Race Tech: MTB Nationals #1, April 2, 2007

New frames, brakes, and forks found in the desert

Cannondale introduces the Taurine Photo ©: James Huang	Beefy chain stays mate with relatively slender seat stays Photo ©: James Huang
A beefy head tube houses integrated headset bearings. Photo ©: James Huang	The Taurine is outfitted with Cannondale's Si integrated crankset. Photo ©: James Huang
Cannondale's Lefty XC3 SI stem Photo ©: James Huang	…and neatly incorporates all of your commonly needed tools Photo ©: James Huang
The Head Wrench multitool tucks in the top of the steerer tube… Photo ©: James Huang	The new fork features a new crown and lower legs Photo ©: James Huang
Just like Marzocchi and Rock Shox Photo ©: James Huang	Fox isn't showing off its 2008 wares until Sea Otter? Photo ©: James Huang
Team Maxxis riders Geoff Kabush and Mathieu Toulouse Photo ©: James Huang	New diamond-shaped top tube on the Litespeed Sewanee. Photo ©: James Huang
Smaller sizes, however, skip the BB pivot altogether Photo ©: James Huang	The new caliper is a two-piece affair Photo ©: James Huang
Subaru-Gary Fisher's Willow Koerber Photo ©: James Huang	Kenda's new Side Wall Shield (SWS) Photo ©: James Huang
Kenda hits the race circuit with a fleet of demo bikes Photo ©: James Huang	Crank Brothers now offers shortened spindles Photo ©: James Huang

By James Huang in Fountain Hills, AZ

Over in the pit area of race series sponsor Bear Naked - Cannondale (Bear Naked makes granola, for those of you who were wondering), the CT-based bike company showcased its newest model, the Taurine. Cannondale's first-ever full-carbon hardtail frame utilizes unidirectional high-modulus carbon fiber construction for a claimed finished frame weight of just 1.25kg.

Cannondale uses a tapered oversized down tube just as it does on its upper-end aluminum models, but the Taurine also incorporates fully integrated headset bearings and uniquely flattened chain stays that supposedly offer a bit of vertical give (not quite as dramatic as on the company's Scalpel, of course, but along the same idea). Naturally, Cannondale includes its proprietary Lefty fork and Si integrated crankset, yielding an astonishingly light 9.4kg (20.74lb) complete bike (actual weight without pedals, but with two bottle cages).

Fox Racing Shox isn't launching its new 2008 lineup until Sea Otter time, but that doesn't mean bits of it weren't out in public for the first major US mountain bike race of the season. We already showed you the new revision to the RP23 rear shock, but a new fork was also found on the Anthem Advanced of Team Giant's Adam Craig on the second day of the race.

Fox Racing Shox representatives weren't giving up much in the way of anything interesting, but we can tell you that Craig's new cross-country fork wore a new set of trimmed-down lower legs as well as a completely new crown, both of which suggest that Fox has shaved some weight from last year's models. Almost more interesting, however, was that the new lower leg casting was equipped with post-mount disc brake mounts, which we're guessing are being adopted by Fox across the board (yes, Manitou, we know… you've won the battle and the war).

Fox has also updated its handy little disc brake hose guide to make it vastly easier to install (ok, Manitou, we all admit now that post mounts are better, but we're still waiting for some sort of badly-needed proper disc hose management system from you…). Shop mechanics can stop searching on their hands and knees for that annoying little star washer, and there's now just one plastic bit to deal with. Finally, Craig's new fork was covered in gloss white paint, which should be much easier to keep clean than the current matte finishes.

Team Maxxis bikes were swathed with new gear during the first MTB Nationals race here in Fountain Hills, AZ, and it wasn't just isolated to tires. Team riders Geoff Kabush and Mathieu Toulouse attacked the Fort McDowell course aboard prototype Litespeed Sewanee titanium full-suspension frames that only mildly resembled the consumer versions.

Both Sewanee frames featured new titanium tubesets, including a diamond-shaped top tube, and an updated CLR (Constant Leverage Ratio) rear suspension system that offered 85mm of travel instead of the minimal 60mm on current consumer models. A pair of true Horst Link-style dropout pivots (meaning they are located on the chain stays, not the seat stays) is on hand to accommodate the additional movement and a barely-there seat stay bridge helps to keep the back end moving in plane.

On the significantly smaller bike of Team Maxxis mechanic Gary Wolff, Litespeed still utilizes the dropout pivots but foregoes the BB-located main pivot altogether in favor of flattened chain stays that apparently still yield enough vertical movement to keep the rear end working properly. Wolff's bike also ran without a seat stay bridge. All of the prototype Sewanee frames viewed in the Team Maxxis camp also wore unique replaceable bolt-on aluminum rear dropouts. We can't remember the last time we trashed a non-driveside dropout and can't think of a need for any other dropout styles on this thing (horizontal drops for a singlespeed application wouldn't work here), but so be it.

