12 Hours of Santos - HX2 29er Report

Report from sponsored rider Owen Simpson.

12 Hours of Santos    2/20/2010

      I made my annual trip down to Santos again this year. The trip this year provided some perfect weather to finally get some good riding and a chance to really get some good miles on my new Chumba. I didn’t have the geared on finished yet, but since the geometry is exactly the same for both bikes, I looked forward to riding the single speed down there.

  
      My wife and dad came down for support again, and this year I was doing a team event with some friends of mine, Pam and Dave Forshee. We got to Santos early in the afternoon on Friday, we had plenty of time to set up and get in a lap or 2 of test riding. The weather was perfect (around 70 degrees) and the course was nice and dry. The test lap went great, it seemed easier this year than it did last year, and felt really good on the new bike. I was running a 32 x 16 and actually considered putting a 15 on the back, but decided to wait and see. Pam had a little difficulty with the really technical sections, but did great on the course.
 

      On Saturday I was a little late getting to the race because the GPS wanted to take us on a sightseeing route from the camper. Pam decided that she wanted to do the run and the first lap, which worked out well for me too. She took off in the middle of the mob and held position on her lap. I took the next 2 laps and I wanted to see what I had at this point. The first 2 miles or so are very technical and did not give me a lot of room to pass riders, so I took what I could until the trail opened up. When I got to the open section, I got to a pace that I could keep for a few hours if I needed to, but could still gain time. I passed my wife, taking pictures, about 5 miles in and let her know that I had passed 29 people so far (it turned into a game for me). I was spinning like crazy on a couple of really open spots on the course to keep my speed up, the bike was perfectly stable and stuck to the pine needles and sand like glue letting me keep all of my momentum with almost no drifting. I was having a blast!

  
      Dave went next, the Pam again, and I knocked out 2 more laps. When I came in to hand off to Dave, Pam let me know that she was done for the day and Dave would only be doing one more. I was okay with that, we decided before we got there to do it for fun and do as much as we wanted too. I was just hoping I had enough left for the last 5 + hours. I got in one more lap before the night laps and could tell that I was already a little slower, but I still felt good. I put on lights and had a good first night lap and I was stoked that it was still warm enough to ride in shorts. On my next lap, I started to feel cramps on the really steep stuff, but tried to take it as easy as I could on a ss in those areas. I got to the flats and just kept it smooth, some of the faster geared guys started getting around me now, but gave me a good update on my pace. When I got to the last part of the course, which is also very technical all muscle strength had disappeared. I piled it up on the first really steep section and offered some skin to the trail as a sacrifice, then scraped a tree really hard on the way back down and gave up a little more skin. After my 4^th time of testing the firmness on the ground I decided to pull in to the pits and call it a good day. The race got me really motivated for the rest of the season!! The new bike was awesome on both the really technical and really flat stuff. 

You can check out more on Owen's blog here :http://www.owenjsimpson.blogspot.com/

New 2010 CHUMBA Fox RP23 for XCL and VF2

After long deliberation and careful testing, CHUMBA decided on their 2010 RP23 spec for their frames.  The higher volume air can should give the linear chassis a complimentary feel allowing smooth and supple progression throughout the travel stroke.  Further, low compression and medium rebound will give the right mix of bump absorption and pedaling characteristics to try and replicate the feel of a properly tuned coil shock.  We chose to keep the rebound at medium to slow it down so as to give a controlled feeling on g-outs and small drops, while leaving the compression tune light so as to let the suspension do most of the work.

As we've been switching between different tunes in the last few years based upon Fox's recommendations as model years change, we think we've found a sweet spot with the new RP23's internals that is a noticeable improvement over past RP23 versions. We hope that many of you can feel confident in the new technology.

Poll Results

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen:


We had 3 polls in the last few weeks; and had great feedback from our blog visitor on all 3 polls.  So, we thought we'd post the results and talk about what we've learned.

Our most recent poll was, "What is your favorite drive train?"

Shimano XT (18 votes) came in the winner, and SRAM x.9 a close second (16 votes).  SRAM x.0 (11) came in third and Shimano XTR (5) a distant fourth.  The poll suggests riders are finding the XT group to be a leading choice - and riders may feel the pricier group sets just may not be worth the coin.

