Ace McHardtail spent along day at Core Bike and has posted up day one pics including Hope flat pedals and a Thoomson direct mount stem.
Words and photos: Ace Woodley
So up to the 17 hour mark today, early start-late finish and several hours roaming the corridors of the Core show.
I think most of what’s to follow is more “Dirt” interest, couple of 29ers at the show but no DH race bikes (this year). Although there was an old Yeti from back in the day, John Tomacs race bike, a strange classic, the bikes we race now have come a long way.
What is Core ? It’s growing in size and is the UK industries trade only show. Not open to the general public you have to be approved to get in. More for the Independent Bike shop traders and press, with reps from around the world coming in for the 3 day event. This year may pass into legend as it’s Ison’s 20th birthday and they are picking up the bar tab. Some things you may like from the vast amount on show.
Marcel from Raceface. I met him last year, then shortly after Raceface was no more. They came back from the brink, new management in place, most of the staffers are back and they kind of picked up where they left off. The setback has delayed things, but Raceface are back and have new things in the pipeline so to speak. It’s as if they never went away and nice to see them back again.
Hopes proto pedal. I did ask if I could pop it on the scales….no go, this is still a work in progress and may change again from what you see here. No release date, no firm price, still some testing on the new design, but looking good.
The Bionicon Alva 180 see www.bionicon.comfor full stats, first coil sprung bike from them, push a button, drop to 100mm for the ride uphill, push a button release the full 180mm and rip a downhill. Add a dropper seat-post, could this be a wise choice for Megavalanche ?
Pre-production sample of Thomson’s new direct mount stem for the boxxer clamps. Nearly ready for release. Had a long chat with David from Thomson (who nearly didn’t make the show, international flight delays) they have been busy bees. The stems are nearly ready, as are the new range of handlebars, prototypes are done, just final finish to sort out and they should appear byApril/May. The DH bars will be in alloy and David bought over a proto-sample in Ti of the XC flat (holding it in piccy). We got on to seatposts, as they let me have one last year. I have done bad things to it, but haven’t managed to bend it, thats going back to the lab for final destruction testing, or to finish the job I started but didn’t manage. That got us onto new seatposts, a new one is in the pipeline, with height adjustment, be interesting to see what they come up with and will it be more reliable than others out there, but thats some time off yet. Should be an interesting show next year, see what else they come up with.
Staying with America, Cane Creek. Dirt went to vist a while ago and met the CCDB Air shock, it’s now ready. Peter from CC is brilliant to chat to, quick wit, he asked me if I had any shock fit requirements, I asked if it would fit a hardtail….Peters quick as reply, it can fit anything, with some tube work, we just cut and shut your frame 🙂 Have to say I am tempted to let them try. As this is quite a bit larger to other air shocks I have seen or used.
The thing with air shocks is less weight over a coil. How heavy then? Peter shouted 500grams, I ask if I can weigh it, no problem. On my cheap digital kitchen scales it came in at 496grams and the attention to detail is what you would expect from www.canecreek.com
What next, more pedals and scales, E*thirteens offering, liking the larger platforms that are coming out.
Oh go then, another pedal on scales. A prototype from DMR in Mag-Ti flavour, yep really light and large platform.
Staying with DMR we have a blue frame badged up as an Omen, another proto, beefed up downtube, tapered headtube, longer toptube and chainstays than the standard Omen, this ones beefed for more DH action, and yes I would like a go on one.
One for the frequent flyers out there. New to the Core show is Polaris, love the Pod Pro seen here. Being there as press I don’t always get retail information, now these Pods aren’t cheap, but some enterprising shops are buying them to rent out, makes sense to me if you only need it once or twice a year. See if the baggage handlers can mess your bike up in one of these. www.polaris-bikewear.co.uk
Thats all for now, I haven’t gone through all the show pictures yet and it’s now midnight, and I have the day job in not so many hours. Might get another blog up later in the week. As ever cracking show, long day out and growing every year I go. Might have to do an overnighter next year.
Ace.
