2011 bikes from Mongoose and Schwinn

Twenty-six top manufacturers have just launched their 2011 product lines at the second Bike PressCamp in Park City, Utah. We’ve already brought you highlights from Blue Competition Cycles, Orbea, Scott USA and Speedplay.

Here’s an A-Z round-up of the best of the rest, including new bikes from Mongoose and Schwinn, wheels from Alex and WTB, hydration gear from CamelBak, a PowerTap track hub from CycleOps, brake cables from GORE, helmets from Lazer, Race Face bottom brackets and Rudy Project eyewear.

Alex and A-Class: Updated scandium rim, new mountain bike wheels

Along with Stan’s NoTubes.com, Alex Rims are one of the few manufacturers putting considerable effort into developing and selling professional-level alloy mountain bike rims. The majority of the industry have instead put most of their development dollars into wheel systems or carbon.

The XCR Pro is a scandium cross-country disc rim. While the model isn’t new, Alex have updated the 2011 version with alloy eyelets (previously they used stainless steel), saving 8g and offering the possibility of anodising for a unique look. The weight loss should put the rim just below the 300g mark.

A-Class, Alex’s wheel system brand, showed two new wheelsets for 2011. The VXD3 is built for trail riders, with a 24mm wide (outer diameter) rim, DT Swiss spokes and Center Lock disc hubs, convertible between 9mm quick-release and 15QR through-axle, with Japanese-made stainless steel bearings. Claimed weight is 1,600g and price is US$749.

A-Class’s VXD3 wheelset accommodates both 9mm quick-release and 15QR through-axles

The VED2 wheelset features an even wider 28mm rim, with 15QR front compatibility and 142x12mm rear through-axle compatibility, and DT Swiss spokes. The wheelset is still in prototype form, but has a target weight of 1,600g and a projected price of $750.

CamelBak: Major bladder improvement, new packs

For 2011, CamelBak are telling two stories. The first is a redesign of their bladders and the second is a revamp of most of their bike hydration packs. The new bladders will be marketed as the “Antidote” to dehydration. They’re built in a CamelBak staffed manufacturing plant in Mexico using a radio frequency welding process. This allows complete control over the design of the bladders as well as the ability to quickly make changes should the need arise.

CamelBak’s new bladder with integrated drying arms

Key features of the new bladder include a flatter shape that’s both wider and squarer with a 24 percent lower profile. A new quarter-turn top, with integrated drying arms, makes it infinitely easier to open than the previous screw top. The Quick Link drink tube system accepts a new taste filter as well as CamelBak’s insulated tube, bendable tube and drink flow meter. Even with all of these new features, the new reservoirs are 19 percent lighter than the previous editions.

CamelBak’s new ‘Fresh’ taste filter plugs right into the Quick Link tube system

When it comes to packs, CamelBak are on a lightweight kick. The Charge 450 is a 763 cubic inch pack built from 70D mini ripstop nylon with a 1000 PU coating. It weighs just 450g (without reservoir), which makes it half a pound (220g) lighter than CamelBak’s Mule with the same capacity.

The Octane LR is a new lumbar-style pack that uses the same fabrics as Charge but comes with a new triangular shape and reservoir to position the water low on your back. It weighs 360g, holds 70oz of water and has 549 cubic inches of storage. While it’s marketed at adventure racers and trail runners, it will cross over to mountain biking easily.

CamelBak’s Octane LR hydration pack

On the bottle side of things, CamelBak are introducing the Big Chill 2 – which uses their Ice Aero Gel to offer the highest insulation of any non-vacuum-sealed bottle – in a 25oz size; previously the largest chill bottle held 21oz. The bottle weighs 120g unfilled.

CamelBak’s Big Chill insulated bottle is now available in a larger 2 25oz size

CycleOps PowerTap Track hub: Bringing power measurement to the boards

For 2011, PowerTap have joined forces with Wheelbuilder.com to offer a PowerTap SL+ hub that’s made specifically for the track. The 120mm-spaced hub is still in prototype form but will be available for sale sometime this autumn. It will cost US£1,500, with a 14, 15 or 16T 1/8in cog sold separately for $37.99. The hub will carry a warranty, but it won’t be honoured outside of the track (eg. should the hub be used for training out on the roads).

