Sometimes Accidents Happen. You just have to roll with it

The 29er: New Trend in Mountain Biking

On America's bike trails, trail riders are now avoiding standard 26-inch-diameter bike tires they've all been riding for years in favor of oversize 29-inch wheels. Turns out bigger is definitely better, whether you've got years in the saddle or you're a mountain-biking rookie. Here are five reasons why 29ers have the edge:

Better Ride
"The larger wheels provide better cornering traction and help smooth out rough terrain," says 29er convert Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, 31, a veteran mountain biker with the Subaru/Gary Fisher team and five-time national cross-country champ. "Those are big confidence boosters when you're riding fast or on a trail you're not that familiar with."

More Speed
"You hold momentum much better than with a 26er," says two-time Olympian Todd Wells, who swapped to a 29er after racing a Specialized Stumpjumper with the larger wheels last year. "The bike excelled in fast conditions with lots of transitions and sweeping turns. The bigger wheels also allow you to descend faster and with more control—it almost feels like cheating," he adds with a laugh.

Versatility
Big 29-inch wheels

make rear suspension a luxury, not a necessity—reducing a bike's weight and simplifying maintenance. "A hardtail [front suspension only] 29er can smooth out rough terrain almost as well as a 26-inch full-suspension bike while retaining the simplicity, stiffness, and handling of a hardtail," Wells says.

Greater Stability
For years, some racers avoided 29ers because they didn't excel on supertight, twisty, single-lane trails. Recent design refinements have corrected those problems. "Now the rider sits more between the wheels as opposed to on top of them—so cornering stability is a lot better than it used to be," Wells says. "The bigger wheels provide a more stable platform when going downhill; it's harder to accidentally crash and flip over the handlebars with them."

Accessibility
Just because the bike is bigger doesn't mean you have to be. Design tweaks keep the bikes accessible to all riders, not just those built like Shaq. "Tall people aren't the only ones who benefit from the big wheels," Wells says. "The U.S.'s Willow Koerber piloted her 29er to a bronze medal at the World Championships last year—and she's 5'2".

**Article originally published in Mens Fitness

2011 Roubaix is 100% Class Act - Specialized Road Bikes Rock

You know, just looking at this awesome bike is enough to give a serious, sold-out cyclist the chills.  Every component is painstakingly contemplated by the elite engineering team at Specialized.  Nothing about the S-Works Roubaix SL3 Dura-Ace is just good enough.  What was it that Fabian Cancellara said after finishing 1st in the 2010 Paris-Roubaix:  Fabian Cancellara gave the prototype Roubaix SL3 final approval after winning the 2010 Paris-Roubaix. What difference did the bike make? "45 kilometers alone," was his answer. Mechanical Dura-Ace shifting for proven performance.

Here are a few of the facts that you might want to consider.  Then if you can wipe the drool off your chin, c'mon over to the shop and let us fit you for one of these jewels.

• New FACT IS 11r carbon SL3 frame weighs less than 1000grams, with increased torsional stiffness, and Zertz seatstay inserts for the fastest most compliant endurance bike available
• FACT full carbon monocoque fork with vibration-damping Zertz inserts is ultra light and durable
• High performance Shimano Dura Ace carbon tubeless wheelset enhances ride quality
• Specialized S-Works FACT carbon crankset with oversized BB, removable carbon spider, and ceramic bearings has the highest strength to weight ratio for unparalleled efficiency and power transfer
• S-Works SL ergonomic carbon handlebars for superior fit, comfort, stiffness and strength at minimal weight
• Legendary Shimano Dura-Ace 10-speed shifters are the benchmark for immediate, precise and quiet shifting
• FACT carbon Pave seatpost uses a Zertz insert to minimize road vibrations for greater comfort but remains stiff and efficient

2011 Specialized Tarmac - Atop the podium at the Tour de France

At Montrose Bike Shop we are now able to outfit you with the best road bike in the world.  Check out the Tarmac for 2011.

WIPEOUT!

All 2010 and earlier models must go!!!

The 2011 Specialized and Trek bikes are starting to arrive. We need to make room and soon. This creates a fantastic opportunity for you to buy any 2010 or earlier model year bike on the floor at substantial discounts. There will be some bikes marked down to cost. Since this is a clearance, the sale is limited to stock on hand. So if you have been drooling over a $2500 bike, now's your chance to score one for under $2000.

Cyclocross Season About to Start!!!

Trial Run at Verdugo Coming Real Soon!!

