And that just makes up the ones I can remember. I have scoured the thoughts and opinions of all those that either 1- work in the bike industry 2- spend enough time writing about their time riding bikes to feel their opinion important 3- ride bikes a long way in Asheville, NC and ride at a pace close enough to mine to talk about my equivocating thoughts.

I mean, the bicycle I want has probably changed 3 times today alone. So here are my latest, narrowed down thoughts. And you know what? I would love to hear what YOU got to add to this conversation. I really just want to ride a bike that doesn’t squeak, creak, and give you the sneaking suspicion that the three solid years of unrelenting abuse combined with the less-than-timely maintenance schedule have created a situation where your bike will suddenly morph into a 7075 flailing jagged metal projectile.

1- Salsa Dos-Niner

While not a standard retail bike from Biowheels, its a QBP brand at therefore open to pretty much anyone who wants it. As Brad Kee, winner and only finisher of The Most Horrible Thing Ever has demonstrated this bike can pretty much hold up to whatever you throw at it. 29 inch wheels, Scandium tubing (light!), three in the front and one in the rear (take that however you want) to make a low suspension X-Country capable set up with the added comfort of a little softtail bounce for your ounce. Could probably drop this frame out around 27 pounds even with the big wheels and tires - very respectable, and it gives me just enough travel to not worry about comfort but not so much I’ll worry about bobbing around on the saddle

2- GT Marathon 9er

Moving up for a little more comfort; 100mm /80 mm travel with the GT I-Drive (modified, of course) set up. It has a 23″ top tube on the medium size, which is the shortest I have seen and I like that - I have long legs and arms with a very short torso. This would let me sit more over the suspension instead of behind it as I do on my current bike thanks to the 71 degree head tube and 74 degree seat tube. The bike has an LX build, but could easily rectify that with some nice upgrades to a SRAM grip-shiftin’ drive train (1:1 Rules!), Avid 7 brakes, and some Easton/ Thomson bling, which Matt has said is definitely do-able as the LX components are really moving up in the world (have you checked out the new SLX componentry? You should!). This would require me to toss the stock wheels as they are center-lock rotor set up, just another inconvenience. Basically, i’m buying the stinking frame and shelving everything except maybe the tires. Ah well. Gripes? Maybe too much plush with the 29″ tires and 7″ of suspension? That could be a lot of flex in the corners. Also, not a water bottle boss on the whole damn bike. Not one. Seriously, GT, you even list it under Cross Country. Did I mention I am 5′10″ and weight 195 pounds? I am not going to be nice to my equipment.

3- IF custom 27.5 (650b) Steel Deluxe

It would be a step into a new world on many levels, but the cost of the frame, the hard-to-find wheel goods, and the fact that I traded in my last hardtail because beat me up after long rides makes me a little wary. I am a much better rider now, but it still makes me a little nervy to get rid of all the butt-side bounce if it is going to hurt the day after. I like instant gratification when it comes to pain.

4- Ellsworth Truth / Scott Spark 20

Two fantastical magical mountain machines, both capable of climbing like goats and look almost as pretty as they ride. But the Scott requires pivot overhauls every 6 months by the shop to stay in warranty (3 years) and the ellsworth frames are notoriously dent-able due to the same thing that makes them so great to ride, really thin tubing. I like to dent things. I mean, you should see my current bike. They both are really made for someone who buys XL shorts because he’s 6′5″, not because riding your bike has given you thighs nearly as big as your waist. These make the list because I am still a little leery about giving up the granny gear, quick acceleration, and torsional stiffness a 26″ wheel definitely offers over a 29 or 650b wheel. I also like tubeless. And yes, crossmax and stans are tubeless now at 29″, but I’ve seen a particular rider peel his front tire off his rim right in front of me too frequently to make that option feel really good at this point. And I will NOT run a Hutchinson Python UST in Pisgah National Forest. No No No.

So here’s your challenge: What do I do? Help me choose! I will weigh all opinions given, and if there is yet another bike Biowheels can offer me that would help me 1- maximize my love of the trail, and 2- give me the tools to finish some 6+ hour MTB races without stopping to sob halfway up Curtis Creek Rd (in that order!). Oh, and 3- look attractive to members of the opposite sex when the bike is sitting on top of me after a crash. Let’s put that as priority #2.

