Tech news: Fox Suspension 2014

Rumours have recently been flying about as to the new products Fox will be releasing for 2014, with concrete news hitting the internet just hours ago! With a new damper for their Talas forks and a brand new shock the suspension competition is set to be better than ever after the release of the Rock Shox Pike and charger damper!

The new 2014 34 Talas fork - photo credit Vital MTB

First up is the news that the Talas system has been redesigned to give a feel more akin to their fixed travel Float forks. The damper is designed to give better bump eating ability whilst still having the hydraulically adjustable Talas capability, so the bike's geometry can be steepened to aid climbing. This new system is going to be available on all 2014 Talas forks. As well as this the  CTD (climb, trail, descend) damper has been updated for their Talas 34 160 fork. The idea of the damper is to simplify suspension adjustment, having just 3 modes, one for ascension, one for rolling, flat single track trail and the final for descending. Previously being criticized for diving in the descend setting and not offering enough support the Fox technicians have changed the tune of the damper, aiming to provide more efficiency and support in each setting.

Specification:

- New Talas adjustment system
-160mm/130mm travel (full/dropped)
-CTD damping
-Trail Adjust
-15QR thru-axle
-1964g (4.33lbs) for the 26" option
-Available in both 26" and 650B
-Rebound adjustable

The new 2014 Float X CTD shock - photo credit Vital MTB

The perhaps more exciting news for Fox fans is the release of their Float X CTD shock, a beefier design than the original with a piggy-back reservoir to improve performance. Hidden inside the shock is increased oil volume and a dual piston design which allows the shock to stay composed over rough terrain without overheating or becoming inconsistent. This is great news for the all mountain market, who've had to look to other brands for a heavy duty air shock, with the DHX air being known for a lack of support and underwhelming performance. With the ability to change between the climb, trail and descend settings the Float X is set to be a staple on many enduro bikes, growing ever closer to the performance of a coil shock without the large weight penalty! With the capability of all mountain steeds increasing by the day this is going to be high on many riders wish list!

Specification:

-CTD damping
-Brand new piggy-back reservoir platform
-Trail Adjust
-Remote option available
-Rebound adjustable
-Low friction hardware
-365g (0.8lbs) for the 8.5x2.5 option with no hardware

Tech news: SRAM Roam and Rail wheelsets

Two years after the release of their Rise cross country hoops, SRAM have given news of two new wheelsets aimed at the trail and enduro market. Aptly named Roam and Rail these come with two alloy options and one carbon, in 26", 27.5" and even 29"!

With both products SRAM started from scratch, the first product being the Roam trail hoops. All budgets are catered for with both a carbon (Roam 60) and aluminuim option (Roam 50), using hub internals from the DT 240s. The 60s weigh a claimed 1495g for the 26", 1550g for the 27.5" and 1625g for the 29" which is actually heavier than their aluminium alternatives - the 60 aimed at more of a range of hardcore riding than the 50. The 60s are slated to arrive in July for the 26" and August for the other sizes. Pricing is expected to be around the £1700 mark.

Both the 50s and the 60s have an internal rim width of 21mm, the 50s using an aluminium rim to keep costs down and weight low, in fact coming in 20-24g less than the carbon option, being aimed at lighter riding. The set of both wheels comes in at 1475g for the 26", 1530g for the 27.5" and a sprightly 1611g for the 29". An RRP of £840 is what SRAM are currently planning however this could change closer to the time.

The Rail wheelset is designed to be a wider, burlier version of the roam, aimed at all mountain riding over trail. It only comes in aluminium, with a 23mm internal width and extra material in high stress areas! The 26" rim weighs 500g, just 90g more than the Rise 50 equivalent. The 26" weighs 1690g, the 27.5" 1750g and the 29" 1830g. They are expected to cost the same as the Roam 50 (£840), aiming for the mid to high end target market.

The new hoops from SRAM look set to make an impact on the wheelsets, offering a lightweight, full UST rim system, with top quality hubs at a mid range price-point. Only the future will tell how reliable and strong they are and if durability has been sacrificed for the sake of lightweight.