Each year Cyclocross in Southern California has grown, and there's no reason to think it won't get another boost this year. Major shops are joining in to support these fun filled family days filled with racing, music, and just hanging out with like-minded bike enthusiasts. You can always stay up to the minute on happenings in the Cyclocross world by checking in at SoCalCross.org. The Trial Run Announcement is coming soon. We will send out a special email announcement as soon as the date is firmed up

Come Test Ride a 2011 Specialized Bike

The totally new for 2011 Specialized Camber Mountain Bikes are here. This new product line includes a full range of options including 29'ers. Speaking of which, the Rockhopper Comp 29'er's for 2011 are also here, ready for you. Also early to hit the showroom floor is the Allez Comp with Shram Apex. There's no better time of year to visit us. See the 2011's or get a bargain on a 2010 or 2009.

P.S. Sunday Afternoon Mountain Bike Rides to Continue

If you have missed out riding with our group on Sunday afternoon, there is no better time to join us that in September. We leave at about 4:30 and spend a couple of hours on the trails. Get to the shop at 4:00 and check out our back to school sale.

2011 Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 29er....a breath of fresh air

The 2011 Stumpjumper 29er has: 

• Light and lean FACT 11m carbon HT 29er frame is engineered with a stiff, tapered head tube and 29" race geometry for pure speed
• Custom Specialized/RockShox Reba S29 fork with size-specific travel, is the lightest, stiffest performance XC fork, featuring Brain Fade adjustment, tapered carbon crown/steerer, and Reba lower
• New Roval Control SL 29 XC wheelset with carbon rims, OS28 end caps, Ti QR, and DT Swiss spokes and internals is insanely stiff, light and durable for riding straight through the rough stuff
• S-Works Renegade 29 x 1.95" dual compound 2Bliss Ready tires with aramid bead roll fast and still provide plenty of race-tested traction
• Specialized FACT OSBB carbon crankset with ceramic bearings is paired with a SRAM XX spider and 38/24t rings to create market-leading stiffness-to-weight for the ultimate power transfer
• Custom Avid XX World Cup R magnesium body brakes feature tool-free reach adjust, alloy-backed pads, and carbon levers with titanium hardware for ultra light and powerful braking control

Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 29er

2011 Stumpjumper FSR and Specialize Camber Getting a Workout - See Them at Montrose Bike Shop

The 2011 Stumpjumper FSR and Camber are known for their efficient climbing, solid descending, and exacting amount of trail-tuned  suspension.  Enjoy this short video as they go through their paces.

New Mountain Bike for 2011 - Specialized Camber Now Available at Montrose Bike Shop

Specialized Bicycle Company has created an entire new category in the mountain bike world.  For 2011 the all new Camber Mountain Bike comes with hydroformed M4 alloy frames and an integrated headset, 120mm of travel in the rear and 100mm in the forks.
 
The geometry will remind you of the Stumpjumper, but with a longer wheelbase.  The Camber models offer pivot locations formed in tubes instead of welded separately.

Specialized Camber Elite does not include Brain technology set up on the shocks. This means that  the price point will settle at entry level for trail bikes.  Should you move up to the Camber Pro model, Specialized has added a SRAM 2×10 crankset with Shimano XTR 10-speed derailleur.  

The 2011 Camber Mountain Bike line will include
a 29er version in keeping with Specialized's indication earlier this year that they see the 29'er category growing significantly in 2011.

Have you checked out our Video Channel?!

Will didn't have enough to do with selling and repairing bikes, so we  have turned him into a YouTube Star.  Over the last several weeks his YouTube videos have been viewed by almost 10,000 cycling enthusiasts from all over the planet.
Over the next week or so, three new videos will be added.  You can be notified of new videos by following us on YouTube.  We also publish each new video to our blog, and you can follow us on the blog.  Another alternative is to follow us on Twitter.  It is our belief that our relationship shouldn't end with your purchase.  We want to help you have a great experience.  Any way we can help you to get on the bike more and enjoy.


 
http://www.youtube.com/montrosebikeshop
http://twitter.com/montrosebike

Meet Ups!

Cycle Up an Appetite - Fill it with BBQ and Beer

We in Southern California a truly blessed with resources for entertainment and relaxation that are almost boundless.  So why is it that so many of us are sittin' on our backsides on Sunday afternoon when we could be out riding the trails with a group of cool folks.  That group is averaging around 12 cyclists and likely to be growing substantially with the addition of free grub and suds.
 

In fact, go to Meetup.com

and sign in if you don't mind.  You can still come if you don't go to Meetup, it just helps us out.  Search for Montrose Sunday Mountain Bike Ride.

So Cal Cross Ends Another Great Year - Sport Catching ON!

Learn More About Cyclocross.  Join in the Action

MBS has been a huge supporter of the Cyclocross movement here in Southern California, and we appreciate the tireless efforts of the folks at SoCalcross.com 
Today there are events for every age and skill level.  The courses are laid out (often by MBS owner JL) to be as challenging and exciting as the location allows.  (There is no truth to the rumor that JL designs courses with a certain blood lust).

