I have been taking on the daunting, and often overwhelming post-bike-show ritual of trying to go through, sort, and make sense of the hundreds of photos I snapped during my time at the MADE Show last week.

After seeing quite a few shots of head badges in my photos (I’m a fan of a good head badge), I decided I would do something a little different, a little light-hearted, and out of the norm. Share some of them with you.

Often overlooked, the bicycle head badge can be something the brand has spent a good amount of time thinking about and executing… making sure that it’s just right. In some cases, contracting an outside source to get it just right for you – like Wilde Bikes sterling silver head badge made by Jen Green.

Below you’ll find a lil’ gallery of some (but not quite all) of my favorite head badges of the show, plus a little somethin’ special at the end.

So, let’s pay some attention to the art of ornate bicycle head badges.

Monē Bikes

Out of Silver City, New Mexico, Monē Bikes is a single person, Cjell Monē, who does all of his amazing frame building and visible brass brazing out of a repurposed 1990 Wonder Bread Truck. Making Monē mobile, Cjell prides himself on “keeping overhead low and quality high.”

This head badge is simple with understated details. I also get a feel of retro 80s in the design.

Neuhaus Metalworks

Located in the birthplace of mountain bikes, Marin County, California, Neuhaus Metal Works believes in Fit + Function = Form. They built steel and titanium bikes with 3D printing being the foundation to “make bikes better for riders”.

I especially like this head badge because it has a real industrial, art deco feel to it… matching the name of the company.

Tomii Cycles

Born in Japan, Nao Tomii has an incredible eye for detail. He came to the US to study sculpting, graduating in 2000. After being inspired by other hand-made, custom frame builders, he is now “sculpting” his own custom frames and accessories.

I had to include two of Tomii Cycles‘ head badges, as they are so different and yet still similar in layout. These head badges are a couple more impressive examples of Nao’s attention to detail.

Mosaic Cycles

Mosaic Cycles of Boulder, Colorado, specializing in high-quality, custom bicycles (like this one), and stock-sized bicycles (like this one). They are “dedicated to providing the best possible riding experience”.

This head badge is machined to show the color of the bike through the details in the badge. The badge lets you know it’s a Mosaic without seeing the rest of the bike. As iconic as a Schwinn head badge? Maybe.

Sycip Designs

Jeremy Sycip of Sycip Designs is located in Santa Rosa, California and has been building beautiful custom frames since 1992. He can build custom steel, titanium, or aluminum frames for your road, all-road, cx, commuters, or mountain biking needs.

Now, in my opinion, this is an example of an iconic head badge. And it’s one that I have personally always liked and coveted.

Ira Ryan Cycles

Ira Ryan Cycles is Ira Ryan and he’s been hand building each frame, fork stem, and bicycle by hand in his Portland workshop since 2005. “With one foot planted in a rich history of bicycle racing and what technology works well, I blend those styles with modern components using brass, silver, and steel”, as he describes it.

The Ira Ryan head badge represents the brand perfectly. It is understated and simple but speaks volumes to the power of simplicity, precision, and quality.

Wolfhound Cycles

Hailing from Talent, Oregon, Fred Cuthbert, of Wolfhound Cycles lives in a town that seems to be the perfectly named place for this framebuilder. His fillet brazing work is next level and “brazed with love since 2001”.

This head badge is simply beautiful and a perfect cherry on the bikes that Fred painstakingly builds.

Donkelope Bikes

Started in Wisconsin in 2002 building BMX frames, Donkelope Bikes has since moved the operation to Bellingham, Washington. Builder/owner Greg Heath can build you a welded or lugged steel frame, forks, stems, or even racks all “built by hand to suit your riding style”.

This head badge is the perfect representation of this brand; simple, classic, and purposeful lines with nothing extravagant.

An attentive reader tells us that Jen Green also made this head badge, that reader being Jen Green. 😉

Wilde Bikes

Minneapolis, MN is home to Wilde Bikes, and is owner Jeffrey Frane’s “love letter to cycling”. Previous founder of All-City Cycles, Jeffery says that “if it can be done, and it’s your bicycle dream, we can create it utilizing our amazing network of talented collaborators“.

This head badge just pops in its 3D-ness. Plus, as mentioned prior, it’s an example of the artistry that is a Jen Green head badge.

Bender Bicycles

Ft. Collins, Colorado is home to William Bender of Bender Bicycle Co. William began with a background in design and an innate need to “make and tinker”, saying that he “started Bender Bicycle Co. with the goal of creating functional, purposeful, and beautiful bikes“. And, that he does.

This head badge is different in the way that it’s heaped in design. If you look closely you’ll see that although it looks non-descript, it’s actually four stacked “B”s. Nice.

Fat Chance Bikes

Chris Chance of Fat Chance Bikes is considered a staple in the birth of mountain biking on the East Coast. And the Yo Eddie is an iconic name in the story that is the beginning of mountain biking.

This is the one-of-a-kind head badge from Fat Chance’s latest iteration of the Titanium Yo Eddie Team Fat Chance frameset. It’s wicked good.

Soulcraft Cycles (Honorable Mention)

And lastly, I’ve included a photo of a less ornate head badge, more of a logo, and a worn one at that, from a custom builder that is no longer making frames, but I feel needs an honorary mention. The builder is Sean Walling and the company is Soulcraft Cycles out of Petaluma, California. Sean stopped Soulcraft and ceased making frames about 8 years ago or so, I believe.

I was not only a fan of the brand, but I was also a customer… as I had purchased two frames from him, the single-speed specific Soulcraft Plowboy back in ’99 and the Soulcraft Royal Road frame in 2006.

So, when I saw him poppin’ wheelies at the MADE Show, on a (what he personally dated a 2001) Plowboy that he had just purchased from someone at the show, I was overcome with nostalgia. We reminisced a bit and I snapped a few shots on my phone. Enjoy.

Made.Bike.com

The post The Art of the Ornate Head Badge, a MADE Show Round-Up appeared first on Bikerumor.

While walking around in the bike-nerdy paradise that is the MADE Show, I ran into Jeffery Frane of Wilde Bikes, and this lugged beauty. You remember we covered their new Rambler SL back in April. Anywho, he was displaying a new Gravel Bike with an amazing paint job by NYF Paint.

Here’s the kicker, the new gravel bike was built on a lugged steel frame… but, with modern gravel geometry and modern features. Jeff was telling me that this new lug set was designed by Chris Bishop of Bishop Bikes and is solely designed for the purpose of building a lugged gravel bike with modern geometry.

The Lugged Wilde Gravel Bike

This lug set may be the first of its kind. The downtube-to-headtube lug is steeper, allowing for a taller fork and lower bottom bracket height. The show bike was equipped with Wilde Bikes’ own Wayfinder Carbon fork.

Its top tube lugs are available with the option to run a horizontal top tube or a 5-degree sloping top tube.

This bike is such a cool blend of modern and that classic “skinny frame tubes and chrome lugs” of the old Italian frames of yesteryear. Then blending that look with modern geometry made this bike one of my favorites of the show… throw in the Jen Green, sterling silver head badge and it completes the complete classiness of this bike.

Oh, so shiny!

Tech Specifications and Retail Pricing

According to Jeffery, this bike will retail for a $3500 frameset price with a standard painted finish. We’d call that a steal for this gorgeous bike.
Or why not go all out, for $5500 to get this amazing show finish – in real chrome and subtly sparkling paint.

This show bike was AXS wireless specific and could fit a 700x45c rear tire, and up to a 700x 2.1″ up front. It was built up with White Industries hubs and headset, Sim Works bar & stem, and a complete SRAM Red AXS drivetrain.

My photos don’t really do the bike justice, the bike was beautiful.

Take a look at the other offerings by Wilde Bikes below.

WildeBikes.com

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I saw so much at the MADE show these past few days. And it was… honestly, it was a bit overwhelming (in a good, bike nerd kinda way). For this story, I will get right to the gist of it. I ran into Charlie Murray, the man behind Heavy Bikes, early on in the show. When I saw the bike that was on display, I was pretty skeptical.

But, after talking with Charlie, it was clear that he was on to something. And his enthusiasm and genuine stoke about it was contagious. So, let’s talk about the bike.

Heavy Bikes: The Hypocrite Gravel Bike

Heavy Bikes utilizes Foundry Casting System’s ‘Pascal Process’ for the pressurized solidification of sand casted parts. They start the process with a custom bike fit. That fit drives a 3D-printed sand mold design. The mold is then filled with molten A356 aluminum.

Heavy Bikes says that “the pressurized solidification ensures a properly filled part with enhanced mechanical properties“. Then, they bust open the frame mold with a sledgehammer before going off to heat treating.

Heavy then machines the interface and “art surfaces” after heat treating the frame. Charlie told me that the dimples that are on the show bike are just there to show the kind of details that can be accomplished with the casting technique.

Heavy Bikes says that they “built the Hypocrite to explore the limits of thin wall casting while adding compliance to a single-piece bike frame“.

