Marin is on a real charge at the moment — it’s been hard at work developing a new range of bikes that include everything from the funkily-suspended Wolf Ridge and Mount Vision bikes through to the dropper-equipped go-anywhere Gestalt X. Marin Gestalt X11 review Marin Mount Vision 9 first ride review Niner’s MCR 9 RDO magic carpet gravel bike is almost here We took a look at its brand new drop bar bikes that are available now but designated as 2020 model year bikes. Marin Nicasio Plus details, specs and prices Marin’s Nicasio is made of steel and looks sleek Ben Duke The new Nicasio Plus builds on the original Nicasio’s go-anywhere credentials and is based around the Series 1 frame that’s been designed to be beefy and strong to help tackle the tribulations an adventure or endurance cyclist might encounter on long rides. The Nicasio has plenty of mounting options and the steel look is simple and elegant Ben Duke The bike’s party pieces include mounts for bottle cages and accessories, pannier racks and mudguard mounts both front and rear. Using a 9-speed MicroSHIFT 1x drivetrain with an 11-46 tooth cassette range that’s mated to a 42-tooth chainring, Marin hopes that there are enough gears to take you wherever you want to go. The tan wall tyres match the bike’s colour scheme perfectly Ben Duke There are WTB Horizon 47mm wide 650b tyres that are wrapped around Marin’s own 25mm internal width rims. The Nicasio Plus is due to retail for a budget-busting $849.99. Marin Lombard 2 details, specs and prices The Lombard 2 is a new entry into the drop bar market for Marin. It has a totally new frame that’s been designed for commuting during the week and gravel riding at the weekend with geometry that’s claimed to be fast and stable. The bike has been designed to tackle both on- and off-road adventures and could be a budget beating one-bike quiver for the casual commuter and weekend adventurist. The simple colour scheme looks great and it only costs $1,449.99. Ben Duke Standout features include 40mm wide 700c Vee Tire G-Sport tyres, Shimano’s 10-speed Tiagra groupset and Tiagra hydraulic disc brakes. The bike’s got mudguard and pannier mounts and the frame and fork feature bolt-thru-axles. The frame’s graphics are reflective to help you be seen in the dark, too. The Lombard 2 uses Shimano’s Tiagra brakes Ben Duke The Lombard 2 is going to cost $1,449.99. Marin prototype carbon fibre adventure/gravel bike The prototype is made from carbon fibre. Ben Duke Marin’s lips were fairly well sealed about this brand new all-carbon adventure-come-gravel bike we spotted at the show. We couldn’t help notice how many different mounting options there are on the bike’s frame and after a quick count, we spotted seven individual options. We think there might be just enough bottle cage mounting options! Ben Duke So for those of you who don’t like to travel light, this could be a bike for you. Release dates, prices and even a name are yet to be announced but we’re sure it’ll be reasonably priced and perform well — a theme for Marin Bikes at the moment. Marin staff coupler bike This particular coupler bike was set up for bikepacking Ben Duke Details were even thinner on the ground for this one-of-a-kind Marin staff ride, but we can tell you that it’s a coupler bike which means it can be folded down to be no bigger in size than its wheels. The coupler bike had all of the essentials bolted to it including whisky and gherkins Ben Duke It has 100 percent more gherkins and whisky than any other bike on the market at the moment and is made from steel. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the gherkins and whisky make it as a standard feature on all of Marin’s bikes in the future. One of Marin’s staff rides, this coupler bike looks unique! Ben Duke

Prevelo Bikes has re-designed their kids MTB line this after only one year in operation...amazing. A successful first season, they managed to improve on an already great frame a part spec. In the case of the new 16 inch hardtail, the Zulu 2 Heir, Prevelo have gone beyond any other bike manufacturer big or small to develop a kids specific 16 inch travel air fork. Here we look at this amazing little machine and see how it stands out from other 16 inch bikes. Thanks to Prevelo Bikes for providing a bike to review.   Prevelo Zulu 2 Heir Details: Intended Age- 4 to 6 years Weight- 18.0 lbs Features- Custom carbon lower air fork with 60 mm travel, hydraulic disc brakes, 2.1 inch Innova tires, 95mm cranks, 67 HA MSRP- $799 USD, Rigid fork $469 Available- Prevelo Bikes     The Bike Dads' Take: "This bike is exactly what we were looking for. The fork is truly incredible with its ability to soak up bumps with lightest of weight riders. Wide rims and wide tires offer amazing traction and enhance the shredability with its longer wheelbase, 67 degree HA and hydraulic dis brakes. The kids specific handlebar, grips and cranks are welcome features for these tiny rippers. If your little 4/5 year old loves to descend MTB flow trails with you...this bike is the answer." -Colin Recent Blog Posts Picking The First Pedal Bike Prevelo Zulu 2 Heir Review Early Rider Trail 24 Review Extending Ride Time in the Winter The Raise Riders Family Bicycle Weekend Saracen Mantra 2.4 Review Burley D’lite Trailer Review Tout Terrain Streamliner Review Woom 1 Plus Balance Bike Review Rocky Mountain Reaper Review Opus Nix 20 inch Review The post Prevelo Zulu 2 Heir Review appeared first on The Bike Dads.

Rampage Ready, McCaul Approved The post Product Test: Deity Tmac Pedals appeared first on Mountain Bike Action Magazine.

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.

Troy Lee Designs' namesake — the man, himself: Troy Lee — puts his paintbrush to customers helmets in the pits while TLD groms and pros take to the track at Sea Otter 2019 The post Video: See Troy Lee Paint and Pros Race at Sea Otter appeared first on Mountain Bike Action Magazine.

Howey put in some serious shovel time last spring and built a couple of step downs, a massive hip, and a few hundred metres of fresh singletrack just for the video The post Video: Rain or Shine appeared first on Mountain Bike Action Magazine.

Inside we take a look at some e-MTB products on display at Sea Otter from Bosch, Bulls, and Specialized.   The prevalence of Electric Mountain Bikes has increased at Sea Otter again this year. Many attendees were very interested in swinging a leg over these bikes from what we saw.   Bulls had a huge presence at Sea Otter this year and have many options for those looking for an eMTB. The two below were highlights of their massive booth. Many attendees swung their legs over a Bulls e-bike for the first time and we heard plenty of praise from exuberant test riders. The E-CORE EVO AM Di2 27.5+. The big Bulls bike that is most appealing is the E-Core EVO EN Di2 27.5. It is powered by Shimano’s new 250watt E-8000 eMTB motor and two 275WWH power packs. Having 750WH onboard is no small amount of battery juice. It boasts a big e-bike range of 90-100 miles. Check out the detailed shots below to see more on this 180mm travel enduro/downhill weapon. Bosch has been steadily improving their e-MTB technology and they released their KIOX system that looks quite impressive. They’ve partnered with a number of brands to utilize their motor and Kiox system. The Gorilla Glass, bluetooth connectivity, and full color-screen are impressive in person. With the Kiox on-board computer, you can keep track of the battery charge level, as well as your speed, heart rate and performance. Robust and small, the compact Kiox is the perfect training partner for ambitious riders. Cube had their Stereo Hybrid 160 (Action Team 500 27.5) in the Bosch booth. The 160mm bike is designed to offer an enduro suspended bike with the power of a Bosch CX drive system. Specialized’s Turbo Kenevo is a popular offering in the e-mtb space and they had an Ohlins dual crown fork bolted to one in their booth. Range anxiety is a thing with heavy e-bikes and Specialized has a Mission Control App to give you full control of your Turbo Kenevo to tune it to the proper level and assistance in the e-MTB to ensure your ride goes as planned.     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