Sea Otter 2013: Random Sightings #1

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Here’s a selection of random shots that haven’t fit into any stories yet. So here they are, in no particular order.

ODI Vans grips

One of only a dozen pairs or so, this is an official collaboration between the longstanding grip company and the shoe firm. It’s a genuine Vans tread pattern and, on a brief squidge, seems ideal for a grippy grip too.

Got waffle?

Pointy down stems

How do you fit a short rider on to a 29er? Get a pointy-down stem.

You'll want it quite pointy down for the hardtail.
Three guesses.

 

And for the suspension bike? Minus a million degrees please.

Cheapo Fatties

Seems that fat bikes have now become mainstream enough that you can buy them mailorder for cheap. This bike cost Dain a mere $200. He had to put a front brake on it to make it race legal (it has a coaster brake rear). And apparently Adam Craig will be trying the dual slalom on it tomorrow…

 

Lip up fatty!

Stan’s Race Gold Rims

Getting a little more sensible, here are Stan’s new Race Gold rims that have been updated with smoother rim profiles. They will also come stock with a new alloy valve to save even more weight.

It's kind of yellow, rather than gold, but we'll let you off.

 

Stan's has been making 650B/27.5in wheels for years. How many do you want?

 

Alloy presta valves. Why didn't we think of that?

 

Tomac has gone middle wheel sized. Or at least Kenda has.

Pivot Firebird

Pivot’s Firebird was already its all-mountain beastie. It’s now been brought up to date with 27.5in wheels, while still keeping its signature touches, like the front mech that moves with the swingarm.

Pivot's new 27er, the revamped Firebird.

 

The Steve Peat autograph session was advertised everywhere.

Bike Washing

You’ve got to love Californians. It’s hot and dry without a cloud in the sky. It’s not rained for weeks, the trails are dry and dusty, yet the Muc-Off bike wash station was busy every time we went by, with riders furiously scrubbing the dust off.

But it's DUSTY!

 

 

Chipps Chippendale

Singletrackworld's Editor At Large

With 22 years as Editor of Singletrack World Magazine, Chipps is the longest-running mountain bike magazine editor in the world. He started in the bike trade in 1990 and became a full time mountain bike journalist at the start of 1994. Over the last 30 years as a bike writer and photographer, he has seen mountain bike culture flourish, strengthen and diversify and bike technology go from rigid steel frames to fully suspended carbon fibre (and sometimes back to rigid steel as well.)

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