G-Spoke

Fatbikes, last year's prom queen but this year’s Carrie, were off by 30%. Though I still love them. Wikimedia Commons photo.

The weather is turning cold. Some of us will fat bike or hit the gym with hopes of being light and fast when spring shows up. Others will put on a few pounds, enjoy life, and not worry about any of it.

But the bike industry soldiers on—a never-ending hamster wheel of R&D, technology, sales, supply chain, marketing, consumer trends, pricing, dealer relations—and unfortunately all is not well.

The industry is down 9 percent year over year. Companies suffered layoffs, suppliers and stores went under. Mergers were up.

Lower-priced men’s and women’s 27.5-inch bike sales did grow a bit, but that was mostly trade-out from other wheel sizes. E-bike shipments grew 75 percent. So, they'll still be a thing in the coming year. Commuter and town bikes were also up 63 percent. I’m kind of psyched on that; here’s hoping folks start going to work and bopping around by bike rather than car.

I speak to many people in this business, most consider themselves lucky to have merged their passion with how they make a living. But they all agree the industry needs to adapt for it to thrive.

The industry needs to adapt for it to thrive.

More than likely massive industry change will affect how, where and what you, the consumer, buy. Below are four trends to keep your eye on.

1. Less local bike shops vs. more online outlets.

We'd all like to hang out here, right? Wikipedia commons.

I love local bike shops. They are friends and neighbors. But it seems inevitable that all but the most high-functioning stores will go the way of the phone booth. What's driving these stores down is Amazon and endemic online shops more than each other, but less competition still lowers available choice and incentive for reasonable pricing.

Amazon makes Tony sad

. Ridgefield Bicycle p

hoto.

Giant recently launched their online shopping platform, joining Trek and others. Online sales from these sites are not designed to hollow out stores as much as they are to keep up with times and maybe even help their shops a bit. Bikes bought on manufacturer platforms are (for now) only available for pickup at local retail partners. But it’s hard to imagine fewer people making purchasing decisions while actually in shops can be good.

My local bike shop (a Trek dealer) said, of the few omni-channel orders they've fulfilled, customer buying decisions were usually rather uninformed (i.e. XL frames built with 26-inch wheels). But that genie's not going back in the bottle.

Fewer stores and more online purchasing could mean more mobile repair trucks; because parts will still break or wear out at the same rate, but shops won't be around to fix them. You might see 'taco trucks' parked at trail-heads (bonus if they sell food and beer). Services like Uber for bike mechanics may also pop up; break something and send for a wrench to help. LBS' could have like-branded repair trucks to help shore up their bottom line.

As sales and service verticals move apart, bike shops may start to operate like Tesla dealers. A nice showroom where you can see models, get info and fill out an online order form–but you can't buy a bike and ride it out of the shop.

Or stores could pivot to other revenue streams entirely. Topanga Creek Bikes is now Topanga Creek Outpost, specializing in experiences and things you can't find on the internet.

Regan Christian Frederick (of Next Stop Mountaintop), one of our Big Sky bike testers and all around awesome guy, turned us on to The Brothel bikes (no website). It's an amazing bar, and oh, yeah, a good bike shop too. If you're in Big Sky, MT, go there.

Yes, The Brothel looks like this and is a damn solid shop.

Pedaler's fork in Calabasas, CA is a fine eating and drinking establishment. I've got no beef with that (somebody stop me).

Pedaler's Fork photo.

Start to think of bike shops as a social hub as well as a place to go when you break something or maybe want to buy a bike. Cycling is about community, so this evolution fits in well with our sport.

2. Fit: The Contact Point Package (sounds a bit dirty, I know).

I always make this face when guys touch my saddle.

Halter's Cycles

photo.

Most bike reviews, including my own, complain about handlebar width, stem length, and the comfort of saddle or grips. It's as hard for folks to get a bike that fits as it is for manufacturers to make a bike that fits all people.

A win/win/win for companies, stores, and consumers, could be to ship all bikes without stems, handlebars, saddles or grips (they’re already sold without pedals). Make those things customizable add-ons, like car packages.

So much of how a bike performs, regardless of price point, depends on personal fit. Moreover, fitting bikes is a huge relationship builder for shops. It’s bike sale tinder. So the process should be encouraged. Selling bikes without contact point accessories will also lower a bike's starting sticker price a few hundred bucks, reducing initial buyer shock.

Customer relationships should start by customizing ‘Contact Point Packages’ (let’s call them CPPs, shall we?). We throw a leg over a frame in a fit area and start a dialog with the salesperson/fitter while engaging with different handlebars or saddles. Doesn't mean a person has to buy the bike or the package, but it will build trust. Not to mention allow customers to control price a bit.

