Grinsekater
Nerd in disguise
die sufu hat nix hergegeben also hier paar bildchen und infos;
quelle www.nsmb.com
[size=+2]Specialized 2006 - A first look[/size]
[size=+1]The California-based bicycle maker rolls out its
new line of bikes and clothing for the upcoming year [/size]
Words and photos by Stuart Kernaghan
It's Sunday afternoon, I'm in Santa Cruz, California, and it's hotter than hell outside. What better way to spend a little down time than putting together a sneak peak at some of the goodies that Specialized Bicycles rolled out this weekend at its 2006 product launch?
Well, I could be on a patio drinking beers but that's been a little hard to find in these parts, so this will have to do for now.
Probably the biggest news on the freeride end of things at the Specialized '06 unveiling was the new Big Hit. Specialized bikes have been ripping it up for a few years now - even before the Demo 9 was introduced in the 2004 model year, and a lot of that big-line shredding was made possible by the venerable Big Hit. The bike was was introduced about five years ago, though, and it's getting a little dated, hence the major facelift for 2006.
Aside from the complete frame redesign, which you can see below, riders can now run dual 26s. There are three models in the new Big Hit line, with the top-end bike having 8.2" of travel and the other two, 7.5". The new Big Hits are designed to be more of a price point-oriented bike than the Demo 8 or 9 so they don't come with all the same bells and whistles, but they're more than capable when things get steep and deep.
[size=-2]The new Big Hit 3, looking for some love at Wilder Ranch in Santa Cruz, CA but not finding much.
[/size]
The Big Hit wasn't the only bike to get some love this year. The P Series of dirt jumping / urban / park hardtails were also tweaked, as were the Demo 8 and 9.
Some of the changes were structural (modified angles or linkages), some of them were cosmetic (new colour schemes), and some were functional (new components). I'll have a look at all of the changes in the next couple of days, so stay tuned.
Fox forks and shocks - most of which are specially valved and designed for these particular bikes - are all over the place in the mountain bike line, but there is definitely healthy representation from Marzocchi on the front end. The other two big suspension makers are pretty much shut out, though.
Also noticeable on the bikes were Truvativ cranks, SRAM drivetrain components, and Avid disc brakes. Representation from three out of the four SRAM companies isn't bad, I guess...
Black Spire chainguides were all over the place, showing up in both single- and double-ring configurations.
[size=-2] Some wicked frame detail, but on which frame?
[/size]
[size=-2]
[/size]
Specialized is really putting a lot of effort into establishing itself as a 'complete' bicycle brand, with sizeable mountain, road, and city bike lines, but the company is also looking to carve out a place for itself in the softgoods market as well. That means a sizeable line of apparel for the on-bike experience, for everyone from XC weight weenies to the freeride crowd.
Full-face helmets and carbon-knuckled gloves have been available from Specialized for a while now, but the new Deviant lids are lighter than previous helmets, come in carbon fiber and fiberglass versions, and best of all, are well ventilated. All helmets from Specialized meet Snell and CPSC standards, in addition to standards from other independent testers around the world.
[size=-2]The new Deviant helmet, in fiberglass or carbon fiber (the other side of the carbon helmet is even cooler)
[/size]
Also interesting to see was some new armour. The Kani pad system includes leg / shin and arm pads that are articulated for increased mobility while pedalling, and use a Lycra cuff and hook-and-loop strap system to keep them in place. Another new product is the Buzzsaw shoe, which takes over from the Sawpit. This high-top shoe comes with a soft Umma Gumma rubber sole (riders from back in the day will remember that name) that will work with flats, as well as a a removeable SPD plate if that's your thing.
There was lots of other great stuff to see here at Specialized '06, and we'll have it all on the site in the very near future. In the meantime, you'll have to be patient. I'm heading back out to ride bikes. [Or at least that's what I was doing after I wrote this article. - SK]
To keep you amused until then, here's a picture of Darren Berrecloth looking all corporate, with what he's calling his favourite bike at the moment. One guess as to what it is...
