Slack Randoms: $50 3D Printed Titanium Bottle Openers, Adjustable Bottom Bracket Heights, Homemade Rope Spokes & More

Feb 18, 2022 at 8:58
by Ed Spratt  
We use Slack as our workplace communication tool at Pinkbike and we have a #randoms channel which we use to share an assortment of videos and stories from all corners of the cycling world and beyond... We thought a couple of the moments from the past week were too good not to share with a wider audience, so here are some of the highlights.


Silca's Bird of Prey Bottle Opener
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Silca has launched a new 3D printed Titanium product in the form of its Bird of Prey bottle opener. Costing £38 and weight just 11 grams the Titanium bottle opener also appears to come with a lifetime warranty.

bigquotesOpen your favorite beverage in style with a 3D printed Titanium bottle opener. Weighing in at just 11g you will be blown away every time you open a beverage.— Silca

photo

You can find out more here.


Monoral Bikes' AE Hardtail with a 'Vertical Bottom Bracket System'
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Monoral Bikes has launched its new Titanium hardtail with a unique 'Vertical Bottom Bracket System'.

The bottom bracket setup on the AE hardtail is designed to allow riders to alter the height of the BB. The height can be adjusted in 5mm increments with an increase of 5mm in either direction. The frame is also capable of taking up to 3" tires with 27.5" wheel or 2.8" tires in the 29" setup. Monoral has designed the frame around 140-150mm forks and it has a head angle of 64 degrees paired to a seat tube angle of 76 degrees.

The price including the BB unit is 250000yen with tax which after conversion should be around $2200.

photo
photo

You can find out more here.


Alexander Kristoff Destroys Spectators Phone in Sprint Finish

In a sprint finish at a race in Portugal this week road racer, Alexander Kristoff was forced closer to the barriers and knocked a spectators phone to the ground as he raced to the line.

The spectator who had been holding their phone a good distance past the barrier had the device smashed out of their hands by the Norwegian rider. As the top riders got into the finish Alexander Kristoff was pushed closer toward the barriers after a move by Jordi Meeus, causing Kristoff to knock into multiple spectators.

Kristoff who ended up finishing in third was not too happy at the result telling a journalist at the finish line: "At the finish I asked him ‘why the f*ck did you change line?’ He said he had to go there but I don’t agree.

“He moved me into the barriers and I hit a lot of spectators with my shoulder, so I’m not very happy about it.”

You can read more here.


Mathieu Van Der Poel Takes on the Winter Olympics

After crashing out of the XC at the Tokyo Olympics, Mathieu Van Der Poel has shown off his incredible depth of talent as he takes on multiple events at this year's Winter Olympics.


Homemade Rope Spoke Wheels

bigquotesI've had a lot of requests to try Berd "rope" spokes since putting out my wheel build videos. I've certainly been interested but been put off by the costs.

It turns out I've not been the only one interested... Adam from Tartybikes took his interest a little further though and decided to tackle the incredibly complex task of making his own rope spokes!

It's hard to convey the work he's put into finding a strong, reliable and repeatable method of making these spokes! It's been in the hundreds of hours but the work has paid off and he has managed to make a functioning pair of rope spoke wheels which are holding strong after 400 miles of off-road MTB in the grime of a UK winter.

Adam shared his progress on forums which is where I first saw what he was up to but it was actually Adam who got in touch with me about building one of my wheels for my channel. I can't thank him enough for the work he's put in to make this video possible!— Ali Clarkson


GT Celebrate RAD’s 35th Anniversary with Rad Pro Series BMX
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GT has celebrated the 35th anniversary of the cult-classic BMX film RAD with the launch of a limited edition BMX.

