The Scott Scale Comp 29er Made BIKEmagic's Top Six 29er HT Mountain Bikes

  Looking For Your First 29er? Look No Further Than The Scott Scale Comp 29er

 "Scott has a range of five Scale 29 hardtails to choose from, proving (as if proof were needed) that 29ers are here to stay. We’ve picked the cheapest of the bunch, the decent looking Scale 29 Comp.
 

For someone looking to make a tentative first step into 29ers or for the racer on a budget, this has to be a good choice. A lightweight package with a hydroformed 6061 aluminum frame and the same geometry as the expensive carbon fibre offerings means the ride will impress, and is a good platform to start upgrading." - David Arthur BikeMagic.com

Besides the hydroformed 6061 aluminum frame, the Scott Scale Comp 29er features a Suntour XCR 29 LO coil spring front fork - including lockout and 100mm of travel. The drivetrain is composed of all Shimano Parts with Alivio Rapidfire plus shifters, an Alivio front derailleur, and SLX 27-speed rear derailleur. Brakes are handled by Tektro: their Draco disc model.

Here is a list of the features we didn't mention:

Headset: Ritchey OE 1 1/8", semi integrated 44/50mm
Crankset: Shimano FC-M430-8 Octalink, 44x32x22 T
BB-Set: Shimano ES25 Octalink, 68-118mm
Handlebar: Scott Hot Rod T OS 31.8mm, T shape Flat, 680mm, 9 degree bend
Stem: Scott Comp, 4 Bolt, OS 31.8mm, 1 1/8", -6 degree angle
Pedals: Wellgo C128
Seatpost: Scott Comp zero offset, 31.6mm
Seat: Scott Racing
Front Hub: Scott Team Disc IT
Rear Hub: SRAM MTH 306 Disc IT
Chain: Shimano CN-HG53
Cassette: Shimano CS HG-50 -9, 11-34 T3
Spokes: Stainless Black 15G, 1.8mm T3
Rims: Alex XC-49 Disc, 32H, Eyelets
Tires: Schwalbe Rocket Ron, 29 x 2.25, 50EPI, Active Line
Weight: 13.00 kg / 28.63

Make sure you come in to one of our great locations to see all the bikes we have to offer; including the Scott Scale Comp 29er!

[VIDEO] 2013 Look 566 Ultegra Blends Comfort and Capability

The 2013 Look 566 Ultegra. Because Cyclists Who Ride Centuries Want to be Comfortable Too.

Look no further than the first word of this sentence if you're looking for a comfortable, efficient bike. The brand is called Look— and if you haven't yet; you should. 

Besides the bike's great *Look* (Ok, you get it) The 2013 Look 566 Ultegra offers many great features in the way of versatility and performance.

To start, Look has used their proprietary blend of high modulus and high resistance carbon. They have also flattened the top tube and seat stays to help the bike be more compliant.

The whole bike has been designed and tuned to be responsive. Look says the frame was developed for those cyclists who want to ride for several miles at a leisurely to fast pace. So really, this bike is for the cyclist that wants to be comfortable, even on that century or race.

How will you know how this bike performs unless you come to Gotta Ride Bikes to check it out?

Visit Gotta Ride Bikes in Spring Branch or Beorne, Texas TODAY!

Easy Tips To Perfect Your Pedaling

When It Comes To Increasing Pedaling Efficiency, The Number One Rule Is: PRACTICE!

One pedaling drill you can do on any ride with downhills is spinning the pedals as quickly as possible as you accelerate down slopes. To do this correctly, leave the bike in a gear that's too easy, one that forces you to fan the pedals to keep up with the speed of the bike. Your goal is to rev your legs as quickly as you can while remaining seated. At first, you'll probably bounce a lot on the seat. But, with practice, you should be able to stay in the seat and maintain a calm upper body even though your legs are spinning at supersonic speed. If you do this drill a lot, your pedaling speed and efficiency will quickly improve.


