Hot from the news room at 29erOnline – Niner Bikes has just released a new version of the Air 9 – the Air 9 RDO. Being Niner, RDO stands for something – Race Day Optimized. This is a carbon hard tail race bike for which the frame alone lists for $2,099. Not cheap, but at less than 2.5 pounds, it is half a pound lighter than the standard carbon Air 9, which was already pretty light. Check out Niner’s web site for all the details and enjoy some eye candy on us.

Niner Air 9 RDO

Niner Air 9 RDO frame comes in under 2.5 pounds

29erOnline has been saying for a while that 29ers are not just for big people. Niner Bikes apparently agrees – they are releasing a new XS frame size in the EMD 9 that fits people between 5′ and 5’5″ tall. Here are some bits from their press release, or check out Niner’s website for more information.

22.5″ TOP TUBE
(over 1/2″ shorter than size small)

14″ SEAT TUBE
(1-1/2″ shorter than size small)

3.9″ HEADTUBE
(3/32″ shorter than size small)

RECOMMENDED HEIGHT RANGE OF 5’0″ TO 5’5″

27″ STANDOVER
(1-1/4″ lower than size small)

Here’s what you WON’T find on the smallest E.M.D. 9:

NO TOE OVERLAP

NO SEATSTAY BRIDGE
Improves comfort on a smaller frame and maintains the tire clearance we demand.

NO PROBLEM WITH BOTTLE FIT
A large waterbottle (270mm, 24oz Polar brand) will fit inside the main triangle.

Here is another impression from our time in France….

I (Mrs.29erOnline) rode the S Works version of the Stumpjumper FSR for the first time in France. Now, granted, it was so cool just to be in France that, probably, a Huffy would have been fine. But I wasn’t on a Huffy, I was on the top of the line S-Works Stumpjumper FSR and it was very impressive.

First, I will say, that while I am no authority on bikes, I have been riding mountain bikes for more than a few years and 29 inch mountain bikes for the last four. When I initially switched to the 29er, I was perfectly happy with the 26 inch bike I had. It was light, fast, and, very easy to control. I always felt like, “Well, why change what works and I’m not anywhere near being a pro, so will I even notice a difference anyway?” That said, what I really liked immediately about the 29er was the confidence it gave me. So, I have learned that, the more I ride, the more I do notice differences.

I am 5′ 4″ with a 28 inch inseam. I rode the size small Stumpjumper. As a woman, I think we all worry about the size, the comfort and, for me, stand over height is a pretty important thing. You want to be able to get off easily without slamming yourself against the bar because the bike is too tall. I noticed right away that this bike, even though it was a 130mm travel bike, was a great fit for a short girl. Also, as a short, woman rider, I sometimes have to adjust my bike mid ride because either my back or neck starts to ache. This is usually because the bike I am on is too long for me. With the Stumpjumper, I didn’t have that problem, which was really nice because I could focus on the ride and not constantly be distracted and uncomfortable. So, this was really nice, and a welcome surprise. To sum it up, the stand over was great, I was not over extended and it was really comfortable. This bike is a great fit for a shorter woman rider. You will be amazed.

Aside from fit, I noticed that the Stumpjumper is a great looking, meaty bike. Initially, I thought it might be cumbersome, but, surprisingly, as plush as it was to ride, it wasn’t heavy on the climbs. It was grippy, and took tight turns with ease. The best part though, was the downhill. The Command Post was a feature I hadn’t tried before and it was really cool. I love to go fast on the downhill and it’s nice not to worry about a high seat.

I will also say that I noticed how light the wheels felt and how quickly they reacted when pedalling. The only real negative about the bike, for me, is that it gave me more confidence descending than I am actually qualified to have. I thought I was a rock star on it until I ate dirt. Overall, it’ s an awesome bike – super comfy, but also fast and easy to handle.

