Rune - Tougher than Tarmac!

An e-mail I received from my Neighbour in Scotland:

'Keith,

I was driving to Glentress on Sunday to do some riding with a friend.
I was explaining the background to my bike and how it was built to be
tough and able to take big hits. We were going along the M8 at about
85mph at the time when I looked in my mirror and saw a bike do a back
flip about 20 feet in the air before landing on the front wheel in the
outside lane of the M8. After bouncing a few times the bike finally
came to rest near the crash barrier of the outside lane.

After the initial shock I slammed on the breaks and pulled up on the
hard shoulder then ran as fast as I could to retrieve my bike before
someone ran over it. At this point I expected the bike to be a total
write off (I wonder how I would have explained that to the insurance
company????). However, when I got it off the motorway it turned out
that other than the handlebars being knocked out of line and the seat
being lowered and slightly torn there was no visible damage. I loaded
back on to the roof rack and drove (very carefully) to Glentress. When
I got there the chain wasn't catching properly so I asked the mechanic
to look over the bike and make sure it was safe to ride. It turns out
that the only damage was a bent outer chain ring which he straightened
for me. I went out and rode the Red run and hit some small jumps and
the bike felt absolutely brand new.

I know you said it was tough but that is taking things to extremes.

Alan'

(I'll protect his identity just in case the traffic cops cath wind of this... haha)

The Koots, Hoots and Muddy Boots

Words by Ryan Kuhn
Images by Vince Boothe

I’m a first time Banshee blogger, long time biking addict. I’m living large racing/riding a new Scythe (see the Pinkbike preview here:http://www.pinkbike.com/news/banshee-scythe-preview-2008.html#top) and thought I’d chime in on the “insider’s blog” to give you a glimpse of what’s happening with the trails and tribulations in the Kootenays of BC. As I’m in the process of working on a story focusing on the trail builders in this region, I’ll update this blog with the exciting bits of what’s goin’ down, or up, with the riding scene in these parts…and how the Scythe’s handling it all.

Ryan on a twisted little Stu-stunt on the Flume...nice

Seeing how I’m from Rossland, that’s a good place to start. A little known fact is Rossland is dubbed “Mountain Biking Capital of Canada.” How does a community earn such a dubious title? Well, it’s kinda like turning pro – you just say it and it’s so. Voila! However, while Rossland may not be dolled up in Troy Lee, there’s definitely something supporting the ambitions claim (I know, I know...call your community the “Mountain Bike Ruler of the Universe” for all it’s worth!).

While Rossland is home to 170k of buffed, technical, steep and rapidly rolling single track, it’s now world-renowned for the Seven Summits Trail (http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Rossland-seven-summits-adventure-2007.html) – an IMBA “Epic” and Bike Mag’s “Trail of the Year” for 2007. Yeah, it’s all that…but that’s not all.

Rossland was once an epicentre for DH and freeriding, with some of the gnarliest sections featured in the original Kranked movies and host to numerous races – including highlights on the BC Cup/Canadian Cup series. Those downhill glory days appear to have moved on...or have they?

Presley and Ryan driving the golden spike (ok, galvanized) on a new 17-foot-hip/step-up-over-a-log-ride thing. More on this later...

Last fall, a group of local grassroots trail builders calling themselves the RFA (Rossland Freeride Alliance) approached the local Kootenay Columbia Trail Society to help maintain and build on the black-diamond trails in the area. This was largely in response to the direction the society was taking with a cross-country focus and the destruction of some of the more popular stunts without discussion. Since then, an informal agreement has been reached and there’s been a flurry of freeride trail building activity by the RFA and friends, both on sanctioned trails and some less legit but very popular gems.

In this instalment, I’ll show you a bit of what’s happened on “The Flume” – a steep, stunt-infested classic. The RFA has mostly worked with wood on this trail in the past year. Here are some images of what we’ve been up to:

Valet Parking – a new edition on the Rossland classic The Flume. Built over an older, decommissioned line, it takes a gnar steep rock face into this massive catch berm, followed by a long rolling skinny. Rory gets hammered.

