Avalanche has released hydraulic bottom out cones, similar to the cones they use in their high end DHF fork, for the Marzocchi 888 forks! These quality parts mount inside the forks lowers and slow down the ending stroke bottom out with hydraulic pressure.
With the Avalanche tapered cones installed, harsh bottom outs are a thing of the past. Finally your DH fork can be set up soft for supple performance without any worries of destroying the fork on the big hits!
I tested the cones on my 2007 Marzocchi 888 RC2X. I had an entire season on the fork without the cones. Like all Marzocchi forks I have owned, the 07 888’s bottom out is harsh. I’m sure most of you are familiar with the metal to metal clank that alerts you that you have used up all 8 inch’s.
I took this same 07 fork off a G out on a local training run that always bottomed my fork. Many times my wrists would hurt from the impact. I prepared for the worst, suddenly, no bottom out, at least no perceived bottom out. Upon closer inspection, my fork used up 7 7/8” travel.
Buyers/Riders should know that with the cones installed, 7 7/8” travel is all you get. The cones take up a bit of space internally, but this issue is a small price to pay for the performance upgrade.
So there you have it, the cones do the job! I have beaten my fork to death trying to bottom it out “clank” style. The Avalanche cones simply take the hit and butter out the forks bottom out. This upgrade is a must for aggressive riders. You will ride with more confidence and less wrist fatigue. Both races and freeriders will benefit from this modification.
The AVA Advantage 888 Bottoming cones can be installed at DOWN Cycles!
The first year 2006 Mongoose EC-D was impressive, well everything but the tribal graphics. The EC-D seemed to come out of nowhere, spanking the competition with performance and affordability. For 2007, mongoose nailed the graphics and really didn’t change much else as far as frame design. The 2008 Goose has a bunch of functional upgrades that make it that much more desirable!
A few years back I wrote an article about a new type/style of bicycle, “Freeride” bikes. I couldn’t help but wonder if this style of bike was a fad. I suggest you read this old article first before continuing on.
I was inspired to venture into uncharted waters after reading an article in Bikehouse magazine. The story was about a fellow who felt he was addicted to cycling and would make an attempt to abstain for thirty days. Needless to say, kicking an addiction is brutal for anyone and he was beaten after only eleven days. Inspired and just a bit curious, I also decided to test my will and abstain for as long as possible from mountain biking.
Trials and street maneuvers sometimes involve landing backwards, forcing the rider to complete the trick by rolling backwards. Appropriately named “Rollback”, coasting on your bicycle backwards is a trick in itself and a trick taken for granted. It can be difficult to learn and it’s a must have, in your bag of tricks.
Below is the proposed Gravity East Series Schedule for the 2007 season. This will be a series encompassing many of the different downhill & slalom/mtn cross events up and down the East Coast, from New England to the Carolinas!
This series has been a long while in the making and comes from loads of discussions over the past couple years between racers, promoters, and the folks at USAC. This series is designed to showcase the amazing variety of riding and elite level of racing on the East Coast to the global cycling world! East Coast Unity!
1. May 5/6 - Duryea Downhill, PA
2. May 12 - Massanutten Yee-Ha!, VA
3. May 20 - Diablo Freeride Park, NJ
4. June 2/3 - Plattekill, NY
5. June 15-17 - Whitetail/Capital Cup, PA
6. July 14/15 - (location to be confirmed)
7. August 11/12 - Wolf Laurel, NC
8. September 2 - Whiteface Mountain, NY
9. September 22/23 - Mount Snow, VT
10. September 29/30 - Whisp, MD
11. October 13/14 - Series Finals Plattekill, NY
All of these dates are tentative at the moment and are subject to change. A series website and ranking system is in process. Keep your eyes peeled for more detailed info in the coming weeks.
The plan is to have overall series cash purses for Pro & Expert categories and good prizes for the Beg/Sports. Best 7 of 11 races will count toward the overall. Promoters of these events will surely be stepping their courses and events up a couple notches for this series!
