Kore Magnesium Flat PedalsKore
Casco Speed Airo HelmetCasco
Syntace and LitevilleSyntace pioneered the lightweight, ultra-wide rim movement that broke through the surface at Eurobike. SRAM, DT Swiss, American Classic, and Alex had cross-country/trail rims in excess of 30 millimeters wide on display. Syntace's widest rim is 40 millimeters at the OD and measures 33.5 millimeters between the flanges. The science is that aluminum is lighter than rubber, so the wider rim adds volume to the tire at a lower weight penalty, and also better supports the tire laterally, which boost cornering performance. The W40 MXS wheelset weighs only 1840 grams and is rated for all-mountain use. Syntace makes a range of widths from 40 millimeters to 28 millimeters, with our favorite being the 35-millimeter-wide W35 MXS that weighs under 1700 grams in the 26 inch diameter. All wheel diameters and axle options are supported, and MXS wheels are tubeless ready.
Syntace
Giant Reign XPinkbike covered
Giant's leap into the realm of 27.5-inch wheels last month, and the announcement that it will only be offering 26 inch wheels in its Glory and Reign X models evoked some ire from PB members. That said, when we came across the 26-inch wheel 2014 Reign X and its component pick and burly geometry stood out. Up front, the Reign X has a 170-millimeter-stroke RockShox Domain fork - replete with a 20-millimeter axle. The matching, 170-millimeter rear end is damped with a RockShox coil-over shock. Wheels are Giant's wide, house-brand P-AM hoops, rolling on huge Schwalbe Hans Dampf rubber. The handlebars are wide, the stem is short. The bike's name doesn't do the bike justice. Giant should rename it the Reign FTW.
Giant USA
New Brakes from FormulaFormula Brakes revealed two new models, the R1 Racing and the more-affordable C1, which is targeted at the OEM market. The new R1 Racing brake features a low-friction pull-type master cylinder and its reservoir has been moved to the back of the lever body. Gone is the carbon fiber lever option - replaced by a lighter weight forged aluminum blade, and the lever's geometry is improved to deliver a very linear feel. The C1 is built with a conventional in-line master cylinder configuration, and to keep the critical moving parts at precise tolerances, the master cylinder is a cartridge unit that slips into the cast-aluminum body. Both the new R1 Racing brake and the C1 can be flip-flopped for moto-style riders. Weight for the R1 Racing brake is stated at 260 grams with hardware and the price is $389 per side. Weight for the C1 is stated at 337 grams and the price is $149 per side. As with all Formula brakes, rotors are priced separately.
Formula Thirtyfive ForkThe Italian brake maker also showed us a sweet looking XC/trail fork called the 'Thirtyfive,' that features 35-millimeter stanchion tubes and independent rebound, compression and lockout functions. Formula designed an adjustable blow-off valve for the lockout system as a protection for the internal valving and also as a tuning option for those who use lockout extensively. The damping unit is a cartridge system and the air spring is enhanced with a two-stage negative spring to boost its low-speed and small-bump compliance. Travel is 160-millimeters in the 27.50-inch-wheel version, and 140-millimeters in the 29er version. Reduced travel version are available. Weight for the 27.5 fork is stated at 1650 grams, with the 29er version at 1700 grams. North American prices are being determined.
Formula Brake
Kraftstoff EdelbockKraftstoff's fat-bike hardtail looks like any other bike from a distance - but up close, it becomes readily apparent that the Edelbock is a man's machine. For starters, the seat tube extends over 200 millimeters above the top tube junction before the seat post begins. The Head tube is over 300 millimeters tall and it simply dwarfs the 100-millimeter stem that caps it. Who knows where they got the fork to go with it, but it appears to have a 160 millimeter stroke. Kraftstoff may have had Pinkbike's founder in mind when they made the Edelbock. Radek, who is six-foot, six-inches and an in-shape 300 pounds, would fit it perfectly.
Kraftstoff Custom Bikes
Novatec Carbon Factor WheelsNovatec
KMC ChainKMC makes more elite-level bicycle chain than any manufacturer in the world - often for other high-profile brands. KMC had a wide variety of chains, from industrial-strength half-link BMX types, to feather-light eleven-speed chains for Campagnolo road drivetrains. Thank KMC for spearheading the removable master link for derailleur chains. Perfecting the two-piece snap-together link to work in such a compact space was no small feat - and it was a small revolution.
KMC Chain
Shimano's Hands-on DisplayAll eyes and ears were on Shimano for any news of its 2014 11-speed one-by XTR group, but in spite of the fact that Big Blue was hard at work at Eurobike, staging meetings with large OEMs and prominent dealers, nobody spilled the beans. We expect Shimano to announce the news before October, but the writing is on the wall. Mid and large-size bike brands are beginning to produce bikes without any provision for a front changer - something they would not do if they were not informed that BOTH leading component makers were committed to one-by drivetrains.
