#1358

INTERBIKE!

The outdoor Dirt Demo kicks off Interbike each year and it usually proves to be a "show within a show". Monday is usually much calmer than Tuesday and this year attendance seemed light for the first day of USA's biggest bicycle industry show.

            Here are some highlights:

RIDDEN: The Jamis XCR 29er.
A cross country rig that tips more
in the favor of an endurance, all mountain bike.
The large wheels roll in a straight line great and descend wonderfully.
The bike was nimble and light enough and everything worked on it.
A-

Also ridden in the 29er category was the Scott Spark.
This particular bike was not 100% tuned and the lock-out
was not working. It all made a difference on the trails of course
but the Scott scooted uphill better than the Jamis
and generally felt a touch more race-ready.
B

9 zero 7 is a new brand based in Alaska. (907 is Alaska's area code )
This fat-tire bike impressed with its relative nimble-ness.
The bikes are available as frame\wheel kits for now
and complete bikes should be under $1200.
A-

One of the most impressive road bikes ridden was the all-new Jamis Icon.
It's a budget-minded aluminum frame designed with the racer primarily in mind. It rode great. Very stiff and deliberate. Impressive also, when you consider
the low-end Mavics that were weighing it down. We later heard the story of the bike and how it took 2 years to get everything right with it before it was released.
A+

Here's a close-up of the Icon's underbelly.
Boxy chainstays and an oversized bottom bracket.
Jamis has a winner here.

These Campagnolo ( EPS equipped ) badged Pinerello Dogma 2's
were tucked away in a corner and were generally being ignored
by the crowds. The Campy electronic shifting was a joy to ride
and try to abuse. It shifted beautifully under all conditions.
The Pinerello was a nice frame to test out the Super Record as well.
A+

Bright Yellow getting overused these days?
Here a loud Lazer gets into the frame coincidentally with a loud Giro.

Just gettin some footbeds custom molded at the Fi'Zik booth.
8 minutes with light pressure from your feet on warm beds.

Nothing too extreme resulted from my custom molding
but they do feel nice in the shoes. Look for a review soon.

There seemed to be more than the usual nutritional supplement offerings.
Plenty of variety in size, shape and methodology.
Here is a "Reboot". A mix+water packet that you shake in order
to break the seal and mix the 2 before downing in one shot.