4-12-07 // Online Exclusive: Tomac Bikes Product Release

The Tomac brand of mountain bikes is back in action for 2008. The revived company’s three-bike lineup was revealed in Monterey, California, right before the Sea Otter Classic got underway.

John Tomac and new business partner Joel Smith, formerly of Answer/Manitou, were on hand to preview the brand’s three new single-pivot full suspension bikes, which include the Carbide XC, a 90-millimeter XC race bike; the Snyper, a 140-millimeter trail bike; and the Primer, a 220-millemeter downhill model that will be offered as a frame only.

Doug Bradburry, the original founder of Manitou supension and original co-founder of Tomac, helped design the Primer downhill. David Earle, a designer with stints at both Specialized and Santa Cruz under his belt, brought his experience with bikes like the P3, Blur and Nomad to the table and spearheaded the design of the Carbide XC and Snyper platforms.

The company worked closely with Fox Racing Shox to match its bikes’ leverage ratios with custom-tuned Fox rear and front shocks, and the Carbide XC and Snyper models shown today were both shown with 2008 Fox suspension components, which feature post-mount disc brake mounts, new crown and lowers up front and a repositioned valve in the rear.

The Tomac brand was originally founded 1998 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as a collaboration between Manitou founder Doug Bradbury and the mountain biking race legend that is John Tomac. Between 1975 and 2005 Tomac amassed an unparalled resume, including ten NORBA national titles, six World Championship wins and NORBA national titles in both downhill and XC.

The Carbide XC is a carbon fiber 90mm travel XC race bike

Between 2001 and 2005 the Tomac brand was licensed to American Bicycle Group, which distributes Merlin, Lightspeed and tri bike brand Quintana Roo.

After ABG discontinued the brand early 2005, Tomac and Smith started talking at last year’s Sea Otter Classic event about reviving the brand, and in the intervening year the brand has undergone a complete overhaul.

“During the ABG years the brand wasn’t standing up to what Tomac stands for,” said Smith. Going forward, the brand will focus only on high-end bikes. Both the Carbide XC and Snyper will come in two component level packages and all three new models will be available as a frame only. Prices have not yet been announced.

“It’s a small niche brand for people who know,” said Smith.

“I used to think bigger was better,” he said, referring to his days at Manitou where he saw business quadruple over four years. “But it sucked. The goal with Tomac is to be small. Small is okay, small is fun.”

The Snyper 140mm trail bike has a 6061 aluminum frame