March 07, 2008

2008 Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide Recommends…

Mountain Bike Magazine

  It’s that time of year when respectable publishers are revealing their favorites for the 2008 season. KIDS "A BIKE FOR THE NEXT NIKI GUDEX" CONTESSA JR 24

PARENT COMPANY: Scott's kids line exists because many of the company's employees are parents and they just couldn't bear to send their kids out on crappy big-box store bikes.
GIRL FIT: The Contessa Jr.'s 50mm RST I Capa C7 fork is sprung for lighter weight riders and the Lee-Chi 209P brake levers are smaller for tinier hands. With a slightly different spec and paint, the Voltage Jr. 24 is the boys' equivalent.
SIZE: 24-in. wheels
FRAME/ COMPONENT HIGHLIGHTS: Alloy 6061 frame, RST Cape C7 fork w/ 50mm travel, Junior Uprise handlebar, Shimano 18-speed derailleur, Revo shifter, Jalco rims.

DOWNHILL "ONE VERY TUNEABLE RIDE" GAMBLER DH 20

CURRENT TREND: For '08 SCOTT discontinued its Nitrous freeride bike and High Octane DH bike and now offers the Gambler, one super adjustable bike for both disciplines.
TRICKLE DOWN: The DH 20 sports the same progressive multipivot linkage frame as Scott's $7.000 flagship model, the Gambler DH 10.
SIZES: Short, Long
FRAME/COMPONENT HIGHLIGHTS: Gambler alloy 7005 hydroformed tubing frame; FOX Vanilla R coil shock 7.5 in. travel, Marzocchi 888 RV fork 200mm travel, SRAM X.7 rear derailleur, Truvativ Hussefelt DH crankset w/ bash guard, Avid Code 5 disc brakes, Alex Supra BH rims.