Interbike Dirt Demo Part 1

Posted by Charles Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:06:00 GMT

On this first day of the Interbike trade show I got up early, grabbed coffee and breakfast on foot, packed my Camelbak full of ice then filled the small remaining spaces with hotel tap water, and set off for the shuttle buses under the Sands Convention Center that would take me to Bootleg Canyon. I arrived with a loose plan to ride several specific bikes that Passion will be carrying next year, and several others that Passion will not. The On Dirt Demo at Interbike provides a unique opportunity to get on not only the cool new bikes just becoming available, but also to ride preproduction bikes and prototype bikes to get a feel for what’s coming next year and beyond.

My first stop was at the Turner booth to get a sampling of their new DW link bikes. Other test riders moving faster than I did this morning completely depleted the booth of Large frame bikes, so I defaulted to Santa Cruz across the walkway and was able to hop on next year’s Nomad for a hot lap.

This bike is a subtle improvement on an already outstanding bike. The revised rear suspension feels a bit more linear than prior models, with a ramp only at the far end of the stroke. The new carbon link helps the bike feel light, solid, and capable, and the familiar geometry provides confidence while landing, descending, and pushing the corners. I have a new favorite bike.

The Turner booth was still empty at the end of my lap, and Santa Cruz was out of the new Blur LT’s, so I checked in with Niner to see if they had their new WFO. Alas, the WFO won’t be up on two wheels for another month or so, but I was able to swing a leg over a RIP 9.

This bike provided what was to become my second fastest lap of the entire day, and by the time I returned, Santa Cruz had a Large Blur LT ready to ride.

The Blur LT is frequently described as the Nomad’s little brother, but I found a little greater spread on the family tree. The BLT feels lighter, faster, and more nimble to a point where I consider it a completely different bike, that with appeal to a completely different rider. I next hit the Spot booth to get on one of their belt drive single speeds. A Carbon Drive Longboard was produced, and I was back on the test track. This was my fastest lap on the three or so mile loop I have been riding repeatedly for this purpose for years of these events. The Longboard charged quietly, quickly, and smoothly uphills. Last years disappointing belt noises were eliminated, and the new gear profile allows for a looser, more serviceable drive system. Yet again, I have a new favorite bike.

I was finally able to get onto a Turner in the afternoon, after spying one on its way back to the Turner booth while returning the Spot. This one was the new 5 Spot, and it had a lot of the characteristics of its older brothers.

This latest version now uses the DW link that brings the rear end a bit more progression than in the past, and provided a supple, stable ride that was really enjoyable. I’ll be back in the Turner booth again tomorrow, angling to get on a new Sultan with a similar suspension treatment.

My last ride of the day was on Yeti’s latest, the ASR-7. I have to wonder if I should have stopped at 5 rides while I was fumbling through the gears and dropping the chain. The 7 is a super stable bike, a lot of fun to ride, and I might find a way to get back on another one sometime soon.

John and Daniel have joined me in Las Vegas tonight, and we will be riding bikes as a group tomorrow. I hope to have a new list then.