 

Try Rollers
If you're willing to purchase a handy piece of cycling equipment, a great way to smooth your spin is to train indoors on rollers. Rollers consist of a frame with three spinning drums (one for the front wheel, two for the rear), with a rubber belt connecting the front drum to one of the rear drums. You put your bike on the rollers and start to pedal and you can balance and ride just like you do spinning down the road outside. Most rollers have optional equipment that allows increasing resistance because there isn't much drag from just the roller unit itself.

Develop A Winning Spin 
Rollers require above-average balance and exaggerate any pedaling flaws. With enough practice, you naturally eliminate pedaling problems because they're so noticeable. And, when that happens, you ride faster with the same effort because your pedaling becomes more efficient and more of your energy goes into driving the bike.

Think they're just for roadies? Actually, the concentration and spin improvement builds confidence and the ability to ride tight singletrack, maintain your balance in slick mud and skirt narrow ledges high in the mountains, too.

Forced Spinning 
 A classic cycling trick to improve pedaling technique is riding a fixed-gear bike in the winter. Constant pedaling is required because you can't coast. And you must accelerate pedal speed on downhills because you can't shift. These factors combine to smooth your pedal stroke and force you to spin complete circles. Pick ride routes that avoid steep climbs and descents. You don't need to buy a new bike to pull this one off, either. A threaded-hub wheel, a track cog, a BMX chain and a few axle spacing tricks can turn your regular bike into a fixed-gear rig. We can help with the conversion.

Try The Track
 If you're one of the privileged few who can ride a track bike at a velodrome (a circular, banked track for cycling), you'll reap the same benefits as training on a fixed-gear bike. Never ride a track bike on the road, though. Brakes are a must on the street, and track bikes don't have them.

Did You Enjoy This Post? Check Out this one on 10 Steps to Road Bike Comfort


Hearing a Weird Noise? Creaky Crankset? Check out 22 Common Cycling Issues and Their Solutions

Come to Gotta Ride Bikes for all your cycling needs.

[PHOTOS] 2013 Felt Compulsion: THE ALL MOUNTAIN TRAIL BIKE!

2014 Felt Bikes Are Coming Out, But Don't Forget About Their Incredible 2013 Models Like the 2013 Felt Compulsion

Yes, the 2014 bikes are still great. Check out our previous post on one of the new lines: Here.

The Compulsion is Felt's do-it-all trail machine. It has patented Equilink suspension and adjustable 150mm or 160mm of fully active travel. That means you can get up the hill faster, yet also have a lot of fun on even the most technical descents. With Equilink, the Compulsion produces the efficiency and as compliant pedaling as a true trail bike.

The weight of all the models of the Compulsion was reduced to be more able on the trail. Felt also changed the head angles of this years bike to improve the handling. For 2013, Felt used all new links and hardware to beef up the stiffness and strength of this trail bike. 

Shimano Handles the entire drivetrain, ensuring quality and compatibility through the whole bike. It's shifters, front and rear derailleur, crankset, brakes and wheelset are all Shimano Deore XT.

Having parts that are all made from the same manufacturer and are the same model make this bike unbeatable when it comes to compatibility.

2014 Serfas Lights Includes Their Highest Powered Ever (TSL-2500)

2014 Serfas TSL-2500 is at the Top of the Line, Followed by TSL-1000, 750, 550, and 350

All new for 2014, the TSL-2500 is the newest, greatest light from Serfas: their highest powered light EVER. The body is constructed from a combination of nylon and alloy for shock resistance, and features a ram air cooling system to keep the four LED lights from fying

Includes Handlebar Mount, Helmet Mount, Wire Switch, Extension Cable, Wall Charger, and Ballistic Nylon Hardcase for storage
Run time: 1.45 hours (High)
Charge time: 4 hours (Wall)
Wired Remote Switch for on-the-fly mode changes of headlight and optional taillight (TL-80)



Next in the line up is the TSL-1000. Offering 1000 lumens in a smaller, more compact package than the TSL-1000+. It uses just 2 LEDs instead of three, and also has a thunderbolt tail light built into the battery pack!

By simply strapping your battery back to your seat post, you are also strapping on a tail light. Like the 2500, the T1000 has a USB port built into the battery pack for on the go accessory charging.