Bike companies won’t have to try to fit everyone’s shoulders, butt, arms, hands and torso with one OEM choice. Stem length, handlebar width, saddle width, grips and pedal type can all get sorted on the bike a customer is actually thinking of buying.

Your bike will fit you, working as the bike company designed it to. And you'll build trust with the shop.

3. Ever-changing standards.

How I feel sometimes. Pixabay photo

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There's been mighty brouhaha around new hub widths, rim widths, handlebar diameter, 12-speed drive trains, the electrification of shifting and dropper posts, wheel sizes, direct-mount chainring standards and a few more things I’m sure I’m forgetting.

It's probably annoying for prospective customers to read about all this and wonder if what they buy today might be obsolete tomorrow. Should you buy a 12-speed drive train? Will your old wheels fit on a new frame? Should you get a plus bike?

If manufacturers keep on innovating, it’ll mean even cooler stuff, and that's great for marketing to consumers. Advances HAVE made bikes a ton more capable than they were 3 years ago, no denying it. But I worry only the 1% will keep up with constant upgrade expenditures. I DON’T want to see mountain biking go the way of skiing.

Companies like Wolf Tooth and One Up make parts to help customers cope with premature obsolescence. Extended range replacement cassettes get you the gear ratio of two chainrings without replacing your whole drivetrain, hub spacers allow older wheels to work on new frames and forks, hold onto derailleurs by using cage extenders. This helps you keep what works and only replace/upgrade what breaks.

Some companies also offer retrofits. IBIS sold rear-triangle upgrades for their bikes when they went to boost spacing. More will follow suit, I'm sure.

Also, third-hand scuttlebutt from Taichung bike week leads me to believe there isn't too much mind-blowingly different technology for 2018, so you can buy now.

#4 The 800lb e-gorilla in the room

Scott's Bosch drive e-bike. Scott photo.

I actually don’t think e-bikes are bad; in fact I kind of want one. For the sake of this article, we're only talking about e-bikes on dirt.

E-bikes and trail access WILL come to a head. Some Fred will either kill himself or a hiker with an over-powered, ghetto-throttle e-bike he/she can't control. It’s going to happen. Not that people don't die on regular bikes, but this will be a more sensational news story and used as a weapon to keep mountain bikes off trails.

Seriously?

State regulations for power-assisted two-wheeled vehicles vary wildly—most were created with only road governance in mind. So even if your state classifies electric vehicles below 750w as bicycles, it doesn't automatically mean you can ride them on trails which restrict motorized vehicles.

Also, there are subtle, but important, differentiations in e-bike classes regarding throttles and motors:

Level 1, or pedal assist: You pedal, the bike’s motor adds power, below 750w, to your own power, helping you with hills and straight-aways.

Level 2, throttle on demand: Like a motorcycle, you twist the hand-grip and the motor pushes the bike, no pedaling required (again, up to 750w). Twist throttles may also blend in some pedal assist as well.

On both L1 and L2, any electric motor must cut out at 20mph.

There are also levels 3 and 4, but those can be powered to 28mph and are all defined by federal DOT and NHTSA standards as motor vehicles requiring plates etc.

E-bikes from bigger, reputable manufacturers only spec Level 1 (pedal assist). Twist throttles are illegal to ride on trails in Europe and bike companies selling in both markets also want to be sensitive to heated trail access issues here in the US.

Level 2 twist throttle e-bikes are not illegal to sell here but, again, most likely you can only ride them where motorized vehicles are allowed. There are some US companies making them for both road and possible trail use.

A dozen or so small companies are rolling out Level 3 (over 750w) twist throttle e-bikes for trail use. Their marketing materials make no mention e-bikes shouldn’t be ridden on trails. In fact most feature some form of video with riders getting ‘rad’ somewhere in the backcountry. They usually tell you their ‘bikes’ are more powerful than competitors and you can easily hack the limiter. Like gun manufacturers that sell AR-15’s and point you at full-auto modifier kits with a wink.

These are the motorcycles which could ruin even the possibility of well-managed e-bike trail access going forward, not to mention jeopardize access for all mountain bikes.

Again, I love the idea of e-bikes for commuting, shopping, or bar-hopping around town. Any company selling any e-bike for that is awesome and has my full support.

My. Full. Support.

SPA Bicicletto photo.

But we may have to dial back our enthusiasm to ride e-bikes on trails for a bit so waters can settle for regular mountain bikes in Wilderness protected areas. The mountain bike community needs to be super nature-friendly and environmentally correct so we can ride where we have every right to be.

Nobody in charge of land will split hairs on what sort of throttle or limiter a bike has. People are just up in arms about the electric motor, period.

