REEB: Hardtail for All Mountain

Bike technology is getting complicated today, and almost new bikes from whole brands are full suspension bikes. It means that the price will be growth for the additional parts, like the rear shock or rear suspension. This is an expensive part, especially when you buy it from the brands like FOX or Rockshox, the two main players in bike suspension technology. A high-end rear suspension maybe can be used to buy a starter bike or mid-end bike. With that fact, hardtail bike becomes more simple, and old-looked; with the off-roads riding trends today, hardtail slowly left and the riders start to use full suspension bike. But wait, dude! I hope you don't underestimate the hardtail bikes, even when you are off-road rider.

Hardtail is just for on-road, maybe light off-road. Better you erase that sentence, and open your eyes because there are many high-quality hardtail bikes that can be used even for all-mountain, even free-ride!

One of the brands that produce hardtail bike for all-mountain and trails purpose is the REEB, with their new hardtail product for all-mountain and trails! This is regarded as single speed chain 29er with steel frame. Why this bike is using single speed chain, it said by Chad Melis, the Marketing Manager, that they want something different.

The hardtail it stronger than full suspension bike in the ability to climb, and the REEB cycles make that the pedaling is smooth, with big chainring there. But, this bike also claimed strong in a down-way, though it is a single-speed, hardtail, and 29er bike. It may that the 140mm fork is very helpful for this bike for a down-way. For the information, this bike is using part:

Gates Carbon Centertrank Drivetrain

140mm travel FOX Float 34

Schwalbe Hans Dampf

X-Fusion Hilo Dropper

Photo Credit: Tal Robert and Pinkbike.com

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Eric Carter in Collaboration with SR Suntour

Eric Carter, the Californian rider has been testing the new downhill fork from SR Suntour, the newest SR Suntour RUX and SR Suntour Auron, a 200mm and 160mm fork travel. These forks are the most used fork by Eric Carter today, and he shared his impression when he rides with these two forks. Basically, Eric is asked by the brand to join a collaboration and develop these products. And then Eric tested the fork on his custom bike from Hyper, the Carter 650B prototype.

After tested the forks, Eric has an interesting statement about the competition in the high-end suspension technology, with the two main players, FOX and Rockshox. He said that SR Suntour will be able to enter to the competition between them, especially in the World Cup. He also said that SR Suntour is the biggest suspension producer in the world, but the brand needs to make some development and improvements for their products.

This will be interesting to see the competition between these brands to get the people's attention, and let's see what can be done by SR Suntour at the further.
Photo Credit: Dan Severson and Pinkbike.com

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Welcoming the Dartmoor 2014 Parts Lineup

For the preparation of 2014, Dartmoor finally finished some of the products that regarded for next year; there are some new parts and new frames, beside the improvement of the their most popular hardtail frame, and now, let's welcoming the Dartmoor 2014 parts lineups! Maybe the people's attention will be focused on re-design of Dartmoor Hornet, the most popular of all purpose bike, with the not-too-expensive price. The Hornet 2014 edition has better artwork on the body, but if you want a special Hornet for 4X, you will get it with Dartmoor Hornet 4X. 

Dartmoor Hornet 4X is special frame which is combining the stability of Hornet and the geometry of the Dartmoor Phantom. For the artwork design, the Hornet 4X is very similar with Hornet; you can see the "4X" on the frame. Like another 4X bike, this fork will be gain its maximum performance with a hundred travel fork. 

Dartmoor also releases the newest hardtail frame, which is regarded as younger brother of Hornet, you can called him Dartmoor Primal, that also has nice artwork design: the most color is black, but you can choose the strips in any color you want. 

The Primal is available for 26" and 27.5", to follow the trend of the development of wheelsize. The recommended fork use is the fork with the travel 100-120mm. Ride Your Way!!!

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Cycling Tips #10: Set Up the Tire

Like other parts, the tire on your mountain bike have to set correctly before you use it. Also, you have to consider first about the type of your mountain bike then decide what kind of tire, or what tire that you want to install into your bike. In addition, today the trend of the wheel size is various, from 26" to 29", so you have to be wise when choosing the right tire on your bike. Here are the tips that can be used to help you decide what kind of tire you want to install on your bike. 