The new bike is a modern re-imagining of Cru Jones as a bike with some subtle details for fans of the movie. Included with the bike is a three-piece GT x RAD pad set, reproduction Dyno number plate and a custom embroidered RAD saddle. The RAD Series 29 is available now for $790.

bigquotesInspiration comes in many forms. For some, it can be found in great music, art, cultural icons, sport heroes, family members and more. For the 2022 GT Rad Series, inspiration came in the form of the 80s cult-classic BMX film “Rad” – and its main character, Cru Jones. The Rad movie is a two-wheeled adaptation of the timeless tale of a hometown kid taking on the best in the world and beating the odds… what could be more inspiring?— GT

photo
photo


Find out more here.



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153 Comments
  • 232 1
 $50 bottle opener...because dentists know better than to open bottles with their teeth
  • 36 1
 Pretty sure that's the old Renishaw design. I've got one of those for free from a trade show a decade ago. Bit cheeky for them to claim it as their own design!
  • 5 0
 That’s no bottle opener. It’s a shank.
  • 12 1
 @nvranka: The design file is free to download from Renishaw
  • 4 0
 @kajones: I have the same one, the only difference seems to be the text. It's a demo file that comes with the printer.
  • 10 0
 You will be blown away at how frivolously you've wasted your money every time you use it
  • 4 0
 Rad
  • 11 1
 Silca rips off another design, massively inflates the price and hits the hype button.
  • 4 0
 @commental: The self-loathing that would inevitably result is the only thing that's keeping me from buying this... I want it, and I hate that I want it.
  • 4 1
 @kajones: Classic Silca smoke-and-mirror BS tactics
  • 2 0
 @kajones: I also have a Renishaw sample from an automotive supplier trade show from 2015, as they were the pioneers of metal printing. It was free, of course.
This step is really unworthy of a brand who always do their best to produce the most unique parts on their own.
  • 2 0
 @kaukerm: you mean ripping off pump head design from Hirame and cages from King?
  • 1 0
 Really stretching the use of the term "launched". Selling the demo file......... I've got a drawer full of those bottle openers, the kicker is they don't even open bottles that well. They bend up half of the bottle cap, you have to lever it off twice to remove the cap.
  • 1 0
 @kajones: resources.renishaw.com/gen/details/renishaw-bottle-opener--79776
  • 4 0
 They really missed a golden opportunity to call it the "Bird of Pry"
  • 2 0
 Buyer beware - Radrider takes your money and ghosts you without shipping the item
  • 3 0
 @radrider: www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=234501&pagenum=1#commentid7091320
  • 93 2
 fucking peasants...50 rupees for a bottle opener , i have the butler do it for me
  • 5 0
 @conoat - where you at - butler required.
  • 8 5
 @justanotherusername: busy skiing in the Swiss alps. I have people to open beers for me. I should get them a few of those Silca openers though. I need my peeps styled out.
  • 4 4
 @conoat: haha, keep on dreaming walt. Nice story.
  • 1 0
 Of course you do, you’re British
  • 1 0
 And what does the butler use?
  • 59 0
 Update: Peregrine falcon (a subsidiary of Specialized) sues Silca and Boeing over use of trademarked shape.
  • 40 0
 Fitting they’d sue the wrong company since the B2 is made by Northrop
  • 8 0
 @sjma:
It’s cool. Boeing deserves the legal expense anyway.
  • 3 0
 @sjma: They’d never make that mistake of course. Boing is bigger than Northrop. Cessna on the other hand might be at risk.
  • 43 1
 Even as our resident 3D printing dork, I dunno about that...
  • 30 0
 I think you can just get the file if you want to print your own.
resources.renishaw.com/gen/details/renishaw-bottle-opener--79776
  • 6 1
 I’m surprised they managed to bring it to market for that price. Ti powder is in really short supply and prices have gone through the roof through our supply channels.
  • 19 0
 @jdubs: really lame that they’re just using that design with their name on it.
  • 6 1
 @Afterschoolsports: …but not out of character. Isn’t everything Silca just rebranded or contract manufactured?
  • 1 3
 @Afterschoolsports: They weigh 11 grams...
  • 8 0
 @jdubs: the bottle opener is something the service technicians print on a regular basis for installation of Renishaw machines.
  • 2 0
 @brianpark it’s funny that renishaw were giving those bottle openers out for free at most machinery shows over the last 10 years, exactly the same but with Renishaw on the side instead of Silca
  • 1 0
 @Afterschoolsports: Have a look at the price of Rhodium. Catalytic converter theft is big business.
  • 2 0
 @IntoTheEverflow: It funny. I would actually want a bottle opener with some heft to it. Maybe tungsten? And only $5?
  • 2 0
 @st-lupo: wera make a bottle opener, it's absolutely beautiful, so heavy and solid feeling, plus a proper handle on it (same as their screwdrivers) and a lifetime warranty. Don't ask how much, I got mine free from a trade show when I spent £180...
