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08/21/2008
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Bikes and Humans
Words and photos Cam McRae
Click images to enlarge
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Sea Otter is like Mardi Gras for the bicycling set . You'll see folks walking
around with their mountain bike from 1987 - from Ritcheys to Bridgestones - wearing
the now threadbare lycra they wore then. The proximity to San Francisco
means there are lots of freaks - and that's not a dirty word within 100 miles
of the Bay Area. Some of the characters hail from farther afield though
and I bumped into a trio of Brits pushing around a very interesting DH bike.
Stephen Millyard is one of the luckier young racers around. His father likes
to design and manufacture products for his bike. Earlier he put together
a double disc front
wheel and since his ambitions have blossomed into a complete frame.
Mr Millyard spent 6 hours a night in his work shop for six months
building a bike for his son to race on.
It sports a derailleur-less drivetrain similar to that on GT's monster IT-1 but
it manages to look much more elegant while encasing the chain in the left side
of the swingarm. A Shimano 8 speed Nexus hub performs the shifting duties
and the entire package comes in at around 42 lbs (the IT-1 is around 50).
The rear shock is Millyard built one-off as well and was designed by one of Stephen's
dad's comrades. When I asked the two mad scientists their chosen occupation
I was met with "best not ask that question."
All right then. Stephen told us he loves the bike with the proprietary shock
so much that he won't go back to something built by Fox or Marzocchi. Let's
hope this is a step towards the death of the venerable derailleur - the mountain
bike's achilles heel.
"I broke my chain - can I borrow your chain tool... and
your machine shop, to fix it?"
I could tell you how this shock works but - you guessed it -
I'd have to kill you.
This carbon adorned cruiser from Ellsworth wasn't just pretty
to look at - it's hiding some revolutionary new technology that could change
the bikes we ride.
The bike you see above - dubbed 'The Ride' - is without a doubt the sexiest cruiser
I've laid eyes on . Since picking up a fantastic Electra Rat Rod, which
you'll be hearing more about, I've had a keen eye for cruisers. They are
tough, comfortable and some are remarkably versatile as well. Mine has a
three speed Shimano Nexus hub and it'll go anywhere quite happily. The Ride
doesn't have one gear nor does it have three; it has an infinite progression between
its lowest ratio and its highest. Or at least that's what the folks selling the
product would have us believe. The concept behind a continuously variable
planetary gear was first posited by Leoanardo Da Vinci. At this point
the Nuvinci
product is too heavy for high performance bikes but a lighter prototype is being
developed as we speak. The Ride is available as shown
here for US$3999 or in a more modestly appointed model (no carbon cranks, forks/bars
etc) for US$2999. Only 500 of the carbon model will be produced.
Function and form; the Nuvinci rear hub and the carbon fender
and fork/bar combo.
"Miss - will you please pose with my friend the man-mountain?"
Radek owes me one for this.
Hayes has a brand new brake out; The Stroker. It comes
in three models from $150 to $209 in the US. Click
image to see lever.
Hayes has killed both the Sole and the Nine brake models. The El Camino
Trail model that was whispered about at Interbike will never come to be either.
Instead Hayes is introducing the Stroker, Stroker Trail and Stroker Carbon.
Hayes is saying adios to the days of two rotor sizes. You can choose between
140mm, 160mm, 180mm, 203mm and 224mm pie plates depending on your application.
The lever boasts the 'world's first symmetrical (flip-flop) radial master cylinder
with integrated reservoir' and a tool-free reach adjustment dial.
I imagine we'll be seeing a set to test before too long.
Steve Romaniuk with his new ride.
To many seeing Steve Romaniuk without a solid sponsorship deal was a travesty.
The kid is an animal on the bike and his video segments are never disappointing.
In fact they are down right zesty. Steve was meeting with his new sponsors
at Mongoose and Syncros and showing off his recently built up ride.
How can you not love a prototype Intense? It's tough to
find a sexier bike. Nice to see some big forks from Manitou up front and
their Revox rear shock at the rear.
Hoots Jay in a grumpy mood once again.
Sam Hill's Ironhorse Sunday. Apparently Sam was boosting
the jumps and drifting all the turns on the DH course - just for shits and giggles.
I just got back from Monterey on Tuesday night after spending two days with
the good people from Fox Shox, Giro and Santa Cruz. After I've unloaded
all the info I collected at Sea Otter - including some shots from the dirt jumps,
downhill and dual slalom and more gear and bike info - I'll tell you that story.
For now it's time to sleep.
Comments on this? You
know the drill.
Cam McRae
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