I picked up one of "our guys" from the airport, and we drove in to the venue. On Dirt Demo is where you can test ride a bike from any vendor there, on any terrain in Bootleg Canyon. We waled the venue, and finally decided to demo bikes from Marin. There was a Mount Vision for my wingman, and not much else for me. We were planning on taking the shuttle up, and riding "Girl Scout" back. My ride? A 29" wheel Alpine Trail hardtail, a $629 value. I was the only one on the shuttle not riding a full suspension bike, like "what part of this picture does not fit?". Anyway, I got to experience all the advantages of that bike, and liked it. The bigger wheel does smooth things out, and I can definitely see the advantages and sell them.
I've been excited for months about a semi-secret model from Diamondback, the Sortie. (sor-TEE, not sort-ee.) I am a huge fan of the way the Mission tackles trails, and this bike had the same DNA in it's response, but quicker as an XC bike should be. The final parts pick was not what the demo bikes were built with, but it's really close. As with the Mission, there will be Sortie 1 that's the affordable one (Maybe $1399?) on up to the Sortie 3 that'll be the "premier" one. ($2199 at retail.)
We rode hard enough to kill a few inner tubes, and stocked up at store #25 on return to base at Treasure Island. Tomorrow I'll do a better job of listening to others as they comment on their test-rides, and benefit from their experiences.
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