On their website, they describe the Hypocrite’s ride as “one of a new sense of momentum not found on hollow tubular bikes“. This, paired with the bike’s nimble wheelbase, provides a connected feel unique to Heavy Bikes.

What’s it Weigh You Ask?

According to Charlie, they can “get the Hypocrite frame at the show, inside of 6lbs based on a rider’s measurements of 6′ with a 32″ inseam”.

HeavyBikes.net

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Maybe not surprisingly, it’s taken upstart carbon bikebuilder Bridge Bike Works a bit longer than planned to hit their stride with full-scale bike production in-house in Canada. But in the almost year since we toured their Toronto factory last fall, they’ve continued to refine manufacturing processes. Now, Bridge has officially launched production of the refined Surveyor all-road bike and are offering its All-Road Integrated fork separately, too…

Bridge Bike Works hits production with threaded carbon BB

Up to now, Bridge has been only building and selling a limited number of pre-ordered Surveyor all-road bikes as they dialed in production. But now with production officially launched, Bridge are now delivering the most common 55cm, 57cm & 59cm framesets out to shops & customers who’ve been waiting patiently. And the remaining 51cm & 53cm frames will head out of their workshop in 4-6 weeks’ time.

What’s new?

Since we last caught up with them in person, Bridge have developed molding carbon threads into the Surveyors’ T47 bottom brackets. Word is that all bikes they’ve shipped to customers include Bridge’s “industry-first carbon threaded BB” tech. Bridge developed the carbon threads and tested them to 3-5x the standard 30-50Nm or torque a threaded BB usually sees. And they’ve been testing them out on gravel & tarmac with no failures & zero creaks.

Want the rest of the tech details on this made-in-Canada all-road & fast gravel bike, check our latest Surveyor tech coverage.

Bridge also updated their deposit structure. Given that, now $1000 CAD up front (~$735 USD) reserves a production slot in the build queue – currently slated for Spring 2024 delivery. Surveyor framesets currently sell for $5500 CAD (~$4050 USD), with complete all-road or gravel builds possible with Shimano or SRAM groupsets.

Bridge All-Road Integrated Forks, too

Unique in manufacturing their own forks in-house too, from early on Bridge promised to make them available separately, as well. Now, taking orders for delivery in early 2024, both end consumers and other OE framebuilders can buy the Canadian carbon all-road fork.

The Toronto-made carbon All-Road Integrated Fork is designed to work with “all modern integrated cable setups”. The fork features a 382.5mm axle-to-crown height, and comes in 45.9mm or 53.1mm offsets. The round tapered steerer carbon fork is flat mount for 140 or 160mm rotors. It features a 12x100mm Robert thru-axle with replaceable threads, and includes an expansion plug. Tire clearance is 700c x 42mm, or 650b x 48mm.

The Bridge All-Road Integrated Fork retails for $899 CAD (~$665 USD) to consumers. At this time, get it in matte or gloss Cerakote black, with manufacturer pricing also available on request. Custom paint to match your bike is available individually.

BridgeBikeWorks.com

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Mosaic’s booth at the MADE handmade bike show over the weekend had a number of new bikes to ogle. Included in the lineup was this updated MT-1 made-to-order titanium hardtail. Beyond their revamped mountain bike, the GT-1 45 gravel bike got a UDH upgrade, and the newly integrated RT-1 ITR showcased a new colorful Artist Series paint job option. Additionally, all bikes can now Colorshift, too…

Mosaic MT-1 updates custom titanium XC hardtail MTB

Just under a year ago, Mosaic updated their more affordable batch-built MT-2 ti hardtail with modern geo and bigger tires. Now, they are back with a similar update to their lighter, made-or-order flagship MT-1 titanium XC hardtail. Also designed for 120mm forks, Mosaic describes the MT-1 as that perfect blend of “modern XC geometry with a hint of rowdy trail riding“. What’s more, this MT-1 is their lighter double-butted ti mountain bike with a bit more of a race-ready spirit.

What’s new & different in the revamped Mosaic MT-1?

First up, the new Mosaic MT-1 gets the exact same stock geometry update as the MT-2 did, for improved modern XC-into-Trail capabilities. But every MT-1 is handbuilt-to-order in Boulder, Colorado. So you can also customize that geometry if you need to tweak your fit or want to go faster or get more rowdy.

What else sets it apart is the custom lightweight double-butted T3A/2.5V titanium tubeset Mosaic uses to handbuild the MT-1. The new MT-1 also gets a UDH upgrade to bolt-on the latest SRAM T-Type transmissions.

MT-1 Tech details

The MT-1 is designed as a light race bike, so Mosaic designed it around 29 x 2.4″ tires. Yet, there’s still clearance for up to 2.6″ tires if needed. The frame is Boost-spaced, gets a 73mm threaded bottom bracket, 30.9mm seatpost, and comes with a tapered Chris King Inset 7 headset.

Mosaic MT-1 – Pricing & Availability

The updated Mosaic MT-1 sells for $6600 for the titanium frameset, with a 6-week leadtime. It comes in 4 stock sizes (S-XL), or you can get custom Rider Specific Geometry at no extra cost, as well. Pick from your choice of standard Mosaic paint layouts in your colors of choice, raw ti, or go for one of Mosaic’s premium Factory Finishes, all included in the standard pricing. Routing is up to you, depending if you need/want internal cabling in the downtube or opt for more of a pared-back wireless or simpler external setup.

Complete bike builds are always possible, too. This XO Transmission build with a custom-painted (Beautiful Chaos) Fox 34 SC Factory fork & Enve M525 carbon wheels would sell for $13,575.

GT-1 45 gravel bike gets a UDH upgrade & Artist Series finish option

Mosaic’s top-tier GT-1 45 gravel bike also gets an update, moving to the UDH standard for improved drivetrain compatibility or ease of derailleur hanger replacement. The GT-1 45 is Mosaic’s premium level-1 custom titanium gravel bike, designed for 42-45mm tires. Pick a GT-2 for more affordability, GT X series for bigger off-road tires, or a GT AR for faster all-road gravel builds.

But it seems like only the custom GT-1 gets a UDH for now, although you can also still get an old-style replaceable hanger if you want for some reason. Although, we’d guess all of the level-1 ti bikes should have the UDH option soon.

Built together with their Chicago dealer shop Velosmith, Mosaic’s MADE show bike gets more than just a UDH with an Eagle mullet transmission. Mosaic finished it in a new Artist Series paint job named ‘Beautiful Chaos’.

This new level-1 finish option mixes crisply masked lines with splatter drip effect paint details. Put that all over a fade paintjob, customizable in your fav color palette.

RT-1 ITR integrates road bike routing & shows off that Artist Series option

Another updated bike with killer custom paint is the recently integrated Mosaic RT-1 ITR road bike. The new ITR moniker means Integrated Thick Road. Thus, it combines mega 35mm slick tire clearance with fully hidden internal cable routing.

The custom double-butted ti RT-1 ITR features Enve’s new Integrated Road fork/bar/stem combo. Furthermore, there’s that lust-worthy Chris King classically-styled Aeroset headset, plus new Mosaic road chainstays

This RT-1 ITR show bike also sports a new Artist Series finish.

Here, it is ‘Prismatica’, e.g. a nod to MADE’s Portland neighbor Chris King. Hence, they decorate it with small colorful bubbles, bumble bees, and crowns in a rainbow of splatters.

Of course, Mosaic also includes an appropriately colorful set of purple Chris King components to round out its custom build.

All types of Mosaic can get a Colorshift paint job now, too.

Lastly, every level-1 Mosaic can now get a Colorshift paint job, too. At MADE, Mosaic painted 6 GT-1 AR all-road gravel bikes in these new 6 Colorshift colors from their Finishwork lineup. Thus, now pick from the color-changing chameleon look that best suits your custom style.

MosaicCycles.com

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Wolf Tooth Components has a habit of introducing new colors as limited-edition flavors. They first introduced the olive color last summer on the ReMote Light Action. After following that up with some olive Waveform pedals, WTC says the response was so great that they have decided to add it to their permanent options.

That means you’ll be able to find parts from headsets to pedals in the new Olive color so you can mix or match to your heart’s content. Olive joins the existing list of black, purple, blue, gold, espresso, green, orange, red, and silver.

Parts Available in Olive

• Headsets
• Seatpost clamps
• Centerlock rotor lockrings (internal and external spline)
• Bottle cage bolts
• Alloy bar end plugs
• Waveform Aluminum Pedals
• Headset spacers
• Stem caps

There’s even an Olive water bottle if you want to get super matchy-matchy. The full WTC Olive range is available now in their Color Shop.

The post Wolf Tooth Gives Olive Components a Permanent Place on the Menu appeared first on Bikerumor.

The beautiful frames and bike components that were on display at MADE Show are functional art, but art nonetheless. Many would point out that there is no “best” art, as art is subjective.

I can, however, offer my opinion on our favorite versions of this art. It’s a pretty extensive list, and won’t include everyone. But, I will give you this disclaimer, literally all of the bikes and bike stuff on display at this show were really amazing.

