Strong Attendance on Day One at North American Handmade Bicycle Show

INDIANAPOLIS — Some 1700 tickets were sold for Day One of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) at Indianapolis, Friday 27th February.  This figure is a new record crowd for Friday.

View images of fixed gear bikes from the show below.

Seasons Mountain Bike Film Review

Several weeks ago I threw on my mini skirt and my high heels and went out into the snow and ice filled streets of Park City and tried to get in parties that I was not on the list for at the Sundance Film Festival. Okay since I look awful in a mini skirt and the high heels kill my toes I opted not to go party hopping and celebutard hunting. Instead I went to the X-Dance Festival showings. X-Dance is the action sports film festival held at the same time as the Sundance Film Festival. This is something that is really cool for all action sports. Much of the time the film producers, directors, and athletes show up and will answer questions about their films. It is definitely a push in the right direction for action sports a like, including mountain biking.

This year the mountain biking film Seasons was among the films selected for the X-Dance Film Festival and I went to the screening of it. I have to say my socks were blown off when I saw this film. Seasons is a mountain bike film by The Collective and it follows seven of the worlds tops mountain bikers through all four seasons of the year. The four seasons theme was one that I was stoked on instead of a “trick documentary” on who can go the gnarliest it followers the riders on how they prepare to do what they do best, then it shows them out and throwing down their best lines later on in the film. With this unique format you really feel that you get to know the riders of this film and see what they go through to prepare for what we see in normal videos and magazines.

One of the things I really liked about this film is it wasn’t just a huck fest. Don’t get me wrong I love watching footage of the Red Bull Rampage that takes place down in Virgin, UT. I love seeing Utah footage and gnarly cliff dropping footage as well. This film has a lot more finesse style of riding. Bottom line this film has the best trail shots that I have ever seen, hands down no question about it.. Trail footage is defiantly more difficult to capture well than jumps and cliffs. The director was there and he said for one of the segments they had a 500 foot zip line follow cam set up through the trees. It took them over a day and a half just to setup the camera.

Another thing that I was pretty stoked on was showing what riders do in the offseason. What these guys do when they are training make them seem more human than just some nut job freak of natures. This film captures how these amazing athletes get to be where they are at through their off season training. Showing the riders training and learning process made my respect for these riders grow even more by seeing how hard they work to do what they do so well.

There was a decent amount of contest and race footage in this film as well. The way captured these events was only on the riders that were in the film, so it wasn’t much of the other competitors. This was a different approach most films try to show the best and worst footage of what went down in a contest or race but this film showed as much of the riders’ runs as possible. Some of the trails that these downhill guys hit for the races are insane. Plus in the contests the features that they have are just as insane as some of the freeriding hits that they take.

One of the biggest highlights of the film was the end. The filmmakers got all the riders in the movie together at a house up at Whistler and did some freeriding group rides. Since this is such a dynamic group of riders from racers to freeriders that is made for some awesome shots with the different backgrounds.

Seasons is defiantly a movie to pick up, this video will totally motivate you to get out and ride and push yourself to new heights on a bike. It is hands down my favorite mountain bike movie of all time.

For more info check out the website.

North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) Descends on Indianapolis this Weekend (February 27 through March 1)

The fifth annual North American Handmade Bicycle Show is taking place at the Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, this weekend beginning Friday, February 27. For those who have dreamed of owning a custom ride, this is the place to come and drool. The inaugural exhibition was rather humble, with 23 exhibitors and only 200 attendees. This year the NAHBS is boasting 116 exhibitors (has anyone ever seen 116 custom bikes in the same room?) and record-setting attendance. The show moves its location each year for the convenience of the builders and attendees, and with the intent of spreading the good word about small builders and custom bicycle frame building.

