Ohlins' TTX22 shock is now available in a trunnion mount version, and also gets a new spring collar and bottom out bumper.
Greg Minnaar and his assegai.
Microshift have a new version of their clutch-equipped 11-speed derailleur on the way. They claim the clutch is extremely durable - it uses a series of pawls to add tension to the cage.
Along with the derailleur, Microshift also have two new 11-speed, 11-46 tooth cassettes.
Pivot's popular Switchblade is now available in aluminum, which drops the price significantly. According to Pivot, the aluminum frame is actually stiffer than the carbon one.
Intense's M29 ended up on the podium at the first World Cup DH race of the season; not a bad way to kick things off.
A little Giant car.
The Bomber Strap is a different take on the traditional tailgate pad. Designed for one or two trail bikes, the strap is made from ballistic nylon that's sewn around foam padding. Ryan Cleek photo.
A full-suspension gravel bike? It turns out that's a thing, and Niner are working on one called the Magic Carpet.
Speaking of gravel grinding, X-Fusion had a short travel version of their Manic dropper post that's designed to work with drop bars - the lever sits to the inside of the hood.
The Revel inverted fork has been teased at nearly every tradeshow for the last three years, but it's now in stock and officially for sale.
Loic "Super" Bruni now has his own signature version of Crankbrothers' Mallet DH pedals.
Wolf Tooth Components are entering the headset market with an assortment of brightly colored options. The cups are machined in USA, and equipped with stainless steel Enduro sealed cartridge bearings.
SR Suntour's gravity athletes will be using the new Jurni air shock this season. The shock has externally adjustable compression and rebound, and the air volume can be adjusted by sliding the air can off to add or subtract spacers.
Cane Creek had this Ghost decked out with all of their goodies, including a Helm fork, DB Coil shock, and eeWings titanium cranks.
The eeWings crankset is light, gorgeous, and comes with a ten year warranty, which is a good thing, because they cost $999.
If you're rocking titanium cranks, it only makes sense to have a fork with a gold crown.
Zerode are going to be offering a shorter travel version of the Taniwha, with 140mm of rear travel. It's the same frame as the longer travel version, but with a lighter build kit and a more lively ride feel; it's meant to be more of a trail bike rather than an all-mountain / enduro smasher.
Xpedo always have a bunch of pedals on display that have received an oil-slick finishing treatment, like this Baldwin pedal.
Xpedo were also showing off a version of their GFX pedals with a composite body.
I wonder how many packs of cigarettes it took to get this Santa Cruz Tazmon back in 1994?
Want to impress your ten-year-old? Take him to work and have him help you create aluminum building blocks. At least that's what Jason Quade, the founder of Abbey Tools, did. The blocks were just a side project, an exercise in creativity more than anything else, which means that they're not something you can buy.
Abbey Tools' 4-way multi-tool has four fixed bits, and is available in a variety of configurations for $40.
@timrippeth: I wonder if they interlock? Amazing that every Lego block ever made fits every other Lego block ever made. Amazing tolerances. That's a lot of Lego blocks!
What has been the worst lately are the hard-plastic, mini-dinosaurs! In the dark on the stairs?!?! I'll walk all over alloy legos if we can ditch the Jurassic plastic trees!
@derhasi: that's it! I'm selling the mountain bikes and turning my focus to Lego walking! I've got five kids so a while lot of Base training had already taken place.
Not sure what the marketing thinking was on this one either.
Marketing director: Okay, guys, we have a problem. People are ridiculing us for the name of our new tire. Intern: Well, why don't we clear things up by making Minaar look like a superhero. Marketing director: hmmmm Intern: . . . and we can put him in tights! Marketing director: Perfect!
The front tire will wear a hole in your paint in no time though. I guess if you put some clear 3m on your tailgate where the tire touches it would be fine.
@RobKong: The picture shown here, it would wrap the stanchion of an adult bike. Checking the website (not one picture of it in use and a split second shown in a video clip)...it seems it comes in sizes, the one here would be for a kids bike...the others have the lower strap at the bottom of the pad.
@amurphy505: never thought of that, but my proximity sensors doesn’t like the pad either. Goes off every time I put it reverse if I forget to disable it.
@tremeer023: yeah I've been looking at it for a while, as there was one production run available for sale in Taiwan last year. Then I saw this one with the gold crown and like, wow. Then I scrolled down and saw the helm with the gold crown and I was like, wow wow!
@jaame: yeh, could still be a little while I reckon. Soon to be at least two credible inverted single crown forks on the market makes me more than a little excited.
@tremeer023: what's the other one? Last week my bike fell off the bike carrier on the freeway. I think the steerer tube has moved in the crown. I've sent it away to be inspected. If it's bent, it will be new fork time, and what a time to buy! New fox 36 with the grip 2 damper, marzocchi z1 with the old grip damper, cane creek helm coil, x fusion revel, DVO hopefully soon to release the onyx SC (any news on the release of that one @dvosuspension?)
