All New: Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert EVO @ Rock N Road

Among the many new bikes that Specialized launched back in August were the particularly interesting EVO models. These are tweaked and tuned versions of existing Specialized bikes, which have been beefed up to boost their abilities. It’s exactly the kind of thing that people do with their own bikes, only Specialized can change frames as well as parts.

Since the 140mm-travel (5.5in) Stumpjumper FSR came along, people have been wanting a model with slacker angles and bigger tyres. If you’re one of them, wait no more…

Ride & handling: Pumped-up Stumpjumper FSR really delivers on the trail
The Stumpjumper EVO is a real trail tamer. The revised geometry gives it a mini-downhill-bike feel, but with a steep seat angle, adjustable seatpost, twin-ring transmission setup and reasonable weight, it’s ready to ride all day.

While regular Stumpys are fitted with Specialized’s inertia-valve BRAIN shock, the EVO gets a custom Fox RP23 instead. While the BRAIN is a pretty clever bit of kit, it’s never found favour with riders who like to work the trails – and the bike – to get the most out of them, so doing without it should be a popular move.

The custom Fox shock features a kind of reversed ProPedal lever. Instead of the three-position dial controlling the amount of platform damping when the lever’s on, here the dial controls what happens when it’s off. Effectively you have a fixed compression setting for climbing, and three low-speed compression settings for descending.

If you want to point and shoot, leaving it fully open will deliver maximum plushness. But if you like to work the trail, launching off roots and lips, a firmer setting will give the bike a little bit of ‘pop’ to help things along.

**Article Originally Published @ Bike Radar

Watch what happens when stumpy goes wrong

The 29er: A New Trend in Mountain Biking

On America's bike trails, tread riders are avoiding the standard 26-inch-diameter bike tires they've all been riding for years in favor of oversize 29-inch wheels.  Turns out bigger is definitely better, whether you've got years in the saddle or you're a mountain-biking rookie. Here are five reasons why 29ers rule:

Better Ride
"The larger wheels provide better cornering traction and help smooth out rough terrain," says 29er convert Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, 31, a veteran mountain biker with the Subaru/Gary Fisher team and five-time national cross-country champ. "Those are big confidence boosters when you're riding fast or on a trail you're not that familiar with."

More Speed
"You hold momentum much better than with a 26er," says two-time Olympian Todd Wells, who swapped to a 29er after racing a Specialized Stumpjumper with the larger wheels last year. "The bike excelled in fast conditions with lots of transitions and sweeping turns. The bigger wheels also allow you to descend faster and with more control—it almost feels like cheating," he adds with a laugh.

Versatility
Big 29-inch wheels

make rear suspension a luxury, not a necessity—reducing a bike's weight and simplifying maintenance. "A hardtail [front suspension only] 29er can smooth out rough terrain almost as well as a 26-inch full-suspension bike while retaining the simplicity, stiffness, and handling of a hardtail," Wells says.

Greater Stability
For years, some racers avoided 29ers because they didn't excel on supertight, twisty, single-lane trails. Recent design refinements have corrected those problems. "Now the rider sits more between the wheels as opposed to on top of them—so cornering stability is a lot better than it used to be," Wells says. "The bigger wheels provide a more stable platform when going downhill; it's harder to accidentally crash and flip over the handlebars with them."

Accessibility
Just because the bike is bigger doesn't mean you have to be. Design tweaks keep the bikes accessible to all riders, not just those built like Shaq. "Tall people aren't the only ones who benefit from the big wheels," Wells says. "The U.S.'s Willow Koerber piloted her 29er to a bronze medal at the World Championships last year—and she's 5'2".


**Article originally published in Men's Fitness

DONT FORGET!

Annual Thanksgiving Day mountain bike ride!

Ride starts at 7:30am at the Modjeska Bird Sanctuary. Ride at your own pace 9 miles up the Harding Truck Trail and back down. Group photo at 9am at the top of Four Corners.

Specialized Trail Bike Goes Off Road in the Gobi Desert

Don't try this at home.  On second thought, if you've got a trail like this one at home, go for it. 

