Ibis Mojo HD Custom Build Part 2

Bruce's Ibis Mojo HD is all buttoned up and on the trail as we speak. Bruce ordered the frame with a DHX Air shock. Here's the rest of it:

Fox Talas 36 160 Kashima Fork
Chris King Mixed Taper Headset
Thomson Elite Stem


Chris King hubs laced to Mavic XM 819 UST rims (alloy nipples and DT Competition spokes)
Maxxis High Roller 2.35 Tires


FULL 2011 Shimano XTR Dyna-sys group (Trail version)

203/185 Shimano XT Rotors
Race Face SIXC Carbon Bar


2011 Shimano XTR XC Pedals
Rock Shox Reverb Seatpost
WTB Rocket V Pro Saddle

Jimmy, our head mechanic and service manager does the custom builds.



Bruce is a happy man. He was kind enough to let us all test ride it, and man this thing is dialed.


Stay tuned for a ride report from Bruce once he gets it back up to BC.

Ibis Tranny Carbon Test

A customer brought us her Ibis Tranny with a cracked rear triangle. She'd crashed pretty hard on some lava rock; the chain-stay was cracked almost all the way through on 3 sides. She continued to ride the bike for a month with little protest from the bike frame.

Once we'd swapped out her rear triangle (replacement courtesy of the Ibis warranty department), we decided to conduct some 'research' on Ibis' carbon lay-up.

Test #1
Jimmy, our service manager, weighs about a buck-30 dripping wet.



Not a peep out of the frame when he stood on the open end of it.





Test #2
Let's put a little muscle into this. Dave, one of our mechanics, weighs more than Jimmy. Like 70+ lbs more (that was a couple weeks ago--he's been hitting the gym pretty hard since). When The frame protested a little under Dave's weight--a creak, some flex--but didn't snap when he bounced up and down on it.



Test #3
Out came the ball-peen hammer. It took about 30 blows to the cracked area to get it to finally snap. Photos didn't do this test justice, but I think you can imagine how it went down.

What do we take away from this? Even you big boys don't have to worry about riding carbon hard. Santa Cruz is releasing its carbon V-10 downhill race machine this year. If that's not a vote of confidence, I don't know what is.

Bike Shop Porn (or Custom Bike Builds)

Helping a customer with a custom build offers a certain payoff for us beyond the cash changing hands. We, the sales guys and the mechanics, get to live vicariously through our customers when they want us to work with them to build a custom ride. We help sort out their needs and what will best serve their riding style. We get to geek out with them comparing this part to that one and so on.

Bruce, from Vancouver BC, came to us to build up an Ibis Mojo HD. A sick starting point. He's not sparing any expense along the way. For starters, he rides some gnarly stuff in BC and wanted the extra volume of a DHX Air 5, so he upgraded from the stock Fox RP23. As his bike comes together, we'll continue to share some photos.

New ad campaign for Kryptonite?

Mountain Bike Rentals at The Farm

In March, we always sell off our rentals. If you didn't already know that, it's a great way to get a deal on a sweet bike.

To get the fleet ready for this sale, we'll shut down the rentals for the month of February. A new rental fleet will be ready to go on March 1. Stay tuned for new models we'll rent--a great way to demo some bikes. Speaking of demos, we're also working on building up some nice demo bikes. Maybe an Ibis Mojo, a full-suspension 29er? Suggestions?

Sandy Ridge Trail Care Day

Get out and lend a hand with some trail maintenance at one of our favorite trails.

*NEW* for this season is an incentive program: for each work day you attend, you get an entry for a drawing to happen in June for the Sandy Ridge Trail dedication on National Trail Day. Sponsors have contributed some serious bike schwag, details to be announced.

Come on out and help be a part of making the trails you ride even better. Expectations? A few hours of trail work and then on your bike by 1PM. We'll get you and your bike up to the work area and then you can ride afterwards. Never been to a work party? No problem, come and we'll provide instruction.

More details here.

Groupons and Half-Price Tune-ups/Overhauls

Hey, just a heads-up that our winter overhaul special will wind down at the end of the month. Last chance to get yer bike in here for an inexpensive overhaul before the riding season begins.

If you have a Groupon, get in here and use it before the tune-up prices go back up. We'll still honor the Groupons after 2/1, but it will serve as a $40 credit toward a tune-up.

A Peek Inside the Fat Tire Farm Renovations

So, you may have noticed the recent work going on at The Farm. Moved some things around, ripped up some nasty old carpet, ground down the concrete floor, slapped up some fresh paint and slat-wall, and voila. It feels like a new shop. Stop by and check it out. Hang out at our new bar (espresso machine to come), watch a video, shoot the shit with the mechanics.




New Demo 8 frames are in. Sick.


Stocked on rain and winter gear.

...and we're back.

The Farm is open for business again. While we were renovating, we had lots of worried visitors stop by asking if we were closing. Not to fear, just doing some housekeeping to bring you a better shopping experience in 2011. Come in and check out our new space. Photos to follow soon.