Review: RockShox VIVID Air R2C 2014

Earlier this year I replaced my Cane Creek Double Barrel Air (CCDBA), with a 2014 Vivid AIR R2C. The Vivid Air got its fair share of attention earlier this year, when RockShox trolled everyone by saying it was for "pro-use only", and you actually had to be on their "list" to buy it. Well it was obviously just clever marketing to get people talking, and that, they did. I got the new Vivid Air, despite not being on anyone's list (not even santas's), and ive been riding it ALOT. So after 6 months of use, I decided to conclude my review. In short; this is an amazing shock.

Lets take the geek tech first, the 2014 Vivid Air R2C features: 

Counter Measure - is as Rockshox puts it: "Reduces the breakaway force of the shock to virtually zero pounds" ..and it really does.

Rapid Recovery, simplified, makes the shock rebound a bit quicker on tiny hits, maximizing ground tracking. Its a bit better explained HERE.  

(click to enlarge)

The end-stroke rebound and LS-compression adjuster has been redesigned for 2014, and are now way more easy to reach and adjust. The adjusters function well, and within the range you would want it to. (no, that's not something you can take for granted on a rear shock)

(click to enlarge)

A beginning-stroke rebound adjuster is easily accessible as well. The separation of beginning-stroke and end-stroke rebound makes it possible to have a bike that "pops" easily, but sucks up the bigger hits in a very controllable manner.

(click to enlarge)

222mm x 70mm. Without mount kits. Weight is pretty much identical to the CCDBA.

(click to enlarge)

Want to climb? descend? or just do some classic AM riding with everything in-between? No problem, this shock has that covered. The Vivids wide spectrum of use is pleasantly surprising.
(click to enlarge)

Drops, jumps - whatever, this shock will probably outperform most other air-shocks on the market. The Vivid shines when its put to use.

(click to enlarge)

The surprisingly versatile nature of this shock really speaks to me, you can set it up for whatever you want, even grinding those long climbs. Its proven reliable without a single issue during the 6 months of use, ill keep you posted if that track record continues. The fact that this shock uses its entire stroke range and gives absolute control over the rebound range is very appealing as well. The Vivid is easy to adjust, and the lack of sticktion is downright impressive, all this caters to a high score. This is the shock you want.

The Good:
- Counter Measure technology is impressive, the break away force required is even smaller than that of  FOX or CCDBA.
- Great for a pedaling setup as well.
-Absolute control of rebound throughout the entire stroke.
-Actual start, mid and end-travel use, finally Rockshox nails it!
-Easy to adjust.
-Reliable.

The Bad:
-High Speed Compression adjuster would be the icing on the cake.

Score: 5/6

Bikepark shootout vid

Better late than never. This is a simple edit from our October bikepark trip. Check it out:

Be sure to activate the HD option.

Embedded version. 1m 48sec. With sound.

Review: FiveTen Freerider VXi

The VXi is the first lovechild between FiveTen and the Adidas engineers, and its definitely an interesting shoe. The VXi has been delayed for an entire year, but earlier this year I finally got a pair, and can conclude my review based on 8 months of intense use. Read on.

The VXi has an incorporated hard toe cap, even harder than the "old" Freerider Pro. This is a welcome upgrade. The ankle support has gotten stiffer as well, adding support and protection. The outer material is more tough, but has a bit less ventilation. The material is way more easy to clean as well.

(click to enlarge)

The bottom of the outsole is where the VXi really differs from everything else we have seen from FiveTen. There is no pattern in the middle of the shoe, making every foot position equal in grip. The sole itself is stiffer as well, compared to the classic Freerider. So if you are into stiff soles (I am), then this is probably a welcome improvement.

(click to enlarge)

Weight:

Original Freerider is 960g

Freerider PRO is 880g

Freerider VXi is 855g

The Freerider series has been on a continued diet, and added more and more protection along the way, a winning formula?

(click to enlarge)

Initially not as comfortable as the Freerider or Freerider Pro. But after a few weeks of use, they get as comfortable as any other FiveTen shoe. The grip is nothing short of amazing, but be aware that they take a considerable time to bed-in; the stealth rubber needs to get a bit "chewed up" before giving that legendary grip.

(click to enlarge)

This is after 5 months of intense use. These shoes are holding up just fine.

(click to enlarge)

The "i" in VXi stands for Innovation, and it definitely is. A lot of things are changed compared to the original  FiveTen freerider-shoe, and pretty much everything is a change to the better. If you are in the market for some new shoes for your platform pedals, then consider adding the VXi on the top of the list:

The Good:

-Stiffer sole.

-Great grip.

-Surprisingly durable.

-Easy to clean due to new material
-More protection.

The Bad:

-Sole takes some time to bed in. Don't expect to be amazed at first.

-Shoe itself takes some time to bed in as well, longer than what you'd normally expect.

