For the background on PressCamp 2010, please click over to Part One of this series. In this second installment, I’ll pick up where I left off and walk you through more of the good stuff that I learned about at camp.

You might not be familiar with Spain’s Orbea brand, but they are one of the largest bicycle brands in Spain and France. In the past, their mountain bike lineup was focused on the lightweight 26″ hardtails that are popular with Euro XC racers. In response to clamoring from their US distributor, as well as the worldwide growth of Enduro and Megavalanche style racing, Orbea has just launched their Rallon full-suspension line. The curvaceous hydroformed aluminum alloy frame of the Rallon piqued my interest. We just received one of these 150mm-travel rigs at DRHQ for a full-blown print review. In my size! Stay tuned.

Orbea Rallon

Camelbak invented the hydration pack 20 years ago. Rather than resting on their laurel, the company continues to innovate and set the standards for all things hydration. Camelbak recently introduced the Antidote—their latest generation reservoir. The redesigned fill port has the widest opening on the market and the cap now opens and locks closed with a quick quarter-turn. An internal reservoir baffle reduces filled thickness by 24% compared to previous Omega reservoirs and also minimizes sloshing when the reservoir is in the pack. Integrated dryer arms fold out from behind the fill port, opening the reservoir for a complete air dry. The Antidote also features HydroGuard, which inhibits the growth of bacteria. The Big Bite Valve has a new Ergo HydroLock that’s designed to prevent accidental dislodging in locked position. Antidote will be included in new CamelBak packs starting in October. I scored an advance sample of their all-new Charge 450 hydration pack at PressCamp 2010, and have been digging it ever since (came with the Antidote reservoir). The Charge 450 is made of lightweight ripstop 70D nylon, holds 754 cu.in. and is pretty much a lightweight version of their popular Mule. A wide plastic tab built into the Antidote reservoir drops into a slot in the pack, improving stability as well as making it easier to load.

Camelbak Charge 450

Race Face has always struck me as a company with a very “core” vibe. Based in British Columbia, a short drive from the infamous North Shore, Race Face certainly has great proving grounds for their components. Combine that with feedback from over 100 sponsored riders on their factory, international, national and grassroots teams, and you end up with gear that’s designed with the rider in mind. Their Atlas cranks are designed for bikes in the 4-6″ travel range—a particularly hot category these days. The Atlas weights in at 955g with triple rings and BB. That’s certainly light enough for the climbs, and Race Face says the Atlas is strong enough for light freeride use on the was back down. Giv’r!

Race Face Atlas

The BionX Intelligent Mobility System is an electric assist system for bicycles that is produced by EPS Inc., which is headquartered in Aurora, Canada. There are two basic types of electric power assisted bicycles: pedelecs and E-bikes. A pedelec only supplies power assistance when the pedals are turning, while an E-bike provides power on demand, typically via a throttle or switch. The BionX system combines both types of assist. It has a four-position pedelec setting that smoothly blends the electric assist with the rider’s pedaling power, and a thumb-lever that allows the rider to apply a burst of full electric assist on demand. The motor is built right into the system’s rear hub, making the BionX easy to install on most any bike design. I had the opportunity to ride a Trek mountain bike equipped with the BionX system on the roads and dirt trails around the PressCamp venue. I came away impressed with how seamlessly the BionX system blended my pedaling power with the electric assist, The #1 setting gave a subtle (but much appreciated) boost, while the #4 setting made me feel like I belonged in the pro peloton. We’ve just received a BionX sample for a more thorough evaluation, so keep your eyes peeled for a print review in Bicycle Times.

BioniX Power

CatEye is the world’s leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights, and reflectors. In 1964 they introduced the first flashing light for bicycles and in 2001 they offered the first LED headlight. CatEye owns three factories where they produce all of their products. Their 400+ candlepower LED Hybrid light caught my eye. An integrated solar cell charges a nickel-metal hydride battery for up to 6 hours of ride time and an alkaline back-up allows for a reserve 30 hours of run time. The design allows the user to choose between power sources. We have one in for testing, so look for a review in print in Bicycle Times.

