A panorama of tech and racing at the Sea Otter Classic
- By Zack Vestal
- Published Apr. 18, 2009
- Updated Apr. 15, 2011 at 5:13 PM UTC
The latest and possibly most significant tech development being revealed here at the Sea Otter classic in Monterey is a completely free, inexhaustible, universally available energy source: the sun. In contrast to Thursday’s windy chill, exhibitors and spectators alike were treated to possibly the warmest day on the Laguna Seca infield in recent memory. Actual dust was found coating some of the otherwise shiny and new bike parts on display.
Giant
Giant communications director Andrew Juskaitis gave a quick look at a new downhill bike, the 8-inch travel 2010 Giant Glory piloted by racer Jared Rando. The Australian athlete already has the luxury of nearly a full racing season on the bike, courtesy of the opposite seasons in the southern hemisphere. Sea Otter marks the domestic debut of the bike, which is still in development, but near final form.
Juskaitis said that the major goal with the new frame platform is reduced weight, without sacrificing stiffness and handling. Weight reduction is achieved with a new co-pivot for the lower linkage centered on the lower shock mount. Additional savings come from heavily machined upper shock linkage pieces. A huge oversized downtube and 1-1/8-inch tapered to 1-1/2-inch headset maintain torsional stiffness from front to back. The bike is built from formed, welded aluminum.
He was unable to say just how much weight the new bike saves over Giant’s previous DH platform, but said it was “a lot.” Juskaitis said the company is proud that the bike is built for pure downhilling, rather than a freeride frame re-purposed for speed. The brand maintains a strong presence on the racing scene and the new bike is one more aspect of the commitment to purpose-built racing rigs.
Lezyne
Just in its second year, accessory brand Lezyne continues to produce unique tools, pumps, bags, and other accessories with a heavy emphasis on functional engineered design. Every piece maintains an aspect of aesthetics, but does not sacrifice ergonomics or utility. A range of anodized, CNC machined frame pumps and multi-tools stationed on white podiums almost gave the booth the look and feel of an Apple store.
Standouts from the company include:
The Shock Drive shock pump, all aluminum and ultra svelte for portability on rides ($39);
A $100, 85-gram mini tool with carbon fiber side plates, titanium bolts, and CNC stainless steel tools;
Smart Wallets, still in development but soon available, feature pockets for tools, a watertight envelope for phones, and compact size to fit in a jersey pocket;
The line of hydration packs which also include pockets sized for tools, tire levers, and the like;
And a range of sturdy floor pumps including the brightly anodized CNC Floor Drive ($100), along side more classic pumps with wood handles.
Manitou
The Hayes Bicycle Group is dedicating some effort to all brands, but the Manitou line of suspension products gets the big news, with an updated damping system. Absolute + damping is based on TPC, but brings combined high- and low-speed compression damping to the 2010 fork line. The system is combined in a damper assembly, which can be retrofitted to forks dating back to 2007, and relies on a “Pro Stack” shim circuit for high speed damping, and a “Speed Needle” for low speed compression control. Additionally, a new lockout, called MILO (Manitou Integrated Lockout) offers a thumb lever remote lockout control.
Hutchinson
A couple of new tires are available from Hutchinson, long a proponent of tubeless technology. The $65 Cobra is a low profile, high speed tire already available for tubed setups, but now built to tubeless-ready spec. For fans of big wheels, the Toro tread pattern is brought to the 29-inch size, also in tubeless ready. And for adopters of tubeless technology who ride skinny tires, the $80 Intensive is a new, road tubeless compatible tire meant for longer wear and more comfort in a 25c size.
Cane Creek
Cane Creek explores the weight boundary in headsets, with a 45-gram claimed weight for the new AER headset. It relies on a Norglide X2 composite upper bushing, a split-lip sealed cartridge lower bearing, and machined “windows” in the cups. Chopping 50 percent of the weight of a traditional headset, Cane Creek points out that the cost per gram saved hovers around $2.36, a relative bargain compared to what it costs to save weight in other components. The design is meant for road bikes, and certainly unlikely to be as smooth as a normal headset, but might be perfect for lightweight project bikes and race bikes. It’s available in 1-1/8 – inch, tapered to 1 1/2-inch, and zero stack fitments. Also recently introduced from Cane Creek is a zero stack headset in the premium 110 line.
Look for continuing coverage of tech goodies, hopefully well-lit by the warm sunshine, from the Sea Otter Classic.
FILED UNDER: Bikes and Tech TAGS: Sea Otter Classic
Zack Vestal
Zack joined VeloNews in 2009, bringing 15 years of industry experience to the Tech Editor position. Most recently manager and mechanic for the Trek-VW mountain bike team (2004-08), he has an unused geology degree from Whitman College (and a well-worn Ph.D. from the school of hard knocks). Vestal covers the latest in cycling gear online, and brings in-depth perspective to the magazine.