-The shoe laces.. man I'm tired of shoe laces..
-Extremely slippery in wet conditions when you walk around.
-Wearing these in snowy conditions will be downright suicidal.

Score: 5/6

Sunday Session Part 2/2

Part 2 of our Sunday session.

Got my bike up and running again after my catastrophic derailleur and cassette failure. I fixed it temporarily with an old and twisted derailleur I had lying around. Its not perfect, but it allows me to ride.

(click to enlarge)

Morten has a long BMX background, and that definitely showed. Here he is in the middle of the trail-gap.

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

Spitfire in flight.

(click to enlarge)

Welcome to the tree-gap-club Mr.Madsen, you are hereby member number 3.

It took a while tho'.. didn't it? ; )

(click to enlarge)

Sunday Session Part 1/2

7 guys going at it for 4 hours in the November sun. Drops, jumps, crashes, slick lines, and more than a few manned up and pushed some boundaries. Good times indeed. 

I wasn't the only one shooting pics this day; Christian and Mr.Madsen are to be credited as well for their fine contribution.

No whining, no crying, no bull-shit, this is the yes-team : )

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

Kevin on his Commencal (SX or AM?)

(click to enlarge)

Christian manualing a turn before going into a jump. He is actually on a new bike here; the revised Banshee Spitfire, note the BOS Deville up front!

(click to enlarge)

Mr. Madsen stepped it up this day, but ill get back to that in part 2..

(click to enlarge)

So, is this bad?

...arrrrrr *facepalm*

(click to enlarge)

Derailleur and cassette is dead.

Random, very random..

Seriously random this time. From an Audi, to a spider - beat that!

New cam in action.

(click to enlarge)

The testing of the Diddie Schneider 5.10 shoes continues. They had more than a single shower already, and its all good. Expect a review in a few months time.

(click to enlarge)

Dreas new Specialized Status. Boxxer Keronite up front, the new Vivid Air out back, Saint brakes, and obviously Deemax hoops. You would be surprised how lightweight this rig feels - and that's with heavy DH tires.

(click to enlarge)

Close-up

(click to enlarge)

I officially surrender to POC products. This is my forth POC gear, and like the rest, it performs beyond the rest, and above my initial expectation. The Index DH glove is very comfortable, has relief pads, protection pads and is so far durable.

(click to enlarge)

On our way back home from the bike-park trip, on the German autobahn. 

"Hay....whats that in the back of that Audi".....ged it? ; )

(click to enlarge)

By the way..

..we had the opportunity to hit the stepdown at the Churchline as well. And shot some footage of the "new" hip-jump, its tiny, but none the less fun to hit. Anyway, check these two features out:

35sec, simple edit, with sound.

Tree-gap session

As mentioned a few months ago, the tree gap got hit with success. Its big, and its fun. But its been very quiet around it ever since, no one dares to hit it. NO-ONE. 

That actually makes me wonder; is the limit for feature-size reached among the local riders? Is the tree-gap too big?

I would say NO, and here are my two reasons; first of, bigger stuff fuels progression, secondly, its all about taming the mind-fuck, de-wirering the neurons is "all" it takes.

Its not THAT big. Just be sure to pass the tree. 3,6m(11ft) to clear the tree, then an additional 2,4m (7ft) to hit the transition. I bet alot of the readers of this blog hit stuff that are way bigger.

So no one dares to hit this feature, well, that was until Drea joined up for a day of trail ripping:

(58 sec, with sound)

Good times : )

Review: Twenty6 Predator Ti Pedal (Updated)

The Twenty6 Predator testing is finally over, and the conclusion is crystal clear. Tyler (the man behind Twenty6) promised an evolution of the much acclaimed Prerunner pedal. Pretty much everything was reviewed and improved upon... And Tyler delivered.
The result is the Predator pedal; thin, big, lightweight, grippy, and more expensive than your car. I wanted to find out whether this pedal is worth your hard earned cash, or whether this a CNC adventure gone wrong? Read on and find out. But first the basics:

Enduro sealed bearing, and quad o-ring seals should keep this sucker going strong for a long time.

(click to enlarge)

Self lubricating tapered turcite bushing, on a burly nitride coated titanium spindle. The CNC milled pedal body is has a concave and offset design, and each pin is isolated and raised so that the foot is resting less on the pedal body, and more on the pin itself. This pedal has more tech than your flat screen tv.

(click to enlarge)

My pin-system is smarter than your pin-system. No seriously, have a look at this picture to fully understand why this is such a smart system.

(click to enlarge)

The Predator is slightly taller than the 11mm Point One Racing Podium Pedal. But overall the Predator is bigger. If some of you would want some more comparison pics, please say so in the comments field, and Ill upload them. Comments does not require a sign-in.

(click to enlarge)

Predator with a Ti-axle. 343grams. Pretty close to the claimed 340 grams

(click to enlarge)

The amount of grip is just insane. If you are a 5.10 shoe user (and if you are not, you should be), be prepared to experience a new level of grip. The pedal body is large and thin, finally a pedal where there is enough real estate to rest the entire width of your foot, and I really like that.

