Hotlines: John Tomac Ride Day

The legend that is John Tomac has been in the UK recently and put a day aside to meet up with the UK media to intro the 2010 range of Tomac bikes, and to go ride with them for a day to get a feel for the new IAS suspension system. And to show them how riding really is done...

Tomac Bike's master of the multi-task, Joel Smith, talks the journos through the 2010 bikes

The new IAS - Instant Activating Susupension, is all new for 2010 and aims to give a much more sensitive ride, in terms of bump adsorption, whilst still delivering a very efficient ride. They have done this by introducing a small linkage in between the rear triangle and the linkage that actually drives the shock itself. This has also enabled them to remove any extra pivots from the rear triangle - i.e. no rearward chain or seat stay pivots. These pivots are inherently flexy, so removing them has given a lighter and stiffer rear end, with all the 'active' work being done by the linkage arrangement up near the shock. Standout models for me were the 120 Automatic, and the 140mm Snyper - both great UK trail bikes. For the bigger hitters amongst you there is the 160mm Vanish, again using the new IAS system.

It truly was amazing to get to ride with John, as I never thought I would even see him, let alone chat, eat lunch and ride bikes with him! He hasn't lost any of his trademark, super-smooth style and railed all of these totally new to him, trails. He says he's not so fit anymore - I'd argue differently, he's obviously getting miles in somewhere as a familiar sight was seeing John and Joel several switch backs higher up the hill than the rest of us! John chats with Forestry Commison MTB Ranger for South Wales, Carl Denham, and Hotlines SW Rep & Tomac Product Manager, Cristian Tomlinson (who had to give his Tomac up for a journalist to ride on the day!)