10 FREEDOM/WTB RAGLEY 2015 4X World Champion
ZIG, ZAG WANDERER
S
[1]
E
P
O
INTRO -DUC TION
C
T
What a summer! The cycling boom certainly doesn’t seem to be losing any heat, cycling has been in the news across the nation yet again this summer. Tour De France, Commonwealth Games, MTB World Cup, Enduro World series, there is so much to be excited about in cycling, who needs football anyway?! In addition to amazing new ranges from our bike brands Lapierre, Nukeproof, GHOST, NS bikes, Ragley and Lynskey we have plenty of exciting news from our P&A brands.
SEPTEMBER
[02]
S
E
P
E V O L U T I O N > C O N T E N T S
[03]
09>
O
C
T
Brand Focus
02>
Introduction
What a summer, Tour De France, Commonwealth games, EWS & the DH World cup we've had it all.
05>
News
Get the low-down on September & Octobers news.
07>
In focus this month is Freedom (from WTB) with a range of cityslickin' tyres.
13>
Product Focus
We take a look at the more affordable Manitou Dorado Expert DH fork alongside some of the new 2015 Ragley complete bikes.
15>
Manitou Dorado
23>
Sponsored Rider
We catch up with 4-Cross World Champion Katy Curd.
The Expert Dorado fork is a cheaper alternative to the Pro model at a very slight weight penalty for a big saving.
Ragley 2015
Ragley introduce an updated and improved 2015 line-up.
17>
Reviews
Magazines take hold of a number of Hotlines products to give them a thorough going over and see what they're made of.
[04]
S
E
P
INTRODUCING
RAGLEY 2015
We've some very exciting news from Ragley including new complete models and framsets. [05]
O
C
T
Ragley bringing something new to the table for 2015.
[06]
S
E
P
RAGLEY
2015
We recently launched a brand new range from Ragley, with all new frames across the board and two extremely competitive complete bikes that look truly stunning. It’s great to see such a strong range from Ragley and models hitting key price points for dealers in the UK.
MMM _ BOP [07]
O
C
T
BLUE _ PIG
PIG _ LET
BIG _ WIG
[08]
S
E
P
IN
BRAND
FOCUS
FREEDOM ThickSlick tyres have quickly proven that durability, cool and cost-effective can coexist happily
[09]
O
C
T
[10]
JS
UE
PL
Freedom was formed on a very simple premise: to get more people on bicycles. Named after the irrefutable sensation witnessed when first journeying by bicycle, Freedom embodies self-propelled efficacy through quality, value-based product designed to withstand the harsh urban environment many city riders and commuters face daily. Freedom is the urban counterpart to WTB, Freedom’s parent brand. In order to understand Freedom’s birth, you have to first fathom the level of importance WTB places on bicycle advocacy and urban design.
REAL ADVOCACY
Starting in the late 90’s WTB has sponsored and led transportation tours of the Netherlands to people that matter. Not once is a car used. From landing to takeoff, government officials and urban planners use bicycles and public transportation. Overwhelming success and firsthand knowledge gained from tours has led to multimillion dollar federally-funded programs flourishing in the United States. The tradition still continues today as developing nations applicable for transportation grants are targeted and taken.
[11]
Freedom bridges the gap between deep seeded passion for bicycle transportation and a company renowned for a legacy of mountain bike innovation. Thickslick tyres have quickly proven that durability, cool, and cost-effective can coexist happily as bold italicized graphics encase twice the rubber of a standard road tire with a reasonable price tag. Overwhelming demand for this tyre has expanded the line from a 23c to a staggering 29 x 2.1 bold, voluptuous tire pushing the envelope of today’s urban bikes and crushed Kevlar DuraStrips in Deluxe and Elite models ensure puncture free riding. Econoline saddles borrow a page form the Thickslick’s styling while offering vibrant colors on a throwback shape. Borrowing from WTB’s saddle technology, Econolines offer immediate comfort, irresistible looks, and a don’t think twice about it price.
