We want to thank everyone that drove up to ride, camp, and eat some good food with us in Keyesville. There was a strong gathering of riders who played on the local trails and scheduled a shuttle ride to the top of Cannell Trail. Paul arrived early Friday morning to mark the spot of this year’s BBQ. Unfortunately, he was not able to ride last weekend because his fractured wrist is still healing, but I am sure he will be up there once again before the snow falls. Close to thirty riders who wrote up the pass in the luxurious MRA Shuttles and they quickly discovered how worthwhile the service is compared to doing a self-shuttle. Thanks to John Stallone and the crew for having the vans gased up and ready to roll!

Keep an eye out for other fun riding events. You don’t have to ride a Bionicon bike to come out and have fun with us. We just want to host fun weekends for everyone. (more…)

CORBA’s Annual Fat Tire Fest is set for October 12, 2008.

Bionicon is proud to support the ongoing advocacy work of CORBA, the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Assocation. Bionicon will be at the Fat Tire Fest, and will have a fleet of demo bikes available for test rides.

This is a family event with rides for everyone from beginner to experts. Win prizes in the legendary raffle, the poker ride, wheelie contest, hill-climb contest, log pull, or the silent auction.

CORBA, the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclist Association, an all volunteer-run non-profit, has been instrumental in gaining and maintaining access to Southern California trails for mountain bikers. This is their annual fundraising event, the proceeds of which go to fund their trailbuilding crew, their ongoing advocacy work and fight for new trails.

The Fat Tire Fest will be held October 12, 2008 at Castaic Lake.

Read more at CORBA’s FTF Site:
http://corbamtb.com/FTF/2008/FTF.shtml

Register by Mail or on Active.com:
http://corbamtb.com/FTF/2008/register.html

Thanks to everyone who came and paid us a visit at Interbike this year. Thanks to all of you, we were slammed and barely able to leave the booth for a bathroom break for the five days (just kidding, of course).

We did however notice a significant change in attitudes this year from previous ones. Ten years ago when Andi Felsl walked a prototype bike around interbike trying to raise interest in his newly patented adjustable travel fork, he was given the cold shoulder by most manufacturers. After that experience, he realized he’d have to build his own frames to take advantage of this ingenious design.

Ten years later, with a complete line of full suspension bikes, numerous patents, and the fastest growing and most innovative brand in Europe, we had engineers from many of the major frame and component manufacturers coming by to take a peek at what we’re up to, as well as hoards of riders, dealers and people who’ve heard of or read about Bionicon’s technology, but hadn’t seen it in person.

The usual questions of reliability, parts availability and serviceability often came up, but with a near-perfect four-year reliability track record in the U.S., and longer in Europe, those doubts are easily assuaged.

During the outdoor demo we sent out bikes constantly for the two days…. our favorite comment about the Edison was “this bike isn’t cocaine… it’s crack!  When can I get my next fix?”

While our U.S. Presence is growing steadily, Bionicon is now the fastest growing Mountain Bike company in Europe, and their presence at Eurobike was one of the largest booths at the show. With our new line of commuter bikes, Fixie Inc. distribution and a cycling and technical outerwear clothing line, Bionicon is leaving its mark on the industry.

Bionicon’s time is here, and again we’d like to thank those whose interest and passion for what’s new and possible helps keep us motivated to innovate and inspire.

Superb Single Track

Bionicon will again host the a BBQ at the Kern Valley Gathering, October 24 - 26, 2008.

Last year’s event was such a great success and we’re excited to be a part of it again this year. Keyesville is known for the Keyesville Classic course, Just Outstanding and Cannell trail.

The Gathering is an informal event with free camping at Keyesville, or you can stay in local hotels or forest service campgrounds. We’re suggesting a ride schedule, but participants are welcome to set their own itinerary, and we’ll be glad to recommend trails. Some of the must-ride trails are:

Keyesville Classic Course: an 8 1/2 mile XC loop that snakes it’s way around the mountains. it has some fast rolling and flowing sections, some moderate climbs and quick descents. Suggested for Friday afternoon.

Just Outstanding: A shuttle run single-track from Shirley Meadows at 6,800′ down to the Kern Valley at 2600′. There are some optional routes that will bring you all the way back to Keyesville. Suggested for Sunday Morning.

