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88 january 2011 <strong>Bike</strong> Buyer’s guide Competition Hardtail Considered the purest of mountain bikes, hardtails are light, hardy and require very little maintenance. Notice we’ve included (many) 29ers in this category - they’ve hit the mainstream now. Gt zaskar carbon 9’r With its stealth bomber looks, the much-awaited carbon version of the popular alu 9’r doesn’t disappoint. Even with the virtually invisible decals, the triple triangle design tells us that it’s the iconic Zaskar, just with bigger wheels. It might not be as light as some but it’s tough and nimble, and with interchangeable dropouts you can single-speed it. Key spec: X0/X9 parts mix, Formula R1X brakes, 15mm through axle r29 995 specializeD stumpjumper ht comp 29er While Specialized are masters at the spec sheet, they also spend a great deal of time tuning their bikes’ geometry. They’ve succeeded in getting top performance out of this ‘value’ race bike. Whereas some 29ers can be a little unwieldy, short chainstays and a steeper head angle make for a nippy big-wheeled bike. Key spec: Avid Elixir R SL brakes, RockShox Reba RLT 29er fork r19 845 bianchi jab 7400 If you have a Bianchi road bike and are keen to see what this dirty lark called mountain biking is all about, there’s only one choice of bike. Bianchi’s a company made up of ardent racers, and the spirit and passion of employees present and past is in this hardcore alu hardtail with pure racing geometry. You can tell that just by looking at it. Key spec: Shimano XT/SLX 10s, remote lockout fork, Selle San Marco saddle r14 000 scott scale 29 rc As the 29er cousin of the superlight Scale, it adds just 50g to the frame. The weight is guaranteed to be less than 950g, whatever the size. The race geometry ensure it’s an easy transition from the top-end 26er version, and to help dampen the rough trails, there’s 4mm of compliance engineered into the rear triangle of the IMP3/HMX NET carbon frame. Key spec: PF92 (press-fit) bottom bracket, tapered headtube, SRAM XX r52 000 bulls black aDDer team 29er The company is part-owned by three-time Absa Cape Epic champs Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm, and they have done plenty to prove that reliability rules when it comes to stage racing. The new 29er version is not as light or as racy as the Scott Scale, but with superb handling, they’ve got the winning combination dialled, already having won the 2010 TransAlp. Key spec: Press-fit BB, built to order r20 250 (frame only)
<strong>Bike</strong> Buyer’s Guide Best Design silverback seGma 29er This local brand now has their HQ in Germany, and their evolution continues with a race 29er. The name sounds like a type of pudding we ate at school lunches, but if Silverback’s reputation is anything to go by, it’ll be a sweet ride, jam-packed with maximum spec for your buck. Key spec: Shimano XT 10-speed, Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres r18 600 cannonDale flash 1 29er The biggest complaint of 29ers is the flop while turning into tight bends. Much of this is solved with through axles and tapered headtubes, both of which Cannondale’s been doing for years (with their Lefty shock). It’s the lightest and stiffest system available, despite what your intuition tells you. S.A.V.E. rear stays and post do exactly that – flex to save your butt. Key spec: Carbon Lefty shock, Hollowgram cranks, Stan’s No Tubes rims r56 000 van nicholas zion 29er Many see titanium as the ultimate material for a hardtail with its raw, scratchproof finish and the nuclear holocaust-proof construction. Van Nicholas is a second-generation Dutch family business, making beautifully crafted bikes using only aerospace-grade titanium. Feel the family love in the characterful and muscular ride experience. Key spec: Built to order r14 500 (frame only) monGoose meteore team The spec on the Team is almost too good to be true at this price. Full SRAM XX, Stan’s ZTR Alpine wheels, Truvativ carbon cockpit, Fox RLC – it reads like a fantasy wish list. The frame can hold its own as one of the lightest available in aluminium. If you’re a smaller rider who races XC, it’s a clear winner. Key spec: SRAM XX, Stan’s No Tubes wheels, Fox RLC r29 995 cube elite hpc sl It’s not just us who think this frame is cool. It won a Eurobike Design Award this year, with its Flex Stay technology in the rear stay allowing vibration absorption with virtually no horizontal movement. It still has a lot to prove in our competitive market that demands the ultimate race hardtail, but we say it’s more than up for the task. Key spec: Press-fit BB, XTR 10-speed, Easton EC90 wheels r50 995 january 2011 89
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Page 13 and 14: Gtr 3 There may not be a GT-riding
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