We first spotted the Trust Message fork last year and have been dying to get a hands-on look at it. Finally, at Sea Otter 2019, the wait was over. Interestingly, our very own Seb Stott designed his fantasy bike of the future with a rather funky-looking linkage fork. So, how does a version of his futuristic fantasy shape up in reality? Have a break with Yeti: Colorado-based brand launches SB130 Lunch Ride YT has solved the box vs bike bag dilemma with the Body Bag Niner’s MCR 9 RDO magic carpet gravel bike is almost here Trust Message fork design and theory We can’t wait to test a pair of the forks to see if they’re worthy of the $2,700 price tag Ben Duke As the first port of call before reading this article, it’s certainly worth familiarising yourself with Seb’s fantastic bike geometry guide to help you understand some of the terms mentioned below. The Message fork’s party piece has to be its trailing linkage design. A trailing linkage fork means the wheel’s axle is behind, rather than in front of the linkage system. In theory, this means the forks have better stability by preserving handling during suspension compression. The forks cost $2,700! Ben Duke To do this, the wheel’s axle path as the suspension compresses isn’t travelling in line with the fork’s steering axis like traditional forks. Instead, the linkage acts in such a way that as the suspension compresses there’s a corresponding change in fork offset to help maintain the bike’s handling. The linkage design also means the fork can now have a variable leverage ratio like we’ve found on rear suspension systems for years. The Message, Trust claims, has a supple beginning stroke ratio that changes as the fork goes through its travel, hardening to help increase bottom-out resistance. The linkage helps to maintain its caster throughout the fork’s travel Ben Duke The Message’s design also claims to help reduce friction that’s caused by stanchions sliding through seals and bushings. Normally the fork’s moving parts have to do two things — make the fork stiff and provide the telescopic movement to absorb bumps — in order to be stiff they need to have larger diameter stanchions which creates more friction and a less supple action. The forks can take both 650b and 29-inch wheels and have a 535mm axle to crown length Ben Duke Trust has separated these two attributes. The linkage provides the movement of the suspension and the fork’s chassis helps with structural stiffness. Trust claims that this helps to improve the feel of the fork. Another benefit, Trust claims, is the fork’s ability to resist diving under braking, which helps to maintain the bike’s geometry and therefore improves your ability to control the bike. Although this isn’t a mechanical ability to resist dive, ‘anti-dive’ is created by the fork’s leverage ratio. Trust Message fork details and specs There’s a pushrod attached to the trailing linkage to actuate the fork’s damping and spring Ben Duke The forks have 130mm of travel, weigh a claimed 1,980 grams, are constructed from a carbon fibre chassis and have a carbon steerer tube and linkages. They’re compatible with 29-, 27.-5 and 27.5+-inch tyre sizes and can accommodate up to 2.8-inch wide tyres. They’re best suited to 29er frames with between 110 and 140mm travel and 650b frames with between 130 and 140mm of travel. The fork’s got plenty of tyre clearance Ben Duke They use 15X110 Boost axle spacing and are compatible with tapered head tubes. There’s a 180mm direct mount brake system, but with an adaptor it’s possible to run a 203mm rotor. The damper has a three-way adjustable compression lever which means you can run the forks in firm, mid or open modes depending on what or how you’re riding. The fork’s air pressure (in PSI) is set up on a one-to-one basis with your weight in pounds. Simply weigh yourself with your riding kit on and input the corresponding amount of pressure. There’s a small peephole on the side of the Message fork so that you can adjust the medium and open mode settings Ben Duke Both the open mode and mid mode have finer compression adjustments that are located through an access port on the side of the fork. The forks chassis, steerer tube and linkages are made form carbon Ben Duke The forks also have a token-based bottom-out resistance tuning system called ‘Huck Pucks’. It’s possible to add up to six tokens to adjust how the fork behaves towards the end of its travel. But it’s important to include the same number of Huck Pucks in each fork leg. We’re hoping to get a set of forks in to test in the near future so stay tuned for a full review.

Check out some more Sea Otter Classic content from Park Tool, Abbey Bike Tools, and Feedback Sports. Feedback Sports continues to evolve their lineup of products. Their branch out into the tool space has been productive and they had a variety of them on display. The Range is their new hand held beam style torque wrench that works with a bevy of plug and play tools included that you’ll find on most bikes. It allows for a quick way to torque a wide range of bolts quickly and accurately on the bike. Feedback Sports also has a sweet compact bike trainer called the Omnium Zero-Drive and Omnium Over-Drive. You’ll be sure to see this at the World Cup events as the self contained until makes things easy for mechanics and riders alike. The trainer folds up nicely into a compact carrying case and the Over-Drive offers variable resistance based on how hard you’re pedaling. If you’re tired of those floppy trainer setups this one is sure to win you over. $379.99 (Zero-Drive) / $429.99 (Over-Drive) Park Tool has been showcasing their tools at Sea Otter for some time now and they allow riders to tune their bikes up at the show too which is awesome. We love tools and Park Tool always has something new to help make wrenching easier. Plenty of stands for riders to tune their bikes up for free. In addition to the free to use tools across Sea Otter they also have their latest and greatest tools on display. They had two new stands on display, the PCS 9.2($159.95) and PCS 10.2 ($199.95). The key difference we noticed is in the head/clamping design. The 9.2 has a spin style head to clamp while the 10.2 offers a flipping lever for quicker and easier application of force for the clamp. Continuing along with what’s new at Park Tool they had a neat brake tool that allows you to