Bhutan

The Himalayan Mount Jomolhari

The Paro Taktsang Palphug Buddhist monastery

The Paro Taktsang Palphug Buddhist monastery

2011 Giant MTB Line

Giant Anthem 29er

This year, Giant will release an Anthem X 29er. It’s been seen around for a bit of time, but it’s a good move for Giant MTBs. In order to make the 29er behave like a 26-inch they changed the head angle up to 71.5°. The bottom bracket is kept low and the chainstays are short. It will be compatible with 2×10 and 3×10 transmissions. The clearance of the tires is up to 2.3in.

YG’s Giant TCR Advanced SL ISP Frame

Blue front of the frame

It’s been a busy week. We received two frames for customers that are almost ready to be shipped out. This Giant TCR Advanced SL ISP frameset is going to the US.

Asterisk*Cycles Now Sells Velocite Bikes

Front end of the Velocite Millennium titanium bicycle

It’s official, Asterisk*Cycles is now selling Velocite Bikes‘ full lineup of products, from complete bikes to components.

One of the best examples of what Velocite does is the Millennium, their top of the line titanium road bicycle. This frame is bombproof and weighs 1,250 gr.

Right now, I’m really getting excited because the Magnus frames are going to in stock again in March. Velocite sold out their first batch of frames back in December. What is the Magnus? It’s an aggressive BB30 carbon fiber monocoque road bicycle.

Velocite Flux Pro Build

Velocite Flux Pro XC

Victor from Velocite built up a Flux for himself. It’s a carbon fiber hardtail that the company is offering. It looks pretty interesting. The lines and geometry are standard for hardtails. I find the slope of the tubes interesting.

Different view of the Flux

We’ve Begun Taking Orders For 2010

Velocite MONC50

Starting a new venture is always a challenge. Things are happening quite fast. In about two weeks, I’ll have a hands-on photo session with a customer’s 2010 Pinarello Dogma with Campagnolo Super Record 11 and Campagnolo Bora Ultra Two wheels. We’ve got the full spectrum of Dogma colors available, including the limited Team Sky color which just became available.

Updates On Scott MTB

2010 Scott Genius LTD

I’ve got some updates on Scott MTBs. For now, all of these bikes have got to be ordered. Except that we’ve got a 2009 Scott Genius 10 frame in stock in size ‘M’.

2010 Giant Glory 0 Downhill MTB

'10 Glory 0 8" travel DH bike

I’ve received a few inquiries about the 2010 Giant Glory 0. This is a great downhill MTB with a full 8″ of travel. Last year’s Glory was heavy. The ‘10 model has been in development for two years. The result is a unbelievable 1.5kg (3.3lb, or 26.8 percent) weight loss.

2010 Scott Spark RC

2010 Scott Spark RC

If you’re looking for an XC racing thoroughbred, then look no further than the Scott Spark RC. This year, the RC and LTD models come with an ISP, something that sets these bikes apart from the rest. This is the 2nd year that the ISP frames are available. The Yeti ASR Carbon has also been sporting an ISP for a few years.

Some people have commented on this white tire look, but I actually like it. It sets it apart. It’s kind of like the gray or slightly blue tires that I’ve seen on some MTBs. The stock Spark RC has a full SRAM XX group, which is great.

[Update: I've also got some great prices on the stock 2010 Scott Spark RC. Stock MSRP is $8,250 USD. I've got it for significantly cheaper. The stock Spark RC is BB30.]

2010 Scott Genius

2010 Scott Genius LTD

Ever since I started mountain biking, I’ve always wanted a Scott Genius. It’s been a favorite, though it couldn’t be sold in the US for a few years due to some legal issues with Specialized. Last year, the Genius LTD retailed for over $13,000 USD, making it an extremely expensive MTB. This year, the prices have dropped by almost $3,000 on the LTD. However, looking through the specs, I find it surprising that they didn’t use the full SRAM XX group. Maybe there is a reason behind it, but I’d rather equip my Genius the way I want.