Pinkbike Product Picks

Sep 7, 2012
by Matt Wragg  
Renthal Duo Stem

The Duo stem is Renthal's trail offering. It uses their unique split design to create a strong, lightweight and distinctive-looking piece of kit. The top and bottom are joined by the two bolts at the front and two underneath behind the bar - this does mean you must separate the two halves to mount your handlebar. Being Renthal, it is only available in 50mm length and a gold/black color combination. Using bolts from the local bike shop's spare parts bin it weighs in at just 143g. That is 23g lighter than the equivalent length Thomson 4X stem. MSRP $110.00 USD www.renthal.com


Renthal Duo Stem details

Pinkbike's Take:
bigquotesWe make no bones about the fact that we like the way Renthal does things - so the fact that they have the confidence to offer this stem in a single length and colour pleases us. This stem has been bolted to a few different bikes over the last year and we can't find a single negative point, we also haven't seen a bike that won't work with the sexy gold/black color combo. Yes, it is bit of a fiddle to mount the stem to your handlebar, but it's not a job you need to do regularly enough to be an issue. A number of people have told us that their Duo stems creaked as they rode, but neither of the two test samples we have used have made noise. Rentha's Duo stem is light, sexy and the price is about spot on for a stem that is manufactured in the UK. - Matt Wragg


Schwalbe Easy Fit Fluid

Mounting tubeless tyres can be one of the hardest job on a mountain bike, so anything that can make it easier is always welcome around these parts. Schwalbe Easy Fit Fluid is a lubricant that you simply wipe around the rim before you start. It comes in a convenient applicator - you press the sponge against the metal and run it round each side. $11.55USD www.schwalbetires.com

Schwalbe Easy Fit Fluid

Pinkbike's Take:
bigquotesEasy Fit Fluid comes in a great little container you can easily keep in your toolbox, the applicator makes applying it simple, it works and it leaves no residue. We first tested it mounting a set of Schwalbe's Hans Damf tyres onto Stan's Flow rims. The front without the fluid was an hour long nightmare of sore hands and frustration, for the rear we wiped this round the rim beforehand and it popped straight on leaving us feeling rather daft. Ok, there is an argument you can do the same thing with soap and water, but the Easy Fit Fluid isn't expensive and the convenience of it all makes it worth every penny in our eyes. - Matt Wragg


Mucky Nuts Bender Fender

The Bender Fender is another take on the front mudguard. It velcros on to the crown and lower of your fork, sitting behind the fork a few millimeters above the tyre. The simple, tough flap of plastic catches whatever flies up from your tyre and weighs next to nothing. MSRP £8.00 www.muckynutz.com

Mucky Nutz Bender Fender

Pinkbike's Take:
bigquotesWe can't deny these work pretty well, it's a simple design and a decent idea. We take issue with it because the straps look scruffy and come uncut, so you need to faff around cutting them to size. Also, Mucky Nuts probably should have looked up 'Bender' in the Urban Dictionary before choosing it as a name. The Mucky Nuts Bender Fender should fit any fork and it gets the job done for an affordable price. - Matt Wragg


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Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Reviews Fluids Stems Fenders Mucky Nutz Renthal Schwalbe


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Member since Oct 29, 2006
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77 Comments
  • 47 0
 Well, I guess the benderfender has got the advantage that when you're done with cycling your girl can use it as a pee spout
  • 18 1
 in that case this is benderfender or shewee. All you need is a bumper dumper for complete satisfaction
  • 2 4
 I could see this, but for that check this web sight www.thefenis.com and yes it is a real product, was even pitched on Dragons Den
  • 8 0
 now I've seen it all on PB
  • 1 0
 it comes in glow in the dark! and WTF did I just see?!
  • 39 0
 "the straps look scruffy and come uncut, so you need to faff around cutting them to size" - Seriously?