The new PowerTap SL+ Track

GORE Ride-On cable systems: Professional Sealed System for brakes

As a complement to GORE’s Professional Road Shifter Cable system – which was introduced last year and pairs a lightweight 4mm housing with a sealed system liner that runs in between the housing ferrules – the brand will offer a Professional Brake Cable system. This should save weight and further reduce cable friction.

Since the new cable system’s introduction, all of the ProTour teams using SRAM’s Red group have switched to it for their shifters and now many are switching to it for their brakes. The new Professional Brake Cable system will cost around $60 per set.

Lazer Helmets: Refined Helium, plus new road, mountain and commuter models

Lazer’s crown jewel is their $230 Helium, which is a ProTour intended road model. The 260g lid features a carbon internal brace along with new lightweight straps and a magnetic retention clip. Both the Helium and the second-tier Genesis model are compatible with Lazer’s Rain Cap aero shell.

The Helium with Lazer’s Rain Cap aero shell

This is a polycarbonate snap-fit cover that can be used to enhance aero performance, block wind from penetrating the helmet’s vents in winter, or keep rain, snow or mud off your head. The Rain Cap will cost $20 and is available in clear or yellow emblazoned with a Flemish Lion.

The Tardiz aero helmet ($190) enters its second year in production. It is upgraded with Lazer’s new magnetic clip and an optional visor. Its ‘Head’s Up’ design features a shorter tail designed to limit drag even when riders drop their heads to drink, look at the computer or just out of fatigue. 

Lazer’s 2011 Tardiz with integrated eye shields

Lazer’s newest helmet, the Oasiz, was designed with the help of Brian Lopes. The dual slalom and enduro racer switched from long-time sponsors Bell this season and the Oasiz is the first product of the new relationship.

The new helmet features a shell with integrated nylon skeleton and drop back that provides more rear head coverage, Lazer’s new lighter strap material, X-Static padding and the Rollsys retention system. The Brian Lopes signature model will cost $135, while standard colours cost $125.

The Oasiz Brian Lopes signature model

The final new piece in Lazer’s 2011 line is the Sphere road helmet, which is essentially the current Nirvana model sold in additional covers and without a peak. The new helmet costs $130 and provides the most rear coverage of Lazer’s road line.

Mongoose: From fixed gear to full-suspension

The Maurice fixed gear is a hot bike for the Mongoose brand. It’s a fixie built for freestyle riding, complete with a one-piece bar and stem, and steel leading axle BMX-style fork. This bike begs to do wheelies and for its bars to be spun. It will surely be popular in San Francisco and London alike.

Mongoose Maurice

The Salvo is an entry-level full-suspension mountain bike. This $1,300 model has a floating shock mount and travel is adjustable between 90mm and 120mm via a quick-release lever. Highlights include Shimano SLX derailleurs and Joe Six Pack bottle cap pivot covers.

The new Salvo has adjustable suspension travel and Joe Six Pack bottle cap bearing covers

One of Mongoose’s best known and selling mountain bikes, the Teocali, is refreshed for 2011 with 10mm more travel (now 150mm front and rear) and a tapered head tube and steerer. The bike also has a new hydroformed top tube that lowers standover height by 10mm. The top model features high-end kit, including SRAM’s new 10-speed XO group, a RockShox Revelation RL fork and Monarch 4.2 rear shock, and KS remote dropper seatpost. It will sell for $3,099.

The 2011 Mongoose Teocali Super

On the gravity side, Mongoose will offer a signature model of their Boot’r downhill race rig for 2011 that’s inspired by pro rider Steve Romaniuk. The $5,500 bike features Manitou’s new Dorado fork, an Elka Stage 5 shock, Funn cranks with MRP G2 guide, and Avid Code R brakes. Mongoose product manager Craig Hoyt told us that the brand have not had one warranty claim on the Boot’r over the course of the past two years.

Steve Romaniuk’s pro model Boot’r

Race Face: Improved bottom brackets and a sub-600g crank teaser

For 2011 Race Face have done extensive work on their bottom brackets, both to increase bearing durability and make them to compatible with press-fit BB86, BB92 and BB30 standards. The new bottom brackets provide an easy solution for fitting a RaceFace crank to any new bike.

Race Face’s new bottom brackets

The company also announced they will be producing a sub-600g 2×10 crankset for 2011. However, it won’t be launched until the autumn trade shows.

