Ergon BC2 Pack - First Look

Click here to go to the full review of the Ergon BC2

The Ergon BC2 is one of the most interesting packs, I have been ever worn, and it's got some highly innovative and functional features. The foremost is their unique frame system. It uses their flexible Profax PP frame, which transfers 80% of the pack's load onto the hips, and is combined with the Flink ball joint, which allows the shoulder harness to freely pivot.

SmartWool Betasso Shorts and Jersey - First Look

I had always been aware of SmartWool, but more as a winter apparel company. They are venturing deeper into the bicycle world now, and they sent along some tasty treats to test out. SmartWool uses New Zealand Merino Wool, which has some pretty amazing properties. It's odor free, warm, highly breathable, itch free, with great moisture and temperature regulation.

Drift Innovations HD170 - First Look

The Drift Innovations HD170 is a rugged outdoor sports video camera, that is easy to use. It has an excellent usage factor, combining loud indicator beeps for mode changes, a fully rotatable lens and a useful LCD screen, that does horizontal alignment and recorded viewing. The camera records in a vast array of high definition video resolutions up to 1080p, and has proven itself to take nice footage with great clarity and beautiful colors.

Specialized Rocca Grips – First Look

I just got a set of Specialized Rocca Locking Grips in for a test. They are slightly thick, but soft enough for some comfort and terrain absorption, due to their dual density composition. The texture offers good control without adding any undo irritation, and it works well in adverse and wet conditions. I had no issue during a rainstorm the other day, and felt no slippage. Bashing through rock gardens was comfortable, while still giving an enough tactile feel for minute terrain alterations and steering control. The grips lock down with a single sided clamp, using a 3mm hex bolt. You do need to clamp it down tight, else it can slip, but the bolt allowed enough clamping force to keep the grip secure.

Pastajet's Interbike 2010

Well, another Interbike show wrapped up a couple of weeks ago, and it was entertaining and tiring, but it was fun to catch up with old friends and meet a few new ones. It was hotter and windier than normal at the Outdoor portion, making for a couple of sand filled desiccating days. Indoors was the usual monstrous mess of booths, and I kept getting lost (as usual), and thank goodness for maps and overhead signage.

Bikes just keep getting better, both the frames and components. When comparing the same types of bikes (All Mountain, for example), the differences between them are becoming more subtle, as the manufacturer is building excellent product, that are functional and well engineered. It is hard to pick trends each year, but in general the direction is for more suspension, especially on a bike that can be ridden uphill. Components are getting lighter, with accompanying durability, and bike gearing has evolved (or devolved) to 10 speeds, although there's a large continuing renaissance for single speeds, with a lot of bikes using belt drive systems. Now that Europe has decided that 29er is not a lunatic North American biking variant, more 29er bikes, wheels, forks and tires are being released. A couple of the smaller helmet manufacturers, POC and Kali are morphing their full faced helmet technical protection innovations to their cross country versions, which is a good sign for continued helmet safety.

White Brothers at Interbike 2010

White Bros is doing a wholesale change with their fork line, and the new suspended fork will be the Loop. The Loop has 32mm stanchions, cast magnesium lowers, forged alloy crown, optimized butted legs, the Aura damper with rebound control and air spring and the QtapeR15 15mm axle. The Loop will come in 26", 650b and 29" sizes, with travel option of 80-150mm and tapered steerer. They plan to introduce a new fork series every year over the next few years.

kuat at Interbike 2010

Kuat as always, had some new items, such as their retrofit for the popular NV bike rack that allows four bikes, and then a trick beta trailer hitch for the NV. The prototype NV hitch, called the Lynx, is just the bottom portion of the NV rack, will forgo the cam cinch knob (removes the wobble from the receiver/hitch interface), and instead uses a large lever to tighten it down in one simple movement. I really like the giant lever idea, since it is easier to use, and it appears to be less susceptible to damage than the plastic cam knob (I broke one driving into a ditch).

Shimano at Interbike 2010

Shimano's new Dyna-Sys drivetrain system was announced at Sea Otter this year, where they were showing their XT and SLX groups. At Interbike, Shimano was showing their flagship XTR group, which includes the Dyna-Sys drivetrain, and totally redesigned hydraulic brake system. The XTR group is broken up into two categories, the Race and Trail. The new XTR crankset will have two versions, the Trail FC-M980, which has double 39/24 or triple 43/42/24 options, and the Race FC-M985, which is only double, with 40/28, 42/30 or 44/30 options. The three piece spider 10 speed cassette comes in 11/36 and 11/34 combination's, with the largest 5 made from titanium. The directional chain was specifically designed for mountain biking, and the inner and outer plates are asymmetric for better front and rear shifting.

Gore Bike Wear at Interbike 2011

Gore Bike Wear's new Fusion AS Cross jacket was pretty sweet looking, and had plenty of innovative and functional features. The first one that captures your eye, is the wear resistant stripes on the shoulder area and the outer arms. The patches protect the outer fabric, from abrasion, tears and scratches, greatly helping the longevity of the jacket. The outer material is the light windproof and water resistant Windstopper Active Shell, which has excellent breathability. Stretchy sections of Windstopper are added on the sides and elbows for comfort and maneuverability. Other features are underarm vents, front zipper, Napoleon pocket, and an adjustable hem. The Fusion AS Cross jacket should be an excellent cool weather and transitional season product, that is comfortable, durable and functional.

Moots at Interbike 2010

Moots will be celebrating 30 years in the bike business in 2011, and their first frame those many years ago, was a custom steel road bike. They are obviously, now known for the exquisite titanium frames. New for 2011 is the Mooto X RSL (Race Super Light), which is a 29er, and is built for cross country racing. The light and stiff frameset, has an oversized PressFit 30 bottom bracket, single butted seat tube that uses 30.9" seatpost (yes, not a misprint), a very subtle curved down tube, bowed out chainstays for mud and tire clearance, and an oversized headtube. It will come in 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 22" sizes and their usual custom if so desired. The bike has their usual gorgeous welds, and the gently swoop of the downtube really adds to the lines of the bike.