Archive

Archive for February, 2010

Fox 2010 first look

February 16th, 2010

Every year, at the onset of of designing a new line, we have one simple goal: to create the ultimate collection of riding gear which serious mountain bike enthusiasts will embrace.

We’ve taken great care to dial in our products down to the smallest details. From our selection of performance fabrics, strategically placed mesh venting, and stretch paneling in critical movement areas, to our detachable sunglass/goggle wipe on our shorts and our audio interface design (featuring smart
routing for headphone cables) – every detail speaks to functional performance when you’re on your bike.
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Our 2010 range features many innovative new ideas, twists on some old favourites and top performing legacy products.
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The highlights include:
The V3R Helmet – leveraging our domination in the MX world, we’ve taken our best selling V3 helmet and re-engineered it for bike specific use, by trimming some weight with the use of carbon fibre in the shell lay up.
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The Launch Pro Knee Pad – a new soft shell knee pad with a hard plastic knee insert, with an ergonomic design for comfort and stability when charging hard through the roots and rocks.
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The Titan Sport Jacket – a new upper body suit for the gravity set that won’t break the bank with its retail price. Hard shell plastic protection on the back, shoulders, chest, and arms, with a mesh ventilated chassis for maximum comfort when railing the berms.
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The Ventilator Short – new for 2010, the Ventilator short features a super light weight shell with a shorter out seam, specifically designed for hot weather rides when the humidity is high. Ventilation ports and a detachable inner mesh short optimize the air flow, and the new high performance Evo chamois gives you comfort in the saddle all day long.
The Dirt Shirt Collection – the 2010 dirt shirt collection uses a unique bamboo fabric that is both wicking and anti-microbial. We’ve adorned these shirts with some of our top t-shirt graphics from our sportswear range, giving riders high performance with street appeal.
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These products, in addition to the rest of the range, give riders the tools they need to climb, sweat, descend, jump, rip, gap, rail and otherwise charge their local trails – whether shuttling a long travel full suspension rig or knocking out a soul ride on a single speed, mashing gears to get through a rain squall, sizing up the tranny on a gap jump, or railing a ribbon of endless single track.  We’ve got you covered. Thanks for taking us along for the ride, You’ll like what’s in store.
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Go Fox Yourself at www.foxmtb.com, Tel 0191 487 6100 or drop a line to info@foxeurope.com.

Jamie News

Nuke Proof DH frame complete pics

February 16th, 2010

The guys at Nuke Proof are playing the Facebook game like wiley internet spin doctors.

They reeled us in with some shady sample pics of unidentifiable bits of linkage, got us hooked with a bit of front triangle and now they’ve sealed the deal with the long anticipated complete frame pics.

Yep – it worked.

Check out the Nuke Proof site here and the Facebook page here.

Jamie News

The Random Question Generator: Tom Gethin

February 15th, 2010

The Random Question Generator’s proto session with Tom Dowie went down pretty well… so we’ll keep it rolling.

We’ve got a big list of random questions and we’re going to pick 20 a week and fire them out to whoever we reckon deserves a bit of a shout on the website.

This week we’ve fired up the machine and got random with UK4X’er and Redhill local Tom Gethin.

Tom is 23, rides for Flow bikes and races 4X here in the UK…


Mark Lee-Sing photo

If you won the Lottery, would you share the money with anyone?
Umm Possibly my wife to be!!

Last trail you rode?
Trail being trails for me, chicksands!

Last time you got drunk and who with?
Uh Beth’s (girlfriend) 18th birthday


Andy Dunwoody photo

What did you do before sitting down to fill out these questions?
Had sunday lunch with the inlaws!

What was the genuine last video you watched online? Link please!
Whitestyle 2010 http://freecaster.tv/mtb/1011069/white-style-2010

Can you barspin?
Nope!


Ryan Nangle photo

Can you touch your nose with your tongue?
Nah sorry

Can you wheelie?
I think so

Do you believe in love at first sight?
Not really


Mark Lee-Sing photo

Have you ever won a trophy?
Yeah a few

If you could have any job, what would you want to do/be?
Either ride my bike, or work in the riding community.

If you could meet any one person (from history or currently alive), who would it be?
Einstein

Last time you saw someone ride something that made you go “wow”!
Blake Samson (DMR) at his step up, crazy tricks!!!


Chris Smith photo

What did you do for your last birthday?
Meal maybe, cant remember!

What is on the walls of the room you are in?
One picture, and a thermostat!