This is the underside of the Valet Parking berm – we knew there would be some serious momentum carrying into this thing so it needed to be bomber. Tied into the huge stump with braces sitting on bedrock, I’d drive my truck on this beauty.

It's a long one...long live the Alaskan Mill!

Isaac, mill master.

Ryan eyeing the end of the long Valet Parking (pre-Scythe).

This is the early stage of "The Moustache" (aptly named, Matty!) stunt on the Flume. Unfortunately I don't have any pics of the finished product, but will post soon. It is actually two log rides with a small gap/drop linking them and a small gapper at the end of this long, downhill skinny.

Yet another new creation - this was a rebuild of a sketchy old section just after the "Johnny Rocks" drop on the Flume. Cedar=solid. These stunts were built with available deadfall and snags. We avoided spiking live trees.

Parting shot: Chris McLean...the man, the legend. Chris is the most dedicated trail builder I've ever met. Pictured here on another late, post-build session. Beer and darkness always make it bit more challenging!

Until next time...keep diggin'.

Horsefeathers Kozzy Style 08

However its more than one mounth ago I bring you some photos and video from HF Kozzy Style.

I was a co-organizatoar and slopestyle park designer of this event. It was huge this year. Over 90 riders from Czech, Poland, Slovakia, Austria and Germany were going really big and we could see 360 from 5meter drop, beckflip drop etc. I had a lot of work with organizing and trail building so I was very happy that I qualified in top 12 superfinals. I had front tire defect in superfinals and end at 11th place. There we another Banshee Widcard rider in superfinals. Roman Linhart, he was sending it big and he was only one riding the most difficult line with huge MX jump(superman on it) and he takes 5th place. Video can tell you more than words.














Another Wildcard in superfinals





Best regards from central Europe, Schwara

Banshee Legend on the podium

Marcelo Gutierrez joined Team Dead Bros Banshee for some gravity racing in Colorado this weekend. With little to no experience on the trails, he showed why he earned himself one of the fifty beautiful Legend frames. Marcelo raced himself into fifth overall for the weekend, which is awesome considering the top four racers have been riding Sol Vista for most of the summer! Way to show up and throw down Marcelo. Team Dead Bros Banshee is hoping to have Marcelo join us for the 09 season.

Introducing Curt Clemetson

Another Team Dead Bros Banshee ripper that killed it this weekend. A solid 2nd place overall for the weekend and 3rd overall for the season. Way to keep it rollin' Curt!

A photo for your FACE

This one is special for you Jay. Rachel killing the day one course at SolVista Colorado on her flashy new Scythe.

"I could tell a difference as soon as i got on the bike. This thing is awsome! I feel so much more confident." -Rachel Bauer

Day two and more medal!

Day two of SolVista G3 was featured on Silky Johnson... chainless! The trail has a total of some 75 berms. The chainless format turned todays racing into a skills competition. Who can slam through turns the fastest and keep the speed high. Don't touch the brakes!!! Rachel Bauer flew threw with the winning time to take the top spot and control the overall lead for the weekend. Curt finished strong is second with a 15 second deficiete under first. Side note, Curt took a nasty indo in the trees and bile drove his face into a berm. He is doing alright, little sore and now has a cracked grill. He is smiling big and looking forward to tomorrows race.

SORRY for no photos! Check back or on my blog for more stuff.

Day one of Sol Vista G3 and Banhsee earns THREE podiums!

Team Dead Bros Banshee is fully representing at Sol Vista for the Mountain States Cup season finaly. With three days of racing, the team is standing tall with two podiums. "But i thought you said three?!?" Well that is because the Columbian speeder
Marcelo Gutierrez made a sudden appearance in Colorado.

Randomly running into him on the course, it was great to meet more of the Banshee pride crew. With no more then four runs of practice, Marcelo came in and took fourth. "I did alright," Marcelo says, "Hoping for better tomorrow. Rachel fresh on her hot chrome and black Scythe had a total of five runs on the bike before CRUSHING the competition and took the first place. Curt came away second after a rerun due to a massive crash ahead of him on his first run.

