It’s so totally not exclusive that it’s not even here. While the rest of the world’s MTB media were being given the release of Shimano’s new XTR (even the Aussies got to go), Spoke was left watching Battlestar Galactica re-runs. So if you have been sleeping under a rock (like us) head over to Bike Mag for their rundown on all things that begin with X.
TOTALLY NOT EXCLUSIVE – 2011 XTR
MOTOMUCK
The folks at Sportspro sent this bike cleaner down yesterday and it couldn’t have been better timed. When I left for Europe over a month ago, my bike was covered in mud. I thought that maybe on my return one of my kids might have cleaned Dad’s bike, but that didn’t happen. So yesterday I gave the Motomuck a crack. You just spray it on (lots of it) to the dirty dry bike. Let it sit for ten minutes and then spray it off. Done. Did it work? Well the mud on my bike was really caked on, I knocked a few big chunks off with a stick before spraying the Motomuck on, but seriously I’d say 99% of the mud just fell off when I sprayed it with the hose. So damn simple. It’s New Zealand made and is currently undergoing a little bit of rebranding but you should see this stuff in bike stores soon. A two litre container will be $19.95 and a 500ml squirter bottle will be $9.95. READ MORE
LAWN DARTS AND TOE RAGS
That's Sparrow and a new Ground Effect T-shirt
Ground Effect is trying to reignite the long-dead flame of the sport of Lawn Darts (basically giant darts). The sport was banned in the US when a Lawn Dart killed a small child (it impaled her in the head). Anyway with Ground Effect’s latest TT2 tee, designed by ex-Spoke designer Emma Gee, Lawn Darts are back, although they are now on bikes and wear helmets and are in fact human Lawn Darts. In the same package that contained these tees was a revised version of the classic Toe Rag sock; I’m wearing them right now actually. They fit super snug, and feature new graphics as well as a tighter fit. Oh and how awesome is this, I can’t even tell you when they are coming out, ’cause I have no idea. Just keep your eyes on the Ground Effect website. READ MORE
ME (AND THE ANTI-FUN-HATERS) VS THE WORLD
Somehow I have an entry to the Single Speed World Champs in Rotorua. I’m kind of freaking out a little. You see, I’ve never ridden a singlespeed and I obviously don’t own one so I’m having to build one. That said I’m part of the unofficial Anti-Fun-Hating team (along with Jono Baddiley, Lester Perry, Ross Schnell, Laurence Mote and Tall Beast). The prerequisite for being a member of this team is that your bike has to have a minimum of four inches rear travel which in most cases is normally your everyday geared bike. Not being very mechanically minded, I searched out the easiest possible way to one-gear my Nomad and thanks to LaMote found this little gem: the YESS ETR-D. READ MORE
SRAM – TWO BY TEN
It’s not like we haven’t ridden SRAM’s 2×10 yet, but as of Friday we have formalised the relationship. Ignoring that fact that we tested XX a while back on a lightweight race bike, the only times we’ve had on X7/X9 and X0 versions have either been on pre-production samples or for very brief one-off rides. But we now have ourselves a complete bike built up with all X0 bits and pieces for review in our December issue. We even snuck on a new Revelation RLTTi (20mm Maxle) fork which we will also be reviewing in December. Anyway here’s what it all looked like new. Hopefully it looks like this after we’ve finished with it! READ MORE
GT 2011 PRODUCT LAUNCH REDUX
So I went to France at the end of last month to check out GT Bikes’ 2011 offerings and their revised brand direction. It was a trip that held a few firsts for me. My first time in Europe, my first time at an actual bike company’s official press camp, and it would turn out to be the first time I’ve ever ridden a GT that actually fit me. So I had these grand plans about shooting a whole bunch of photos and dropping some pretty exclusive content from the launch, but that didn’t happen. Well, because riding for five days straight aboard brand new GTs on some pretty cool French trails takes its toll on you, as does eating breakfast, lunch and dinner in fancy restaurants. The fact that GT also had two full time photographers on hand to capture everything kinda added to my lack of shooting as well. And it’s not often that I get to ride without a camera bag and when I do get the chance to leave my gear in the hotel room I leap at it. Anyway that’s enough of that, you want to see bikes. Some of you have probably already seen them anyway on other websites so I’ll just give you a bit of a low down on my picks from the new range. READ MORE
THE STORY OF SHIMANO XTR PART TWO
Anthill delve deeper into the story of XTR, long time Shimano Skunk rider Paul Thomasberg goes inside the walls of Shimano to introduce the development team as they take you through the intricate process to refine and perfect the new XTR.
TREK UNVEILS 2011 SCRATCH AIR, REMEDY 9.9 AND FUEL EX
This year, the Scratch Air gets even more dialled with a true custom tune rebound setting on the VX Can RP23, a Fox 36 Talas fork and DT Swiss wheels.
Everyone is having press camps right now, everyone. Today though it’s Trek and they are in France right now riding the same tracks I’ll be on next week. Anyway, today they just rolled out the new 2011 Scratch Air. It looks a little more trail orientated than its freeride siblings with two rings and a Joplin 4 out back. Like a few other bikes out at the moment it has a flippable chip or “Mino” to alter angles. Trek also released an updated Remedy 9.9. that’s—you guessed it—lighter, faster, and stiffer than the 2010 bike. As well as a new Fuel EX. There’s more info and photos after the jump. READ MORE
TESTING THE SANTA CRUZ V 10.4
Seb was there. Infact some of these fang-dangled riding photos are of him test riding the new Santa Cruz V10.4
MORE AVANTI SNEAK PEEKS
Avanti seems to have a pretty good handle on this whole thing called the Internet, utilising Twitter, Facebook and even Issuu where they have just posted up a partial showing of their new 2011 range. Obviously it’s not the complete 2011 range as there are a few high end models missing, but the full launch can’t be far off. Check it out here. READ MORE
