As we enter into the heart of the month of January, we have finally excepted that 2012 is in full swing.  It isn't that we are not looking forward to a new and awesome year, but it has been a different transition.  The time honored tradition of making New Year's Resolutions has come and gone for most, and while we have had our lists in the back of our heads, it was not until right now that we will begin to acknowledge them.  So we are going to start real slow and easy and take a look at our TOP 10 LIST of bikes that we would love to flog in 2012.  Before we jump in I will preface this with a simple warning .... The bikes below may not be the sexiest, most expensive, most exotic (although in most cases they are), they are simply the bikes that have been pedaling circles in our head.  So let us begin in reverse order and work our way to the dream steed.  When you are done, please chime in on your Top 10 and we may scrounge up a prize pack for one lucky winner.

TheDirtyWheel Top 10 Bikes for 2012

9. PIVOT POINT - DJ BIKE

  So first things first, we started at number 9 and for a good reason, soon to be revealed.  The PIVOT POINT was a bike we fell in love with at INTERBIKE and we still feel the same way about it.  The only reason it checks in at spot 9, is because it is a single use weapon based on discplines where we still have lots of growing to do.  Part of our New Years resolutions include learning to really jump, and getting in shape (we are serious).  This bike provides an opportunity to do both via DJ parks and pumptracks, although we imagine we might just stand in the garage and stare at it if we actually had one.  SPECS/GEOMETRY

8. GIANT REIGN X0

  On to number 8 where most of you will continue to scratch your head and wonder what we are thinking.  GIANT holds a special place in our hearts.  GIANT is an industry leader and innovator and we have been sold on their product ever since our first ride on the Trance X series.  As such, sometimes we wish for a solid option in between our DH rig and our Trance X0 which brings us to the REIGN X0.  Are there more diverse bikes in the 6-7 inch freeride market?  I'm sure there are but what we love about the REIGN is that it knows exactly what it is and what it is not.  This is a bike that can take the worst that most of us can dish out and not give you any complaints.  Sometimes you just want a purpose built bike thats unabashed, packed with the best components, and ready to go.  This is that bike .... and we like!  Tomorrow we may want a 6 inch do it all bike that blurs the lines but today we want this beast, which surprisingly is very pedal-able for an almost 7 inch travel bike thanks in part to the Maestro suspension. SPECS/GEOMETRY

4. KHS DH300

  This bike is definitely a dream machine and whats better about it is the fact that almost every man can acquire this bike without a mortgage.  Having been around this bike at the Southridge USA series last year, we got to see the likes of Logan Bingelli and Kevin Aiello storming down the hill on this uber capable DH bike.  This world beating machine features KHS F.A.S.T. suspension technology (Floating Arc Suspension Technology) and 8.3 inches of travel in the rear.  The uninitiated may think KHS? World Beating? and the answer is a definite yes.  In case you still don't believe, you may recall that Logan Bingelli piloted the DH300 to a Gravity National Championship beating out none other than Aaron Gwin.  Big things are brewing at KHS and that team was on top of more podiums than... well you get the picture. SPECS/GEOMETRY

 

3.  INTENSE CYCLES CARBINE

  The Carbine is a do-it-all trail bike from the world renowned hand crafting fabricators at Intense Cycles in the Inland Empire, Ca.  In reality this bike coming in at #3 could have been the 951 or even the M9 to fill our gravity desires, but we chose the Carbine instead.  Its inclusion and its creation have been controversial as INTENSE is known for controlling all parts of the manufacturing, and the carbon fiber Carbine has to be out-sourced.  While we applaud INTENSE CYCLES for keeping a tight reign on their operations, we feel its good to see them keeping the market in mind and always looking to improve on their already amazing offerings.  The VPP (VIRTUAL PIVOT POINT) suspension is adjustable between 5.5 to 6 inches and weighs in at a svelte 5.5 lbs for this do it all trail bike.  I personally have at least a few friends that have this bike is on their list and after seeing it in person we now know why.  Being in the Inland Empire we hope to bring you future hands on impressions of this bike so stay tuned ... Visit Intense Cycles site for more info, pricing, SPECS/GEOMETRY

 

10. A ROAD BIKE

  O.k. I told you that all would be revealed and before we get to number one we need to jump back to number 10.  Had I opened with a road bike at number 10, most of you guys would have checked out. How is a road bike on our dream list ???  Well you are dreaming if you think we are going to spend our small bike budget on a road bike, it is a completely ludicrous idea.  With that out of the way, I can say that I have often wished I could get a quick pedal around my town on something other than a mountain bike.  To show that we haven't considered spending our finite budget on a road bike, we will skip any pictures and just say that we have looked only at entry/intermediate offerings from KHS, FUJI, SPECIALIZED, etc.  The road bike can be a very good tool for someone looking to get serious about competing at a higher level on their MTB, or for someone like myself that just really wants to get serious about my overall conditioning.