quickly and cleanly cut or insert a barb into a disc brake hose. The lever moves to provide two functions. It holds and cuts your hose and the other side pivots to push in the disc brake barb. Hand screwdrivers are nice for precision work and Park has new offerings for 2mm (DHD-2), Torx T25 (DHD-25), and 3mm (DHD-3). Also new is their breaker bar and 3/8″ ratchet. Sockets are also available for suspension work or long allen tools as well. Pretty! Abbey Tools had a new Decade chain breaker on display. In typical Abbey fashion it seems well designed, comfortable, and robust. The mid-plate is also interchangeable. $175. The threaded body and lead screw are made from cro-moly and receive a low friction powder vapor deposition (PVD) coating to give it a silky feel you’ve never felt in a chain tool before. The greatest part of the chain tool has to be the interchangeable mid plate though. The saddled part that holds the chain in position can be swapped to work with nearly anything the industry comes out with. This ensures that your investment won’t become obsolete when company “X” comes out with an 18 speed cassette in 20 years. See more of our 2019 Sea Otter coverage

Wow, so where has the start of this year gone? We’ve been successfully propelled into the quasi-Summer time after spending way too long stuck in the doldrums of winter. So, to keep your spirits lifted and the wind in your sails, we’ve been busy bringing you some top-notch reviews and buying advice for all of the latest bits of kit on the market. Giant Trance 1 review How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike? Specialized’s new Roubaix returns to its racing roots YT has launched an electric bike, the Decoy, we’ve seen Orange release two new single pivots, the Five and Alpine 6 and our road and MTB Bike of the Year awards are now all done and dusted. To top it off, the cobbled classics are now finished, with Philippe Gilbert winning the Paris-Roubaix on the brand new Specialized Roubaix that our Warren checked out just before the race. So what have we got to look forward to in the coming months? Well, the racing scene, both mountain bike and road, in the Northern Hemisphere is starting to get into full swing, so keep tuned for your dose of tech coverage right here on BikeRadar. We’ve also got a summer of shredding ahead of us — what are your goals for the coming months? Whatever they are, maybe some of this kit will help you achieve them. Mission Workshop The Sans jacket Mission Workshop’s The Sans is beautifully made Alex Evans It’s a pricy bit of kit, The Sans, but please don’t let that put you off. Designed and manufactured to last, the Toray-built jacket uses an Entrant microporous membrane that’s claimed to be exceptionally waterproof while still being breathable and stretchy. The 3L jacket is made by Toray in Japan Alex Evans The jacket’s got an adjustable hood, a breast pocket with zip, taped seams and weighs an insanely light 167g. Despite its light weight, it doesn’t feel like a plastic bag and the jacket exudes levels of quality that are virtually unparalleled. At 167g, it’s mega light but doesn’t feel like a wafer-thin shell Alex Evans The three-layer construction helps reinforce that feeling of quality, but it does almost seem a shame to drag the jacket through hell and back on the mountain bike considering its price and presence. The cuffs are fairly large and should fit over gloves Alex Evans We’ll have a full review soon. £390 / $475 / AU$790 / €455 Buy The Sans jacket direct from Mission Workshop 100% Surpass knee guards The Surpass is 100%’s toughest most gravity orientated knee guard Alex Evans 100% has now branched out into the protection range and the Surpass knee guard is its top tier protector that’s been impact tested and has the maximum level two protection accolade. It features a fully-vented plastic cup over the knee, is pre-curved into the riding position for maximum comfort and the pad fabric’s elastic helps to keep them secure on your knees. Top that off with two straps and silicone webbing and it’s unlikely the pads will slip when you’re sending it. £115.99 / $139 Crankbrothers Synthesis XCT wheels Crankbrothers’ new Synthesis wheels are individually tuned as front or rear wheels Alex Evans In a move away from a lot of other brand’s offerings, Crankbrothers’ Synthesis wheels are front and rear specific. Each wheel has been tuned to be either stiffer or more compliant depending whether it’s for the front or rear. The rear wheel has more, heavier spokes that are under higher tensions and are laced on a tougher rim with a narrower internal width, which Crankbrothers says will make the tyre’s profile more rounded. Crankbrothers claims this improves the tyre’s grip and reduces rolling resistance. The hubs have Project 321 hubs with magnetically activated pawls in the rear’s freehub Alex Evans Up front there are fewer spokes which are lighter and run with lower spoke tensions. The rim is lighter and its internal width is larger. This, Crankbrothers claims, rounds the tyre’s profile and increases its contact patch, improving turning. They look very well made Alex Evans The jury’s out on whether the claims translate to on-trail performance, but we’ve got a set in to review so stay tuned. £1,500 / $1,699 / €1,699 Buy the Crankbrothers Synthesis XCT wheels direct from Crankbrothers Muc-Off High Performance Waterless Wash bike wash Muc-Off’s latest product is a waterless wash. Simply squirt it on and wipe away with a microfibre cloth for gleaming results Alex Evans Designed to remove smaller amounts of dirt, don’t expect the waterless wash to do a thorough all-bike clean. Muc-Off claims it cleans and polishes the bike to keep it sparkling clean in seconds. Simply spray it on and then rub off the dirt with a clean, dry microfibre cloth. If you want the ultimate shine, buff the now clean surfaces with another cloth. £11.99 Buy Muc-Off High Performance Waterless Wash direct from Muc-Off Bedrock Bikepacking Bags Moab handlebar bag The Moab bag is designed to work with shorter, 80mm or less stems Alex Evans If the adventurer in you fancies getting a bit gnarlier, then you’ve probably been plagued by ill-fitting frame and bar bags that don’t work with bikes that have more extreme intentions. Well, Bedrock has an answer for the handlebar bag, at least. Traditionally-shaped bar bags had