Thought I’d take a quick moment to introduce my newest test rig: Kona’s new-for-2010 Abra Cadabra. The Cadabra family–Abra Cadabra retailing for $3,699, Cadabra retailing for $2,799–sports the second generation (G2) of Kona’s Magic Link rear suspension, first introduced on the 2008 CoilAir. Kona’s martketing materials certainly make the G2 Magic Link on the Cadabra sound mighty interesting by providing 4″ of travel while climbing and 6″ of travel while descending. Here’s some information on Kona’s website about the theory behind the Magic Link design.

I’m pretty stoked about this bike for a couple of reasons; 4-6″ of travel that adapts to your needs automatically, the 69º headtube should be about right for the application, and the sub 30 lb weight could round this bike out to make a hell of a package.

So, how does it ride? Good question. As I’m sure you’re well aware, we’re in a bit of a holding pattern until our 20″+ of snow melts. We’re actually planning a Dirt Rag spring break trip to the deep south simply to do some bike testing.

For now though, I’ll just have to show you some pictures and specs.

Dirt Rag has teamed up with Dohm to bring you a soft and stylish wool cap. Dohm caps are made in Colorado on antique knitting and sewing machines that are powered by hand, which takes more time and produces the best in quality craftsmanship. The fibers that run through the machines are world class yarns which are produced under the strictest environmental standards.

Dohm’s Super Soft visor cap is made of 50% fine Merino wool, 30% wool, and 20% polyamide. Our noggin topper has a soft fleece headband liner, shapeable visor, contoured cap flap and features our Dirt Rag logo above the left temple. This cap will surely keep you warm, whether you’re waiting at the 24-Hour race transition tent, camping, or finishing a cold ride.

Available for $32, one size fits most, and offered in either Coal or Magma color. Click here…

Weekly meeting after weekly meeting, I’ve been promising to get this done, but this morning our esteemed web editor said that he’s “counting on me” to write a blog and submit it today. The blog post based on my experience with the “new” Santa Cruz Tallboy. What to do? I have a few words written down, but not much, and the deadline for the full print article is right around the corner as well. Doh!

Let’s keep it short and sweet. The kids over at Santa Cruz have been delving into the “latest and greatest” of materials, carbon fiber. I’ll get into it more in the upcoming print article, but Santa Cruz tells me that this 29 inch frame is 2 pounds lighter than if it were made of aluminum. So what do I say? You’d be stupid not to! No need to discuss the pluses and minuses right now, this is my first 29er test ride under 30 lbs.

Let me give you an idea of just how much I’ve been procrastinating on this. I picked up the bike after Interbike’s On-Dirt Demo back in September, rode her in Flagstaff on the way home, and this post has been due ever since. This amounts to my incredible squandering of the immediacy of the internet, and for this I am sorry.

The ride however, was not sorry. In Flag, riding up mount Elden was certainly the proof to this low-cal pudding, as I was able to keep up despite the past week’s long workdays and longer nights.

After the hill comes Lower Moto, a technical trail if there ever was one. Rocks, baby, rocks. Big wheels sticking to rocks for awesome traction, yet the lightness and stiffness abounding as I carve the tiny spaces between the derailleur infringing rocks on the sides of the narrow trail.

Yea, I like this bike, it’s no wonder it’s the receiver of much hype. Let’s finish with this Justin Steiner shot of me stunting…

Mine is flat black, the best color, and has a XPX 29 kit. That’s mostly Shimano XT, a Fox F29 RLC100 and a RP23 shock. MSRP is $4874 this way, but a complete is available for as little as $3599. Frame price is $2350 before shock upgrade. Company website: www.santacruzmtb.com.

Regardless of whether you’re a creationist or evolutionist, you have to admit that we humans are pretty good at continually pushing the limits of our society, and our gadgets, in order to keep things moving forward. In a mountain bike sense, we first rode balloon-tire cruisers offroad, then came dedicated mountain bikes, followed by suspension that grew to lengths rivaling motorized dirt bikes. Shortly thereafter, the pursuit of something big and better then delivered 29″ mountain bikes, and we’re back to pushing the limits suspension bikes–this time with 29″ wheels.

Here’s where Niner’s WFO 9 enters the picture. Many of you are likely familiar with Niner and their dedication to 29″ wheels, but if not, check out their website here.

Offering 140mm of suspension travel, the WFO 9 is Niner’s third, and longest travel, dual suspension bike in the line-up with the JET 9 offering 80mm, and the RIP 9 delivering 120mm of travel. Niner is targeting the WFO at all mountain riders, enduro types, and freeriders looking for burly 29″-wheeled bike.

Call me lucky, but I’ve been fortunate enough to spend the last couple of months riding the WFO, at least when the weather cooperated. Going into this test a lot of folks, myself included, wondered if a 140mm travel 29er might just be too much? Prior to the WFO I had just tested a very nice 140mm travel 26″ bike (Gary Fisher’s Roscoe) that planted a seed in my feeble little brain; perhaps 140mm of travel is the tipping point for the 29″ vs 26″ battle. I was thinking that below 140mm travel I’d go for 29″ wheels, while around or above 140mm travel I might prefer 26″ wheels.