Includes Handlebar Mount, Helmet Mount, Wire Switch, Extension Cable, Wall Charger and Ballistic Nylon Hardcase for storage
Run time: 2 hours (High)
Charge time: 4 hours (Wall)
Wired Remote Switch for on-the-fly mode changes

Finally, the USB rechargeable stand alone lights get a boost with the new TSL-750, 550, and 350, all with matching amount of lumens.



 TSL-750:

• Produces 750 lumens
• Includes (USB) Wall Adapter for Charging
• Includes Quick Release Helmet AND
  Handlebar Mount AND Presentation Box
• Run Times: 1:30 (HIGH), 2:40 (LOW), 3:20 
  (HIGH BLINK), 7:30 (LOW BLINK)
• Charge Time: 4 Hours (WALL)





TSL-550:

• Produces 550 lumens
• Includes (USB) Wall Adapter for Charging
• Includes Quick Release Helmet AND
  Handlebar 
  Mount AND Presentation Box
• Run Times: 2 (HIGH), 3:40 (LOW), 4:40
  (HIGH BLINK), 9:30 (LOW BLINK)
• Charge Time: 4 Hours (WALL)





TSL-350:

• Produces 350 lumens
• Includes (USB) Wall Adapter for Charging
• Includes Quick Release Helmet AND 
  Handlebar Mount AND Presentation Box
• Run Times: 3:30 (HIGH), 4:30 (LOW), 7:30
  (HIGH BLINK), 18 (LOW BLINK)
• Charge Time: 4 Hours (WALL)

Come by either of the Gotta Ride Bikes locations to see all the products that Serfas has to offer, plus much, much more!

2014 Look 675 Road Bike Has A Completely Redesigned A-stem

Straight from Look's website: "The 675 is the latest born LOOK road frame. This technology permits a large gain in stiffness and a stronger frame.

 It benefits from a completely new manufacturing process: the 3 most highly loaded frame zones are first draped on mandrels before being placed inside the mould with the rest of the frame for moulding

The chainstay has been flattened, which along with the same treatment on the seatstays comprises what Look calls their "DCDC2" compliance design. The acronym stands for Dual Comfort/Dual Stiffness and Look says it provides a 25% increase in vertical compliance while simultaneously giving the rear end a bump in torsional stiffness. Look claims that the bike is about as stiff at the bottom bracket as the the 695, their top of the line race bike.

The CEO of LOOK, Dominique Bergin says "We wanted to make something special for this price point. We like to think of ourselves as "organized dreamers" and at times in the 675's development there was a real temptation to make changes, but in the end we stayed true to the original dream"

For the first time, LOOK Completely integrated the stem into the frame design. Apart from the aesthetic impact this integration allows for Look's Direct Drive concept. Using a short head tube tapering from 1" at the bottom to 1 1/8" at the top and removing the spacers gives the bike a shorter pivot, oversized bearings and a stiffer stem. The A-stem itself permits accurate height and length adjustments without spacers. The stem provides between -15 and +15 degrees of height adjustment. Reach can also be adjusted by rotating a half-moon spacer in the handlebar clamp. Different length stems from 80mm to 120mm are available.

Why is Look so interested in integration? Product Manager Fred Caron says it "allows increasing [of] the quality by freeing oneself of present standards: we develop our own products because we can make more performing products than those found up to now on the market." Between the taller head tube and reversible (and adjustable) stem, the 675 isn't relegated to anywhere near as radical of rider positioning as it appears. The frame/stem junction is just one are where the quality production values are easily visible.

Integration continues with the seat clamp, continuing the clean lines and aerodynamics of the frame. The 27.2mm seat post combines with the rear stays to deliver more comfort. 

David Arthur of www.road.cc was also able to test ride the bike, and gives his analysis: "It feels short and compact, I feel a tad cramped - some time properly adjusting the handlebar and stem wasn't permitted with this test. This doesn't prevent me from reveling in how communicative the bike is. There's a great connected-to-the-front-wheel feeling, the sense the handlebars are relaying accurate and detailed information from the front tyre comes through strongly. Look say a stiffer front-end is a key feature of the integrated design. It seems to work.