@jaame: DVO and X-Fusion the only two credible ones. What is Intend then, incredible? Curious though whether Magura will eventually release a regular mtb usd fork again. Then again Rockshox actually has something short travel out for XC (and apparently gravel cycling too).
That said, considering the number of brands that have actually been dabbling with protypes etc it apparently isn't as easy or great as the theory/marketing implies. The challenge is the connection between left and right stanchion. One solution is to use a fork guard that connects the two, but I don't know whether DVO holds that patent. The other is to use a larger diameter hub axle. Curnutt used a 30mm axle for a reason. But even if this is the best solution, no marketing manager dares to step into the Pinkbike pit, surrounded by keyboards and rotten tomatoes and admit:
"Hi there, we'd like to introduce our new, progressive, ehrm... axlestandardokthanksbye!|
@tremeer023: I would be happy to buy a fire which came with its own hub with a huge axle, say 30mm and spinning on widely available bottom bracket bearings. I mean, how hard is it to build a new wheel up at the same time as changing fork?
@jaame: would probably be worth it - the Lefty uses a proprietary hub which is larger and meant to work well i think. Risk of creating a new industry standard though but 15mm has been a mistake/joke from the beginning.
@tremeer023: Curnutt used the 30mm axle a fair while ago so technically you could choose that and not say you're introducing anything new. Specialized had the E150 dual crown fork for their Enduro bike with a 25mm axle, so same goes for these. I wouldn't introduce a new diameter unless you really need to go larger than 30mm. Right in the middle between the two (27.5mm) will be criticized too as people don't like those small increments though again if this is what is on offer, people may just accept it eventually. You can avoid 29mm but 28.99mm isn't necessarily the best way to do that.
I partially agree with your comment on 15mm axles, but I do think the move 100mm wide was a good one. Except for cup and cone bearing hubs (which typically are dedicated for the width), the additional 10mm (of conventional 20x110) brings no advantages if the bearing and flange distances remain the same. Yeah, nice you can convert them between the two but it implies you've lost the advantage of the extra width. I'd say it is even worse as the load trajectory got longer. I actually believe that the never 20x110 boost is actually what the "old" 20x110 should have been right away. And well, 15mm turn out to be a nice solution for more weight oriented components. The larger axle requires a larger bore in the fork lowers, which again require a bigger reinforcement. So yeah, it has its place. I've got a couple of older 20x110 forks and hubs so I've got reason to stick to "old" but if I came in fresh into the sport I'd see no point in old 20x110 over the boost version. And I see no reason for the "old" 110 spread over the newer 100 if it were used with cartridge bearing hubs.
As for the Lefty, I think it is a clever fork which make people more likely to accept that it needs its own hub for it to work. Having to remove the brake caliper to remove a wheel does seem like a hassle though. It is a bit like a car so I'd go all the way. Leave the bearings, brake rotor etc onto the fork and only slide the hub shell (with attached spokes etc) on and off. If the advantages are clear, more people are willing to accept a new standard.
any word on E thirteen? They said in a previous article they would be debuting something big here at sea otter which could very well have been the mystery shifter on Aaron Gwin's bike.
@sosburn, it's cheaper and stiffer, but not lighter. That's the third part of the equation that'll make the carbon version appealing to weight conscious riders.
But many years ago, everybody wanted carbon because it was lighter. Nowadays people are complaining that it aint even a pound lighter...and people be like ''yeah but we don't really care about the weight, it's STIFFER!!''.
Now we come back to the lighter argument because it ain't stiffer!? Come on... LOL
It can be whatever is required of it. Which is why it is used extensively in all high strength to weight applications in every industry and alloys increasingly aren't.
SR Suntour or bust for me dude. If I had money I would invest heavily, they got me shocking when other companies would have cost double for a similar world class product. Can't complain.
That bike looks amazing! Do some of the gravel races out in BC and you will understand the need for it. I have experimented with a dropper on my cross bike too, seems every year all the disciplines get a bit tougher. I was in a cross race that had xc single track last year.
BUT @vinay is right, if you can't even touch the bike then what good would it be, maybe that why they call it the magic carpet, you are just supposed to hover slightly above it.
@warmerdamj: Out of interest, when will things start to go the other way?
That is, instead of putting phat tyres, dropper posts and suspension on gravel bikes, you start putting tall gears, narrow tyres and drop handlebars on an XC MTB frame?
@Kiwijohn42: plus nothing had disc mounts in 94, or at least a standardized mount. I don't think the Hayes 22mm mount was out yet in 94. Fork must be from later.