Shimano
Commencal DH Bikes for YouthCommencal made the switch to 27.5 inch wheels this season, but it didn't stop there. The Andorra based bike maker debuted a range of youth DH machines that began with a 12-inch wheel push-bike for toddlers
(complete with a mechanical disc brake) and continued upwards with 20, 24 and 26-inch-wheel mini DH bikes - each more sophisticated than the previous model. Cheers to Commencal for focusing its attention on the next generation of riders who will be fighting for podium spots on the World Cup DH circuit. This is how to invest in cycling's future. Commencal officially opened its
online store give customers an opportunity to buy Commencal bikes and accessories where dealers do not stock their products.
Commencal
Mavic Wheels and GearMavic partnered with French tire maker Hutchinson to produce the first mountain bike specific tire and wheel system. The Crossmax Enduro wheels, with Mavic-designed matching Roam rear and Charge front tires, captured the 2013 Enduro World Series overall title under Cannondale's Jerome Clementz. For 2014, Mavic will offer a lower priced wheelset called the Crossroc, matched with Roam tires for both the front and rear of the bike. Crossroc tires and wheels will come in all three wheel diameters, 26, 650B and 29. Rim widths vary, with the 26-inch Roam at 23-millimeters, while the 650B and 29er rims measure 22 millimeters between the beads. Wheels are built up with 24 stainless steel ovalized spokes and aluminum nipples, laced cross-two, and while the rims are tubeless ready with a UST bead profile, they require a plastic rim strip that is included with purchase to seal the exposed spoke holes. The rear wheel offers quick release or 142/12-millimeter options, while the front wheels are convertible to quick release or QR15 through-axles. Published weights are 1755 grams for 26-inch, 1825 grams for 27.5-inch and 1930 grams for 29-inch wheels. Price for all Crossroc options is an affordable, $500 USD - and the wheels come with Mavic Roam tires and tubes.
Mavic expands its clothing range to include a sharp looking baggy short called the Stratos H2O, with a lengthened inseam to get over knee or shin pads. The water resistant fabric is two-way stretch and very breathable and construction is reportedly tough enough to handle gravity riding. That said, the Stratoe short feels lightweight and comfortable against the skin, underscoring its intended use as a do it all garment for enduro-style trail riding s well as go-to gravity gear for warm and cold weather riding. Construction is pro-level throughout, with taped seams inside to eliminate chaffing and welded pocket reinforcements. The legs have elastic, hook-and-loop cinches and the adjustable elastic waistband is fixed with a pair of strong snaps. Pockets are minimally sized and all the external seams are flush or welded. Price is $199 USD and sizes are small, medium, large X-large and XX-large.
Mavic
CorratechnoloyCorratec, one of Europe's leading brands, showed a carbon test mule that was outfitted with a dizzying array of measuring equipment. I lost count of accelerometers, and noticed that the bike's front and rear suspension had telescoping, linear-measuring devices - all hooked up to a transmitter, presumably linked to a satellite, that downloaded real-time data to Corratec's research and development engineers. If you wanted to know how the big boys measure the effects of suspension and braking while a bike is bouncing over a trail - this is it.
Sugoi RSX NeoShell Rain Jacket When the chamber below the two fabrics is pressurized slightly, the leading brand shows no
evidence of air passing through. Polortech's NeoShell fabric on the right bubbles the air,
while the fabric is dry to the touch on the opposite side. Sugoi's RSX NeoShell rain jacket was developed specifically for use in the sopping wet forests of the Pacific Northwest near Sugoi's headquarters, and it introduces Polartec's most breathable NeoShell fabric. NeoShell fabric is a laminate like Gore-Tex, but unlike its competitor's breathable waterproof fabric, NeoShell has a two-way stretch function and it
passes significantly more air through its internal membrane. The result is a truly waterproof jacket that stretches and conforms to the body like the 'water resistant' soft-shell jackets that most riders would rather wear.
The RSX Neoshell is designed to be a lifetime investment, with taped seams on the inside, welded seams on the outside and with waterproof zippers throughout. The side pockets are curved so their contents settle securely towards the back of the garment where they will not pendulum with every pedal stroke. Rubberized ports in the inside of the pockets allow access to personal electronics. Construction is as good as it gets and reportedly, user feedback unanimously supports Sugoi's claim that this is the most breathable all-day waterproof rain jacket that a hard core rider can buy. Sugoi offers the RSX jacket in black and sized in small, medium, large and X-large for $300 USD.
What is behind the Screen?
Lapierre Overvolt FSLapierre
Hutchinson Taipan TireHutchinson
So it's a bad thing for Gramps to go out riding with the grandson/daughter? I run a bike park and feel sorry for the rattly old puffins coming back shell shocked and hobbling while the grandchild is still buzzing and wanting to go out again.