The craftsmanship and attention to detail were off the charts. So, let me say thank you to all involved for sharing your skills with us, it was truly inspirational.

This list was selected by me, as the bikes and components that I liked a lot and wanted to highlight.

Ok, on with the “Best” of Show…

Little Wheel Bike: Velo Orange Neutrino Mini Velo

“Whether you’re a frequent traveler, apartment dweller, multi-modal commuter, or just enjoy a fun N+1 bike, the Neutrino will fit perfectly into your heart“

The Velo Orange Mini Velo gets the Best of Show badge for the coolest mini velo at the show. Super versatile and sporting their new, uber-functional Utility Riser Bar, the Neutrino is ready for a fun ride.

MTB: Albatross Apogee

“Our Apogee module takes all of the complex, hard-to-make parts of a frame and brings them all into a single precision-machined assembly”.

The Apogee gets the Best of Show for Albatross Bikes‘ ingenuity and their ability to think differently. The modularity of the Apogee Module is the story here. Check out the details in our coverage from a few days ago.

Most Unique: Wolfhound Cycles

“Custom steel bicycles, brazed with love since 2001″

This Wolfhound Cycles was an amazing example of the delicate art of fillet brazing. The brazing and the attention to detail, along with the sheer uniqueness of this particular bicycle, is why it gets the “best” badge today.

Fendered Bike: Donkelope

“Donkelope bikes are custom steel frames made by Greg Heath in Bellingham, Washington. Forks, stems and racks are built by hand to suit your riding style”.

This beautifully crafted, Donkelope all-road bike gets the “best” badge for its subtle finish and impeccable, deep sparkle colorway, that my photos do no justice. It sports a spot-on fender line, dynamo power, and is logically spec’d. Looks like a great “go anywhere, do anything” kind of bicycle.

Gravel Bike: BTCHN’ Bikes

“I’m a racer by nature, a wrench by trade, and a machinist/fabricator by necessity. I’ve spent my life making parts from scratch that are lighter and perform better than what can be found. I’m constantly redesigning and refining my processes, always looking for that extra competitive edge.”

This example of what Tyler of BTCHN’ Bikes can create is why it gets my pick of “best”. This is a real testament to the work that Tyler can do. It is aesthetically pleasing, unique, and well thought out with some really clever details.

Bikepacking/Basket Bike: Bantom Bicycle Works/Lords Luggage

“I have had plenty of experience working on cross bikes, cargo bikes, MTBs, track, etc…Whatever type of bike you may be interested in, I would be happy to talk to you about it.”

I’m guessing you guys know why picked the Bantam Bicycles Travelall bike as my choice for the “best” bikepacking/basket bike. It’s a quality build, it’s aesthetically pleasing, the bikepacking-specific geo looks fun, and it looks comfortable. And I would be remiss if I didn’t bring up the quality of the waxed canvas bags that Andy from Lords Luggage produces. Plus, the bags seem like an integral of this build.

Clever Cargo: Frances Cycles

“Small-time bicycle design and manufacture… road, cross, cargo, randonneur, brevet, tour, adventure, and everyday bikes. Design fabrication, and assembly of fully integrated bicycles with an emphasis on fit, performance, utility, and beauty.”

I picked the Frances Cycles Platypus pulling their Farfarer One-wheeled Trailer as the “best” for obvious reasons. The bike looks ultra useful as a cargo bike with that beefy front rack setup. Josh calls it a mid-gravity design. I actually rode this bike around after shooting it, and it rides like it looks… super fun.

Jewel-Like Quality: Tomii Cycles

“A sculpture can be appreciated both aesthetically and functionally, just as a bicycle can be. Bicycles that I can build as beautiful as a sculpture for my customers, is always my number one goal.”

The Tomii Cycles booth at the MADE Show was always deep with onlookers. They were displaying some of the most intricate, handmade, custom bicycle accessories I have seen in some time. The hand-hammered bells were enough for me to award the “best” badge for that kind of craftsmanship. Throw in the jewelry like stem caps and headset spacers and this award was a no-brainer.

That’s it, hope you enjoyed it! Stay right here for more MADE Show coverage.

Made.Bike.com

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MADE Show’s goal was to shine the spotlight on the independent frame builders and the community and culture that encompasses them. For a few days, in a nearly 100 year-old barge manufacturing building right on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, the handmade industry gathered to show their amazing skillset.

This giant, rustic building seems haunted by the spirit of industrious ingenuity, where craftsmen used both machine and hand to build something special. It really felt like the perfect spot for the brands and builders to show off their skills, wares, and works of functional art.

Hi, My Name is Ron…

…and I’m a bike nerd.

This type of bike show is right up my alley, as I love the bicycle in all its forms and its culture. The amount of amazingly skilled builders that were on hand was impressive.

Some of my personal favorite small, independent brands were on hand as well, like Forager Cycles, Velo Orange, Paul Components, Breadwinner, King Cage, White Industries, Ultradynamico, Ron’s Bikes, and Pinebury, just to name a few.

At this point, I’ve only attended one day, but man, I’ve got so much to show you guys already. So, for the next weeks, I will be sharing this experience with you and getting you the names of all of these talented frame builders along with photos of their work.

If You’re a Bike Nerd…

Then my MADE Show coverage will totally be your jam. I’ll be covering the frame details, and the builder’s specialties… and let me tell you, there’s some pretty crazy stuff to show you.

I loved the ‘vibe’ and venue of this show, hinting that “if you want to make something better, you can”. My initial walkthrough of the show gave me the urge to shop small, as I wanted to buy/support almost all of it.

There is so much to see in the next two days, so I will continue to check all of the nooks and crannies for the good stuff.

Just stay tuned and get ready to nerd out!

Made.Bike.com

The post Indy Frame Makers Galore, Bike Nerds Rejoice: MADE Show First Impressions appeared first on Bikerumor.

I’ll be in Portland this week to cover the “celebration of the frame builder” that is the MADE Show. To me, the indy frame builders and the outliers of the bike industry are often underrepresented, so it’s nice to see a spotlight on ’em. This is the first year for the MADE Show, but I have a good idea of what to expect.

MADE Bike Show Founder, Billy Sinkford has a passion for the bike and all that surrounds it. That passion is palpable and contagious just to be around him. The show will be an extension of that passion. It will be an unapologetic celebration of the bicycle and its culture. It will likely celebrate inclusivity as last year’s Philly Bike Show did. It’ll celebrate the component makers, the frame builders, the “one-offs”, the individuals that think outta-the-box, and the craftsmanship we’ve come to expect from custom builders.

Yakima Makes My Drive to MADE a Bit More Comfortable

Needless to say, I’m very excited to attend the show. I’m also excited to make the 15-hour (1000-mile) trek in our “new-to-us” 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, camping along the way.

Yakima Rib Cage Rack for Jeep JL 4-Door

To outfit that Jeep, Yakima has sent over their new Rib Cage Rack system made for the Jeep JL (JL is the latest iteration of the Wrangler, Yakima has another version for Jeep JK) Unlimited (4-door) for me to review, along with their SkyRise HD Medium rooftop tent.

The Rib Cage is a relatively new product for Yakima Racks and retails for $600. There are a few different ways to attach a rack system to a Jeep JL. A few surround the top without touching it, with attachment points on the rear bumper and front cowl area of the Jeep, and require no drilling.

However, the Rib Cage falls into the group of rack systems that are a little more permanent and require some drilling through the fiberglass top. These types of racks use the inside of the Jeep and the “roll cage” to reinforce the rack. This allows for a larger payload, and/or use of a rooftop tent. The others out there are over twice the cost of the Yakima Rib Cage.

As it works out, the Yakima Rib Cage has the largest weight capacity of most, if not all of the systems available for this application. Furthermore, Yakima “fully tested and off-road rated” the Rib Cage.

Static Weight: The “static” weight of a rack is basically the amount of weight the rack can hold when the vehicle is not moving. Think your rack and rooftop tent with you in it. The Rib Cage carries a static load rating of a whopping 825 lbs.

Dynamic Weight: The Dynamic weight of a rack is how much it can carry while the vehicle is in motion, and arguably for those that are often off-road, the most important rating. The Rib Cage’s dynamic load rating is 330 lbs, which is the highest I know of in this application.

Another key point to mention about the Rib Cage is that it can be easily disconnected, allowing for the full removal of the Jeep’s top (one of the highlights of owning a Wrangler).

Installing the Yakima Rib Cage on Jeep JL

The installation of the Rib Cage was involved, not really very difficult, but involved. What I mean by that, is that there was a lot of reading and re-reading the detailed instructions, which Yakima suggests you do prior to starting the installation. I also watched the available video 3-4 times prior to the installation as well.

There were a lot of parts to the rack, as expected, as well as the needed tools. The parts and the tools were very well organized in a compartmentalized package.