What to do:

Market forces might sort this out for us. E-bikes are a small category right now. They’re heavy, expensive, and not a great choice as your first or only mountain bike. You have to charge them. They're less good for fitness. If you get one eight miles into the woods and run out of battery, they’re too heavy to pedal home. Not to mention you could burn out the electric motor by gunning poorly made ones up hills repeatedly.

I think they'd be great for forest service, smoke jumpers, journalists covering long bike races, and folks over 60 etc. Certainly, they won't boom like Fatbikes did. If we don't see them for a couple years, everyone will probably stop talking about them.

If you want one, fine. Test it, do your homework, look at big manufacturers first because they'll actually be in business, standing behind the product, for years to come.

Keep up with THAT, Joneses. GW Photo

Trail is a funny category – the bikes have 120-140mm travel and are designed to do most everything. Proficient on most rides, smooth or burly – with the implied promise of being able to handle some terrain moderately out of their comfort zone.

RELATED: Initial Ride Report - BMC Trailfox 02

The trap most people fall into (myself and other reviewers included) when evaluating a trail bike’s ‘versatility’ is trying to see how much rough abuse it can handle and still remain poised. Then, when we inevitably find its inflection point, we whine about the fork not being stiff enough or the bike’s too-steep geometry.“If only it had X, Y or Z then it could handle blah blah…” So a trail bike’s metric becomes how far into a 150/160mm zone it can go.

The Setup

Gotta admit, this indicator takes the suck out of sag. GW Photo

I started off down the same rabbit-hole with the Speedfox. It has 130mm of travel, I set the sag (the bike has an ingenious sag indicator, btw) in the plush zone, converted the tires to tubeless to run softer pressure, ran the fork soft to go through more if its travel etc. I then took it out on some rocky east coast trails and was unhappy. Very unhappy.

At first, this was kind of the upper limit. Dave Peters photo

I just couldn’t understand what this bike was about. It was zippy, but wanted no part of anything slightly more than ‘trail’ technical. And not only that, its narrow cassette and double chainring were always getting in the way of the short, but radical, ups and downs of the east coast.

But I don't want to launch off of a root. Dave Peters photo

Bikes from sophisticated companies, especially Swiss R&D design and engineering psychos like BMC, don’t usually fail. I was annoyed, but knew there was something I just wasn’t putting my finger on that would explain this.

Then, a week or so ago, I was watching the Tour de France and my wife said “hey, a BMC team, is that the same company as that bike in the garage?” Why yes… yes it is. Then it dawned on me. BMC is a race company, the DNA of their bikes is high-RPM speed, shared with Cadel Evans, Fabian Cancellara and Julien Absalon (too soon to talk Tejay). They are Ferraris created to pass other people. The ‘versatility’ of this trail bike may not be aimed to take on the burly, masher end of the mountain bike spectrum, but at the fast marathon/endurance race end.

The Sweetspot

Stewart45 endurance XC. The SF02 was home at last. GTLuke photo

Eager to test this theory, and not wanting to mess around, I entered the Stewart45, a 45-mile endurance race in one of the faster, more buff areas here in the northeast, 3 x 15 mile loops (Dear BMC; yes, I raced your review bike, sorry). I set the sag and fork firm - 10-15%, I pumped up the tires and raised the saddle to roadie height, maximizing pedaling efficiency (it still has a dropper for downs). And off I went.

Great race, lots of fun. Unfortunately it was 95 freaking degrees and 100% (or whatever maximum is) humidity. But the bike was loving it. A tad heavier than some of the 20/21lb pure XC rigs on the course, but the SF made up for it with superior capability. As noted in the last review, it climbs great. In fact the suspension rewards charging right at big rock wall climbs and baby head gardens.

The capable 130mm fox float CTD shock. GW photo

Where XC bikes had to be more careful, I could go right at rough stuff. Of course the SF has 29er rollover, though all bikes there had that. But, the rock features other bikes had to roll down, I could boost off of and land flat (Dear BMC: yes, I hucked your bike to flat, sorry). And with the dropper and pretty decent tires, I gained time on descents.

The Conti X-king rear and Mountain King front. GW Photo

The shifting setup finally became clear. When spinning at a continuous 90-110 rpm, you shift to maintain cadence - not in response to terrain. For that, the Speedfox’s closely-packed 11-36 cassette is great. FYI, BMC is switching to an 11-40 cassette for 2016, so problem solved regardless.

For long rides, the double ring makes sense, and I always appreciate a chainguide. GW photo

If your legs feel good, you’re in the big, 38t chainring, if you’re deep in the hurt box, the small 24t one. I even raised my saddle a centimeter higher than I thought I should on some good advice from a bike fitter at the race.