a tendency to interfere with brake levers, especially if you’ve got a short stem fitted, but the Moab is shaped so that it avoids the levers’ action. It does still butt up against and interfere with the bike’s brake cables but it shouldn’t affect how they perform. $160 Buy the Moab hanglebar bag direct from Bedrock Bikepacking Bags Ghost Hybride Slamr X S4.7+ AL U Ghost’s Germanically-named Hybride Slamr X S4.7+ AL U is massive and purposeful Looking beyond the very Germanic nomenclature and what we’ve got here is a rather hardcore and exceptionally large bike, in extra-large at least. The battery sits on the top of the down tube Alex Evans With a 1,299mm wheelbase, a 65.7-degree head angle and hard-hitting components, the Slamr looks like a veritable beast to ride. Our Seb is going to be putting this XL bike through its paces soon. Wearwell cycling clothing Beautifully modelled by Jack, the Wearwell kit certainly looks smart Alex Evans Wearwell Revival Jersey – Second Edition jersey The logo is certainly bold looking Alex Evans The Revival jersey has some neat features beyond its rather bold styling. It’s got a waterproof pocket for your most treasured items with headphone cable routing, silicone grippers on the bottom of the jersey to help keep it in place and has small perforations on the sleeve cuffs, which also feature silicone grippers. The Wearwell Revival Jersey has some nice features Alex Evans The pockets, they claim, are designed to not sag whilst still having plenty of cargo space. £98 Buy the Wearwell Revival Jersey – Second Edition jersey direct from Wearwell Wearwell Bib Shorts – Revival Collection bib shorts The bib shorts have a mesh back and a sewn-on logo Alex Evans Contrasted against the matching jersey, the bib short’s styling is particularly subtle. The bibs are designed to help you last for longer in the saddle, offering high levels of comfort. There’s a small ‘radio’ pocket on the rear of the shorts, but we think you’d be brave to store anything of value in there. The chamois pad is made from dense foam and the mesh backing should help to wick away sweat. £118 Buy the Wearwell Bib Shorts – Revival Collection bib shorts direct from Wearwell Wearwell Revival Mitt fingerless gloves Fingerless gloves aren’t to everyone’s taste, but arguably have their place Alex Evans With padded palm sections made from a hard-wearing blend of nylon and polyurethane, these gloves should shake off the abuse any fanatical rider can throw at them. The backs of the gloves are lightweight and breathable and the fingerless design is best suited to warmer climes. £29 Buy the Wearwell Revival Mitt fingerless gloves direct from Wearwell 7Mesh MK3 Bib Shorts These are the third iteration of 7Mesh’s fantastic bib shorts Alex Evans Even though these aren’t the cheapest of cycling shorts out there, after the first couple of rides I can confirm that they’re the comfiest bib shorts I’ve ever worn. And that’s just as well, because 7Mesh set out to make an ultra-comfy long-distance set of road riding shorts. Featuring an Elastic Interface chamois that’s got high-density foam and fantastic breathability, every detail has been considered. The material is soft and the over the shoulder braces are stretchy Alex Evans The inside of the shorts, where they contact your skin in sensitive areas, is entirely smooth with the seams moved away from these places. Not only that, the fabric is fairly compressive but highly stretchy. 7Mesh has decided not to fit aggressive hem grippers to the legs that means they fit smoothly around your legs. I can’t wait to spend more time in these bibs and you can expect a full review soon. £130 / CA$250 / €175 Buy the 7Mesh MK3 Bib Shorts direct from 7Mesh Oakley Sutro glasses Oakley’s Sutro glasses are inspired by the urban cyclist and certainly look dramatic Alex Evans The Sutro is a modern-looking wraparound pair of riding glasses that should help to protect your eyes against debris and the elements when you’re out racking up the miles. They’re assembled in the USA Alex Evans Fitted with Oakley’s Prizm lens technology, the lens promises to turn up the colour, making everything look more vibrant and lively. £130 / $163 / AU$214.95 / €152 Castelli Linea Pelle combi pack This little combi pack from Castelli will keep your derriere and private bits feeling sweet after long days in the saddle Alex Evans Give your skin the love it deserves with this kit of three different types of cream. There are two pre-ride balms to apply; one to heat your muscles up and one to protect it from the elements. It features three types of cream for your skin Alex Evans There’s also a chamois cream to keep your private bits well lubricated out on the bike. £29 Buy the Linea Pelle combi pack from Sigma Sports Specialized S-Works Venge The Specialized Venge S-Works looks amazing Alex Evans This has to be one of the sleekest and smartest looking road bikes out there. Designed for pure speed with an aero shape that’s the manifestation of plenty of hours of research, there’s no denying how quick this bike has the potential to be. But for the price tag, it had better be. With this level of components, it’s a safe bet to make that the rider is going to be the weakest link. Read Warren’s review of the slightly cheaper Venge Pro here. £9750 / $12,520 / AU$14,500 / €11,299 Buy the S-Works Venge direct from Specialized

Since Interbike was cancelled late last year, Sea Otter has now become the biggest bike show in North America. And as it turns out, this means it’s bigger, better and has more products on show than ever. We scoured the countless stands and have selected some of the most interesting bits of kit to feast your eyes on. The Yakima HangOver rack can take up to six bikes and will cost $799. It’s not been released yet but you can be assured it’ll be coming to a shuttle location near you soon. The ratchet system helps to secure the bikes and the rack can be tilted to help you access the truck’s bed or your car’s boot. Trek’s Checkpoint mixes SRAM Force and the MTB X01 groupset. Road and MTB meet on the Checkpoint’s drivetrain, a very gravel-ready bike. This particular model was just a bike to show what’s possible with mixing road and MTB parts. The bike is certainly a looker and we love the tan wall tyres. Stages is now offering factory-installed power meters on a selection of mountain bike