#1 - The Terrain

This is the simplest way to decide what kind of tire you want to use; there are different type of tires for different usage. Nobody forbid you when you place the downhill tire for you XC bike, for example, but it can decrease the ability the tire and the bike. And you, as the rider. So, the best way to choose tire is watching into your bike.

#2 - Size

Okay, just adjust the tire with the rims to make it properly. I guess you are understand about this point.

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How to Make Your Bike Lighter

Several bikes are made from lighter material but it may that the stiffness is less than the heavier material; the most popular material used for frames are aluminum, hi-ten, and chromolly, and recent days with the carbon fiber in certain bikes. Aluminum is the lighter but at the same time is the weakest than another. But, are there any ways to make the bike lighter without take an attention to the frame? One thing you should remember, that the bike is the combination of several parts which is become one nation, so, you can make the variation in the parts, beside the frame. There are several things you have to remember to make your bike is lighter, check the list below.

#1 - Choose Tire Carefully

Several tires are heavier than others, and you have to choose carefully when you want to install new tire in your mountain bike. Consider also the type of the tire, what kind of bike you want to ride? 29er, 650b, or 26"? You have to decide it first for this, because these wheelsets are different in the weight. Check the previous article about 29er, 650b, and 26" bike here to help you decide what bike is best for you.
#2 - Use Suspension Fork
Of course this part is more expensive than rigid fork, but suspension fork is lighter than rigid fork. Pay attention before you choose suspension fork, because some forks are still heavy enough, so choose carefully the fork as your bike needed.
#3 - Try Tubeless
This no need long explanation, just try and feel the different by yourselves.
#4 - Diet
Hmm..this is dilemma, when your bike is light enough, but you are big, you will face the same problem: it's hard to control the bike. So, before you change the part of your bike with the lighter, I recommend you to reduce your fat first. Sorry to say this, but when you have slim body, you will feel comfortable in doing any activity, include riding activity.

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Cycling Tips #9: Things to Consider - Flat Pedal Shoes

Riding activity is a great activity to spend your weekend after a long day in the office or school, maybe. This activity today becomes more popular in almost around the world with the massive progression of the new bike brands. But, in the riding activity, you have to aware about the safety, not only just happiness, because the riding activity today start to the rocky track, or maybe roots everywhere. Across the jungle till downhill in the unbelievable track. So, the rider have to wear protection kit from head to the foot to protect the body contact or maybe if the rider fall down because the extreme track. Helmet, knee and elbow protector, gloves, and also shoes are the kit that will protect you from the incident you won't expect. Special for shoes, it is quite difficult to choose where shoes is better than other, so, this article will help you to decide where shoes you have to buy, with the several consideration in some aspects of the shoes.

#1 - Rubber Sole

First of all, watch carefully about the sole of the shoes because this is important. Better you choose the shoes that use rubber for the sole, because it can improve the control and stability and leech-like grip while in pedaling. 

#2 - Howling Dogs

Extreme riding activity sometimes will bring you to the muddy and wet place, and of course your shoes will be muddy and wet. If your shoes is like that, you have to do a little treatment for your shoes to avoid your shoes become smell.

#3 - Tread Carefully

Different brand of flat shoes usually have their own method about the way to tread the shoes after the usage, and you have to obey the method to make your shoes have longer time to accompany you across the jungle.

#4 - Size

I think I don't have to explain this. In other words, you are the one who knows about your leg. Find the shoes that comfort in your feet.

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Antoine Bizet's Kona Carbon Operator at Red Bull Rampage 2013

The event of Red Bull Rampage 2013 becomes the way for the rider to show their new machine, like also for the French rider Antoine Bizet with his new DH monster, the Antoine Bizet's Kona Carbon Operator. We must remember his double backflip with his Kona Operator in the last September; now the monster has been improved and ready for the event at Red Bull Rampage 2013. What have been improved by Kona for the Antoine Bizet's Kona Carbon Operator?

The frame of Antoine Bizet's Kona Carbon Operator is more impressive with the usage of Rockshox Vivid Air in the rear shock, with the combination of Rockshox Boxxer for the front suspension. The Kona Carbon Operator for Antoine Bizet also use SRAM X0 short cage rear derailleur, 1x10, SRAM X-SYNC 36 tooth, and Truvativ X0 SRAM crank. This bike is typically a SRAM bikes, because this bike also use brakeset Avid Code series. 

