Gear & Training
On Her Birthday, Give the Gift of Bike
May 27th
For her birthday forget the flowers, fancy dinners, jewelry…wait a second, let me rephrase that, “In addition to the flowers, fancy dinner and jewelry, give her the gift that will touch her in a way no other gift could, the gift of the bicycle”. Brian Goldstone has done just this for his wife for her 40th birthday. Apparantley there was some jaw dropping and a whole lot of stoke!
- Happy Birthday!
Here’s a breakdown of the build:
- Specialized Safire Frame
- Sram XX fork
- Fox Triad rear shock
- Sram XO Pinkslip rear derailleur, cogset, shifters.
- XT front derailleur
- Truvativ Noir 3.3 tm cranks
- Crank Bros pedals
- Hope Mini Brakes
- Industry Nine Hubs and Spokes
- Sun Mtx 33 Rims in Pink Camo
- Syncros Micro-Adjust seatpost
- Terry Damselfly saddle
- Truvativ AKA Stem
- FSA XC 282 Bar
- Race Face Grips
- Cane Creek headset
- S-works The Captain tires
- Twenty Six seat clamp and bar caps
Lordy Lordy! That's an incredible birthday gift you have there!
Brian would like to thank the following companies for their help in this project:
Corsa Cycles
Cove Bikes
SRAM
Industry Nine
FSA
Syncros
The 2011 Rocky Mountain Slayer: The makeover of the year!
Apr 15th
Pinkbike.com discovers the 2011 Rocky Mountain Slayer at Sea Otter.
A little botox and collagen makes the new Slayer a winner on The Swan!
Specs for the Slayer 70:
-29.2 pounds with out pedals!
-66.5 Degree Head angle
-75 degree seat angle (Straight Up Geometry)
-Easton Haven Bar and Stem
-Fox 36 Talas 160 up front
-165 mm of rear travel via the smooth link suspension platform
-SRAM X.9 shifters and rear derailleur
-SLX Front derailleur e-type mount
-Formula ONE brakes
-Race Face SIxC carbon Cranks
-ISCG Tabs
-DT Swiss EX500 rims laced to DT Swiss 240S hubs
-Cane Creek Headset
-Fizik Tundra Saddle
-Maxxis Ardent Tires
-Price = TBA
-www.bikes.com
Check out the full article HERE
Why Sram’s New 2X10 Just Works:
Mar 21st
This new and exiting product explained, ladies.
Original press release:
“The benefits SRAM 2X10 delivers—a full range of usable gears, less weight, and easier and smoother shifting in all terrains—are becoming understood by riders of all levels, not just cross country pros. To fully appreciate how SRAM 2X10 can help you make the most of your ride, we wanted to provide a comprehensive resource for all the facts, figures, and opinions about 2X10, the role of Truvativ’s X-Glide technology, Exact Actuation and all the benefits of a 2X10 drivetrain for every kind of riding.”
What this means for you on the trails ladies:
- As female riders we are usually looking to lighten our load. Now you may think a few grams here and there aren’t going to make much of a difference but when you add up that weight loss for entire component group, (brakes, shifters, derailleurs, cranks, chainrings and cassette) it certainly can effect overall weight and performance.
- It allows for a much narrower stance on the bike which is ideal for those with a smaller frame and will allow for better controlled riding.
- Minimizes cross-chaining. This happens when you’re pedalling in the large front chain ring and the smallest chainring on the rear and results in poor pedalling and chain wear. The straighter the line the smoother the pedalling.
The bad news: the XX model retails at a whopping $2430! And that doesn’t include their RockShox XX fork which retails between $724 and $1200.
The good news: For the first time SRAM offers the right combination of matching SRAM X7 components. SRAM X7 features 2X10drivetrain, X-Glide front shifting, Exact Actuation, new PowerGlide cassette ratios, carbon cage rear derailleurs new S1400 crank offering and Avid Elixir R brakes. SRAM 2X10 is becoming understood by riders of all levels and segments by delivering a full range of usable gears, less weight and faster and smoother shifting. They build on this with choice, and a strong materials mix aimed at mid-level XC to entry level downhillers and freeriders.
The Blue Collar Component Group
Stay posted for upcoming Muddbunnies product reviews.
Norco, thank you! Ladies, the wait is over…
Mar 20th
Finally a bike you can shred the local trails and accessorize with your hipster Shutter Shades, purple bandanas, and skinny jeans, (though be warned: you may have to fight off the local dirt jumpers who will be circling your ride like a Flock of Seagulls). Oh yes, the wait is over, presenting the new and incredibly sexy…
2010 Norco Vixa
Words by Sharon Bader, photos by Lee Lau, article posted by NSMB.com
Norco introduced the Vixa in 2009 in response to a demand for a female-specific freeride bike. The bike was a hit, and it’s back in 2010 with a few minor tweaks to make it more rideable. New for this year is a shorter chainstay and slightly longer toptube to improve the fit for smaller-statured female riders.
The hydroformed frame offers 152mm/6” of travel. The 66° head angle on the bike, combined with a 6” non-adjustable fork, biases this bike towards the freeride category. It is available in three sizes: extra small, small and medium. I’m testing a medium for this review.
For FULL review click here: http://nsmb.com/3585-gear-shots-60-norco-race-face-chromag/
Just how many bikes has Sharon Bader leaned against this wall? Hmm...
How To: Descending Tricky Switchbacks
Apr 14th
Okay Bunnies the season is upon us! Can you believe the weather on the coast this past weekend? In lieu of the recent weather patterns and to get prepared for the next two weekends of warm temperatures, here’s some great riding tips from mountainbike.com:
The Expert: Speed is second nature to 27-year-old Kona rider Ryan Trebon: The 6-foot-5 Oregonian has worn a stars-and-stripes National Champion’s jersey two years in a row (in ’06, it was for XC and cyclocross; in ’07, short track). What may not be obvious is the amount of thought that goes into that speed, especially on tight, technical downhill switchbacks. “They’re probably the most challenging thing for me to ride, simply because of my size,” Trebon says. “My center of gravity is so high and the bike is so long that it makes negotiating them more difficult.” The good news is that Trebon has spent plenty of time figuring out the best way to twist through those problem corners–and he’s willing to share his hard-won knowledge. Here’s his advice for tackling tight, tricky downhill turns.
Prepare to turn As you approach the turn, stand, level the cranks and move your weight behind the seat. If you need to brake, now’s the time–during the turn, hard braking means less control overall. As for speed: “There’s a fine line between going too slow and going too fast,” says Trebon. “Many people, if they’re apprehensive, make the mistake of going too slow. It’s better to have a little speed.” aim wide Shoot for the outside line as you get closer to the turn, and ride that edge as you make the turn; as you exit, head back toward the center of the trail. “If you use the whole trail as you head into the turn,” Trebon explains, “you basically make the turn longer and straighten it out a little more.” He compares it to a semi truck making a 90-degree turn–cut it too soon, and the semi bangs into the curb and all sorts of bad things happen. But ride the outside edge of the turn to its midpoint, and you get through with no problems.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE
