The folks at Norco have been working hard over the past seasons fine tuning their all-mountain line. As they have done so, they have both lightened their freeride bikes and beefed up their XC lineup in an attempt to find the perfect trailbike. The result? A sweet new Norco Six represents the ultimate in cushy all-mountain, while the Norco Fluid represents the ultimate in all-day efficiency that is still true to its Canadian freeride roots with enough plush travel to tackle even the knarliest of the knarls. (more…)

If you’re like me, it doesn’t matter how many pair of sandals you have, but when summer hits, you have to buy a new pair…just because it’s summer. I purchased these crocs more for the comfort than the looks, but they quickly became my footwear of choice. I have found that I have worn only two pair of sandals this summer…my black and purple cleo crocs and my pink and brown cleo crocs. The color combinations are all great, and they are so lightweight you don’t feel like you have anything on your feet. Except for the tiny massage balls on the footbed that massage your feet with every step. (more…)

Looks like the spin doctors at have “secretly” let the cat out of the bag on the new 2008 Kona Coiler frame design. They have a little demo that shows the travel path and gives you somewhat of an idea how it works. Now, I’m no engineer, but Kona’s tried and proven rocker arm suspension design that has been employed by them since the mid 1990’s seemed like it was working just fine. Well, apparently, there’s some tinker left in the pocket protector-wearing crowd at Kona’s HQ.

It looks to me like the new Kona Magic Link changes the wheelpath slightly by moving the pivot point up and forward from the bottom bracket. But, you’ll have to read for yourself on their site how the Magic Link works its magic. I don’t think I can make any assessments either way until I swing a leg over one at Interbike 2007 this fall. But, until then, we can all take a look at the “leaked” Kona Coiler Magic Link demo page and make our own conclusions. (more…)

For Fall 2007, Merrell introduces a strong line of outdoor-specific clothing that is both functional and good looking. Not directly aimed at hard-core backcountry pursuits, Merrell is carving out a niche in the functional and style market for outdoor apparel.

I just got my hands on a new Merrell merino wool long-sleeve sweater/shirt called the Merrell Merino Scoop. It looks great and fits great overall. The merino wool is soft to the skin and should prove to be either a nice base layer or even an outer layer on warmer days. The construction looks to be solid and overall fit is pretty good overall–except for a bit of extra bulk under the armpits. (more…)