Attendees can expect to see exhibited wares from such exalted builders as Ahearne, De Rosa, Moots, Serotta, Calfee, Crumpton, Vanilla, Naked, De Salvo, Independent Fabrication, Pereira, and a multitude of other bicycle and component manufacturers. One of the aims of the show is to be a meeting point for frame builders and consumers looking for custom-made bicycles. From retro to cutting-edge technologies, attendees are certain to find more than a few items that will send their mind reeling with dreams of owning and riding a handcrafted bike.

As most of the exhibitors are small businesses that lack large advertising budgets, the NAHBS is a great place for the consumer to compare builders and get a good idea of how they want to spend their hard-earned dollars. No where else in the world will an individual be able to view so many beautiful bicycles and have a chance to meet the men and women who have toiled to bring their creations into existence. Here’s the when and how:

Tickets: $15 ONLINE!! $20 at the door!! Take advantage!!
Children under 5 free
Children age 6-14 $8/day

Register online at: http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com

Show Hours

Friday, Feb. 27: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Open to Public

Saturday, Feb 28: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Open to Public

Sunday, March 1: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Open to Public

If you can’t attend the event be sure to watch MTObikes.com for updates and photos from our correspondents.

Hoss Technical Gear Stallion Mountain Bike Shorts Review

For too long mountain bikers have endured some of the worst fashion options from all the major cycling clothing companies. Ironically, the cycling world has frequently intermingled with the fashion world (Ciao!), but we grubby mountain bikers have suffered through poor design and ugly styles. It seems simple, right? All we want is a decent chamois coupled to a pair of baggy shorts that don’t make us look (too) dorky. Why has this been such an elusive product? We’ve had to endure uncomfortable polyester blends, ragged and irritable elastic that rubs your butt after one wash, no pockets, that horrendous full-diaper feeling, and worst of all the ubiquitous black/khaki/disgusting-print options we’ve been offered for style. Finally, after a few decades now, we’re starting to get a few options on the market we haven’t seen before, from multiple manufacturers. I hesitate to say I see cool shorts everywhere, but we’re definitely moving in the right direction.

Fortunately for us, the good people at Hoss Technical Gear seem to have listened to the wailing complaints of the market place. Look, I ride a road bike (occasionally), and yes, I wear your typical black spandex when I’m posing as a roadie. Through most of the winter I’m a poorly disguised mountain biker logging miles on my road bike while I wait for the warmer months (just for fitness, I swear!). So I don’t mind looking like a tool, and sorry Lance, you look like a tool on your road bike. We all do, no matter how hard we try. Nobody gets into cycling for the fashion, and I can only think of a few people I would like to see in a roadie kit, and I never see them out there pedaling.  Read more

Dakine AMP 12L Hydration Pack Review

The 2009 Dakine AMP pack gets a makeover including the all new reservoir making it a great backpack for mountain biking.  DaKine makes a huge improvement by teaming up with HydraPak to include HydraPak’s Reversible Reservoir II Hydration System with the 12L Amp.  The addition of the new reservoir automatically increases the stock value of this unit.  If you are unfamiliar with this hydration system, read our review of it…hands down, one of the best bladders on the market!

In addition to the Reversible Reservoir II Hydration System, the pack comes complete with XC helmet carry straps (works using helmet’s chin straps), quick access mesh pockets, fleece sunglass pocket, tube/pump sleeves and a molded back panel with air channel ventilation.  Although we didn’t use the helmet carry straps in our testing, we really loved the numerous zippered pockets included the fleece lined sunglass pocket, tube/pump sleeves and padded MP3 player pocket were a huge plus.  Commuters and night riders will appreciate having a small loop located at the bottom of the front of the bag specifically designed for a reflector or flashing light.

The pack uses a light weight nylon material and integrates a breathable mesh material on the shoulder and removable waist strap as well as on the back panel.  We found that the tube sleeve was large enough to fit up to two tubes which we thought was a nice feature for long epic rides over challenging terrain. We used the large tube sleeve to our advantage for stuffing our multi-tool and CO2 cartridges in with 1-2 tubes.