Drilling the top of our Jeep was daunting, so I wanted to make sure that I “measured 5 times and cut once”. Our Jeep has the color-matched, painted top, so it seemed even more weird drilling into it. But, the Rib Cage is a well-thought-out solution that eliminated some of the stress of installation.

As I mentioned earlier, it wasn’t really hard, but I would suggest getting a friend to help. I struggled on some portions of the installation where another set of hands would’ve helped tremendously.

After the installation, the rack pretty much disappeared and looked like part of the Jeep. It is a fairly stealth final product before mounting the load bars. The Yakima HD Bar crossbars went on very easily and tightened right down.

One thing that I was worried about was the rack making noise in the cab of the Jeep. But, the design of the rack being attached outside the Jeep and anchored inside the Jeep, keeps it quiet.

As of right now, with about 600 miles on it after the installation, it is quiet with no signs of creaking or squeaking showing up in the future. I’ve already done a couple of decent off-road trips with the SkyRise rooftop tent on it, and it has remained silent.

Yakima Rib Cage Details

• Fully Tested and Off-road rated up to a 330lb dynamic load rating and an 825lb static load rating.
• 48″ HD Track sections allow for variable crossbar spreads to support 2 or 3-bar or multiple tower LockNLoad platform setups.
• Freedom panels are removable while the system is in use and is easily disconnected to fully remove your hardtop.
• Rooftop Tent compatible
• The internal supports attach to the roll cage ensuring lateral stability for maximum strength.
• The minimal footprint of the internal supports will not intrude on your passenger or cargo space.
• To fully outfit your system, you can choose either the Yakima TrackTower with crossbars or platform of your choice, or the Yakima SkyLine Tower and Landing Pad 26 with crossbars or platform of your choice (sold separately, additional parts may be required).
• End caps allow the installation of T-slot hardware without having to remove caps.
• Compatible with Jeep Wrangler JL 4dr Hardtop models only.
• Separate Jeep JK 4dr Hardtop model available
• $600 Retail

Yakima SkyRise HD Medium Rooftop Tent for a Jeep

We’ve used a similar tent to the SkyRise for about 4 years, and we were pretty satisfied with it. But, I’ll tell you, as soon as I opened the box from Yakima, I could instantly tell, this was a much higher-quality tent, which it should be as it retails for $2499.That’s twice the cost of my other rooftop tent.

It’s classified as a 4-season tent, so the material of the tent was thicker and felt nicer. We will see how that works out as winter is right around the corner.

The SkyRise HD uses 600D Ripstop Polyester fabric with a 3000mm waterproof PU coating. I noticed the 2.5″ foam mattress was denser and seemed of higher quality as well.

The SkyRiseHD Medium is slightly bigger than the regular SkyRise tent with a closed size of L 58″ x W 48″ x H 17″, and an open size of L 56″ x W 96″ x H 48″. It weighs in at a svelt 114.6 lbs, making it a great choice for smaller vehicles.

Yakima SkyRise HD Medium Tent Details

• Two size options provide room for two or three campers (small and medium)
• Frame geometry offers more usable space
• Large doors, windows, and skylights open up the vistas
• 4-season weather protection: 600D Ripstop Polyester fabric with a 3000mm waterproof PU coating
• Rainfly with 210D Ripstop Polyester, 3000mm PU waterproof coating
• Guy lines and D-rings on the tent floor to hang gear or tie down the tent in windy conditions
• Abrasion-resistant tent floor with a textured finish for added durability
• Ladder has mid-height adjustment points for easy set-up
• Ladder auto-close function that makes it a snap to close up
• Tool-free and lockable vehicle mounts—easy to put on, quick to take off
• Easy-to-deploy design means less work and more play—great when it’s dark or raining
• 2.5″ thick foam mattress
• Foam sleeping pad includes a removable cover for easy cleaning
• Mesh panel improves ventilation and lets you view the starry skies
• Aluminum tent frame is light, strong, and pre-set to make pitching a breeze
• Open Dimensions: 56″ x 96″ x 48″ High
• $2,499 Retail

Yakima SkyRise HD Medium Specs

• Weight: 114.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: L 58.00 in x W 48.00 in x H 17.00 in
• Minimum Crossbar Spread 26.00in
• Maximum Crossbar Spread 40.50in
• Limited Two Year Warranty

Installing the SKyRise HD Medium Rooftop Tent on a Jeep JL 4dr

After removing the box, I set the tent on its side and attached the “tool-free” lockable vehicle mounts to the bottom of the tent. I could’ve used a second set of hands for this as well, but I got it done.

I then attached the rainfly better, as it comes just sitting on the top of the tent and needs a little installation. After that, I installed the ladder and the external cover. I removed the mattress to make it a little lighter, and then I had my sister-in-law help me put it up on the crossbars. I then centered it up and locked it down.

The tool-free lockable mounts are pretty slick. They will make loading and unloading the rooftop tent a lot easier. They sit a little higher than I would prefer, but the added convenience of being able to quickly remove the tent from the Jeep is worth it to me.

My wife and I have yet to sleep in it, but we are camping on the way up to the MADE Show and on the way back, and we are stoked to give it a try. We’ll also be stopping by the Yakima headquarters in Oregon on the way home to touch base and see what’s coming up on the horizon.

Stay tuned!

Yakima.com

The post Road to MADE Show: Yakima’s New Rib Cage Rack System for the Jeep JL + SkyRise HD Medium RTT appeared first on Bikerumor.

Before the inaugural MADE show is even officially underway, we have big news from Portland. First reported by The Ride with Ben Delaney from SBT GRVL in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Moots has a new bike. It’s not just any bike though, it’s a bike with an all-new wheel size.

Not 700c. Not 650b. The new bike is rolling on a slightly bigger wheel size called 750d. The wheels and tires seem to be only manufactured by WTB at this point, so we reached out and asked if they could give us more details. As luck would have it, WTB was on hand in Portland with Moots getting ready for the show and sent us pictures of the new bike.

When asked about the wheel size specifically, WTB stated. “In short, we developed a large diameter 750d tire and rim that currently only fits custom-built-to-spec bikes. WTB is constantly prototyping to determine the next advancement in bike technology, but there is currently no production timeline for 750d. While we made this tire many years ago, our plans to move forward are dictated by brands’ interests in this new wheel size. If brands begin manufacturing and spec-ing bikes that accomodate 750d tires, then we will have the opportunity to move forward with the project. There are no plans to offer 750d products aftermarket until there is OEM spec. We’ll be ready if that moment comes. Until then, we’ll continue to roll with the diameters currently in the market!”

Why Would We Possibly Need Another Wheels Size?

Based on what we’ve seen so far, the 750d size could fill a gap between 700c and 36″. We’ve seen a few brands and small builders create 36ers for exceptionally tall riders, so 750d could be useful for riders that want something bigger than 700c, but smaller than 36″.

Would that be a big enough market to convince WTB to go into full production of 750d? That seems questionable, but 750d does seem like it would be a more realistic wheel size than 36″ for most riders.

This Isn’t the First Time WTB Launched a New Tire Size at a Trade Show

One of the more interesting details to this story is that way back in 1999, WTB did something similar – with the same tire model. At Interbike, WTB unveield the first-ever 29″ tire with a custom WTB bike to fit the 29 x 2.1″ Nano Raptor. It seems that history does repeat itself, only this time with a 750d x 40mm Nano Raptor. Just like the 750d now, the 29″ wheel size was then greeted with immense skepticism. And now?

See It At MADE Show

We’ll have plenty more to show you from MADE Show, but we’re expecting this particular Moots to be very popular this weekend. Not only does this Routt CRDD have the 750d wheels, but it’s also fitted with the new Moots MOD bar and stem. It’s not clear what fork this bike is running yet, but we’ll have more directly from MADE!

The post A New Wheel Size? Moots Prototype Debuts at MADE w/ 750d WTB Wheels & Tires appeared first on Bikerumor.

The MADE Bike Show, is being held in Portland Oregon. There, bike-bling-gurus Chris King Components are revealing its latest eye candy. The new Limited Edition “Splash” consists of a deep bronze base color with the classic Chris King turquoise splashed over it. And it looks amazing…

The whole run of this new color will only be 50 complete kits. Kits will include a headset, bottom bracket, and King wheels, with configurations for all-road, gravel, and mountain bikes available.

Jay Sycip, Chris King’s Design Manager said, “The inaugural MADE show is here in Portland, so we just had to do something special, something we hadn’t done before, and that was the motivation for Splash. It will be both a component finish and a soft goods collection. There will be a LOT of King components and wheels on bikes all around the show. For us, it’s like a homecoming“.

Chris King has been anodizing bicycle components as early as 1988, with limited colors being added and removed from the line each season. Remember earlier this year, they brought back their prized 1988 color, 3D Violet… nothin’ says “bling” like purple anno.

