Below is a comprehensive list of all the Pro Review articles available on Mtbr.com:

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Reviewed by Brian Mullin aka Gram and MTBR.com Pastajet
http://www.gramslightbikes.com/

I have been out cranking and bashing away on a pair of Hayes Stroker Gram disc brakes for almost a year now on my Ibis Mojo. Although they are not the lightest pair of brakes I have used in the ever expanding weight weenie disc brake world, they are quite powerful, with excellent fade resistance.

Hayes Company
Hayes Brake has been in the brake technology business since 1946, and their brakes are used on everything from all-terrain vehicles, bicycles, construction equipment, motorcycles, riding mowers, tractors, snowmobiles and utility vehicles. Their work was extended to the mountain bike market in 1997 when Hayes Disc Brake was formed, and this group eventually morphed into the vast Hayes Bicycle Group, which includes Wheelsmith spokes, Sun Ringle wheels, Answer bike parts and Manitou shocks.

Hayes Stroker Grams
The Stroker Grams is the lightest of the Hayes Stroker series (5 versions), and they have been designed and marketed towards the cross country riding user group. Each kit includes the brake, a rotor, a mini bleed kit, carbon levers, alloy backed pads (semi-metallic) and a full titanium bolt kit. They are available in 140, 160, 180, 203, 224 mm sized rotors, and come with an appropriate sized post mount adapter. The master cylinder and caliper are made with aluminum, and use Kevlar hoses, and Hayes high temp DOT4 brake fluid. They are only available in the Lucky Black color (soon a white version), which has a sort of cool looking speckled finish. To minimize weight, Hayes removed as much of the already minimal lever body as possible, and on the master cylinder, they used finite element analysis, removing as much non-structural and redundant material as possible.

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a numerical technique for finding approximate solutions of partial differential equations (PDE) as well as of integral equations. In a structural simulation using computers, FEA helps tremendously in producing stiffness and strength visualizations and also in minimizing weight, materials, and costs. In a nutshell, it does mesh discretization of a continuous domain (the body or structure) into a set of discrete sub-domains (elements).

My usual long term brakes have been the Magura Marta SL brakes. I have a set of the 2007 Marta SL’s and recently got a brand new set of the Marta SL Mags, which use the larger Louise brake pads and much improved caliper system. The Marta SL’s are my main brain comparison and cross referencing brake, although I have used most of the current lighter brake systems for short periods of time.

Although the lines were a tad long on my bike, I never did get around to bleed them (lazy), but they are supposedly easier to bleed then previous Hayes brakes?

Next -> Impressions

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Just what you’ve been waiting for. The new PRIME site is here. Get all the answers now.

http://www.hayesdiscbrake.com/prime

Forget The Tools:
It’s here. And it’s the first of its kind. PRIME hydraulic disc brakes feature industry-first technologies and offer more power, new components and a better ride. PRIME’s tool-free reach and contact adjustment, improved braking torque and feel and outstanding ergonomics are just a few of its many attributes. Plus, its ground-breaking, high-flow reservoir venting system has never been seen before. PRIME disc brakes are available in Pro and Expert configurations. If you thought Stroker was cool, you’re not gonna believe this.

source: Joel Richardson – Product Mgr. Hayes Disc Brakes

Twelve months, twelve short documentaries on a long way to success. Trainings. Races. Travelling. Life.
This is TWELVE – a new project of the mountain biker and BMXer Michal Prokop.

Not only by its coarse visual interpretation TWELVE picks up the threads of michal.prokop09 calendar, however it uses a wider potential of video technologies. Rob Trnka’s camera takes the past month of Michal Prokop, just as he has actually spent it. Without any adornments and planning. It doesn’t aim to celebrate the leading actor; it wants to capture by its sincereness. TWELVE doesn’t create dramatic situations, but it catches them if they arise.