The Speedfox Win

Pedal it, and then pedal it some more. Dave Peters photo

So there it is. That’s how you win on this trail bike. Fast. Just roll that theory forward into the trail and the bike is happy on group and Saturday rides. Keep the tires and suspension firm and spin it to win it. The Speedfox rewards aggressive high-cadence riding. You can’t twiddle around and wait for suspension and inertia to badonka-donk your way though things. Wait for your buddies at the trail junction, because you’re going to be there first. If they don’t like it, find faster friends.

It's actually good at skinnies too, which is nice. Dave Peters photo

And race this bike XC (the good news: XC courses are being set more aggressively now, which plays to this bike’s strength). If you got crazy about racing, you could drop some weight with lighter parts once its originals wear out in a couple years. And yes, it’s still got short chain-stays and is capable of having some fun.

Chillin' waiting for friends to catch up. Dave Peters photo

Pros: Fast, rewards hard efforts, solid brakes, very good rear suspension design, category leading dropper post, good cockpit, sharp looks (Bond villain sharp), and good tires.

Cons: not a park bike and, if you’re a bigger guy, over 185 or so, you’ll probably notice the flex on the 32mm stanchion fork – the 32mm float CTD fork is just not a great fork. They've switched to a 34mm stanchion fork for 2016 (Hurray). Not sure size recommendations were right, I had to put a longer stem on mine. If you think you're a large, buy a large, despite their medium recommendations. BMC may have made a few concessions to OEM deals to get price points down on this bike. For example WHY is the front rotor 6-bolt and the rear centerlock – makes no sense.

Hey, You. You want to race whatever bike you got on a Go Kart track with not too many rules? Speed, respect, some much-needed training and perhaps a beer or two afterwards - sounds awesome, right?

Rolling in with your gear

A few quick emails with the CTA above along with a time and address came in from a friend. East coast cyclists are pretty much bouncing off the walls right now, so they had me at “Hey, You.” 

With bikes on the rack for the first time in many long, cold, shitty months, I drove the 45 minutes to Brookfield, CT and pulled up to On Track Karting around 8pm. I told my daughter, ‘wait here, I’m going inside to see what’s up’ just in case... I don’t know... it was busted and we needed to make a quick exit. But the place is new, clean, the staff is nice and there were other cyclists hanging out - so I paid my 20 bucks, signed a waiver and went back outside to get my stuff. I rolled the bikes (brought a cross bike with road tires and a 26er hard-tail with slicks - not sure just how hairy the corners would be) into the track through the huge loading door, set up in pit lane, figured out how much padding I felt like wearing (A full-face lid and elbow pads are a good idea) and very soon we all started to feel right at home. About 40-50 people showed up, some from my bike shop some from other places nearby.

The track is fast, curvy AND over a 1/3 of a mile long. Smelled a little like gas and engines, in a good way.

I started riding, figuring out corners and where to sprint until I got comfortable on a few hot laps in either direction. Sort of got the lines dialed, the ‘apex’ of the turns (don’t clip a pedal on the barrier tires) and where it’s cool to pass. Warming up was a nice experience; Do a couple laps, pull in to the pits, dick around with your gear, talk to folks, go back out, run a couple more. Repeat.

Then the racing: Lined up for the group start, got a green flag and off we all went. Check out the helmet vid:

Racing fun

There were heats of 2-4 laps. Shorter heats are a little more all-out, longer ones have a bit more strategy. Some good passing is necessary, some crashes and some beers in pit row. Do not start drinking before you’re done. Feels a little like indoor cyclocross with some hairy turns. And no, it’s not some hipster douche-fest. 

Where WAS THIS all winter? Training-wise, hammering the pedals once a week (not in a spin class) with others around you is invaluable. Sure, build a base, do a million squats, get your core and cardio on - but actual racing, or at lest riding in a group, is key. Your heart rate gets higher and you rub elbows in actual competition. This comes in handy around April or May when you toe the line at that first event.

I’m definitely here every Sunday through the mud season. And next winter.

Hel yes

GT's marketing team was nice enough to give me a Helion Carbon Pro for a couple days in Temecula, CA.

This was actually a double-whammy score for me. I got to ride at Vail Lake, Temecula with Jason and Heather Ranoa, owners of SoCal endurance, who manage the area and had just set the Enduro and 12-hour course for the following week.  I also got to ride a little with Rachel Throop during a shoot day. 

Good bikes with good people = life is good.

The Merlot lot at Vail Lake

SPECS:

Anyway, GT gave me a large Carbon Helion Pro with:

110mm FOX Float CTD Shock and Fork w/remote front and rear lockout

Shimano XT Brakes (180mm rotors) & XT shadow plus rear derailleur

Race Face Turbine Narrow-wide crankset with 32T chaninring

Race Face Turbine 740mm 3/4in riser handlebars w/80mm stem

Shimano XT Cassette with an E*thirteen 42t cog

27.5 Wheels: DTSwiss 240 hubs laced to Stan's NoTubes ZTR crest hoops

Continental X-King 2.2 tires

Rockshox dropper post (this may not be standard)

Two things I love about GT: 1) They've been R&D'ing like crazy the last few years and now have several category-leading bikes, and 2) They still keep their prices a couple grand cheaper than most other manufacturers' comparable models. The Helion Carbon Pro lists at $5400.