CatEye Hybrid

Blue Competition Cycles of Norcross, GA was started three years ago by a group of world-class athletes looking to build they type of bikes that they wanted to ride. Their goal was to produce frames: “light weight for climbing, superior lateral stiffness and torsional rigidity for efficiency, vertical compliance for comfort and race inspired geometry for fit and handling.” According to Blue, athletes riding Blue have won nearly every major road race in North America. They’ve won UCI cyclocross races, Xterra Championships and a 24 hour MTB US National Championship. To rattle off just a few accomplishments. With cyclocross season right around the corner, I thought I’d highlight their Norcross SP cyclocross frameset which is made from 7000 Series double butted Alloy tubing and retails for $600, with Aerus Composites Conquest carbon fiber cross fork. A complete build with SRAM Apex CX equipment can be had for $1,700.

Blue Norcross SP

I’ve always associated Specialized with high-tech bikes and well-thought-out components. But after attending PressCamp, I’ll also think of apparel when I think of Specialized. Their apparel folks were on hand to explain that Specialized applies their internal expertise in bicycle/human ergonomics to their apparel line (in addition to their bikes, helmets, and shoes). Makes sense, now that I think about it. I scored a sample of their loose-fit Trail Shorts, which fit me comfortably. They come with a detachable Nylon/Spandex mesh liner that’s proven to be breathable and cool. The Sport chamois, which despite appearing pretty basic, certainly provided padding in all the right places.

Specialized Trail Shorts

Norco released their 2011 product line this month to an eager group of MTB press wonks and Norco dealers in North Vancouver, BC. It was the perfect setting for Norco to announce the integration of Advanced Ride Technology (A.R.T.) suspension design in select models for 2011. Our hotel was no more than 30 minutes away from some legendary North Shore trails, and Norco gave us the low-down as well as letting us sample the goods on their local trails.

What is A.R.T., and what does it do? Norco explains it as optimization of the FSR suspension design by changing the pivot points.  By moving the pivot points, Norco has slightly increased chain growth and rearward axel path at the beginning of the shock’s travel. The result, according to Norco, is a bike with increased pedaling efficiency and square edge bump compliance. In other words: climbs better and rolls faster and smoother over rough terrain.

Norco has equipped four 2011 models with the A.R.T. suspension design:

Range: a 160mm travel All Mountain bike. Other notable features include an integrated dropout with Syntace X-12 142×12mm rear axle, post-mount brakes and tapered 1-1/8″ to 1-1/2″ headtube.

Shinobi: a 120mm travel All Mountain 29er with a 140mm RockShox Reba fork.

Vixa: a women’s specific geometry 160mm travel Freeride and All Mountain bike. The Vixa also uses the Syntace rear axle and tapered headtube.

We rode two days on the North Shore trails with Norco pros Sam Dueck, Jay Hoots, Dylan Korba, Ryan Leech, and Darcy Turenne along with other Norco employees. I had a chance to ride the new Range and I’ve got to say, I was impressed. It’s a bike I’d like to spend a lot more time on.

Photo by Derek Vanderkooy

While A.R.T. was the big news this year from Norco, they also touched on a few other developments to their extensive stable of bikes, including some interesting looking urban and commuter bikes. You can see them all for yourself on the Norco Blog

One of the off-bike highlights for me was Yoga class each morning with Ryan Leech overlooking the Vancouver harbor. If you’ve ever met Ryan or seen one of his performances, you know that he’s a brilliant rider, but also an incredibly nice guy. He was kind enough to hold yoga classes for all attending the product launch.

Aside from learning about their new bikes, riding killer trails, and beautiful accommodations, it was great to get together with Norco pro riders and the people behind the scenes at Norco who make it all happen. This is a group of dedicated cyclists having fun making bikes they like to ride.

Aside from bicycles, of course, the main reason I choose to continue my futile search for fortune in the bicycle industry is because of the people I know and meet. There’s no shortage of extremely smart and passionate people who are insanely interesting, individualistic personalities. Sure it’s cool to be around famous athletes from time to time, but I much more deeply value the less publicly visible people that make the bicycle world go ’round. As such, I’ve decided to revive a special online series where we do a very brief standardized interview with some of these individuals: The Bicycle Industry Insider Profile Series. I want to share the stories of these people with the rest of the world through the Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times web sites. This week we have…

Name: Scott Gibson

Hometown: Hudson Ohio

Current location: New Paltz NY

What do you do for/with/to bicycles? I design bags for endurance cycling & bike packing at wingnutgear.com, also develop mobile renewable energy platforms for shelters and trailers. Currently working on creating a rst responder kit that includes an electric bike with a solar powered cargo trailer to navigate disaster areas in the rst 24 hours, establishing communcations, assessment resources, clean water, power etc…

What’s the best thing about your job? I am my own boss. working and meeting other like minded people in the industry who think we can make a dierence.