  • 1 0
 @inked-up-metalhead: Simmilar to PB Swiss. Still one of the most solid ones I've seen are heavy brass from Demon Frameworks.
  • 1 0
 @vid1998: I don't like the look of the pb swiss handle in all honesty, and upon checking, the fact its 4x the price of the wera, which are surprisingly cheap (£5ish, the pb is £21)
  • 1 0
 @inked-up-metalhead: Wow didn't know that. I just remembered seeing it somewhere and 5 for wera is a steal and in the ballpark of Unior. Til now I didn't think that probably every tool manufacturer has its own bottle opener.
  • 1 0
 @Afterschoolsports: another lame thing is they are advertising it to look like a B2 or Falcon meanwhile it's not the same shape as the the pictured B2 and falcon lol
  • 2 0
 @Afterschoolsports: wasteful use of a very useful material (steel is far better suited for the intended use).
However, so are gold rings and diamond necklaces...
  • 33 0
 Vertical adjust bottom brackets will never creak.
  • 5 0
 Yikes, per the page that shit's pressfit 30!
  • 9 0
 Yes, what the world needs now is more opportunity for BB creaking!
  • 7 6
 Shimano brakes don't pump up either
  • 28 0
 that wheel build was rad! I love all the testing Adam did, so much thought and effort. That deserves to be on the front page, not buried under the lame bottle opener!
  • 7 0
 I agree, this comment needs to be #1 instead of buried under bottle opener comments.
  • 5 0
 I know Adam personally, he helps dig at the trails I'm the head volunteer for (when he's got time, I guess I know why we've not seen him in a while now ), proper down to earth guy, when I saw this video last week it was nice to see him getting some recognition/somewhere to showcase his bike nerdery/genius. If I could afford it (I don't know how much it would cost but probably more than my current budget) I'd be straight over to him getting a wheelset laced up, I love the look of them.
  • 7 0
 I’m not sure if it’s the same guy but someone if MTBR tried recreating Berd spokes at home and got lots of nasty letters from the company saying that they’d sue him even if he didn’t profit from the spokes. So he had to create a whole new way of attaching the spokes and allowing for tensioning.
  • 17 0
 Bottle openers are so useless I am amazed how many companies market it as a feature (such as flip flops, belts, tool kits). Like you can use whatever you have around you as a bottle opener
  • 2 0
 Spoken like a true Canadian.
  • 2 0
 @z-man: Only Permanent Resident yet so I take it as a huge compliment!
  • 5 0
 If you can't open the bottle without a bottle opener you don't deserve the contents Personally I draw the line at teeth.
  • 3 0
 @marge88: once the right people see your comment, your PR will be upgraded to citizenship in short order.
  • 18 3
 Hi, some of the content on Pinkbike I cant access, it's the one's with the funny symbol, they seem to be appearing more regularly, I don't understand, it never used to do this!
  • 1 0
 www.pinkbike.com/news/an-update-on-pinkbike-and-beta-mtb-2022.html
  • 17 3
 Damn who knew photoshopping an xc racer into the winter olympics could be so unfunny
  • 4 3
 Would you have preferred to see a wooden ramp photoshopped in every image?
  • 8 0
 Loved the throwback RAD trailer. Cru sporting a full face hockey helmet(a helmet to rule them all). A tail whip to knock out the competition. Olympic gymnast Bart Conner's acting career not taking off after this, bike tricks at prom, Talia 'Rocky' Shire as the Mom, Lori Laughlin and 2 girls named 'Foxy' and 'Tiger,' 100K and a Corvette to the race winner! Good times/bad acting just to remind you of your BMX background. Movie bombed (grossed 2 million with a 3 million budget). Would have been a hit if they only cast Sean Penn for Cru and made it all a joke like 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High.'
  • 2 0
 talia shire was married to the producer
  • 2 0
 and one of their sons is jason schwartzman
  • 7 0
 @flipoffthemonkeys: Jason Schwartzman has a bmx background
  • 9 0
 I must confess, this was my childhood movie, i saw it day after day right after school. i've seen it maybe 300-350 times and as a non-english speaker (we had subtitles) I could recite every sentence of this movie. Oh man, sweet childhood o' mine - those were the days... i could only wish to do a backflip like Cru did on that old mattress.
  • 2 2
 @VtVolk: Your mom has a box background.
  • 2 0
 @Fliberico: I lost track of how many times I watched this on VHS growing up!
  • 2 0
 This movie was filmed in Calgary when I was a teenager. We watched some of the scenes as they were being filmed and laughing at how fake it was. Then when it was released, we mocked the piss out of it. Riders would be riding in the park down the road frpm my house, the next second - still on the same ride supposedly- they are in a small town 20 k to the west. Movie magic at its best but to a bunch of 13 - 15 year olds; complete bullshit. (:

