, is well-represented throughout Specialized’s bike guides. Matt’s photography appears in the Specialized shop catalog for the Allez line, and in a two-page spread in the mountain bike catalog showcasing the Rockhopper line. Art’s has talent. Art’s has influence. Art’s has it all. Art’s is here for you!

Shooters trail in SLO. Original image used for Rockhopper line in Specialized's 2010 MTB book. Photo Matt Gutowski

Luke General, Mountain

Thanks to the volume of custom fits our trained bike fitters perform here at Art’s World Headquarters, we get a lot of one-on-one time with everyday cyclists, and thus get to hear a lot of feedback about cycling—which products are hot, opinions on pro racing, thoughts on gear, and questions about riding technique. Since many of the fits we do are for first-time bike-buyers, we get a chance to impart a few nuggets of wisdom to help speed up the learning curve. These might seem basic to experienced riders, but it never hurts to hear old information presented in a possibly new light. And if you’re just starting out, then listen up—I’m going to tell you the easiest way to get faster, without changing your diet, training more, or ingesting illegal drugs.

Spin. It’s a magic word. That one syllable contains immense power. The ultimate goal for cyclists both on-road and off-road is to have a perfectly smooth spin. In this case, spin refers to the motion of your pedals, and thus your cranks, and thus your drivetrain, and the influence it has on your power output. The goal is to “spin in circles,” meaning you should apply even power to your pedals all the way through your pedaling motion, as opposed to pushing only during the downward part of the pedal stroke. By “pulling through” the bottom of your pedal stroke, your power output continues all the way around, which keeps your speed constant, eliminating constant slow-down/acceleration cycles which waste energy and slow you down. The easiest technique I’ve heard of to improve your spin is to pretend you’re wiping mud off the sole of your shoe as your foot nears the bottom of your pedal stroke, which makes you pull back, and through, the bottom of your spin. Simultaneously, with your other leg, you want to lift your foot as if you are walking up stairs. When your foot reaches the top of the pedal stroke again, you will naturally apply force on the downstroke. By pulling through the bottom and stepping up to the top of the pedal stroke, you will consistently apply power to your pedals, and you will be using larger, more efficient muscles.

So, that’s a quick lesson on lower-body efficiency, what about your upper-body? You didn’t think that your legs did all the work, did you? Well, when it comes to creating an efficient spin, they do. Your upper body does have a prominent role in advanced techniques like sprinting and cornering, but for now, let’s try to forget about anything above your waist. Actually, forgetting about your upper body is what wastes energy and slows you down. Instead, concentrate on keeping your shoulders, arms, hands, and back as relaxed and as still as possible. By eliminating upper body movement, and by not tensing-up your shoulders, or applying a death-grip to the handlebars, more energy is available for your legs, and it’s easier to react to changes in terrain or obstacles in your path. Keeping your torso relaxed and as still as possible will save energy and increase your level of comfort.

Now you’ve got the basic tools to create an efficient, comfortable riding technique which will help keep you on the bike longer. Of course, none of this is possible without being properly fit on your bike, so be sure to visit us or your local fit specialists and set up a fit appointment if you need one. It will be money well spent!

Luke Mountain, Road, Technique

All the Troy Lee Designs D2 helmets are on sale at Art’s Cyclery for a staggering 25% off MSRP! That means you can get that Steve Peat replica helmet for 220 bucks, a savings of $75! That will leave plenty of scratch left over for you to stock up on Steve’s favorite adult beverage as you watch him go for the 2009 Downhill World Championship this weekend at Canberra, Australia.

Don’t forget, even though we only have the D2 helmets, Moto Shorts (some of our favorites), and Moto Jersey up on the site, we can get any Troy Lee item you desire, just call and ask, and we’ll be happy to ship it right to your doorstep.

Here’s a little teaser for the 2010 D3. Start saving!

Luke Gear, Mountain, Sales

Sunline Performance Components V1 handlebar is one of our favorites. It’s on about 80% of our employees personal mountain bikes here at Art’s Cyclery. The ample width (up to 745 mm) provides power-steering-like control over your bike, and the 19 mm rise is perfect for trail-riding. The V1′s are also available in a 38 mm rise as well. Most of us also use one of the many models of Sunline lock-on grips, because they have it covered, from thin to thick, from smooth to knobby, yet they are all soft and grippy, and slippage or wiggling is simply not an issue with any of their grips.

Well, now two of our favorite components have gotten better—Sunline has been releasing limited edition runs of the V1 handle bar coupled with various grips in awesome colors. These have been running out soon after becoming available, so click over and get yours now. The Red bars/White grips are already gone, and upcoming colors include Royal Blue bars/Orange grips, and Smoky Ti bars/Flouro Green grips. So keep an eye out for these collecters edition components. We will put them up for sale as soon as we get them, and it’s first-come, first-served; once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Luke Gear, Mountain

Thanks to everyone who entered Art’s Cyclery’s Bionicon Edison giveaway contest, and congratulations to our winner… Mark Bruxelles of Delaware is the lucky guy who will soon be pedaling his new Bionicon Edison around the awesome trails of White Clay Creek. The Edison is perfect for both the steep climbs and technical downhills found in the White Clay Creek zone, thanks to it’s infinitely adjustable end-to-end geometry. Head tube angles can be changed anywhere from 72º for uphill efforts, and slacked-out to 67º for critical rocky-sections and trail obstacles found in White Clay Creek, all at the push of a button. 

Don’t worry, if you missed out on the drawing, we still have plenty of Bionicon’s in stock. Give us a call and we’ll get one shipped out to you ASAP.

Luke General, Mountain