AO
UC
GT
[12]
S
PRODUCT FOCUS E
P
2015
MANITOU DORADO & [13]
O
C
T
September-October
[14]
S
E
P
PRODUCT FOCUS
MANITOU DORADO EXPERT The only difference between them being a slight increase of weight over the Pro model. Manitou have been manufacturing mountainbike suspension for over two decades. Honing their advancements in suspension technology over the years, in 2013 Manitou introduced a more affordable downhill fork in the guise of the Dorado Expert. Sharing the same internals as the Pro model, the fork features TPC+ damping (with independent high- and low-speed compression), hydraulic bottom-out and top-out, and Manitou’s patented HexLock 20mm thru-axle. The only difference between them being a slight increase of weight over the Pro model. Add this all up and you have one of the most advanced downhill forks on the market. Weight Lb/grams - 6.82/3096 Travel - 180, 203 Internally Adj. (29'er 175mm) Spring - Air Spring Rate - N/A Bottom Out - Hydraulic and Rubber Bumper Steerer - 1 1/8" Aluminium Crown - Forged Hollow Bore Crown Finish - Matte Ano Polished Offset - 49.55 Compression Damping - TPC+ Rebound Damping - Adjustable TPC Adjustments - Air Compression - (High Speed and TPC+) Rebound Leg Diameter - 36mm Leg Material - Aluminium Wheel Size - 26"/27.5"/29" Brake - Post Mount Axle - 20mm Hex TA Crown to Axle - 567/591 Colours - Black Ano RRP £949.99
[15]
PRODUCT FOCUS
O
C
T
RAGLEY BIKES 2015 Launched in 2008 with only 3 models, for 2015 they have returned to their roots and have created 5 completely new models. Ragley have a simple and effective design ethos; quality hardcore hardtails with well thought out features and geometry focusing on ride quality and handling. Launched in 2008 with only 3 models, for 2015 they have returned to their roots and have created 5 completely new models that are a true evolution of the old whilst keeping all the best features and improving the rest. On top of that, there are brand new graphics across the range, improved pricing where possible and more frame features. There will be two complete builds in the 2015, a Piglet retailing at ÂŁ1299.99 and ÂŁ899.99, and a further three framesets
range for a Marley for available.
PIGLET _ 2015
MARLEY _ 2015
[16]
S
E
P
REVIEWS We have a number of reviews of everything from tyres to (carbon) handlebars, to helmets and saddles with some high scoring products from across the Hotlines product range.
Singletrack & MBR [17]
VIGILANTE PRO TAPER VOLT
S
E
P
REVIEWS
WTB VIGILANTE review TCS TEAM ISSUE
OK, let's get this out of the way to start with: like many things mountain bike these days, the Vigilante is aimed at and marketed as an enduro tyre. Which of course means it should be perlectly suited to mountain biking as we know it: riding up hills to come back down in a 'gnarly XC' (Steve PeatTM) fashion. As ever, there's a balance to be found between grip, weight and rolling resistance and for its intended purpose [19]
the Vigilante is pretty spot on. It is, of course, tubeless compatible and while it's not going to win any hill climbs weighing in at 970g a wheel, it's certainly going to give plenty of confidence when the going gets gnadgery. Given the softer and stickier compound of the Team Issue (41a on a 60a base dual compound rubber fans), I've been running it as a front tyre where the square-shaped blocks of the aggressive
tread have offered plenty of grip without too much noticeable drag on uphill sections. For back wheel use I'd consider the harder compounds of the standard Vigilante. The Vigilante has a less square profile than previous WTB tyres, which translates quite well out on the trail to less sketch and more predictabiliry and grip as they're leant over. Nice. With a fairly open tread pattern, mud packing hasn't
been an issue and the tyre has proved to be an admirable performer on wet roots, green slime rocks, loose descents and even a brief interlude of dust (yes, dust). Overall: Plenry of grip with an acceptable amount of drag. Well worth considering for aggressive riding with a downhill focus.
wtb.com / vigilante
REVIEWS
O
C
T
ANSWER PRO review the TAPER 780 CARBON
Answer is not alone in producing a lightweight, carbon DH handlebar that can be used on a trail bike; Easton has the Havoc, which I use on my trail bike. The Pro Taper is similar in weight and price to the Havoc, but a whopping 780mm wide. A few minutes with the hacksaw and 15mm off either end will bring it in line with the Easton, at which point it becomes the lighter of the two by about 8g. Answer says the 780 Carbon bar has 4째 of upsweep and 8째 of backsweep (the Easton has 5째 and 9째 respectively). This may seem like a very subtle difference, but the result is a very shallow bar. To get it to fee right I had to rotate the bar quite far back and there seems a small window where the angles feel OKtoo far back and the bar starts to dip downwards. You could argue handlebar geometry and shape are a personal preference, and while that seems reasonable, some handlebar shapes are more versatile than others. Answer's bar has an odd shape that you may or may not like, but what can't be denied is that it's light, good value (for carbon) and has nice details like the Grip Grit area and alignment marks at the clamp area for ease of set-up, plus cut marks all the way down to 580mm.
