Bakcountry.com has gotten charged up for its Whiskey Off Road event, and has unveiled a special edition cycling shoe, the Giro Empire MTB, which is available in Backcountry electric blue. It features the Empire’s lace up design, while the uppers are made of Tejin and have a microfiber lining. The sole is EC90 carbon fiber and these shoes are designed to tackle any mountain.
The shoes are available for pre-order online, and will be officially released starting on June 1st.
NOAH the movie didn’t exactly make a splash at the box office, but NOAH the bike could be the next big thing. NOAH – or Normally Operated Articulated Hybrid suspension system – made its debut at the recent Bespoked U.K. Handmade Bicycle Show in London. It was developed by U.K.-based COFA Engineering.
This is a unique full-suspension system for a bicycle and instead of utilizing the usual rear and shock and front suspension fork it offers two midships-mounted rear shocks. In its current form it provides 230 mm of front travel so it can more than a mere bump in the road.
The bike does weigh in at 40 pounds, so it isn’t exactly light. However, in its current form it is still a proof-of-concept bike not a production model. If the designers can get it to lose some weight they could completely change the traditional dual suspension mountain bike. Video after the jump
RockShox, the company that practically defines the mountain bike suspension fork, is turning things upside down. The company’s new RS-1 model features inverted legs and a full carbon chassis.
It is designed specifically for 29ers and features a totally integrated front end system that has been dubbed “Predictive Steering” as it combines the fork and wheel into one. By inverting the fork the damper legs can be more consistently bathed in oil, which means better lubrication and better small bump sensitivity along with more speed. About the only thing not to love about this concept is its high price! Continue reading Shocking News
Online retailer Backcountry.com has announced that it is launching its first pro mountain bike team, which will include a four-person squad to race in cross-country and stage races across North America this year. The team, which will race on Niner bikes, and consists of rider-manager Jason Sager, Chloe Woodruff, Evelyn Dong and TJ Woodruff, also expects to compete at the Mongolian Bike Challenge.
“Mountain biking is at the core of who we are as a brand and being able to extend our expert gear knowledge to the trail and support the sport is a priority,” said Jill Layfield, Backcountry.com’s CEO. “Assembling a pro team of this caliber that possesses the tools to compete at the highest level is a natural extension of our cycling brands and culture.”
Besides Niner, other team sponsors include: Geax, Clifbar, Louis Garneau, FSA, WTB, Chris King, ENVE, SRAM, Crankbrothers, Eureka, Jet Boil and Gore Bike Wear. The team kit shows the Backcountry.com logo and trademark mountain goat on the front and legs. The company’s bike-specific e-commerce site, Competitivecyclist.com, is featured on the shoulders.
httpv://youtu.be/sr_ISTB33J0
This is no April Fools joke actually. The New England Mountain Bike Association is noting that the calendar may say spring but that the trails are likely to be muddy and suggests that riders stay off them and allow the trails to dry. They added the kitten part too!
Intense Cycles has looked to show that it has staying power with its new endure/trail bike. Two years after debuting its aluminum Tracer 27.5, the company has rolled out the Tracer T725 Carbon, which features 145/160 millimeters of adjustable VPP suspension, monocoque front triangle, ISCG 05 mounts, internal cable routing and 142×12 dropouts.
Bicycle Retailer reports that the Tracer T275 carbon frame retails for $3,199, and builds range from the $5,999 Expert level — with 34 Fox Float Evolution fork, XT drivetrain and brakes, Stan’s NoTubes ZTR Flow wheelset and Fox Evolution Float CTD rear shock — to a $9,999 Factory-level build with RockShox Pike RCT3 fork, SRAM XX1 11-speed drivetrain, XTR brakes and Enve/DT Swiss wheels. The builds come standard with a RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post.
At the Taipei International Cycling Show earlier this month WTB launched a new mountain bike saddle, the High Tail, which the company said is designed to give increased rear tire clearance on full suspension 650b bikes. It features a distinctive cut out at the rear to allow the extra tire clearance, making it ideal for downhill and other large wheel off-road bikes.
From BikeRadar: The History of Mountain Biking released this week
The History of Mountain Biking is a special edition publication that charts mountain biking’s rise from the dying embers of the 1960s hippie movement in California to the tech-driven super sport it is today. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (01.25.2014): History Lesson, Flying Surf Boards, Sports DNA, Old Time Skiing
While gloves can fit many hands, the truth is hands are fairly unique. The designers behind the Imprint Grips saw this and have designed a specially mountain bike grip that had be truly customized. The goal here is a grip that provides the maximum contact between the hand and the bike, which means the contact is supported evenly and thus removes all the high pressure points.
These are designed to be molded in hot water, and once customized will provide vibration damping that will provide a tight grip in all conditions. In addition to a truly custom fit these also offer a diamond pattern that further helps ensure a good feel while riding. The grips, which are now being developed via a Kickstarter campaign, are highly durable and the life is maximized by the increased contact area. This could be time to get a grip! Video after the jump
From BikeRadar: Bikes outsold cars in UK and Europe in 2012…
New figures suggest bikes are selling faster than cars across most of Europe, despite another set of data saying bikes sales are declining as well. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (11.02.2013): Bike Sales Up, Urban Rolls Outdoors, Aim High, Food to Run
Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn is a fictional character who first appeared in the 1968 Charles Portis novel, True Grit. Cogburn Outdoors likely has nothing to do with that fictional character, but the company is a division of Quality Bicycle Products – the makers of Surly and Salsa fat-bikes.
The reason we thought of Rooster Cogburn is that this bike is something we’d almost expect to see him ride if he were around today and not merely a fictional character. This is a “hunter’s bike,” and offers a place to store a bow or rifle. The CB4 offers a rack, oversized tires and even a camouflage frame.
It is a bike that we think has some “true grit,” and we don’t mind saying so.
The new TSL-T1000 headlight from Serfas is lightweight, made of CNC aluminum but with 1,000 lumens it is bright. Designed for off road riding the light features a Serfas Thunderbolt taillight that is integrated into its small battery pack, which can be strapped to a seatpost or top tube. The battery also features a USB outlet to charge accessories. The lightset comes with an included handlebar mount, helmet mount, wired remote switch, extension cable, wall charger and ballistic nylon storage case. It offers two hours of run time and can charge up in four hours. With this on a bike you might seem like a higher power.
Lazer Sports has been on the cutting edge of cycling helmets, and this month introduced the Ultrax mountain bike helmet, the first to include the Autofit retention system. The new helmet will arrive in September and will offer an adjustable visor, optional rear light, a plethora of vents and it weighs just 366 grams (medium size).
It even features a GoPro Mount while a Multi Mount for other rugged cameras or blinky lights that can be added as well, and it will be out in October.
Lazer Sports Official Website
[Via BikeRumor: LAZER ULTRAX MOUNTAIN BIKE HELMET WITH AUTOFIT DEBUTS, PLUS NEW UNIVERSAL LIGHT/CAM MOUNT]