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STRONGER! LIGHTER! FASTER!

Get up to speed with the latest bike gear.

BY MASON WEST 243-2122

The cutting edge of bike technology constantly gets sharper by shaving off some grams here, altering a design there and finding new uses for old ideas. With designers working faster than barkeeps at closing time, it can be hard to stay on top of the latest buzz. So WW put its ear to the ground to hear the rolling wheels of change.

SHOCK VALUE

To give Ron Jeremy a run for his money, the Specialized Demo 9 Pro delivers 9 inches of travel with the Manitou Swinger four-way rear shock. The Marzocchi 888 R fork keeps pace with an 8-inch to ensure you don't even notice that 30-foot cliff jump. You can buy both suspension units as components, but that's really only for the people who break the ones they've already got.

$3,800. Fat Tire Farm, 2714 NW Thurman St., 222-3276.

For a plush ride, the Fox F100X fork keeps its modest 4 inches of travel stiff until automatically triggered by bumpy terrain, so you avoid looking like a kid on a pogo stick while pedaling around town.

$775. Fat Tire Farm.

GEARING UP

Bianchi's Auto-Milano

Shimano's new Dura-Ace 10-speed system may seem like the Schick Quattro of the bike world, but this compact unit fits almost all standard bikes and cuts weight from SRAM's best unit, the R9, by more than 40 grams. Retrofitting your current cruiser will cost between $1,500 and $2,000, but it's already on many 2004 bikes, such as the Specialized Roubaix Pro.

$3,600. River City Bicycles, 706 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 233-5973.

The Nexus Auto-D by Shimano puts a computer on your commuter to control shifting between four speeds, all hidden in the hub of the rear tire. Too fancy to be sold after-market, the Auto-D comes standard on Bianchi's Auto-Milano.

$700, Lakeside Bicycles, 428 N State St., Lake Oswego, 699-8665.

SRAM's DualDrive keeps all the junk in the trunk. By functionally putting the three front gears in the rear hub and using traditional rear cassettes, you get 21 to 27 speeds (depending on the model) controlled by a one-handed unit that shifts at complete stops. The idea is still too new to work after-market, so try it on the Bianchi Bergamo.

$580. Lakeside Bicycles.

CARBON COPIES

Cannondale's Six13 Record uses aluminum and carbon on different parts of the frame to reach new lows. Even a giant 60-cm bike weighs 15.5 pounds (illegally light by International Cycling Union rules). While the pros bicker, consumers can just enjoy the ride.

$5,800 ($2,800 frame only). Lakeside Bicycles, River City Bicycles.

GIRL POWER

Just save your butt with the Speed She saddle. Wilderness Trail's "Love Channel" eliminates pressure on sensitive spots while maintaining a conventional look... if you can forgive the erotic embroidery.

$50. Bike Gallery, 5329 NE Sandy Blvd., 281-9800, and other locations.

After years of serving up Papa Bear's porridge, most major bike companies offer sex-specific bikes and gear. Whether you go with the LeMond Reno Women's or Specialized Dolce Sport, these bikes accommodate female shoulders, arms, legs, hands and butts with small tweaks that don't look like much but feel just right.

LeMond Reno, $830, Specialized Dolce, $650, Lakeside Bicycles.

Eugene manufacturer BikeFriday has downsized its high-end folding bikes in a "petite line" designed for people under 5-foot-4 and 125 pounds. The smaller wheels and folding frames allow for a better- fitting and often lighter bike.

All custom units and pricing, www.bikefriday.com, 800-777-0258.

WEAR AND TEAR

As if BMX riders don't get enough air, Adidas has thrown their ClimaCool ventilation system in the CC Nyquist ($75). While the Nyquist is street-friendly, the Hematoma ($110) is a cycle-only downhill shoe that performs without the peril of being attached to the pedals.

Adidas, 5020 NE Martin Luther King Blvd., 249-1676, www.adidas.com and other locations.

The Bell Metro helmet makes accessorizing a snap with button-on accessories such as a flip mirror, rear flasher and Oregon-essential rain cover. The other snap you hear is on the cash register drawer: Each item is sold separately for $10-$15.

$80. River City Bicycles.