Reno round 1: Live wires and classic steel at Northstar Outdoor demo

After an annual Vegas residency dating back to before Celine Dion permanently set up camp in the City of Lights, Interbike launched into its first stay in Reno, Nevada this year.

The annual bicycle industry trade show made the move partially to have better access to proper mountain bike trails for the two day outdoor demo component of the show. Canadian Cycling Magazine’s Interbike contingent loaded up into a bus to headed from dusty downtown Reno to hit the even dustier trails of Northstar Resort. Just across the Nevada-California from the biggest little city in the world, Northstar had a mix of XC trails and lift access downhill riding. Here’s a some of the highlights we found:

Ritchey Ultra

2019 Ritchey Ultra, covered in a thick layer of Northstar dust

A slim headtube bearing the intials of Tom Ritchey

The Ultra frame is made of Ritchy Logic tubing

Designed by the legendary Tom Ritchey

T.R. stamped in the Ultra's dropouts

The frame is compatible with 1x and 2x drivetrains

Disc breaks will be a nice upgrade from the canti brakes featured on the first versions of the Ultra back in the 1980's

Cable routing is a mix of external and internal

The new-look Ritchey Ultra is designed around a 120mm fork.

Ritchey announced the return of the Ultra at the Interbike outdoor demo, a bike the longstanding American mountain bike maker had first launched in the 80’s. With decades of experience riding on California’s deeply dusty trails, it’s no surprise Ritchey’s new aggressive cross country bike felt at home on Northstar’s XC loop.

Fox Live Valve system

Fox had its new Live Valve syspension system out in the open at Interbike

The system uses an intricate sensor system to automatically adjust the front and rear suspension settings

Pivot is one of the few companies that has frames prepared to seamlesly integrate Fox's new system. The 135mm Switchblade isn't currently one of them, but Fox's rider had jerry rigged the system to work.

Sensors on the fork and rear triangle of the frame

Automatically adjust the suspension as you ride

Fox Suspension had its new Live Valve suspension adjustment system on display. It was also set up on several of Pivot’s demo bikes at outdoor demo. There’s a limited number of frames that are currently set up to run the wires internally. Pivot’s one of the few companies with frames on offer. Rocky Mountain is another. The huge line for Live Valve equipped Pivot demo bikes showed there’s no shortage of interest in the system.

Crank Brothers

Crank Brothers had a number of new additions to its line on display at Interbike. The Stamp platform pedal range grows, including a new composite option. Highline dropper posts now comes in more options as well, and shorter body lengths across the board to fit more frames. There’s also a few new options for the Crank Brothers cleats. Different float and release angles better suit different rider preferences and riding styles.

Canyon Torque

Not new, but the direct-to-consumer brand has carried Canadian’s Mark Wallace and Magnus Manson to excellent international results. While not in Canada, yet, outdoor demo was a great chance to hop on the brands 175mm Torque AL 5.0. Canyon’s bikes were in high demand, including the bi-plane handlebar Grail gravel bike. Luckily, legendary road sprinter Erik Zable was hanging around the booth talking to riders as they waited and taking pictures.

Continental Tires

Trail King tires just got meatier, with a 2.6" option

There's wide range of 27.5" and 29" tires in the new, more substantial width

All still handmade in Germany

Continental Tires completely revamped its mountain bike tire line up earlier this year, including a tread developed in partnership with Addidas. At Interbike, the German tire maker had more widths available in the new tires, including the newly popular 2.6″ width.