What’s the toughest part of your job? I am my own boss.

What was the path that led you to work with bicycles? While in design school I took a summer intern with Tim Paterek and built my own frame when raised chain stays were all the rage. After school I started my own design and production company and rode to work. I needed a better back pack.

What was your first bicycle? Motebecane 12 speed, circa 1978.

What bike do you currently ride the most? Ritchie swiss cross with the swept seat stays.

Where is your favorite place to ride? Anywhere with my family, preferably behind my wife.

What music goes through your head while you ride? (literally or guratively) deep rootsy reggae, Burning Spear dub style.

What are your interests aside from bicycles? sustainable living practices, nding new applications for emerging technologies.

If you weren’t working around bicycles, what do you think you’d be doing? I don’t understand the question. Probably teach art & design or go start a sustainable living/survival camp somewhere , with bikes.

Please share one of your favorite stories you’ve seen or been a part of while involved with the bicycle industry: Working with Pedros festival at their last two festivals to show case the Tour de France in a cow pasture from my solar powered Alpha Tent.

Who would you choose for the next subject for the Bicycle Industry Insider Prole Series? Matt Johnson

Why? He runs BioWheels in Asheville NC, they combine bikes with sustainable living practices and have proposed a community based initiative to overhaul asheville’s transportation infrastructure to include electric powered vehicles and bicycles.

What do you get when you combine marketing types from 27 bike-related companies with journos representing 39 titles at the luxurious Deer Valley resort in Park City, UT? You get the bicycle industry schmooze-fest know as PressCamp 2010.

According to the self-destructing tape, my mission, should I decide to accept it, was to cram as many 40-minute private meetings with company reps into three days, with afternoons left open for roaming the open-air expo and riding demo bikes on the lift-assisted Deer Valley trails and/or local pavement. Networking at happy hour and dinner, for good measure.

Journalists struggling to find an open slot on the appointment whiteboard.

My trip was courtesy of the manufacturers in attendance. What did the folks who picked up the tab expect to get out of the gig? Other than the opportunity communicate their brand’s message via face-time with influential mover-and-shaker journalists such as myself, ahem? In a word: copy. Ink, blogs, Tweets, and so on. Not a problem, in and of itself. As long as there’s information worth reporting. To be sure, our readers tell us that they look to us to learn about interesting products and the companies that make them. To that end, below is part one of my effort to filter through three days worth of information overload, and post up the interesting nuggets. Part two to follow shortly, after that glaze melts from your eyes.

Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) has a rich history in mountain biking. Several years ago Freedom by WTB was created as a way to focus more attention on designing tires, wheel systems, saddles and grips for pavement applications. They’re big into advocacy. Freedom’s sister non-profit organization, Transportation Alternatives for Marin (TAM), in cooperation with the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC), authored the Safe Routes to School Program which has grown into a $612 million national program. TAM and the MCBC authored the Non Motorized Transportation Pilot Program which awarded $21.5 million to four communities throughout the United States with the purpose of demonstrating the extent which “bicycling and walking can carry a significant part of the transportation load.” On the product front, I liked the looks of their Ryder commuter/hybrid tire that feature a dense tread pattern for fast rolling on pavement combined with edges for gripping loose terrain on the bike path or dirt. The Ryder has a rugged Urban Armor Casing and comes in 700×32 and 700×38 sizes.

Ryder

Dahon was born out of the gasoline crisis of 1975. Dr. David Hon, the company founder, was waiting in hour-long lines to buy gasoline for his car, pondering the world’s dependence on oil. After brainstorming for solutions to lessen the world’s dependence on oil, Dr. Hon settled on his primary mode of transportation from college—the bicycle. However, the bicycle, as it existed at that time, needed to integrate more readily with other forms of more environmentally sustainable transport, like trains and subways. Dr. Hon’s solution—a portable folding bicycle. Dr. Hon worked evenings and weekends in his garage over the next seven years, trying to perfect a folding bicycle that would maintain the riding performance of a regular bicycle but would fold quickly. In 1982, introduced the first Dahon folding bicycle. Our Bicycle Times staff is testing the Dahon IOS P7 (below) and the review will appear in a future issue.