Full XT build from BIKE Magazine - XT wheels, brakes, and drivetrain.  

The second poll asked how important waterbottles are?  62 percent of voters did not use water bottle mounts anymore at all on their frame - while 37 percent still used, or considered using them.  Seems like water bottle mounts are going out of vogue - but still a significant amount of people using them should urge frame manufacturers to offer this option when possible.

The third poll asked about head tubes.  This poll was set up to get some insight as to what head tube our new frames should use.  After speaking with Josh over at Cane Creek, it seems like tapered and 1.5 headtubes seem to be the new rage and he showed me a lot of cool new headsets they were developing over there.

So what did our poll say?  Our voters chose the standard 1 1/8" headtube as the #1 pick with 24 votes.  The 1.5" headtube came in second with 20 votes, and the tapered headtube was third with 16 votes.

Thanks everyone for participating, and we will keep those polls coming!  Also, please keep on posting and discussing, we love receiving feedback.

Show Bike Builds Part I: Ano Red VF2

This will be a monthly series of CHUMBA builds that we do from our factory in Anaheim to give different build ideas and options to our customers. This month, we decided to work on a bead-blasted anodized red med. VF2.  

Check out the immaculate finish - pristine dime bead welds all around the tube junction areas and a BB faced by machine.

CHUMBA frames are some of the best-manufactured frames in the business.

Custom-built wheelset featuring Chris King hubs and DT Swiss 5.1 rims and spokes.  185mm Hope sawblade rotors handle braking duties.

Hope levers and CHUMBA lock-on grips for a solid grip in any terrain or condition.

XT crankset and E-type front derailleur with Gamut Dual Ring system provide power to the wheels.

Here she is complete, in all her glory!  Sporting a Fox Float RLC front fork and a Cane Creek Double Barrel with Titanium spring, the suspension is buttery smooth and highly adjustable with independent low and high speed rebound and compress adjustments. Coupled with a linear and rigid chassis, this versatile bike is a perfect and reliable companion for epic rides.

MSRP for these bike is $4,950.00.  Interested parties may inquire at sales@chumbaracing.com or call 714-986-9100.  Happy trails!

New Discounted 2010 Price! CHUMBA Lock-on Grips and Saddles!

We have anodized end caps in red and blue, and laser-etched graphics. The CHUMBA Lock-On grips offer an extremely narrow racing profile and provides a surface covered in small beads for maximum traction and gripping. Further, the lock-on technology ensures slip free performance.$12.99 a pair.

We also received more saddles! The CHUMBA saddle uses a rail system that allows flexibility for comfort and performance. The flexibility results from the rails being slightly suspended from the base and positioned at the outermost points of the saddle leaving a wider area of the saddle free to flex, absorb shock, and aid in riding position. The saddle is not only durable, but weight savings are significant as well. Additionally, outer edge guards provide increased durability, and a recessed center channel adds comfort. Fill: Superlight. Rail: Cr-mo. Size: 271 x 130mm. Weight: 224g. $21.99 per saddle.

Please e-mail sales@chumbaracing.com or call 714-986-9100 to order.

Insight into Prototyping of the New EVO G2

Hello CHUMBA friends and family,

It's a rainy day here in Southern California, but the work hasn't stopped.  Ted Tanouye, designer and founder of CHUMBA Racing is hard at work getting the new EVO dialed and ready for production.  We were running the EVO as a 1*9 because we had to make some modifications before we could fit in a front derailleur.  With the popularity of Hammerschmidt, we thought it was appropriate to weld on some ISCG tabs and give the drive train system a try on our new chassis during prototype phase.

Ted custom fabricated a ISCG tab for a clean fit on to the frame from a solid block of aluminum in our factory.

                                                              Metal art!

                                CHUMBA Frame designer and fabricator Ted at work!

                                                   A picture of the machine

As many of you know, this bike is designed with the following features:

- 68 degree head angle with 140mm fork; 67 degree head angle with 160mm fork

- 13.3" bottom bracket height with 140mm fork, 13.5" with 160mm fork 

- 150mm of travel  

- ISCG 05 mounts (Hammerschmidt compatible)

- Expected weight 6.3 lbs. without shock

* These numbers are based off of a prototype and current set-up; actual production numbers may vary slightly but they will also be released before ship date.