So as I said, give me your input, your two cents, your ever so well informed and constructed opinion and see what I end up with!

Wesley Miller

BioWheels-Asheville has been a Cannondale dealer for just over a year, but it only took us a few months to realize what Cannondale has in the Rush. What they have is the only widely available all mountain bike built in this country. The also have a part spec that’s hard to beat!

We will be stocking and recommending two of the Rush models for 2008.

First we’ll introduce the 2008 Cannondale Rush5z. With this model you get the hand made frame paired with a fork from THE name is suspension, Fox Racing Shox. The Fox F120 RL is the perfect match for this rig. You also score a Fox RP2 rear shock. All this with Shimano/WTB wheels, SRAM shifting, and Avid Juicy hydraulic brakes! Come in and take a look today.

We will also feature the Rush 6z for those looking for the same frame, ride qualities, and Made in the USA quality at a more affordable price. The Rush 6z gets you a rock solid Rock Shox Recon fork, Manitou shock, Shimano/WTB wheels, and SRAM shifting. Don’t miss this value!

BioWheels is excited to feature Cervelo as our premier road bicycle vendor! They have been leading their class in the road & time trial markets based on lightweight, strong and aerodynamic design that is backed by the world’s #1 ranked road race team (Team CSC) and the winningest triathlon brand in Ironman hisory (over 30 wins).

Cervelo was founded in 1995 by two engineers who continue to own & manage the company today. Cervelo is a group of people who love cycling while having a commitment to engineering that is unmatched in the cycling industry. Quite simply, Cervelo is building the best bicycles on the planet. This is evident not only in their commitment to product testing and engineering but in the fact that Cervelo extends a lifetime warranty on every one of their frames!

If you’re looking for the ultimate road bike, you need to consider the Cervelo Soloist Carbon or the Cervelo R3. New for 2008 is the Cervelo RS. This bike is designed with the same performance of the R3 with a taller headtube for a more upright riding position. For value-oriented performance, you should see what Bicycling Magazine calls “The best $2000 complete road bike” - the Cervelo Soloist Team.

If you want to shave minutes off your time trial or bike split, then you should know that no other bike model is more tested or proven aerodynamically than the Cervelo P3 Carbon. Cervelo is by far the most-raced TT bike in the world and the benchmark by which all other manufacturers are rated.

BioWheels is the only shop in Western NC that Cervelo deems worthy of their reputation. The complete Cervelo line is represented in our Asheville, NC store. Come in to look at one for yourself!

The US is very proud of our greatest bike company, Cannondale, and BioWheels is proud to represent Cannondale! They have been hand building world-class racing bikes with American talent since 1971, and they were the American originators of large-scale bicycle racing sponsorship on the road & dirt. Cannondale’s Regional Manager, Charles Stanley, puts it this way:

“We are a company of innovation and setting trends. We were the 1^st American bike company to sponsor a European team (Saeco) and race in the Tour de France. We also set the trend for big-budget mountain bike teams with Volvo/Cannondale. We have brought unknown riders to the forefront of the sport. Mario Cippolini, Missy Giove, Alison Syder, Anne Caroline Chaunson, and Tinker Jaurez, to name a few…Our research and development department is testing well above industry standards to insure that the bikes and the parts we put on them will exceed all racer and customers expectations. Whether you ride road or mountain you will be faster on a Cannondale. That is our purpose!”

You owe it to yourself to check out one of these bikes:

On the road, the Cannondale Synapse series bikes are built for comfort while still light, making them well-suited for training in the mountains. Many BioWheels racers utilize the Cannondale CAAD9 bikes for their stiffness & lightweight. The cutting edge Cannondale SystemSix technology melds an alluminum rear triangle with carbon main tubes - “The result is the lightest, stiffest, most explosive bike we’ve ever made”. The Cannondale SuperSix is the full-carbon result of 20 years of pro peloton racing!