Cannell Trail: This 24 mile classic has 8000′ descent with 2000′ of climbing. Starting at 9,000′ at Sherman Pass, it winds it’s way from the alpine meadows and pine forests down to the Kern River, just above Kernville. We’re suggesting this ride for Saturday morning. You can self-shuttle, or use Mountain River Adventures shuttle service (800-861-6553).

We are growing a Brand and look forward to sharing our Passion with you!

Bionicon has come a long way since it’s humble beginnings in Germany back in 1999. It’s an exciting journey, and we’re enjoying every minute of it. The company has grown into a highly respected innovator in the mountain bike industry, with divisions on three continents.

We cordially invite you to come and say Hi, talk about mountain biking, and catch up on Bionicon’s latest technology. Daniel Kohl will be there from Germany, as well as Mic De Min, Paul Ferguson and the full Bionicon USA crew.

Some of Bionicon’s newest innovations will be on display at Interbike this year.  We’ll be showing off the new B-Boxx transmission, developed in partnership with Nicolai. There’s a new Ironwood for 2009, and the 170mm Double Agent FR fork. We’ll also be showing off Bionicon’s line of urban commuter bikes.

Look for us at the Bootleg Canyon Outdoor Demo on Monday and Tuesday at Booth #D3940.

At the Sands Convention Center we’ll see you in Booth #864.

For more information or to schedule a meeting, contact Mic De Min at 760-446-3089 or write to mic@bioniconus.com

Bionicon USA staffers got to take out and test the new Bionicon 170mm Double Agent TA fork this past weekend, before shipping off the first 170mm-equipped Supershuttle FR to it’s anxiously waiting owner this week.

The new fork falls between the 150mm Double Agent and the 200mm Special Agent upside-down fork in the Bionicon line. It combines a plush and responsive coil with an adjustable air chamber and an elastomer bottom-out bumper. It is stiffened by a 20mm through axle (thus the TA designation). The dual-crown leading-axle design pulls the stanchions back for a shorter feeling “stem” length, better suited to the steepest of downhill runs. The 170mm travel fork, with Bionicon’s patented F.I.T. (Front Impact Transmission) headset and stem weighs in at a scant but solid 6.5 pounds.

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Bionicon welcomes Bike Attack as our newest Southern California dealership. With two high-end bike shops in Santa Monica and Venice, they’ve got the west-side covered. Bike Attack will have the full line of Bionicon backcountry mountain bikes available soon.

This morning we joined the Bike Attack crew on their regular ride from Mt. Wilson back to JPL. Loads of fun, and a great crew to be out riding with. We’re confident that Ericson and crew will do well as a Bionicon dealer. (more…)

Bionicon Partners with G-Boxx to produce the B-Boxx

The problem of front derailleur position for full suspension bikes is as old as full suspension itself. Instead of concentrating on geometry, ride characteristics, optimum pivot placement and system integration, engineers have been forced to design frames around the front derailleur and its chainrings.

Nicolai and Bionicon, the new generation of innovators in drive trains and variable suspension, have also faced these problems since their very beginnings. As a result, an intensive exchange of ideas began after Eurobike 2003 with the aim of finally eliminating the troublesome front derailleur.

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The first Bionicon Urban Road in the U.S. hit the streets this week in Los Angeles. Steve, a long time Bionicon Edison rider took delivery of the first of Bionicon’s new line of commuter bikes over the weekend, and rode the bike just as intended, to commute.

The Urban Road is designed from the ground up to be a simple, straightforward, low-cost urban commuter bike. With a steel frame, no nonsense 1×9 drivetrain, comfortable upright position, bullhorn bars, V-brakes and rack-mount lugs, the Urban Road is an ideal solution to higher gas prices and traffic jams. You don’t want to take your 17 pound race bike to work and back, or your 30 pound mountain bike. This bike is tailor-made for the task.

Thanks to everyone who came out for the All-Pro Bicycles shop demo at Corriganville Park this past weekend. It was great to see every one of the demo bikes out on the trail by 8:15 in the morning. Most went out a second time as well, and the interest was definitely high.

We know of at least a few people who rode that are now pleading with significant others for permission to upgrade older bikes or add a new one to their stable, and at least one who will have a very happy Christmas!

Thanks to Gina and Dave from All Pro for hosting the event and sending everyone our way to “catch the buzz” of Bionicon’s bikes. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with All Pro. They’re great people and we learned from many that they’re just as down to earth and helpful as one would expect from a family owned and operated bike shop.

Give them a visit out on Tapo Street in Simi Valley, or visit their web site at http://allprobikes.com.