The much anticipated WTB Kodiak tire is now available for purchase exclusively from the Niner Bikes online store and from the Niner Bikes dealer network.

http://store.ninerbikes.com/Components

“This tire is the result of our desire to offer the longest travel, burliest production 29er mountain bike, and WTBʼs help with the project has been invaluable.” said Niner co-founder Chris Sugai, “WTB knows that there are a ton of riders out there that want a 29er with freeride and downhill capability and their willingness to step up and be the first to make a wire bead, dual-ply 29er tire shows that their passion for the big revolution is genuine”.

WTB Kodiak Tire Details:

A 2.5′” monster, this Niner exclusive tire is the burliest rubber you can spec on your 29” bike. Made with WTB’s High Grip DNA™ rubber compound, the tread is specifically designed for fast, gnarly, technical descending. The WTB Inner Peace™ sidewall reinforcement has your back when it comes to pinch flat protection, sidewall stiffness and keeping tire damage to a minimum.

Finally, the wire bead means less bead stretch and better rim retention when you do push the limits of your riding. 29×2.5″, 1400 grams, 50 Durometer, 27 TPI. Niner Bikes is dedicated to passion, commitment, 29ers only.

source: Carla Hukee

Wilderness Trail Bikes, Inc., a global leader in bicycle components, is proud to announce that its star endurance rider, Harlan Price, claimed victory at India’s nine-day International Khachendzonga MTB Expedition.

Dodging chickens, dogs, cars and other riders through the Himalaya foothills, Price managed to build a commanding lead throughout the 18 demanding stages. Due to shoddy organizational management the race ended up being more like a season of ‘Survivor’ with food deficiencies, tent shortages and poor medical services for the first four days. “Despite those problems the race ended up being a lot of fun,” Price stated. “There were two stages a day, one an uphill and the other a descent; each being anywhere between 5- and 25-kilometers long.”

Price rode an Independent Fabrications 29er with a Rocket V SLT saddle, WTB Nano Raptor front tire and a Vulpine rear tire. “As it turned out that was the perfect set up since half of the downhill’s were mixed pavement and gravel. Some of it was really rough jeep road but the Vulpine hooked up a lot better than I expected at speeds around 40 to 60 kilometers/hour. Plus it felt like butter on the climbs.”

Price survived the lengthy stage race without a single flat or crash. “It’s the second long stage race in a row without a flat,” Price commented. La Ruta de los Conquistadores was the other race, where Price was the first-placed American (tenth-place overall).

For more information please visit WTB.com or Price’s blog, http://boxedbee.blogspot.com/

WTB, based in Mill Valley, California, has been an industry pioneer since 1982. The small, independently owned company strives to produce innovative parts and accessories for both OEM and aftermarket use.

Wilderness Trail Bikes, Inc., a global leader in bicycle components, is proud to announce its smashing success at the Bionicon Keyesville Classic mountain bike race. WTB-sponsored riders won every pro race in the three-stage event, including the prestigious All Mountain Pro title.

The weekend began with Max Plaxton (WTB/Santa Cruz) crushing the competition in Saturday’s XC race. The 23-year-old Canadian clocked a blistering time of 2:17 on the 35-mile course, finishing about a minute ahead of fellow Canadian Kris Sneddon (Kona/WTB).

In the second stage—the short track XC—Plaxton and Sneddon once again made mincemeat of the field. The two Canadians controlled the pace from the beginning and worked together against a fierce headwind. The short track assault culminated with a sprint finish that saw Sneddon cross the line two bike lengths ahead of Plaxton.

The weekend of racing concluded with two downhill runs: The first course sent riders down a steep fire road that favored strong pedaling; the second course ran through the heart of the infamous Snake Pit rock garden. WTB rider Ben Furbee schooled everyone on both courses, winning by more than ten seconds (combined between two runs). “It was my first big race after a long winter and it was my first pro win,” said the 19 year old. “I’m stoked.” Furbee was armed with WTB’s new Dissent 2.3 tires, LaserDisc FR wheelset and Silverado saddle.

The Keyesville Classic is one of very few races with an All Mountain class, where riders compete in each event—on the exact same bike—and are scored by the number of points earned. The category is a great test of overall handling skills as well as fitness. In Keyesville’s All Mountain Pro class, Plaxton proved to be the most well rounded rider. “That was my first ever downhill race,” said Plaxton. “I had a great time this weekend. The courses were awesome, everyone was friendly, events like this are what mountain bike racing should be.” Plaxton’s weapon of choice for the weekend was the new Santa Cruz Blur Carbon with WTB Nano Raptor tires and Silverado saddle. “The Nanos were perfect for Keyesville’s sandy terrain,” he said.

Another WTB athlete, Yuri Hauswald, chose a Marin Pine Mountain 29er singlespeed for the All Mountain race. Hauswald battled with the top pros in each event and easily won the All Mountain Singlespeed category. Hauswald was rocking WTB Nano Raptor tires, LaserDisc Trail 29 wheels and Silverado saddle.

