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The specs on the 2010 Trek Scratch have been posted here!

Nice anodised details, in gear, grips and headset. The presumed ‘Slopestyle’ model SCRATCH, but it supports a double ring and mechanical seat-post (picture on top) so my guess is a Remedy on Steroids, like a Specialized SX competitor. Just when I told myself NOT to buy a new bike every year… they go and build nice new ones like this one and the Carbon Remedy 9.9.

As seen on:

• mtb-news.de/forum
• mountainbike.nl/forum
• southerndownhill.com/forum

The good folk from Singletrackworld posted the 2010 Trek Remedy and guess what:

“a new high-end model! The Remedy 9.9 features an OCLV frame: the new Fox DCRV shock (which comes on all new 2010 Remedy models) giving a very coil-like performance, Fox TALAS forks, a Crank Bros Joplin seatpost, magnesium rocker and an all up weight of 27lbs (±12.2kg)!”

2010 Trek Remedy 9.9 OCLV carbon ©Singletrackworld.com

What I can see on photo’s is that the lower-tube now has a protection plate for inbound pebbles: a very nifty finish! The Dirtrag photo’s here show the protection plate and the carbon’s almost ‘Rootbeer’ brownish colour: me like!

Protection plate 2010 Trek Remedy ©Dirtrag.com

They’ve also posted a few jaw dropping pictures of the  Remedy 8 and 9.8, I’ll post one and invite you to look at the rest on the post of Singletrackwork.com here.

2010 Trek Remedy 8 ©Singletrackworld.com

My top 9 is going really well… soon I have to make up a new top 9. Just before the PPdS I ordered some gear from Maloja. But I send it back to the shop. The shorts where… too short and the material was very tick and layered.

I’ve been riding with the Raceface 3/4 DH shorts for almost 3 years. These are supple, excellent length and tough as hell. Now… why do women always want to get something NEW and DIFFERENT?

The same day I shipped back the from Maloja gear, I ordered a new Raceface 3/4 DH short from Chainreactioncycles.com (here). Fashioably brown (and the only colour in my size in stock) and they look nice, fit well (even better then the old ones) and cost about half.

First new thing on my second top 9 of 2009: stick to what works. That said: I’m glad I also bought this Mace jersey (here at crc.com). I should want for dry sunny weather on saturday when I go to the Ardennes… but I want to wear these….

The first time I rode the PPdS, I titled the blogpost “the stuff that broke“. Something similar comes to mind this time. Only, we got to finish, in a wicked time, saving up all broken elements for the final 10 kilometres or so.

Known fenomenal

We started in Morzine and by the time we drove past Les Lindarets, we both where so stoked that we ‘forgot’ to rest and carried on for five hours! Took mini-breaks and kept pedaling like idiots. Obviously we didn’t take the optional xc route, we’re not (that) crazy. But we got on top of the nasty tarmac climb near Morgins thinking we where xc-racers. So that’s how much fun an enduro bike can be… never knew that.

We agreed to take a real break in Champoussin, but seeming that that’s only a small refill station, we pushed on to Champéry. At least, tried to.

Past the four-cross trail is a downhill that finishes near the Mosettes uplift and we didn’t have a clue how to get to Champéry. The nice guys at the lift suggested we took the uplift to Champéry and the big bus later downward, but arriving near the Planachaux, we changed our minds. Turned around and agreed to take our break in Les Lindarets. (only 10 km’s from the finish in Morzine, not counting the small loop near Les Gets).

The stuff that broke

When you’ve been near Champéry, you know that it’s lovely up there. Awesome trails, and high altitude. But… when your break is a few hours overdue, it’s hard to enjoy it. Boy, where we  suffering.

Kept pushing and pushing (not wanting to slow down) and Ilja crashed over one silly rock. Without breaking anything thankfully, only pain. So we took our time in Les Lindarettes to recover.

There we finally could enjoy the wonderful catering the PPdS is famous for. And we decided to queue for the uplift around 15.30. While waiting, I casually checked my rear wheel. Only to discover that my hub had plenty play sideways. Awesome… just awesome with some of the nicest downhills to come.

So I tried to take it easy. Untill Ilja’s shockmount started squealing. Like a girl!

Tried to fix that, without success and that was more awesomeness (sigh) for us in the last few kilometres. And finally my gear-cable gave in, 4-star awesomeness: turning my Remedy into a 3-speed and still we didn’t give up! Kept smiling and pushing till the end. Finished the lap in a stunning 7,5 hours, with 2/3 of the time feeling like a rockstar on wheels!

Graduation time

The Remedy felt like home in the Alpes, and I can honestly say that I now will not to buy a Session. If a Remedy rips like that… a Session would rip me to pieces! That said, keep in mind dear Remedy-owner: if and when you ride the Alpes and have a momentary feeling that is similar to “OMG if a Remedy is this fast… a Session must carry on with the speed of light…” you are wrecking your rearhub!

Continental graduates too

Lastly: a very important experiment. The Mountain Kings, yes my favorites, did not flat once! Even with the superduper  Continental Supersonic innertubes weighing a stunning 100 grams a piece! I was going near light speed on 100 grams innertubes! That kept me going and smiling the whole time!

And rip some shores while at it. Want I was wondering… what bike is Simmons riding here? That looks like a long Slayer DH version and not a Flatline… see Rocky Mountain love hasn’t melted!

“What’s next”

And if that doesn’t get you in the riding mood… this video will! A teaser for the upcoming full length video from Aaron Larocque “What’s next”. Can’t wait!