This bike also use internal cable routing system which is integrated to the frame, and the result is the bike is looking stylish and also clear.

photo credit: Nathan Hughes at pinkbike.com

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Cycling Tips #8: Build a Custom Wheelset

Like the bike itself, the development of the parts of the bike has grown very fast and getting sophisticated. Even some parts are priced more than certain bike, and the result is the bike has very complicated and also very expensive. One of the part is the wheelset. Basically all parts are important because when the bike is missing one part, the bike can work as usual; but why wheelset that become the topic today? A consideration about this is that wheelset is the part that most people see after the frames. So, I'm sure that you will be proud if you have a pair of expensive wheelset, or custom wheelset which is only you that own that kind of wheelset. But, are there any considerations when I want to build custom wheelset? What should I notice for that? What are the supporting parts to get best custom wheelset?

Wheel Builder

What does it mean? You have to know first about the difference between handmade product or factory product, because those are very different. But this depends on your taste, where do you want to be installed on your bike. The wheel from factory of course will be produced massively, it means that there are people that own the wheel like yours, but that's not a big problem because you can modify it with your touch. But, choose the handmade wheel will make you looks very custom, because only you that owned the wheel, nobody else. Now, depends on your decision.

Hubs

Don't forget that wheelset is a combination of some parts, and this is the base of the wheel, the hubs. You have to consider several things about the hubs before you installed to your wheelset. What are they; first of all you have to consider the size of the hubs. The recommendation hubs size is 142mm both rear and front. Then you have to find out also the axles of the hubs. Today we know two ways, QR (quick releases) and TA (tappered), and on the biking activity today, QR is the most used in many bikes. Before decide this, you have to see your fork and rear dropout frame design. Consider also the weight/durability; the holes, you have to choose the hubs with the holes same with the holes on the rims. Then for the sweetness, choose the color of the hubs that match with frame or rims.

Rims

You have to decide first what size of the rims you want to use, 29er, 650b, or 26" wheel? You have to learn about this first (see my article about this, here and here), because this is the hottest issue in the world biking today. After you decide the size, take a note about the strength of the rims, weight, width, and think about tubeless or not.

Spokes and Nipples

These are the last parts before your wheelset is ready to be installed on your bike. Choose the color as you like, and the material used for the spokes. If you passed this step, it means that your custom wheelset is ready and be prepared because you will look different with your partners! 

Those are the things you have to be considered when you want to build a custom wheelset. You can make it more different with adding the stickers of you. Oh one more important thing, you have to adjust it with your budget, lest you have build a great custom wheelset, but the fact your budget is minus. Let's make it simple, more money you have, you are free to build a custom wheelset as you like.

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Cycling Tips #7: 29er or 650b (27,5) or 26"? part 1

After Giant announced that they will totally produce the 650b (27,5") in almost all their bikes for 2014, the option in choosing what kind of bikes will be more difficult for some people, especially the beginners; what kind of bike should I choose, the 29er or 650b (27,5) or 26"? This is such an common question for beginners; but there are several things to help for deciding what bikes are fit for you, 29er or 650b (27,5) or 26" mountain bikes. Maybe you have to know it first, before you enter to the deep discussion about this topic and finally find the best set up for your bike. One thing you should remember, no right answer for this question, so you just calm down and enjoy this debate and the hill is waiting for you.

First of all, let's see what offered by 29er for us. The 29er bike is better in the performance when used in over the rocks and roots, it also longer pedal rotation, and then the tire needs more air in the smooth track. The distance between pedals and ground level also higher, so it quite save when you want to ride in the rocky or track with full of rock and roots. But, the bigger size of wheel also make the weight of wheel is increase. The bigger tire also difficult to use for extreme maneuver. And you have to tall enough to be fit with the 29er mountain bike. Those are things to be considered in choosing the 29er mountain bike, and now let's see the 650b or 27.5" mountain bike.