For more information please visit WTB.com.

source: Dain Zaffke

Wilderness Trail Bikes, Inc., a global leader in bicycle components, is proud to announce a new partnership with legendary mountain bike racer Brian Lopes.

Lopes will be riding and racing exclusively on WTB’s high-end saddles. Each of Lopes’ team-issue Ibis race bikes will be outfitted with WTB’s Silverado SLT saddles.

“I am stoked to ride WTB for a couple of reasons,” Lopes stated. “First, the Silverado is the most comfortable saddle I’ve ever used: It felt great straight away and I haven’t had a single issue. I’m also excited to work with such a great company,” he added. “The folks at WTB are not only cool guys, they’re bad-ass cyclists.”

Lopes is the most successful mountain bike racer in world. The 37-year-old American has four world championship and nine national championship titles to his name and has won 25 world cups in a range of disciplines including four-cross, dual slalom, downhill and BMX. Lopes has been inducted into both the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame as well as the BMX Hall of Fame.

And the fiercely competitive athlete still has something to prove. Lopes’ goals this upcoming season are to win more races in a wider range of disciplines. “I want to show everyone how well-rounded I am,” he stated. “I like to do it all.” In just the past three weeks—the off-season for most pros—Lopes has raced elite-level BMX and cyclocross.

“We’re really excited to have him on board,” says Dain Zaffke, WTB’s marketing manager. “Lopes is a true professional on and off the bike. Plus he’s one of the biggest heroes in mountain biking.”

For more information please visit WTB.com, BrianLopes.com or Ibis.com

WTB, based in Mill Valley, California, has been an industry pioneer since 1982. The small, independently owned company strives to produce innovative parts and accessories for both OEM and aftermarket use. wtb.com

source: Dain Zaffke

Wilderness Trail Bikes, Inc., a global leader in bicycle components, is proud to be send its PR manager and pro athlete Mark Weir to the Fabien Barel invitational, Urge Kenya

Mark Weir is joining a select group of the world’s best mountain bikers in a race down Mt. Kenya this February. The event, named Urge Kenya, is being organized by two-time downhill world champion Fabien Barel and Fred Glo of Tribe Sports Group. Only ten athletes will be racing this spectacular, ultra-endurance downhill event and all proceeds will be donated to ACORD, an international alliance working to promote social justice throughout Africa.

So far, the roster of invited riders includes Mark Weir, Brian Lopes, Fabien Barel, Wade Simmons, Ritchey Schley, Steve Peat, Julien Absalon and Anne Caroline Chausson, among others. The riders will spend three full days trekking to the 16,355-foot summit of Lenana Peak. Although each competitor will be assigned a Swahili guide, the riders must carry their own bikes. The hike up the mountain will serve as course inspection and the start order will be determined by each rider’s knowledge of the Swahili language, encouraging interaction between riders and guides throughout the trek. The voyage up Mt. Kenya will undoubtedly be a life-changing bonding experience for the group. The trip down will be a flat-out battle between the world’s best mountain bike pilots across a half-dozen ecological zones, including bamboo forests and Afro-Alpine chaparral. The

Fabien Barel and Fred Glo are visiting the area right now organizing the event and Mark Weir is anxiously awaiting his departure in late January. “It will be a once in a lifetime trip,” said Weir. “I just hope I can breathe at 16,000 feet.” Weir also stated that he’d be riding with a paper bag over his head to prepare for the thin air. In a more serious tone, Weir stated that, “this is an incredible opportunity to use our sport to help people that are less fortunate.” group will speed through the impressive landscape and finish in less than three hours.

Please visit WTB.com for more information.

WTB, based in Mill Valley, California, has been an industry pioneer since 1982. The small, independently owned company strives to produce innovative parts and accessories for both OEM and aftermarket use. wtb.com

source: mark weir

Mark Weir, Rachel Lloyd, Jason Moeschler. These WTB-riders aren’t single speeders. They don’t even own single speeds. But when the Single Speed World Championships came to Napa, California—Team WTB’s home turf—Weir, Moeschler and Lloyd converted their everyday bikes into one speeds and set their sights on winning.

When the dust settled, the WTB team achieved nearly all of its goals. WTB/Proman rider Rachel Lloyd destroyed the women’s field, easily taking the win. Weir crossed the line seconds after WTB-sponsored team Giant rider Carl Decker. Moeschler placed fifth.

More than 400 racers descended on Napa’s Skyline Park for the event. The race started with a lemans-style run to the bikes and three laps on a rugged course that included steep climbs and steeper descents. Crazy costumes, wild antics and immense heckling were ever present. Both Lloyd and Decker both won SSWC tattoos. Weir and Moeschler stood out as much as riders clad in elaborate costumes, as both riders chose to ride “all mountain” suspension bikes for the occasion. Weir rode a six-inch travel Santa Cruz Nomad and Moeschler raced a Blur LT.

For more information and more photos, see www.WTB.com.

source: Dain Zaffke