Think I might try and watch it again for the nostalgia.
  • 2 0
 @bowness8: Filmed in Calgary-had no idea. Now I know why they used the hockey helmet.
  • 8 0
 silca needs to start making actual useful real shit a la wolftooth or something.

the fking tourist trap trinkets are killing the brand. i don't need a privatelabeled wood-boxed allen key set @ 300% markup. i really don't care what my rapha fred buddies think of me. at this point they should just merge with leyzne and crank brothers or something. fred-magnets.
  • 10 0
 Weight and warranty are likely the last two things I'm concerned about in a bottle opener.
  • 6 0
 Imagine having to deal with customer service for a bottle opener
  • 2 0
 @RonSauce: I’d call them for any tips on getting it out of my rectum.
  • 6 0
 The only thing that would blow me away with that opener is how big of a douche I’d feel like having spent that much on it.
  • 4 1
 The disclaimer at the end of the rope spoke video — don’t do this yourself unless you are brave, smart and willing to take the risk in the case there is failure.

Problem is, there are far more guys that fit the latter category than there are in the smart category.
  • 2 1
 ya but none of the latter category can't afford them
  • 1 0
 Buyer beware - Radrider takes your money and ghosts you without shipping the item
  • 5 0
 After watching most the video about rope spokes, I now know why Berd charges so much. Awesome idea for when you have unlimited time and patience on your hands.
  • 2 0
 I built a front wheel in a similar way a few years back. I couldn't get the spokes to stay tight. The splices tended to slip after almost every ride. Was 't worth the hassle of having to adjust them every ride. I do like the 1 line 2 spokes set up and make me want to try it again.
  • 4 0
 Can’t tell which are jokes and which are real. I’m guessing MVDP winter olympics is real because he’s good at everything, adjustable bb height joke, because that is stupid.
  • 6 0
 Monoral Bikes. Selling in Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and, by gum, it put them on the map!
  • 4 0
 The ring came off my pudding can... Use my phenomenally overpriced TI bottle opener, my good man!
  • 4 0
 Found Lori Loughlin's Harvard entrance video. She found out Harvard doesn't consider BMX rad and turned to acting.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z46UQ7u8PWQ
  • 10 0
 Then she found out one doesn’t need to be smart or athletic to get into an Ivy League school on an athletic scholarship. You just simply need money to bribe anyone and everyone.
  • 1 0
 I knew I recognised her from somewhere. Ta.
  • 3 1
 Silca…. Do everyone a favor and go ahead with printing a set of flat pedals out of titanium. Give us ti spindles and do something similar to the Race Face Atlas pedals. And do small/medium/and large sizes of the pedals also.

