Giant Launches World's Most Extensive 27.5 Off-Road Line!

A Total of Seven New Men’s Series and 28 Global Models Feature 27.5 Wheel Technology, Which Giant Has Been Developing For the Past Two Years.

Anthem 27.5 0

Giant, the world leader in cycling technology, is revolutionizing its 2014 off-road lineup with a full range of new bikes featuring 27.5-inch wheel technology. Some of Giant’s most recognizable and successful off-road models—including XtC, Anthem, and Trance—will now include 27.5 choices in both composite and aluminum frame options. Several prototype Giant 27.5 bikes have already been ridden to major race wins in pro XC and enduro competition.

XTC Advanced 27.5 2 (HardTail)

“The diversity and range of our new collection of 27.5 bikes shows how strongly we believe in this new technology,” said Kevin Dana, Giant Global Off-Road Category Manager. “That belief is founded on a lot of internal research and testing. We worked with a wide variety of riders—and from our World Cup XC pros to our enduro riders, all of them feel strongly that the end result is improved performance.”







Research and ride testing in different off-road racing disciplines, and in a variety of terrain, showed that the 27.5 wheel size delivers significant performance advantages in three key areas: weight, efficiency and control. Bikes with 27.5-inch wheels displayed some of the best characteristics of 26 and 29-inch wheels—but without the compromises associated with each.

Talon 27.5

Truly capitalizing on the advantages of 27.5 required a deep commitment to engineering and development. Giant’s team of engineers, product developers and athletes looked at each new model individually, dialing in the frame features and geometry to optimize the new wheel size for particular types of terrain and performance goals.







The end result is a full line of purpose-built 27.5 performance bikes for all different types of off-road riding. From the XC World Cup-proven XtC Advanced 27.5 hardtail to the trail and enduro focused Trance Advanced 27.5, each series has undergone extensive development from the ground up.

For elite-level Giant XC pros like Swedish national champion Emil Lindgren, the lighter weight and quicker acceleration offer a huge advantage.

Trance Advanced 27.5 2

“When you’re racing cross-country, you’re pushing the limits,” said Lindgren. “The heart rate is maxed and you want a bike that responds and makes the effort feel a little easier. Going from a 26 to a 29, there’s a big difference in the way the bike rides. But with 27.5, it’s the perfect balance of quickness and acceleration of a 26 with the traction and stability of a 29er.”

To meet the needs of racers like Lindgren and teammate Michiel van der Heijden, who recently won the Dutch XC Championships aboard a prototype 27.5 hardtail, Giant developed 27.5 versions of its XtC platform in both Advanced-grade composite (XtC Advanced 27.5) and ALUXX SL aluminum (XtC 27.5).

For technical XC terrain, Giant developed 27.5 versions of its legendary Anthem platform, available in both Advanced-grade composite (Anthem Advanced 27.5) and ALUXX SL aluminum (Anthem 27.5) frame options featuring Maestro Suspension with 4 inches of travel. Giant Factory Off-Road rider Adam Craig played a major role in the bike’s development, and rode his prototype Anthem Advanced 27.5 to a win at an Oregon Enduro Series event earlier this summer.

“For cross-country racing, the 27.5 offers a very clear advantage,” Craig said. “It’s not just about how fast a bike rolls, but how fast it can be in real racing scenarios, and that involves accelerating, braking, climbing, a lot of low-speed stuff. A bike that’s a little more nimble and quick is ultimately an advantage.”




For more aggressive trail and enduro riding—the type that Australian enduro racer Josh Carlson has been racing with his prototype Trance Advanced 27.5, which features 5.5 inches of Maestro rear suspension technology—the added control and stability makes a huge difference.

“It feels amazing,” said Carlson, who rode a prototype Trance Advanced 27.5 to several enduro race wins in North America this spring. “You can charge through rock gardens and gnarly terrain with total confidence that it’s going to be quicker and faster and safer than any bike you’ve ever ridden. You can come into corners quicker and exit with so much more speed.”

The Trance platform is also available with the Advanced-grade composite frame (Trance Advanced 27.5)or ALUXX SL aluminum (Trance 27.5). Both the Trance Advanced 27.5 and Trance 27.5 also come in an “SX” model for more aggressive, gravity-oriented riding.

In addition to all of the above off-road performance models, Giant is also making its 27.5 technology available to more riders of all levels with its full line of Talon 27.5 ALUXX aluminum hardtail off-road bikes.

For 2014, Giant is offering the following off-road series with 27.5 technology:

XtC Advanced 27.5 (Advanced-grade composite hardtail XC)
XtC 27.5 (ALUXX SL aluminum hardtail XC)
Anthem Advanced 27.5 (Advanced-grade composite full-suspension XC)
Anthem 27.5 (ALUXX SL aluminum full-suspension XC)
Trance Advanced 27.5 (Advanced-grade composite full-suspension trail and enduro)
Trance 27.5 (ALUXX SL aluminum full-suspension trail and enduro)
Talon 27.5 (ALUXX aluminum hardtail XC)

The 2014 Giant 27.5 off-road bikes will be available through Giant retailers later this summer. Model lineup and availability will vary by country.