cranks, including XTR. The XTR crankset and power meter will retail for $399.99. Stages has launched a range of new Dash GPS computers, this one is the L50 which retails for $349 and has a claimed 15-hour battery life. This is a cheaper Dash M50 GPS that’ll cost $249, but both this and L50 share deeply-customisable menus so you get the information you want to see easily. The Road Toad uses bits and bobs from a selection of Specialized’s bikes including the Turbo Levo. Unfortunately, the bike isn’t going into production. The Protaper kid-specific bars and grips are narrower than traditional ones — at 15.6mm — but rated to the same safety standards. Peaty’s now has a tubeless conversion kit that’s beautifully packaged. Peaty’s has also launched some new valve stems. The tubeless conversion kit includes valves, sealant and tape. Ortlieb had a selection of new bikepacking bags designed to help you enjoy the wilderness more. The Atrack BP is a bikepacking-specific bag that’s a re-modelled version of the Atrack bag. It’s compatible with a 2-litre bladder that lets the bag retain it’s waterproofness and it’ll retail for $265. Wow. The Mavic SL wheels are claimed to blend the smoothness of its MTB wheels with the accuracy of its road rims for rugged rough road, pavé and gravel performance. These 700c wheels are 23mm wide internally and weigh a claimed 1,445g and cost $2,100. The Mavic SL+ wheels are 650b but share the same characteristics as their SL rims. They cost $2,100 and weigh a claimed 1,550g. The JUNIT fork uses a standard Boost axle and is based on the Machete platform. The JUNIT fork has an exceptionally short axle to crown length for the smaller riders. Manitou has tuned its rear shock for kids who are lighter and less aggressive than adults. The JUNIT looks like all the other Manitou forks with the fork’s arch located on the back. All of the JUNIT kit (forks, wheels, bar, grips and re-tuned rear shock) bolted to a Commencal Clash bike. Knog’s PWR lights are modular and this one offers a claimed 450- to 200-lumen output depending on model. There’s a two-way USB connection so you can charge devices or charge the light. Loadsa’ LEDs. They’ll cost between $74.95 and $269.95. The Dominion brake has been a redesigned lever blade for smaller hands. Evoc’s Race Belt is a slimmed-down bumbag for enduro racers. It’s going to cost $45 and will be available later this summer. The bike bags are designed to fit on most frames. The larger one is going to cost $50, the smaller $40. The top tube bag is designed to be mounted to the top of your top tube near your stem. It retails for $40. Endura MT500 Lite kneepads have D3O protection behind a soft outer pad and cost £69.99. The hard shell MT500 pads have the same D3O protection as the Lite ones, but use a hard outer casing. They cost £79.99. The MT500 Protector Undershorts II also have D3O protection and retail for £69.99. The Crankbrothers F15 LE now comes in new colours. The Stamp 1 pedals also come in new colourways. The Ronin’s carbon construction is gravel-specific. The frameset retails for $3,999. The Ronin has a smart finish and subtle graphics. The full bike is gravel ready and looks awesome, and this Shimano Ultegra Di2 version retails for $9,499. This Arktos was built for Cody Kelley especially for Sea Otter. The bike had a snazzy paint job. Cody looking cool with his bike. The Arktos 29 ST is a more playful version of the Arktos. The bike features 120mm of rear wheel travel. It sure looks like a little pocket rocket that comes with a hefty price tag. The Shimano XTR version retails for $10,499. A cheaper SRAM GX Eagle version is available for $5,299.

Wow, so where has the start of this year gone? We’ve been successfully propelled into the quasi-Summer time after spending way too long stuck in the doldrums of winter. So, to keep your spirits lifted and the wind in your sails, we’ve been busy bringing you some top-notch reviews and buying advice for all of the latest bits of kit on the market. Giant Trance 1 review How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike? Specialized’s new Roubaix returns to its racing roots YT has launched an electric bike, the Decoy, we’ve seen Orange release two new single pivots, the Five and Alpine 6 and our road and MTB Bike of the Year awards are now all done and dusted. To top it off, the cobbled classics are now finished, with Philippe Gilbert winning the Paris-Roubaix on the brand new Specialized Roubaix that our Warren checked out just before the race. So what have we got to look forward to in the coming months? Well, the racing scene, both mountain bike and road, in the Northern Hemisphere is starting to get into full swing, so keep tuned for your dose of tech coverage right here on BikeRadar. We’ve also got a summer of shredding ahead of us — what are your goals for the coming months? Whatever they are, maybe some of this kit will help you achieve them. Mission Workshop The Sans jacket Mission Workshop’s The Sans is beautifully made Alex Evans It’s a pricy bit of kit, The Sans, but please don’t let that put you off. Designed and manufactured to last, the Toray-built jacket uses an Entrant microporous membrane that’s claimed to be exceptionally waterproof while still being breathable and stretchy. The 3L jacket is made by Toray in Japan Alex Evans The jacket’s got an adjustable hood, a breast pocket with zip, taped seams and weighs an insanely light 167g. Despite its light weight, it doesn’t feel like a plastic bag and the jacket exudes levels of quality that are virtually unparalleled. At 167g, it’s mega light but doesn’t feel like a wafer-thin shell Alex Evans The three-layer construction helps reinforce that feeling of quality, but it does almost seem a shame to drag the jacket through hell and back on the mountain bike considering its price and presence. The cuffs are fairly large and should fit over gloves Alex Evans We’ll have a full review soon. £390 / $475 / AU$790 / €455 Buy The Sans jacket direct from Mission Workshop 100% Surpass knee guards The Surpass is 100%’s toughest most gravity orientated knee guard Alex Evans 100% has now branched out into the protection range and the Surpass knee guard is its top tier protector that’s been impact tested and has the maximum level two protection accolade. It features a fully-vented plastic cup over the knee, is pre-curved