Mountain Gear

Easton's new carbon all-mountain wheelset uses a ballistic composite material designed for blast resistance, but they still come with a no-questions-asked warranty.

Rotor's Agilis crank is available to take double or triple rings for mountain bikes.

Santa Cruz Bicycles' six-inch, all-mountain masher — the Nomad — is now dressed in fresh carbon fiber.

Avid's Elixir 3 and RockShox's Sektor 150mm fork are SRAM's newest offerings at attainable prices.

Singletrack.com's master mechanic Lennard Zinn shows how to get your rig ready to roll for some spring riding.

Like Bonnie and Clyde or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, craniums seem to work best in pairs. Together, Titus' Ron Hoffman and Chris Holman — designers and engineers by trade — make for bikes that are downright stealable.

German tire company finally offering 29-inch Rocket Ron and Nobby Nic rubber and a white 26-inch Rocket Ron.

Red Heat is designed as a race-ready wheel for the downhill and freeride worlds.

Using technologies pioneered in SRAM's first 10-speed MTB group XX, X7 is designed to bring 2x10 to mid-level cross-country riders, entry-level downhillers and freeriders.

While most bars and stems go with the oversized 31.8 clamps, Rotor is aiming at fans of Euro-style, 25.4 ultralight bars and stems.

A reader is concerned concerned about not making things worse by washing out lubricants or by washing dirt into bearings, or overlubing. Singletrack.com's mechanical master, Lennard Zinn, has some pointers.

Now that SRAM's XX group is available to the masses on 2010 bikes and in aftermarket catalogues, the question is does it deliver? Singletrack.com's Technical Editor Zack Vestal gives you the low-down in a two-part XX review.

Want to convert your geared bike to a more simple singlespeed? Singletrack.com's Lennard Zinn offers a few pointers.

Singletrack.com's Zach White says Giant's 5-inch trail machine is one of the most precise and solid-feeling mountain bike frames he has ridden — period.

Fifty racers are taking on the Iditarod Trail Invitational, 28 of them are cyclists. The first- and second-place finishers were on Greg Matyas' Fatback snow bike.

Park, freeride and big-mountain: The Dorado Pro features 7050 aluminum legs and utilizes the same internals as the Dorado MRD carbon version.

Master mechanic Lennard Zinn follows up on questions regarding hanging bike storage and what that means for hydraulic brakes.

Rubber coated stainless steel straps on the one-size-fits-all fork mount TieRod bike rack will fit 100 percent of factory crossbars.

Lennard Zinn reports back from the 2010 Park Tool Tech Summit with tips for those about to wrench their rigs.

Ever try to define the term "functional masterpiece?" Let this one-off belt-drive singlespeed titanium 29er from Black Sheep do the talking (while you drool).

Fox Racing Shox says distinctive gold-colored Kashima Coat maintains better lubrication for lower friction — plus it's tough.

Is there a right or wrong way to hang a full-suspension bike? Singletrack.com's resident wrench Lennard Zinn has the answer.

A reader asks Singletrack.com's tech expert Lennard Zinn if there is a way to go from three to two chainrings simply and inexpensively.

Singletrack.com's resident wrench says tire sealants fall into two categories. Find out what might work best for you. Also, check out the video on how to install a tubeless system.

A reader just bought a $5,000 bike and something ain't right. Singletrack.com's resident wrench Lennard Zinn views the reader's video and offers some thoughts.

The new Ibis Mojo HD is all about multi-tasking on every kind of trail.

A riding reader says it seems he's constantly rubbing one or both of his disc break pads. Master mechanic Lennard Zinn has the fix.

Readers have more questions about mixing up fork and wheel setups on 650B rigs. Singletrack.com's Lennard Zinn has the answers.

A reader asks tech guru Lennard Zinn if a 650B bike doesn't work out, can 26-inch wheels work on the rig instead?

The $250 Razer has already been in use on the World Cup MTB circuit with European Cross Country Champion Ralf Naf and long-time Northwave athlete Jose Hermida.

A reader asks bike tech guru Lennard Zinn if it still make sense to cover the inner legs on suspension forks.

It's been a while since the Panaracer MTB tire line got any love. But by the looks of the new rubber, it could have been worth the wait.

Geared or SS versatility can be yours on big wheels in early 2010 with Niner's Air 9 Carbon.

Fox knocked it out of the park with its 2010 F100 FIT RLC. The only question we have is how Fox will possibly improve upon the fork in 2011.

Singletrack.com takes Fisher's thoroughbred 29er on course, and the result isn't surprising if you've heard the hype.

If an affordable off-road shoe that doesn't take months of agonizing rides to break in is of interest, then Pearl Izumi's Race MTB is one to consider.

The new Spot Brand SS or geared or belt-driven bike from the folks out of Golden, Colorado, is too cool not to leak to the rest of the world — so here it is!

Call yourself a clydesdale and are worried about your 29er wheels turning into tacos? Singletrack.com's Lennard Zinn says there is safety in strength.

Mylar packaging tape in lieu of rim tape? Find out what master mechanic Lennard Zinn has to say about that.

Dainese, the Italian company that specializes in protective clothing for a variety of wheeled sports, is getting the word out for its 2010 cycling lines.

A reader asks if there are any 180mm 2x9 specific cranks on the market, or are taller riders just out of luck?

Size matters when it comes to tires: Many sizes that have the same, or almost the same, designation are actually completely different sizes.