Sycip continued, “We’ve seen what others have done with splatter and drip anodize effects in the past, not just on bike parts, but in other industries as well, and wanted to create a more refined version incorporating some favorite colors from our palette. Our Matte Bourbon color was incredibly popular and a favorite of many here at King, and we loved the way that warm bronzy color worked with many paint and component choices, especially on handmade bikes, and how well it complemented vibrant color accents. We wanted to take the subtle sophistication of a bronze base color and add a ‘Splash’ of something bright and complementary to take it to the next level: our Matte Turquoise“.

The new Splash colorway will make its global “in-person” debut on show bikes that were produced for the MADE Show this week. The Chris King booth will be displaying Splash-themed bikes from Mosiac, Argonaut, and Tomii.

How Much?

Each Splash kit will contain a headset, bottom bracket, and King FusionFiber® Wheelset, built to order

Retail: $3450 (road/gravel build kits)

Retail: $3275 (mountain build kits)

The limited edition Splash components will be available, as a complete kit for the above disciplines through Chris King dealers and the Chis King website. The kits will be sold on a “first-come-first-served” basis.

ChrisKing.com

The post Chris King Components Makes a Limited Edition ‘Splash’ for Inaugural MADE Show appeared first on Bikerumor.

Rockrider Ford Racing Team member, Joshua Dubau, slotted into 25th at yesterday’s UCI XCC Short Track World Championships. Of course, we know the french rider is capable of much more, having posted multiple top 5 results over the course of the 2023 season, so it wouldn’t be at all unexpected to see him competing for a podium finish in tomorrow’s XCO finale.

To keep weight to a minimum, Dubau’s frame has been stripped of its paint to leave a raw carbon finish. The complete bike weight, including pedals and bottle cage, comes in at just 10.19 kgs. Here, we take a closer look at the components contributing to that, including some prototype suspension from Manitou, and some prototype tires from Hutchinson.

Joshua Dubau’s World Champs Rockrider XCC/XCO Race Bike

• Rider: Joshua Dubau
• Nationality: French
• Age: 27
• Height: 175 cm
• 2023 Season Best Result: 2nd at UCI World Cup XCO, Nové Město

This season, Joshua Dubau is riding a prototype 120mm travel Rockrider XC bike, the geometry of which is still a private matter. At 175cm tall, Joshua is riding the large frame with an 80mm BikeYoke dropper seat post. Meanwhile, his team mate, Maxime Marotte who stands at 172 cm tall, is riding the medium.

Up front, we have a new 120mm travel Manitou XC fork, paired with a new Manitou Mara XC shock, both of which are still under development also. We can tell you the fork has 34mm stanchions but still goes lighter than the 32mm stanchion Manitou R7 fork, which is the brand’s current offering for cross-country riding. Joshua’s mechanic, Theo, tells us the weight is similar to that of the recently released 120mm RockShox SID.

Both the fork and shock feature a remote lockout. A 3-Position lockout is possible, but for this weekend’s racing, Joshua will run the 2-Position lockout serviced by an Orbea Squidlock remote. Team mate, Maxime Marotte, is testing a new suspension remote from Manitou.

Joshua Dubau’s Rockrider rolls on a Mavic Crossmax Ultimate SL wheelset with 30mm internal width carbon rims.

Seated onto those rims are 29″ x 2.3″ Hutchinson Skeleton tires. The team has this tread pattern with the choice of four different casings, three of which are prototypes from Hutchinson. Each of them is lighter than the 690g Hardskin casing that is currently in production. Joshua raced the Short Track event with the lightest option, with 1.4 bar in the front and rear.

The 2023 World Champs field is riddled with the SRAM XX SL AXS Eagle Transmission, and Joshua’s bike benefits from it too. He runs 175mm cranks with a 36T chainring and power meter. Speed is controlled by TRP Slate XC levers paired with the 2-piston calipers, clamping new 160mm rotors also from TRP.

In the cockpit, we have the KFX carbon riser handlebar from FSA, at 700mm wide, paired with the FSA SLK stem which has a 70mm reach and a 20° negative offset. A Fizik Argo 00 saddle sits atop the Manitou-branded BikeYoke dropper.

Look X-Track Race Carbon Ti pedals and a Van Rysel bottle cage help the build along to its final 10.19 kg weight.

All the best to Joshua Dubau, Maxime Marotte and the rest of the Rockrider Ford Racing Team this weekend!

decathlon.com

The post Pro Bike Check: Joshua Dubau’s 10.19 kg World Champs RockRider XC Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

Yesterday’s 2023 UCI XCC Short Track World Championships proved to be as controversial as it was exciting. While French rider, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, stormed to victory aboard the all-new Pinarello Dogma XC HT, her INEOS Grenadiers team mate, Tom Pidcock, rode the same to a Bronze medal. No mention of Tom and yesterday’s Short Track is complete without mention of the event that took place in the final turn…

The British rider made unintended contact with Germany’s Luca Schwarzbauer as he slipped through a small gap left open by Schwarzbauer on the inside of the final turn. As a result, Luca lost rear wheel traction, forcing a low side crash. He conceded the position to Tom, who went on to secure 3rd place. New Zealand’s Sam Gaze took the Gold medal, with Frenchman Victor Koretzky taking Silver.

Back to the bikes…

Indeed, yesterday was the first time the new Pinarello Dogma XC HT has graced the race track. This particular race track is nowhere near as rough as some we’ve seen on the World Cup circuit this season, and so it wasn’t too much of a surprise to see a number of riders opting to use a hardtail.

Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at Tom’s Dogma XC HT, and how it has been set up by his mechanic, Arune Kristensen.

Pro Bike Check: Tom Pidcock’s Pinarello Dogma XC HT

• Rider: Tom Pidcock
• Age: 24
• Nationality: British
• Height: 170 cm
• 2023 Season Best Result: 1st at UCI World Cup XC, Nové Město

Fresh off the back of the Tour de France, Tom Pidcock is switching gears this week for his assault on the 2023 UCI XCO World Championships in Scotland. As discussed, Tom’s week got off to a good start with a 3rd place finish in Short Track. While that would have secured him a front row start for the XCO in a World Cup race, it is the rider’s UCI World Ranking that determines their start position in the XCO World Champs race. Tom is currently ranked 19th in the world. That said, we all know this man does not necessarily need a front row start…

At 170 cm tall (5ft 7″), Tom is riding the Pinarello Dogma XC Hardtail in a size small. The bike is not yet in production, and we are still waiting on Pinarello for more information about sizing availability and geometry. What we do know, is that they have implemented a patented asymmetric rear triangle design which reinforces the non-driveside with a more direct triangulated layout to offer increased stiffness to “counterbalance the higher forces being applied” through the drivetrain by the rider’s pedaling input.

Indeed, Pidcock’s race bike is fronted by a 100mm travel SR Suntour Axon 34 fork with the TACT electronic, automatic adjusting suspension damping technology. It offers up to 8 settings that vary from the ultra comfortable, to a much firmer, pedal-efficient setting. Unfortunately, mechanic Arune was not prepared to share Tom’s exact settings with us. It is not clear whether or not any production model will come with the SR Suntour electronic suspension we see on Tom’s bike.

Tom’s Pinarello rolls on the P1 Race Technologies Singularis M30 Wheelset with 30mm internal width carbon rims. With 24 bladed, J-bend spokes, the wavy rim is laced to a very lightweight hubset from Non Plus. Seated onto those rims is a set of 29″ x 2.3″ Continental Race King Race Sport tires with the Black Chilli Compound.

While New Zealand’s Anton Cooper chose to forgo use of a dropper seat post on his Trek Procaliber short track bike, Tom is running the Vertical Helium Dropper Seat Post – which is, incidentally, one of the world’s lightest. This one is normally an 80mm drop, but on Tom’s bike it has been limited 60mm. Atop it is a Fizik Antares saddle with carbon rails.

In the drivetrain department, Tom runs an 11-45T cassette with a Shimano XTR short-cage derailleur. That’s paired with a Shimano XTR crankset with 170mm cranks, 38T chainring and Shimano XTR pedals. Tom rides and races with the SRM spider-based power meter.

In the cockpit, Tom runs the Most Talon Ultra XC handlebar-stem combo at a width of 690mm with a 110mm reach and a negative 17° offset, with ESI grips. While a lot of XC riders are preferring 4-piston brakes, Tom relies upon the Shimano XTR 2-piston brakes for speed management, paired with 160mm Shimano Ice Technologies FREEZA rotors.

It remains unclear as to whether Tom will stick with the Dogma XC Hardtail for the XCO, or switch to the Dogma XC full suspension bike that he rode to victory in Nové Město. That SR Suntour TACT-equipped bike is waiting in the wings, finished with some prototype Continental Ruban tires of the Pure Grip Compound, Shield Wall System flavor.

With alternating blocks of the center tread pattern cut down, the tire is likely better able to bite into the soft terrain the riders have been dealing with on track this week.

Good luck to Tom and the rest of the INEOS team this weekend!

pinarello.com

The post Pro Bike Check: Tom Pidcock’s Pinarello Dogma XC HT Short Track Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

If you hate riding with a backpack, Topeak has some nifty new offerings for you. The brand has hopped on board with on-bike tools, creating three new bar end-mounted tools and a crank spindle chain repair/multi-tool. They also had a new complete plug/multi-tool kit that mounts to your bike and a basic tire plug tool that can inflate a tire while you’re plugging it (if combined with an inflator head).