The bike MSRP will be set at $1,650.00 and we are hoping for a ship-date in July 2010.  We will keep everyone updated - prototyping and production is never a completely smooth process, so thanks for your patience and understanding!

-CHUMBA

CHUMBA Junior Expert Captures Top Spot at Southridge!

Here's the report we got from Adam, congratulations!

At the second race of the Southridge Winter Series I raced and won downhill in the Junior Expert class on my Chumba F5. The course this week was reasonably quick, but high speeds and epic dirt made for a good time. In the top section of the course the turns were flat and required a smooth tracking rear end and precision brake control. My Chumba F5 performed beautifully, and took the turns like a champ. 

Along my  way to the infamous "wall", there were a few nice sized drops and g-outs, but thanks to the bottomless feel of the rear end on my F5, I hardly noticed them. When I got down to the pedal section I was on the cranks like white on rice and took home the win by three seconds over second place Brad King. My time would have set me for Sixth in Pro Men, less than Eight seconds off of Gee Atherton, the Pro winner. Results from the race can be found at southridgeusa.com

    

Every time I push my F5 to what I think is the edge, it just keeps inching out the limit for how hard I can ride. I can't thank you guys enough for making such a great bike that takes has pushed me to the level I am today. Now after this win I am one step closer to me short-term goal of Sea Otter Champion.

Thanks a Ton for the Awesome Bike,

     Adam Digby

Thank you Adam!  And keep pinning it!

Guest Article: Plush Rides, Australia

We have been importing Chumba frames into Australia since early 2005.  At that time, each frame was made-to-order, and welded and assembled by the same person who took your order, usually Ted.  What attracted me to the brand was how small the operation was, yet, how much inspiration and craftsmanship went into each frame.  I thought it was really cool I could call up the company, and talk to the person who designed and welded our frames.  

One of the first XCLs ever produced

I remember importing one of the first ten XCLs ever made.  I watched that frame go from production runs of 20 frames either assembled by Ted or Alan, and eventually into a frame that is now sold to hundreds of customers worldwide.  The frame has racked up glowing reviews from media both here in Australia and the US, this has been really exciting to watch.

Chumba’s products have only gotten better with time, and its nice knowing that your customer will come back with a smile after he or she throws a leg over the bike. The bikes have kept up with their racing heritage over here also. The bikes have racked up multiple championships both in DH and XC.  I vividly remember using CHUMBA's AM bike, the EVO, to help a sponsored rider compete with full-on downhill rigs and taking out an elite mens DH series and finishing top spot in 4 out of the 6 rounds.

We used this EVO to compete against many a DH rig

                                                     EVO in action!

Single speed CHUMBA!

                          A fun playbike.

I've also raced on many of CHUMBA's bikes.  Here's my latest machine:

Perfect for Super D

At only 26.2lbs (11.9kg) for a large-sized frame with pedals, tubes, and bottle cage this is a light and fast bike.  I've been able to modify the geometry with a 7.5" * 2.0" shock for a lower BB and slacker head angle - and I don't get any tire rub on full compression with a Maxxis Larson 2.0.

                                  Me, racing in Fontana with the CHUMBA team.

It's been a lot of fun watching the company evolve and grow alongside the sport and I'm happy to see a growing community of riders.  We look forward to continuing to working with CHUMBA in the future.  And if you are ever in Australia look us up for a ride!!!

Cheers!

Josh, Plush Rides

Celebrating 16 Years of CHUMBA Racing

This year, the CHUMBA organization will turn 16 years old.  Starting from extremely humble beginnings in the corner of a small bike shop, CHUMBA's story is one that revolves around tremendous personal sacrifice, commitment, and a burning passion to make the best bicycles possible.

As many of you know, the story starts in Anaheim, California, with CHUMBA founder Ted Tanouye, the son of a NASA aerospace engineer.  In the 80s, when suspension mountain bikes were in their infancy, Ted was  known as the kid who received a welding torch from his father as a Christmas present, and then use it on the neighborhood's kids bikes to make some of the first suspension bikes in existence.  Ted went on to graduate from the University of Southern California where he studied mechanical engineering and accounting.

