Camps: some offer lessons in socialization and bonding, others offer streamlined activities that focus on making you better at your chosen passion or vocation. Many camps help you attain a goal, such as climbing a mountain or losing those extra, unwanted pounds you put on over the winter. Then there are those coveted camps that are aimed at dispensing important mountain bike product information to the public at large. This is achieved by inviting a group of editors to one of the sports most coveted riding areas. Then showering them with lavish gifts and rewards in the form amazing rides and great comradery.

I was lucky enough to attend one of these camps last weekend in Moab Utah. It was 2006 SRAM media launch in Moab, Utah. The camp was attended by a motley crew: Scott Hart, Greg Herbold, Kirt Vorheis, Tyler Morland, Geoff Gulevech, Ryan Cleek, Matt, and James Wang to name just a few. The focus of the camp is to educate attending editors and athletes about the new 2007 SRAM, Rockshox, Truvativ and Avid product lines. Activities ranging from epic XC rides, DH shuttles, to midnight four wheeling and long-winded storytelling took place at the camp!

To achieve great knowledge of the inner workings of each new offering, the product managers had daily group meetings with us that consisted of slideshows and test rides, along with a Q & A session. Each session was very comprehensive, to say the least. All the brands had a few totally new offerings for 07 so it was up to us (the editors) to heed what the product managers were saying about the product and put the product to the test on the trail.

On the first day were ordered to get up at the crack of dawn so that we could prepare ourselves for the long day ahead. After a hearty breakfast and a quick dip in the pool we headed out to the SRAM trailer to set up our bikes!!

The riding was killer, not only did we get to sample some of the worlds finest Mountain Biking but we also got to try out the new Lyric Fork . After the morning ride was over we reconvened back at the hotel for some swimming, lunch and beverages. Once again we were shuffled into the lobby for a presentation on the Lyric and Totem Forks.

Before getting into the presentation about the Lyric and Totem, you will need to know that there are two major changes to Rockshox top of the line forks. The new forks are going to offer the following:

Mission Control Damping High end RockShox forks now have super-adjustable Mission Control damping. This new system allows you to control high and low speed compression, it has a floodgate that allows you to have an adjustable platform for more efficient pedaling, as well as a rebound adjuster for the all-new damper. There is a new compression assembly with adjustable high and low speed rebound to the circuit. Low speed controls body roll and brake dive, whereas high speed controls square edge and big jumps. An adjustable floodgate helps make a fork that is well-suited for all riding conditions. With the floodgate in the up and on position, the fork has a threshold (essentially a stiff platform) for efficient pedaling, and there is even a floodgate adjuster to change the level at which this platform occurs. When the floodgate adjuster is down or off the fork is fully active. Dual flow rebound allows for more adjustment with rebound. There is also greater air volume in the casting, which gives it a softer ramp at the end of the stroke. Prior to having the greater air volume some of the Rockshox forks would give a very high ramp up rate towards the end of the travel. Rockshox engineers made it a point to get rid of this. Mission Control is featured in the Totem and Lyric forks.

2-Step Air The new 2-Step system, featured in the Totem and Lyrik forks, allows quick and easy travel adjustment without giving away downhill performance. Compressing the fork and the turn of an adjuster decreases the fork travel 45mm while still being fully active, another turn of the adjuster brings the fork back to full height. We tested two step air out on the trail and it worked great! No matter what setting your were in, long or short, the fork performed.

Here are the new products:

Rockshox Lyrik

The Lyrik is an all-mountain fork that is very adjustable. If you are an all-mountain rider looking for a fork that can handle everything from smooth singletrack to technical descents, it would be a good idea to check out the Lyrik. The Lyrik comes with RockShox�s new Mission Control damping system and is available with the 2-Step travel adjuster. On the trail the Lyrik performed no matter what setting it was in. Being almost 200lbs, I tend to be hard on my suspension so it�s necessary for me to get it dialed before I ride. Luckily the Lyrik compression adjustments are easy to use so I was able to tune it on the trail without any issues. The Lyrik ate up the steep G-outs, small drop offs and rough rocky sections with the greatest of ease. I did end up changing the high and low speed compression depending on the type of terrain we were riding and it made a huge difference. If we were riding rough high-speed, rocky terrain the fork performed better if the high speed compression adjuster was turned down, so that bumps would be soaked up rather than the fork being deflected. The same could be noted with the Totem. Keep in mind you should make sure the fork is set up to your weight before making adjustments to the compression.

• 1.5 or 1.125 steer tube diameters are available for the same price, 160mm or 115-160 travel offered. The 1.5 is actually lighter than the 1.125
• 35mm upper stanchion tubes
• Post mount disc brake for all new forks, direct caliper mount for 160mm rotors
• Beefy lower legs for added stiffness on the trail. � of the way up the leg there is something called the �power bulge� where the fork leg actually gets larger in diameter. The engineers at Rockshox came upon this by trying to give more support to bushings so that they would not wear out. What they found it that is also adds to the overall stiffness of the fork.
• The �Power Bulge� is now going to be on the Lyrik and Totem fork lines even though it actually was an afterthought.

Weight:
RockShox is now giving weight estimates that include an uncut steer tube and axle, unlike many other companies. This means that weights are going to be spot on out of the box... No more claimed BS about weights without cut steerer�

Lyrik 2-Step: 5.49 lbs
Lyrik Solo Air: 5.1 lbs
Lyrik U-Turn: 5.73 lbs

MSRP:
Lyrik Coil U-Turn: $920
Lyrik Solo Air: $960
Lyrik 2-Step Air: $1,050

Rockshox Totem The Totem is a 180mm travel, super tough single crown DH/freeride fork. It is available in air and coil-sprung versions, and the air version is available with the 2-step air system that allows travel to be adjusted from 135mm to the full 180mm! It also features RockShox�s new �Mission Control� damping system which makes adjustments to low and high speed compression, floodgate and rebound all possible on the fly.

We were able to try the Totem out on some DH runs on the 2nd ride of the 1st day. Once I got the fork set up to my weight we were off and running. The trail was very rocky with tons of square edged hits and drops to flat. The Totem has all the adjustments of the Lyric and because of the massive legs and stanchions more stability and handling at high speeds. The huge 40mm upper tubes along with the �Power Bulge� make this one of the stiffest 7in single crown forks on the market. Once again the ease of use on the compression adjuster made an impact on my riding. At first Jeremiah Boobar (the father of the Totem) told us to run our High Speed compression all the way out to see the difference in the ride, I did and man did it make the ride harsh, my front end was deflecting of every loose rock in front of me. Then we tried the opposite and ran it all the way in� This felt great but my fork was using too much of it�s travel on the bigger high speed hits. I settled in at 4 clicks of high speed and it felt great.

• Huge 40mm upper stanchion tubes made of 7000 series aluminum
• 1.5 or 1.125 inch steer tubes (1.5 is lighter)
• "Power Bulge� to increase bushing durability, stiffness and rigidity
• 20mm �Maxle� lower, thru-axle system that uses a 360 degree lever instead of having to use a tool
• Comes with 5 pages of stickers to customize the look of your fork, fork body comes in galvanized or black

Weight:
Totem Solo Air: 5.9 lbs
Totem Two Step Adjustable Travel Air: 6.3 lbs
Totem Coil 6.3 lbs
The 1 1/8 inch steer tube versions are 0.2 lbs heavier than the 1 � inch versions

MSRP:
Totem Coil: $995
Totem Solo Air: $1,060
Totem 2-Step Air: $1,150