It’s a bit on the chilly side, the sun is deceptively strong and I’ve got sand whipping into my face – it must be Sea Otter time again. The annual race / product expo / bike festival has rolled around, and here’s the first report from the four days I’m down here.

On the surface everything’s the same – same layout, same banners, even the media pass is the same as last year, but there’s a definite air of credit-crunch-induced scaling back hanging around. Company stands aren’t nearly as lavish (I haven’t seen a single “concept” booth so far), and save for a couple of rally cars it’s refreshingly back to basics bikes-on-stands.

Norco

Norco is best known for big bikes, but this as yet unnamed, “team issue” carbon XC racer was front and centre on the stand. Chunky monococque design, BB30 standard bottom bracket and cut-to-fit seat tube add up to 2.9lbs for the 20.5in frame shown here. Internal cable routing adds to the sleekness.

There are big bikes too, of course. Last year Norco’s Darcy Turenne showed off her new bike – a modified version of the regular Norco Shore. This year she’s launching her signature “Vixa” line of women-specific freeride bikes, which feature lighter frames, more suitable suspension tuning and shorter reach top tubes. It’s about time – when are other manufacturers going to cotton on that girls want big bikes too?