Plug N’ Tool Mountain- $69.95

The Plug N’ Tool Mountain is a two-piece kit that includes a tire plugging tool for one side of your handlebars and a multi-tool for the other side. The plug tool includes a 3.5mm insertion tool and three tire plugs. The multi-tool offers seven tool bits; 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10mm Allen keys, plus a #2 Phillips and T25 Torx bits. The multi-tool’s pivoting head allows for good leverage, and the outside of the head itself acts as the 10mm Allen key. Both tools feature ring-pull knobs for quick and easy removal/reinstallation.

Made from hardened steel and engineering-grade polymer, the Plug N’ Tool Mountain kit weighs 101.5g. The kit should fit any handlebars with inside diameters between 18-21.2mm, and with a minimum of 128mm of straight bar length to accommodate the tools.

Topeak also sells a Plug N’ Tool Mountain Pro, which is a three-piece set that includes the above two tools, plus the bar-mounted Plug N’ Chain Tool pictured above. The chain tool includes a chain hook and weighs 52g. It is compatible with chains up to 13 speed, including SRAM flat top and Campagnolo hollow-pin chains.

The Plug N’ Tool Mountain Pro kit sells for $99.95. The Plug N’ Chain Tool is also available on its own for $47.95, but to operate it you’ll have to have a 4mm Allen key or multi-tool with you. The chain tool requires a minimum of 105mm of straight handlebar length.

Of course, it is a bit odd to offer three handlebar tools in one kit, when you can only carry two at a time…

BB Hide N’ Tool – $69.95

Conveniently hiding a multi-tool and chain breaker in your crank spindle, the BB Hide N’ Tool allows for trailside chain repairs, and its mini multi-tool provides seven functions. The multi-tool includes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8mm Allen keys, a T25 Torx bit, and a flathead screwdriver bit. The chain tool is compatible with chains up to 13 speeds, and a chain hook is included to make repairs easier. The BB tool uses a ring-pull knob for easy access and installation.  

The BB Hide N’ Tool is made of steel, aluminum, and polymer, and it weighs 82g. It fits hollow crank spindles with at least 124mm of length and with inside diameters between 19-25mm. Topeak lists compatibility with SRAM DUB cranks, Shimano GRX, Deore, SLX, XT, and FSA hollow spindle cranks. In our experience, it does not seem to work with aluminum SRAM Transmission cranks with DUB spindles though, so it’s recommended you measure your spindle before purchasing.

Tubicartridge MT25 – $29.95

If you’re just looking for a tire plug tool, the Tubicartridge MT25 has you covered with a plug insertion tool and five spare plugs. However, if you add a Nano Airbooster inflator head and a C02 canister (both sold separately), the combo has a cool trick to offer; Thanks to a small hole at the end of the insertion tool, you can inflate a tire while installing a plug. Please note the above photo shows the Nano Airbooster and a C02 canister attached to the tire plug tool. The Tubicartridge MT25 measures 4.1” long and weighs 54g.

Tubimaster MXT- $114.95

The Tubimaster MXT is a frame-mounted kit that includes a Mini 9 Pro multi-tool, a 25g C02 canister, a Nano Airbooster inflator tool, a Tubicartridge MT25 tire plug tool, a small knife for trimming tire plugs, and the mount to carry it all. The Mini 9 Pro multi-tool includes 2, 2.5, 3, 4, and 5mm Allen keys, A T25 Torx bit, a #2 Phillips screwdriver, and tire levers. A grippy strap mounts the kit to your frame or seat post, and the whole kit weighs 335g.

topeak.com

The post Crankworx Whistler 2023: Topeak’s Latest Bar End Tools, a Crank Spindle Multi-Tool & More appeared first on Bikerumor.

Update: The original publication of this post identified Sina Frei’s bike as the Epic, when it is in fact the Epic EVO.

While Christopher Blevins has whipped out the Epic World Cup for the occasional Short Track race, his Specialized Factory Racing team mate, Sina Frei, seems to prefer the longer-travel Specialized Epic EVO for all of her XC racing endeavors. This weekend, she will make her assault on the 2023 UCI XCO World Championships aboard the Epic EVO, with new RockShox Flight Attendant SID and SIDLuxe Shock.

Pro Bike Check: Sina Frei’s Specialized Epic EVO Race Bike

• Rider: Sina Frei
• Nationality: Swiss
• Age: 26
• Height: 151 cm
• 2023 Season Best Result: 6th at UCI World Cup, Leogang

At 151cm tall (just shy of 5 feet), Sina Frei is riding the Specialized Epic in a size small, with a 406mm reach, a 438mm chainstay length and a 100mm travel RockShox Reverb AXS dropper. The frame’s flex pivot-utilizing linkage delivers 110mm of rear wheel travel, damped by what we can presume to be a prototype RockShox SIDLuxe Flight Attendant Shock. It is paired with a 120mm travel RockShox SID Flight Attendant fork.

Flight Attendant is RockShox’s offering of electronically-controlled automatic suspension, that is able to switch the damping between Open, Pedal and Lock positions in response to changing trail conditions. However, it is not yet available for the brand’s shorter-travel suspension components that are aimed at XC.

That said, it is not the first time we’ve seen Flight Attendant in use on a World Cup XCO course; indeed, Nino Schurter took his 35th World Cup win this season aboard a Flight Attendant-equipped Scott Spark. Of course, with the shock discreetly tucked away inside the frame, we didn’t get a look at the SIDLuxe Flight Attendant Shock. On Sina Frei’s Specialized Epic EVO, it is in plain view.

For today’s practice session, Sina’s bike was wired up with a data acquisition system of Specialized’s own design. Mechanic, Jerome Alix, says they are able to measure everything needed; compression and rebound events, and their speed, as well as the vibrations coming up through the frame. This evening, the team’s engineer will review the data and make adjustments to the suspension damping, if necessary.

In the cockpit, Sina runs an S-Works Carbon Mini Rise Bar cut to 680mm but, as you can see, it’s upside down. This lowers the ride height to deliver a more aggressive seated pedalling position that can really help riders to keep the lightweight front end of the bike from lifting when they are laying down the power on steep, technical climbs. To the same end, Sina is running a 77mm reach stem from Syntace with a significant negative offset, to the tune of around 30mm.

Sina’s bike rolls on Roval Control SL wheels with 30mm internal width carbon rims. The team are still testing to find out what’s best for the slick, root-riddled terrain, but in today’s practice, Sina was running a 29″ x 2.35″ Specialized Renegade Control tire in the rear with the T7 compound. Up front, she has the Specialized Fast Track Control tire, also in a 2.35″ width. No tire inserts here.

Translating Sina’s efforts to the trail is of course the SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission drivetrain, with the power meter crankset. Crank arms are 165mm. For speed management, she relies upon SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth brakes with the 4-piston caliper and 160mm rotors.

Aside from the RockShox Flight Attendant suspension, the oil slick-finished HT Leopard pedals and Specialized Power Pro Mirror 3D-printed saddle, and the Syntace stem, Sina’s Specialized Epic EVO XC bike for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Champs is of stock configuration.

Good luck to Sina and the rest of the Specialized Factory Racing team this weekend!

specialized.com

The post Pro Bike Check: Sina Frei’s Specialized Epic EVO with Flight Attendant appeared first on Bikerumor.

After a super soaker Saturday at the 2023 UCI Downhill World Championship in Fort William, we have finally dried off, ready to bring you some of the highlight bikes and prototype tech we spotted on our saunter around the team pits. Starting with….

Austria’s Valentina Höll was piloting a custom Trek Session last weekend with a shorter-than-stock rear end. The 425mm chainstay length is 10mm shorter than that seen on the stock Trek Session, making this particular frame a dedicated mullet.

In concert with the switch to a shorter rear end, Vali’s bike positions the idler pulley 5mm higher to reduce the cross talk between drivetrain and suspension forces further. Her mechanic, Mat Gallean, tells us the bike is less playful than the stock Session, but more plush and planted.

Vali does not run tire inserts. The DT Swiss FR 1500 Classic Wheelset with the Continental Kryptotal Fr DH tires was sufficiently robust for her weekend of racing down the infamous Aonach Mòr.

Beside Vali’s bike was the Trek Session of Canada’s Bodhi Kuhn. His Session is of a stock configuration, set up with a complete 29″ wheelset with a 439mm rear-center length. While Vali prefers a coil shock, Bodhi prefers air. And, it looks like he is testing an all-new air shock from RockShox with an air can that is much larger than the air can seen on their Super Deluxe Ultimate air shocks. He too is running the linkage in the more progressive 25% setting.

While Vali was relying upon the SRAM Code Stealth Ultimate brakes for speed management, Bodhi was benefiting from a “development component” in the form of an all-new caliper paired with a HS2 rotor. The as-of-yet unnamed caliper is much larger – taller and broader – than the Code caliper, and it looks as though the pads are inserted from underneath.