into the riding position for maximum comfort and the pad fabric’s elastic helps to keep them secure on your knees. Top that off with two straps and silicone webbing and it’s unlikely the pads will slip when you’re sending it. £115.99 / $139 Crankbrothers Synthesis XCT wheels Crankbrothers’ new Synthesis wheels are individually tuned as front or rear wheels Alex Evans In a move away from a lot of other brand’s offerings, Crankbrothers’ Synthesis wheels are front and rear specific. Each wheel has been tuned to be either stiffer or more compliant depending whether it’s for the front or rear. The rear wheel has more, heavier spokes that are under higher tensions and are laced on a tougher rim with a narrower internal width, which Crankbrothers says will make the tyre’s profile more rounded. Crankbrothers claims this improves the tyre’s grip and reduces rolling resistance. The hubs have Project 321 hubs with magnetically activated pawls in the rear’s freehub Alex Evans Up front there are fewer spokes which are lighter and run with lower spoke tensions. The rim is lighter and its internal width is larger. This, Crankbrothers claims, rounds the tyre’s profile and increases its contact patch, improving turning. They look very well made Alex Evans The jury’s out on whether the claims translate to on-trail performance, but we’ve got a set in to review so stay tuned. £1,500 / $1,699 / €1,699 Buy the Crankbrothers Synthesis XCT wheels direct from Crankbrothers Muc-Off High Performance Waterless Wash bike wash Muc-Off’s latest product is a waterless wash. Simply squirt it on and wipe away with a microfibre cloth for gleaming results Alex Evans Designed to remove smaller amounts of dirt, don’t expect the waterless wash to do a thorough all-bike clean. Muc-Off claims it cleans and polishes the bike to keep it sparkling clean in seconds. Simply spray it on and then rub off the dirt with a clean, dry microfibre cloth. If you want the ultimate shine, buff the now clean surfaces with another cloth. £11.99 Buy Muc-Off High Performance Waterless Wash direct from Muc-Off Bedrock Bikepacking Bags Moab handlebar bag The Moab bag is designed to work with shorter, 80mm or less stems Alex Evans If the adventurer in you fancies getting a bit gnarlier, then you’ve probably been plagued by ill-fitting frame and bar bags that don’t work with bikes that have more extreme intentions. Well, Bedrock has an answer for the handlebar bag, at least. Traditionally-shaped bar bags had a tendency to interfere with brake levers, especially if you’ve got a short stem fitted, but the Moab is shaped so that it avoids the levers’ action. It does still butt up against and interfere with the bike’s brake cables but it shouldn’t affect how they perform. $160 Buy the Moab hanglebar bag direct from Bedrock Bikepacking Bags Ghost Hybride Slamr X S4.7+ AL U Ghost’s Germanically-named Hybride Slamr X S4.7+ AL U is massive and purposeful Looking beyond the very Germanic nomenclature and what we’ve got here is a rather hardcore and exceptionally large bike, in extra-large at least. The battery sits on the top of the down tube Alex Evans With a 1,299mm wheelbase, a 65.7-degree head angle and hard-hitting components, the Slamr looks like a veritable beast to ride. Our Seb is going to be putting this XL bike through its paces soon. Wearwell cycling clothing Beautifully modelled by Jack, the Wearwell kit certainly looks smart Alex Evans Wearwell Revival Jersey – Second Edition jersey The logo is certainly bold looking Alex Evans The Revival jersey has some neat features beyond its rather bold styling. It’s got a waterproof pocket for your most treasured items with headphone cable routing, silicone grippers on the bottom of the jersey to help keep it in place and has small perforations on the sleeve cuffs, which also feature silicone grippers. The Wearwell Revival Jersey has some nice features Alex Evans The pockets, they claim, are designed to not sag whilst still having plenty of cargo space. £98 Buy the Wearwell Revival Jersey – Second Edition jersey direct from Wearwell Wearwell Bib Shorts – Revival Collection bib shorts The bib shorts have a mesh back and a sewn-on logo Alex Evans Contrasted against the matching jersey, the bib short’s styling is particularly subtle. The bibs are designed to help you last for longer in the saddle, offering high levels of comfort. There’s a small ‘radio’ pocket on the rear of the shorts, but we think you’d be brave to store anything of value in there. The chamois pad is made from dense foam and the mesh backing should help to wick away sweat. £118 Buy the Wearwell Bib Shorts – Revival Collection bib shorts direct from Wearwell Wearwell Revival Mitt fingerless gloves Fingerless gloves aren’t to everyone’s taste, but arguably have their place Alex Evans With padded palm sections made from a hard-wearing blend of nylon and polyurethane, these gloves should shake off the abuse any fanatical rider can throw at them. The backs of the gloves are lightweight and breathable and the fingerless design is best suited to warmer climes. £29 Buy the Wearwell Revival Mitt fingerless gloves direct from Wearwell 7Mesh MK3 Bib Shorts These are the third iteration of 7Mesh’s fantastic bib shorts Alex Evans Even though these aren’t the cheapest of cycling shorts out there, after the first couple of rides I can confirm that they’re the comfiest bib shorts I’ve ever worn. And that’s just as well, because 7Mesh set out to make an ultra-comfy long-distance set of road riding shorts. Featuring an Elastic Interface chamois that’s got high-density foam and fantastic breathability, every detail has been considered. The material is soft and the over the shoulder braces are stretchy Alex Evans The inside of the shorts, where they contact your skin in sensitive areas, is entirely smooth with the seams moved away from these places. Not only that, the fabric is fairly compressive but highly stretchy. 