We build bikes from parts, overhaul suspension, fit chain devices and all sorts of other mechanical wonders to make our bikes run sweet and cutting some velcro is a "faff"? Get a grip.
  • 12 0
 I've been using a Bender Fender for a couple of months now as it's great. Heaps better at keep shit from flicking up at my face than a tube between the stanchions and it stops mud collecting around the seals too (an issue when using tube).
Keen to buy another couple to use on my XC and AM rigs for wet rides as well as the current one on my DH bike.
  • 5 0
 I use them on both my DH and XC too, they work really well! I'm glade the used the mucky nuts version since this year I've seen a a lot of the marsh guards of the WC circuit which is honestly jus t a copy cat (IMO, cant verify, just a hunch based on time its been around)
  • 2 0
 Would you guys recommend the regular, lite or XL version? I'm very interested to get a front one for my AM rig.
  • 5 1
 I would recommend just making your own and use zip ties to hold it in place. Then you can make it however you want.
  • 3 1
 same question as digital-criminal but for a dh rig? dont like using tear offs you gotta stick em in your pocket (dont litter on the shore kiddies or ill find you) and they get water between the layers half the time
  • 1 0
 The regular one should be fine for both DH and AM. I don't think the XL is needed unless you're constantly riding in the rain. It'd personally avoid the lite for anything other than XC or commuting as I've crashed and slightly tore my regular one (Keeping in mind somehow I managed to roll the front tyre off the rim, this was probably responsible for the damage). Patched it up with some tube and glue and it's as good as before however.
  • 1 0
 anyone know where to get this in canada (/north america)?
  • 1 1
 online
  • 1 0
 smart,.. where?
  • 1 1
 right off their site
  • 1 0
 international shipping is not my bag.
  • 1 1
 meh google it
  • 7 0
 Since no one else has commented, I'll throw something in for the Schwalbe fluid... don't waste your money. Its essentially soap mixed with windshield washer fluid (which evaporates faster than plain water would, so you have to re-apply the stuff several times when installing a tire). Even paying wholesale for the stuff (as i do) I wouldn't ever bother buying another bottle of it after having given it a try already.
  • 7 0
 Washing up liquid does it fine for me , and you get baby soft skin...
  • 3 0
 Yeah, I was watching a Schwalbe tubless tutorial video and they said about their fluid, but said you can use soapy water or even straight water will do the job.
  • 2 0
 Washing detergent isn't good for skin at all. But it makes a good lube for putting tyres on rims, Also wakeboard boots on feet.
  • 2 0
 I use Windex when mounting motorcycle tires. Never done tubeless mtb tires but I'd assume it would work just as well. Soap and water also works pretty well. Takes a while to evaporate though.
  • 1 0
 I like the sponge applicator on the bottle, nice idea! I however usually just use Armorall as it lubricates the rubber and isn't messy at all. Just apply it to a towel, rag or paper towel, and rub the inside and outside of the tires bead! It stays slippery for a good while and much longer than needed to apply the tire. Then I apply armorall to the whole tire and with alcohol wipe off any thats on the rim!
  • 1 0
 THANK YOU! someone said it so i dont have too!! All i need are some good pedros levers and a good stool to sit down on.. i dont need to add another thing to my list of 'more shit i have to buy every other month', because its already too long... lol
  • 5 0
 And now I have to look up bender on urban dictionary
  • 3 2
 You really needed to look that up?
  • 1 0
 relaxxxx el-nombe. hes from the US just like me (i had to look it up too).. its more of your guys 'lovely' British slang...
  • 1 0
 Haha fair enough, always thought that one was fairly universal. It was in Futurama after all (Bender the Offender/The Gender Bender)
  • 3 0
 I'm going to have to say the Renthal stem is not their unique design, Kodex Strata stem is the same idea and was on the market long before Renthal copied it.
  • 2 0
 I'd have to dig through old bike magazines but I'm almost positive I saw that same idea for a stem used nearly 20 years ago during the heyday of bling bling annodizing and CNC machined stems (so back when 3D Violet was the hot term for "purple"). Also BMX stems have long used something almost exactly the same (albeit with a quill stem, not threadless) at least as far back as the mid 1970s.
  • 3 0
 I use both the Renthal Stem and the Mucky Nutz fender and both work great. I really love the stem though....such a great piece of kit.
  • 4 0
 the bender fender looks perfict for the top of my rear triangle like the old spesialized ones
  • 1 0
 Never had a problem getting tyres on any of my mountain bikes, I got my Schwalbe Hans Damf's onto my Stan's Flow rims on my enduro in about five minutes with my hands,no levers needed,all in the technique......I do like the look of that Renthal stem
  • 1 0
 I call BS on taking an hour to mount a hans damf on a Flow rim without the applicator. Those rims make it so easy. I have yet to encounter a tire that takes more than 5 minutes to mount (including a hans damf) and thats without applicator and using a floor pump.
  • 1 0
 never needed anything but a floor pump and no tubes for 12 years now...love hans and nicks
  • 3 2
 That Park Tools scale seems sensitive enough to weigh illicit drugs... I wonder how many Mountain bikers have used it for that?
  • 1 1
 doesent look like it is exact to 0,01g, these scales also often have a range of 50 to 100g max only, not enough to weight bikeparts
  • 1 0
 @sethimus, you only need it to go to .01 of a gram Wink

