Trick Boards
In sports, man is still the ultimate machine. But the right equipment can help even the most finely tuned athlete move faster, ride farther, and pull off cooler tricks. Here's a look at the latest breakthroughs in materials and designs.
TRICK BOARDS
1. Lib Technologies: E-Matrix Maple
SPECS: The heavy maple bottom is the only thing traditional here. Recessed fiberglass and graphite sandwich three layers of vertically laminated birch and aspen, which provide the same durability at nearly half the weight.
PERFORMANCE: It sounds like a Frankendeck, but it's greater than the sum of its parts. Graphite keeps it springy, fiberglass makes it light, and plastic edges shield it from dings.
UPSHOT: The E-Matrix Maple strikes a perfect balance between high tech and old-school. Still, it may feel too synthetic for some Luddite park rats, despite the attention to re-creating the responsiveness of wood.
$60 (deck only), www.libskates.com
2. Comet: compTop
SPECS: A few kickflips can reduce a five-ply wood deck to kindling, so compTop uses a sheet of carbon fiber topped with basalt cloth, which keeps it strong and 10 to 20 percent lighter than a traditional board.
PERFORMANCE: The compTop is a supermodel of the skating world, and its low weight means it's easier to maneuver. The board's durability doesn't just save you money; fewer deck replacements means it's ecofriendly to boot.
UPSHOT: The prickliest traditionalist will have a hard time finding fault with the board's bounce - it's as close to solid maple as a composite can get.
$55 (deck only), www.cometskateboards.com
1. Sector Nine: Speedboat (left)
SPECS: It's more than 4.5 feet long, but this surfboard on wheels is surprisingly light - just 12 pounds for its 13 layers of birch.
PERFORMANCE: The Speedboat carves like a dream, but as with any oversize board, the mechanics of turning involve more than just shifting your weight. In fact, for sharper turns, you may have to move to an entirely different position on the board.
UPSHOT: This whopper is sure to attract attention - riders uncomfortable with gawks and stares need not apply. But the Speedboat backs up its flamboyance with solid construction.
$150, www.sector9.com
2. Arbor: The Bomber (center)
SPECS: The Bomber has a sturdy 45-inch deck - 7 plies of hard maple topped with a layer of Hawaiian koa wood - that'll please the hang ten set. A spray-on grip finish eliminates the need for tape.
PERFORMANCE: This ride was designed for control - the longer wheelbase provides increased stability, and its wide nose allows you to get both feet over the front truck and take charge of speed wobbles.
UPSHOT: Arbor's better known for its snowboards, but they've built a sleek, versatile cruiser for everyday joyriding as well as downhill carving.
$70, www.arborsports.com
3. Carveboard Sports: Fatty Stik
SPECS: The 33-inch Fatty Stik has dual spring-loaded trucks that let you angle almost 45 degrees to the ground for snappy turns. The contact surface of the flared urethane wheels can expand as needed for better grip.
PERFORMANCE: The Stik's kinda short for a longboard, but its slightly concave deck provides loads of control and easily handles rail-to-rail riding and snappy turns.
UPSHOT: This unit is perfectly geared for running smooth banks. But note that soft urethane wheels have been known to stall on pebbles and asphalt cracks. Be aware, or you'll end up with a nasty road rash.
$214, www.stik.com
$199, www.salomonsports.com
2. Rollerblade: Aero 9
SPECS: Skeletal channels in the shell of this skate's minimal frame transfers energy from your stride directly to the wheels. The porous boot liner maximizes air flow.
PERFORMANCE:, The sleek Aero is built for speedy street cruising and intense workouts. The under-arch shock absorber completely tames rough road and dulls the feet-numbing vibration of polymer on concrete.
UPSHOT:, With an exceptionally comfortable boot, the Aero 9 is great for endurance runs or morning commutes - the custom fit mechanism lets you slip in and out of the boot in a matter of seconds.
$219, www.rollerblade.com
3. Razor: Murda Pro Skate
SPECS: This hardcore street skate has just two wheels, plus replaceable grind plates and heel wings. An integrated backslide plate hugs the heel for tight control, and a snap-off Allen wrench allows for quick tweaks in the field.
PERFORMANCE: The Murda Pro takes to rails with total abandon. A fat H-block replaces middle wheels, so you can grind almost any surface.
UPSHOT: Light, stiff, and stubby, this lace-up boot is more BMX than BMW. Not the quickest or most luxurious ride, but great for short bursts - and definitely the coolest way down a long flight of stairs.
$299, www.razor.com
1. Adidas: ClimaCool 2 (top)
SPECS: The ClimaCool averts meltdowns by surrounding each foot with mesh and vents. The midsole and outsole have been pared down to two impact-absorbing pods.
PERFORMANCE: The venting really works. And what the arch lacks in padding is more than made up for by a supportive plastic cradle. The sprightly shoe weighs in at 10.5 ounces.
UPSHOT: Heat buildup matters most to fleet jocks who generate a lot of friction and sweat in hard workouts or races. Slowpokes and middle-of-the-pack runners need less mesh and more shoe.
$100, www.adidasus.com
2. Nike: Shox TL (left)
SPECS: Eleven hollow foam "Shox" columns make up the midsole, and plastic support plates attach them to the upper portion and the tread. A bit paunchy at 13 ounces.
PERFORMANCE: You can debate the bizarre looks, but not the smooth ride. Those columns provide great rebound without that "pillowy" feel, and seamless cushioning for mileage junkies and Clydesdales.
UPSHOT: Nike Shox could be Air's heir if the shoes get lighter and can accommodate feet striking the ground at odd angles. For now, it works best for straight-ahead - and forward-thinking - runners who don't need motion control.