7Mesh has decided not to fit aggressive hem grippers to the legs that means they fit smoothly around your legs. I can’t wait to spend more time in these bibs and you can expect a full review soon. £130 / CA$250 / €175 Buy the 7Mesh MK3 Bib Shorts direct from 7Mesh Oakley Sutro glasses Oakley’s Sutro glasses are inspired by the urban cyclist and certainly look dramatic Alex Evans The Sutro is a modern-looking wraparound pair of riding glasses that should help to protect your eyes against debris and the elements when you’re out racking up the miles. They’re assembled in the USA Alex Evans Fitted with Oakley’s Prizm lens technology, the lens promises to turn up the colour, making everything look more vibrant and lively. £130 / $163 / AU$214.95 / €152 Castelli Linea Pelle combi pack This little combi pack from Castelli will keep your derriere and private bits feeling sweet after long days in the saddle Alex Evans Give your skin the love it deserves with this kit of three different types of cream. There are two pre-ride balms to apply; one to heat your muscles up and one to protect it from the elements. It features three types of cream for your skin Alex Evans There’s also a chamois cream to keep your private bits well lubricated out on the bike. £29 Buy the Linea Pelle combi pack from Sigma Sports Specialized S-Works Venge The Specialized Venge S-Works looks amazing Alex Evans This has to be one of the sleekest and smartest looking road bikes out there. Designed for pure speed with an aero shape that’s the manifestation of plenty of hours of research, there’s no denying how quick this bike has the potential to be. But for the price tag, it had better be. With this level of components, it’s a safe bet to make that the rider is going to be the weakest link. Read Warren’s review of the slightly cheaper Venge Pro here. £9750 / $12,520 / AU$14,500 / €11,299 Buy the S-Works Venge direct from Specialized

20 years of inactivity and scales that read 144 kg? Can this 56-year-old tug on the brakes of middle-age spread and reinvent himself as a mountain biker? In a last-ditch attempt to change his life for the better, reader Frank Thomas Arnhold’s story is one that’s likely to chime with a lot of us. The years have ticked by and, by and large, they’ve been good to me. But as I stand here now, 55 years old, I’ve got 144 kg to haul around. A weight that’s not insignificant for someone who’s only 1.85 metre. You could say it’s cosy, but really it’s just awkward and cumbersome. It’s the sort of weight where you can be laidback, or laidback to the point of laziness. Either way, it isn’t good for your health. Frank earlier … googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1408638783102-0'); }); But however you want to try and word it, my weight just didn’t cooperate, showing indignation in my ankles and knees then added lower back pain to the equation. Each time I wheezed my way up steps or anything remotely uphill, I’d find myself wondering if this was really what healthy felt like. It made me question what had happened to me over the years. I was hooked on mountain biking 25 years ago. I’d clock 3,000 off-road kilometres each year, and I even won a prize at the Fun Ride Bike Festival in Winterberg in 1995. But then I decided to follow a dream I’d had since being a kid and bought a BMW Boxer motorbike. The transition from mountain biker to motorbike rider happened so quickly that I didn’t even notice. My mountain bike grew dusty without a word. I started playing badminton as a means to keep fit. But my habit of overdoing it with sport meant that I ended up with cardiovascular problems and had to stop playing – the second time this happened, I simply didn’t re-start. That’s why, over the years, the kilos started piling on. What can I say? I am partial to indulging in good food – perhaps demonstrating the same sort of over-eager attitude I show in sport. In 2017 I realised things had to change. When my work launched a scheme to lease company bikes in 2018 I was the first to take them up on the offer. But while testing a Bergamont e-hybrid bike at my local dealer, the staff asked politely how much I weighed and I couldn’t help but notice the way they glanced down at the bike with concern. After a hurried discussion with a colleague, they suggested one of the Haibike eMTBs instead–this particular bike had more generous geometry in terms of leaving space for my belly. As soon as I laid my eyes on the Hardseven 7.0 it immediately relit the flame for that long-buried passion of mine: mountain biking. Those big 29″ wheels, the chunky aluminium frame and the matte-blue colourway set my adrenaline rocketing even before I’d sat on the bike. It looked so damn strong and capable that I couldn’t wait to ride it. On that test ride it struck me how this was probably the one chance I had left in life to change things for the better before it got too late. It was almost like the eMTB could tell, and kept whispering ‘I’m your saviour.’ That was it. I was convinced. But having that conviction turned out to be far easier than actually turning the new me into reality. My physique, weight, and total absence of fitness launched vocal protests but I was able to hush them with the presence of pedal assist – although I quickly realised that even with a motor, there’s no such thing as a free ride. I still had a lot of pedalling to do, but fortunately I made it through the first few kilometres without needing an oxygen tent. It left me inspired and hungry for more. Around the same time my wife and I changed the way we eat, cutting out wheat products mainly. Our initial cries of despair that ‘there’s nothing left to eat!’ rapidly subsided as we developed a new style of cooking – one with diversity and richness that has now become the norm for us. Happening in sync with the riding, the unbelievable occurred: I began to shed weight. I could feel myself getting tangibly fitter and the enjoyment rose multi-fold. Within two months of getting my e-bike I broke the solemn promise I’d made to my wife about not riding in unknown territory. You see, in the past my over-zealous riding had, very occasionally, resulted in crashing. When my wife and I had got our e-bikes, I’d promised to stick to the tarmac to avoid “letting the horses out the gate”, which was her biggest fear in letting me loose on an mountain bike again. She didn’t want to see any broken bones. Fortunately, those early restrictions were lifted and I started looping in some mellow grassy tracks followed by gravel, and, after about six months, I had my first taste of singletrack in many years. Just a quick go, I reasoned. But that quick go turned into gorging on techy climbs and equally as techy descents – regularly. I could sense it before I spotted it in the mirror. A grin that I could