The Hanson Dam Location is very beautiful and provides a free day in the sun with your family and a bunch of folks who just love bicycles.   If you would like to learn more about Cyclocross, come on into the store or check out the SoCalCross website.

Us Bike Dealers Test the NEW Specialized 2011 Camber and 2011 Stumpjumper

A gathering of 600 dealers were not dissapointed when they tested the Specialized 2011 line of bikes during a product launch in Colorado late last month. Seeing the awesome 2011 lineup encouraged bike shop owners in what has already been a good season for bike sales. Specialized introduced a new mountain bike called the Camber, which they call, "a pure XC trail bike," creating a hybrid of the Epic and the Stumpjumper FSR platforms. Generally, the pricing of the Camber will be just below the Stumpjumper line. But, even without a brain shock, the design is similar to the stumpjumper, with models varying as far as crankset and frame size.

The 2011 Specialized Camber, a mountain bike for mountain bikers, closes the gap in Specialized lineup, replacing the Stumpjumper FSR with 120mm of travel (100mm for 29er versions). Pro models have a custom SRAM carbon 2x10 crankset with Shimano XTR 10-speed derailleur. Lower models get triples.

The 2011 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR models see few changes save for a retuned S140 fork (26″) with no Brain inertia valve. The Fox shock trades Pro Pedal settings for a shock that’s designed around pedaling when on with multiple compression damping settings when turned off, In order to allow tuning of the shock's characteristics for descending more than climbing.



 


 2011 Specialized Stumpjumper S-Works 29er Carbon

The Stumpjumper hardtails don’t see too many changes other than spec updates. Like the Epic, the S-Works models get carbon-rimmed Roval Control SL wheels, along with the more modern 2×10 drivetrain. The mid- and high-end models have stiffer wheels due to  Specialized’s updated 90mm travel Future Shock with dropouts. These wheels are compatible with Specialized and Rockshox forks, and they have a OS24 caps in order to make them compatible with Fox forks.

The S-Works carbon frames weigh in 100g less than the 2010 model, at 1,055g for the 29er and 920g for the 26″ model. Shaped seatstays combined with a slim 27.2mm seatpost provide vertical compliance for both models. The 2011 Stumpjumper FSR and S-Works Carbon are great additions to the Stumpjumper line.

Specialized Allez Comp: Redisigned for 2011

If you are looking into an entry level racing bike, the Specialized 2011 Allez Comp is where you should start. Redesigned for 2011, the aluminum frame is shaped exactly like the Tarmac.

"After the Roubaix, the biggest news on the road side is the complete redesign of the Specialized Allez.  The new frames are 20% stiffer…they have the same torsional stiffness as the Pro Tour-proven Tarmac SL3…and they get the same tapered headtube design on the Elite models with bearings set further up the steerer tube for enhanced stiffness due to increased surface contact area (details are a bit sparse on that aspect, we’re working on it). The seat tube gets butted, swaged and formed into a squared shape at the bottom bracket, strengthening one of the highest stressed areas on the bike.

Being Specialized’s competitive but affordable road model, the Allez comes with both high performance builds and one version with SRAM’s new performance touring compact double Apex group. In addition to the same stiffness as the Tarmac SL3, the new Allez shares its racy geometry. In this comparison, the gray is the Allez A1, yellow is the Allez E5 and the red is the Tarmac SL3."(BikeRumor)

2011 Specialized Tarmac SL3

Although the  2011 Tarmac SL3 doesn't come with Zertz inserts, it has a triangulated seat for stiffness and the geometry is aggressive. You can expect more confidence, better handling, and better power transfer from these features.

The key to stiffness is a bigger cross section in the fork with wider and stiffer blades.

Bikeradar says "Is it a case of stiffness that goes up to 11? Possibly, but again you can't argue with the results. Riders on board Tarmacs have won more than 25 ProTour races this year, and given that Alberto Contador, Fabian Cancellara, Frank and Andy Schleck will all race them at the Tour de France, there's no doubt the frame will enjoy more success."

Specialized 2011 Roubaix SL3: Responsive and Efficient

The 2011 Roubaix SL3 is a comfortable road bike at the top of the Specialized Endurance line that can race with the best of them, and yet versatile enough to be appealing to all riders.

Engineers have designed a frame that assists the bike to limit vibration and increase sticktion, which delivers a smoother and more efficient ride. And although Specialized has been using Zerts elastomer inserts for a while, they have been given a permanent home, securely placed in a nook of the seat stay. Specialized has included internal cable routing and boasts that the bottom bracket to chain stay is in one piece to increase the efficiency of power transfer.

Specialized has also taken responsiveness into consideration, and made sure to leave their “cobra” tube unchanged, which widens and drops into a fatter, tapered head tube for extra stiffness. They also offer a redesigned, stiffer fork with a two bladder molding style.