PARK CITY, Utah (BRAIN) — It wasn't until late morning on day two of Summer PressCamp that the snow started melting at Deer Valley Resort, but by midafternoon Wednesday, the ski runs were green again and the sun had brought temperatures out of the high 30s. The energy was high as editors wrapped up their meetings with suppliers and set out to ride the valley's abundant single track and scenic road routes, eager to finally get to test the bikes they'd talked and written about for two days.
And one such hot item was the XC bike — which was perhaps a bit unexpected. While enduro-specific bikes, gear, components and other products have rapidly become the darling of the off-road category the past couple seasons, a new and improved breed of XC bike has quietly been in the works.
At least three manufacturers have unveiled "aggressive XC" models at PressCamp. While each brand has taken a unique approach, what they share is an emphasis on the fun trail riding experience rather than serious race performance.
But that's not to say that these bikes aren't perfectly capable race bikes. Each model would be suitable for XC racing, but with short chainstays, slacker head angles and a touch more travel, there seems to be more of an emphasis on how they descend and perform on an everyday trail ride — without sacrificing climbing ability.
GT's new Helion 27.5 (see photo gallery) was designed with a goal of being capable on a wide variety of trails. The Helion has several features to help boost confidence on technical descents, including a longer toptube, shorter stem and wider bars, and a 69.5-degree head angle. Built on GT's AOS suspension platform, it's designed to be an efficient ascender as well.
"We wanted it to be raceable but for everyday riding," said Chris Hopwood, GT's global marketing manager. "We wanted it to put a smile on the XC rider's face on every part of the ride."
Part of that equation is having just enough travel for a cush and controlled ride, without overdoing it. The two models we've seen so far each have a bit more travel than the typical XC bike. The Helion has 110mm of travel front and rear, and Pivot's new Mach 4 27.5 has 115mm in the rear but is spec'd with a 120mm fork. "It feels like a longer-travel bike, but it's also the lightest full-suspension bike we've ever made," said Pivot's Chris Cocalis. The Mach 4 weighs in at 22 pounds.
Because both the Helion and the Mach 4 are aimed at the XC rider, they don't come stock with a dropper post (although both have dropper cable routing options), which also saves weight. And to shave dollars, GT opted to spec mid- and upper-level Helions with a 1x10 drivetrain rather than 1x11, but the bike ships with E-13's 42-tooth booster cog in its accessory bag for the climber who wants more gears.
Cocalis said he's still actively developing Pivot's 29er models, and has no plans to move away from two wheel sizes. The 26-inch wheel, too, survives in Pivot's dirt jump and dual slalom models; but at GT, it's all 27.5.
While the 27.5-inch XC bike is becoming more common, the 29er is still alive and well at Cannondale. Bill Rudell, CSG's North American public relations manager, said its new full-carbon hardtail F-Si 29er was designed to handle increasingly technical World Cup XC race courses, but that it will satisfy hardtail purists and maybe even convert hardtail skeptics. "I hadn't ridden a hardtail in years, and I don't ride 29ers either," he said. "And I was nervous to ride technical single track the first time I took the F-Si out, but I can tell you, there will be one of these in my garage. It is so much fun to ride."
The F-Si's short 429mm chainstays and slack head angle (see photo gallery captions for details) make the F-Si capable on technical climbs and descents, but also add to the fun factor. "The XC bike doesn't have to be all about shaved-leg roadies riding laps on dirt," said Murray Washburn, director of product marketing at Cannondale. "This bike is just fun to ride on all kinds of trails."
"I think bikes like this are going to generate a lot of enthusiasm and play a big part in the resurgence of XC," added Washburn. "And that is exciting."
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GT's 110-mm travel Helion 27.5 was designed with the aggressive XC rider in mind. It features GT's AOS suspension platform, which creates a rearward-facing wheel path found in most downhill bikes, allowing for efficient descending. With a 69.5-degree head angle, it’s also slacker than most XC bikes. The Helion is designed with a longer top tube, shorter stem and wider bars to help keep the rider's weight centered over the frame. Although not spec’d with dropper posts, it has stealth ports for internal cable routing. It’s available in both aluminum and carbon versions, with the entry-level model starting at $1,550. -
Designed for the XC racer and hardtail purist, the new Cannondale F-Si full-carbon 29er is light and stiff with the right angles to better handle steep and technical descents. The F-Si is equipped with the new 100mm Lefty 2.0 fork, which has a 55mm offset/rake to allow for a slacker 69.5-degree head angle. The new Lefty is also stiffer, snappier at low speeds and more stable at higher speed. The F-Si features super short 429mm chainstays to bring rider weight over the wheel for improved traction and nimble handling, and Cannondale's Ai (Asymmetric Integration) Drivetrain brings the front chainrings and front derailleur 6mm to the right to solve common issues associated with short chainstays. The rear end has also been shifted 6mm to right, which is achieved by using equal spoke lengths and tension on both sides of the wheel. The entry-level F-Si weighs 22 pounds and will retail for $4,500. It will be available in August. -
Kali Protectives launched its new Maya enduro helmet at PressCamp this week. Priced at just under $100, the Maya is Kali's first helmet at this price point to feature its patented Composite Fusion Plus technology. The Maya weighs in at 300 grams but offers maximum protection thanks to its soft, low density foam which allows for better energy dispersion upon impact. Kali founder Brad Waldron said the Maya was designed with the lowest-density foam Kali has ever been able to use in an open face helmet. It also features camera and light mounts compatible with a variety of brands. The Maya will be available at retail winter 2014. -
Smith Optics' Mallory Burda and BRAIN's Val Vanderpool soaked up the sun and views on a long-awaited mountain bike ride. -
Stan's No Tubes sponsored the evening's cocktail hour with margaritas, chips and salsa. Stan's pro team rider Susan Haywood's HaySue salsa was a big hit, and the wristbands took the chill off as stand-in margarita cup koozys. -
Stan's No Tubes taps the 29-plus market with its new Hugo 52 rim, which can accommodate the widest 'non-fat' tires on the market, up to 3.2-inch. With a 52 mm outside width and just under 50 inside and a middle drop channel, Stan's president Mike Bush said the ease of tubeless set up found in the Hugo could be scaled up for fat bike rims — which may be on Stan's horizon. "Setting current fat bike rims up tubeless takes a bit of voodoo magic," said Bush. In the meantime, year-round fat bike riders can run lighter and lower profile tires for summertime dirt with the Hugo rim, which is available now and retails for $145. Wheelsets, which will be available in the coming months, will retail for $695. -
The demo area was open for business Wednesday. Editors were eager to try all the new product and check out the Deer Valley trails and scenic road routes. -
With ample room for 28c tires, the Ridley Fenix Disc can handle everything from dirt and gravel to cobbles, making it a do-it-all road bike. Longer chainstays add stability and the beefed-up fork improves handling in rough conditions. The Fenix is available with Shimano 105 or Ultegra hydraulic disc brakes with mechanical shifting. Ridley's Richard Wittenberg called the Fenix the "Swiss Army knife of bikes" and said it was designed to handle everyday wear and tear for the rider who doesn't mind a few extra grams.
