Breck Epic Organizers Launch MTB Event in Eagle, CO

(Eagle, Colo.) - April 5, 2013 - The Greenspeed Project, Inc., organizers of the popular Breck Epic MTB Stage Race, are pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural Eagle Outside Festival. Scheduled for May 11-12, 2013 in Eagle, CO, the event serves as a showcase for the community's extensive trail network and as a centerpiece for the town's destination tourism marketing effort.
 
"We've made a commitment to increase the quality and quantity of our already substantial trail network," states Mayor Yuri Kostick, "We believe that Eagle offers some of the best riding in the Rockies, all within an easy drive of the front range. The Eagle Outside Festival shines a spotlight on what we consider to be a perfect early season riding option for the Colorado mountain biking community."
 
Accurately described as a 're-envisioning' of Eagle's former Get Out Expo, the new event incorporates many new elements for riders, runners and outdoor enthusiasts alike. First among them is the inaugural Firebird MTB Race and its counterpart, the women's only Firebird la Femme. Non-USAC sanctioned, the mountain bike events take place on Saturday and Sunday respectively and collectively boast a $10,000 cash purse with equal payouts for men's and women's fields.
 
The festival also features the 1st annual Rocky Mountain Bike and Outdoor Expo, a consumer facing demo boasting some of the bike industry's leading brands. Santa Cruz, Pivot, Ibis, Felt, Niner, Specialized, Yeti, Ellsworth, Twenty Two Cycles, Orbea, Wilier, Ridley, BMC and many, many more will all be on hand with their latest models. The free demo invites consumers to test ride their dream rigs all day long on Eagle's signature climbs and descents.
 
"With three great coffee shops, a VERY good brewery, some killer Mex, dining options galore and a full grip of trails leading riders from town into the back of beyond, Eagle is sort of an undiscovered secret," says event producer Mike McCormack, "The racing part is obvious, and we're thrilled to have the town's support in offering a sizable purse. The current dynamic as dictated by USA Cycling is universally unpopular - hopefully another great race without their sanction will prompt them to invest additional thought into their recent decision. Then again, maybe it won't."
 
"The demo is a direct extension of the success we've seen at events like Sea Otter, Interbike and Outerbike," continued McCormack, "People LOVE to try the bikes they've only seen reviewed online or in a magazine. Events like these are packed with smiling people. With the industry placing more and more resources into dealer relationship and support demo-type programs, we think we've come pretty close to the mark in terms of offering a great venue along with tremendous energy and critical mass, all during the important early season purchasing period. And besides - what better way to introduce riders to Eagle?"
 
The event will also offer a no-cost set of Strava Challenges. Riders can test themselves on some of Eagle's signature climbs and descents, trying to best the local hammers and rippers for digital bragging rights.
 
There's more than just biking though. New for this year is the Mother of a Half-Marathon, a downhill road marathon that sees competitors finish in the heart of Eagle Ranch. In addition, there will be a 10K longboard push race, a "Chro-Moly Chef" competition, and a wide variety of Mother's Day activities including yoga, spa treatments, flower delivery, special meal offers from local dining spots and much, much more.

For more information on the Eagle Outside Festival, the Rocky Mountain Bike and Outdoor Expo or any of the events held throughout the weekend, please visit the Eagle Outside Festival site or contact Mike McCormack.
About The Greenspeed Project
The Greenspeed Project was founded in 2008 to utilize cycling events as a mechanism to underwrite trail improvements and enhance MTB access in the Central Rockies. The team has effectively harnessed the power of the collective cycling consciousness in service of demanding accountability and ethical discourse from those that would see mountain bike access greatly marginalized. Greenspeed has also been instrumental in validating the term 'companion designation', bringing it into the land protection dialogue along with the concept of the Wilderness B (Wilderness with Bikes), of which Greenspeed is the founder.Through these initiatives, the organization has played a modest role in the crafting of stronger, more meaningful land protections for all. While the group can be found most recently jousting at windmills in the Colorado Springs area, The Breck Epic, Greenspeed's signature 6-day MTB stage race event, is sold out for 2013.

Santa Cruz Bronson 650B Announced

Two decades of evolution at Santa Cruz brought us here. An entirely new frame, new wheel size and new perspective on what a 6" travel bike can conquer.

Bronson is not some rehashed 27.5" tribute act to anything else in our range. It stands alone as testament to the years of designing and refining at our old Bronson Street facility.

Locked up for months of secret testing, Bronson breaks straight onto the scene as the Syndicate's race bike for their Enduro World Series campaign.