In first days of the following month you can always find out what were the last four weeks of Michal Prokop. Interesting? Boring? Tiring? Cheerful? Successful…? As every real calendar also TWELVE starts in January. Tons of iron, hours in fitness centre and snow and freeze all around. This way Michal’s year 2010 started, a season dedicated o four-cross, in which BMX already starts to come through strongly, with qualification for 2012 Olympic Games.

You can always find the premiere of TWELVE at redbull.cz

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Lakewood, Colo.— With Colorado’s famed history with the sport of mountain biking, it is only fitting for the first ever women’s only mountain bike event to launch on the state’s legendary turf. In 1990, Durango hosted the first ever UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and two Coloradoans, Ned Overend and Juli Furtado, were crowned World Champions. Crested Butte is home of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Museum and the Leadville 100 attracts some of the most renown racers from all over the world to compete in one of the toughest mountain bike races in the U.S.

Now on June 12, 2010 the Beti Bike Bash will add to the history with its debut as the first ever women’s only mountain bike event at Lakewood’s Bear Creek Lake Park, 15 miles west of Denver, Colo.

Team Yeti Beti will play host to this event with presenting sponsors Yeti Cycles and Bigfoot Productions of Golden, Colo. The event will offer women several exciting and fun races for all ages and abilities. The course at Bear Creek Lake Park is a five mile, non-technical singletrack loop with views of surrounding Red Rocks Park. Beginners (CAT 3) will ride two laps, with the sport (CAT 2) riders racing three laps, and the Open/Pro race featuring four fast laps. There will also be a three-woman relay fun race for those who want to experience the camaraderie of a mountain bike race with their friends.

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Having already worked together for three years, Rachel, Gee and Dan ATHERTON’s confidence in COMMENCAL has been strongly reiterated with the announcement of another two years in partnership with the bike manufacturer. This relationship has steadily grown and is now set to be stronger than ever. The fresh team name and logo marks a new chapter, and the birth of Team COMMENCAL.

The ATHERTON siblings will be chasing World titles aboard COMMENCAL’s race proven bikes, the ‘Supreme DH’ and the ‘Absolut 4X Ti’.

Max COMMENCAL commented, “After these past three years spent together, I would first like to thank Madison, our UK distributor, for all the work they have done with this exceptional team. Without them, this story might never have been started. Today we have reached a new level with the ATHERTON clan, with their intense passion for riding and huge motivation to win.

Rachel is almost rabid-like in her determination, Gee is more of a missile then ever, and Dan is going to surprise us once again. Together we have numerous projects planned, on both a sporting and technological level. We’re going to enjoy ourselves even more and help move the industry that we love those extra few steps forward”.

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(Jackson Hole, WY – February 1, 2010) Mountain Khakis®, a premier outdoor-lifestyle apparel brand “Built for the Mountain Life”, proudly announces their title sponsorship of the 2010 MOG Outdoor Gear Sale & COPMOBA Bike Swap in Grand Junction, Colorado – the largest grassroots outdoor gear sale and bike swap between Denver and Salt Lake City.

Overland adventure enthusiasts know a MOG when they see one. But ask any Colorado & Utah outdoor enthusiast what the MOG is and they’ll tell you with enthusiasm, ‘it’s THE outdoor event and sale of the year!’

Let’s pause here for station-translation-identification. MOG=Manufacturers of Outdoor Gear. Clever. COPMOBA=Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association. COPMOBA, by the way, is the only US trail advocacy organization in the MTB Hall of Fame, and is also sponsored by Mountain Khakis®.

On Saturday, April 10th, Outdoor and Cycling Industry manufacturers, Rocky Mountain region sales reps, retailers & gearheads will come together for this 6th annual 1-day Outdoor Gear Sale & Bike Swap in downtown Grand Junction, CO. This unique, grassroots event is supported by area retailers and draws a faithful crowd of locals, mountain townies & city slickers from every nook and cranny between Denver and Salt Lake. To boot, the MOG is a benefit event for the western Colorado outdoor community.