With two more full days of racing we will be sure to see more Banshee bikes flying through the trees of Sol Vista Colorado More photos and reports to come!

Ryan's Viento review

Banshee Viento (M)

Industry Nine AM Wheels
Truvativ Stylo 3.3 Cranks
Fox Float RLC (09)
Syncros Gain Riser Bar
Syncros AM Stem
Fizik Zeak Saddle
Sram XO/X9 Derallieur/Shifters
Avid Juicy Seven Disc Brakes

So I have put some miles on my Viento and am very happy to say that it is awesome. I rode for about a week all over the east coast. Starting with some local trails in Connecticut and New Jersey to some epic climbs and decents in the Apalachian Mountains in Western Virginia. The bike stands up true to all that is advertised. First thing...stiffness. You guys say the Viento is stiff and I believed you. But, when I hit a long downhill stretch and dropped into the big ring and really put all my weight into it I was shocked. Every ounce of my near 200lb self went straight from the pedals to the ground. Not a single bit of noticeable flex in the frame. To say the least I am very impressed. The rear triangle absorbs shock just as good as you guys said it would. This bike may be the the Banshee that is built for speed but it is still strong as hell. It climbs like a dream and decends like one too. Extremely stiff on the clims yet suprisingly gentle when it decends. Being this my second Banshee frame with several other choices in between, I have to say that I will prob never get another frame from anyone else. It is awesome and I cannot wait to build my next one. Thanks alot for all your guys help and Thanks even more for building bikes you can really ride.

Ryan Charaba

Rune off for Review

Hey All,

As you avid blog readers would be aware, earlier this year we “lost” a Banshee Rune in transit to Australian Mountain Bike magazine; in other words the freight company lost it, but we suspect it was stolen. Long story short, we got stooged by the freight company and had nothing left to show for our efforts, it didn’t even make it to the magazine, so we didn’t even get the review. It sucked!

But at the end of the day, it might have been a blessing in disguise as I ended up building the Rune of dreams. I set out with the intention of making the perfect build for this bike, with money as no object...the aim was to build the ultimate ride at all costs. Rough calculations work this baby out to be in the $10,000+ AUD range too! Holy smokes!

But it looks like every penny of it and rides like $1,000,000 dollars. I could harp on about how well it pedals, ascends, descends, corners, monos, etc. But in a nutshell, this bike is “Fun!”. No matter what you are doing on it, you just have an absolute blast...it’s perfect!

We sent it off to AMB and low and behold it did arrive this time (thank god!) and they seem to be very impressed with it. The review won’t be on shelves until November but it sounds very positive and they liked the bike so much it will be getting a double page spread feature review. Stoked! So keep tuned for that.

For any Aussies or travellers coming to the Mt Stromlo World Cup this weekend, keep an eye out for me hooning around on it and come and say hi...and buy me beer!

"Final" Spec:

• Frame: Banshee Rune (Large, Team Polish / Black)
• Shock: Fox DHX Air 5.0
• Forks: Fox 36 Talas RC2 (custom painted gloss black to match the frame)
• Headset: FSA Orbit Xtreme Pro (1.5 reducing to 1-1/8)
• Cranks: Raceface Atlas AM (running on Shimano Deore XT BB) w/ Gamut P30 Bashring and Red Chainring Bolts
• Pedals: Time Atac Carbon XS
• Rear Mech: SRAM X0
• Front Mech: Shimano Deore XT
• Shifters: SRAM X0 Trigger
• Brakes: Avid Juicy Ultimate w/ Straitline Levers, 180mm Front, 160mm Rear
• Wheels: Industry Nine DH (823 Rim, Custom Red to Black Fade, DT 10mm RWS Rear Skewer, 20mm Front)
• Tyres: Kenda Nevegal w/ Prototype "Spex" Tubeless Sealant (OzRiders.com.au)
• Bar: Easton Monkey Lite Carbon XC
• Stem: Thomson Elite X4 (70mm)
• Seat: Fizik Gobi
• Seat-collar: Salsa Q/R
• Weight: 14.4 Kg (31.7lbs)

Cheers,

Ken (XXIV Imports)

Click for more pics...