Thanks!
  • 3 1
 Why would I want to get my BB in the high position? I'd have to sit and stand higher which plain sucks stability-wise. Bringing the BB all down is way more interesting but will result in pedal-strokes à gogo, so ...

What's the point?
  • 2 0
 It's to accommodate different wheel sizes.
  • 2 0
 That's just great. More parts than an eccentric bb and without the ability to use it for single speed. Weirdo proprietary interface instead of proven off the shelf parts, plus a bb shell you can't ream or face with hand tools.
  • 2 0
 That's to use a 165mm or a 185mm cranset whenever you want, depending on your everyday mood.
(just kidding OK)
  • 5 0
 "The height can be adjusted in 5mm increments with an increase of 5mm in either direction" well... yeah
  • 2 0
 If it has 29” wheels is it really a BMX bike or just a hardtail mountain bike w/bmx handlebars? Ive always thought BMX bikes in general had smaller wheels ?anyway the “rope-y things” or spokes were pretty interesting. If they can 3d print a titanium bottle opener why couldn’t someone print spokes w/titanium or at least the nipples ?seems like it would be a little more useful than a bottle opener. The adj BB just looks kinda naaa no thanks like sum hideous gigantic flip chip or something just run a crown race extender or a Talus fork . I know it’s titanium and all but $2000 clams for a hardtail frame is pretty steep hell u could probably buy two steel or alluminium ht frames for less
  • 4 0
 Not bad since it should last forever. $50 on a ounce of weed only lasts a week.
  • 13 0
 A week? Lighweight
  • 12 0
 $50 an ounce? You sure you're not buying oregano?
  • 1 0
 @mchance: bc is getting cheaper by the week, on the black market internet that is.
  • 1 0
 @poindexter68: lol I'll step it up
  • 3 0
 You don’t want to purchase directly. You want to befriend a grower and trade something to them. I traded a truck bed toolbox I got for free for 12 mason jars of the stuff. That box was worth maybe 40 or 50 bucks. It’s like giving someone a 12 pack versus the monetary value of the 12 pack. Pay someone the cost of a 12 pack to help you move, not gonna happen, give them a 12 pack and they’ll move you.
  • 2 0
 @robertg620: It's the thought that counts
  • 5 0
 I can hear the bb creak just reading the article
  • 2 0
 All my mountain bikes are 29ers but 29” BMX? Is it a thing that I’ve just completely missed.

PS. Sunday please bring back the raw Model C colour scheme
  • 1 0
 I would love a raw Model C. Seems to be a lot of 29” BMX around these days. I’m tossing up a High C or Surly Lowsider for riding between buildings at work. I love my Model C and the High C is a lot cheaper than the Surly, but I do like the look of the Lowsider.
  • 3 0
 Kids in my city LOVE 29er BMXs for doing wheelies down the street. They pop wheelies easier than I can bunnyhop. Some of them are doing some sick flatland trucks on them too.
  • 3 0
 You'd be more in the know if you had a BMX background. (or so I'm told)
  • 1 0
 It’s a good size for old guys like me who are done doing tricks and racing and now just want to cruise the boardwalk on a bike that reminds us of our glory days.

