The Cool and the Strange- Interbike 2016
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Innovative Racks and Zombie-Proof Locks
RockyMounts has always been a bit of an underdog in the rack world. This past year, however, they’ve come out swinging with a few models that can go mano a mano with the big boys. The latest version is a beefy hitch rack that, bonus, swings out of the way, taking the hassle right out of accessing your hatchback or trunk. And, yes, you can swing that sucker around when it’s pregnant with up to three bikes (the third mount is, by the way, an add-on).
The MonoRail Swing is constructed out of chromoly steel and fits bikes with tire diameters of 20 to 29 inches. The trays are wide enough to accommodate big tires—as in fat bike tires. Each tray can handle bikes with wheelbases of up to 48 inches and a weight of 60 pounds. If you add the third-bike tray, that weight limit drops down to 50 pounds, but, really, if your bike weighs 50 pounds, everyone reading this story probably feels sorry as all hell for you. It’s time to upgrade from the cast-iron frame and concrete wheels.
POC Gets Their XC Groove On
POC made their bones with gear aimed at trail riders and gravity-oriented types. The past six or seven years have been filled with goggles, body armor, baggy clothes and extended coverage helmets, like the Trabec. While POC’s 2017 line up is still heavy on the loose-fit end of the apparel spectrum, the company is aiming to widen their reach. To wit, the company showcased a line of cross-country apparel. Consider the Octal X, which is based on POC’s Octal road helmet—light weight and breezy ventilation are the big draws here—but the Octal X also features a layer of aramid reinforcement in the EPS liner, which should improve structural integrity. Visor? Nope. Hmmm….. I think a detachable visor would have been a good move here. It’s always good to at least have the option.
Tthe Resistance Pro XC Tee also caught my eye. Despite the laid-back vibe, the jersey is loaded with technical features, including a light-yet-tear-resistant Cordura sleeves and a light breathable fabric. There are also some smart and subtle features, including a kind of gaiter beneath the hem that prevents the jersey from riding up and presenting the riders behind you with a long look at your ass crack. How very thoughtful of those Swedes. If the looser “Tee” shirt style still ain’t XC enough for you, POC is also offering a jersey (the Pro XC Zip Jersey) that has a more traditional sausage-suit vibe.
You’re nobody’s fool. You’re prepared for the tradeshow… Rollerbag? Check! Comfortable shoes? Check! Enduro-approved kneepads? Check and double check!
Interbike is always a good place to see people who make you pause and think, “I wonder if someone dropped that poor guy on his head when he was a baby?” Then again, maybe this dude thought the same thing about me when he brushed on by at just below the speed of light. Either way, he was clearly ready to get rad in the convention hall. Fly your freak flag, bro. Fly on.
I immediately called dibs on writing up Magura’s new fork, the Boltron. Why? Because it is an e-bike specific fork and I knew that including any kind of e-bike product in this post would make Mike Levy develop a twitch. Which is precisely what happened. It’s important to savor the little things in life….
Then again, there’s always a group of riders with a soft spot for inverted forks and if you didn’t tell anyone that this 150-millimeter travel fork with 40-millimeter stanchions, a crown the size of Texas and a 20-millimeter thru-axle was actually an e-bike fork, they might be kind of into it. Sure, at 2,200 grams, it isn’t a flyweight model and, yeah, there doesn’t appear to be any provision for either low or high-speed compression damping (those e-bike types probably aren’t sweating the climbs as much as the rest of us), but I dunno…the Boltron has a certain Teutonic, corn-fed charm to it.
Most importantly, Magura’s new fork is just one letter short of being called “the Voltron”. Any time someone gets that close to naming their new product after a giant robot composed of five, smaller, flying, lion robots, they earn a spot in my post. That’s just part and parcel of the trade union code. Well played, Magura. Well played.
Don’t expect to see one of these sprouting from the wall of your local bike shop—it’s an e-bike OE product for 2016.
Then again, there’s always a group of riders with a soft spot for inverted forks and if you didn’t tell anyone that this 150-millimeter travel fork with 40-millimeter stanchions, a crown the size of Texas and a 20-millimeter thru-axle was actually an e-bike fork, they might be kind of into it. Sure, at 2,200 grams, it isn’t a flyweight model and, yeah, there doesn’t appear to be any provision for either low or high-speed compression damping (those e-bike types probably aren’t sweating the climbs as much as the rest of us), but I dunno…the Boltron has a certain Teutonic, corn-fed charm to it.
Most importantly, Magura’s new fork is just one letter short of being called “the Voltron”. Any time someone gets that close to naming their new product after a giant robot composed of five, smaller, flying, lion robots, they earn a spot in my post. That’s just part and parcel of the trade union code. Well played, Magura. Well played.
Don’t expect to see one of these sprouting from the wall of your local bike shop—it’s an e-bike OE product for 2016.
This is Boltron.
This is Voltron. So very similar, flying lion-robots aside.
Packing for the Apocalypse With Ortlieb
Ortleib has long been a manufacturer of bags that shrug off rain, snow and everything else intent on fouling whatever you deem worthy of toting around on your bike. Think dry bags for your bike. With a German sense of humor. Ortleib stuff ain’t cheap, but there’s a reason long-distance tourers the world over scrimp and save for their gear.
What was going on in the picture above kind of blew my mind. See that little bundle on the left? Well, it also happens to be the backpack on the right. Ortlieb’s mini pack is lightweight, foldable and still waterproof. Day-amn.
I also had my eye on the waterproof roller bag at right? Why? Because it’s bomber, completely waterproof and lightweight enough to be carried around as a backpack. I spend a lot of time in airports. Due to a stupid-and-unlucky streak a mile wide, I also spend a lot of time stranded in godforsaken places, shouting at the sky. This bag might be overkill for most folks, but I stumbled on this thing and immediately found myself dabbing at the line of drool on my chin.
I also had my eye on the waterproof roller bag at right? Why? Because it’s bomber, completely waterproof and lightweight enough to be carried around as a backpack. I spend a lot of time in airports. Due to a stupid-and-unlucky streak a mile wide, I also spend a lot of time stranded in godforsaken places, shouting at the sky. This bag might be overkill for most folks, but I stumbled on this thing and immediately found myself dabbing at the line of drool on my chin.
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I don't have a fatbike. I probably will never have a fatbike. Can I please buy a rack without 10lbs of extra tire tray to fit a fatbike with 197mm axles and 6" wide tires? I get you are trying to limit SKUs which, in the end, will probably make your rack more price competitive. But I am not going to spend $500+ on a rack that won't hold my normal tires as securely because 1% of cyclists have fatbikes. Security aside, it just looks like shit.
Hugs,
People who ride normal bikes.
Northshore racks and Swagman racks are about all thats durable any more.
www.1upusa.com/bicycleracks.html
recon-racks.com
Don't piss him off. He's a 1%-er
Honestly... you'd be grinding on that thing for a while. It was no joke. They had a bunch of different sizes.
Funny thing is... tons of money has been dumped in to compton. It's got way less crime. The gangs are more organized and their art artsy rich people districts. A lot of people that were living in the hood sold their houses to rich developers and gtfo.
Not like it was down there when I was a kid. LOL!
I still think Blackburns names were way better... named after prisons.
I see waayyyyy to many Hipster douchebags using these in SF which makes them repulsive by association.
no, the cooler name should definitely be reserved for standard mtn bike...
I guess there's not too many bikes you can say have a set if bolt-ons though! :-@
It's called E-mtb...
Hilarious.