Wanna’ come? Regional manufacturers, sales reps and retailers are invited to register (registration attached)! Individuals are invited to sell at the bike swap (same-day registration)! Gearheads are invited to partake in the a-mazing deals! Expect 40-50 booths, a climbing wall, bicycle obstacle course, slackline course, music and much more.

o MOG Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010 * 1 day only
o Time: 9am – 4pm
o Location: Downtown Grand Junction, CO
o Saturday Night: Telluride MountainFilm @ 7pm followed by Loki Nite @ 9pm (Mesa Theater)
o Sunday: Ride, Climb, Hike, Run, Fish or Float in our famous western Colorado high desert

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Leogang, Austria

I’ve now been to Austria a handful of times and until now I’ve only visited in the summer months. This past week I got to travel there in the winter for a snow slopestyle. It was amazing. Huge 40+ foot jumps with lips as tall as a house. Riding into them for the first time was simply scary. Once you found yourself on the landing it was the best feeling you could have. Going up the lip you would feel your speed decelerating more and more and you had to wonder if you had too much speed or too little speed. The great thing was that the landings were all a mile long and if you over jumped it was just adding to your amplitude and for the most part was just as smooth as landing at the top. I took a pretty hard case in practice and decided that jumping farther was clearly the best option… and the most fun!! Some of the gaps could be made 10- 15 ft. bigger just by going faster and were still smooth.

Austria is simply beautiful in the winter. You are surrounded with a 360-degree view of snow covered mountains. Snow was plentiful and was perfect for snow ball fights too, which replaced some of the daily activities that we normally do in Leogang during summer, including go karting. I wasn’t able to get the chance because the normal track in Leogang is closed for winter, but a few of the riders that went to the event early went to ICE carting. I’m thoroughly jealous.

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Online Registration is Now Open for Women-Focused Mountain Bike Skills Camps

(Madison, WI) — Trek Bicycle, North America’s largest domestic manufacturer of bicycles, announced its
title sponsorship of the 2010 Trek Dirt Series mountain bike skills program today. Designed to help riders of all experience levels, particularly women, take their cross country, downhill and freeride skills to the next level, the Trek Dirt Series will travel to 16 locations throughout the Western U.S. and Canada providing beginner, intermediate, advanced and locale-specific instruction at each weekend-long camp.

“I’m extremely excited to be working with an organization that has so much experience and such
enthusiasm for supporting women in mountain biking,” remarked Whistler-based Dirt Series camp founder
Candace Shadley. “With Trek’s support, we’ve been able to dramatically increase our resources and
expand our operation for 2010. This will be our first year providing instruction as far east as Colorado and
also the first year our riders will have access to Trek’s WSD Factory Demo Team and fleet of demo bikes
at every event.”

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As the 2010 MTB race season quickly approaches, Nema would like to announce our 2010 Contingency Program. In an effort to help give back to our supporting riders, Nema offers you a chance to recoup some of your hard earned dollars at the races this year! Check out the flier for more info!

1.. New riders must register in advance by sending your NAME, ADRESS, RACING CATEGORY to
info@nemabrand.com (only pre-registered riders qualify)
2. You will receive Nema stickers which you must place on your bike, and helmet.
3. Minimum of 5 riders in your class to qualify for payout.
4. Only official results from promoter will qualify.
5. Rider MUST list NEMA as a sponsor on entry form. (NO EXCEPTIONS)
6. LAST BUT NOT LEAST rider must be wearing at 2 out of the following 3 products:
(JERSEY, SHORTS/PANTS, GLOVES)

See More Details by clicking on the image below:

source: J. Dylan Dean,
NEMA International

Components Manufacturer Plays Establishing Sponsor Role for National Organization

BERKELEY, Calif.—The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) is thrilled to announce a 3-year sponsorship with SRAM as an establishing partner, effective immediately.

Matt Fritzinger, the executive director of NICA, stated, “We are most grateful to SRAM for showing their confidence in our ability to bring great mountain biking opportunities to high school students across the USA. There is a surge of interest and support for the NICA program, and with the solid backing of SRAM we are in a great position to achieve our vision.”

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