Vegas-I'm finally home and all healed up

I'd like to say that Vegas was a crazy trip and being my first trip there, it was over whelming for sure. I'm now back in Canada and have caught up on my sleep and started to eat better again. Enough about me though, here are the last of the goods from Interbike 2005.The folks at Scott USA have made a hard push in the past season to get back into the US market place where they have been absent for a while. Bikes like the new Ransom show that they are one of the more innovative companies around and that they want their share of the marketplace back.


The High Octane is Scott's DH race rig.


Marin Bicycles was on hand and showing a little creativity of their own with the new XLT line up.


Norco bikes has been around for a long time and their vast line up shows this. They have a bike for everyone, be it budget minded or niche market, they'll have something for you.


The DH Team is Norco's answer to the independant racer that needs a factory quality sled. They have spared no expense in spec'ing out this bike. Hadley hubs, E13 chain guide, Marzocchi 888 forks etc.


The Six has won Bike of the Year in '05 and the 2006 offering might give it's sibling a run for it's money.


The 416 is a DJ/ Street riders weapon of choice.


The A-Line is a great solution for riders with a budget. It is trickle down technology at it's best. You get the previous season's top end DH frame with an mid level spec. package that you can still rip on and get to the podium with.


I our neck of the woods, if you own a HT, it better be burly. The Sasquatch is just that, here is what freeride HT's should look like.


This is Ryan Leech's own trials and street rig. It is purpose built and from watching him on it, it gets the job done right.


Here is a great example of filling a void in their line, with the introduction of the new 4X model. Fionn Griffiths raced this bike to more when one podium finish in '05.

Off to see what Manitou was up to for their 2006 line up. The big news at Manitou was obviously the demise of the Dorado and Sherman line ups of forks.


The good side to that, is that they have all been replaced with the new Travis line up and it kicks ass!! Anyone that is questioning this should watch Darren Barrecloth's section in NWD6 and watch those forks in action.


The new Swinger 6 Way has new and easier to adjust knobs that make it tool free to make changes.


The new Jump Series fork.

Last season Giant introduced their Maestro line up of bikes and this year was all about refinements and an all new DH race machine-The Glory.


The Glory is Giant's new DH race steed that will replace the long time flag ship DH model.


The Reign looks really good again this season and is the bike that fits the void for riders that ride everywhere, but need the travel to soak up the descents.


The Faith is a Freeride bike that seems to be popping up all over my neck of the woods and has stoked riders aboard it.


The STP series of HT's are what Jeff Lenosky chooses to attack the streets with.


Easton has released a freeride wheel set for 2006.

A long time favorite here in the Pinkbike office has been Santa Cruz bikes and things were looking great over there again this year.


The Nomad was first shown to us back at Sea Otter and it has quickly gained a massive following and is the ride of choice for Santa Cruz bike's owner Rob Roskoff. This VPP offering has the travel that would be found between a Heckler and a Bullit, but with all the benefits of VPP technology.


The Blur hit the industry so hard a few years back that it alone caused Santa Cruz to have to double the size of their production to meet the demand out there. Over the past season, they have taken the Blur and made a few changes to it and out popped two new versions. The Blur LT is just that, longer travel and built to take the abuse being handed to it from epic XC riders. While the Blur XC was given a minimalist approach for the racers that need to save weight while pinning it through the woods.


The VP-Free remains a bike that'll take a new/intermediate rider and give them the confidence needed to kick their progression up a notch or two. While giving advanced riders a bike they can relie on to get the job done.


Even the cardboard cut out in the back ground says this bike rips. The Jackal is a pure bred DJ bike and that's what it does best.


When the newest version of the V-10 was introduced just over a year ago, I was in awe of this bike. I even saved all my pennies to buy one last season, but opted out at the last minute thinking it was too cool for me. This statement may be true, but I am saving my pennies once again and I fully intend to have a V-10 under me for my gravity fed missions in '06. The V-10 pedals so well, is incredibly light, and looks like a million bucks. Thankfully it's a lot more reasonably priced then that.

I made a quick pass through the Marzocchi booth and took these two shots of their sick toys.


The new ROCO rear shock is ready to Rock Out on bikes in '06.


This is one of the sickest Mini bikes I've seen in a while.

Off to see what Iron Horse has instore. The Iron Horse/Mad Catz DH team was such a force on the WC and Norba circuits this year. Good to hear that they have signed Sam Hill to a few more years.


You don't have to be fast to look it on this bike. I think this green is 3 seconds faster then red on most courses.


The 7 Point series of freeride bikes continues to impress.


The single pivot Yakuza offering is a great entry level machine for a rider with a budget.


The Azure is Iron Horse's high end XC racer. Check out the nice welds and pivots on this puppy.


Twenty 20 is a new offering in the realm of helmet cameras for sports.



Well here is the last of my offerings from Interbike 2005. The SRAM booth was by far one of the biggest and busiest ones at the show and for good reason too. The ultra fine folks at SRAM have been pushing the development envelope in all their arenas of products. Here's a look into 2006 and beyond:


The new World Cup Boxxer is going to make a few companies go back to the drawing board and re-think their forks. This is the lightest Dual Crown DH race fork on the market and there is no sacrifice to function to make it such. At just over 6 pounds, the WC will lighten up the front end of any DH frame set. The Motion Control lets you set up your fork to the terrain and your own preferrances to feel.


Not only are these the best looking shifters and rear deraileurs availlable, but they work so well. My favorite part is the fact that they don't make any noise when trail riding or hammering out DH runs. The rear derailleur is just silent. You can adjust where you want the shifter lever position to be as well as not every one has the same hands.


It's not often you can refer to a bike part as SEXY, but the Avid Juicy 7 Carbon brakes are just that. The carbon reservoir cover and lever look and work great, mixed with Titanium bolts make it light too. The pad contact adjustment knob is anodized aluminum on the carbon's as well.


The Truvativ Holzfeller line up went under the knife and then off to the buffer for a mirror finish.

SRAM is cool about showing things that they are working on that may or may not make it to production.


4 piston concept brake. For those of you that have ridden/tried Avid brakes, you're like me and feel there is more then enough power in their current offerings. Look nice though.


Prototype freeride/dh rear shock with a remote reservoir.


This 2007 single crown 7 inch travel fork with 40 mm stanctions and a 1.5" steerer tube is a step in the right direct again. It is still in its prototype stages, but with technology like this, more of us can build up more practical and versatile bikes. I can't wait to see what else they have up their sleeves over the next season.

I would like the take a moment to thank Harookz for all his help in Vegas.

Happy Trails,