Even though it's a race-able "XC" bike (heavy quotes on the XC), the Helion is a super-functional 27.5" light trail bike. The one I got had a Rockshox dropper, though I'm not sure the standard Pro build comes with one. If it doesn't, put one on. It'll make you happy.

Also, ONE chainring, thank you very much. I am forever bothered by too much crap for my hands - so the less concentration I have to allocate twiddling things with my thumbs while riding the better. 32:42 gearing from the E*thirteeen 42-tooth cog is just fine for most hills, east or west coast.  And kudos for using what are usually cool after-market parts as standard spec. 

One chainring

There's a hard line for ROI on handlebar space for me: Dropper-post levers make the cut, front derailleurs and lockouts do not. I'm appreciative of everything manufacturers try to provide for my price point, but I have NEVER understood handlebar-mounted lockouts when good suspensions now climb great with their shocks wide open. Maybe we can carve an exception for a 165mm enduro rig, but if I need to lock out a 100mm suspension for a bike to climb, then it sucks. And you don't on the Helion, it climbs great. So, please, enough with the lockouts. Conversely, if the terrain you're riding is so smooth you can lock out your frame for long periods of time, maybe you should try mountain biking.

I love wide bars. I'm a wide-handlebar evangelist, not just because I'm fuller-of-frame but because they allow you to widen your your riding position, engage your core and lean into turns with more gusto. GT understands this and the 740mm bars are part of what makes the bike fun.

The rest: Shimano XT, DTSwiss and Stan's - all great spec. no issue.

Moving on: The Helion is beautiful - clean, elegant lines, very fast looking - matte black with nice blue and yellow accents, GT grips, short head tube. You will be proud to throw a leg over it or chat it up in the parking lot. 

sweet looking ride, but if you say 'braaap' i'll punch you.

RIDING:

I met Jason and Heather in the Merlot lot at Vail Lake and we headed up to ride just about everything in the area. From Tunnel of Love to Tarantula, Marlin to Marine Corps Hill and even a couple brand-new Enduro trails he had just cut. 

Aside from being light, the Helion is a natural right out of the gate. Though the 69.5-degree head angle could be slacker on paper (it's an XC bike, remember), the bike feels wonderfully balanced and smooth, both up and down. It climbs like an XC bike should, effortless with no perceived pedal-bob, just keep pushing and you'll be fine. Wide or singletrack, the bike goes up straight and doesn't weave. And because it's XC light, you can pop it up and over most obstacles.

For downhill, the Helion definitely punches above it's weight. Kind of what you'd expect from the makers of the Fury, Force and Sanction. GT's AOS suspension design frees the bottom bracket from the seat tube to move rearwards, in sync with the rear axle - allowing the suspension to travel very smoothly and effectively over hits and rocks. I NEVER bottomed out, got hung up or jarred by a larger feature or obstacle. The suspension felt deeper than it was and I was able to flash descents I'd never seen before. For turns, just lift the outside elbow, drop the inside hand, look around the corner and, za-zing, there you go. Most of the suspension's engineering hoo-ha sits very low on the frame, which gives the bike a low center of gravity and helps it corner well.

The lower hoo-ha. Notice the bb and shockmount are housed within the massive Pathlink assembly.

Temecula riding is fast; you can do 10-15 miles without stopping. And because Jason was training for the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo, we really didn't. The trails are flowy, with some interesting granite features - no roots because it's SoCal, and you need water for roots. They got some fluke snow the week before so things were a little tackier than normal - except for a few random ‘gotcha’ sand-spots in fast corners. Descents go from fast to sketchy very quickly and without warning, so having a bike that can hang with that is great.

Top of the ambulance road climb.

The Helion just seems to work without a lot of messing around. Last season when I reviewed the Santa Cruz 5010, it took a month for me to get every setting on that bike to feel properly balanced (after which it was great) - and I love the VPP suspension. I mention this because the two bikes feel similar, even though the 5010 has 15-20mm more travel. The Helion is also similar to the Pivot Mach 4, which I had the opportunity to ride last season.

Now, there have been a few complaints in various reviews of other bikes about 32mm forks being out-gunned by good, stiff frames and modern suspension designs. Here the parts spec seems perfect for the frame. Maybe if I was on some fistfight east-coast roots n' rocks trail I might be 120mm curious, as it would slacken the head angle a bit. But I'm just saying that - the bike never felt out-gunned all day on anything I took it on. And Jason made sure I rode every new and awesome trail he'd cut.

