Now for the 9th year in a row, Magura has descended upon the breathtaking red rock trails known…
Catch up on all of our Project 1.2 posts here! With out Project 1.2 singlespeed, we set out…
The only way to make aerodynamics not matter is to stop moving. That line basically sums up Specialized’s…
When Mavic rolled out the CXR80 last year, they introduced an entirely new take on aerodynamic wheels with…
Mavic’s Annecy, France, HQ houses clothing & footwear design and wheels prototyping and testing. It also holds their…
With the introduction of Bontrager’s new All Weather (AW) line of tires, even they admit that previously…
Photos from Nick Crumpton of Crumpton Cycles. Closeup after the break. If you think you know what this is, post your answer in the ‘comments’ section– the correct answer will be posted there on Tuesday!
To send in your own Mystery Pic to be considered for the Monday feature, click here and attach your photo with all pertinent information.
Sunset Hills Cemetery in Eugene, OR has taken their natural burial offering to the next level. Funeral Home Director Wade Lind has designed a three-wheeled bicycle capable of carrying their casket basket ($3500) to the deceased’s final resting place. The bike is even outfitted with an electric hub motor to assist in getting up hills. KVAL of Eugene has the full story here complete with video.
As a kid, I loved riding my bike. It was my favorite tool for exploration and I took it everywhere (except uphill). So it’s great to see the next generation of riders are just as stoked on their two wheel steeds.
Lyrics after the break.
Catch up on all of our Project 1.2 posts here!
With out Project 1.2 singlespeed, we set out to take a look at the world of reasonably priced carbon fiber. While the benefits of lighter and/or stronger components with improved vibration damping are clear, do those benefits erode as the magic plastic works its way from the ultra-high end to the plain old high end of the price spectrum?
Over the past few years, the mountain bike market has seen an explosion of carbon rim’d wheelsets- and with them a doubling or even tripling of prices at the high end. Sitting comfortably between the $2,500 wunderwheel and $900 high-end aluminum wheelset, Specialized’s Roval wheel brand has had moderate success with solid and surprisingly light wheels like the $1,650 Control Trail SL. But they knew that, in order to gain widespread acceptance, they would need to do better.
Enter the $1,200 Control Carbon 29 wheelset. Built using a freehub borrowed from DT Swiss’ bombproof 350 model and DT Revolution spokes, it’s hard to argue with the Rovals’ foundation. But the real news is the rim itself. Realizing that tubeless and tubeless-ready beads were plenty strong to hold tires in place without a bead hook, they decided to go without. Genius move- or recipe for disaster? Hit the jump to find out how they’ve fared.
Marc and I have both been rockin’ Darn Tough Merino wool cycling socks for quite some time. Marc’s review is here, and until they contacted us a couple years ago, I’d never heard of them. Funny thing is, once I had a pair, I started noticing just how many of my friends had already discovered these little gems.
For 2013, they’ve introduced four new styles, the highlights being the new 3/4 length “Road Warrior” above and “Herringbone” designs. They’re a blend of 53% Merino Wool, 43% Nylon and 4% Lycra Spandex, and they feel great. With my original pair, I tested the anti-stink nature of their wool by wearing same pair of socks for the entire SRAM Rise wheels launch, which included two full days of riding followed by racing the Roc d’Azur. With no washing. Oh, and the plane flights to and from Europe. And there was no stink. Seriously.
These haven’t suffered through quite the same test, but they’re just as comfortable as ever thanks to a no-feel toe seam and plenty of cushioning for an “ultralight” sock. Retail is just $17, and if they hold up half as well as the others I’ve had, that’s a steal. Check the others below…
In honor of twenty seven year old Marc Cavendish’s 100th (and 101st!) UCI win, Specialized is releasing a limited edition Venge frameset. The frame comes on the heels of his back-to-back stage wins at the Giro d’Italia. In recent years, he has also claimed a world championship and the green jersey at the Tour de France.
The caVENGEdish frame will only be available through a select set of retailers and will set back potential owners $3,750 USD.
Xentis is better known for their five-spoke full carbon wheels, but it’s their new Silver line road wheels that are handmade in Austria, including the carbon production, that were in the spotlight at Sea Otter Classic.
They build in three depths, getting wider and rounder as they get deeper. The spoke holes are drilled asymmetrically, and they partnered with DT Swiss to make specially developed nipples that keep the spokes aimed straight at the rim, so there’s no binding or bending.
The shallowest is a 25mm deep, narrow, lightweight model. On the 42mm and 58mmm, a magnet is embedded in the rim across from the spoke hole, which not only balances the wheel a bit, but means you don’t need to add one for speed sensors or bike computers.
Born out of Ancaster, Ontario, 9point8 is looking to make a splash in the component world with the introduction of their very first product – the Pulse Stepper Seat Post. 9point8 is quick to point out that the Pulse is not another dropper post but rather a stepping post capable of dropping in 5mm increments. The launch of the new seat post coincides with the launch of the brand itself, which is proud to be a Canadian company designing and creating unique products that are to be sold consumer direct.
Get the drop on the Pulse after the break.
Over the past decade, the Marzocchi 888 DH fork helped define the term buttery smooth. While some model years were plagued with reliability issues, for the most part, the 888 fork was a riders best friend. It rarely required servicing, was stupid simple to rebuild, and was easily tune-able.
So after ten years of solid performance, the Italian stallion has been completely redesigned from axle to crown. This new beauty debuting, dubbed the 380 C2R2 Titanium, will be the lightest coil race fork on the market when it debuts in September. At just over six pounds on our scale, it’s just a shade lighter than the current generation of air forks released this year.
Drop past the break for the details… READ MORE ->
It’s national bike month, and bike to work week, which is a good time to introduce the Urban Cycling Hall of Fame. In a joint effort between Chrome Industries and Echos Communications, the Urban Cycling HOF aims to recognize the riders, makers, and organizers who have developed urban cycling into what it is today.
Read on for more on the selection committee, and how to nominate a rider.