This kind of bike have been adopted by Giant that have released their most popular bikes in this version (27.5") for the 2014 bike lineups. But, what is this bike? Take in the mid place between 29er and 26", what can be done by this bike? Of course, this wheel can be better in the rocks and roots than 26", that is the first. Basically another is same with the 29er offered, with the addition that the parts that special for 27,5 are still rare, but it seems that the era of 650b have to come soon. Another things to consider to decide which bike is good for you is this; just stand over the mirror, look at yourself, because the most important when choosing the bike is you. Yes, dude, You are the most important to make final decision. Let me explain this for you. Ok, let's make easier:

Taller riders: 29er and 650b YES

Mid height riders: 29er, 650b, and 26 YES

Shorter Riders: 650b and 26 YES

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Cycling Tips #6: Bike for Beginners

Ride a bike is not as easier as you think. If you are the one who want to spend your time with new activity, and you choose to ride a bike, you have to prepare several things before you can ride your professional bike. Bike for beginners is easy, but at the same time it is also difficult to determine what bike is best for beginners. In addition, today the technology in bike industry has been improved into the next step and maybe it will make the beginners in the bike feel confuse. Let's imagine, you will not spend your money to buy an expensive mountain bike, which is absolutely a bike for professional. So, please be wise when choosing a mountain bike when you are just start it. Then, if you have been spend most of your time with your first bike, you can change your bike into a $3000 bike or more.

To decide what best bike for beginners, one way to decide it, you can see the bike in the price. For beginner rider, better for keep your money and spend your money to buy a bike, and don't spend more than $600 for new bike. The bike with that price, it must have an entry level component, which is mean that you will not feel confuse to operate it. Imagine when you are beginner, but you have a bike with reverb seatpost from Rockshox, or you will hear some terms like ShadowPlus from Shimano, or Hollow Tech, etc. So, better you start it with simple first, then if you are getting expert, you can spend your money as much as you have.

But, one thing to be considered when you buy a $600, you will get some poor component and I'm sure you will not like the component. The bad of the cheap bike is the poor suspension, both rear and front suspension. But don't worry because if something have bad, it must be have the good, and the $600 bike also have good things. Of course the price, especially the frame, you will get lightweight frame, and another cheap component. Some people say that ride a bike is not about the bike, but it's about how to make your body still healthy. So, choosing bike for beginners is a difficult and at the same time is easy to do, one thing to consider if you want to buy an entry level bike for spend your weekend by ride a bike; just choose a bike that fit to your body.

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ANVL New Component Products

For you that want to change your bike components with the new and good looking components, the newest components from ANVL is available because the ANVL releases their newest components which are designed and tested in Cascadia, USA. The ANVL new component products include saddle, handlebar, wheelset, pedals, stem, brake lever, and grip. The brand even claims that these products are truly unique because these parts have been improved to create the different and unique bike components. 

The brand also give an easy way for the fans that want these parts to be installed on their bike, via online store; this store will very helpful to get anything about these components that released on Sea Otter 2013 several times ago. The fans can also check the information about the components in the website of the brand here, to get more information about these parts or components. Just for additional information, some parts are ready to purchase for now, saddles, pedals, and grips. One another interesting offer from ANVL is something called "trim kit", that will be released on the next spring, and this kit is special for your downhill or enduro bike; for this, ANVL is joining a partnership with a Transition, a brand with great products of many purpose bikes.

For fans, these ANVL new component products can be alternative on your bike, if maybe you want to have a bike with combination of several brands in your bike, these parts are for you. You can see the picture how the Transition bike becomes more better and stylish when the ANVL components are installed there. And don't worry about the performance, I mean we all know ANVL is the great brand which is build and create great parts and components for our bikes for long time.

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5 Reasons to Keep Your 26" Wheels

Some big brands have been announced that they also produce the 650b bike or 27.5 inch wheels, even the huge brand from Taiwan, Giant has announced that they produced the special line-ups of their phenomenon bikes in each purpose in the 27.5 inch wheels version. Some of you maybe are the new rider and confuse which one is better between 26 inch and 27.5 inch wheels. Slowly that 27.5 inch is growing more popular is the fact, but for new riders this article will help you how to decide, um maybe this article is about "5 Reasons to Keep Your 26 inch wheels". If you have question like this, "I'm interesting with 650b and I think it's better to upgrade my old 26" with new wheels size. What about that?"

