The Global Downhill Map

Are you a downhill mountain biker who likes to travel? Or have you
just got tired of your hometown downhill bike park? Then you should
check out the new iPhone app "The Global Downhill Map" from Kiwisurf
applications. It contains an interactive map which allows you to
discover new bike parks around the world. You have all the major bike
parks pinpointed on the map and the application allows you to show
your own position to see which parks are closest to you. When you
click a pinpoint you will get redirected to the park web site which
gives you information about opening hours, prices and such. This is
the most complete downhill bike park map yet, with over 330 bike
parks in the global version. The applications also
offers free updates and new bike parks are continuously added to the
map. This iPhone application will be a good tool for riders who are
about to embark on a mountain bike road trips this summer. Also for
the local rider who likes to ride some new tracks once in a while.

APP STORE

X-Fusion Signs Multi-Time World Champ Anne-Caroline Chausson

X-Fusion Signs Multi-Time World Champ Anne-Caroline Chausson X-Fusion is pleased to announce the signing of 19-time World Champion Anne-Caroline Chausson. Chausson has been the most dominant female mountain biker in history, with an overwhelming 55 World Cup victories. Her talents are also not limited to 26-inch wheels. In 2008, she became the first female athlete to win an Olympic Gold Medal in BMX at Beijing Olympics. “Between Brian Lopes and now Anne-Caro, we have two of the most experienced, most dominant riders in the history of the sport,” says X-Fusion Marketing Manager John Hauer. “It’s no secret the X-Fusion brand is on the upswing, and we think the collaboration of both rider’s experience will help keep our development momentum rolling. On the racing front, we see that Enduro racing is rapidly growing in popularity and having two athletes that could climb a top a podium on any day is definitely assuring” Sponsoring the two Ibis athletes (Lopes and Chausson) also cements X-Fusion’s close relationship with another local Santa Cruz company, Ibis Cycles. Ibis introduced a line of “Special Blend” Mojo SL bikes this year that exclusively use X-Fusion suspension. For more information on X-Fusion please visit our website at www.xfusionshox.com. You can learn more about Anne-Caro Chausson and follow her throughout the year on her website, www.annecarochausson.com.

Volkswagon Of America Joins 2012 Sea Otter As Title Sponsor

MONTEREY, Calif. - February 22, 2012 - North America's largest cycling festival has a new partner for 2012, as automaker Volkswagen of America, Inc. joins the Sea Otter Classic as the title sponsor.

The event, which takes place April 19-22 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area near Monterey, Calif., is now the Volkswagen Sea Otter Classic Powered by SRAM.

"It's an incredible opportunity for Sea Otter to welcome one of the most recognizable brands in the world to the event," said Frank Yohannan, president and CEO, Sea Otter Classic. "This partnership speaks volumes about Volkswagen's commitment to our sport and the culture of cycling. And as a corporate leader in promoting safe cycling, Volkswagen is the perfect partner for Sea Otter racers, riders, and fans."

A new title sponsor is the latest in a series of updates for the iconic festival. These include the introduction of cyclocross racing, an expanded kids riding area, an invitational downhill skateboarding exhibition, and enhanced outreach for female cyclists.

"Sea Otter provides us with the perfect partnership to expand on our commitment to environmental sustainability that goes beyond fuel-efficient vehicles," said Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "We're proud to support this world-class event that spreads the passion for cycling from children to adults."

Volkswagen has also recently partnered with the national cycling advocacy group Bikes Belong to support development of bike-friendly communities and create a cleaner environment. Volkswagen's support of cycling is part of the Think Blue.® initiative, which encompasses all of the company's efforts to promote eco-friendly mobility and encourage environmentally conscious behavior.

For more information regarding the Volkswagen Sea Otter Classic Powered by SRAM, visit www.seaotterclassic.com.

About Sea Otter Classic

A four-day "Celebration of Cycling," Sea Otter Classic is regarded as the world's largest cycling festival, hosting nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 50,000 fans. The 22nd Annual Volkswagen Sea Otter Classic Powered by SRAM will be held April 19-22, 2012 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California. For more information, visit www.seaotterclassic.com or call (800) 218-8411.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers.

