Banshee Rune Frame (2011) SALE PRICE: $1,199.99 (40% off $2,000.00 msrp!)
For those that dare to see whats on the other side of the mountain. The Banshee Rune was made for the weekend adventurer to explore the back country. Escape the madness of the cities and urban sprawl and return to nature, restore your inner peace, and go to the places most people will never see. This sturdy frame with amazing pedaling qualities will keep you going all day and get you easily down the steepest mountain when its time to come home.
Focus Mares Ax3 Bike (2011) SALE PRICE: $699.99 (50% off $1,400.00 msrp!)
The roots of Focus Bikes are firmly in cyclocross. Focus has been ridden to multiple World and National Championships. JensonUSA is proud to bring these race-bred bikes to the USA. So, if your thinking of trying cross, but dont want to take out a second mortgage, take a serious look at the Focus Mares Ax 3. Its ready to grow with you as you improve your skills.
Rocky Mountain Slayer 30 Complete Bike (2012) SALE PRICE: $1,917.49 (35% off $2,949.99 msrp!!)
If you can only buy one AM rig, and you trend more towards DH-type riding, then the Rocky Mountain Slayer 30 is the bike for you. The designers at Rocky Mountain were looking to push the evolution of the AM category by creating a lightweight, yet durable bike that could climb as well as it could rip downhill. Using creative design features such as a light, strong, integrated rocker pivot, 2 piece bottom bracket shell and using an e-type derailleur that bolts onto the swing arm, the designers at Rocky Mountain were able to create a truly ALL mountain bike that was light and efficient, while staying true to Rocky’s DH heritage.
Yeti SB-95 Enduro Bike (2012) SALE PRICE: $3,400.00 (Value Price Build!)
It’s the bike you’ve been waiting for! Switch suspension technology, fast rolling 29” wheels and of course Yeti’s proven fit and feel. Just like every other bike Yeti has produced, the Yeti SB-95 is the peak of refinement. Yeti did not just ‘copy and paste’ their Switch suspension technology from their 26” wheeled bikes to a 29” version; they adapted, reengineered and tested it over and over until it was perfectly suited for the bigger wheel. The basics still hold true - super efficient without sacrificing traction and comfort.
Santa Cruz Nickel Frame SALE PRICE: $809.97 (40% Off $1,349.95 msrp!)
The Santa Cruz Nickel benefits from Active Pivot Point (APP) suspension, which is the result of Santa Cruz's efforts to mimic the variable shock rate produced by its Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension, but in a simpler and more cost-effective single-pivot design. What's so special about that VPP shock rate? Riders of Santa Cruz's popular Blur will testify that it makes the first part of the travel plush and ultra-responsive to bumps, and the last part of the travel stiffer to avoid harsh bottom-out. The Nickel gets five inches (125mm) of rear travel out of the accompanying Fox Float RL shock, a light and adjustable unit with compression lockout and rebound adjustment.
I put my Tallboy Carbon on the scale this morning and the complete bike (with pedals) weighs in at 26.90 lbs. I'm pretty pleased with that considering the bike is, after all, a full suspension 29er and doesn't really have any lightweight parts on it... yet. You can see how I have the bike spec'd out here.
Over the winter I plan on adding a set of lightweight wheels, like the Stans ZTR Crest 29Er, which should knock a pound or two of rotational weight off the bike. Hopefully I can get the bike down to around 25 lbs. Stay tuned...
Ibis Mojo SL Frame With Fox Fork SALE PRICE: $2,249.99 (18% off $2,749.99 msrp!)
The Ibis Mojo SL comes with high end Fox Racing suspension components. To provide you with a plush, yet efficient ride, the Fox Float RP23 rear suspension was chosen for the Mojo SL. The Fox RP23 features Boostvalve, for enhanced bottom out resistance. To compliment the rear shock, the Fox Float RL fork was paired with this frame. With 140mm of smooth and reliable suspension, you’ll enjoy your ride like never before. Included is a 2012 Fox Float RL, Open Bath, 140mm front fork.
On Thursday I took the first ride on my new Santa Cruz Tallboy Carbon 29er. I decided to take it to one of my local 10 mile loops that consists of mostly fast singletrack with a few short climbs and lots of tree roots and even a few small rock gardens. I've been riding this same loop for the last several months on my Cannondale Flash 2 29er hardtail, as well as my Yeti Big Top 29er hardtail and my Yeti 575 26" full suspension bike. My first lap out on the Tallboy Carbon, riding at my normal training pace, I turned a 58:35 lap. That time is about a minute faster than my previous fastest lap, which was done on my Cannondale.