Rock n Road Presents Full moon Rides

Full Moon Rides with Rock N Road Cyclery
Monday November 22nd, Tuesday December 21st, Wednesday January 19th, Thursday February 17th and Saturday March 19th
Start time will be at: 7:30pm at Cook's Corner
This ride will be for 2-2.5 hour and at a moderate pace. From Cook's Corner we will go up Santiago Truck Trail and then back down the Luge. For the more ambitious riders, there will be a second group that will continues up to Old Camp as their turnaround point.
For more information about the Full Moon Rides contact Jeff Renteria at jeff@rocknroadcyclery.net or at our Laguna Niguel Location 949.360.8045

2011 Epic Carbon 29'er - Specialized New Line Up at Rock N' Road OC

The 2011 Epic from Specialized has a brand new design! The 100% carbon fiber frame provides lighter weight and comfort. Tapered head tube adds stiffness for better steering. Everything you have come to expect from a Specialized mountain bike, plus much more.

This video will give you a great run through on the bikes features and benefits.



If you have additional questions don't hesitate to call or visit one of our four conveniently located bike shops in Orange County CA.  

New womens 29er: 2011 Specialized Myka FSR

Specialized is expanding their 29er range with its new 2011 Myka FSR women's mountain bike.  In an effort to accommodate women of all types, they are offering various sizes to acclimate to women even as compact as 5ft.  The Myka FSR is its latest innovative design to hit the womens bike line, and is sure to satisfy on the trails.  Come by and check one out today.  Summer riding is in its prime, and let the Myka take you into the fall with ease.

Check out the Specialized website for all the details!
2011 Specialized Myka FSR

The all new 2011 Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 29er!!!!!!!!!

The 2011 Stumpjumper 29er features:
• Light and lean FACT 11m carbon HT 29er frame is engineered with a stiff, tapered head tube and 29" race geometry for pure speed
• Custom Specialized/RockShox Reba S29 fork with size-specific travel, is the lightest, stiffest performance XC fork, featuring Brain Fade adjustment, tapered carbon crown/steerer, and Reba lower
• New Roval Control SL 29 XC wheelset with carbon rims, OS28 end caps, Ti QR, and DT Swiss spokes and internals is insanely stiff, light and durable for riding straight through the rough stuff
• S-Works Renegade 29 x 1.95" dual compound 2Bliss Ready tires with aramid bead roll fast and still provide plenty of race-tested traction
• Specialized FACT OSBB carbon crankset with ceramic bearings is paired with a SRAM XX spider and 38/24t rings to create market-leading stiffness-to-weight for the ultimate power transfer
• Custom Avid XX World Cup R magnesium body brakes feature tool-free reach adjust, alloy-backed pads, and carbon levers with titanium hardware for ultra light and powerful braking control

2011 Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 29er

So what’s with all the hype about 29 inch wheels?

Anyone with a pulse and at least a slight knowledge of the bicycle industry today has noticed that the 29 inch wheels that made their debut a few years back haven’t slowed down….consumers still want them, manufacturers keep pumping them out, and the hunger for them has yet to be quenched.  So what is it about them that has been so enticing to bicycle enthusiasts and common-folk alike?

It has to do with both comfort and ease of use.  The 29 inch wheel offers less rolling friction, better traction, and an overall more comfortable ride than their 26 inch counterparts.  Even conquering those unexpected bumps in the road is easier with better obstacle rollover in the 29er.

But it’s not all perfect at the end of the day.  After all, like any industry, the bicycle is in a constant state of evolution.  Today’s “29er has more rotating mass, they certainly aren't lighter, they have a higher center of gravity (just slightly), and designing a 29 inch bike with more than XC travel can pose some serious problems.”

However, it seems ‘by far the biggest argument against the 29 inch category is that it creates some issues with longer suspension travel and it seems that is the way the industry is moving these days.’

‘On the other hand, 29 inch mountain bikes are creating some undeniable benefits. For larger to normal sized people who know they don't want more than XC travel (80mm-100mm), these bikes may have some serious merit.’

It’s a no-brainer that the debate over the benefits and disadvantages of the 29 inch wheel isn’t going away anytime soon.  So regardless of your technical background, just let the bikes speak for themselves and go with what feels right.

Take a look at the all new 2011 Specialized Epic Expert carbon 29er!

Compared to its brother the Epic Marathon, the frame is lighter, but the overall parts are heavier. In short, it’s everything you would expect in a bike bearing such a paramount name.