WTB showcases new products in WTB Throwdown
Here is the Vulpine semi-slick tire on the left from 2007 compared to the new 2015 Riddler. It illustrates how riding has changed over the years and how WTB has kept up with the times through innovation.
WTB is on a roll these days. They’ve stayed true to their core values and have continued to design tires and components that riders want. Capitalizing on the demand for all mountain and enduro tires, they’ve knocked in a couple of homeruns with the Vigilante and Trail Boss tires.
So now they’ve worked with Oregon legend, Nathan Riddle to design their new tire called the Riddler. Nathan explains his design objectives for the tire, “Tires are really one of the biggest tech advantages a bike rider can have over the terrain or competition. I had been struggling whether to run the Beeline due to its light weight and fast rolling characteristics for a given race that incorporated an XC stage and a DH stage (with no tire changes,) or the Vigilante for its aggressive cornering traits. Then I realized… Why compromise one for the other? I pitched the idea for a tire that blended the best traits of both models into one tire – The Riddler. I was really amazed at how fast the WTB design team can go from an idea to a 3D model! E-mails flew back and forth literally any time of day or night and usually Evan Smith had the next design iteration for us to see within hours of the suggestion. I am so honored to be a part of the WTB team and to have a tire named after me is actually a dream come true.”
Click here to view the embedded video.
WTB Riddler 2.4 27.5” tires will be available in two different levels. Riddler 2.4 27.5” TCS Light: Fast Rolling tires will feature WTB’s sealant-optimized Lightweight Casing and dual compound, Dual DNA rubber, weighing in at 868g with an MSRP of $67.95. Riddler 2.4 27.5” TCS Tough: Fast Rolling Compound tires feature WTB’s Enduro Casing, composed of two full layers of WTB’s sealant-optimized Lightweight Casing, along with dual compound, Dual DNA rubber, weighing 1108g with a $76.95 MSRP.
WTB Employee Alex Hodson getting some at Weir’s pump track. Photo by Abner Kingman
Who is WTB?
Editor’s Note: This story is courtesy of WTB with photos by Abner Kingman.
I guess I could see it all evolving from almost a longing, selfish jealousy – Weir’s got, like, all that cool stuff… lucky. Kind of like that childhood friend that obtrusively invited himself over, we inserted our necessity to invade his land of irrefutably rad things. The land of Weir, the land of the Ranch. We devised a ploy, an extended excuse of justification based on a lofted request from our European office: to tell the California story. Our caring cousins from the European Union had visited Marin for global meetings and before they were lectured to lethargy, they identified that need, to tell our story. And we did, through the world of Weir, and we really couldn’t have been luckier.
It started here.
Hanging wooden sign. Photo by Abner Kingman
Now you’d think that that European media would show up to understand what we’re all about. Not so. You’d guess that at the very least, our European office would attend, document our Fest de California, and returned armed with our story of roots, origins, trails and triumphs. That would almost make sense. Nope, somehow we, WTB USA, and our friends, US media and fellow Throwdown sponsors, got to have the time of our lives at the private trails of the Novato Ranch and gluttonously fun backyard of Mark Weir. But before we got to do that, school, was, in, session.
Jason Moeschler and Francis Cebedo of MTBR enjoy the Trail Boss’ tale. Photo by Abner Kingman
The Trail Boss tells it. He’s seen it, he’s lived it, he’s ridden it, and he’s certainly cleaned it – un hunh, I’m talking that sketchball section of trail, the Trail Boss has definitely cleaned it. Mark Slate also kindly helped walk us through WTB’s product history.
Mark Slate opening talk. Photo by Abner Kingman
And of course we talked about tires… We ride in the dirt, therefore we talk about tires, that’s undisputed, right?
Talking about tires at the 2015 WTB Thowdown, Novato, California. Photo by Abner Kingman
Then, it was time to sign waivers. //www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsdZKCh6RsU
target=”_blank”>Waivers? We don’t need no stinkin’ waivers. Come within 20 miles of Weir’s place and it’s time to sign some fine print:
I, the aforementioned, understand that mountain biking and WEIR are inherently dangerous, and am hereby releasing all liability…
It actually made some sense, promptly upon arrival to Novato, media were hurled down this.
Ben Cruz, riding too fast to tell it’s Ben Cruz. Photo by Abner Kingman
Continue to page 2 for more from the WTB Throwdown and a full photo gallery »
The post WTB showcases new products in WTB Throwdown appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.