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Have a question about anything you've read on this page?
Just Email JF at JF@Gords.com and he'll get back to you
pronto.
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Gord's Ski & Bike
2 Locations to serve you better!
[L1]
2 Donald St
Winnipeg, Manitoba
CANADA | 204.284.2952
[L2]
1765 Kenaston Blvd
Winnipeg, Manitoba
CANADA | 204.269.2952
info@Gords.com
1.877.GORDS.61
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Trail
#3 at Bootleg canyon in the desert of Nevada
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VEGAS 2005
Back in September of 2004 I attended Interbike in Las
Vegas for the first time... A trade show where the majority
of the North American bike industry converges to present
their wares. Interbike is split into two sections. The
first is the outdoor demo where bike testing on a grand
scale occurs... In the desert. The second part is the
trade show at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas.
That year (2004) I attended but the second part... Always
wondering about the first part. Testing bikes... We do
it in the winter, why not in the summer?
Part 2 of my master plan was to enroll an accomplice
in this mission. I thought of six people, wrote them an
invite, gave them a deadline... And Scott said something
akin to "hell yeah!" So there, Scott was the
guinea pig. Just like Frank Roberts was the first to come
ski testing with me on year 1 of our now infamous ski
test, off we were...
September in Vegas to test bikes and sample all the best
of next years' bike gear... Bike testing at Bootleg Canyon
about an hour outside of Las Vegas near spectacular Lake
Mead. Very cool... uh... HOT. And what an experience that
was... To be completely devoid of shade. Any sane person
would ride this terrain early early in the morning or
much later in the day... But here we were, out at noon
(I understand the expression High Noon now) baking in
the sun... suprisingly compfortable in our black Sugoi
Gord's Jerseys... Interesting to say the least.
So test we did... Day one was a feast for the senses,
not only did we have the heat to contend with but there
was all this other stuff... like the SRAM girls walking
around in bright red wigs and not much else. And ALL the
cool bikes we'd only read about... Bikes like Turner,
Intense, Ellsworth, Santa Cruz, Cove, Titus... and the
regular-human bikes like Jamis, Rocky, Giant, Specialized...
And more... At some point we were testing this bike that
shall remain nameless (aw hell, why start now? It was
an Ellsworth Moment). This bike that had the WORST tires
we've ever ridden on... I'm not kidding, these things
sucked ass bad enough for me to use those two words here
on our website (apologies to the easily offended) enough
that Scott and I were trying desperate measure to make
these things keep us from sliding off the trail to certain
embarrassement... Stuff like running sub 20 PSI... which
at inevitably led Scott to suffer two simultaneous flats
at the furthest point of our loop (obviously)... Being
the one who suggested the low air I immediately rode away
giggling to mysel... Only for a moment, though... And
so we walked off the trail in a straight line towards
the demo area.
At some hilarious point one of us chirped "amazing
how many small gopher holes there are around here"
only to allow a few minutes before the other quipped "uh,
those are rattlesnake holes, dude" hehe (walk faster).
Top 5 bikes Scott
1. Ellsworth Epiphany
2. Jamis XLT 2.0
3. Cove Hustler
4. Turner 5 spot
5. Rocky Mountain Slayer 50
Top 5 bikes JF
1. Ellsworth Epiphany
2. Ellsworth Moment
3. Jamis XLT 3.0
4. Rocky Mountain Slayer 50
5. Ellsworth Truth
Ten quick thoughts from the demo:
1- SRAM rocks over Shimano
2- Jamis and Rocky while a lot more affordable offer 'in
the same league' (if not better) performance as MUCH more
expensive and exotic bikes like Santa Cruise, Ellsworth,
Intense and Turner.
3- Rocky Mountain is making BIG waves.
4- People who took out Jamis Dakar Comps, Ellsworth bikes
and ETSX's did not want to bring them back.
5- When testing DH bikes with Ryan Leech and his buddies,
don't expect him to wait up.
6- It doesn't matter if you're paying $150 US (Las Vegas)
or nothing (Canada) ... at 1 in the morning you're waiting
5 hours to see a doctor regardless... We have the best
health care, period.
7- One shouldn't be surprised if trying out 23 different
nutritional supplements / power gels / anti-leg-cramp
pills / performance beverages / anti inflammatories...
Combined with eating a sandwich that spent the day in
your camelback in 33 degree heat leads to nausea and debilitating
stomach cramps...