Tech News: Giant's 650B trail bike prototype

Photos have emerged today of a new trail bike from Giant. Sporting 650B (27.5") wheels, internal "stealth" dropper post routing and ISCG05 chainguide tabs this bike has all the modern add-ons expected for a trail weapon in 2013. Travel is expected to be around 150mm with both aluminium and carbon options to cater to all budgets.

This bike is likely to be a direct contender with the Santa Cruz Bronson, Banshee Spitfire and the rest of the crop of 650B trail bikes. The prototype weighed in at a svelte 12.4kg (27.4lbs) which is lighter than the build on the Bronson featured at it's launch (claimed weight ~28lbs with an actual weight closer to 30).

650B wheels are supposedly the best of both worlds, the rolling abilities of the 29er with the agility of 26 however the lack of tyres, wheels and spares limits build up options. I for one am eager to try out one of the new trail bikes with 650B but only time will tell if this inbetweener size is here to stay.

Trickle down tech: XX1

Recently, SRAM released a revolutionary new groupset: XX1. This drivetrain was a brand new concept, one by eleven speed, with a huge ranged 10-42 tooth cassette matching up to a range of chainring sizes from 28tooth all the way up to 38. This groupset changed trail riding completely, allowing a single ring set up that had the range to cover most terrain, whilst the need for a chain guide (thanks to the alternate profiled teeth) being nullified.

Although fantastic, the price of XX1 was hugely inhibiting, with prices of around £1000 for the complete groupset - more than many riders spend on their bikes. The latest on trickle down technology is that SRAM are slated to release XX0 in the spring of next year and XX9 later on in the autumn. If this new tech does reach an accessible price point where does that leave Shimano? Are they planning to launch 11 speed, pioneer DI2 mountain shifting or in fact follow in SRAM footsteps? The trend of previous releases would suggest Shimano will showcase a product similar to XX1, however perhaps more refined. At this stage it is mostly speculation, but one thing no one can deny - the future is bright for trail and all mountain riding!

Perspective

Over the last few weeks I've been taking a long look at mountain biking. I've evaluated what I wish to gain or get out of the sport, and what I am currently getting. Sadly, at the moment these are two different things. I currently ride mostly downhill and all mountain, good for technique but poor with regard to fitness and stamina. I have spent the majority of weekends over the last couple of years racing downhill also, going and practicing one line for a day, before 2 or 3 race runs, resulting in less than half an hours actual riding for the whole day. For me, those races were a laugh, the riding was top quality however there just wasn't enough of it!

As a direct result of this, I plan to still race downhill but to focus on enduro, as this is a way to encompass the competitive element into my riding, whilst still getting an entire day on the trail. For those less au fait with enduro racing, it essentially comprises of multiple (usually five) timed stages on flat or downhill trails roughly 5 minutes long. Much like a rally these stages are linked by longer, climbing stages which although not timed, do have a time limit. This means that you get multiple hours on the bike, rather than short minute long bursts! Compounding this is you can ride accompanied by other riders, giving a social element that just isn't present in downhill.

As you may have read (or seen on my Twitter feed) I have signed up to compete in the Megavalanche this year, in Alp d'Huez, which is one of the widest-recognised enduro races. It differs in format slightly to the UK enduros comprising of one long stage roughly an hour to an hour and a half and 30km in distance. This event is predominantly downhill however is interspersed with climbs to prevent it being one long downhill race. I am incredibly excited about this as the event gives a chance to ride incredible terrain, whilst rubbing shoulders with seasoned professionals such as Jerome Clementz and Dan Atherton. I expect this to be somewhat of a baptism of fire however ultimately rewarding (assuming I exit the race unscathed).

So, is downhill dead? Enduro the phoenix rising from the ashes? By no means, the UK downhill scene is flourishing more than ever with the recent crop of enduro events just adding to the vista of competitive mountain biking available in the country. Will I stop racing downhill in lieu of enduro? No, however I will be racing less of the former and just getting out and riding, to paraphrase a well known mountain biking publication.