Dahon IOS P7

Lazer has been making motorcycle, bicycle and paragliding helmets since 1919. In 2010 Sean van Waes (division manager) and Peter Steenwegen (sales manager) purchased the bicycle helmet division of Lazer SA and formed a new company, Lazer Sport NV, based in Antwerp, Belgium. Rather than pick one of Lazer’s helmets to highlight, I’ll spend my word-count singing the praises of their Rollsys Fit System. Turning the easy-to-reach thumbwheel located on top of the helmet adjusts the cinching mechanism. What I like about the Rollsys design is that the cinching mechanism surrounds the head completely, for even pressure and a comfortable, snug fit. Strictly butter.

Lazer Rollsys

In 1853 American Hiram Hutchinson set up a tire factory at Langlée, near Montargis, France. Hutchinson started production of bicycle tires in 1890. The Toro is a brand new MTB tread courtesy of the venerable tire-maker. Available in either 26″ or 29″ diameter by 2.15″ wide, the Toro passes my eyeball test as a good all-around tread design. Low knobs on the top of the tire are designed to optimize grip and help shed mud. Hardskin sidewall reinforcement for resistance to tears and cuts. I’ve got this tire on my radar for a full-blown Dirt Rag print review.

Hutchinson Toro

Saris, which also owns CycleOps, is headquartered in an old farmhouse just off the bike pathway in Madison, WI. Their production facility is located out back. They’re into cycling advocacy in a big way. Their annual Saris Gala raised over $500,000 for Bike Fed of WI. The Saris product that caught my eye was their updated Thelma hitch-mount rack, which is now compatible with 29″ mountain bike wheels. Universal hitch mount, folds next to vehicle when not in use and comes in 2, 3 or 4 bikes models. Thelma’s simple, elegant and functional design strikes my fancy.

Saris Thelma

Founded by entrepreneur Skip Hess in 1974, Mongoose is now part of Cycling Sports Group, the same company that owns Cannondale, GT and Schwinn. I had a chance to throw a leg over the 2011 Mongoose Teocali Super for some groovy lift-assisted runs at Deer Valley Resort. For 2011 the rear FreeDrive suspension’s travel on the Teocali gets bumped up to 150mm and the all-new hydroformed aluminum alloy frame sports a 1.125″ to 1.5″ tapered headtube. With a RockShox Revelation RL fork paired with a Monarch 4.2 in the rear, the Teocali smoothed over the rough spots as well as any bike I’ve ridden with 150mm of travel. Mine was a limited test session, but I came away enjoying the bike’s coosh, bottomless feeling.

Mongoose Teocali

Shane Cooper started DeFeet in 1992 with a single knitting machine given to him by his father. Cooper experimented and devised a knitting method that was essentially the reverse of traditional methods. His first product, the Air-E-Ator, started a revolution in athletic socks that continues today. In addition to socks, DeFeet also makes Un•D•System™ baselayering apparel. With “compression” apparel all the rage these days, I was happy to score a pair of DeCompressor socks. I used them on the airplane ride home, after a 10-day road trip. They made my legs and feet happy. I’ll be giving them some additional testing.

DeFeet DeCompressor

Just so you know that it’s not “all work and no play” on these grueling press camp trips, I offer the following evidence of the sweet trails at Deer Valley.

It's a tough job....

Pivot is one of those companies that’s never happy simply resting on their laurels. Like many companies in our industry, they thrive by moving forward, continually developing new product and refining their existing models. That said, it comes as no surprise that Pivot has been awfully busy over the past year…

Many of you may have read my report on the new Phoenix DH downhill race bike in Moab earlier this year. The DH bike, however, wasn’t the only new Pivot we had a chance to ride on the red rock of Moab. Allow me to introduce the redesigned Mach 4.

The Bike

2011 Pivot Mach 4

The basic outcome is largely the same on the surface, but the details have evolved quite a bit. The 2011 Mach 4 remains at 100mm of travel, and the XS and XXS bikes are now up to 100mm front and rear, too—they had been 80mm prior to 2011.

The new frame is 5/8lbs lighter (283g), despite going to a tapered headtube, thanks to redesigns of the toptube, upper shock mount, both linkages, and rear swingarm. The new bike can be run with a 100mm or 120mm fork, and all Pivot complete bikes will come with thru-axle forks to maximize stiffness.