As a final note, if I had to choose one part of the bike, what would I choose to buy? I would have to say, the wheels and tires. Word on the street is that they are Roval Control Trail SL 29 with carbon rims. The tires are Specialized Purgatory 2.2 with S-Works casing and a 2.1 Ground Control rear. I recently rode the Ground Control with a Captain Control rear at home on another brand’s bike and noticed that I like Specialized tires even though they are heavier then the Schwable tires that are on my personal bike.

Now, let me just say, this bike is not inexpensive, so it’s no wonder it feels like butter. My next objective is to see if one of their ” budget friendlier” bikes works as well on the terrain back at home and the style of riding I do. I will keep in mind that this is a lower end bike which may add weight. Let’s face it, it would be sweet to have a Porsche, but hey, a Saab is nothing to be embarrassed about. Ok, let’s see how the Saab a.k.a. Stumpjumper Comp 29er measures up. Do I have you on the edge of your seat yet ?

Here is a more official photo from Specialized…

More video from Roc D’Azure. Specialized Bikes  Sam Benedict explains what the Camber was designed to do.This was filmed on the seashore of Frejus France so the wind was a bit noisy. Still it is great information straight from the mouths of the people who know it the best.

Check out our review of the Specialized Camber Comp Carbon 29 here

When we were in France we had a chance to talk with Eric Schuda, a product manager for Specialized, about the Stumpjumper Expert EVO 29. He calls it a slack trail bike for folks that want to be aggressive on descents and points out the refinements over previous year’s model. Check out the video for more details.

Specialized accelerates carbon fiber recycling program

All companies, retailers and cyclists invited to join in the effort

Thousands of carbon fiber bicycles end up in landfills each year, and
Specialized wants to change that.

Based on existing carbon fiber recycling programs used by the
aerospace industry, Specialized is steering bikes away from the
landfills and back  into usable goods. The California bicycle company
will be doing this by working with bike shops to collect damaged
carbon frames and transport them to a U.S. recycler. The program will
expand to its EU operations as soon as appropriate resources are
identified.

The process of recycling carbon fiber consists of chopping the frame
into smaller sections, then burning off the epoxy that holds the fibers
together in an oxygen-free environment. This results in shorter fibers
with the same properties as the original material that can be used in a
variety of ways.

“You’re probably not going to make a bike from recycled carbon, but you
can make a range of products with the shorter fibers. For example,
Boeing recycles its stabilizer fins into armrests,” said Bryant
Bainbridge, Specialized’s Sustainability Strategist. “Besides keeping
these frames out of the landfill, you’re recovering carbon with
significantly less energy than it took to make virgin material.”

“Specialized is committed to addressing what happens to our bikes at
end of life because it’s the right thing to do. But this program isn’t
about being brand exclusive,” Bainbridge said. “Trek is also doing good
work here and every company in the industry that produces carbon
products is encouraged to join in the effort.”

Going forward, participating Specialized dealers will accept carbon
frames (from any brand) which will be picked up by Specialized and
shipped to Materials Innovation Technology for recycling. Specialized
will report back to the industry at the 2012 Eurobike and Interbike
shows on the number of frames recycled, the amount of carbon fiber
recovered,and what has been learned. “At that time we will make a
formal call for an industry coalition to recycle carbon fiber,”
Bainbridge said. “This is a shared industry problem and one we all
need to address. We are going to pick up the tab now, but we want
everyone on board. This is about collaboration, not egos. Come
Eurobike, we’ll share everything we’ve learned.”


Specialized recently joined the Outdoor Industry Association
Eco-Index working group, and is an active participant in the
creation of a comprehensive system for evaluating and improving a
product’s environmental footprint.

Specialized will contact its dealers in January about the specifics
of how to handle carbon frame returns and the start date for the take
back program.

About Specialized: Specialized was founded in 1974 by riders for riders.
Based in Northern California, we focus on the rider’s need for functional
and technically advanced products that provide a performance benefit.