On the dirt, the Cannondale Scalpel XC race bike is redesigned for 2008 - “More travel, lighter, stiffer”. the Cannondale Rush is a great endurance racing & riding machine. The Cannondale Prophet is an ideal do-it-all rig for the trails of Western NC and beyond. with full-suspension mountain bikes starting at just $1379 for 2008, you just need to chose how much travel you want. Their hard tails are still among the best in the business. From the race-ready Cannondale Taurine, to the awesome Cannondale 29′er Caffeine series, it’s obvious that this company has figured out some things!

BioWheels-Asheville has access to Cannondale’s entire line of handbuilt bikes, but we focus our inventory on the best for WNC. Stop by for a test ride. We usually have a demo bike available.

Now as an employee of BioWheels I have a vast selection of bikes to choose from and once I waved a sad goodbye to my ‘cross bike I had the funds to pull the trigger on a true road bike. As you might guess I spent a lot of time researching what bike would be best for me and my budget. I was pleasantly surprised to find that a Cannondale Synapse was well within my grasp and after weeks of deliberation I finally decided on a Synapse 3. I have owned 4 Cannondale mountain bikes so having a bit of brand familiarity was nice when venturing into virtually unknown waters.

The appearance of this bike is stealthy, a “raw carbon” finish with some grey and silver highlights makes for a sexy looking bicycle, it’s also worth noting that the bike comes in a vivid red as well. Looks aside after the first ride on this bike I knew I had made the right decision. The Synapse 3 is a full carbon road bike and the vibration dampening properties of said carbon became apparent instantly on my first descent down Elk Mountain Scenic Highway, a route known for it’s chattering effects on speedy cyclists. Power transfer is not an issue and within the first few pedal strokes it almost felt like I was cheating. Coming from an aluminum frame to a full carbon frame is certainly going to feel a lot differently for anyone but even compared to other all carbon rides I test rode the Synapse still feels snappy and a little more forgiving than the average racer’s carbon choice.

I won’t get into the Cannondale specific mumbo jumbo too much, their SAVE (Synapse Active Vibration Elimination) technology is certainly a marketing term to be certain, but I can say this much, IT WORKS! One quick point of interest is that their SAVE chain stays are taken almost directly from their off road counterpart, the Scalpel.

While I’m still honing in my on-road skills I certainly feel a lot more comfortable on this bike than my old aluminum ride. With a slightly longer than average wheel base descending on the steep stuff is confidence inspiring. While the Synapse is not marketed as a race bike, it could easily be set up as one as climbing and sprinting is of course a non-issue on this machine. I removed a large headset spacer that comes stock on the bike to create a more aggressive position and after doing so it’s easy to see why a Synapse could be set up for riders of varying styles.

While a great frame is the foundation to a great ride, components play a vital role in the overall ride quality. So what do you get for your money here? Well after seeing what came spec’d on this bike I was sold. Mavic Aksium wheels take up the rolling duty. The drive train is composed of Ultegra dérailleurs, Ultegra STI shifting and braking, and a Shimano non-series compact crank set takes the job of attaching your pedal choice to the bike. There is a triple crank set option for this particular model as well. While the rest of the build is made up with Cannondale branded parts, (which I might add are just fine), Cannondale did a wonderful job with spec’ing this bike and I’ve only felt the need to change the saddle and add a slightly different stem. The bottom line is that you’re getting a full carbon frame and a full Ultegra / Mavic kit for just over $2000. Not a bad deal at all.

Another huge selling point is Cannondale’s lifetime frame warantee, and for a full carbon frame this is considered to go above and beyond what most other manufacturers offer. Perhaps you’re already a dedicated roadie who’s looking for that perfect century bike, an enthusiast who’s ready for a carbon ride without breaking the bank, or just like me, a mountain biker with a need for superb ride quality and efficiency for your on-road training adventures. In either case look no further, the Cannondale Synapse line is for you. For more information on all 2008 Cannondale products please visit the cannondale website or better yet just stop in and talk to one of our knowledgeable sales staff. We still have a couple of left over 2007 models on sale looking for that perfect new home. -Ian B

We are particularly excited about the Bianchi C2C (Coast-to-Coast) series. These bikes are designed for comfort without sacrificing performace and are available with any parts kit you can imagine in full-carbon, carbon-aluminum blends, and full-aluminum frames. The value-oriented Via Nirone models in this series give you Italian design with a great part spec.