And wheelie kids. Can’t forget the wheelie kids. See ya at the ride out!
  • 1 0
 It has a 29er background you see.
  • 1 0
 @noapathy: hello I’m bmx engineer who also has a bmx background.
  • 4 0
 Will the bottle opener fit in the vertical BB hole?
  • 1 1
 I think that vertical BB is going to be pretty flexy. The tolerances between all those pieces within the BB "monoral" will add together to create a likely noticeable flexibility, especially on the Y-axis. I thought the point of a titanium frame is that you have enough experience to know what geometry suites you, and usually get a custom geo frame to match.
  • 10 0
 You won't notice the flex as you'll be too distracted & concentrating on the creaking.
  • 4 0
 Love that rope spoke video! Lots to nerd out on tup
  • 3 1
 Kinda feel like before launching / manufacturing a product, people should be thinking "Is this really adding anything good to the world?"

We already have bottle openers
  • 4 0
 Note to GT: I like my bikes chromed.
  • 1 0
 I had the same idea about an adjustable bottom bracket, though I thought the +-10mm (or even 14mm) of an eccentric BB (as on tandem or SS) would be enough most of the time.
  • 1 0
 Yep.

Could also just run shorter cranks if it’s for clearance reasons.
  • 3 0
 Does this imply peregrine falcons are invisible to radar?
  • 2 0
 Rcsbike.com
  • 6 0
 Yes. And that they are 3d printed out of titanium.
  • 3 0
 @ak-77: And they're good at opening bottles.
  • 2 0
 havin fun grabbing some falcon babies here

www.pinkbike.com/video/411436
  • 3 0
 Are they sure they are posting those fishing lures on the correct website?
  • 13 15
 I'm just posting this here 'cause I dont care. @Outside magazine, your paywall content like "why Saint Brakes blah blah blah" is lame AF and you are killing pinkbike and I already come here less and less. F off You oldschool corporates hacks.
  • 19 8
 This isn't an airport. You don't need to announce your departure.
  • 9 1
 I took outside/beta shit off my news feed. tick the box in your profile.
  • 10 1
 first thing i did when i saw that was went oooh saint brakes been looking for a replacement for hopes , wondered if better than magura, headed off to find it behind a a paywall , closed browser tab googled saint brake review , discovered a host of other websites which didnt put their review behind paywall ordered saint brakes, concluded clicking thos beta links is stupid wont be doing again
  • 3 0
 @Compositepro: you didn't miss anything, it was basically "because they are still good enough" re-stated in about six different ways. Wouldn't have wanted to pay for that one.
  • 6 0
 @Compositepro: pro tip. Reader mode in the browser. Done.
  • 7 4
 @Sscottt: found the corpo kiss ass
  • 1 1
 @dirtyburger: what does that do?
  • 2 3
 @me2menow: are you kidding me... That is the best comeback ever. I'm going to use it whenever possible regardless of stance on the topic.
  • 4 4
 @Sscottt: it's not a comeback, it's true. Not sure how else to see it considering that your "input" is ironically more obnoxious than OP.
  • 2 0
 @pbuser2299: lets you read the article.
  • 1 0
 Yup, total turn off, only come here for buy/sell and new products.

The more they take away, ie paywall, the less I read.

I’m dead center in their target population, lots of disposable income, but damn if they are paying attention.
  • 1 0
 Can someone explain the benefit of the vertically adjustable BB? I'm no geometry whiz, and this has me scratching my head.
  • 3 0
 You can adapt the frame's BB drop to different wheel sizes.
  • 1 0
 @Pedro404: Thanks Pedro. Never woulda thunk that. Smile
  • 2 0
 Paint can openers are free.
  • 8 0
 Yeah, but the paint usually tastes terrible.
  • 4 0
 Nobody drinks paint anymore
  • 2 0
 @RonSauce: I'd challenge that quite a few PB commenters show signs of paint ingestion.
  • 1 0
 Completely scooped @henryquinney and "things that didn't happen" with the MVP bit. Solid piece of photo shopping.
  • 2 0
 I haven't even ordered that bottle opener and I've already lost it.
  • 1 1
 I had a similar idea to that BB but for reach, seat angle, chainstay length.....
  • 1 0
 I want that GT for city ride
  • 1 0
 I just open brewskis with my teeth
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