[size=-2]"This is my favourite bike," says Bearclaw. He rode it to victories at Slopestyle Austria and Monster Park.[/size]
quelle www.nsmb.com
[size=+2]Specialized 2006 - A first look[/size]
[size=+1]The California-based bicycle maker rolls out its
new line of bikes and clothing for the upcoming year [/size]
Words and photos by Stuart Kernaghan
It's Sunday afternoon, I'm in Santa Cruz, California, and it's hotter than hell outside. What better way to spend a little down time than putting together a sneak peak at some of the goodies that Specialized Bicycles rolled out this weekend at its 2006 product launch?
Well, I could be on a patio drinking beers but that's been a little hard to find in these parts, so this will have to do for now.
Probably the biggest news on the freeride end of things at the Specialized '06 unveiling was the new Big Hit. Specialized bikes have been ripping it up for a few years now - even before the Demo 9 was introduced in the 2004 model year, and a lot of that big-line shredding was made possible by the venerable Big Hit. The bike was was introduced about five years ago, though, and it's getting a little dated, hence the major facelift for 2006.
Aside from the complete frame redesign, which you can see below, riders can now run dual 26s. There are three models in the new Big Hit line, with the top-end bike having 8.2" of travel and the other two, 7.5". The new Big Hits are designed to be more of a price point-oriented bike than the Demo 8 or 9 so they don't come with all the same bells and whistles, but they're more than capable when things get steep and deep.
[size=-2]The new Big Hit 3, looking for some love at Wilder Ranch in Santa Cruz, CA but not finding much.
[/size]
The Big Hit wasn't the only bike to get some love this year. The P Series of dirt jumping / urban / park hardtails were also tweaked, as were the Demo 8 and 9.
Some of the changes were structural (modified angles or linkages), some of them were cosmetic (new colour schemes), and some were functional (new components). I'll have a look at all of the changes in the next couple of days, so stay tuned.
Fox forks and shocks - most of which are specially valved and designed for these particular bikes - are all over the place in the mountain bike line, but there is definitely healthy representation from Marzocchi on the front end. The other two big suspension makers are pretty much shut out, though.
Also noticeable on the bikes were Truvativ cranks, SRAM drivetrain components, and Avid disc brakes. Representation from three out of the four SRAM companies isn't bad, I guess...
Black Spire chainguides were all over the place, showing up in both single- and double-ring configurations.
[size=-2] Some wicked frame detail, but on which frame?
[/size]
[size=-2]
[/size]
Specialized is really putting a lot of effort into establishing itself as a 'complete' bicycle brand, with sizeable mountain, road, and city bike lines, but the company is also looking to carve out a place for itself in the softgoods market as well. That means a sizeable line of apparel for the on-bike experience, for everyone from XC weight weenies to the freeride crowd.
Full-face helmets and carbon-knuckled gloves have been available from Specialized for a while now, but the new Deviant lids are lighter than previous helmets, come in carbon fiber and fiberglass versions, and best of all, are well ventilated. All helmets from Specialized meet Snell and CPSC standards, in addition to standards from other independent testers around the world.
[size=-2]The new Deviant helmet, in fiberglass or carbon fiber (the other side of the carbon helmet is even cooler)
[/size]
Also interesting to see was some new armour. The Kani pad system includes leg / shin and arm pads that are articulated for increased mobility while pedalling, and use a Lycra cuff and hook-and-loop strap system to keep them in place. Another new product is the Buzzsaw shoe, which takes over from the Sawpit. This high-top shoe comes with a soft Umma Gumma rubber sole (riders from back in the day will remember that name) that will work with flats, as well as a a removeable SPD plate if that's your thing.
There was lots of other great stuff to see here at Specialized '06, and we'll have it all on the site in the very near future. In the meantime, you'll have to be patient. I'm heading back out to ride bikes. [Or at least that's what I was doing after I wrote this article. - SK]
To keep you amused until then, here's a picture of Darren Berrecloth looking all corporate, with what he's calling his favourite bike at the moment. One guess as to what it is...
[size=-2]"This is my favourite bike," says Bearclaw. He rode it to victories at Slopestyle Austria and Monster Park.[/size]