The next day I only had about 90 minutes to ride. Jason was prepping the race but Rachel Throop was around (I get precious little opportunity to name-drop, forgive me), we skipped lunch (well, I shoved a wrap and some fruit salad into my face in 40 seconds) and did a couple laps on Vail's signature XC trail 'Tunnel of Love', which, if ridden fast enough, is almost a jump-line. 

Rachel riding.

This is where the bike just FLIES, it accelerates immediately, likes to leave the ground and when you're landing on the backside of a tabletop it just begs for the next one. I would LOVE to take the Helion to a race and show it a good time. It counters the pain reflex I have to most XC bikes and reminds me how much fun the sport can be. It's a FUN bike. Be that guy everybody gripes about for passing downhill and talking on the climbs.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The Helion works great from the get-go, is smooth, quiet, climbs like an XC bike (without bending you over) and, as advertised, is fun to play around on. It could not only be your XC race bike out of the box, but your daily driver, stopping just short of anything super knarly. I love its maneuverability and, because I never reached its limit, I kind of wonder where that lies.

THE TAKEAWAY: 

The Helion has that magic alchemy of somehow being greater than the sum of its parts and frame angles. Reviewing it was pretty hard because it disappears beneath you and the only time you really think about it is when you ride over something that 'should have felt harder.' The AOS works perfectly, the high pivot gives the wheel great rearward travel and low C.O.G makes it quick. And unless you're riding something that needs a full-face helmet, this bike can hang. It's FUN.  If you're a high-end bespoke sort of gal/guy, the frame is a-list enough to build with carbon wheels, a NEXT crankset etc. to drop a little more weight to build a total rocket.

Keep the dropper post, though, trust me.

Pair this bike with a nice pilsner or light amber ale.

LINKS:

SocCal Endurance

GT Bikes

Enduro and 12-hour registration

I'd have to be deaf and blind to not hear about the toilets, the corruption, the cost overruns, the horrible conditions during the communist era, the anti-gay policies etc. of this year's Olympic host country. Enough already. I'd give my right arm to cover the Olympics (I've come to terms with the fact that I won't be an athlete at the games).  Toilets, double toilets, no toilets, pictures of Putin half naked in my room, cold food, stray dogs - bring it. The Olympics are bigger than creature comforts.  If you're unhappy there, I'm delighted to take your spot. As far as cost overruns and graft; Russia doesn't seem unique. In Brazil stadiums are being built in lieu of hospitals, schools and public transportation - people are rioting in the streets of Sao Paulo and Rio. Lula Da Silva and his handpicked successor, Dilma Roussoff, are two of the most corrupt presidents to ever run a country (Roussoff has been accused of personally stealing more than $40bn from the national economy). In Beijing '08, the disenfranchised and needy got screwed.  A CEO of Halliburton was our Vice President, and the company did really well during his term (better than 50 billion additional revenue). To imply graft is somehow uniquely Russian feels naive, or hypocritical.   Hosting the Olympics have been, with a few notable exceptions, boondoggles rife with cost overruns and unnecessary infrastructure that afterwards sit fallow and useless. Most countries could have used that money far better.  I'm not saying Russia's offenses are justified; they are abhorrent (except for the toilets, seriously people, get over it).  

A suggestion for IOC memo to prospective host countries; "Enough with over-the-top displays of technological fuckery. This isn't your coming-out party, an opportunity to legitimize lousy leadership or a circus of awesomeness.  Humility and cognizance of context will suit you far better than those things.  Hosting is your chance to make the world a better place." Also, the sanctimony in coverage and social media the last few weeks has been unbearable. I can't tell if this Russia-bashing is a cold war holdover or what. Part of me pictures network strategy meetings where discussions on how not to say anything too nice about Russia take place, for fear of alienating older, more conservative viewers.  

(update: Ok, they're jerks. They do want to invade other countries, I was wrong)

The snarky NBC commentators made me sick at times. So an Olympic ring didn't open up, try to contain your schadenfreude (Costas and Apollo Ohno are STILL yapping about it).  Yes, the communist era was a travesty of human rights violations and oppression, but passive-aggressively alluding to it multiple times, rather than focusing on what the Olympics mean, is that really what you want to do?  It pained commentators to say anything positive, alluding to 'notes they were given' before speaking, so as to distance themselves from it (implying - "I'm not saying anything nice here, just reading what was given to me, which is probably propaganda"). Next time the US hosts the games, should we have an interpretive dance to slavery, Japanese internment and the displacement of native peoples? (Actually, yes) And wondering aloud if Israeli and Iranian athletes are having backstage tensions with each other... really?  Is that the best you can do?  Both those countries' athletes have a history of comporting themselves admirably. While we're on commentary, acknowledge the names of some of the greatest ballet dancers in the world, something Russians can take pride in being unequivocal leaders of, in the performance. 

