<FONT
SIZE=”2″ FACE=”Arial”>Answer Products is to discontinue production of rear shocks
for the 2001 model year. Answer has been building rear shocks under the Manitou name
for three years, and they’ve been fitted to various bikes including the Tomac models,
and some Specialized race bikes. For the 2000 model year the company introduced two
air and two-coil spring Manitou rear shocks which early reports established were
good performers.

Speaking in US trade mag Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, Answer’s Vice President
of sales and marketing, Petw Sweeney said, “We looked at the level of resources
it would take to design and manufacture shocks at competitive levels and felt it
would be better to allocate these resources towards our rapidly expanding front suspension
business.”