All the attention in mountain bike suspension development in the last several years has focused on freeride and downhill applications. With its 2006 R-Seven fork, Manitou aims to bring the latest suspension technologies to the cross-country set. James Huang takes a look.

Although the letters X and C often conjure up images of skinny NORBA types riding hyperfragile hardtails on some smoothish race course, today’s cross-country riders aren’t just hardcore racers. Cross country riders are now pushing themselves and their equipment to new limits over more difficult terrain, but in many respects, suspension development has lagged somewhat behind the curve. Where once suspension forks that were just lightweight were often good enough, today’s cross country riders are increasing demanding equipment that is even lighter yet able to withstand more abuse, all while offering superior functionality, multiple levels of easy-to-understand adjustments, and of course, resistance to the dreaded bob. click here to read more…