Have to say the WFO has made me realize the error in my initial assumption. After riding this bike I have absolutely no reservations about longer travel 29ers. Let me tell you, this bike is blisteringly fast on rough downhills. The combo of big wheels and plush long-travel suspension allowed me to descend at speeds that felt imprudent without body armor.

Fortunately this bike also pedals pretty well for getting to the top of those descents.

Special thanks to Speedgoat for arranging this test bike and outfitting it with their Limited Edition X.9 Signature Build.

What’s the worst place you could ride a long travel 29er in terms of trying to make it feel too big, too long, and too heavy? Probably a skate park…

…which is precisely where I took my WFO test bike on its maiden voyage. What better place to kick this test into high gear? Much to my surprise, the WFO felt good in this environment, the wheelbase is short enough to keep the bike from feeling like a tank, and the suspension didn’t bat an eye at repeated launches to flat landings. Picture above of my friend Rick putting the WFO through its paces in the bowl.

Don’t be alarmed, I certainly spent a lot of time on this bike in the environs for which it was designed. But, you’ll have to tune into issue number #148 of Dirt Rag for the full bike review, subscribe by February 24th to receive issue #148 in the mail!

Also, stay tuned for issue #147’s Skills Series article on Cornering. The WFO was my trusty sidekick for this feature. Here’s a teaser photo for the advanced topic–riding nose wheelies around switchbacks!

Subscriber copies of #147 are printing currently and will mail on 1/26, but you’ll be able to pick up issue #147 on the newsstand starting February 16th. You can also call 800.762.7617 to order #147 as a single issue.

Outerbike is a consumer demo event for both road and mountain bikes that is scheduled to take place in Moab, UT on September 30th through October 3rd, 2010. Participants will receive demos for all four days of the event, lunch at the trailheads, and discounted tickets to evening parties and films. Exhibitors will include: Breezer, Cannondale, Fox, Fuji, Ibis, Kona, Marin, Maverick, Pivot, Rocky Mountain, Santa Cruz, Specialized, Trek, Turner, and Yeti. It’s a safe bet that additional companies will sign up, as this new event gains momentum.

Outerbike promoter, Ashley Korenblat of Western Spirit Cycling, explains: “There will be three different trailheads to give participants a chance to ride short and medium loops of all types. It is an opportunity to ride your dream bike on a world famous trail. Plus there is great road riding in Moab, making it the perfect place to demo both road and mountain bikes.” The three trailheads are: The Bar M, the Sovereign Trail, and the Slicrock Trail.

The Registration fee for the four-day event is $150. Proceeds will go to both IMBA and the Moab Trails Alliance.

Korenblat adds, “We have been thinking about this for years. The bike companies work hard to get their new product ready for the Vegas show, but since that show isn’t open to the public, only dealers get to ride the new bikes. Now everybody can.”

To register go to www.outerbike.com or call Western Spirit Cycling at 800.845.2453.

Six-time Leadville 100 winner, and former US Mountain Bike team member, Dave Wiens, will lead a new annual cycling event for the San Francisco Bay area. The Dirt Bowl will be held on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7th, 2010.

The Dirt Bowl is produced by Marin County Bicycle Coalition in partnership with the The NorCal High School Mountain Bike League.  It is a benefit ride to ensure that kids have safe roads and great trails. Proceeds from the Dirt Bowl will support the ongoing advocacy work being conducted by both organizations.

Dave Wiens said, “Great trails make for happy, healthy people. We cannot put too much emphasis on trail advocacy and our simple but important messages will spread further and become actionable to more trail users if we can educate our youngest trail users, such as members of the NorCal League.”

Kim Baenisch, Executive Director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition said “We are excited to be partnering with the NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League on this ride. Our organizations have a shared interest in getting more kids on bikes, which is good for their health and good for the environment.”

Matt Fritzinger, the Executive Director of the NorCal League, says, “The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is an important partner for in our ongoing advocacy work, and it’s great to join them in creating this exciting new ride.  The League has been working to teach our young riders a high standard of trail etiquette and to do their part in maintaining trails, and the proceeds will bolster these efforts.”

The ride is sponsored by Specialized Bicycle Components and Mike’s Bikes and is for both recreational and competitive cyclists. Road cyclists are also invited to participate in the Dirt Bowl. The start is at the San Geronimo Golf Course west of Fairfax, California.

Riders may join the supported mountain bike route through the famous Camp Tamarancho, or plan their own route (trail or road). After the ride, there will be a BBQ at the San Geronimo Golf Course, with local beverages and the big game.

Participants are required to raise a minimum of $125 to join this fundraising event. There is no upper limit on fundraising. Fundraisers will receive:

• Saddle time with mountain bike legend and all-around great guy, Dave Wiens
• A commemorative event T-shirt
• Pre-ride hot drinks and snacks, and a BBQ lunch with sausages, turkey burgers, garden burgers, pasta, green salad, potato salad, and beverages
• Entry into a raffle with great prizes
• Special prizes for the riders who raises the most money

For more information, and to register, visit www.dirtbowl.net.