@fss, you would be surprised.. but there are other, cheaper options out there than park tools..
  • 1 0
 used the schwalbe easy fit for a while! it is really a good product, espacially if you are on the trail, and you are nuts that your tyre's are whoppingg round
  • 1 7
flag Protour (Sep 7, 2012 at 11:21) (Below Threshold)
 The stem is not forged, so I wouldn't trust it. Truvativ is forged; stronger.
  • 1 0
 ^not any relation whatsoever... and im fine with soap and water for the one time that I ran tubeless
  • 2 0
 I had the same combo of tyre/rim and it mounted straight away on both wheels, think you were doing something wrong! Razz
  • 2 0
 I have a bender fender on order now I look forward to seeing how it pans out
  • 1 0
 I once made a couple of bender fenders out of large yogurt containers. Spray painted them black and velcro zapped strapped in place. Cheep but effective. -CF-
  • 2 0
 does the bender fender do a sufficiently good job to avoid using goggles ?
  • 4 0
 Yeah, more so than the RRP I was using. There's no chance of mud being flicked up as it pretty much wraps around the tyre (not to mention the added benefit) of it keeping your seals clean.
  • 4 0
 Im running one and it does a very good job of keeping debris under control. Like others have said it does a good job of keeping seals clean and also stops large amounts of crud flying at your headset and face.
  • 3 0
 i think i'll have to get involved then!
  • 3 0
 I have one, does the job perfectly! It's hard not to try it at £8. I might swap the velcro straps for cable ties as they start to get worn
  • 2 1
 There's a similar one called the 'Marshguard' that's available in the UK from Descent-gear. It's only £6.99 (with free postage) but it doesn't have the velcro and you have to use your own rip ties (no biggy). They work really well and I have them on a downhill bike and 2 trail bikes. I'm not sure about negating the use of goggles, but you definitely don't get half the mud in your face as without the guard. Keeps the headset cleaner, and no mud shoots up your steerer tube. Also you hardly notice it's on there, which is good as usual mudguards look a bit shite.
  • 3 0
 8£?? I think thats like 12 CAD or something... yup f*ck you tearoffs!
  • 1 0
 my renthal stem turned up today. was nice to sit and read this this morning.
  • 1 0
 www.pinkbike.com/photo/9342003
  • 1 0
 spongebob soap for the win over that schwalbe fit fluid. 2.99 compared to 11.55 sorry i think i will stick with spongebob
  • 1 0
 I ended up getting the bender fender and the thing works really well! way better than my rapid racer mud guard
  • 2 2
 Renthal need to remove the big ugly logo from the top of it. It would look so much better without it.
  • 1 0
 check my broken Renthal stem !

www.pinkbike.com/photo/9342003
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