NEW!! 2011 Specialized Camber Mountain Bike Now in Stock at Rock 'N Road in OC

Specialized Bicycle Company has noticed a missing link in the Mountain Bike category and has filled it with a completely new product, the Camber.  New for 2011, the Camber comes with hydroformed M4 alloy frames and an integrated headset, 120mm of travel in the rear and 100mm in the forks.
 
The geometry will remind you of its cousin, the Stumpy, but with a longer wheelbase.  The Camber models also have pivot locations formed in tubes instead of welded separately. 

Specialized Camber Elite does not have the Brain set up on the shocks, which allows the price point to settle at entry level for trail bikes.  Moving up to the Camber Pro models you get a SRAM 2×10 crankset with Shimano XTR 10-speed derailleur.  

The 2011 Camber Mountain Bike line will include
a 29er version in keeping with Specialized's indication earlier this year that they see the 29'er category growing significantly in 2011.

2011 Specialized Roubaix SL3 Unveiled with Very Special Feature

Specialized, the bike manufacturer, showed a sense of humor during their unveiling of the 2011 Roubaix SL3. This is the same frame that was used by Cancellara at Paris-Roubaix during the Spring, and which has the object of speculation regarding if it was motorized. Specialized displayed the new SL3 with a large Duracell battery mounted on the downtube.

Thanks to the Italian Cycling Journal (online)

Seat Post Envy - Dan Empfield Review of Specialized Transition Team Seat Posts for 2010

Dan Empfield at SlowTwitch.com had this to say about the Transition 2010 Seat Post options.  If you'd like to see the whole review, check it out at their website. 

Thank you Specialized for allowing a rider to put his saddle where he wants it. [Digression] Here's a secret for all you bike designers out there: When you allow a rider input on his own position—when a fit session includes actually asking the rider whether he's comfortable and powerful—the rider, when given a legitimate, well-executed, choice in positions, will choose 79.5° of seat angle. This is the average. This is where the fat of the bell curve sits. [/Digression] So... 

Here's a bike company that made a timed race bike to help in its quest for that elusive yellow jersey, nevertheless it thought enough about this bike's target market to allow customers the sit where they want. This, because the Transition Comp—and all the Transitions—come with one of three available seatposts. 

The seatposts are named Team (way set back, without very much difference between it's two fore and aft positions); the Regular post; and the Straight post. These posts are each two-position posts, and, on the straight post, the center of the binder mechanism sits either 100mm behind the BB or 150mm behind the BB depending on whether the binder mechanism is in its fore or aft position. 

The offsets are rational and thought-out. The swept back post (Regular post) has offsets of 160mm and 210mm. The Team post has offsets of 200mm and 225mm respectively. 

Your safest bet is to get your Transition with a Straight post (you may well choose the rear position of the Straight post). But if you're a taller rider—riding the XL or XXL—you might need the Regular post, with the moderate backsweep. This, because the seatpost sticks straight up, at 90°, so, the taller the bike size, the nominally steeper the bike is already. 

Not to beat on this subject too hard, but [Digression back on], how difficult is it to do what Specialized has done? Why can't bike companies who seek to sell to triathletes just take a digital level, pass it through both the bottom bracket and the center of the saddle's rails as the saddle is pushed all the way forward, and see if the first number is 8. It can be 80°, 80.5°, 82°, but, the first number needs to be 8. 

It needs to be 8 as the saddle sits at a representative height from the pedals in each size, that is, it needs to adjust forward to 80° or steeper in the smallest size (when the top of the saddle sits 67cm from the bottom bracket axle), and in the largest size, when the saddle sits 85cm from the BB axle (and for every saddle height in between). Note to product manager (or engineer, or bike designer): if the first number on your digital level is a 7, go back to the drawing board. Literally. You can figure this out in SolidWorks, or, using a little junior class trig. This will save the trouble of wondering whether your design gets riders steep enough. 

Dana Point Grand Prix- Update

The third Dana Point Grand Prix had a little of everything for cycling racing fans Sunday - from 4-year-olds on tricycles to professional legend Floyd Landis. There was plenty of action on the 0.8-mile, six-turn course, but the event, which drew more than 5,000 fans and about 800 riders, was more than a race. It was an all-day neighborhood party as residents listened to live music and festivities on the lawns of Cove Road residents.
The event also raised money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley and the 5th Marine Regiment Support Group of Camp Pendleton.