Rudy Project: TT helmet, plus sport and casual glasses

Rudy Project’s new Wingspan aero helmet looks like an incredibly strong design. This short time trial helmet was developed by aero guru John Cobb and promises not to punish your time should you hold a less than ideal position during your race.

Rudy’s Wingspan

It comes with two sets of vent plugs to allow for three differing cooling to aero advantage ratios. Fully plugging the vents offers the fastest scenario, while a middle perforated plug offers a balance for long hot TTs and the slowest option of open vents will surely aid in its prowess for triathlons. There is a price to pay for this, however: the Wingspan retails at a whopping $300.

The Wingspan has a cover for both the front vents and its tail

The Swifty is Rudy’s newest performance sunglass. It’s similar to Rudy’s number one selling Rydon, but omits the adjustable ear stems to keep the price down to $150. It’s available with Rudy’s standard lenses, RX Insert and RX Direct, or Impact X and Impact RX photochromatic lenses. As with all of Rudy’s glasses, the Swifty comes with a three-year frame warranty and lifetime lens warranty.

The Swifty and Kylix

The Kylix is a new sport sunglass built for smaller faces. It’s also Rydon-based, but with a 25 percent smaller shape. Prices start at $175.

Jazz and Sabotage

On the casual side, Rudy’s new Jazz features a classic style inspired by Ray-Ban’s timeless Wayfarer design. The company also showed a sneak peek of their Sabotage aviators, which will be formally launched at Vision West, the eyewear industry’s annual tradeshow.

Schwinn: Commuter, comfort and kids’ bikes only

Schwinn have given up on building racing bikes. The brand is owned by Cannondale Sports Group, which produces high-end mountain and road bikes under the Cannondale, GT and Mongoose brand names. Schwinn’s new focus brings it back to its roots of building American-style beach cruisers, tandems, commuter, fixed gear and kids’ bikes.

The World Market is Schwinn’s newest 700c-wheeled commuter. It features an N’Litened aluminium frame, Nexus Revo internal hub and SR Suntour NEX4110 suspension fork. The bike also comes with Schwinn’s latest rack and bag system called Slide-to-go, which is a simple quick-release attachment that offers ultra-fast one-handed operation.

The World Market

The Madison is one of Schwinn’s most popular models. At $499.99, this bike falls in the middle of the brand’s fixed gear line, which is book-ended by the $1,000 Reynolds 853 tubed Sprint, which is positioned as a race-ready trackster, and the sub-$200 Racer. It comes in two colours: a traditional red or a trendy purple-to-white fade. The 2011 model adopts the Cutter’s sloping top tube and comes with 18T fixed and freewheel cogs mounted to its flip-flop hub.

The $499 Schwinn Madison

Sid and Nancy are three-speed men’s and women’s cruisers that embody Schwinn’s best-known classic style. These bikes feature alloy frames, Nexus internally geared hubs, mudguards and classic alloy racks. The men’s model comes in navy blue and the women’s comes in peach.

Schwinn’s classically styled Nancy

Schwinn’s Tango Tandem (main image) costs just $650. It’s a quintessential beach cruiser with eight-speed gearing, high-rise bars and cup holders.

It takes two to Tango

Finally, Schwinn showed their renewed interest in kids’ bikes with the Mini Mesa, a 20in-wheeled bike equipped with linear-pull brakes, suspension fork and a Shimano Nexus three-speed internally geared hub. The hub and fork make the bike suitable for junior’s first singletrack ride, without any worries of bent derailleur hangers or dropped chains.

The Schwinn Mesa kids’ bike has a three-speed hub and supension fork

WTB: Stryker race wheelsets reach production

WTB have formally launched the Stryker wheelsets that team riders Mark Weir and Jason Moeschler have been racing on, in prototype form, this season. Seeing as the wheels have held up to their punishment, WTB believe them to be ready for public consumption.

WTB’s Stryker All Mountain

The key to the wheels, which are available in 26in cross-country, 26in all mountain and 29in cross-country versions, is their lightweight UST compliant tubeless rims. These rims have been co-developed with Stan Koziatek of NoTubes.com, along with a special tape to seal them for tubeless use (WTB recommend you also use NoTubes sealant). The Strykers will cost $1,000 a set regardless of the version you choose.