Metric Shock Sizing: It sounds like an earthquake warning system - but it's not and has a lot to do with mountain bikes rather than plate tectonics. Six manufacturers come to an agreement and publish a new system with the aim of standardizing shock installation lengths.

27plus tires also require new parts to function optimally. Manitou has developed the "Magnum" especially for this purpose: a suspension fork suitable for 27 and 29plus tires. The MULEfüt-50SL wheels from Sun Ringlé, which were also developed for plus sizes, come from the same corner.

Manitou is back with the "Mattoc", which appeals to weight-conscious all-mountain fans. The fork is available in several versions and suspension travel gradations. It uses the technology of the "Dorado" downhill fork and surprises with a new thru-axle.

The long-standing Manitou distributor GPR has ended its collaboration with the US suspension specialist at the end of April. A successor has now been appointed to take over the sales and service of Manitou products in Switzerland.

The long-standing Manitou distributor, GPR AG from Uster, is ending its collaboration with the suspension expert. Discussions are currently underway with new distributors, but nothing has yet been decided regarding a new sales partnership. The Uster-based distributor's portfolio is also in flux in another area.

Former World Cup pro Thomas Hochstrasser is taking over the role of Managing Director at Answer Europe, based in Blumenstein, Bern. After more than nine years in the service of the American suspension fork and accessories manufacturer, Christian Müller will relinquish the position after the Taipei trade fair and take some time out to find a new direction.

Manitou's new products for 2005 point in different directions: In the upper price segment, the Americans have further refined their SPV system, the second generation is called "SPV Evolve". And under the name "Evolve", a sophisticated air shock for downhill bikes is being launched on the market. Manitou is also not forgetting the beginners in the sport: with a more affordable steel and air shock as well as the new "Stance" and "Splice" forks, Manitou offers a whole selection of suspension elements that don't cost the earth.

The advance of Manitou was unmistakable at the fall trade fairs. The decision to produce the SPV stable platform technology from Progressive Suspension under license proved to be the right one. As a result, Manitou was able to increase its market share in the upper price segment to 45% in the States and 65% in Europe in 2004. The coming season will therefore be the "Manitou SPV year".

In mid-September, Thomas Hochstrasser rode his last race as a professional biker, and the Zug native is already back in the bike industry: Hochstrasser is now working for Answer's European headquarters and is responsible for OEM customers throughout Europe.

The number one Swiss bike and accessory importer, Sursee-based Intercycle, has announced that it will stop selling Answer Manitou products as of September 1, 2003. As of this date, Intercycle will not provide any service or warranty work, and Intercycle Race Support for Manitou suspension elements will also be discontinued. The decision to end the long-standing distribution partnership was prompted by differences of opinion regarding future distribution in Switzerland.

First, Manitou secured the license to use the revolutionary damper technology of Progressive Suspension's "Fifth Element" shock absorber. Then prototypes appeared at the bike festival in Riva del Garda with Manitou oil-air dampers in their frames. And now comes the real bombshell: Manitou (Hall 3, Stand 303) has already announced the premiere of the new "Swinger" suspension struts for Eurobike in two weeks' time, which are designed to combine a high level of comfort with minimal pumping when pedaling thanks to "Stable Platform Valve" technology.

In America, everyone is currently talking about the "5th Element" suspension struts from Progressive Suspension. And rightly so, because their adjustment options surpass anything previously available on the market: the compression damping can be adjusted separately for fast and violent bumps, and the suspension characteristics can also be varied via the air pressure in the reservoir. Technology that has long been familiar in motocross. The only problem is that the "5th Element" shock absorbers are very expensive and only available in small quantities. This is why they have so far only been found on competition bikes from professionals such as Eric Carter or on exclusive downhill bikes from niche suppliers such as Intense or Santa Cruz.

Early Christmas for Hayes: the brake manufacturer has just put Answer Products under the tree. With Answer as a major suspension specialist (Manitou) and accessories manufacturer, Hayes is moving towards becoming a complete supplier. Only recently, they took over the spoke manufacturer Wheelsmith and the rim producer Sun-Ringle.

Two months after the takeover, Hayes begins to integrate the suspension fork manufacturer Answer-Manitou into its own company structures. At the end of December, Hayes dissolved the Answer European sales office in Switzerland and transferred its activities to its own European headquarters in Germany. Only the previous Managing Director Thomas Hochstrasser was retained from the staff.

Manitou is recalling a series of "Six Elite" and "Six Super" forks that were fitted to "Specialized Rockhopper A-1 Comp" and "Mongoose Hot Link Sommet" bikes. The reason for the recall: an incorrectly fitted preload adjuster cap. According to the Swiss importer Intercycle, however, this should have no impact on safety. Only the adjustment of the preload does not work.

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.

Answer-Manitou's Head of Europe Christian Müller had a stroke of luck ten days ago: he fell on the freeride course on the Gurten in Bern and suffered serious injuries: In addition to a fracture of the 11th thoracic vertebra and the sternal process, he also suffered from pneumonia. At least it was a stable fracture of the thoracic vertebra, so there are no long-term consequences to worry about. Move wishes Christian Müller a speedy and full recovery, the Manitou boss should be back in full action at the fall trade fairs.