Don't get why clutch mechs are such a thing , They screw your suspension up and make the shifting feel shit after about 2 rides ,but they do make for a quiet bike I suppose
@jclnv: Yes my Bronson feels quite a bit different with a XT mech with the clutch fully on , Even setting the sag is different , Sometimes wonder who reads these comments and who actually does the down voting
I run a clutch derailleur but on a low anti-squat (or doesn't pedal well the shat bricks say on Pinkbike) Specialized. On a VPP etc with lots of chain growth, every time that suspension extends its working against that clutch. It's not an insignificant amount of force, especially for lighter riders. Not ideal at all. I've often wondered if a traditional derailleur with adjustable tension would be better for said bikes. Then it could be accurately tuned to just enough tension and there wouldn't be that clutch stiction to overcome.
I have been riding my HT with the clutch off. It makes change lighter and quicker. I thought it maybe a good way to reduce wear on the jockey wheels as I have gone thru a set this winter.
He doubled the distance for "walking on legos" Guinness World Record...sounds ridiculous? It is
"Awesome! What are you calling it?"
"xPedo"
"Ohhh... Ummmmkay"
www.on-lynecomponents.com/collections/nana-hammock/products/nana-hammock-black
Marketing director: Okay, guys, we have a problem. People are ridiculing us for the name of our new tire.
Intern: Well, why don't we clear things up by making Minaar look like a superhero.
Marketing director: hmmmm
Intern: . . . and we can put him in tights!
Marketing director: Perfect!
Last week my bike fell off the bike carrier on the freeway. I think the steerer tube has moved in the crown. I've sent it away to be inspected. If it's bent, it will be new fork time, and what a time to buy! New fox 36 with the grip 2 damper, marzocchi z1 with the old grip damper, cane creek helm coil, x fusion revel, DVO hopefully soon to release the onyx SC (any news on the release of that one @dvosuspension?)
What a year for fork customers!
That said, considering the number of brands that have actually been dabbling with protypes etc it apparently isn't as easy or great as the theory/marketing implies. The challenge is the connection between left and right stanchion. One solution is to use a fork guard that connects the two, but I don't know whether DVO holds that patent. The other is to use a larger diameter hub axle. Curnutt used a 30mm axle for a reason. But even if this is the best solution, no marketing manager dares to step into the Pinkbike pit, surrounded by keyboards and rotten tomatoes and admit:
"Hi there, we'd like to introduce our new, progressive, ehrm... axlestandardokthanksbye!|
I partially agree with your comment on 15mm axles, but I do think the move 100mm wide was a good one. Except for cup and cone bearing hubs (which typically are dedicated for the width), the additional 10mm (of conventional 20x110) brings no advantages if the bearing and flange distances remain the same. Yeah, nice you can convert them between the two but it implies you've lost the advantage of the extra width. I'd say it is even worse as the load trajectory got longer. I actually believe that the never 20x110 boost is actually what the "old" 20x110 should have been right away. And well, 15mm turn out to be a nice solution for more weight oriented components. The larger axle requires a larger bore in the fork lowers, which again require a bigger reinforcement. So yeah, it has its place. I've got a couple of older 20x110 forks and hubs so I've got reason to stick to "old" but if I came in fresh into the sport I'd see no point in old 20x110 over the boost version. And I see no reason for the "old" 110 spread over the newer 100 if it were used with cartridge bearing hubs.
As for the Lefty, I think it is a clever fork which make people more likely to accept that it needs its own hub for it to work. Having to remove the brake caliper to remove a wheel does seem like a hassle though. It is a bit like a car so I'd go all the way. Leave the bearings, brake rotor etc onto the fork and only slide the hub shell (with attached spokes etc) on and off. If the advantages are clear, more people are willing to accept a new standard.
Now we come back to the lighter argument because it ain't stiffer!? Come on... LOL
BUT @vinay is right, if you can't even touch the bike then what good would it be, maybe that why they call it the magic carpet, you are just supposed to hover slightly above it.
That is, instead of putting phat tyres, dropper posts and suspension on gravel bikes, you start putting tall gears, narrow tyres and drop handlebars on an XC MTB frame?
DJ forks with 15 mill axels.
As consumers we asked for this correct?
I'm sure they also spec'd it with a threaded BB because that's what you do, right? Right?
dammit
I run a clutch derailleur but on a low anti-squat (or doesn't pedal well the shat bricks say on Pinkbike) Specialized. On a VPP etc with lots of chain growth, every time that suspension extends its working against that clutch. It's not an insignificant amount of force, especially for lighter riders. Not ideal at all. I've often wondered if a traditional derailleur with adjustable tension would be better for said bikes. Then it could be accurately tuned to just enough tension and there wouldn't be that clutch stiction to overcome.
Guess what???? No dropped any chains.