2012 VP Components Dirt Club Enduro Announced

SANTA BARBARA, CA., (February 17, 2012) – The VP Components Dirt Club Enduro will be an awesome and exciting test of speed, skill and endurance for mountain bike enthusiasts of all levels.  This two day event promises to be an exhilarating and rewarding adventure for all.

The VP Components Dirt Club Enduro format will be based loosely on WRC Auto Rally and European MTB Enduros.  Our event will feature predominantly downhill timed special stages linked together by non-timed liaison stages.  Each rider will complete the courses on the same bike without shuttles or lifts, riding along through check-points to the start of each timed special stage.

This is an event that is all about having fun and riding your bike fast.  The top athlete in each category will be the fastest and most skillful bike handler for sure.  There will be a mix of pure Downhill type tracks, Super D tracks, and XC descents.  And because the riders will have to ride the liaison to the start of each timed stage, there will also be a strong fitness element to this race.  There will be cash payout in the Open/Expert Men and Women categories and high value prizes at least 10 deep in every category.

The DIRT CLUB near Los Olivos, CA is a private location for mountain biking enthusiasts to enjoy their sport in a safe location completely removed from other trail users, this is a 100% conflict free riding area. With downhill trails, super d trails, a dual slalom course, a 12 mile cross country course, an ever expanding pump track, a new DJ line, and miles of dirt double track ranching roads, countless opportunities are provided for riders of all abilities to explore and have fun.  This venue has hosted various MTB races the past 12 years, including the Santa Ynez Valley Classic leg of the US TRIPLE CROWN SERIES. 

The Stages:

SESSION 1 features two laps of a 10 mile loop with 4 special stages per lap for a total of 20 miles and 8 timed special stages.  The special stages will all be short in duration, ranging from high-speed less technical trails, to short downhill and super d tracks with berms, jumps, and drops.  We expect this to be a 2-2.5 hour day.

SESSION 2 (Night racing) will require each competitor to have a light and will cover a 6 mile loop with 2 timed special stages.  The special stages will be held on tight and fast descending cross-country single track that we expect to run around 3 minutes in duration each.

SESSION 3 will be the big day that likely decides the winners over a 10 mile course with two timed special stages.  This will be essentially a two run Super D on the Dirt Club’s new Super D Flow Trail.  The Super D Flow Trail features two short climbs, berms, pump features, jumps, drops, and even a big sender for 15-20 minutes per run.

*All courses can be ridden by riders of all ability levels and there are slower beginner options for challenging features.

For additional information on the event, see the event website; www.vp-usa.com/enduro

Enve Announces Twenty6 DH Rims

When the unconventional concept of a full carbon downhill clincher was presented, the idea was met with incredulous comments of, “it will never happen.”  But our thoughts were focused on achieving faster cornering speeds, direct lines, maximum durability, and responsive accelerations that were previously unachievable. We had to make it ENVE® worthy, and in 2011 when Steve Peat used the same set of race wheels all year, we figured the rims were ready. So here we are, after nearly two years on the world’s harshest courses under the world’s best riders, we are ready to offer this factory race technology to the world.

ENVE is proud to release the world’s first all carbon downhill rim...

Key Features:
DH specific 100% uni-direction carbon fiber construction provides:

• -Unprecedented tracking and cornering performance
• -Sizeable weight savings over DH specific alloy rims, most  DH specific alloy rims weigh between 580-660 grams
• -Improved stiffness over DH specific alloy rims

Proprietary Toughened Resin System:

• -Guarantees superior strength and impact resistance when
• compared to much heavier alloy rims
• -Dampens trail feedback

ENVE Patented Molded Spoke Hole Technology:

• -Virtually maintenance free wheel builds
• -Stronger spoke holes allow for higher spoke tensions

Specifications

DEPTH	31mm
WIDTH	30mm (21mm Internal)
WEIGHT: RIM	475g
WEIGHT: King ISO DH**	1843g
WEIGHT: DT440**	1865g
HOLE COUNT	32
ERD*	535
FINISH	UNI

ENVE DH RIMS