Interbike Show Goodies

Day one of cycling’s version of the biggest candy shop on earth flung open its doors today, and we charged through them like kids craving a sugar rush.  This opening salvo is always a bit of gong show as you get used to reading the show’s vendor map and finding out where all the spots you want to hit are hiding.

We opened the day at the Knolly launch for their new DH bike (dubbed “Podium”), and then sat down to divide and conquer the rest of the show floor.  After a quick pen and paper strategy session we were off for a full day of scoping all the new goodies we could find for you.

Without further ado, I present to you what you came for, bike porn of the highest order:

Knolly’s new DH rig features a sculpted front tubeset and performance aimed at eventually competeing at the World Cup level.

Intense’s Uzzi VP frames offers the ability to run an air or coil rear shock, adjustable travel (7 – 7.5″), as well as configurable wheelbase and head angle options.

It also comes in this stunning blue clear coat option that highlights the raw metal finish underneath while adding a real luster to the finshed frame.

Ibis had a sweet Airstream trailer in the background but the foreground belonged to their new Mojo HD prototype.  If looks a lot like their venerable Mojo frame but features 160mm of travel rather than 140mm.  Brian Lopes has been has been racing this frame in Europe and has recorded some solid results.

Ask and you shall receive… I give you the Turner RFX prototype hot off the presses.  This is a 6.7″ travel frame (in its current iteration) that features Turner’s first tapered headtube design, large diameter journal bearings (with a claimed regular lifetime of 3-5 years between service), grease ports at all the major pivots as well as an asymetrical shock placement, swingarm and seat tube.  Lots and lots going on here that Dave Turner himslef was nice enough to highlight for us.  It will be exceedingly intersting to follow this design to its production version and see what it is capable of.

Ellsworth’s Rogue is their 8″ bike that features their ICT (Instant Center Tracking) suspension design.  It also sports a set of Ellsworth’s own wheels.  Even built up with a double crown fork this version was well under 40 pounds.  It supposedly pedals very well despite the travel.  We’ll soon find out, as we are arranging for a long term test some time after the show ends.  For those that like custom options, Ellsworth is looking at offering builds where the buyer will be able to choose the colors they want on each section of the frame as well as the possibility of custome laser engraving on the frame.

Twenty6 Components is simply killing it at this edition of Interbike.  Everywhere we go another one of thier parts pops up on a bike.  Fergs already highlighted their pedals at the dirt demo and here you can have a look at their direct mount stem, whcih is adjustable, lightweight and very slick looking.

Camelbak has a great looking line of new hydration packs out this year that they are calling “All-Mountain Freeride”.  They got serious feedback from riders like Kirt Voreis during the design process and it shows in the final products.  This is “The Don”, the largest pack in the line.  It will easily carry a full face and armor, has a media pocket and microfiber-lined phone pocket, holds a 3 liter reservoir and comes in a range of colors from this basic black to downright flashy.

This one of the great small details on Camelbak’s new packs.  It is an elastic and nylon pouch situated upside down on the shoulder strap.  You slide your media player earbuds in to it when you are not using them so they don’t dangle and snagged up as you ride.  Thoughtful, simple and functional.  Very nice.

This is the kind of thing that makes you just stop and stare when you are crusing around the show.  The frame (made by a company called Empire) features a cast aluminum I-beam construction that is hard to do justice to in photos.  It is so different that you can spend half an hour trying to wrap your head around all the things they had to design and build to make it happen.  Terribly impressive stuff.

One more image of the Empire frame that gives you a better sense of how different it really is from just about everything else out there.

So that is a wrap featuring just the tip of the virtual, digital iceberg of images and stories we collected on day one inside the Sands.  Considering we are well in to early on day two right now, I’m going to grab some shuteye before hopping up and doing it all over again tomorrow.  Sleep tight and we’ll see you back here then… same Bat-time, same Bat-channel.

Ed Snyder

Seeing what you like?  Want more?  Well either way, you can crank up about it on the boards…