barely wipe off my face. I’d reawakened a long-buried passion and it was making my heart jump for a joy. Along with my 28-year-old son-in-law, I rode more and more challenging singletrack trails in the hilly Sauerland-Siegerland region and I felt better than I could ever remember feeling in the past decades. By November 2018 I’d lost 22 kg. I was feeling fit and not at all burdened by the years. Forget 56 years old, more like 56 years young. And all thanks to eMTBing. … Frank today googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1408638783102-1'); }); But with the onset of the dark, cold winter, I was distraught that a long-running bronchial issue still meant that I couldn’t ride when the mercury falls below a certain temperature. But, you know what, that off-season just raised the level of anticipation. The excitement when we got hit by unseasonably warm weather in February 2019 was sky high and I was allowed back on the eMTB. Frank’s former Independent MTB – untouched for 20 years. I’m expecting to shed a few more kilos this year but it’s not such a pressing issue any longer. Whatever happens, happens. For me, having a good time counts more. And I’m certainly having that! I’ve even ordered a second eMTB from my local shop – a Haibike Xduro 6.0, with FOX suspension and more singletrack capabilities. The guys in the shop are visibly stoked at my transformation (for which they’re partially responsible!) from an ‘old man’ into a once-again keen mountain biker. My old Independent MTB, which saw some history go down, is still gathering dust in the attic. The grip shift gearing is sticky, the Goretex cables loose, and the skinny Ritchey tires are anaemic with a lack of air. Up until now I used to look at it with a sort of nostalgia, but then I realised it could do more than that: as a souvenir of days-gone-by, I’ve fixed the red Ritchey pedals from my old bike onto my new Haibike. They work just as well as ever, bridging the gap between my past and my present–of which I’m incredibly proud. For me, there’s a right time for everything, and that’s just what life is like. I had to replace my 25-year-old pair of Shimano riding shoes with a hip pair of Northwaves so that I can actually push down on the pedals properly. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do anyway–especially on the next bike tour I’ve got planned on komoot with my son-in-law– the longest stage is 78 km. Grab the opportunity! Take cues from Frank Thomas Arnhold and let eMTBing change your life! That supposed ‘last chance’ has taught me that you can find a solution if you’re really looking for it. It takes bravery to really make the most of it, but you’ll be rewarded with every single turn of the cranks. And if it all starts to feel too much, just up the level of pedal assist, right? So on that note, take the opportunity! Der Beitrag Last chance saloon? The 144-kilo mountain biker who hasn’t done any sport for 20 years erschien zuerst auf E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine.

Inside we take a look at some new products from TRP Brakes, Marzocchi, and Pivot Cycles.   TRP Brakes have been a staple for racers like Aaron Gwin for many years so you know they’ve got what it takes to compete with the bigger brands everyone is familiar with. At Sea Otter they brought out their full range of brakes and boy do they feel good.   The G-Spec DH brake is their main gravity brake that you will see on most of their World Cup gravity teams. It uses mineral oil, has a nice lever feel thanks to Aaron Gwin, detented adjustable reach adjuster, forged 4 piston caliper, sintered pads, and weighs in at 320g. Look for riders selecting to run bigger rotors this year on the World Cup circuit as the bigger 29″ wheels are carrying more weight and speed. The G-Spec DH caliper features four hybrid pistons (ceramic/steel) help to dissipate heat during long descents while providing power and modulation as needed. At $199 this is a hard brake to not consider if you’re looking for a World Cup gravity brake.   If you’re a bit more budget minded but still want similar benefits as their G-Spec DH brake, take a look at their Quadium brake. It’s delivered in flat black and isn’t quite as light but offers many of the same benefits at $149.99. Four hybrid pistons, forged caliper, ergonomic lever, 329g, and more.   Looking for a trail brake? TRP has you covered there as well. They have a G-Spec Trail SLC and a G-Spec Trail SL brake (312g). The SLC version offers a lighter Gwin designed carbon lever (292g). The G-Spec Trail gets the same finned caliper body as their downhill brake but different sized pistons(2x14mm, 2x16mm) to allow for improved modulation. The Aaron Gwin lever blade gets mounted to the lightweight trail lever body and offers both direct mount shifter options.     For E-MTBs riders may initially question brands coming up with specific e-branded products but many of these products actually are designed to handle the torque, power, or additional weight these bikes yield. TRP has a G-Spec E-MTB brake that features 4 pistons, robust forged/cnc caliper design, and a wider 2.3mm rotor to help aid in cooling these bikes. TRP uses a wider rotor on the E-Mtb brake versus their other brakes (2.3mm vs 1.8mm) and sintered Full Metallic Pads. Marzocchi has been delivering a lot of quality suspension product that often gets overlooked but is very compelling for many riders. They had a sweet looking Custom Candy Bomber 58 Tyler McCaul custom candy on display to highlight his video project called “Builder”. The Candy version will be available in a special edition release.   In addition to that the new Marzocchi CR shock offers a lot for its $329 price. It offers a quality ride with adjustable low speed compression and rebound in a wide range of shock sizes. Paired with the new Z1 or Z2 fork this offers a formidable package that is sure to have any ripper happy without breaking the bank. Check out more details and the impressive pricing on the Marzocchi range at https://shop.marzocchi.com/     Pivot Cycles had their prototype 29er Phoenix on display. Check out some of the detailed shots of it below. Their World Cup team will be racing on it this year so keep an eye out for it on the race course. Check out some of the detailed shots below of the bike to get an idea of what the production bike may offer when available.