8850 Stockdale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93311
(661) 883-6268
info@finishlinebikes.com
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2014 Cannondale F29 Carbon 3 Review

Cannondale's F29 3 is a light, efficient race bike for cross-country racers or trail riders who want to have lots of fun on fast, flowing trails.

Constructed of Cannondale's proprietary BallisTec Carbon, the F29 Carbon shares much of its DNA with Cannondale's high-end road offerings. This material uses high-strength, impact resistant fibers and resins along with strands of stiffer, more brittle fibers that run continuously from front to rear to fine-tune the ride quality.

Cannondale also worked to make the bike vertically compliant to take the edge off of stinging hits on the trail. The rear end uses Cannondale's Speed SAVE design, created by oval-shaped sections of the round seat stays and chainstays that allow them to flex slightly. This same technology is integrated into the seat tube and is further aided by the small-diameter, 27.2 millimeter seatpost.


Many entry-level carbon fiber bikes are downright uncomfortable... Cannondale takes a different approach. They offer a technologically advanced frame with a more modest parts package to control the price. The F29 is a bike that you can certainly race or trail ride right out of the box, but also feel good about upgrading to higher-quality components later.







Other features:

29er Race Geometry - By utilizing super short chainstays, a lower BB and a steeper head angle the F29'er Carbon has the same sharp handling and lively feel out of the 26" race bikes, only with the roll-over-anything ability of bigger wheels.

Lefty Stystem Integration - 29ers love Lefty. It's unmatched stiffness and light weight make an even bigger difference on the big wheeled bikes.

SEE RELATED POST: [VIDEO] 2014 CANNONDALE BADBOY

SPEED SAVE Vibration Elimination Technology
Speed Save rear stays allow the rear wheel to track the ground, improving control and reducing fatigue.

Continuous Carbon
On carbon models, stiffening fibers run uninterrupted from the head tube to the rear dropouts to increase overall frame stiffness while retaining compliance for exceptional ride-feel.


Come to Finish Line Bikes in Bakersfield, CA for all your cycling needs! We are located at:

8850 Stockdale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93311
(661) 883-6268
info@finishlinebikes.com
www.finishlinebikes.com

Get The Maximum Mileage From Your Cycling Shoes

"If cared for, a quality pair of pedal pushers could last five or even ten years!"

One of the best features of cycling shoes is that they last far longer than other sports shoes. For example, you must replace running shoes every six months (or sooner) because the materials inside the soles lose their ability to provide cushioning. Also, regular sneakers are in constant contact with the ground and the soles and uppers wear rapidly. Contrarily, if cared for, a quality pair of pedal pushers could last five or even ten years! 

These easy tips will help you get the most from your shoes:

— Maintaining the fit: We recommend wearing only cycling socks with your riding shoes because these thin socks won't stretch the shoes, which can ruin the snug fit so important for efficient pedaling. 

— Walking: Shoes made for off-road use or touring sport lugged soles and recessed cleats that are made for easy walking. Road-specific shoes, however, are designed for optimum power transfer when pedaling. While these shoes may include heel and toe tabs for walking, it's best to walk as infrequently as possible. Walking flexes the soles and stretches the shoes. Over time, this changes the fit and the stiffness of the shoes, which decreases efficiency and comfort.

— Moisture: Water won't hurt cycling shoes as long as you dry them properly. To do this, as soon as you get home, extract any removable liners and stuff the shoes with newspaper, which will absorb the moisture and dry the shoes. Do not place the shoes by a heat source Check those cleat bolts so they won't loosen and ruin your ride!because this can damage them. If the shoes are really wet, replace the newspaper after a few hours (the first batch is probably saturated).

— Maintenance: While not much can go wrong with cycling shoes, we recommend checking the bolts that attach the cleats to the soles about monthly. If these loosen, the cleats can change position, which may cause knee pain. If you have a pair of shoes with buckles that ratchet, they may be attached with hardware. It's a good idea to regularly check that this hardware is tight, too.

See a related post: Preserving Your Drivetrain


Come to Finish Line Bikes in Bakersfield, CA for all your cycling needs! We are located at:

8850 Stockdale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93311
(661) 883-6268
info@finishlinebikes.com
www.finishlinebikes.com

New Years' Closeout Deals at Finish Line in Bakersfield!

Huge Savings on Previous Year Giant, Cannondale, and Felt Bikes.

Come in today to see the full selection of closeout bikes.

1 Medium SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD

1 - 51c Medium SOLD.  Small Left

1 - 56c 1 54c and 1 58

1 Medium 1 Medium	1 54c

These are only some of the closeout bikes we have available. Come to Finish Line today to get in on these deals!