News Briefs: SRAM, Shimano, RockShox, IMBA and Eco-Terrorism

by Dain Zaffke
posted March 11, 2004

SRAM Finalizes Avid Acquisition

The company made famous by GripShift is getting stronger every year. First it bought RockShox, and now after months of hinting, SRAM has officially acquired Avid. The mighty Chicago-based corporation is now close to supplying an entire gruppo (basically, everything but the frame). Ordering and manufacturing of Avid's products will remain at the current facilities in Englewood, Colorado, for at least a few months, but SRAM intends to join forces and be more closely involved in the design process. Fore more on the acquisition and SRAM's operations, see "SRAM Adopts Another."

Shimano's Hone component group

Shimano's New Trail Riding Component Group Emerges

Although information isn't supposed to be released for awhile, news of Shimano's Hone component group has spread across the Internet like wildfire. Although the new group inherits characteristics from XTR, XT and Saint, Hone will be devoted to the aggressive trail rider. Hone features Dual Control shifter/brake levers, Hollowtech II cranks, a rear derailleur that mounts to the axle like the Saint unit, and brake rotors that mount to Center Lock splined hubs. All of these features should be priced about the same as the current Deore LX .

The Saint group also gets a few changes for '05 including Dual Control brake/shift levers and finally, its own front derailleur.

RockShox's new Reba fork

RockShox Pre-Releases Suspension Information

With seemingly every major suspension manufacturer pushing some sort of efficient damping platform, we've all been left wondering what RockShox has up their sleeves. We now have a much better idea. RockShox is busting out in '05 with the new Motion Control Damping System. This platform will be included on the new Reba and Pike forks.

Rock Shox claims the Reba weighs 3.5 pounds, features 100mm of travel, uses air springs and has remote compression damping adjustability with the new PopLoc handlebar mounted lever. The Pike fork, aimed at the "all-mountain" crowd, reportedly has adjustable travel from 95-140mm with the popular U-Turn system, and weighs 4.75 pounds.

The new line of RockShox forks should breath new life into the company. Stay tuned as we get ahold of these new products and see how they add up. Visit www.the-red-pill.com for more previews.

Former School Principal and Peace Corps Worker Caught in Eco-Terrorism

A 54-year-old management consultant could spend up to 20 years behind bars for setting up booby traps on New Mexico singletrack. Michael Delongchamp is a former elementary school principal, Peace Corps worker and a director for the Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest--apparently a kind enough individual, aside from his uncontrollable hatred toward mountain bike riders and other trail users.

Delongchamp was arrested and released on March 6, "on a federal charge of using hazardous or injurious devices on federal land," according to a U.S. District Court criminal complaint. These devices, set up west of Placitas, New Mexico, consisted of metal cables strung across busy trails and semi-buried wooden boards with nails pointing upright. The investigation was spurred when the hidden cables injured a mountain biker and a runner.

The IMBA Trail Care Crew Subaru

Build Trails for a Living!

IMBA is hiring for its world-renowned twoperson trailbuilding team. Responsibilities include leading trailbuilding classes, meeting with land and government officials, and traveling year round. A monthly salary, travel expense stipends, medical benefits and a retirement option are all available. A two-year commitment is required. Check out www.imba.com for full details and read Bike's May issue for a feature on the Trail Care Crew.

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