What is your best childhood memory?
Going to the local BMX track with my dad :)

What kind of car do you drive?
Astra Sport

What time do you get up in the morning?
7a.m

What’s the farthest-away place you’ve been?
Bulgaria

Where are you right now?
The inlaws.

Cheers to Tom for answering this lot – and congrats to him for just getting engaged to his misses Beth.

Look out for him racing the NPS4X and King of Dirt in 2010 – cheers mate!

Jamie News

Caersws Cup 2010 track preview

February 14th, 2010

2010 Genesis Alpitude

February 14th, 2010

It feels like I’m running a bike shop at the moment – a garage FULL of bikes… we’re heading off north of the border in a couple of weeks for a weekend of hardtail ragging.

First to arrive at Wideopen towers was the 2010 Genesis Alpitude, a complete bike option from the UK designed, Madison supported bike company – and an update on a bike we tested last year on longterm test. Back then we were really impressed so it was a definite for the trip north.

Main change for 2010 is the increase of travel to 150mm with minor tweaks to geometry to suit. This bike passes the CEN regs discussed in Issue 11 and is a well spec’d, well finished lovely looking machine. At a shade under £1600 it may seem expensive but in our opinion is worth a ride if you’re over 5′8″ and in the market for a light but sturdy hardcore hardtail that’ll EASILY keep up with your mates on FSRs on more trail centre based riding.

Check out:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain/alpitude/alpitude/overview/
(also available as a frame only option – but why bother when the full spec’d bike is great components at a great price!)


Read what we thought in Issue 9 here…

James News

Saracen Ariel first look

February 12th, 2010

Here’s the word straight from Madison:

Here’s a little taster of the new Saracen Ariel 140mm trail bike we’ll be unveiling the covers from at our Icebike tradeshow at the end of the month.

Changes from the prototype you’ll have seen a few months back include the new 1.5”-1,1/8” tapered headtube and new CNC’d linkage which helps shed a bit of weight whilst helping stiffen things up at the same time.

More details of the linkage updates can be found here: http://www.saracen.co.uk/blog/?p=232

Pictured is the range-topping Ariel 3 @ £2599.99srp with XT drivetrain, Raceface Evolve chainset, Deore M595 disc brakes, Syncros DS28 rims, Maxxis Larsen TT/High Roller tyres Raceface Respond finishing kit and topped off with a Fi’z:k  Gobi XM saddle.   Below the Ariel 3 will sit the (yes, you guessed it J) Ariel 2 @ £2099.99srp and the Ariel 1 at a wallet friendly £1599.99srp. All bike are suspended front and rear by Fox. With QR15 forks on the Ariel 2 and 3.

The bikes are landing at the beginning of April.

For more details see www.saracen.co.uk

Jamie News

Borderline events – get your ass signed up!

February 12th, 2010
Alpine Bikes winter Series – Round 2 – 20th & 21st February 2010
We still have 10 spaces left for this weekend – You can book on at www.borderline-events.co.uk
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Caersws Uplift Weekend – 27th & 28th February 2010
We still have places available for this weekend – With a brand new track built and designed by Matt Simmonds. You can book on at www.borderline-events.co.uk
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Alpine Bikes Winter Series – Round 3 – 13th & 14th March 2010
This event is now sold out. However – We do still need Marshalls so if you can help or provide a Marshall then please get in touch.
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Moelfre Uplift Weekend – 27th & 28th March 2010
We still have spaces left on this weekend – Get booked on at www.borderline-events.co.uk
Some sneaky practice for the race perhaps?
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Descent Gear Clipped In 02nd – 04th April 2010
With 2 days practice on offer and 2 race runs this is going to be an excellent weekend – Get booked on at www.borderline-events.co.uk
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The Juice Lubes / O’Neal Welsh Downhill Series
01st & 02nd May 2010 – Round 1 – Llangollen – (Also Welsh Champs)
29th & 30th May 2010 – Round 2 – Gethin
18th & 19th Sep 2010 – Round 3 – Rheola
09th & 10th Oct 2010 – Round 4 – Moelfre
Get booked on here – www.borderline-events.co.uk
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Descent Gear / Juice Lubes National Champs – 17th & 18th July 2010
Ae Forest – You just need a licence to enter (no points)
If there are spaces available come 01st May then entries will be permitted in an open category – You just need to have raced before and send me past 3 results.
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There are a host of other uplift weekends at both Moelfre and Caersws – They can all be found at www.borderline-events.co.uk
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Cheers
Mike Marsden
Borderline Events


Jamie News

Andy Dunwoody web-terview

February 11th, 2010

So, you’ve had the big meeting with British Cycling about 2010 race photos last week. What’s the plan for this year and what are your thoughts?
More of the same as last year but a lot different. That’s a bit of a contradiction in terms isn’t it?