8- Two things about Scott: [a] Apparently he has a stomach
like a stainless steel box [b] We're thinking about calling
Guinness regarding his alleged flat per pedal-stroke record.
(Something like 9 flats in two days including one dual
flat incident).
9- Kenda Cortez are the worst tires we've ever ridden,
bar none.
10- Never underestimate the power of shade.
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THE LONG TRAVEL HOLY GRAIL
What we look for most in a full-suspension bike is intuitiveness. When a bike simply does its job, no fuss no muss. Rare is the ride you just jump on and go. Rob and I share that appreciation for that particular underrated characteristic. Many 4" travel bikes deliver that "comfortable hardtail" feel, I'm no expert but I kinda believe that the drama free suspension experience of 4" bikes has something to do with the fact that, well... quite simply, there's less suspension travel... so it's more "buttoned down". Examples of solid, intuitive 4" designs are many including the Jamis Dakar and the timeless Rocky Mountain Element family of bikes.
 Getting bikes with more than 4 inches of travel to behave in that efficient, solid, yet lively way is not that easy it seems. Very few "5 inch and up" bikes that we've tested over the years managed to deliver the feel of a 4 inch bike with one or two more inches of travel. Once you get up there it seems that many bikes get wobbly knees or either get heavy in order to counter that long-travel challenge... The less-than-perfect examples simply become "squishy"
When we find that rare combination of balance, poise, comfort and efficiency it's usually very subtle. These bikes rarely jump up and shout "HEY LOOK AT ME! I DO MY JOB INTUITIVELY!" When we find a bike that blows us away we usually quietly look at each other and go "pssst! I like this bike" and ride for a bit longer until we add "hey, I think you should try this bike out, I'd like your thoughts"... all the while smiling and simply enjoying the ride.
 To say that 2007 and 2008 have been very good full-suspension test seasons would be an understatement. With 3 sweet new bikes recently inducted into Gord's Long-Travel MTB Hall-of Fame. The Jamis BAM, the Scott Genius and the very bling Commencal Meta 5.5... Joining such superlative squishy icons such as the stalwart Jamis XLT, the Ellsworth Epiphany, the Rocky Mountain SXC and the much loved Jamis XAM.
Life is pretty sweet at Gord's. How fortunate are we to have some of the very best long travel bikes that don't act like big fat spongy marshmallows. Long travel bikes that make you wonder why anyone would ride less.
 Listen, if you ride any trail, flat as it may be or steep as you can find... If you're over 19 years old and you want to keep on riding into your sixties and beyond... if you're still riding that hardtail WAKE UP! Give your head a shake. Do yourself, your body and your ass a favor, get with the times. INJECT SOME FUN in your moribund life, get a full suspension bike and join the ranks of those who do more than just ride, join the ranks of those who are having the time of their lives on their bikes, join the ranks of the living. LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO RIDE A HARDTAIL. (We should make a T-shirt!) Check out our full-suspension page HERE |
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BEST
BUILT
BIKES, PERIOD.
When bikes arrive at our door from suppliers, they're unfortunately
not assembled. We proudly employ highly qualified technicians
to carefully assemble our bikes and pay them hourly. In
fact, we're convinced our bike builds are the best in the
city. Our experienced tech shop staff guarantee it. Our
27 point quality verified assembly process ensures that
your bike will ride well and require less maintenance in
the long run. It's pretty simple: Less down time equals
more fun time.
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LE
PHOTO ALBUM
It all started with Matt Goyer (mattgoyer.com) a good friend
and computer aficionado and JF taking pictures here and
there... Enter uber-camera-guy Gavin... Matt started hosting
out pictures on a server... Thousands and thousands of pictures
were taken, an extensive record of all our great adventures.
Unfortunately now password protected to shield the innocent.
Wanna surf the album? simply join the Gord's MTB Club, get
a free Username and Password and BAM! you're in.
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JOIN US!
We've said it before: It's all about the ride. The ride to Seven Eleven, the ride to your buddies house, the ride we call Ingolf, the ride at Panorama, Fernie, The Seine River, the ride through the monkey trails at Assiniboine Park, the ride with your 30 favorite buddies or the ride with your daughter.
Yes the bike is important. But more important than the bike is the smile on your face. So get off your butt, dust off your bike, throw on your helmet and come riding with us next season! For more information on how we can help get you out, click on the following link:
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Attention all bike lovers! Gord's is very proud to announce that we'll be offering