Over at Cube Factory Racing, the new TWO15 DH bikes were running a new version of the floating brake arm, with a slightly different layout to that we saw on Danny Hart’s bike back at the season opener in Lenzerheide.

At the Cotic booth, we saw Neko Mulally‘s spare Frameworks bike. Its steel front triangle was actually made in Scotland by Edinburgh-based fabricators, Five Land Bikes. The rear end of this Horst-Link bike is carbon.

Anthony Poulson, known by his Forbidden team mates as “Ant-Man” was representing Canada last weekend. He was racing Forbidden Bike Co’s very first dedicated downhill downhill bike in a mullet configuration. It looks to be very close to production; more details on this bike in our earlier post.

Mondraker finally unveiled the latest configuration of their ZERO suspension design, taking the sock off the prototype downhill frame they’ve been racing all season. It’s still a VPP layout, but the shock is now driven by the swingarm and the rocker, as opposed to the lower link and the rocker. This bike is one of the most adjustable bikes we’ve seen on the world cup circuit, and it was home to a rather interesting prototype hub from e*Thirteen, as well as some unreleased Michelin DH16 tires.

Actually, the new linkage is not dissimilar to the linkage employed by Mondraker’s new lightweight eMTB; the 150mm travel TQ-powered NEAT, which was also on display.

Representing France was Loic Goubin, a man who chose to take on the World Champs track aboard a handmade bike of his own design and making. Goobz is the name of his nascent company, and this titanium downhill bike is his first creation. The frame runs a four-bar Horst-Link suspension design, with a titanium front triangle, and steel stays, with cnc-machined aluminum for the rocker and hardware.

Gaubin also had his enduro bike in tow, also of his own design. This one is fabricated entirely from titanium. More details on these two bikes to come.

Neko Mulally’s spare Frameworks bike wasn’t the only point of interest at the Cotic booth; they also had their prototype eMTB on display.

Seen here is a slightly shorter travel version of the eMTB that has been committed to production. That as-of-yet unnamed eBike will run 150mm of rear wheel travel delivered via Cotic’s droplink suspension platform, which is essentially a faux-bar design. That will be paired with a 160mm travel fork.

The British manufacturer’s frames are made almost exclusively from steel, but this one will see an aluminum front triangle paired with a steel rear end. We are told the geometry will be “broadly RocketMAX” – Cotic’s 29″ enduro bike, but it will be a dedicated mullet.

It will be powered by a Shimano EP801 motor and a 720 Wh battery, and the top-end build will boast a Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain featuring the new free-shift and auto-shift functions.

Prospective customers will need to hang on until June 2024.

Last but not least, Pinnd had their new made-in-Scotland eBike cranks on display. The brand is better known for its Ti-axle CS2 flat pedals that we tested last year, but is now expanding its offering of machined parts to cranksets, axles, SRAM UDH hangers, top caps and, most exciting of the lot, a four-piston brake caliper and lever, both of which are still under development. More info to come on the new range from Pinnd.

That’s all for now, folks. With the 2023 UCI XCO World Championships coming up in the Tweed Valley this weekend, more fresh tech will be coming your way shortly. Stay tuned.

The post Fresh Bikes and Tech at the 2023 Downhill World Champs, Fort William appeared first on Bikerumor.

Within a bevy of booths, there’s always some cool new stuff to find at Crankworx Whistler. While this didn’t seem like the biggest year for expo booths, I sniffed out several new or recently released items including protective gear from Racer, updated cranks from 5DEV and a prototype Cascade Components link kit for the Orbea Rise eMTB.

Racer Protective Gear:

Racer’s Alpha Plastron body armor has been available in Europe for a while, but just recently made it to North America. The Alpha Plastron comes with D30 chest and back protectors, but it includes a set of straps that allow the option to use the back protector only. This piece provides CE Level 1 protection and is suitable for men or women.

The flexible and cut-out D30 padding with a lightweight but abrasion-resistant mesh cover ensures minimal weight and optimal breathability. Racer has included a few semi-rigid panels on the chest for additional protection, and there is a small zippered pocket on the lower back to carry ID’s, credit cards or other small items. The Alpha Plastron is available in S/M/L sizes and comes in black only. MSRP is $219 USD.

For female riders, Racer offers the Motion Top Women’s. This piece just became available in North America as of June. The Motion Top is similar in construction to the Alpha Plastron, with D30 pads held in place by a lightweight, durable mesh, but it offers complete upper body protection with chest, back, elbow and shoulder pads. The upper chest area features additional EVA padding to protect the pectoral area, and the chest and back protectors have elastic reinforcements to ensure a solid fit. This garment offers CE Level 1 protection.

The Motion Top provides several options; the sleeves can be zipped off if not needed, and all the padding can be used or removed as desired (for washing or riding). The top also comes with an ATR anti-odor and anti-microbial treatment applied.

The Motion Top Women’s has three zippered storage pockets (two on the front, one on the back), and if you’re looking to haul some hydration without adding a pack, the back protector’s sleeve can carry a water bladder up to 3L in size. The Motion Top Women’s sells for $229. Sizes S/M/L are available in black only.

Racer also had their new Motion 2 Knees on display, as they were just released in North America on June 21^st. Providing Level 1 protection, these pads have a good-sized D30 pad over the knee, and additional padding on the outside of the knee area. Racer says these knees are suitable for everything from trail riding to DH/bike park use. A side zipper makes the Motion 2 knees easy to put on without removing your shoes, and silicone grippers plus Velcro straps at the top and bottom hems should keep them fitting securely for the long haul. I currently have a set of the Motion 2 Kneepads in testing (along with Racer’s Factory gloves), so keep an eye on Bikerumor for my review!

5DEV R-SPEC Cranks:

Well known for their unique crank arm design, 5DEV had their new R-SPEC cranks on display. These cranks may look similar to existing models but the R-SPECS have switched from 7050 to 7075 Billet Aluminum.

R-SPEC MTB cranks are available in lengths from 155-175mm, in every 5mm increment. Boost-spaced MTB models can be purchased with either 30mm or 29mm SRAM DUB Boost spindles (SuperBoost options are also available in select sizes). The MTB cranks are compatible with SRAM’s 3-bolt direct mount chainring interface. 5DEV’s website currently shows Matte Raw or Matte Black color options, but there was also a purple set on display at Crankworx, so perhaps we’ll see more options come along.

The R-SPEC eCrank versions for eMTBs will be available for Shimano SP8, Bosch, Brose, and TQ drive systems (although at press time only the EP8 and Brose versions are showing online). The eMTB cranks are offered in 155mm or 160mm options, and current color options are Black or Raw. Prices vary for different models, so check out 5DEV’s website for more info.

Cascade Components’ Orbea Rise Replacement Link:

Fresh from the CNC machine, Cascade Components had a new link to show this year. Finished just days before Crankworx, this is a prototype version of a new link kit they’re producing for the Orbea Rise eMTB.

This link will add 10mm of travel bringing the Rise up to 150mm, and increase shock progression to somewhere in the high 20% range (the exact amount hasn’t been determined). Cascade is also working on hardware for this link kit that includes two outer washers which will be bolted in place to prevent any potential migration of the links.

The post Crankworx Whistler 2023: Booth Finds from Racer, 5 DEV, and Cascade Components appeared first on Bikerumor.

EVOC had a few new and updated packs at Crankworx Whistler, including a revised model made for trail builders, and a new camera pack specifically designed to carry drones or RED cameras. The new packs feature plenty of upgrades and revisions making it easier to organize your gear, carry tools or quickly access your camera.

Trail Builder 35: $350

The Trail Builder 35 is an updated version of the existing Trail Builder pack. Here’s one cool thing about how this pack was designed; we’re all familiar with pro riders contributing to R+D for bikes and components, but EVOC worked with several well-known trail builders to improve upon their tool-hauling pack. Input from testing with Ryan Berrecloth, Digger, Tom Pro, and Scott Veach helped refine this pack into its new form.

The updated pack is now made of a more durable Cordura fabric. It features a large pouch designed to carry a chainsaw, straps to carry pick axes or shovels, and a roll at the bottom intended to carry rock-breaking nails. EVOC also added a second side pocket, where the previous Trail Builder pack had one.

The new pack also features EVOC’s latest chest strap adjustment, which replaces the previous sliding buckles. The builders found the buckles could slide on their own, so EVOC went with a metal buckle that hooks onto whatever loop fits best, eliminating any chance of the strap moving around. For the waist strap, EVOC employs a solid metal buckle that won’t loosen up. This pack does not carry a water bladder, as EVOC says trail builders tend to sick with water bottles instead.

Last but certainly not least, as seen in the title photo, the pack comes with a special orange rain cover with ‘trail builder at work’ written across it so builders can warn riders to slow down and proceed carefully as work is in progress.

