Stars and Stripes

Aaron Gwin wins the first stop of the UCI World Cup series in Pietermartizburg, South Africa.
Shaun Palmer was the last American to win a World Cup back in 1999 at Big Bear. Crack a Bud heavy and celebrate!

History maker. Thanks PB for the pic.

1 GWIN Aaron USA19871224 TREK WORLD RACING 4:08.634
2 MINNAAR Greg RSA19811113 SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE +-1:31.553
3 ATHERTON Gee GBR19850226 COMMENCAL +-1:33.233
4 BAREL Fabien FRA19800726 MONDRAKER FACTORY TEAM +-1:35.558
5 PEAT Steve GBR19740617 SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE +-1:38.121
6 SMITH Steve CAN19891125 DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING +-1:38.246
7 BEAUMONT Marc GBR19840925 GT +-1:38.549
8 HILL Samuel AUS19850721 MONSTER/SPECIALIZED +-1:38.711
9 BEER Nick SUI19870917 SCOTT 11 +-1:39.277
10 BRYCELAND Josh GBR19900323 SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE +-1:39.593

CG's V10

Cedric's ride in Pietermaritzburg, S.A.
Dropper post, air shock and skin walls... love it.

Sea Otter Bar Turns and Kickouts

Note the hydroformed (gussety) downtube.

Danny Hart pre-photog. incident.

Andrew Cavaletto.

Prettiest American.

Actual Prettiest American.

Post Office Jammed

dusty bermshotted

Pro GRT cheer section

The hippies in the PNW really know how to liven up a DH race.

New pocket burning product from the Otter.

Ricardo here reporting from the Wet Beaver (Sea Otter) race. Just got in yesterday and the weather was a warm welcome. The DH course is looking fast and is very dusty. The pits are full of new products from some of our favorite brands at TractionMag. Just when you thought they had built everything for you to spend your money on, they build some more.

Fox has a new lineup with forks sporting a new naming system (Evolution-Performance-Factory) that will help identify the forks. Entry level forks will be known as "Evolution" (Not a fully formed product, primordial goo), "Performance" (Because thats the shop you will think of when you see these suckers on OEM rides) and "Factory" (which is the best so don't even think about buying the other two.

Rear shocks with Kashima Coated shafts and new SKF Seals. This will include the DHX.


A super slick tapered titanium steerer/crown on a newly badged 32, this must be Factory, not Evolution.

SRAM, who is a sponsoring partner of the Otter also had some newly polished XO parts to show and a chainguide built in collaboration with MRP.



e.thirteen and Hive were showing off some new hubs rocking the E.13 name but some Hive carbon tech. Chris stated that they will be showing off complete wheelsets when Eurobike comes around. The new LG-1TR chainguide looks tizzight. It does away with the bash, dropping weight as well as a bit of protection. All good stuff.


Editors note: Thanks for the updates Ricardo.

Mountain Syckle

Mountain Cycle is the "Bullet Tooth Tony" of the bike industry. No matter how many rounds you pump into his body he keeps coming back. Oh and fellas... primary colors on a frame is like eye rape. Please stop. More here.

It was terrible then...

So it must be terrible now.

Ellsworth introduces the same bike over and over again. Employee of the year who is holding the mic definitely came from the insurance industry.


As one savvy reader stated: "Yesterday" is a good name for that bike.

Disclaimer: I feel dirty posting this video.

Style for miles

Stellar imagery from PB with the Giant boys tearing up the Sea Beaver course. Check It

New Crank Bros.

I'm 50/50 on the 50/50.

I'm 100% on the new Mallet though.

World Cup Compilation

Mud, roots, whips and some rocks.

Downhill Mountainbiking from mtb-blog.nl on Vimeo.

Keronite Boxxer for 2011

Rock Shox have just outed the latest addition to the BoXXer line up. For 2011 they will be offering a Keronite version BoXXer, Keronite is a plasma electrolytic oxidation process which changes the surface of metals such as aluminum and magnesium. The lowers of the fork will be treated with this process ensuring increased durability and wear. This will also offer a more consistent weight in forks. Powder coating and other finishing methods can make weights move around around a bit. The stuff is apparently the secret sauce of the aerospace industry. The new greyish look will appeal to many and the improvements that were made to the control knobs will have riders smiling.

Evil Aluminum is dead but Evil Carbon is...Undead?

ALIVE!





Price will be similar to the metal Revolt. Weight will be... who fucking cares it will be lighter and stronger.
For all you goons who broke the aluminum ones and have been waiting for a warranty replacement, this is it.
Lets see this thing in production.

V-10 may have some sexy competition.

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