The answer of that question is a new question for you, "Are you sure?"

Sometimes looking different with other is great, but better you read this article into the end, because this article will show you why your 26" wheels are better to keep alive in your bike. This is not about coolness, looking, style, or something like that but it more important than all of those things. Why the factory build a size, that's not just because they like, or because they want to look stylish, but more than all, they think that the function and purpose is the greatest thing that they think when they build a bike. So, let's see why better keep your 26" wheels in your bike.

Your Frame Geometry

Frame geometry has been fitted by the factory to fill the purpose and function for every parts that installed in the bike, includes the wheels. Can you make it sure that your 26" wheels frame can accommodate the 650b, even you can mention kind of frame from many brands you know, though some frames like Santa Cruz Blur TRc and Ibis Mojo HD said that they can accommodate this, but maybe if you ask to the brands how about change the wheels size, I'm sure that they will answer, "that's not ideal."

Function

When you think that when you change the wheel size is just change the wheels, that's a big mistake. Before you install the bigger wheels, you have to consider that your fork is made for the function also, not only just style. Can you imagine if a 26" fork coupled with 27.5" wheels? Yes, that's simple.

Think About Tire Size

If you use big tire size in your 26" wheels, and you want to use the same size of tires with your new wheels size, the 27.5", maybe your bike can not run as well as usual. The possibility to make your bike can run with larger size of wheel in your 26" bike is you have to install the smaller size of tires. That's the only way, and you don't want to do it, I know.

The Bike Ability

When you replace your old 26" wheels and install the new larger wheels size, your bike will be lost its ability to accelerate or to have hard riding and extreme riding, like the Dirt Jump or Free Ride riding which is needed high ability of the bike and rider. Imagine if your Dirt Jump bike with 26" wheels transforms into 27.5" Dirt Jump bike without changing the frame size? Bad news.

Patience

What? What the hell? What is the meaning of patience? Ok, dude, this is simple, you just waiting for the brands to release their 27.5" version bike. Don't forget, Giant has been did it several times ago, and it is not impossible when another brands follow their step to produce the 27.5" wheels bike.

photo: bikeradar.com

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Polygon's New Bike: Polygon Recon 27.5

Polygon, a brand from Indonesia becomes more aggressive now with their new XC Sport bike, the Polygon Recon. The new Polygon Recon series will be available in four different specs, and you just choose which one is suitable for your needed; just for fun, or ride the bike across the jungle and mountain. The Recon 1.0 is the entry level of this series, and has lowest specs and it seems that this bike is suitable for beginner. But wait, you have to be carefully, because with little substitution in some parts, this bike will be pro and you are the man! 

While the highest version of Polygon Recon has the highest specs from its series, like the Deore 30 speed, Rockshox Recon and Marzocchi Roco Lite for the suspension parts. But, if you want to get the cheaper bike, just bring the lowest series, and change some parts of them with best parts, and you will be rock on!

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All Purpose Bike: Dartmoor Hornet 2013

The Dartmoor Hornet 2013 is the improvement from previous version of Hornet, a powerful hard-tail bike which can be used in many purpose of cycling, depend on the travel you install on it. In this 2013, Dartmoor releases the 2013 version of Hornet with better artwork and paint, and basically it is still powerful as previous version, and the most important that this bike is a good bike with good price. Come with three size options, this bike is ready to be tested, and the result is predictable; this is powerful and great bike at great budget.

Why it is said that the Dartmoor Hornet 2013 is many purpose bike? Well, it is all depending on your fork you use, because this frame is very flexible. I mean, when you use a hundred millimeter fork travel, you will get a cross country bike; and when you place a 120-140 mm fork, you will get All-Mountain bike; and when you install 160 mm fork travel, your Hornet will be a Freeride bike. Isn't amazing, right? You will get a complete package in a great frame named Hornet, and it's up to you which fork you want to use.

The Dartmoor Hornet 2013 is build from aluminum material for the frame, but the frame is stiff and rigid as we expect. In other words, the Dartmoor Hornet 2013 frame is the best frame for you if you are the fans of hard-tail bike, and this frame is very recommended for you who want to have an aggressive hard-tail frame with low budget.  

Photo: pinkbike.com

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