The padded MP3 player pocket is well situated inside the large compartment of the pack and shares the same opening as the reservoirs tube for the headphones leading to an elastic strap on the should strap opposite the shoulder strap with the reservoir tube.  This was a very noticeable feature compared to other packs that fail to include either a designated pocket for an MP3 player or those that don’t take into account the headphones of such devices and leaving them unsecured.  Read more

HydraPak Reversible Reservoir II Hydration System Review

If you are familiar with the traditional hydration reservoir like the bladder found inside of a CamelBak you are well aware of one major problem, the inability to easily clean the bladder.  After a ride a year ago or so I said the following to my girlfriend, “it’d be great if there was a bladder that sealed like a Ziploc so it’d be easier to clean.”  My thought was that if the opening at the top was larger it would be easy to clean the inside of the unit without using the “hanger” or “freezer” method and eliminate the need for something like the ZeroGoo unit that we previously reviewed.

HydraPak took my simple idea and made it far better with their Reversible Reservoir II Hydration System.  We first became acquainted with this reservoir hydration system when we tested the Dakine AMP backpack, however the reservoir was first introduced in 2008.  We quickly stopped using any other reservoir we had on hand.

The Reversible Reservoir II Hydration System features a 36″ Drink Tube, 90deg. Bite Valve, Quickdraw Tube Attachment, Plug-N-Play Connector, and Straight Bite Valve Base.

We loved everything about the HydraPak Reversible Reservoir II Hydration System

The reservoir itself is ingenious.  The opening of the reservoir folds over itself and is secured in place by the easy on, easy off, Slide Seal, a sliding  plastic clip which slides across the top of the reservoir.  Think of the bladder as a Ziploc bag that gets folded over itself and then you slide the white little plastic piece across the top…it is very similar.  When it is time to clean the bladder you simply slide the plastic clip off, unfold the reservoir, reach inside and turn it inside out.  Amazing!  Read more

Brent Thomson – R.I.P.

Industry Legend Leaves – PayPal Donations Still Needed

Las Vegas, NV – February 18, 2009 - -  Brent Thomson, Mountain Bike Industry Legend and Trail Master of Bootleg Canyon (trail used for the Interbike Dirt Demo) has lost his battle with complications from the Quadruple Bypass surgery he underwent in January.

While surgery went well and Brent was coherent and talking after recovery, a series of post-operative strokes took him back to the Intensive Care Unit where he eventually succumbed to complications from the surgery.

Brent’s son Barret was at his side with relatives as his condition worsened. “Brent appreciated and was aware of all of the love and support that the mountain bike industry has shown through this difficult time” said Barret. “There’s been an outpouring of emotion and support from all of his friends and the industry, and we’re making plans for a memorial event to be held at Bootleg Canyon over St. Patrick’s Day Weekend (March 14-15.)”  Read more

The San Juan and Candy Store Mountain Bike Trail

It’s amazing the things that were around me, that I never realized were there, that is until the whole mountain biking bug got me.

The San Juan Trail, and the Candy Store Trail are just about 35 minutes from my house, and I never even knew they existed 3 months ago. But they have become two of my favorite trails. Now I am not a hard core XC rider, that said, we shuttle these two trails, they do have some pedaling mixed in with the downhill and it’s a pretty good workout (for me). Usually we go in a group and park one car at the bottom to bring the driver of the other car back to the top to get his truck. You need a forest Adventure pass to park there; the rangers do patrol the area periodically to check for them. A year pass is only 35 bucks, well worth it.

I ride with my 2 sons mostly and some of their friends, yeah, I know, my two sons! Yep, well I am 50, and have been doing the 2 wheel thing since I was old enough to push a pedal or twist a throttle. My 2 rides on the San Juan Trail, and 2 on the Candy Store section, have been in the best conditions, winter, cool temperature and 3 of the rides were after rain or during, making the sandstone like trails the perfect texture for some great riding.