Through some magic manipulation of cosmic economic forces, Stan's NoTubes sells its innovative wheels at blue-collar prices.

Are there any detailed instruction manuals available that can guide me through the disassembly/reassembly process of Shimano XTR shifter/brake levers?

If you want a lightweight, slipper-like mountain bike shoe that is good for racing, check out the Fury.

In NASCAR, rubbin's racing, but when it comes to disc brakes on your rig it's just annoying.

In his first weekly column for Singletrack.com, tech guru Lennard Zinn takes questions on disc brake performance and compatibility, the longevity of press-in bottom brackets and the availability of "special" Shimano tools/

Stan Koziatek's garage invention has earned one of the best compliments possible: "Stan's" is now the generic term for tire sealant, in the same way the brand name "Xerox" means "copy" and "Kleenex" means "facial tissue." He's at it again for 2010.

Tires are the least expensive component upgrades available for your bike, but one that can make a huge plus in performance.

If you think Xterra riding isn't "real" mountain biking, just ask Conrad Stoltz and Ned Overend. Oh, and they'll also tell you all about the benefits of riding 29ers while they're at it.

Julien Absalon has won just about everything there is in the cross-country discipline and he's done it all on a 26-inch-wheeled Orbea Alma. Now you can ride like Julien. Well, actually you probably can't ride like him, but you can ride his bike.

Check out the lines of 20 big-hit bombers in a slideshow from the rocky trails and bright lights of Interbike 2009. What was the take-away from Vegas? Options, options, options.

If after viewing these slideshows you have dreams of boosting tranny to tranny over the ultra-mega double-jump pimping one of these beauties in particular, pony up for it.

Wheels, hydration, helmets, lights and more: Singletrack.com's Zack Vestal runs down Interbike for you.

Out of the Arizona desert comes the Titus crew and their dually carbon 26ers, alu and ti options and a Rockstar 29er.

Cycling guru Lennard Zinn falls in love with Santa Cruz's carbon full-suspension 29er and takes a look at other big-wheeled mountain bikes at Interbike's Outdoor Demo in Bootleg Canyon, Nevada.

The debate over the merits of 26-inch and 29-inch mountain bikes has been raging fitfully over at VeloNews' sister Web site, Singletrack.com, ever since Matt Pacocha declared 26-inch hardtails deader than John Edwards' political career.

Without further ado, here's some nuts and bolts — and the fun stuff — from day-one of Interbike's Outdoor Demo in Bootleg Canyon outside Las Vegas..

The brain behind CamelBak's latest offering — the VeloBak — talks to Singletrack.com about developing the idea of wearable hydration for cyclists.

Many Europeans seem steadfastly committed to the 26-inch hardtail, at least for now. Zack Vestal does a photo roundup of the offerings at Eurobike.

The Superfly 100 - a 29er full-suspension rig - incorporates all of the highest technologies found within the Gary Fisher and Trek family.

There is the right tool for every job, and on some race courses that ‘right tool' may be a 29er, or a full-suspension bike or maybe even — gasp — a 26-inch hardtail.

29er frames, wheel and tire technology has evolved significantly over the last few years and are key in allowing top racers win big races on big wheels. There is now very little disadvantage — in terms of weight and tire technology — associated with 29ers.

Using equipment readily available on the market — Garmin's 705 GPS unit and a PowerTap Disc hub — testers are able to compare what it takes to propel big- and small-wheeled mountain bikes.

Cannondale builds on feedback for its 2010 marathon-trail bike.

A new cycling product brand is sure to leave a footprint despite the unfamiliar (for now) name.

For 2010, Scott's Voltage line gets a new chassis addition — the Voltage FR, an 180mm-travel freeride bike built specifically for park riding.

ESI's 100-percent silicone MTB grips offer great comfort and wear-in to your hands' shape.

As dorky as using GPS on a mountain bike might seem, the technology has real benefits, especially when it comes to safety and risk management.

Giant enters 2010 full of confidence in its long-travel line and engineering; a progression set to compete with any bike in any category.

Pedro's new portable tool does many things, including paying tribute to one of cycling's early innovators by being, well, innovative. Singletrack.com talks to the guy who brought it to life.

New Anthem X Advanced SL gets lighter while the Trance X Advanced SL goes carbon.

Although still in its late prototype phase, the Ibis 160 mm Mojo HD has already been ridden to victory by Brian Lopes at the recent Enduro Trophy des Nations in Vars, France.

This is one tallboy you can't guzzle, but Santa Cruz's venture into the world of 29ers with the carbon Tallboy is sure to instill a buzz.

For the past few seasons Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski's carbon Superfly 29er has hovered around the 21- to 22-pound mark, a respectable weight for an extra large bike with large diameter wheels. But tech breakthroughs have the rig now under 20 pounds.

If the podiums at the recent Mountain Bike Nationals in Granby, Colorado, are any indication, the hardtail 26-incher may soon be going the way of thumbshifters and beartrap pedals. The elite podiums in Granby were dominated by 29ers (both hardtail and full-suspension) and full-suspension 26ers.

Subaru-Gary Fisher team rider Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski began his mountain bike racing career in Winter Park, Colorado, just south of the SolVista Resort, the site of the 2009 and 2010 Mountain Bike National Championships. For all intents it’s a home course for JHK and his wife, fellow Subaru-Gary Fisher racer, Heather Irmiger, who each took home national cross-country titles this weekend.