New bike development is a multi-stage process and some stages are more fun than others. As you may have seen in the media over the past few days, Niner is hard at work, putting the finishing touches on the next generation of WFO 9 frames, which will be released in final form at Interbike and Eurobike. (yes, we will have the new WFO 9 at Interbike's OutDoor Demo to test ride!)

Not many people know this, but Niner has one of the most robust testing programs in the industry. We take a three pronged approach:

1. Finite Element Analysis: we use highly specialized software to stress our frame designs before we move to a physical model. This allows us to try every variation we can think of without the extremely time consuming process of developing a physical model.  

2. Mechanical Testing: both in-house and independent testing programs exist for every new Niner, with our standard being to exceed CEN standards by a wide margin on all products. Not only do we comply with international standards, we design and implement our own tests specific to 29ers and bigger wheels - these tests are proprietary to Niner. 

3. Real-world ride testing: we've talked in the past about the first two steps, but haven't shared much detail on this part of the process, until now...

Goals of a ride testing program:

1. Verification of geometry and frame detail choices: 

When we design a new Niner, we build several versions of the frame - this enables us to evaluate choices like chain stay length, head angle and bottom bracket height in real world conditions. As an example, there has been a strong push for shorter and shorter chain stays across the industry - this does create a more playful platform, but it also changes the high speed stability of the bike. Our ride testing helps us to find the best chain stay length in the range of possibilities that fits within our award winning Niner geometry standards. 

2. Verification of component choices / compatibility

One of the most challenging parts of frame design is optimizing it for component compatibility. A great example today is the advent of 1x drivetrains. These amazing drivetrains enable us to drop front derailleur mounts entirely, but many of our customers prefer to run a double or a single chainring. We finalize choices about compatibility vs. long term component availability in this phase of testing. 

3. Long term durability testing

Finally, we look at long term durability. Our test frames see huge miles over many months before release to our dealers. We check tube strength, watch for unusual fatigue, bearing wear and tear, cable rub and of course, frame integrity, hardware durability. 

Who are our test riders? 

Does the frame work with most intended component choices? Does it have proper tire clearance? Is the shock tune dialed? These can't really be answered by a machine - the best feedback comes from a crew of great testers - all of whom fill out detailed reports after every ride. We ask them questions about trail conditions, terrain, set up (shock pressures, tire pressures) throughout the process. This is the hard part of being a ride tester - you have homework after every single ride. 

We use both elite riders and average-Joe riders in our program - elite riders have personal mechanics and resources that are not available to most of us - we think it is important that our bikes work for both rider types. We have riders who weigh 350lbs and riders who are pro racers who weigh under 135 lbs. We also have test riders from within our partner companies - the makers of our suspension, tires and more - they help us to get our bikes dialed for upcoming components. All together, this crew spans a wide range of abilities and physical characteristics, making sure Niner bikes benefit from feedback at every level. 

Most recently, we've been testing the new WFO 9. Due to be released in the autumn, this bike is the next Niner to receive an airforming upgrade. While we aren't releasing details yet, the bike will be lower, slacker and have shorter stays than the previous version all choices we have finalized in the ride testing process. We cant wait for you to try the most gravity-specific bike in the Niner stable yet. 

Check out the Niner Facebook page for full galleries of action at the Winter Park Enduro World Series event - two of our test riders took part in this on the prototypes as a part of the testing program. Also check out the coverage and interviews on PinkBike and VitalMTB - click the images below to get the full story.  

Our staff photographer, Ian Hylands, has years of experience shooting amazing images of the best athletes and gets a lot of questions about what he takes up on the hill when he shoots. We asked him to put together a video explaining what he takes out in the field for a typical photo shoot. Check it out here. See more of Ian's work at ninerbikes.com.

It is hardtail season! Time to get up into the high country, check the wildflowers and commune with the elk and moose. Whether you are on the Wasatch Crest (an IMBA epic and Utah gem), or in the high country of British Columbia, nothing beats the sweet pain of thin air and long climbs. 

Our choice for these rides? The Air 9 RDO - Niner's flagship hardtail racing bike. Tuned to be fast, comfortable and responsive, this is our choice for epic cross country.

Wildfires are a tough fact of Western living. Most important is to recognize the impact these fires have on communities and lives, but they also have an effect on trails and land access. Recently, Niner's local trails were affected by the Galena Fire. This fire started March 14 and was contained by March 20th, it burned 1348 acres and many of the bridges in Lory State Park, closing some of the easiest to access MTB trails to all local Fort Collins riders.

As a part of our commitment to trail building and maintenance, we sent our entire company out to rebuild these bridges last month - we had a great time, and are proud of our new bridge building skills, acquired under the supervision of Lory's great land management team. 

Check out a full gallery of building images here.

CYCLING SPOKEN HERE, CARY, NC 

Focused on the dirt and focused on the big wheels, Cycling Spoken Here has carved out a strong presence in the active mountain bike community of Cary, North Carolina. What the community lacks in sheer volume of mountain bikers, it more than makes up for in passion with Cycling Spoken Here at the center. The reach of the shop spans beyond the local community with involvement in larger regional events with their support of Le Tour de Femme, Cycle North Carolina and the ever present beer trailer at regional mountain bike events. The desire to bring new riders into the community and help engage them in cycling and grow the passion for cycling is what drives the shop.

For Steve Levine, owner, and the crew at Cycling Spoken Here this passion and community growth begins with getting riders on the bike that suits them. A big part of this was bringing in Niner and developing a strong following from day one. At first riders were apprehensive of the big wheels but soon found huge benefits in the bikes. Pairing this with the active, dynamic fitting process that is done in the shop, Cycling Spoken Here has been able to dial in the bike selection process to create a unique and personal experience for all of the riders.

Once set up, the trails are just down the road and the crew at Cycling Spoken Here can get you pointed in the right direction for the local riding, or can get you setup with a local group ride. If you're not in the Cary area, keep an eye open for the beer trailer at local events and help support the local community.

Visit Cycling Spoken Here to check out the newest and greatest or visit their website  or like them on Facebook to stay connected for local rides and events. 

PRO BIKE SUPPLY, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 

It's all in the details, they are key, and it's the small things that make the difference. For Pro Bike Supply this idea hits close to home and it's the customizable details that set them apart. The shop has undergone a facelift over the past few years to emphasis this desire and to build on their strength and provide individual riders with a full custom experience. For Mark Cohen, owner of Pro Bike Supply, Niner's ability to provide frame only options and the ability to create personalized custom bikes for his riders, has been a huge benefit to the shops model.

Support in the shop and throughout the building process is only one part of the equation for Pro Bike Supply though. The crew is highly active in the community and supportive of numerous Southern California event. The shop supports several high school riders in the Orange County, Los Angeles and San Bernardino regions throughout the high school mountain bike season as well as a number of local events. They also actively volunteer their time with the National Forest Park Volunteers in an effort to preserve and maintain the area's singletrack. Adding to the custom experience of the shop, they also offer the ability to create personalized riding and shop clinics tailored to a small groups needs and desires.

Available demo bikes:

Air RDO S, M, L

Jet 9 RDO S, M, L