This is single track riding, mostly between bushes and manzanita. That Manzanita will rip you right off your bike, shred your jersey, poke your arm, maybe draw a little blood, and then not even look like you touched it. There are some awesome switchbacks, fast narrow sections and some sections that weave under a canopy of trees, it is almost too beautiful of a scene to just bomb past.  Read more

Last Day to Support Bikes in National Parks

Action Alert – Deadline for official comments is Feb. 17.

For Immediate Release
02-12-09
Contact: Drew Vankat, Policy Analyst
drew@imba.com
303-545-9011

Ask all of your riding friends to take action and support improved mountain biking opportunities in U.S. national parks. We’re down to the final week for public comments — this is your last chance! Please forward this alert to everyone who rides; we need their support to create better trail experiences in America’s most treasured parks.

Take Action!

IMBA’s online form makes it easy to send your letter to the National Park Service (NPS).

This important rule change will let individual parks — using established processes for public comment and environmental review — decide whether to expand mountain biking on dirt trails. This is a monumental change that benefits mountain bikers in several ways:

More Great Riding Near You

NPS properties can be found in rural, suburban and urban areas throughout the country. With 391 park units, there are NPS lands you may not even know about.

Increased Park Visitation Fosters Environmental Stewardship

As a “gateway sport,” bicycling attracts new people to outdoor recreation in national parks and provides them an ideal way to appreciate the natural world.

Bicycling Will Gain Momentum

With the NPS rule change official, trail users, land managers and public officials will receive a strong message that bicycling is a positive form of outdoor recreation. Picture the impact this will have on state and regional parks, as well as future environmental planning and recreation across the country.

Want to learn more about the proposed rule change? See our comprehensive analysis, including NPS issues mountain biking can alleviate.

IMBA has been asking for this change since 1993. The time is upon us and we need you to support the NPS in their efforts to improve mountain bike access in our national parks.

By joining IMBA you demonstrate your support of national parks and bicycling.

The advances this decision will make for the parks, environment and your riding lifestyle are truly remarkable. But the clock is ticking – we urge you to become a member today. If you care about mountain biking and national parks, you belong with us.

Why Is Steel So “Real?”

Anyone who’s kicked around a bike shop on a Saturday has heard, possibly ad nauseam, the perennial phrase “Steel is Real.” If you’ve ever wondered about the reasoning behind this maxim, you’re not alone. Choosing a frame material, especially for the neophyte rider, can be overwhelming. Most of the bikes in your local bike shop are probably made of aluminum, the nicer road and mountain bikes are now made of carbon, a couple expensive ones will be made of titanium, and there might be a steel bike laying around somewhere. Steel is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) bicycle frame building material that is still available today. For years steel dominated the bicycle market as the frame material of choice. In the past twenty years or so other materials have crept onto the bicycle scene. Some have stayed and some have gone, new materials for bike frames have been discovered and tested, but steel has maintained its viability and is beloved by many a cyclist. “Steel is Real” is not a saying fueled strictly by nostalgia–steel has proven itself and isn’t going anywhere.

We won’t bother talking about the first bike built out of steel, this isn’t a history lesson in the chronology of bike building, but we will talk about the qualities that have made it a favorite among custom builders and aficionados. The next time you’re slacking at work, take a look at the photo gallery from any of the last four National Handbuilt Bicycle Shows (NAHBS). You’ll find a couple aluminum bikes, a handful of titanium frames, one or two carbon bikes from renowned bicycle magnates, and an overwhelming majority of steel frames. So the question remains, with all the advances in technology and design, why is steel even a consideration for boutique designers? With a bit of examination we find that those who have been around bicycles and bike-building for significant amounts of time have the ability to weigh all the criteria of a material coupled with the desires of a rider to build an optimally performing machine. One whose ride quality, strength, stiffness, cost, and overall performance have been considered. Let’s make something clear: Any material on the market (and hopefully more to come) can be crafted into an elegant and appreciable ride if placed in the hands of a conscientious craftsman. However, steel still seems to find a way to satisfy all the criteria most builders consider.  Read more

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