                            Ted Tanouye doing what he does best: frame-building

After college, he went on to open one of Southern California's premier high-end bicycle shops, the Bike Beat, in Fullerton, California.  He carried some of the most innovative bikes of the time, including Mantis bikes - which were produced locally by Mountain Bike Action Editor Richard Cunningham.  Ted continued to ride the Fullerton Loop - a trail network put together by MBA's editor and rode every Thursday evening by Ted and crew until this very day.

But, despite all of the retail success, the real story lied in what was going on in the back of the shop.  CNC machines, welding tables, and other frame manufacturing equipment were producing bikes that were quickly producing a buzz among local riders.  In this facility, Ted would begin to experiment with longer travel frames, and travel up to Big Bear, California, to ride, test, and compete with his designs.  The results were excellent.

The first foray into the downhill market, the CHUMBA Zulu, quickly became internationally acclaimed, making the cover of mountain bike magazines, praised by editors worldwide, and attracting some of the best downhillers and freeriders in the country.  Not long after, Ted assembled a team of future national and world champions - who would leave a permanent mark on the sport's race history.  Lisa Sher, 2002 National DH Champion would represent Team CHUMBA to victories throughout the season.

                                       Lisa Sher, 2002 National Champion

Flanked by future 2x National champion Duncan Riffle, world champion Lars Tribus, and freeride legend Shaums March, Team CHUMBA left their mark on history.  The red, white, and black were respected nationwide - as one industry insider put it, "a cottage gem" - frames built during the off-season to fund the true passion - racing to innovate and prove.

Team CHUMBA - handcrafted frames for the world's fastest riders

As time passed on, Ted began to experiment with full-suspension trail bikes in the 5" travel range to ride local Southern California trails with friends.  However, he made them with the same frame-building techniques and philosophy that he used for his downhill fames.  These ideas included keeping the bikes slack, quick handling, laterally stiff, durable, and above all, a supple fully active suspension.  When the first trail bike, the XCL was sent out to Mountain Bike Action - the bike received one of the best reviews ever from the magazine to date. The reviewer emphatically stated it "could turn circles around any bikes out there" and praise it's "razor-sharp handling" and ability to "motor up" technical climbs.  The review is available here: http://www.chumbaracing.com/images/mba_0607_chumba_xcl_review.pdf

Ted's second attempt into the all-mountain world, the six inch EVO, initially received mixed reviews when it was first released.  Many critics said the frame was too "unconventional" looking, and questioned the engineering behind it.  But several years later, the verdict arrived, the EVO would receive one of the highest user ratings on MTBR.com and win the coveted Best of MTBR award.

CHUMBA continued to produce trail bikes in-house in the Anaheim facility, but demand quickly outgrew supply.  Subcontractors were used both in the United States and overseas; however, the decision where to produce was made strictly on quality without compromise.

Several years later, with the help of a dedicated and committed staff, CHUMBA improves everyday in all areas.  Deep commitment from individuals in every area of the business, including mechanical engineers, sales and marketing reps, as well as shipping and bike assembly make up the organization we know as CHUMBA today.  The racing heritage continues as 2x National Champion posted impressive results at the 2009 UCI World Cup aboard the CHUMBA F5 frame - newly revamped with a new linkage system, adjustable geometry, and other innovations.

Although Ted's contributions in beginning the company will always be acknowledged, current and past team mechanics, demo fleet managers, racers, customers, dealers, distributors, and operations personnel will always be credited for the growth and continuation of the CHUMBA legacy.

CHUMBA Racing Adds New Distributor in Hong Kong

CHUMBA partners with Hong Kong Bicycle LTD, located in North Point, about 15 minutes from the heart of Hong Kong - this is a great location for visitors and locals to go for all of their high-end bicycle needs.

Hong Kong Bicycle LTD specializes in high-end frames and builds, and actively participates in local races and events.  They now have the entire CHUMBA product line in stock, so if you are in the HK area, please give them a call or pay them a visit.

Here's their website (which will be updated with more CHUMBA content this week): http://www.hkcycle.com/enabout.asp