$150, www.nike.com
3. Merrell: Flash
SPECS: DIY suspension lets you mix and match three plastic inserts of varying firmness to create a shoe that provides proper stability for your particular style.
PERFORMANCE: The Flash fits snug around the heel and runs wide in the toebox. It weighs a respectable 14 ounces. And the EVA midsole comes in three densities to prevent runners from rolling their feet excessively inward or outward.
UPSHOT: Dialed successfully - there are instructions - the Flash addresses a lot of needs. But if turned improperly, this shoe could wreak havoc.
$90, www.merrell.com
1. La Sportiva: Colorado Trail
SPECS: Pure mountain-gear, from its high-traction tread to its overbuilt upper.
PERFORMANCE: You don't run in the La Sportiva, you steamroll. The shoe isn't terribly heavy (13.5 ounces), but it's well fortified at the toe - and with a nylon plate beneath the EVA midsole, the Colorado shields against roots and rocks. The heel is notched like a hiking boot for good grip on loose descents.
UPSHOT: The no-brainer pick for rugged terrain; you can look up at the sunset without fear of twisting an ankle. But the grippy rubber bottom wears faster than conventional outsoles, so stay off the pavement.
$80, www.sportiva.com
2. Salomon XA Series
SPECS: Lightweight and speedy down to its single Kevlar shoelace. The race-ready, mesh-covered XA slips on like a sock and incorporates minimal padding, protection, and rubber.
PERFORMANCE: It's like Jégermeister - really fun in measured doses. The 10.4-ounce shoe feels feathery on long uphills and, alas, not much more substantial on the descents. Rocks poke at your feet despite a tough polyurethane midsole and thin, fiberglass protection plate.
UPSHOT: A godsend for competitive athletes in grueling adventure races. The rest of us can look elsewhere - maybe at the scenery.
$100, www.salomonsports.com
3. New Balance 870 Trail
SPECS: Inject the typical trail runner with steroids and you get the agile and armored 870. A thin yet cushy EVA midsole puts you lower to the ground for good cornering and balance. Rubbery cladding around both toe and heel protect feet from branches and rocks, but it bulks up the shoe to 10.6 ounces.
PERFORMANCE: The spare, softish midsole feels great in the shop and on smooth paths, but gets twisted and bent in the rough.
UPSHOT: This shoe does everything decently, but nothing well. Still, if you run on varied terrain, the 870 could be the right compromise.
$90, www.newbalance.com
$2,800, www.trekbikes.com
2. Calfee Dragonfly Custom
SPECS: Cycling's version of an F-16 jet, constructed just for your body and riding style. It weighs only 13.5 pounds thanks to carbon-fiber everything: frame, handlebars, saddle, and wheels.
PERFORMANCE: It's light enough for darting up hills, plenty stiff for sprinting, and comfortable for all-day efforts. Calfee designers custom-build each frame to minimize road shock and maximize strength. Campagnolo's 20-speed drivetrain runs smooth.
UPSHOT: Pure indulgence. Those with the desire - and the money - will get a longtime partner (frame warranty: 25 years).
$7,800, www.calfeedesign.com
3. LeMond Tete de Course
SPECS: This split-personality steed is half titanium, half carbon-fiber. The 16.6-pound LeMond comes with slick, minimally spoked wheels and Shimano Dura-Ace components.
PERFORMANCE: Putting titanium in the Tete de Course's "spine" - the tubes leading from the cranks to the wheels - provides a hint of the satisfying spring of an all-Ti ride. The light aluminum rims and Swiss-made hubs make for sweet acceleration.
UPSHOT: The LeMond is the ride for early adopters. Sure, less-expensive all-Ti bikes are less stiff, but they're also a whole lot less cool.
$4,900, www.lemondbikes.com
1. Fisher Sugar 292
SPECS: Cruising goes off-road. The dual-suspension, 27.6-pound Fisher has unusually tall 29-inch wheels. You can quickly fine-tune how far the rear shock travels for cross-country or longer mad-bomber settings.
PERFORMANCE: Taller wheels roll more easily over obstacles (that's physics for you), and the carbon-fiber seat stays muffle any vibrations not absorbed by the Fox Float rear shock and the Marzocchi Marathon fork.
UPSHOT: 29ers like the 292 are great at holding their speed and accommodating road wheels. But finding a replacement tire in remote Utah could be tough.
$2,750, www.fisherbikes.com
2. Cannondale 1FG HeadShok
SPECS: The one-speed, aluminum-frame 1FG has no shifters and no gears. Even with front suspension and disc brakes, the lively Cannondale weighs just 21 pounds.
PERFORMANCE: The proprietary front suspension mechanism slides beautifully and allows for unusually precise steering. Riding this single-speed is a physical challenge that also requires higher thinking. Like, you better get lots of momentum for that next hill.
UPSHOT: Simplicity is beautiful, and Cannondale made a beauty here. It best suits Lance Armstrong types - you know, those with quads of steel.
$1,499, www.cannondale.com
3. Specialized S-Works FSR
SPECS: A cross-country racing machine featuring a light aluminum frame and Shimano's best component system.
PERFORMANCE: You've never felt rear suspension like the FSR's, which employs a standard air-cushioned shock absorber and a second inertia valve. It simply doesn't bob over smooth terrain. Yet on bumpy trails, the rear wheel moves up and down a generous 3.6 inches.
UPSHOT: The FSR's stiff frame moves smartly, and the rear setup is unmatched. But the XTR brake levers have a learning curve: Pull to stop; move up and down to shift.
$4,880, www.specialized.com
WIRED GEAR
HUMAN POWER
LONGBOARDS
INLINE SKATES
ROAD SHOES
TRAIL SHOES
ROAD BIKES
MOUNTAIN BIKES