The 92mm BB remains the same, but SRAM/Truvative, Race Face and FSA are now offering BB options in addition to the Shimano BB that was the only option available when the Mach 4 was first introduced. For riders who prefer to run a single front chainring, Pivot has developed a new bolt-on ISCG 05 adapter plate for chain guide use.

The revised rear suspension now uses a shorter stroke shock operating at a higher leverage ratio and higher shock pressures, which allows for a wider range of tuning—particularly for lighter riders—thanks to Fox’s Boost Valve. The range of ProPedal settings has also been broadened, open is more plush, while ProPedal 3 is highly efficient with a quick and responsive blow-off.

Pivot placed even more attention to the women’s bikes this time around. The smaller frames, XS and XXS, have an even shorter shock stroke to keep shock pressures within normal operating ranges to ensure proper damping characteristics. These small frames also have thinner diameter and thinner walled tubing to keep weight down, and feature hyper-short headtubes, which make for some very friendly stand-over heights when you factor in Pivot’s characteristic lowish BB. Not only does Pivot focus on making these smaller sized bikes fit smaller riders, but they focus heavily on making sure these bikes handle just as good as the larger sizes by steepening seat tube angles and adjusting headtube angles to maintain the proper wheelbase for each frame.

Obviously I can’t vouch for the ride characteristics of these women’s specific bikes, but I feel very confident saying that you gals should include the Mach 4 on your short list if you’re in the market for a high-end XC/marathon suspension bike.

I’m sure by now most of you are familiar with Pivot’s DW-Link suspension design, but if not, click here to read my Mach 429 review for a better description.

The Ride

View from Dead Horse Point SP.

We were fortunate to ride the new Mach 4 at gorgeous Dead Horse Point State Park just outside of Moab, UT. Riding a bike this sweet with vistas so breathtaking sure made for one hell of a ride. The state of Utah recently funded the building and maintenance of a total of 13 miles of trails at Dead Horse Point, and it was obvious that a lot of man-hours had been invested in these mostly smooth and flowy trails, which are accessible to all levels of riders. Though these trails fall outside the norm for Moab, I’d recommend you come for a mellow day of riding at Dead Horse Point simply to take in the amazing views.

The Mach 4 I rode was built to the hilt with top-shelf parts from SRAM’s new XX 10spd group to DT Swiss’s XRC 330 carbon-rimmed wheelset (now called the XRC 300). And yes, these rims weigh in right about 310g. The XX group is simply a perfect match for a bike like the Mach 4, both in terms of gearing range and in terms of the snappy and precise shifts.

Built as such, the Mach 4 was a lean, mean, racy machine.  The bike was effortlessly quick and responsive, yet composed and highly capable for a 100mm bike. Having ridden the new downhill bike prior to the Mach 4, our group of journos were working the Mach 4 pretty hard coming from a big-bike mindset. The Mach 4 handled this abuse without complaint and with a great deal of competence.

Frame stiffness front and rear is excellent and I was stoked to see a tapered-steer fork with a 15mm thru-axle on this 100mm travel bike. That certainly goes a long way toward improving the stiffness and precision of even a 100mm bike, and has a lot to do with the capability of the Mach 4.

The revised rear suspension delivered a well-controlled and highly-refined ride, as promised. Having never ridden the previous version of the Mach 4, I can’t comment on the changes in suspension feel, but I can say this is one highly-efficient yet highly-capable XC/marathon suspension bike. Simply put, I’ve not ridden a 100mm bike that pedals with the efficiency of this new Mach 4, yet it’s as eager to, and capable of, tackling just about anything you throw its way—within the context of XC/trail riding, of course.

Here is a link to Justin’s full story on the Pivot Phoenix DH, including a lot of photos and some ride impressions:
http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/new-pivot-phoenix-dh-race-bike/

Despite being revealed at the same press camp as the Phoenix DH, Justin was under strict orders not to reveal the details of the new Mach 4 until later in June. Here’s his blog on that bike, with lots of photos and details, plus a little bit about the trails he rode at Dead Horse Point State Park near Moab, Utah:
http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/pivots-refined-2011-mach-4/

Karl also had a lot more to say than we could fit in print about his experience at RockShox Base Camp:
http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/rockshox-base-camp-2010-durango/