But I have come to praise Caesar, not to bury him.  I LOVE the Olympics. All my life it's represented something greater than sports and greater than countries.  The games are where all countries come together to find common ground in the universality of sport.  Where we recognize competition as something inherently human, binding us all together.  That bond is the opportunity in time and place to recognize each other as equals, ratcheting DOWN the nationalism, war and strife that fills our heads between games. The Olympics mirror us to ourselves, and are thus the most like art of all sporting events.  And it's the best.  The BEST athletes from the entire world are coming together to compete against one another.  How awesome is that? Yes, Putin is a twat, but lets get off our high horse and focus on what the Olympics are about. Seize the opportunity and deal with broader issues, or we don't deserve to have games. But I digress (btw, how shitty and narrow-minded was that Cadillac ELR commercial?).  It should be our job as viewers to cheer the athletes AND the games AND what they stand for.  They have their goals, and ours should be to be more appreciative of other countries two weeks from now at the conclusion of these Olympics.  Go USA Skiing!

Feel GOOD!

And watch the doc as well

Why do we love Gray’s Papaya? Because we love the hot dog.

Got to be at McSorley's.  Two light and two dark will make waiting for anyone, Godot or otherwise, a pleasant experience.

Fantastic #mts13 with @shellypalmer yesterday.  Thanks again Shelly. @outbrain, Boku, @Qualcomm and @Expion stood out among a rich field of participants.

Outbrain enables what GOOD content marketing could be. I have been working to merge meaningful and valuable content with sponsor and marketing efforts for a while – and I applaud a system that amplifies valuable sponsored content for a consumer to discover. And @yarongalai is remarkable.

Boku, because their payment systems are clearly thought out around consumer experience - making purchasing seamless and intuitive for whatever context you’re using your phone in. One of my passions is bike commuter systems, so giving connected millenials (or anyone) a seamless way to take advantage of outbound marketing offers generated by GPS or other data with their mobile devices is key. Qualcomm, because their next generation of mobile chips will enable some AMAZING features. Always-on, NFC, location awareness, health monitoring, better gps enabling, etc. And Expion because they unify and monetize social media for companies most effectively.  I had a nice talk with Kevin Magee connecting my U_bike system with retailers that lead in the social space. Very impressive were Maryam Banikarim CMO of Gannett and Lisa Donahue, CEO of Starcom USA.  So clearly spoken, visionary and with fantastic analytical skills at their immediate disposal.

I recently entered the Chain Stretcher XC at Blue Mountain, NY - first race in the Jamis H2H series. I've been riding less XC because I seem to enjoy getting hardtail taint-punched less and less. But I still crave that intense all-out grind racing side by side. While whining about this at the shop, my buddy Mike suggested I demo their Giant Anthem Advanced X 29er.  I’ve read great things about the bike so I jumped at the idea.

 I made a plan to pick the bike up at Ridgefield Bicycle Company, pre-ride the course Saturday, get used to the bike a bit, and then race on Sunday. I kinda felt I was getting over on RBC by rolling a brand new bike out of their shop to race. I bought some Scratch hydration and Honey Stinger bars to assuage my guilt (ummm... thanks for the bike... here's $12.50). And I'll mention how awesome you are in the review.

  On balance I’m astounded by the engineering on bikes these days. 29ers are quick and manageable, brakes and drivetrains at most price points are awesome, and both Fox and Rockshox suspension builds come together quite well.  Oh sure, you can split hairs – and cyclists usually split hairs, because that’s how we do – but all the main OEM companies make good stuff. Tip: worry about your wheels if you want to worry about anything.

  The Anthem X has a carbon front triangle with an aluminum rear triangle, Avid Elixir 3 brakes, Sram X7 Derailleur, X5 shifters, Rockshox Monarch shock and Reba fork, fizik saddle and Giant's own wheels. 100mm travel front and rear. Sure, not the highest parts spec, but the $3200 MSRP is very low. And most shops will have it priced to move under 3k.  A nice touch was tubeless-ready Schwalbe Racing Ralph tires. I didn’t take note of the stem and bars because, really, who cares.  Just make sure you get the right length when you buy a bike.

 RBC set the sag and off I went to Blue for my easy pre-ride.

I began at the race start and followed the course, stopping to inspect the hairy bits. Not wanting to blaze my legs the day before a race, I didn't totally hammer and, after all, the bike was new. It’s not smart to rip over stuff on a bike you’re just getting a feel for.