Bianchi also offers a broad range of cyclocross, touring and commuter bikes. Some of these bikes are unique to Bianchi, and offer versatility and styling not found anywhere else - such as the Bianchi Milano series and Bianchi Pista track and Bianchi Cross bikes.

It has been said that Bianchi was the originator of the 29″-wheel mountain bike. This may or may not be true, but they certainly were amoung the first companies to offer a 29′er, and they continue to be the mainstay of their US mountain bike sales. They also offer a solid selection of 26-inch hardtails. You should see the Bianchi SOK 29er and the Bianchi DOSS series!

Come in or call BioWheels to check out our new Italian bikes!

The Sok has a large wheelbase, nice tight responsive cockpit, and rather high standover. The bike feels big until you get in the saddle and then you’ll feel right at home. I upgraded my ride with a Easton EC90 seatpost, EA70 stem, Monkeylite carbon bars, and King headset. Even without these upgrades the bike is VERY well spec’d with a killer SRAM based component group. All this for only $1800!!

I am riding better than ever on this bike. The Easton ultralite frame is stiff and responsive, and even better when paired with the Rock Shox Reba SL fork. The frame is also built with horizontal dropouts for an easy single speed conversion.
BioWheels-Asheville will be stocking the Sok in the geared and single-speed versions. We’ll give you a free bottle cage if you can tell us what Sok means!!

Having walked the line between XC & trail (freeride) bike for many years, I was blown away when I got on the ML8. I took it up some of my favorite climbs, and bombed it down some of the greatest down’s in WNC. After 90 minutes, I knew I’d have to order one. The next week I took it to DuPont, SF, for 4 hours of fast-rolling XC with big hucks. WOW. It pedals so well in out, or hovering on the saddle. Surprisingly, the DUC 32 fork has some torsional flex in the parking lot, but firms up in its travel. Moreover the inverted-oversized fork has a unique plushness & low mass to it. Yes, it is very easy to ‘manual’. The ground clearance is exceptional, making it just about ideal in a rock garden with downed trees. Whatever challenges you, the ML8 will have you looking conquering ‘that section’ with new-found confidence… just don’t hesitate!

Up the hills, the fork drops about 2 inches & firms up with the turn of a knob. This gives the bike an acceptable position for even the steepest climbs. The rear-end is going to deliver the best traction you’ve had since youir first trip to Moab.

When you order your Maverick dont’ forget the Speedball seatpost. Flick the switch, and the saddle is out of way. Your collarbones will last longer if you learn to drop your saddle in gnarly situations. Oh yeah, their name registry supports personalization of your Maverick. I named mine “Beefy”.-mj

Even up against the perfection of an Ellsworth’s Truth, the Spark is a bit stiffer, and over a pound lighter! BioWheels Matt Johnson was the first to bring one to the Asheville region. He has had the chance to race & ride it well over 1000 miles.

We predict that the Spark will continue to get excellent press as the skeptics get out of the saddle and take the Spark on a race-pace ride.
We’ve seen Sparks built as low as 20.5 lbs! Check out the 2008 Scott Spark line-up.

BioWheels is proud to represent the Scott Spark in both our Asheville & Cincinnati stores. So, if you don’t see the model you are looking for in our Yahoo Store, don’t hesitate to call and reserve one for yourself. We stock the Full Carbon Scott Spark - the world’s most capable lightweight mountain bike!

BioWheels mountain bike frames

The Parker 4″ travel full-suspension series should get some attention as a great versatile bike for someone looking to mix up the cross country with a lot of jumpin’

Last year’s steel Nova makes an appearance in ‘08 as a high-performance touring/commuting model called the Aurora Elite. It carries the same higher bb and shorter wheelbase as last year’s Nova.

Jamis takes the Supernova’s alloy/carbon cyclo-cross racing platform down to a sweet $1100 price

The Dragon 29er was a very exciting bike - totally dialed big wheeled geometry, great components - and of course a great Jamis price at $2000

Women’s (short torso/long legs) adjusted geometry in a carbon road model new for ‘08