Green with Envy

Niner Air 9 RDOHmmmm... So last night was team night at Golden Bike Shop. Team night is a night that GBS puts together for the teams they sponsor so team members get a chance at getting pro deals on equipment for the season. It's a great night and an awesome opportunity for those of us needing or wanting equipment. Vendors and suppliers come to show their latest and greatest wares and answer questions, let us try stuff on, help us compare products. It's a great night!

As with the previous year, Aaron from Niner Bikes came down from Fort Collins to answer questions. He's a good guy, I've ridden with him a couple of times and every time I ride up in the Fort I'm hoping to run into the 9er guys.

So here comes Aaron strolling along pushing the new special edition Air 9 RDO. When I first heard about the Air 9 RDO it sounded cool, but I must admit I didn't feel the excitement. I've already got two Air 9 Carbons as well as the Jet RDO, and I was thinking I didn't really need or want any other bikes for my race season. I have to admit, seeing the Air 9 RDO made me green with envy! The thing is SICK SICK SICK!!!

During team night I was helping out only taking a few minutes to get the things I needed for the season on order. I made a promise to curb my race spending this year so my big purchase for this year are a pair of Easton EC90 Carbon wheels. I got the order in and worked the floor the rest of the night. Other than occasional looks I didn't get much time to really check the new RDO.

So on the way to the office this morning I stopped by to take another look and snap some pictures. The first thing that catches the eye is the new carbon tubing. It is much skinnier than the A9C but still looks beefy and feels very firm and sturdy. Also the rear triangle has been redesigned especially around the dropouts, and the rear brake now is between the chainstay and seatstays, rather than on top of the steatstay. On the front the badge has been redone to accommodate cable housing running through the frame. This is one area I'm glad to see changed, I've had my fair share of stuck cable ferrules in the old badge!

The build is the advertised special edition with all Shimano XTR. The crank is the RaceFace Next SL Carbon crank. I'm glad to see Raceface back! They have good stuff and having another option for components helps keep the vendors on their toes with competition!

I didn't get to ride it, I didn't have time. It's already spoken for as well. Just as well, I don't have to ponder breaking my promise. But for some reason I still see one of these in my future.... Off to ride my Jet RDO!