CP 26: $400

The CP 26 photo pack has been updated, now offering quicker and easier access to your camera gear. New openings provide access to your camera from the side, and you can now open the top cargo area from the front so you can skip opening the main compartment.

A few other improvements were made as well: EVOC has made stronger Velcro dividers with plastic end pieces so they stay in place better than the less rigid outgoing type. They’ve also upgraded this pack with the same hook-in chest strap adjusters as the Trail Builder 35 shows above, and the CP 26’s waist strap is removable. The back padding has also been improved to offer better ventilation.

EVOC equipped this pack with a side pocket for a water bladder, keeping it completely separate from your camera gear in case the bladder leaks or gets punctured.

CP 40: $500

The all-new CP 40 is EVOC’s biggest photo pack, and the large compartment inside was designed to carry either RED cameras or drones. The straps on the outside can carry tripods, and a top handle makes it easy to move around during photo shoots. This pack shares many features with the CP 26, like a removable waist belt and a separate water bladder pocket to keep your pricey camera gear safe and dry. A rain cover is also included for extra nasty weather protection.

Inside we can see the CP 40 gets EVOC’s stronger updated Velcro dividers and quite a few pockets for organizing your gear.

These new packs aren’t yet showing on EVOC’s website, but keep an eye on their site for updates.

evocsports.us

The post EVOC’s New Camera Pack is Designed for Drones & RED Cameras + Updated Trail Builder Bag appeared first on Bikerumor.

Every year at Crankworx, there are a few custom-painted bikes and helmets showing off impressive paint jobs. There also tends to be a prototype bike or two, and complete retro bikes sometimes make appearances as well.

This year I found a few examples of each, plus an authentic Steve Smith jersey. The cool thing is a lot of these bikes and items were prizes anyone could win – Many booths had QR codes that led visitors to a contest entry website. Now let’s check out these one-off bikes and accessories!

SCOR’s Custom Painted 4060:

Over the years at Crankworx Whistler, I’ve seen several examples of Tony Baumann’s ‘Made Rad by Tony’ custom-painted bikes. This year SCOR had a complete 4060 Enduro bike boasting this impressive beach-themed paint job, and a high-end build spec featuring a RockShox Zeb fork and the new XX T-Type SRAM transmission. You can see in the title shot how the SCOR crew put together a nifty sandbox display for the bike!

In addition to waves and cloudy blue and pink skies, this 4060 shows an awesome sand effect on the lower frame and front half of the rear triangle. And the best part; this bike will be given away to one lucky person who entered the contest!

Norco’s Limited Edition Fluid FS C:

At the Norco booth, this limited edition Fluid FS C frameset was built up to show off its multicolored paint scheme. Apparently I wasn’t the only one to liken its paint job to the Harlequin Volkswagens sold with different colored panels all over. Only 50 of these framesets will be produced. You might notice Norco even had the bike stands painted to match!

The Fluid FS C features a carbon front triangle with alloy rear stays. It rolls on 29” wheels, offers 130mm of rear travel, and this bike was set up with a 140mm fork.

A Chrome Camo Trek:

Trek Bicycles had a rotation of custom-built bikes on display at their booth, but this one had the best paint job of all the bikes I saw. This chrome camouflage Fuel EX belongs to Ryan Gaul, Trek’s DH Team Liaison.

Finn Iles’ Specialized DH Prototype:

Specialized Bikes had a pop-up store set up in Whistler Village, and right in the front window was Finn Iles’ prototype DH bike. As you can see that bag is hiding a new suspension design. I didn’t peek into the bag myself, but I did hear a rumor the linkage looks similar to what you’d see on a motocross bike.

In this rudimentary stage, the prototype frame’s front triangle is made up of carbon tubes and possibly 3D-printed lugs. The rear end looks like a finished product, so initially I assumed it was borrowed from a current Demo… but with another look I realized it is unique, and it lacks the vertical strut that actuates the shock linkage on the current bikes.

Giant’s Retro ATX DH Bike:

Giant was kickin’ it old school with this ATX DH bike at their booth. Nothing screams ‘retro’ like a Y-frame MTB with GripShift! This bike was current between 1997 and 2002, and it brought great success to racers Miles Rockwell (2000 world champion), and Dustin Adams (2001/2002 Canadian champion). This bike was also ridden by the legendary Rob Warner!

Endura’s Custom Painted Helmets:

Endura had two custom-painted one-off MT500 full-face helmets at their expo booth. The colorful helmet above boasts a spray-painted base and a graphic that shows Endura’s wilder side. It also features their catchphrase ‘Fear Less’.   

The mostly pink, blue, and black helmet shown here features a topographic map of Whistler Mountain, making it a unique piece for Crankworx Whistler. Both helmets were giveaway prizes that visitors could enter to win via QR codes on the display stands (which were topped with big blocks of Koroyd, the straw-like protective layer Endura uses in these helmets).

Steve Smith’s Jersey:

As yet another prize giveaway, Cycling Canada had Steve Smith’s actual jersey hanging in their booth. This is the jersey Smith wore in the last Crankworx Whistler he competed in back in 2015. Cycling Canada is raising funds for Canadian downhill racing development, with the hope that they can eventually provide bursaries to athletes so they can focus on training without simultaneously working to support themselves. Contest entrants paid a fee to write down their best cycling memory on the boards in the booth, and the best ones were picked to win the Steve Smith jersey and other various prizes.

The post Crankworx Whistler 2023: Cool bikes, Custom Painted Helmets & a Steve Smith Jersey for a Good Cause appeared first on Bikerumor.

UCI Worlds are around the corner in Glasgow, and a new generation of the Hope x Lotus HB.T carbon & 3D-printed titanium track bike promises to make British Cycling faster than ever. The HB.T was already wildly – and widely – innovative with its uniquely splayed-out fork legs and seatstays, but it’s even wilder-still in 2023 with new scalloped fork blades, a bent & split aero seatpost, and several new customized swooping carbon bars for sprint & pursuit racing…

2023 Hope x Lotus HB.T carbon track bike

The UCI Cycling World Championships kick off this week in Scotland, and we’re starting to see more new track bike tech than we’ve seen in a while. And that essentially boils down to the fact that any company looking to race new bikes or components in next summer’s Paris 2024 Olympics have been informed by the UCI that they must be raced this summer at Worlds in order to be eligible to race next summer in Paris. So some national teams have been scrambling with their equipment partners to get next-gen track bikes ready, with the Olympics on the line.

According to British Cycling, “The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will see 64 pieces of kit and equipment in total homologated for the Great Britain Cycling Team for potential use at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games“, including bike and clothing.

On the track bike update, that includes a new version of the Hope x Lotus HB.T track bike where the wide-set frame appears mostly unchanged since it was ridden by Team GB to the highest tally of medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, albeit with some apparent seatstay and headtube refinements. But it gets an all-new fork, and all-new seatpost, and at least a couple of new handlebars, as well.

What’s new?

Let’s start with new split aerodynamic seatpost since that was the first that caught our attention – adorned with the name Renishaw, the additive manufacturing company behind the track bike’s 3D-printed elements. With a new kinked and hollow shape, it somehow reminds me of the new Madone, even if it’s almost an opposite design.

But the idea is similar to the bike’s wide stays – let smooth air move unrestricted in the middle, and move turbulent airflow out near the rider’s spinning legs.

Even more interesting though, might be the reshaped fork where the entire trailing edge of the fork legs now get biomimicry-inspired scallops designed to smooth and extend laminar airflow off the fork by moving the air’s separation point further back on the airfoil shape. Interestingly, it looks like the scallops extend both in carbon & 3D-printed titanium off the entire rear length of the fork and its crown.

The new fork also has a much cleaner curve at its lowest point, now curving its carbon legs down just to meet the axle, with the bolt-on axle now more smoothly integrated in an arc at the hub.

Up top, a new sprint dropbar curves forward and up out of its integrated stem to meet grips for the rider, with no traditional crossbar for the handlebar. Again, it appears that the bar is a single piece that includes the upper extensions of the fork legs, the top crown of the fork, the stem, and the bars themselves.

There is also a less dramatically-shaped pursuit base bar, onto which custom risers & extensions are made to fit each athlete. While the base bar is painted black and appears to be made of some 3D-printed metal, various photos of different Team GB pursuit bar setups could suggest either 3D-printed ti or carbon for different racers.

Hope x Lotus HB.T – Pricing, options & availability

Another iteration of the Hope x Lotus HB.T carbon track bike is here, and it is still made-in-the-UK, and still a bike you can actually buy… if you have the budget. The standard frameset sells for £25,000 +VAT in either a pursuit, omnium, or sprint setup. Adding either the new “Twin Seat Post” or the new ” Standard Lotus 3D printed fork” will add another £2000 each, plus tax. Hope disc and a tri-spoke front wheel are also available for £5200-5400 for a set.

HopeTech.com & BritishCycling.org.uk

The post Fork Scallops, Split Post, Swoopy Bars make a Wilder & Faster Hope x Lotus HB.T Track Bike! appeared first on Bikerumor.