The first downhill fork from American suspension specialist FOX Shox was rumored for a long time, but last weekend it celebrated its world and race premiere at the NORBA race in Big Bear. With 40-millimeter stanchions and even fatter dropper posts, the fork makes a big impression and the suspension travel can be adjusted internally between 15 and 20 centimeters. The adjustment options are the usual ones: The compression and rebound stages of the oil damper can be adjusted from the outside using knobs, the steel spring can be preloaded and the racing mechanics are responsible for everything else - a real racer fork, after all.

As of today, Christophe Ritzler is no longer head of Rock Shox's European sales headquarters. Instead, he will take on the same role for FOX Racing with immediate effect: High-end supplier FOX was able to celebrate great success in the first business year after launching its suspension forks. The sales structure is now being expanded in order to optimally serve European bicycle manufacturers as well as specialist dealers.

The two competition shocks from Fox Shox and Answer-Manitou show the direction in which the material in downhill racing will continue to develop. The "Evolver" from Manitou offers an unrivaled low weight as an oil-air shock absorber in addition to the "SPV" anti-roll system. The part appeared for the first time at Interbike in a new Intense "M3". In cooperation with various team riders, Fox Shox has further developed the proven "Vanilla DH": Thanks to the new "BoostValve" technology, the damping of the "DHX" adapts to the respective compression depth, which allows the combination of fine response and optimum bottom-out protection.

The Americans from Fox Shox have long been a force to be reckoned with when it comes to suspension struts, and they soon secured a good slice of the pie in the cross-country and marathon market with their suspension forks, and the presentation of the first downhill fork caused quite a stir a month ago. Now Fox Shox is going one better and presenting the "36": this freeride fork offers adjustable suspension travel from 110 to 150 millimetres, with a Talas air cartridge absorbing the shocks and the damper being externally adjustable in rebound and compression.

Fox Shox has been one of the most important suppliers of suspension struts right from the start. For two years now, the Americans have also been shaking up the suspension fork market with great success. However, until now there has been a lack of suitable forks for the downhill and freeride markets. This will change radically in 2005, and the competition will have to dress warmly. Time is not standing still with the suspension struts either: the "Pedal Platform" mechanism on the Float models can be adjusted to your own taste using suspension rockers, and the new "DHX" suspension struts for downhill and freeride spoil racers with many adjustment options.

The company "Fox Factory Inc.", known as a manufacturer of high-quality suspension units in the bike sport, has recently been taken over by "Compass Diversified Holdings" for a sales price of 85 million US dollars. The change of ownership has no direct consequences for the employees, as the existing structures will be retained. Fox will continue to be managed by Robert Fox, co-founder of the company and owner until the takeover by Compass.

Fox, the suspension specialist, is presenting numerous detailed improvements to its suspension forks and air shocks for the coming season, which should make them lighter and more responsive. One highlight in the new product range is the new DHX RC4 damper for downhill bikes.

Hans Rey will ride for suspension manufacturer Fox in the future. But even after the turbulence, he is sticking by his long-standing sponsor GT and is planning new adventures, including in Cuba, Slovenia and Iceland. The German became famous for his acrobatic trial performances - his nickname Hans Noway Rey is no coincidence...