The way I see it is that I'm not getting any younger and by the time my knees finally give out (not long now) E-bikes will be awesome and enable me to keep shredding.
So much hate...
Seriously though most of those lazy people you speak of our already on the trails: they're shuttling, lift riding and filling the gas tanks of their MX bikes. They're a small percentage, but they are there none the less.
A lot of these A-holes are already trying to beat a DH KOm on a public multi-use trail.
If you think that the motor will brings the D--k heads, then you should try some of this education that you speak so highly against.
Because education would teach you that A-holes are constant and not something that is created by electricity.
Mieszko - what's wrong with vegan burger? Nr1 check what that sht is made of. Nr2 Same with diet coke or electric cars. By wanting one it means that you are concerned about something like environment or health, yet you do same sht that puts those two in trouble in the first place. Just in another disguise. Let's say that wood is a more eco friendly construction material than concrete. Let's all be environmentalists now and build just from wood. How about we have no trees left on the planet within two years? The problem is not the solution, it is the need, and there is no solution to make that need better. A solution for car is a bus, a bicycle or a train - Not a cleaner car. It's like trying to find non-addictive, healthy heroine. I deal with this sustainability/ eco bullshit every other day. You can't have sustainable society, development when individuals have unsustainable needs. If you are a vegan, God and Science bless you, but stick to vdgan food cuz it's not only actualy healthier and more evo, but it also tastes 10 times better.
Biking is about recreation, forcing your body to exercise by exposing it to physical fatigue to be healthier. More you move healthier you are. We bike also to expose ourselves to mental challenges, to overcome dangers, and for fun - we do all this to be happier in the end. More tech you use without going through intermediate steps, the smaller your reward. By trying shortcuts to "higher fun", be it "only-ride-park", or el-bike, you have a higher chance to injure yourself than improving your skills, cardio or mobility to at least average level. If you get half of actual stimulation, no health benefits, while paying more money - why bother? Why create yet another piece of garbage?
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A65dt-zLdSw
I definitely do not want see that in wood/mountain where I ride...
I'd guess that thing weighs 60+ lbs, and does not look fun to pedal at all.
Above all I hate quads, because people who drive quads are people who can't/don't have the balance required to ride a MX bike and just go for the quad and it's "car like stability" and aren't capable of anything else other than "full throtle" and trail wreckage, besides not being very respectful to anything else on trail. MX, while I like them, there's just a lot of "trail education" to be done and too many "weekend World Champions" so to speak, who just absolutely wreck trails. I don't know how it's where you live, but here it's very easy to notice if a MX group has been to a trail lately: you're no longer able to climb any of the tricky sections if it's not trial-style. They're all eroded, loose, destroyed and basically sort of like riding on massive-grain-sand.
All this goes to say: in my books, light and ecological e-bikes are very much welcome, if they're the alternative to trail wrecking MXs and quads. If it's just extra trail clogging and wrecking (after all they weigh 4x/5x a normal bike) and (to a lesser extent, since you still need technique up and down) not skilled enough riders getting to certain places they probably shouldn't be getting to (for their own safety) then not so much.
@WAKIdesigns: I am not advocating for a willing swap of MX for e-bikes, but an enforced ban on trail destroying MXs/quads, in which these e-bikes could provide an alternative for those people who want to ride outside actual, real MX tracks. Wouldn't be popular, wouldn't be easy nor I expect everybody to understand me, but I'm pretty sure more than a couple will see my point as they'll have had (or usually have) their favourite trails and lines on those torn apart.
@RichardCunningham: That'sa brilliant point, wasn't aware of that.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/9446175
A couple of months ago I bought a Giant Pre run bike for about 70 euro. Full ally frame, 12' wheels, looks the business. Honestly, if you take that price, add Saint brakes and Fox suspension, it still doesn't come close to 2200 euro. How many people would be willing to splash out 2200 euro for a singlespeed bike for themselves if they knew it was only going to last two years?
They may argue the quality is high and production numbers are small but if so I would say why do you need such a high quality frame for someone who weighs 30kg and doesn't do jumps?
They are really taking the piss with that price. It's a shame because I really want to buy one. For that price I could buy two of those electric trials bike I saw at the Taipei show, and have money to spare to buy gear. Max Commencal, get your head out of your arse!
Emerging trend... really !?
It's been almost 15 years I use it, and I don't speak about the guy who told me to try this.
I still rock a 24x3.0 on the back for most of my riding.
I also hope Schwalbe comes out with a 2.5x27.5 tire for 2015!
Kraftstoff Edelbock - Bad
Lapierre Overvolt FS - Ugly (kill it with fire)
Interesting though.
www.giant-bicycles.com/en-in/bikes/model/reign.sx/15136/66902