We’ve changed over time here at 29erOnline – we hope you think for the better – and we felt like it was time to update some information that lives on the About section that tells you what our goals are and how we go about testing. We are posting it here, for a while, so the old-timers who have no reason to go poking around, will see it as well…..

This is what we are about:

Our goal is to help you find the right bikes and cycling equipment for your individual needs. To meet this goal, we share our views and opinions as a group of diverse riders with different perspectives and needs. This approach of incorporating input from many different riders truly sets us apart.

Another difference between us and other mountain bike sites is that the mountain bikes we ride and test will only be 29 inch mountain bikes or stuff that hangs on a 29er and its rider. In addition, we will be trying to include things that mountain bikers are interested in: industry news that applies to 29ers, travel, trails, equipment, ride clothing, parts, and people.

Bike companies do provide us with most of the stuff we test. We promise to always be up front and honest about what we think, and are under no obligation to provide a positive review. That said, we will be respectful, as the folks that we have met who are fortunate enough to work for a bike company are devoted, passionate people, for the most part.

This is how we do the reviews:

We ride the bikes and use the parts or gear – hopefully just like you would. By the time a review is posted at least 3 different riders have spent time on the bike and reported their feedback.

Our frame-only bikes are tested with a default kit of parts. Certain riders like different parts and we try to accommodate, within reason. This might mean different handle bars or saddles, or, less frequently, tires. By keeping the major stuff the same, the idea is to put the focus on the dynamics of the frame.

More and more, we are testing complete bikes. Ideally, we would test all bikes with our test kit of components in order to give a pure review of the actual bike frame. Seats, brakes, etc all wear out and can be swapped for new and better components – the frame is what makes a bike unique. That said, usually, the reader gets the best bang for the buck buying a complete bike. Companies spend a lot of time and money speccing each model with a particular kit. We want to see what each company believes is the best way to set up their bike within a particular price point. Testing the bike as it is sold becomes especially relevant in more moderately priced or beginner bikes, where the parts spec can really impact the performance of a bike.

We will change parts when necessary on complete bikes to filter out any perceived negatives – just to make sure a rider isn’t getting hung up on a single part. At some time during testing, we will also switch to our default wheels and tires, as this is one part that dramatically changes a bike’s ride. For both frames and complete bikes, we try different length forks to see how it affects the handling.

Our primary goal is to get you the information you need. The only way we feel we can do this is by giving equal consideration to every product we test. When we exhaust our resources, we write or record our final opinions.

Last fall, Titus Bikes went into bankruptcy. At the time, 29erOnline was testing a Titus Rockstar (see the review here) and we were not quite sure what we were supposed to do with the bike – send it back to a non existent company? Well, On One, a UK based cycling company, bought Titus out of bankruptcy and we sent the bike back to the new owners for their use. On One has breathed life back into the Titus name. They recently announced that they have started production in the U.S. of a revised Rockstar. Changes for the new bike will include:

- raised the bb slightly
- curve in seat tube for more clearance
- slightly shorter top tube
- thru guides

While 2010 version had some strong points, we felt like it suffered from a bit of an identity crisis – not quite racer, not quite trail bike. Hopefully, we will get a chance to see how the new version performs.

Want more details? Here is their announcement: Titus Announcement

More from our adventure in France for the Specialized 29er press weekend at Roc D’ Azure in Frejul France.

In this 4 part series Chris Wyatt talks about the Tire line up for Specialized in 2012. Listen closely (Partly because the sound is terrible) as he alludes to a couple of new 29er tires we can look out for.

We have found Specialized 2Bliss casings to be some of the most reliable casings for setting up tubeless in the 29er size.

Watch the videos as Chris, a tire designer for Specialized talks about the line up.

In France, Fat Bob got a chance to check out the new Tomac Diplomat. This is a 120mm travel bike with a 71 degree head tube angle and Tomac’s proprietary IAS suspension design.