Want to read more: http://www.ocregister.com/news/race-158781-grand-residents.html

http://www.socalcycling.com/

http://www.danapointgrandprix.com/


Check out Race footage at: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8d5ztXcUDvo&hl=en&gl=US&client=mv-google

Bicycling Magazine Names Curvelo S1 One of Best Road Bikes in 2010

Envelope Please.  We won't know until next month, but among the nominations for best Recreation Road Bike was a bike Rock N' Road has found to be a great addition to our line up.  Come in and test one.  We suspect it will win its category.

Here is what Bicycling Magazine had to say:

Carbon may be all the rage but Cervelo's S1 is no ordinary aluminum road bike. A direct descendant of the Soloist, the S1's aero-shaped aluminum frame has a pedigree like no other in its class with past victories in major European races.
Testers said:

The aero qualities of the S1 make you feel that you are constantly holding this bike back, especially on flat roads and descents.

Has a playful race demeanor that feeds your competitive urge, but it's not an agro, stretchy position.

Here's something I noticed about this bike that testers who get caught up in the details can sometimes fail to notice: This bike is a hell of a lot of fun.

2010 Specialized S-Works Epic at Rock N' Road Orange County

 With a XC World Championship to its name and complete bike weights as low as 21.5 pounds, the S-works Epic is the lightest, most efficient and best performing cross-country bike available. An integrated approach to the design of all its critical components, along with an enhanced AFR inertia rear shock and Specialized/FOX Shox Mini Brain damper, will no doubt make a full suspension convert out of any competition-hungry rider.
The Epic is an outstanding competitive grade trail bike and includes the S-Works carbon single-bolt 30.9mm seatpost which takes this already featherweight package to its absolute minimum. The Specialized E100 FutureShock fork with 100mm of Brain-regulated travel and rebound adjust are supported by a carbon 1-1/8-1.5" crown-steerer assembly that balances smoothly with its Mini FlowControl rear, making the Epic the most widely versatile bike on the trail. Specialized and Fox blend their engineering talent to develop the new FlowControl Mini Brain shock with Brain Fade adjust inertia valve, air spring and adjustable rebound for trophy-stockpiling performance.
The Roval Control SL XC wheelset with oversized axle, eyelets, DT Aerolite spokes and Ti quick releases provides all the stiffness you need to dominate the XC race course, at the lightest weight possible.
Specialized FACT OSBB carbon crankset with ceramic bearings and 26/39-tooth SRAM spider and rings boasts market-leading stiffness-to-weight for the ultimate power transfer with each pump of the pedals.
Custom Avid XX R magnesium body brakes feature tool-free reach adjust, alloy-backed pads and carbon levers with titanium hardware for powerful, modulated braking power.
The aptly named Epic is the absolute paragon of lightness, stiffness and adjustability in the XC Trail bike category.
Come down to one of the four convenient Rock N' Road Cyclery locations in Orange County, California, to see the amazing bike for yourself. While you're at it, check out the entire incredible collection of 2010 Specialized bikes for your family's every cycling need. The experts at Rock N' Road Cyclery will work with you to get you custom fitted to a new and formidable cycling experience. Get the best ride f your life with Specialized form Rock N' Road Cyclery. Visit the stores in Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel. Ananheim Hills or Irvine or check out the website and blog at www.rocknroadcyclery.net for up to the minute information on everything Specialized has to offer the discerning cyclist.

Music in this video by Kevin Macleod.

Bicycle Fitting - BG Video Capture Now Avaiable at Irvine Store

The bicycle and the apparel manufactured by Specialized conform to their Body Geometry (BG) approach. The better that every element of the bicycle conforms to the benefit of the rider, the longer the rider can ride with more comfort, less fatigue, fewer injuries, and more power. Over the past several years various companies have been adding bits and pieces of bicycle fitting equipment into the repertoire of certified fitting specialists. Now Specialized Bicycle Company has broken through with equipment substantially more advanced than anything else on the market.

As you will see in the video below, the Video Capture system makes it possible to look at the riders form frame by frame, under load. The resulting information provided to the fitting specialist allows them to make recommendations as to stem length, saddle height, shoe and pedal changes, and changes in form that will dramatically improve every aspect of your riding.