That being said, first impressions of this bike are pretty damn good. The Tallboy climbs almost as efficiently as the Cannondale, but its main advantage over a hardtail is that the plush rear suspension allows me to stay seated and keep pedaling over many of the bumpy, rocky and tree root infested sections of the trail. It definitely requires a different riding style if you are used to a hardtail like I am, and I have to keep reminding myself that I can pedal right through some of the rough sections that normally I'd be out of the saddle on. As for descending, the bike seems to go downhill just as quickly as my Yeti 575 does, but the 29" wheels definitely roll over obstacles better than the Yeti's 26" wheels do.
I took the bike out again on Saturday and knocked another 15 seconds off my best time. As I get the suspension dialed in, the bike will just get faster and faster. Over the winter I plan on adding a set of lightweight wheels which will take a pound or two of rotational weight off. The Cannondale's only advantage over the Tallboy right now is weight... it's about 2.5 lbs lighter, so a lighter set of wheels on the Tallboy will make a huge difference. A more detailed review later as I get a few more rides in on the bike...
Rocky Mountain Element Team RSL Frame SALE PRICE: $1,899.00 (33% off $2,832.99 msrp!)
Rocky Mountain has given it their all in constructing the Element Team RSL frame. They decided to build a frame that contained no aluminum whatsoever. This in its self kept the weight down, but Rocky Mountain took it one step further. The seat stays are two separate blades that attach to the frame, which reduces weight as well. As a result, the bike is very stiff and has excellent power transfer. They worked directly with Fox Shox to produce a rear shock that is tuned perfectly for XC riding.
My Tallboy Carbon is finally done and I spent the last couple days getting it dirty! I'm very pleased with how it turned out and the two rides I've had on it so far have been amazing. I'll post a quick review in a day or two. Here are the current specs for the bike...
Jamis Dakar Xam II Bike (2010) SALE PRICE: $1,999.99 (60% off $4,975.00 msrp!)
Jamis overhauled the Dakar Xam II last year, and still found room for improvement to make it even better! The chainstays have been beefed up and now the rear end is thru-axle compatible. The resulting increase in lateral stiffness keeps the rear wheel tracking in line with the front no matter how deep you are into suspension travel. The mp3 suspension makes the XAM an incredibly plush, yet efficient trail bike. The suspension is fully active, so go ahead and claw your way up-trail, free of pedal-bob, and fly downhill without fear of brake jack.
Diamondback Podium Sport Road Bike (2012) SALE PRICE: $799.99 (33% off $1,200.00 msrp!)
The Diamondback Podium Sport is a road bike ready to tackle your first ride or first century. Constructed of lightweight aluminum, the Podium Sport is designed with Diamondbacks EPG or Enhanced Performance Geometry. EPG features a taller head tube that will put the rider into a more upright position that will suit riders that find Diamondbacks carbon competition Podium platform too aggressive. The component selection on the Podium Sport handpicked to balance performance and value.
Rocky Mountain Solo 70 CR Bike (2012) SALE PRICE: $1,494.99 (35% off $2,299.99 msrp!)
The heart of the Rocky Mountain Solo 70 CR is the Hi-Modulus Carbon Monocoque frame with carbon dropouts and a performance race geometry. The beauty of carbon fiber is the ability to “tune” the carbon fiber to reach a desired ride quality. The Rocky Mountain Solo 70 CR remains stiff while minimizing the constant road chatter that filters up from the road. The “S” bend seat stays at the rear of the bike help gain more vertical compliance to help reduce the road shock to your body.
My Tallboy Carbon frame weighs in at a very light 5.1 lbs! With the components I'm using, the bike is not going to be super light at first, and I expect it to be in the upper 26 to low 27 lb range. We'll have to wait and see.
Jamis Dakar XCT 2 Bike (2011) SALE PRICE: $1,649.99 (47% off $3,100.00 msrp!)
Featuring the same geometry as its carbon fiber brothers, the Jamis Dakar XCT 2 is designed to shred trail like the XCT 3 and 4, but at a more affordable price point. It features a Kinesium alloy frame with 130mm travel mp4 linkage design, a Rock Shox Revelation RL 15mm thru axle fork with 140mm travel, and components from FSA, SRAM, and Avid.
Top Photo:
VPP suspension with greaseports make the ride smoother, quieter, and worry free in every way possible. The trick grease ports make servicing the rear suspension very easy when the time finally comes. These rear suspension features make the Tallboy carbon frame easy to maintain and very durable.
Bottom Left Photo:
The Tallboy Carbon frame features an integrated chainwrap to provide extra protection on the chainstays, as well as a replaceable derailleur hanger just in case!
Botton Right Photo:
With each frame, Santa Cruz has provided a grease gun, grease, and a fork/shock pump. You also get a velcro chain wrap to cover and further protect the integrated chainwrap.