Equipment-wise, a handful of team bikes were also equipped with Hayes' new Stroker hydraulic disc brake. The tidy-looking new master cylinder uses a first-for-Hayes radial configuration, flip-flop versatility, and a comfortably broad aluminum lever blade with an integrated indexed thumbwheel for reach adjustment.

The caliper was also an all-new design with two-piece construction, rotatable banjo, and large window to help keep the pads cool. There was no leverage or contact point adjustment seen on the team's particular model, but given the 'Stroker Trail' designation, we wouldn't be surprised to find out that there is another version so-equipped already on hand. We didn't have the opportunity to ride the new brake, but a quick squeeze revealed a refreshingly snappy and buttery-smooth lever action and a firm feel. Stay tuned for more info soon.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

• Cannondale introduces the Taurine , its first all-carbon hardtail frame weighing just 1250g.
• Beefy chain stays mate with relatively slender seat stays in an effort to deliver some vertical compliance out back.
• Naturally, Cannondale equips its top-end Taurine with the ultralight carbon fiber Lefty Speed Carbon SL fork. At a claimed weight of just 1.24kg (2.72lb), this is supposedly the lightest 110mm travel fork in the industry.
• A beefy head tube houses integrated headset bearings.
• Lots of carbon fiber surrounds the oversized Si integrated bottom bracket spindle.
• The Taurine is outfitted with Cannondale's Si integrated crankset. A metal plate protects the chain stay from damage in the event of chainsuck.
• Cannondale's Lefty XC3 SI stem combines the stem and steerer tube into a 150g package. Plus, there's an optional secret surprise inside…
• The Head Wrench multitool tucks in the top of the steerer tube…
• …and neatly incorporates all of your commonly needed tools , including 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8mm Allen wrenches, a T25 Torx bit, phillips head screwdriver, two tire levers, chain tool, and even glueless patches. Never forget your tools at home ever again.
• Cannondale's new Caffeine 29er hardtail , caught in early season testing in beautiful Sedona, AZ. While rather heavy, we still found the big-wheeled bike to deliver stellar handling characteristics, a notably smooth ride (for a hardtail, at least), and a smart component package. The Lefty fork is easily the most precise-handling fork of any we've experienced, bar none. Hey Cannondale, so when are you coming out with a Rush 29er?
• Fox isn't showing off its 2008 wares until Sea Otter? Tell that to Adam Craig of Team Giant, who was already using one of Fox Racing Shox's new models as of the second day of the first MTB Nationals event in Fountain Hills, AZ.
• The new fork features a new crown and lower legs , both of which have a cleaner look and are supposedly substantially lighter than last year's forks.
• Not much material left back here , all in the interest of shaving grams.
• Just like Marzocchi and Rock Shox , Fox Racing Shox finally admits that Manitou had it right all along and adopts the post mount disc brake tab standard for 2008.
• Team Maxxis riders Geoff Kabush and Mathieu Toulouse were riding prototype Litespeed Sewanee titanium full-suspension frames.
• The new Sewanee uses asymmetrical chain stays and new dropout pivots to accommodate an increase in travel to 85mm.
• Larger sizes keep the BB-located main pivot and also gain a minimalist seat stay bridge.
• Smaller sizes, however, skip the BB pivot altogether in favor of a set of flattened chain stays that supposedly allow enough flex to allow the suspension to function properly.
• Mechanics are people, too. This new Litespeed Sewanee is said to belong to team mechanic Gary Wolff.
• New diamond-shaped top tube on the Litespeed Sewanee. Kabush's bigger frame also warrants the use of a reinforcing strut to keep things rigid.
• A clean head tube gusset strengthens the front end and also allows for more clearance between the top of the fork and the down tube, especially on smaller sizes.
• Hayes introduces its new Stroker hydraulic disc brake platform. An indexed dial adjusts lever reach, and a new radial master cylinder arrangement makes for a much more compact package.
• The new caliper is a two-piece affair , complete with a large window to help keep the pads cool.
• Subaru-Gary Fisher's Willow Koerber is in the midst of doing a bit of frame geometry experimentation, as evidenced by this monstrously tall lower headset cup.
• Kenda's new Side Wall Shield (SWS) uses tiny glass beads to help reinforce the tire in order to prevent cuts, punctures, and tears.
• As a side benefit, the glass beads used in Kenda's SWS system are also highly reflective.
• The Kenda Small Block Eight is now available in a 700x35c size, which might be just the ticket for hard and fast cyclocross courses.
• Kenda hits the race circuit with a fleet of demo bikes , thanks to cooperation from companies such as Seven Cycles, Santa Cruz, Titus, Tomac (yes, it's back!), and even Nicolai.
• Crank Brothers now offers shortened spindles in more economical (and stiffer) stainless steel. Just like the titanium versions, the stainless ones are 4mm shorter per side to yield a narrower pedaling stance.

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