ITS OFFICIAL: Plattekill will remain open for ONE MORE weekend of riding Nov 11-12 as the upcoming weekend weather is lookin' good! Hope to see you ...this will be the last weekend for the 2006 biking season.
Weather Looks Great!!!
Tomorrow
Hi: 62°
Lo: 47°
Update 11/12/06
Great day of riding up at plattekill, it was one of the best days weather wise up at platty all year...
Nice new step-down / gap built up from the last race
Diabloween was the ultimate “hike a bike”. The day began with no power and non stop 50 mph wind gusts. Despite all the problems, many hardcore riders stayed for the day, pushing to the top and/or chilling at the bottom to watch the jump contest.
Props to all the riders that stayed to cheer on the riders! The weather was not cooperating and the riders were dealing with the cold weather, the wind and abstractive Halloween costumes (just ask the rider who lost his boxer shorts).
NEW YORK, NY--- Chris “Doc” Boudreaux is leaving Brooklyn Machine Works after ten years as company co-owner and head of downhill frame design.
As one of the top frame designers and builders on the East Coast, Chris Boudreaux is as unique as the city he lives in: Formal training and experience as a MD, and a life-long passion as a rider, from BMX to downhill racing. Chris’s skills and talents have made him a visionary among high-end framebuilders, and an icon among riders who want the best downhill, dirt jumping and BMX rigs that money can buy.
Doc’s most notable accomplishments during his time at BMW include several generations of downhill frame designs, which were the staple of the company’s business. The TMX, Minilink and Racelink bicycles became world famous for durability, performance and customer satisfaction.
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - The New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) has announced that Whiteface Mountain Downhill Park operated by High Peaks Cyclery has three more weekends of trail riding at Whiteface. Value-added "specials" will also be offered.
All riders who purchase a trail pass Oktoberfest weekend, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, will receive free admission to the festival.
For Columbus Day weekend, riding will be available Friday, Oct. 6 through Monday, Oct. 9. Saturday, Oct. 7 is the last Ladies Day of the season. All women riders will receive a free trail pass, a $30 value.
It’s mid September and Interbike is just around the corner. By now, pictures of anticipated products have been leaked out on the internet for all to see (so much for unveiling products). Sort of feels like X-mass eve, when you peeked under the wrapping paper and spoiled your surprise.
Well, surprise! (Try and look surprised). Guess what’s coming out? More sophisticated products that do the same thing they did 10 years ago. Only these days, the slightest tweak or modification has its own patented terminology. A fairly new phenomenon, but getting worse each year: Abbreviations for technology. As annoying as it is confusing.
Avalanche Downhill Racing is bound to have a rear shock that will fit your bike frame and style of riding. This year they offer “generic valved” shocks that are less expensive. The generic shocks work well for riders of average weight and typical 3:1 leverage ratios. One new rear damper of particular interest is the Montie Monotube.
The downhill chainguide is the most important and most abused component on a DH bike. For years, engineers have been floundering with designs that try and prevent chain derailments. Most were overly complicated or simply to flimsy to hold up under the rigors of DH. Lucky for us, we have: Bob (“Mr. Dirt”). He has been coming up with ingenious designs since the beginning of time. He invented the “Gizmo” back in 2000 and has reintroduced a new improved version this classic guide.
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DOWN cycles community blog for all your downhill, XC, 4x and dual slalom local and worldcup race dates and MTB News, up to date information about your favorite freeride bikes, downhill bikes, Tech Tips and Product Reviews, Riding Tips and much more!
The EC-D seemed to come out of nowhere, spanking the competition with performance and affordability. For 2007, mongoose nailed the graphics and really didn’t change much else as far as frame design. The 2008 Goose has a bunch of functional upgrades that make it that much more desirable!
Read more!
A few years back I wrote an article about a new type/style of bicycle, 
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