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The chatter coming out of mtbr.com forums confirms that Rock Shox is coming out with a different offset for the Reba fork. Not to get too technical, but the current offset is at 38mm while the suspected new offset will be 47mm. Increasing offset by nearly 10mm means quicker handling through the tight stuff. More info about how a change in offset affects a bike’s handling ability can be found here.

This is a solid development by Rock Shox in order to compete with the longer offset Manitou (48mm & 43mm) & potential Fox 29er forks (summer maybe?). But what most people would really like to see is a Rock Shox 29er Pike or Lyric fork.

The Pike/Lyric forks have made names for themselves for being great all mountain 26″ forks. Will Rock Shox move in this direction? If they want to stay one step ahead (as they were by coming out with the 29er Reba) they should go all mountain.

Popularity: 8% [?]

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MtnBikeRiders.com is always finding ways to be in the forefront of bicycle information. We’re happy to announce that Moe Ramirez will be heading up our newest initiative by tapping into a market that is has not been saturated by blogs/bicycle news sites and etc.

Our newest site will cater to the Spanish speaking cyclist!

El Ciclista Fanatico was born due to the lack of cycling sites that cater to the Spanish speaking demographic. Ramirez searched and searched for cycling sites, whether it was road, commuting or mountain but to no avail. Ramirez figured, “if its not there, then I’ll start one!” Thus El Ciclista Fanatico.

El Ciclista Fanatico will be a site that will produce Spanish content from MtnBikeRiders.com and TheBikeGeek.com. The site will combine all of the best postings of its sister site and be translated by Ramirez himself.

Not many people realize the potential to expose the Spanish Speaking demographic to bicycles can positively affect the industry.

The foreign born from Mexico make up three percent of the total US population, but 12 percent of the total population of California.

According to the results of Census 2000, immigrants from Mexico account for just 3.3 percent of the total population. The states with the highest proportion of foreign born from Mexico in their total populations include California (11.6 percent), Texas (9 percent), Arizona (8.5 percent), Nevada (7.7 percent), and New Mexico (5.9 percent), followed by Illinois (5 percent), Colorado (4.2 percent), Oregon (3.3 percent), and Utah (3 percent).

Courtesy of the US Census.

With all that said, we present. El Ciclista Fanatico!

Popularity: 3% [?]

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NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2007
Release #07-116

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (888) 431-7653
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Mirraco Recalls Bicycles Due to Wheel Fork Failure Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of product: Mirraco Bicycles

Units: About 11,000

Manufacturer: Mirraco LLC, of Carlsbad, Calif.

Hazard: The front wheel forks on these bicycles could have been welded improperly. This poses a risk that the weld could fail, and the rider could lose control and fall.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received four reports of steer tube rotation and one report of a fork separation due to failure of the welds. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recall involves BMX bicycles. The model name is printed on the bicycle. Recalled models include the following:

Mirraco Models

Blend 3
Blend 2
Blend 1
Blend 1s
Blend 16
Black Pearl 3
Black Pearl 2
Black Pearl 1
Fivestar Park
Icon Moto
Icon 20Forty

Sold at: Authorized Mirraco dealers nationwide from November 2006 through January 2007 for between $265 and $550.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the bicycles immediately and have them inspected by a Mirraco dealer. If the inspection shows that the bicycle is part of the recall, the fork will be replaced free of charge.

Consumer Contact: Call Mirraco toll-free at (888) 431-7653 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.mirrabikeco.com

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Jeremy & El Moro Map

This past Saturday my buddy Ivan & I went to ride some trails in El Moro. Due to time constraints and our being unfamiliar with El Moro, we spent some time discussing exactly which ride to do and ended up choosing El Moro Redtail Ridge – Rattlesnake. We used geoladders.com which is one SWEET website if you are looking for trails in the Southern California area.

This ride conditions were great. The sun was shining and when we started our ride, the temperature was probably in the upper 50′s to low 60′s. By the time we finished a long/nasty climb that ended at the 3 mile mark, the temperatures were in the mid to upper 60′s. We were rewarded when we finished that climb with an unbelievable view of the Pacific Ocean.

Jeremy at El Moro with Pacific Ocean in background

El Moro’s views were truly amazing. Thank God for the rain from two days prior; it cleared up most of the smog that usually lingers over So Cal. At one spot we could look north and see the white snow caps of our local San Bernardino mountains peaking behind the hills of El Moro. And if we looked west, we could see the vast blue Pacific ocean stretching to the horizon.

Of course, what’s the fun in riding a new trail without getting a little lost? Below Ivan & I arrived at an option, climb the ugly hill with deep ruts or take the singletrack (not pictured). We weren’t sure where either of them led, so we decided to stick with the fireroad and climbed that hill.

Ivan Consults Map

Thankfully we were again rewarded for climbing that hill when we came across the best singletrack I’ve ever ridden, which isn’t saying a lot. haha. After riding this singletrack I finally understood why one of the guys we met was looking all over So Cal. for epic singletrack. I’m now on the lookout for it too! Sorry, no pictures of the singletrack, it was truly too good to stop for.

On the way back down to the parking lot, we ran into a short, monster hill. I’m not sure what the steepness grade was, but it was definitely more than what I could handle.

Ivan Demonstrating Hike-a-Bike

But what goes up, most come down and the last 2.5 miles was a fun rolling descent to the parking lot.

Geoladders.com Elevation Map for El Moro Redtail Ridge

El Moro gets high praise from me. By the way, does anyone know where epic singletrack exists in So. Cal?

Popularity: 4% [?]

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One of my favorite things to do is build up bikes from the frame up. So after we did the Ibex B-Series Build up, Moe and I got to thinking…”We need to build the best bike there is!” So we came up with the name, “The Ultimate ALL-Mountain Bike Build Up.”

We figured we’d get some criticisms from tons of naysayers thinking that we should have went this this brand or that component. But we wanted to build a bike that was essentially the last bike you’ll have. We say the last bike due to the fact that this bike will do just about anything you throw at it.

The purpose of building the “Ultimate” All Mountain bike was to have a rig that can not only climb like a goat, but also to be able to descend like a banshee down a rock bed.

So we started talking to the folks at KHS Bicycles about this project and they loved the idea. They supplied us with a 2007 AM2000 frame.

Here’s the specs of the frame:

AL7005 w/4-bar Horst bearing linkage, new design,

6″ Travel w/Rear Shock: RockShox MC3.3 air shock
w/Motion Control, Floodgate w/3 position switch

Here’s the GEOMETRY if that tickles your fancy.

With all that said, we’ll be partnering up with some of the best names in the business to build this rig.

So far Hayes Brakes are sending us some nice hydraulic El Camino brakes with a 7″ rotor in the front and 6″ rotor in the back.

We’re also enlisting the help of Spinner USA by having us use their Cargo fork with 6 inches of travel.

As we get more components for this rig, we’ll keep you all posted on the progress and eventually the test ride.

Vince Calvillo Operations Manager of KHS Bicycles, hands RL Policar the new AM2000 frame.

Popularity: 7% [?]

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