Intenese Cycles man Jeff Steber has been hard at work to produce the mountain bike world with a new line of bikes. As well as getting the new Tracer up and performing the guys at Intense have also designed 5 other new rigs, one of them being the all new 951. (seems to me companys are running out of interesting names to call bikes so are switching to numbers instead, bike nerd talk has took on a whole new level of conversation)

The bike was origionally set to be a revamp of the Socom, but that was scrapped and a new bike evolved from the midst all together! 

The new 951 will be a full–on DH spec, 83mm BB and DH geometry. A head angle of 64.5º in the middle setting, also adjustable dropouts that will allow 1/4" +or – on chainstay length, BB height and 1/2 degree on head angle +or –. Travel can adjust from 8 to 8.5".

The frame will be equipped with an FRO FOX RC4 rear shock, next generation VPP technology and weigh in at 9.5lbs. The 951 will also be available in 6 different colours! Intense Red, Stealth Black, Works Raw, White, Team Green and Signal Blue.

Intense say, "The sport of Downhill requires a frame that can adapt to any track and the 951 answers that call. Featuring World Cup winning geometry that Intense is famous for, and added adjustability, the new 951 is ready to put you on the podium no matter what the mountain throws at you. Fast just found a new area code!"
Confident talk there from Intense. Lets see how Dirt team rider Ralph Jones gets on who will be representing this new bike soon so keep your eyes peeled at local races to see the new machine in action.

More info and pics http://www.intensecycles.com/

Transition Bikes have started production of a new fully dedicated Downhill machine. The TR450!!

With the bike currently in its prototype stages, final decisions on the geometry and other aspects are yet to be made. With Lars Sternberg, along with other select riders testing out the frame im sure it wont take long before a decision is ready for early winter and then race prep'd for the 2010 race season. The TR450 is currently equiped with 8.25 of rear wheel travel from a 9.5 X 3 shock placed low in the front triangle. The linkage was runed to provide a gradual change from beginning to ending leverage rate. The 2.75 to 1 average leverage rate makes shock tuning easy and keeps stress on the frame low. handy to know.

Nice looking frmae in my mind. good work Transition.. wonder how it will ride?..
more info at www.transitionbikes.com

Kyle Strait leaving Specialized for an up and coming Quebec company??

That's right! If you haven't already heard Kyle will be representing Dobermann Bikes for the 2010 season. Here's the article about it:

Click Here to see the original article

"I just got word from the doberdudes that Kyle Strait will be representing dobermannbikes for the 2010 season! Kyle is a great addition to the team and he is really motivated for the next season. Heres what Kyle had to say about it:

I was in bad terms with specialized for almost a year now because they definitly dont represent america the way I wanted to, plus I realised that I live for the streets, not the mountains (see picture above). I have been attending every slopestyle contest this year only to fill my sponsor obligations but I spent most of the year riding street in Brooklyn. Blackman and Nigel were kind enough to show me around. I had a couple meetings with specialized to try to reunite our spirits but i had to leave just as I entered, every time. I dont even see how its possible to speak with people who dont drink budlight these days...?!? So after a while I decided that riding for a non-american street oriented company was perfect for me as I feel much smarter when surrounded by non-americans.

Wencome on board Kyle! ."

Good thing, or bad thing? We will just have to wait and see...