WHAT Can'T be denied is that it's light, good value and has nice details. [20]
S
E
REVIEWS
P
iXS TRAIL RS review helmet The Trail RS from IXS came too late for our all-mountain helmet test last month, but it would have scored pretty well thanks to excellent rear coverage combined with ample venting and low weight. Like pretty much every helmet on the market the Trail RS is in-moulded, but IXS uses an extra piece of shell on the bottom of the helmet to protect this area from scuffs and minor dings. To channel air across your scalp there are 22 large vents and cut-aways in the visor, and it's also well vented internally with a single piece of aerated foam (like the old Giro Xen) and extra air intakes at the front Although the motocross-style visor can be tilted up or down easily there's not a vast range of adjustment - with just over 10mm between the high and low and low limits I pushed it up to the highest setting and left it there. On the back is an Ergo Fit Ultra retention system, which is basically a dial that tightens the helmet onto your head. It can be operated one-handed and also has a height adjustment, so you can position the device lower down at the base of your skull for a more secure fit. There is a bit of overlap between the sizes so it's worth trying the Trail RS for size because it does sit pretty low on your head. This can make it feel too big, but with everything tightened properly it's surprisingly comfortable. An excellent helmet for aggressive trail riding; if there was more visor adjustment then I'd give this top marks.
[21]
THERE ARE 22 LARGE VENTS AND CUTďż˝ AWAY IN THE VISOR, AND IT'S ALSO WELL VENTILATED INTERNALY WITH A SINGLE PIECE OF AERATED FOAM.
REVIEWS
O
C
T
WTB VOLT PRO review saddle WTB categorises the Volt as a road or cross-country MTB saddle, but we found that it covered much more ground than that. We took it on long hacks, short blasts, technical climbs and drops, and it performed admirably for all of them. The combination of thin padding for eďŹƒciency with a curvaceous shape for comfort just seems to add up to a saddle that can do everything pretty darn well. A dropped nose makes steep climbing a breeze, while the upturned tail gives a terrific platform to push against when the effort needs to be turned up, holding your backside in nicely without being so high as to impede dropping off the back. The deep 'Love Channel' central groove gives some room to prevent your family jewels from numbing up, while panels of hard-wearing fabric on the sides as well as a tough synthetic cover add up to a very durable product, ably resistant to everyday wear and tear. The price is competitive, and while the rails are not titanium, the weight is comfortably mid-test.
[22]
WORLD
CHAMPION
KATY
Katy has been a name synonymous on the World 4X Racing scene and is arguably the best female 4X rider in the UK. She is 4 time British 4X Champion, 2012 European 4X Champion, 2013 4X Pro Tour winner and, her most recent accolade, the 2014 World 4X Champion. We managed to catch up with her at the UK National Championships at Innerleithen and fire her a few questions;
Name: Katy Curd Hometown: Bath Years as a Pro racer? 4 years Greatest riding achievement? 2014 4X World Champion Greatest non riding achievement? Setting up my own business, Katy Curd Coaching, Working with everyone from professional riders to beginners working on mountain bike skills coaching You have been quite a force to reckon with over the years on the 4X scene, but this year you have decided to focus on more DH and Enduro racing. What prompted the move? I started off racing downhill but never professionally, I always just jumped on the DH bike at the weekend and raced down the hill. Now after spending 3 years working and training hard for 4X I want to do the same for downhill, I know it’s going to take time and it’s not going to be easy in any way but I’m enjoying the time on the downhill bike more than ever. For 2014 you hooked up with Spank components and re signed with iXS Sports Division. How is the season going so far? And what is your favourite product that you are running currently from both brands? The season is going great, its been a big switch over going to downhill but I feel like I am having fun, learning and achieving my goals all at the same
time! Spank have been amazing this year, really focused on developing products and making sure they have the best products on the market. My favourite product from spank is there new anti vibration bar, I have always struggled with arm pump riding downhill and these bars are something else! I haven’t had arm pump since they have been on my bike, it’s pretty impressive. IXS have also been hugely supportive, I have been riding with IXS for 3 years and again they strive to keep developing the products. My favourite IXS product is the full face Metis helmet as it has saved me a number of times! Congratulations on becoming the 2014 4X World Champion! Talk us through the race and how it felt crossing the line knowing you were number 1? The racing was hard, after a puncture in qualies I had to fight my way to the lead in the finals, Anneke Beerton had the lead for most the way but pulled aside when it came to the pro line, I saw my opportunity and jumped past Anneke and it was at this point my head nearly exploded with excitement
and I hadn’t even crossed the line yet! As I crossed that finish line everything I had worked so hard for had finally paid off, World Champion, I can’t put in to words just how good it feels. Are you a skids or wheelie girl? Wheelies all the way Describe your perfect day? Big breakfast, full day riding downhill with mates, BBQ and an evening riding dirt jumps, perfect.
10