  The Anthem X immediately does all the things a 29er is supposed to. I’ve ridden the Pivot 429, Niner Jet 9, Orbea Alma and Salsa Spearfish, among others and the Anthem seemed like the zippiest out of the gate. Ok, well, maybe not the Jet 9 RDO or the BMC Speedfox - but they're more than twice the price. The Ralph's and Giant wheels roll quick and hold predictably through corners. Coming up to an ascent with some speed, the Anthem carries you through like buttah.

  The bike is light (VERY light) and stiff, the carbon front triangle noticeably dampens trail chatter and you don’t feel like you’re dragging any weight.  The Maestro suspension doesn’t wallow when you stand up and mash - the frame leaps forward on a flat or a climb. I did suffer an occasional rear-wheel slip over a log or step-up, but that could have been lower knobs on the tires or my early-season technique. Over rocks the bike was like climbing shoes.

  Fast, swoopy, curvy downhill sections are a dream on the Anthem.  A rock garden?  Pffff – bitch, please.  The top-tube is not too long and it's easy to get the front wheel up. The chain stays are not incredibly short, but certainly shorter than bikes a couple years ago. Rolling down the back of sketchy features seems breezy.  I could have done with a slightly larger brake rotor than the 160 in front, I go about 185 nekkid and was carrying a pack, but this wasn’t critical.

  I had to fiddle with the pressure in the Reba fork and tires a little, after which everything felt super locked-in. Tip: when you get a new bike, fiddle with adjustments a little at a time, it's about evolution, not revolution. The X7 derailleur hiccupped once or twice, but I chalked that up to new cables or whatever.

  Got back to the parking lot, put the bike on my rack and was instantly accosted by a 50-something racer with a French accent wanting to talk about the bike (it’s a FABULOUS looking bike, btw) - and tire pressure.  Another tip: if you want to look like you know what you’re talking about, talk about tire pressure.

  Went home, put exactly 26 psi in the tires and got ready for race day.

  Next morning I headed to Blue, registered and got ready.  The bike got a few more nice compliments.  Said hi to one or two guys from RBC.  RBC has a fantastic club that does three MTB rides and countless road rides a week – and they support their club members with discounts and a bunch of other stuff.

 I warmed up by going around the asphalt at the start line.  Another guy couldn’t help talking with me about the bike. I felt fast and the bike felt even lighter and snappier than the day before – I was going to crush this.

  I lined up with my age group. 3.2.1 GO!  I started off at what I felt was normal effort into the pedals, MAN that bike jumps out quick.  200 yards in I heard a couple guys give me the ‘go ahead, burn yourself out’ and ‘sandbagger’ (I NEVER get sandbagger, I’m usually the sandbag-ee). I had started in the 2nd or third row of the group and already there were only two guys in front of me, and they were huffing pretty good. This day was going to be mine.

  KA-POING!! Derailleur suddenly went dead. I desperately thumbed the shifter, hoping it was a momentary cable lapse or something.  I got off quick, praying this could be dealt with. DAMN!  CRAP! I’m a lousy wrench so there really wasn’t much hope of me diagnosing the issue and fixing it. My bike was upside down and I made a big show of trying to fix it so folks would know they were passing because of a mechanical (I’m vain like that). 

  Day over.  I made a few grumbles about the X7 derailleur and did the roll of shame back down the trail to the start - panties in my purse. I put the bike on the car and drove back to RBC.

  I got back to the shop, not totally knowing what to say.  Mike was there and I told him what happened. Instantly he had the EXACT look on his face I did when the derailleur failed.  “DAMN! That sucks!  That’s not supposed to happen” (he even paced back and forth a bit, huffing and puffing). Mike is a Cat 1 hammer (sometimes pro) and wins a lot. “Ok, we’re fixing this right now and you’re going out and riding Bennett’s today” he said. I felt instantly better.  Mike tinkered with it for about 10 seconds, diagnosed a slipped derailleur bolt, fixed it and, boom, great bike again. Just one of those things that happens on a new bike.

  I took the bike to the local trails and rode for two hours on the more tech-y, rooty, rocky trails.  Everything from the day before held true.  With it's wide handlebars and not-too-steep geometry It decently handled what I usually ride my 160mm Nomad on.  For some of the killer stuff it’s a little under-gunned, but the Anthem X is not an all-mountain dump truck, and it’s not supposed to be.  It’s a light and fast 100mm XC pony. And for that it's super. If you live in the pacific northwest or want something you can haul to a DH park, it's not right, but otherwise it's good for most days.

Did I mention the build I was riding is only $3200 MSRP (and RBC was selling it for under 3k)?  Which for a (mostly) carbon bike with decent wheels and components is bananas cheap.  Seriously, I had them repeat the number when they told me.  You can jump on this bike as-is to races and hang with the best in your category - just take it for a few rides first.  You could easily drop another grand or two on a similar bike or a higher parts spec.