It’s a well-known fact in the bike industry that if you call Yeti HQ around lunchtime you can expect to get voicemail. The Golden, Colorado-based company’s lunch rides have been running since 1999, and with Apex Park, Green Mountain and Matthew / Winters Park less than a three-mile pedal from its head office, how can you blame them. Yeti SB130 review Best mountain bike: how to choose the right one for you And with the employees having access to basically any component their hearts’ may desire, it’s no surprise their personal bikes are tailored to the terrain just outside their backdoor. If you’ve never ridden around Golden, it’s pretty techy, so to better suit the trails in the area quite a few of the Yeti staffers add a bit more travel and beefier brakes. And now the brand has decided to make the Lunch Ride spec available to the public. Yeti isn’t the first brand to offer a ‘staff spec’. Rocky Mountain has offered a similar ‘BC edition’ on many of its bikes for some time. The SB 130 LR comes with a 160mm Fox 36, complete with the Grip 2 damper instead of the stock 150mm, and an over-stroked 136mm Fox Factory DPX2 shock. Of course, a longer fork slackens the head angle, and the longer rear shock brings the bottom bracket up a touch to help with pedal strikes. The SB130 LR is built the way the Yeti staff customize their bikes The stoppers also get an upgrade, with the SB130 fitted with SRAM Code RSC brakes instead of the stock Shimano XT 2 Piston brakes, and the front rotor is upsized to 200mm for a bit of extra oomph. At the front, the bars are 20mm wider, measuring 800mm and are paired with a stumpy 40mm stem. Moving back, the small and medium size frames get an extra 25mm of Fox Transfer dropper, while the LR version comes with a 150mm post, and the large and XL frames go longer still spec’d with a 175mm version. Available now through the Yeti cycles website, the SB130 LR build is claimed to weigh 29.3lbs / 13.29kg in a size medium and will set you back $7,599 — $400 more than the X01 spec it’s based upon. For an extra $1,300, you can also upgrade the wheels from the stock DT Swiss M1700 to the carbon DT Swiss XMC 1200. International pricing and availability are to be announced.

We had a good look at a pre-production 3D printed version of the MCR 9 RDO (which stands for Magic Carpet Ride) at Sea Otter 2018. The unrideable 3D printed bike became the basis for this rather logical approach to gravel riding. Fast forward to this year’s event and it looks like Niner is close to pushing the button on launching the full-sus production bike. This gravel bike has a dropper post and suspension fork Look embraces gravel with the 765 Gravel RS and e-765 Gravel What’s faster for gravel? Volume vs grip We speculated last year that the bike will have around 40mm of travel and will take up to 50mm wide tyres, but now Niner has officially announced some of the bike’s details. Niner MCR 9 RDO geometry and details The integrated fender, linkages and frame shape are sleek Ben Duke Zach Vestal, Niner’s marketing manager, told us that the bike will come in three sizes — 53, 56 and 59cm — with a target weight of around the 20lbs. For the 56cm frame size, Niner told us we can expect the bike to have a 349mm reach, a 1,055cm wheelbase, a 71-degree head angle and a 73.5-degree seat tube angle. Ultegra brakes and parts help to keep the weight down. Ben Duke The bike will have clearance for 50mm wide tyres on 700c wheels, while you’ll be able to slot in a 2-inch wide 650b tyre if you choose. It’s also claimed to have 11 bottle cage mounting options — wow! Plus, it’s got a removable front mech mount if you’d like to fit a 1-x drivetrain. The MCR 9 RDO uses Niner’s CVA suspension system to give 50mm of travel Ben Duke The production bike will have 50cm of suspension travel with a remote lockout that’s controlled by Niner’s CVA system, seen across its suspension bikes. The suspension is tuned for high-frequency small bumps rather than hefty impacts and Niner was very quick to say that this isn’t a mountain bike and isn’t designed to be ridden as such. The bike is dropper ready and this pre-production was equipped with a KS Lev Ben Duke Don’t expect it to be hucking off walls and riding gnarly singletrack trails — it’s a gravel bike, for gravel, we’ve been told. How much travel is enough for gravel? Ben Duke Niner MCR 9 RDO specs and prices At the moment, Niner is still deciding how to spec the final versions, but it did say that we can expect the frameset to cost around $3,000. This model of the MCR 9 RDO had the gravel-specific Fox 32 fork Ben Duke Niner hopes to launch the bike late 2019, with more information on models and exact pricing expected at this year’s Eurobike show in September. As soon as we can get our hands on one we’ll have a review for you. This is likely to be the top-spec bike Ben Duke

The cutouts at the bottom of the lowers shed weight and allow for a narrower stance Fox claims the new crown on the 32 SC makes it much stiffer Fox’s 32 Step-Cast fork has long been the choice of weight-weenie XC riders, but some riders have complained that it could be stiffer. Well, Fox has listened, and the new 32 Step-Cast is claimed to be equally as robust as the 34 fork — not the 34 Step-Cast, the Fox 34. How to set up your mountain bike suspension: video guides to help you get the most from your bike Cane Creek announces new Helm Works Series fork as well as limited-edition eeBrakes The brand attributes the increase in stiffness to the redesigned crown and steerer tube assembly. However, it does come with a claimed 30g weight increase over its predecessor, tipping the scales at 3.06 lb/1,387g for the 27.5in version of the fork with an uncut steerer. Fox has left the lowers mostly unchanged with the fork being available in Factory and Performance versions. On the new Factory 32 SC, the stanchions get the blinged-out Kashima treatment and there’s an option for a lockout remote too, while the Performance version gets the standard black uppers. Fox claims the new crown on the 32 SC makes it much stiffer Courtesy Both are available in 15×100 axle spacing and 15×110 Boost spacing, and will only come with 100mm of squish with a Float air spring and Fit4 Damper. With the cutout at the bottom of the lowers, the 32 SC can’t be offered in longer travel versions, but that’s why 34 SC is exists. The updated Fox 32 SC will be available as part of the brand’s My20 lineup.