Peter, who used to distribute Planet-X bikes in the US, got my attention and dragged me over to see this pretty bike. Last year at Sea Otter he had only road stuff and it looked like he was getting out of the mountain bike business. But apparently, he can’t stay away. Because he’s now distributing Orange bikes in the US. Including this CroMo Orange P7 hardtail , set up with a carbon belt drive, and internally geared rear hub.

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The Canfield brothers, Chris and Lance, were showing their 2008 bikes next to the Sea Otter demo area. At Interbike they introduced their new "Perfect Suspension" concept, which is supposed to pedal the same regardless of the chainring, standing or seated. It's one basic bike design in four configurations, the Sauce, One, Can-Can, and the Can-Diggle. The Canfield Brothers One linkage (below) is shared among all four "Perfect Suspension" bikes. The complete One bike is pictured at the top of the page. An extra mini Canfield Brothers Can Can bike (below). The Can Can features the "Perfect Suspension" design in a dirt jump and park-friendly frame. Note the super short seat tube post and low top tube. The Canfield Brothers Can Diggle (below) is a sturdier, 7 to 8-inch version of the One. Being intended for more serious terrain, it has a 1.5-inch headtube and Maxle rear axle. The Jedi (below) is the Canfield Brothers latest, updated version of their classic Formula 1 frame. It has a rearward travel linkage system, short chain stays, and it's made for the most punishment. For more information on Canfield Brothers bikes, visit their Web site: http://www.canfieldbrothers.com/

Fuji showed us two exciting new bikes at Sea Otter. Mark Smith and company are making a serious bid to be a key player in the mountain bike market.

The first is the 5-inch travel Reveal 1.0. The frame is shaped and gussetted for extra fork clearance. The bottom bracket is reinforced as well to be 35% stiffer.

And the bike is very well spec'ed as we have come to expect from Fuji.

Please pardon the wind noise as the famous Sea Otter weather attacked us on Saturday.

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Yeti Carbon ASR is a 4" travel bike with full carbon frame and integrated carbon seat mast and bb.

 

Yeti 2008 575 with corrected geo head angle for longer travel forks also a carbon seat stay.

http://yeticycles.com/

source: Francis, at Sea Otter 2008

 

One of the biggest surprises at the Sea Otter was the debut of the Look 986 Mountain Bike. Look hasn’t sold a mountain bike in the U.S. in at least 5 years. And this wasn’t just a bike. This was pretty special.

 

 

It’s an ultra-high end carbon bike with an integrated seatpost. The frame weighs in at 2.6 lbs with an uncut seatpost. The frame features very dramatic big carbon tubes for dramatic design elements. It was also designed to be very stiff laterally but compliant vertically.

 And of course the most revolutionary element on this frame is the integrated seatpost. This design was introduced in the Look 595 road bike and has been in the market for almost a year. The frame as a post designed into the frame. This post is designed to be cut according to the rider’s height and preferencs. Then a seapost insert goes in the post and is locked on by compression rings. There is a few millimeters of up and down adjustability using spacers in the seatpost insert.  The insert also features and elastomer stack that provides some bump compliance. Two densities of elastomers are provided to work with different rider weights.

 

 

Availability is end estimated at end of 2007. Price has not yet been determined.

 

BMC is proud to provide the Melanie with the most advanced high-tech off-road bicycles available: the Fourstroke FS01 and Team Elite 01. Both feature advanced carbon materials and production techniques that maximize strength while optimizing weight and enhancing performance.

“We are pleased to support Melanie in her quest for a fourth Xterra World Championship,” said BMC Brand Manager Scott Thompson. “Melanie epitomizes the winning spirit and dedication to excellence that embodies BMC. We are excited she will be out there competing on a BMC.”

Photos: Scott Thomson showing off his ink and Melanie McQuaid getting ready for the mtb time-trial

Photos:

 

Norco gave us a sneak peak at their 2008 Shore frame. This frame shows the design direction for their line. The 2008 Shore is a 7-inch travel frame with a 150×12 mm axle. The frame weighs in at 7.55 lbs, With rear shock, it weighs 9.25 lbs It will be available in three bike configurations:

Shore 1: $3800

Shore 2: $2400

Shore 3: $2150

 

Also pictured is the VPS 6 bike. It is a 6-inch travel bike with 135×12 maxel. The VPS 6 will be available in various configurations ($2950, $2050, $1650)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured below is the Norco Nitro-Niner 29er bike. It retails for $1575 and features and aluminum frame with a Rockshox Reba fork. It features a nice complement of WTB components. Crank Brothers Smarty pedals and Avid Juicy 5 brakes are included.

 

ESI Grips showed off their products at Sea Otter and we got a chance to try them. They’re grips are made of silicone. Their soft to the touch and they absorb a fair amount of shock and vibration. They also give the rider a good grip and are not slippery. Other features are they stay on the bars firmly despite wet conditions and they last a long time.

Two models are available for mtb, Racers Edge at 51 grams and Chunky at 71 grams. Both sell for $16. There is also a road grip available.

I was skeptical at first since they looked like foam grips. Foam grips just didn’t have a good feel to me and they would rip off as I torqued on the handlebar of my singlespeed. But after few weeks of using them, I was very impressed. These grips seem to have no weakness. They are even ovalized with more padding for the contact point with the palm of the hand.

And since I use a rigid fork on my singlespeed, good shock absorbing grips are important. Well, I’m very, very happy with the grips. They take the edge off and they allow me to control the bike accurately. They feel like Oury grips but ESI is just a bit smoother. And they’re not as thick as Oury so it’s easier to grip the handlebar. After a couple months of use, the grips look like new and have not come loose at all.

The Sea Otter XC course was tamed by these grips, carbon fork and 29er wheel. Everything was a piece of cake. Well, except for those nasty ruts before the finish line.

 

http://esigrips.com

In-house machining is their edge they say. Plus they seem intense about innovation and creativity. So instead of cramming right before Interbike, Intense has been creating bike after bike for the past few months.

Their responding to the market and using mtbr.com in the best possible way. They participate in the forums, communicate with their users and research exactly what the market needs.

Intense 5.5 29er - 5 inches of travel with the Manitou Minute 120 fork

Intense 5.5 FR -ith added FRO features, such as the VPP Machined Box link, Machined Shock Link Bolts, Integrated Headset and lighter weight Easton EA-6X tubeset, this bike still has 5.5 inches of travel and weighs in at a scant 6lbs!

George Stephenson III surprised everyone at Sea Otter with his impressive and surprising sock choice. He had, by far, the fastest socks on the downhill course. Cedric Gracia, who crashed in the pro dual slalom finals, was heard after the ill-fated run, cursing his socks. And SRAM is rumored to have new Black Box socks that weren't quite ready for Sea Otter. They should start showing up on top racers in events later this year. Michael Foley, the Sock Guy, told Mtbr that sock choice is an often overlooked race detail that can make or break the best. Michael said, "No one thinks about socks, but they provide part of the all-important connection to the pedals. A fast sock can deliver the fractions of a second it takes to win a race." Fast socks - you read it here first!