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Sea Otter tech: Fatter is better
"Fatter is better," was the over-arching theme of Sea Otter this year. Plenty of brands were launching 29+ and 27.5+ bikes and components. Trek launched its Stache 29+ hardtail at three price-points, all using the same aluminum frame, wheels, and tires. This Stache 7 29+ sits in the middle of the spectrum at $2,520, but sports a Manitou Magnum fork, same as the top-of-the-line Stache 9 29+. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Stache stays
The Stache 7 29+ uses SRAM's new GX 1x drivetrain, which is a smart spec for this bike. Trek kept the chainstays short by moving the drive-side stay up above the chain, to free up some space in the ever-tightening bottom bracket region. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Stache
The Stache 5 29+ uses Bontrager's new Bowie Pro 29+ fork. The Bowie Pro has a 495mm axle-to-crown measurement, and will be available in the aftermarket for $450. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Bowie
The Bowie fork was designed specifically for 29+ bikes and their 3.0" tires, but Trek did not use a Boost 110 hub spacing. The Stache 5 29+ uses a Boost 148 rear end, but uses a standard 100mm front-axle width. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Line Plus
Bontrager announced a new wheelset, designed for 29+ wheels, the Line Plus, which it claims is considerably stiffer than other options on the market. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Boosted
The new Line Plus wheels are available in either Boost-compatible versions or standard, so Stache 29+ buyers could upgrade to the Line Plus wheels on any of the Stache 29+ models, but the Line Plus wheels do not come stock on any of the Stache Plus models. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Mulefut
Sun Ringle Mulefut 50SL rims come stock on the new Trek Stache 29+. Bontrager says it would have liked to stock the Line Plus wheels on the Stache, but did not have enough stock in time to do so. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Enduro tire
Bontrager launched the new SE5 tire, designed for enduro racing. Bontrager says that the SE5 came as a result of its enduro racers wanting to use the G5 downhill tire, but they always had issues setting it up tubeless and didn't care much for its heavy weight. The SE5 uses a nylon layer inside the sidewall, which Bontrager refers to as "Core Strength," to reduce the chance of cut sidewalls. It's just under 1,000 grams in the 29x2.3 model and weighs 935g for the 27.5x2.3. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Manitou
The Manitou Magnum handles suspension duties up front for the two higher-end Trek Stache 29+ models. Manitou claims that the Magnum is the first truly plus-specific fork to be designed. Claiming that other models on the market are either not available yet, or that they are merely rebranded 29er forks for use on 27.5+ bikes. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Inside a Magnum
The Magnum shares much of its technologies from the Mattoc all-mountain fork, so much so that Manitou's Luke Musselman said, "We could have just called it the Mattoc-plus, but the way it's all executed is totally different." The Magnum uses larger air volume than the Mattoc, so riders can run lower pressures and take out some of the springy feeling that comes with riding 27.5+ and 29+ tires. The Magnum is also specific to Boost 110 hubs. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Specialized women's
Specialized launched its men's and women's 27.5+ hardtails, which are named the Fuse and Ruze, respectively. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Fuze
The new Fuze uses Specialized's new "6Fattie" Ground Control tire. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Purgatory
There is also going to be a more aggressive Purgatory tread available in the aftermarket. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Diamonds
The chainstays use a diamond design to shed material around the bottom bracket in order to keep the chainstays short and still clear the 27.5x3.0 tire. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Pro version
This Pro version of the Fuze is the most expensive, at $3,100 and it will come equipped with a mix of SRAM's mid-level 1x drivetrain parts. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: New post
The Fuze Pro also comes equipped with Specialized's new Command Post with Cruise Control. The new post can be run with this SRL remote or the standard grip lock-ring remote. The post has three primary settings, like the previous Command Post, but there are also twelve additional stops between the middle "cruise" setting and the bottom "descend" setting. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Roomy stays
The Fuze's diamond chain stays manage to make plenty of room for the three-inch wide tires. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Ruze
The Ruze is the female counterpart to the Fuze, and it shares all of the same major features, but in a smaller geometry. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Vintage Yeti
Subaru, the title sponsor of this year's Sea Otter Classic, had a collection of vintage mountain bikes being carried by Subarus of the same era. This 1992 Yeti Ultimate was on top of an older Subaru hatchback. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Trimble trouble
The 1993 Trimble Inverse 4 is said to be the bike that sparked the use of carbon in the bike world. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Brat pack
An old Brat had a couple of klunkers in its short-bed. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Klunkers
Both of these klunkers lived their first lives as late-70s Schwinns, and then the pioneers of mountain biking got their hands on them, and turned them into something as awesome as the pick-up car they rest in now. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Zerkel
This steel Moots Zerkel was on the cutting edge of technology in 1989. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
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Sea Otter tech: Magura-lac
Magura is celebrating its 40th anniversary in style with this Cadillac Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com
The post Sea Otter tech: New fatties from Trek and Specialized, vintage MTBs, and more appeared first on VeloNews.com.
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