Marthahucker interviewed Katie Hayes, who made this realy nice video. Read the full interview here: /marthahucker.com

Katie Hayes Promo from 406 Productions on Vimeo.

I’m still in love with my Remedy. One switch (no pun ) and it rides like a hardtail and a switch-back (get me going) and it’s a playfull ride down the hill. But there are a few things I would like to upgrade.

The SLX gearing for one, it’s by far not accurate enough as I’m used to, using SRAM. So that’s gotta go as soon as possible. The cranks however are quite good, except for the rings; they wear too fast.

Go for Elixir?

The Juicy 5’s are not that bad. The white paint chips easy, that’s a shame. To me, the modulation of the lever is not good enough, and the disc bend just by looking at them. I got a new pair with the bike, as the ones that came with, where bend, but now these are bend too.

What do you think, is it true that the G3 disc’s the Elixirs come with, are better for braking and more durable? They’re only a few grams lighter and the levers are better modulated. But I want to go bigger for the rear brake anyway, so eighter pay extra for new discs and adapters, or go Elixir… what’s your advice?

Avid Elixir R

Read about Avid Elixir @ sram.com

My verdict you know, these tires are some of the best around, the’ve replaced my Kenda Nevagals, that I never thought could be beaten. The Conti’s are better protected, lighter and easier to get your hands on (here in Europe).

Conti’s rule

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Continental tires are rapidly becoming the best option for your ride. Might have something to do with Ritchey Schley being in on the development side. Previously I’ve owned the ‘Vertical‘ tires, who are especially suited for loose soil terrain. The Mountain King is a new all-round option, and comes in several sizes and versions:

• Mountain King
  26 x 2,0    26 x 2,2    26 x 2,4
  3 plies/ 84tpi / foldable
• Mountain King Supersonic
  26 x 2,2    26 x 2,4
  3 plies/ 180tpi/ foldable/ Black Chili Compound
• Mountain King Protection
  26 x 2,2    26 x 2,4
  3 plies/ 180tpi/ foldable/ Duraskin/ Black Chili Compound
• Mountain King UST
  26 x 2,2    26 x 2,4
  3 plies/ 330tpi/ foldable/ UST
• Mountain King 29inch
  28 x 2,2    28 x 2,4

Mountain King Protection

I choose the Mountain King Protection version, with thick sidewall protection and Black Chili Compound. They weigh about 820 grams per tire and are the same front/rear, just reverse the threads. Thankfully rather easy to mount on your wheels and look really sweet because of the ‘carbon’ look argyle print on the side.

Ride the Mountain King (Protection) >2.2 psi when the terrain is mainly rocky, like the Alps are. Last years Passportes du Soleil went on without a single puncture! Under normal circumstances you can ride with 1.8 psi. I’ve tried the Bontrager Latex anti-puncture inners, they rock, but count on an extra 400gr per tire! I’m opting to go UST, only if these’re just as good; according to their list it doesn’t come with Black Chili compound.

What makes the Mountain King so good?

• Grip in corners (or just about anywhere)!
  Pick your pleasure: thick muck, dried out dust, roots or rocks: I just doesn’t matter. Carve like there are none: only fun here! Black Chili rules!
• Sidewall protection
  Like I said, 90km’s in the Alpes on a day and no puncture! On downhill speed, that usually can only be said by downhill specific tires. You know, those that weight more than a kilo a pop.
• Durability
  Mine show slight wear and tear after more then 1.000 km’s!

Anything on the downside?

• Not suited for downhill races of bikepark visits.
  When you go for downhill races, or for a day on the downhill track, it’s likely the sidewall protection doesn’t hold the impact. That was the only (!) flat I’ve ever had.
• UST not Black Chili?
  I would like to save some extra weight, but not if it means giving up the sweet Black Chili compound.
• If you’re picky: resistance is somewhat high
  They’re allrounders, not xc! So expect a higher resistance on tarmac, comes with the nature of the very sticky Black Chili Compound.
• They are oval!
  I thought it was the Bontrager inners, but I learned from other riders, that it’s the Mountain Kings that are oval. Pepare to be annoyed on asphalt!

Last Sunday I went for another ride in Brunssum. The PPdS is just around the corner, and we haven’t been all that active with regular training rides (shame). When I left home (Brunssum is a 2 hrs ride for me) it was raining cats ‘n dogs, here and in Brunssum. But I had good hopes on a dry ride.

It was somewhat dry, I mean no rain! Some sun and a very comfortable temperature of 19º+, so shirts and shorts and two happy riders on their marry way. The not so dry bit came from the surface, I don’t think Brunssum can get any muddier then this. a thick layer of mud plastered over our gear, bike and any body part not covered. It’s never been this much fun and, most important, we never did the two laps in a faster time!

My friends new ride, Mythic Wildcard was finally fully blessed and approved, if we need new carreers, we can start a bikeshop together.

Oh, and NO-ONE ever gets to say anything bad about the Continental Mountain King tires. They rock! The review is coming up this week here at Bikeblog.nl. Stay tuned.

Well, I kinda didn’t have to. The nice people of kaliprotectives.com are so very convinced of the quality of their stuff, they send me their Durgana helmet to test for them. It arrived yesterday and so far, it’s so good! I’ve never had a helmet that’s so slim to the head as this one, it’s also very lightweight with compromising the safety (EN1078 and CPSC).

The best thing about it, it’s not shiny as the picture shown (have to make one of the actual product asap), it’s mat and silky and that looks awesome!

So I now have another excuse to go bikeparking asap, and I’m thinking… what if I add Trek Session to my wish list, will some nice people of Trek then send me a Session 88 to review for them??