Editors Note: Here are some more tidbits I found interesting from the recent Interbike trade show, Enjoy!
I had heard rumors at the show that I had to check out the “gold plated 29″er” over in a certain distributors booth. It turned out that Voo Doo was showing this blinged out single speed 29″er with lots of gold anodized bits, but no real gold. Rats! Anyway, I noticed that this frame can also be geared for those so inclined.
If you could get past the gold bits, you would have noticed these slick sliding drop outs. Notice the set screw type tensioner. Seems like there are about as many solutions to the single speed/disc brake/tensioner conundrum as there are single speeds!
While we’re on the subject of titanium: Here’s a look at the front end of Niner’s proposed TSL 9 model. The titanium duo shown at Interbike, (one geared and one single speed) both sported these suspension corrected 26″er forks from DT Swiss. The TSL 9 is not designed for a suspension corrected 29″er fork, so Niner chose these to grace the front ends of their prototypes. Interestingly, These DT forks are sleeved with a titanium inner core wrapped over with structural carbon. Somewhat similar to what Bontrager does with their Switchblade fork. This DT Swiss fork was a result of the total overhaul of the previous Pace carbon fork, which DT Swiss aquired when it purchased Pace earlier in the year. No word on what, if any, rider weight limits would be imposed on the forks, which will also be available in a 29″er model.
Here’s a look at the long awaited Origin 8 Scout which we first showed you a year ago from the Interbike show floor. (I rather liked the original design myself) The frame has been tweaked to accept today’s larger 29″er tires in the rear and still has the removeable canti studs, and the ability to run gears. It is also reported that Origin 8 plans on a complete single speed model to be released for sale sometime this coming year at a retail price of around $800.00. Stay tuned for more info on this one.
Here’s a reminder that snow is coming soon! Vicious Cycles had this stunning snow rig parked in the back end of their booth as if it was the red headed step child. Gorgeous paint graces this fat tired utility/specialty bike in the fine Vicious Cycles style. The booth was also crammed with several other beautiful rigs and tons of folks drooling over them. Getting a chance at this shot took several minutes!
I had a chance to meet and chat with Jeff Jones at the show. He gave the demonstration of his vertically compliant and laterally stiff frame with the special fork made to withstand backwards flex that is part of the overall package available. Available? Yes! If you haven’t heard, there is no longer the need to wait for umpteen million years to get your hands on one of these 29″ers. Jeff has collaborated with Merlin to boost output capacity and make these frames available to all who might desire one without the years wait on Jeff to get to your order. Jeff says the first test run of bikes was every bit as good as anything he could do and that he was super pleased to present these for sale to the public. Interestingly, I noted that Jeff had one of his rigs set up with an Endomorph 3.7″ 26″er front tire in the back of his booth. Since the effective outer diameter of the Endomorph nearly attains that of a 29 inch tire/rim combo, it didn’t look all that weird. (You can see it in the backround of the photo above)