Unique Finds at Interbike
Author: Raymond Galang aka ‘elsaltamontes’
Some cool new things I found at Interbike that may be of interest.
1. Not the first to report on these carbon drive Spot Single Speed Bikes.
Review: A little squeaky because of the dry, dusty conditions. Nothing that was too loud but it was noticable. I’m curious what wet conditions would be like. However, mechanically, they performed flawlessly. No skips, no slips. On the trails there were steep valleys. I purposefully slowed down on the dips and then cranked hard on the steep climb to really see how the chain ring, cog and belt drive responded. No problems, no flex, no lag. A perma-grin set in and my confidence on the bike increased with every pedal stroke. The Spot frame was limber on the descent, felt very smooth for a hardtail, yet climbed like a goat when pushed. Very much like a good steel bike should do.
*note the break in the rear drop-out, so the belt can slide out if needed.
purdy bike.
2. Knolly’s Suspension Design. Suspension design that’s completely different from any other bike I saw at the show. And all that engineering is revealed on the ride.
Endorphin.
Booyah! A sub 30 lb. bike from Knolly bikes. Almost sounds like an oxymoron. This bike kicked ass and felt good to be back on the 26er. This bike climbed and descended so incredibly well. On rocky loose, terrain there was great traction on the rear without any slight feeling of bucking. Yet, when I stood up to punch forward, it responded well and I didn’t feel like I was losing any momentum from the rear. I’m not much of a hucker, but the little hucking that I did, felt comfortable and the bike stayed stable and balanced and gave me a lot of confidence to huck some more. The best 26er I rode in those 2 days at Outdoor Demo.
The Knolly Endorphin
I did get to ride the Delirium. But having not really taken it to it’s full potential, I’ll hold off on any detailed review. All I can say is that it’s very stable, yet active suspension. Surprisingly very responsive when you stomp on the climb. I’ll need a solid hour of descending to really have a worthy review of this bike.
The Knolly Delirium
3. Retrovelo
They didn’t have a booth, but were hanging out at the Sycip booth. I rode this bike inside the convention center and was wowed by the “bottom bracket 2-gear transmission” they call the “speed drive”. It felt like a 32t and a 28t with an 18t cog in the back.
Gear 1, click the crank with your inside ankle.
Gear 2, click the crank arm on the other side.
Imagine the day when you can have a single cog and chain ring with 20 gears.
“Inspired by Schwinn’s Stingray, BMX bikes, muscle cars and cafe racers…” excerpt from their flyer. Find out more at www.retrovelo.de
4. Sycip’s 650 Bike
What?! Not another wheel size! I’m going to run out of room in my garage. Jeremy Sycip had the foresight to save the forks you see from a Bridgestone factory sale years ago. He recently built the frame to fit the fork. Beauty ain’t she?
Bridgestone fork detail:
Everyone’s going carbon. How about Sterling Silver? Specially built for his dad, Sam.
Custom Sycip with Carbon seat stays. Drooool.
5. Fuji’s Obey Fixie
This one caught my attention. I’m a big fan of Shepard Fairey. The artist that created the ‘Obey’ posters with Andre the Giant. Fuji commissioned him to design this bike. Sorry for the not-so-sharp photos. It was getting late in the day.