And it feels incredibly fast. Acceleration is good out of the saddle and when heaving on the drops, lunging for the top of the hill, the 675 feels very willing. It's certainly no slouch and it satisfies my inner racer.

It may have been a short ride but the 675 was really impressive. It manages to be fast and very lively, yet it's clearly got comfort in mind with the tall front-end and bump taming near rear stays. A longer test on UK roads of a longer duration than this brief ride will be needed to get a really thorough assessment of it's performance"

Actual weight for a size large bike with LOOK pedals and carbon water bottle cage is 17lb 50z. Frame weight for a medium size is said to be 1150 grams. 

The Look also comes in a black on black with yellow trim, besides the standard white, red and black.

Gotta Ride Bikes has TWO great locations to serve you best!

 

VIDEO - 2014 SCOTT Addict SL - Lighter than EVER

2014 Scott Addict is Their Lightest Ever With Improved Carbon Layups and Increased Aero Efficiency

"The Legend is back, and lighter than ever. The all-new 2014 SCOTT Addict SL has been redesigned from head to toe, and boasts a frame-set that weighs in at just one kilo- their lightest bike ever."

Images from pelotonmagazine.com

The newest version of the Addict SL takes carbon fiber development to the next level. They've worked on the carbon fiber layup and use T1000 carbon fiber with a resin that is reinforced with carbon nanotubes. Scott claims that this process is how they have been able to reduce so much weight without compromising in stiffness.


Their precise placement of HMX SL, along with other levels of carbon is what makes the Addict lighter and stronger, as well as making the bike very stiff. SCOTT has gone to a monocoque mold for the front triangle, also adding strength and stiffness. The rear seat stays have been re-designed for more compliance while helping shed 12g of weight. The forks on the bike are another key design in their goal of making the bike more comfortable with added vertical compliance.

For 2014 you have 4 different options for the Addict. At the top tier is the Addict SL with the new, super light HMX-SL carbon, Ritchey cockpit, SRAM Red 22 drivetrain, and new Syncros RL1.0 carbon clinchers.

Next is the Addict Team, which is the Orica GreenEdge frame. It uses HMX carbon so is a touch heavier with a little less strength as their are less layers of carbon. The Team issue comes with Shimano Dura-Ace 11 speed and uses Syncros carbon components and RL1.1 carbon clincher wheels.

The Addict 10 and 20, at more of an affordable price range, are made using SCOTT’s HMF carbon, which doesn’t have quite as much tensile strength as the HMX or the HMX SL, but is still very strong. The Addict 10 comes with a Shimano Ultegra drivetrain, Syncros cockpit and Syncros alloy wheel set. The 20 comes with an entry level Shimano drivetrain and Shimano Alloy wheels.

Sleek and Strong 2014 Scott Helmets Available Now

The 2014 Scott Stego and Mythic Helmets Will Keep You Looking Great, and Protect Your Head Too 

Originally Posted on CyclingUnderground.com
 
There are a huge number of riders who are looking for a little extra protection and don't need the lightest possible helmet since they're not racing and they're just... you know... mountain biking. Scott has two new helmets that bridge that gap between XC and gravity: the Stego and Mythic.

The Stego uses the latest in helmet tech: MIPS. Traditionally, helmets are certified by passing an impact test directly on their top. However in the real world, helmets usually strike the ground at an angle and the skull and brain rotate inside them. The MIPS technology mimics the body's own protection system, a layer of fluid between the brain and skull.

It works by having an extra layer between your head and the molded foam that can break away and slide on impact. The Stego is one of the three helmets in Scott's lineup that use the technology and it is available in black or green in three sizes.


 

The Mythic is essentially the same helmet, without the MIPS system. Notable are the extended coverage at the base of the skull, the large flat spot on top for mounting lights or cameras (no specific mount is included) and the shape that accommodates goggles as well as glasses. The Mythic is available in black, white, blue, and orange in three sizes.