New from Specialized for 2013 is a slopestyle bike, the P.Slope. The 84mm-travel design features a concentric bottom bracket pivot, which allows it to be run as a singlespeed without a chain tensioner as there is no chain growth throughout the rear wheel travel path. The design is low-leverage, allowing even the most rowdy of riders to run psi in the ballpark of their body weight in the RockShox Monarch RT3, versus having to run upwards of 300psi in some suspension frames.
The P.Slope comes built up as a singlespeed, but ships with a second set of dropouts if a rear derailleur is wanted. Both non-drive dropouts double as direct-mount caliper mounts, allowing brake adjustment to accommodate rear wheel adjustments that come with a singlespeed setup. Both versions of the P.Slope dropouts are spaced for 135mm x 10mm axles.
A BB30 bottom bracket is also in the stock build kit. However, Specialized offer sleeves for a traditional threaded bottom bracket, as well as sleeves for an old school BMX bottom bracket - both of which come with the frame-only option, but not with the complete bike.
Currently, Specialized say the P.Slope will only be available in one size, which should have a top tube length in the 22.6-22.75-inch range. The P.Slope on display at Crankworx Whistler had a 22.5-inch top tube, but it sounds like that length has been decided to be a little too short for production.
As a complete bike, the P.Slope comes in at $2,000, and features a 100mm RockShox RCT up front, a RockShox Monarch RT3 in the back, Avid Elixir 1 brakes, Truvativ Descendent cranks, an FSA integrated headset, and an assortment of Specialized P-Series parts, including 750mm bars. A frame-with-shock option will be available as well, but pricing isn't currently available. Look for the P.Slope on showroom floors sometime in late October.
The P.Slope's concentric bottom bracket makes for a tight chainline
2013 Dissident helmet
Specialized is offering two new colors in 2013 for the Dissident helmet. With a claimed weight of just under 1000-grams, it's currently the lightest downhill-specific helmet on the market. So the obvious question is, how safe is it? "[The Dissident] has the lowest impact numbers SNELL has ever seen," according to Specialized Helmet Graphics Developer Eric Colton. The Bob Lakes-designed helmet is also the first DH-specific helmet that is Eject compatible, according to Colton. Both of the new colors should be available now, and come in size small-XL, for $350.
Tactic 2
Completely new for 2013, the Tactic 2 is an entry level "all mountain" helmet. At $75, the Tactic 2 looks to be a bargain for a 305-gram(claimed, medium) helmet that features a removable visor, plenty of ventilation, and 5 color options. Look for the helmet at shops sometime this fall.
Troy Lee Designs Stumpjumper and Demo 8
Specialized are offering limited-run Troy Lee Designs graphics on 250 Stumpjumpers and Demo 8s in 2013. Both frames are said to be offered at the same pricing as the standard production frames, and will be available this fall.
Troy Lee Designs provided graphics for a limited run of Stumpjumpers (like this one) and Demo 8s