1. YETI SB-66C

  Number one and the top spot falls to a bike that absolutely stole our hearts the first time we saw it.  Generally I am not a big fan of turquoise but if we actually owned this bike, it would have to be in Yeti turquoise.  The first time we got to really get a good look at the SB-66 was during our JENSONUSA interview.  As the year wore on and we kept seeing the SB-66 at the trade shows, our desire for this 6 inch dream machine has grown.  The switch technology allows the suspension to work independently of chain forces and pedal feedback giving you an extremely efficient machine.  The fact that this bike can handle 80% of the riding we get to do on a regular basis makes it the most versatile option for our dream list.  You just can't pedal a DH bike everywhere no matter how much you like them so we dream of the Yeti for our everyday bike.  The carbon SB-66C is said to be a full pound lighter bringing the frame in right around 6 lbs. but nearly everything else is said to remain the same. SPECS/GEOMETRY

  Now he has started school and I'm amazed at the mix of emotions that I have.  I am wanting to freeze time and cherish these moments, yet I look forward to all the new things we will experience together.  This is much like the website although on a less emotional level.  TheDirtyWheel has experienced plenty of growing pains in the last 5 months.  Our outward appearance has changed and internally we have changed.  We are becoming more experienced and we are growing with every passing day.  Site traffic grows and email comes in more frequently with all manner of questions and requests.  We have learned that you guys really want the Review section and How-To's and we promise we have big news coming on both fronts,.  This is where we have probably failed you the enthuisiast, most.  Yet even in our failures we have successes such as : we have gone from an Alexa.com ranking of 13 miliion to around 3 million in the last 3 months, we have done 2 major features , we have added an integrated Youtube Channel., and we have garnered inclusion on Alltop.com. 

  TheDirtyWheel needs user interaction so that we can grow and provide you with the content you want. So, we ask, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE ?  The coming months will see a bike park overview section, features with a top flight pro and world class bike manufacturer, as well as some other items we cant wait to unveil .

  You want more growth ?  Well most recently I have been fortunate enough to feel myself progressing again as a rider.  It seems like for awhile I have been stuck in this mode of riding with purpose.  Now, thats not the worst thing in the world, but it shouldnt be the only type of riding you do.  I generally get only a couple days a week to hop on the bike and pedal.  So when those days arrive, having a timeline and specific agenda can take away some of the enjoyment, without you really noticing right away.  Fortunately for me, one of my main riding partners has gone through his own metamorphisis.  You see this individual has long been a beginner/intermediate rider (Not that I am something special in any way). He seemed to ride as much for exercise as he does for actual enjoyment or for care towards the individual skills that could make him a better all around rider.  Said individual was always someone to talk to on the trails but never someone that would help me to be a better rider or even someone I could mentor.  Recently, this individual changed in a way that I couldn't  have guessed was going to happen.    Suddenly he started agressively attacking jumps and drops that he would have never contemplated in the past.  It started with him talking about this or that jump he tried to hit , me not even sure if I believed him.  Then when we rode together I witnessed it and after shaking off my stupor, I decided (Ego Decided) I can't let him hit that while I just standby and watch.  So in the recent weeks we have been happily flinging ourselves at obstacles we use to avoid, sometimes with success, and other times with failure ... but always with a big ass grin.   I have always been more comfortable with speed, tech sections, and steep areas while being more leary of jumps and drops.  My hope is that my riding partner may now be more comfortable hitting speeds which make your eyes water and that we can both round out our skillsets a little more.

  The goal is that if you made it to the end of this scattered brain splatter, that you think about where you want to see progression in your life and make it happen.  Rememer Life is a cycle or the cycle is my life .... am I delirious and quoting the Lion King ??? Whatever, just appreciate your current situation and look for opportunities to get better.