(click to enlarge)

14 months of testing has given me a very good idea of what the Predator pedal has to offer; a lot. The huge platform with the amazing grip are definitely the highlights, and are quickly apparent. What comes after months of testing is the question about durability, and there is nothing to put my finger on here either. These pedals are tough, and durable, and continue to take heat. Top that of with the fact that they are thin as well, and offer a innovative pin-system, and you have yourself a winner, and a product above the competition. If you got the cash, then there are no excuses not to get these.

UPDATE

After 17 months of intense use, this pedal had a catastrophic failure. The pedal body snapped during a jump session. I wasn't hurt, and there was no drama, it just felt weird, and my foot "collapsed" into the remaining pedal body, allowing me to ride-it out - so to speak.

(click to enlarge)

There is no room for failures like this, so early, on a such an expensive product. Score reflects that. I will add that Tyler of 26 Components has been awesome, I got a new and improved version of the Predator Pedal, after a few emails. Read more about that here.

The Good:

-Huge platform

-Amazing grip

-Thin

-Lightweight

-Smart pin-system

The Bad:

-Replacement pins are expensive (and so is the pedal)

-Overall price?
-17 months into testing the pedal had a catastrophic failure. 

Score: 0/6

Fabulous Four

4 different rides, 4 different dudes, all recent shots.

In particular order:

1) Drea going all in on a manual
2) I go steep
3) Mr. Madsen hitting the trail gap
4) Karl showing the bender-style

Willingen Bikepark Freeride Line

Willingen Freeride Line, it has nothing to do with freeride actually, its more a tribute to A-Line imo. Lots of tables, some jumps, a few drops, berms, and a few wide switchbacks.  

Watch in HD HERE

I start of solo, and meet up with Anders and Drea midway. Last part is sped up due to its triviality. Enjoy - we sure did.

 

Embedded version. 2m45sec:

First Person Shooter Part 2/2

Second day of our roadtrip was off to Willingen Bikepark. It has just two lines - but don't let that fool you.

Probably the closest I've been to pull of a table on a dc-bike. Smiles followed. I had my first real table scrub this day as well. Yay.

(click to enlarge)

Now the DH line in Willingen isn't just something you hit full force the first time you ride it. Blind drops and jumps are everywhere, and some of it is pretty damn big! We had tremendous luck meeting this friendly German LOCAL dude, who took out about 45min out of his park-time, to walk us through the lines of this former World Cup track, giving hints and advises. I don't remember his name, but thanks man. Here you see him on the right, advising Drea to the left.

(click to enlarge)

You know its good when a DH line starts of with a drop into 3 massive tables ; ) This DH track is a blast to ride, and I wish we rode it even more, "There is plenty left for next time, then" as Drea puts it.

(click to enlarge)

Don't ask.

(click to enlarge)

Drea throwing a whip on the Freeride line. Second day was a peak for all of us I think, we where feeding of each other, and fucking nailed that line.

(click to enlarge)

Anders hitting a roadgap on the DH track.

(click to enlarge)

That's it. For now.

First Person Shooter Part 1/2

10 guys on a 3-day trip to Winterberg and Willingen, 2 different bikeparks half an hour ride from each other. Top that of with awesome sunny weather all 3 days, and beer, and you got yourself a recipe of good times.

But instead of editing 18 gigs of GoPro footage, I decided to extract some frames, check it out:

Welcome to Winterberg, where line choice is up to you. 

(click to enlarge)

I have been practicing manuals, but it takes time to dial in, a had more than a few instances where I managed to manual an entire table and beyond, but its still inconsistent. I need more practice, and I need to dial in my hip-movement.

(click to enlarge)

Anders taking a spill in front of me of the drop to the right.

(click to enlarge)

Some french dudes hitting the roadgap.

(click to enlarge)

Hitting a table at the same time.

(click to enlarge)

Next two days was off to Willingen, stick around.

Faster and Sharper

So, my "old" cam finally died. Big surprise there.

In comes the new Casio EX-ZR-700, its relatively cheap, yet very powerful. I'm really not into cams, as some are, or have a particular interest in the tech behind, but I do enjoy shooting a good pic, or capturering some cool high-speed footage.

And the reason I make a post about it here on my blog, is that you will see a some improvements of the pics, but particular the vids. Casio made an upgrade to its Exilim High-speed processor, and this is what it shoots:

I can now shoot 120FPS (frames per second) in (640x480), check it out:
(no sound, simple edit)

Or 240 FPS in an upgraded resolution of 512x384, check it out:
(no sound, simple edit)

Its also possible to shoot at 480 FPS, or a massive 1000 FPS, but  resolution quality suffers so much, that I don't expect it to be used here on my blog. Anyway, just a rare update on the cam-side of things.