The Motobecane Fanton CX Cyclocross Bike is in stock at Bikes Direct. The 2010 Fantom CX comes in 3 colors, blue, gray, and yellow. It comes with either a frame colored fork or a black one. According to bikes direct there is no choice  of what you color fork you get, which is pretty typical for Bikes Direct.

The Fantom CX features Sora/Tiagra Drivetrain, and TruVativ Touro Cross aluminum crank arms with TruShift 36/50T Chainrings.

The Fantom CX also features Tektro Oryx Canti Brakes front and back,  CroMo Fork, Alex R500 wheels with Kenda Kwick Cross Tires.

You can get this whole package shipped for only $499.99 USD which as always includes shipping.

Have you seen Jonny Dorey?

He has been missing since March 2nd and we're very worried. He is a British exchange student at VCU in Richmond, Virginia. He lives in the GRC dorms and his bike is missing. He hasn't been to classes, his phone's been off for days, etc.

He's been reported to the VCU police as a missing person and any info you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for your help!

Sgt. Patience Abrams
VCU Police
804.828.6409

His Bike is missing as well.

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This bike caught my eye a while ago, and I just cant help but think I would love to buy one some day. I am talking about the Dawes Deadeye 29er. 

It does not get more simple than a fully rigid, single speed bike. When I look at this bike I see cycling perfection. Its not fancy, or high tech but it is very striking to see. This bike has some really huge selling points that make it a hugely different than every single bike in its price class. 

First thing is this bike comes stock with V-brakes, but the frame, fork, and wheels are all disc capable.

As you can see this bike also has sliding drop outs, which are a Single Speed riders best friends because there is no need for the added weight of a tensioner. 

Believe it or not this bike also comes with a Derailleur hanger which also makes it very easy to convert to a geared bike.

In case you were wondering this frame is Cro-Mo Steel, which should make it a very comfortable ride.

This bike comes in 3 colors, Orange (my favorite), Black, and White. Sizes are 15, 17, 19, and 21 inch which means there is a size for just about every rider. This price of this wonderful Mountain bike is only $319.00USD and ships for free if you buy it from Bikes Direct.

Learn to float your bike over obstacles

Pressure control is the use of body movement vertically over the bike to make it lighter or heavier as required by the trail. Lighten the bike to ride over short rough sections of trail or weight it up for extra grip.

Unweighting

Think of a Kangaroo bouncing qucikly across the a field. The faster they go the more distance they cover with each leap. As they land from one leap they bend their legs to absorb the landing then use that stored energy to launch themselves forward for the next leap. To lighten the bike use a similar technique to take most of your weight off it as you come to a rough or rooty section.

As you approach the rough section use both your arms and legs to push yourself quickly up and away from the bike. As you stop pushing with your arms and legs your bodies momentum will make it want to continue upwards for a second or two taking your weight off the bike. You should feel nice and light as if on a trampoline. The bike is now unweighted until you need to use your arms and legs to stop yourself falling onto the bike. The more effort you put into pushing your body up the more you can unweight the bike.

You can use this unweighting in a number of ways

Completely relax your arms and legs for maximum unweighting over a short period of time for short but very rough sections or maintain a little support in your arms and legs to slowly return to the bike. This will give less unweighting but over a longer period of time for longer not so rough sections.

Start and finish in a crouched riding position for even more range of vertical movement and a stronger or longer unweight.

Weight Up

As you return to the bike you will need to slow your fall using your arms and legs. As slow your fall you will feel heavier, you are now weighting the bike. Your downwards momentum is being transfered through your bike to your tyres, forcing them into the dirt giving you extra grip. The extra grip lasts until you stop pushing down on the bars and pedals.

This extra grip can be used in a number of ways, you could give the brakes an extra squeeze whilst weighted up or use the extra grip to get you round a tight corner a bit faster. These techniques are covered in more detail in later topics.

You can weight the bike up from the normal attack position without unweighting it first by lowering your weight to a crouched position before pushing back of the pedals and bars although coming from fully unweighted will give much more weight to the bike.

Keep your balance on the bike by staying over the cranks

Keep your weight centered over the cranks all the way over the obstacle to avoid an unexpected trip over the bars or the front end getting loose when you land.

The Access XCL 9r Mountain frame at Performance Cycles might just be the best deal on a budget 29er frame. Lets see what you get for your $99.99

Fully butted, 6061 aluminum frame with flawless TIG welds throughout blends superior stiffness with excellent weight savings

Externally machined headtube with reinforced gusset adds strength and resilience

S-bend chain and seatstays allow ample tire/chainring/heel clearance

Small details were not overlooked - there's a replaceable rear derailleur, double water bottle braze-ons and top tube cable routing

Pro paint and enhanced graphics finish off this incredible value

Includes headset, rear derailleur hanger and seatpost clamp

There is one key point that makes this a extra special deal. Not only are you getting a frame with the normal derailleur hanger and seat post clamp, but you also get a basic Headset. According to some owners of this frame it is a basic Cane Creek Headset with Caged Bearings. Performance Bicycles, does not list the model of Headset.

Standard ground shipping for just the frame is $21.99. That brings the total price to $121.98, which is a pretty good deal considering what you get. If your lucky enough to have a Performance Bicycle in your town they ship every order for free that is worth over $50.00 to the store, so you can save even more money by doing that. 

My conclusion is this is a great buy for someone who wants to build a 29er and doesn't want to spend a ton of money.