From Tazmon to Bronson... Santa Cruz continues to lead each new era. Welcome to our Group B. If you're a spectator on track, please take a step back.

- 27.5" (650b) wheels
- 142 mm rear axle spacing.
- New molded rubber swingarm and downtube protectors.
- 2 x bottle cage mounts.
- Forged upper link.
- Forged aluminum lower link with angled grease ports: offset for chainguide clearance.
- Collet axle pivots: lock in place without pinch bolts.
- Angular contact bearings: all pivots.
- Direct mount rear derailleur hanger option: standard hanger comes as stock.
- Full carbon dropouts and disk mounts.
- Co-molded aluminum hardware on frame pivots: no bonding.
- Carbon ISCG-05 tabs.
- Routing for Reverb Stealth.
- 73mm threaded BB: creak-free riding and easy installation.

Bronson Aluminum

Bronson Carbon

2013 Bluegrass Enduro Tour

Hannah Barnes, Jérome Clementz and Alex Lupato will be among the riders opening the international enduro season at round #01 of the Bluegrass Enduro Tour in Castelbuono - Sicily - next week-end.
The race is a two day event with a prologue in the streets of Castelbuono on Saturday and three long timed stages raced in the Madonie mountains around Castelbuono on Sunday.

 
What Hannah said:
I am really excited to be going to Castelbuono for the first round of the Bluegrass Enduro Tour. It will be awesome to be racing on a beautiful island and catching up with old friends. I can't wait to ride the trails and get back into the racing spirit after a cold winter tucked away in the Fort William woods. It's going to be a shock to the system to be racing again, but I can't wait! See you there.

About the Bluegrass Enduro Series
Born 4 years ago on the slopes of the French Vosges mountains the format of our MTB Enduro series follows similar lines to the motorcycle type enduro. The event takes the form of riding a route interspersed by timed stages. The Bluegrass Enduro Tour is raced in four different countries in 2013. The success of the Bluegrass Enduro Tour is to be found in its uncompromised values, a mix of fantastic trails and great atmosphere.

2013 Bluegrass Info

Ibis Ripley 29er Announced

Design goals of the Ripley 29

Our goal was to bring the advantages of a 29” wheel to a lightweight, nimble and fun trailbike. We think 120 mm of travel is the sweet spot for a snappy bike that isn’t cumbersome or heavy. We also wanted the Ripley to be configurable for a wide range of terrain and riding styles, so we made it compatible with 120–140 mm travel forks. We asked Dave Weagle (Mr. dw-link) to give the Ripley pedaling efficiency, XC-like acceleration and optimization for 29er specific gearing in addition to the usual dw-attributes such as excellent small bump compliance, predictable travel through the range with no wallowing or harsh bottom out. This version of the dw-link, like the ones he’s done for us in the past, delivers on the promise.

Features of the Ripley 29 - Special Preview

• 120mm rear wheel dw-link travel
• 5.0 Pound frame with X Fusion Microlite Shock, 5.2 lbs with Fox RP23 CTD
• Approved for 120-140mm forks, 32 or 34 stanchion
• Tapered head tube (suitable for various Cane Creeks & Chris King InSet 3)
• Internal TT cable routing with molded carbon cable stops
• Shock Specs: 184mm x 44mm with .4 volume spacer
• Provision for cable-actuated adjustable seat posts
• BB92/Press GXP style integrated BB
• 142mm Maxle rear axle
• 160mm carbon fiber post mount rear brake mounts
• High direct mount front derailleur mounts directly on swingarm
• Headset: IS ZS44/28.6 | EC49/40
• BB height w/ 2.1" tires: 325mm (12.8")
• Geometry measured with 520.8mm axle to crown fork

Ibis Ripley 29"

Ian Hylands Joins Niner Bikes

Niner Bikes welcomes Ian Hylands as full time Photographer and Videographer for the company. Ian comes to Niner with an impressive portfolio and significant experience as an influential image maker in the cycling industry.

Ian’s work speaks for itself – he’s had images in every major US mountain bike publication and his pictures live on the computer monitors of cyclists around the world. We are really excited to bring him on board.” said Niner Marketing Manager Carla Hukee, “This signals a new capacity for great content from Niner Bikes”.

Ian will be based out of Niner’s Fort Collins, CO office.

Niner Bikes was founded 2004 in Southern California and is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The company is dedicated to the ideals of passion, commitment and 29ers only.

http://www.ninerbikes.com

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