Its only fitting that a bike expo of this size would have the option to let you get out and try their products. Today was Outdoor Demo Day. Shuttles took everyone to Boulder City so we could rise all the new road and mtn bikes until our hearts were content.
It was tempting to get out for a road ride but then we were taken by this staggeringly awesome Surly Moonlander with 5″ tires on 100mm rims. These things were the bike that everyone seemed to want to ride so we turned to the dark side and hit the endless single track of the Nevada desert mountains with this monster truck:
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- The Moonlander picks up where Pugsley left off.
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- The Surly guys says that there was never anything wrong with the thumb index shifting, so they’ve brought it back
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- 4.7″ tires on 100mm rims. Such a large footprint allows you to ride them at very low pressure, and like a snowshoe enables even greater traction and float over all kinds of terrain…wet stuff, roots, rocks, pebbles, gravel, sand, and snow.
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- (L) Since the frame clearance is so wide the front derailleur needs to sit out much further. (R) The wheels have been punched out and the tube protrudes the rim tape at only 15-20psi. The marketing guy took one look at my shaved legs and told me this saves weight and gives a 25 watt advantage.
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- Notice the rear triangle has an offset (28mm) to accomodate a straight chain-line since the rear stays are spaced at 135mm.
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- The Surly Moonlander wasn’t the only monster bike at the show. This 9:Zero:7 was a less expensive competitor with the main difference being symmetrical rear stays
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- The way 9:Zero:7 was able to accomodate symmetrical stays was to use a three chainring crankset and remove the most inner ring so that the chain is able to travel in a straight line.
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- Possibly the most wacky bike of the demo day was this Tretta all-wheel-drive.
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- Seeing as Dom spent so much time around the Caraci tent he’ll be doing a full review of their new saddle (or whatever it was they sold) in the coming days
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- Let the shenanigans with the mountain bikers begin…