I’ll cover national Downhill and Fourcross for BC from a photographic point of view and I’ll also be getting a few interviews with everyone from the riders to the bloke in the noodle van at Chicksands.

You mentioned you aint that keen on British Cyclings traditional photo galleries of riders shots – How are you thinking of covering the events?
I think the difference this year is that we will attempt to cover the event as a whole and capture the atmosphere (so make sure there is one worth capturing!), which in my view is the whole point of sending a photographer to an event.

Out goes picture after picture of riders in the same spot for the gallery, as it is plain to see that no-one wants to look through that sort of thing, especially as this year the British Downhill Series will be including an image in your entrance fee. It stifles any creativity for me and it is, frankly, dull. Oh yes, the podium pics will be different too, as in, hardly any!

We are trying out other stuff too but we will be doing this at some early races like the first round of the Caersws Cup and a Fourcross event.

I think I’ll know if I’m doing something right or wrong very quickly. The script kiddies on the forums will tell me. After ignoring them, I’ll listen to proper informed debate from grown ups.

What are your thoughts on the NPS and BDS, having seen it from a photogs point of view? Do you enjoy photo’ing them?
Yes, I enjoy shooting at both Fourcross and Downhill events. The BDS this year looks good. So much work has gone into it behind the scenes to bring it up to another level. It won’t be let down by Si Paton or Dave Franciaosisoaosiaoisys hard work. Things will be a little different this year with the introduction of media passes but it shows the series is striving for quality, evolving and trying different things out.

Fourcross is great to shoot. So easy to move around, dead laid back atmosphere and everyone is there for having the best day they can.

Everyone at Downhill and Fourcross events are friendly and I get a bit dismayed if I don’t get the piss ripped out of me, or I can’t rip the piss out of anyone else within 5 minutes of turning up. (I can help with that mate – Jamie)

Any plans for photography outside of the Nationals?
Photography isn’t my full time job, but it’s becoming more and more woven into my daily life. I’m trying to get my product photography off the ground this year having spent some cash on a full studio setup and a bit more portraiture type work.

Also, living in Cheshire I have access to quite a few decent riders and it’s always good to go out and shoot them (with a camera). I’ve a few things I want to try this year in that respect too. You’ll have to wait to see what that is.

I know you’ve got your first kid on the way this season – are you wetting yourself yet?
Well, she (it’s going to be a girl) has already put Fort William World Cup in the bin for me but yes, I suppose I’m a little apprehensive and there’s always the possibility of covering the World Champs eh BC?, nudge nudge, wink wink……..

It can’t be that hard, Steve ‘The Butcher’ Walker has two of them and you never see him grumbling……..

Complete this sentence… “My photo coverage of 2010 will be a success if…. ”
…Mark Milward throughly flushes the sterilising fluid out of his motorhomes water system. Driving back to my hotel from Ae Forest last year on the Saturday after eating a stupid amount of spaghetti washed in Milton was a touch and go business. Literally. You have to admire the research that’s been put into Imodium.

Big thanks to Andy for all his help here at Wideopen and for taking 5 to answer these. We’ll be rewarding him by showing up at races this season and doing our best to wind him up whilst he’s trying to be a pro. He loves it.
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Check out his site here: http://andydunwoody.co.uk/ and his 2009 slide-show here

Cheers Duck!

Jamie News

Yep – Danny is on Giant

February 11th, 2010

After about a year of keeping ‘er on the downlow we can finally reveal that Danny Hart is riding for GIANT in 2010.

He’ll be joining Jared Rango, Duncan Riffle and Kurt Sorge on Giants new DH/4X line up – riding the new Glory. We’ll have more news as it lands…

Danny’s home page here

Jamie News

Sneak peak at the new CRC Intense proto DH frame

February 11th, 2010

Chain Reaction Cycles just posted up this sneak look at the exclusive new CRC Intense DH race frame.

Matti and Ruaridh have been testing these out in the US and Kovarik, Simmonds and Claire Buchar will be getting their frames pretty soon.  No more details as yet – things things so fresh it aint even got a name!

Click the pick to check it out out.

Jamie News