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The Durango Derby brought racers from all over to experience the mountain bike pedigree of Durango and its surrounding mountains. We sent Reportage affiliate Kyle von Hoetzendorff out for the weekend to report back on its vibe and he delivered a stellar piece, including an interview with the event’s co-founder, Dylan Stucki, and exceptional photos by Alex Roszko, so read on to check it out!
Skyline Wilderness Park in Napa has a rich history of mountain bike racing, from the Grundig World Cup races of the 1990s to the Single Speed World Championship in 2008. These are classic chunky old-school XC trails that are a perfect match for your favorite hardtail. Come test your abilities in a fun and supportive community!
Meet Your Maker is an ongoing series of rides hosted by the Northern California bike-making community. It all started in 2011 and kinda faded out in 2016, but now it’s back! No stuffy convention halls, no dim fluorescent lighting, just a good time hanging out and talking shop while we partake in the activity that puts a big smile on all of our faces.
Today, we’re elated to announce a project that has been in the works for some time: our own special and limited edition Radavist Mosaic GT-2X complete bikes. There’s a lot going on with these bikes, so let’s jump right in!
This morning, we have Dom from Fairlight offering up an explanation of their new MTB, the Holt. While it’s labeled as an XC MTB, bikes like this can be so much more, so continue reading for Dom’s explanation of this new platform…
The Scalpel is, as the name implies, a precision blade for cutting precise lines in singletrack. It’s an unapologetic, thoroughbred race machine that has stuck to its roots in the Cannondale lineup for over a decade. For 2022, the Scalpel returns with a fresh new design – look at that paint! – and new geometry with a slacker front end of 66.5º across all sizes. Complete with HollowGram cranks and a mix of high-end Shimano components, the new Scalpel HT Hi-MOD 1 as pictured here has a retail of $5000. Head to Cannondale to see more.
If you want to see a sick custom Scalpel we documented a few years back, check out The Cub House’s own build-up!
In some form of intergalactic serendipity, this review coincides with the 2021 International Singlespeed Day, so hopefully, this article inspires you to dust off the ol’ Cruiser or SSMTB and get out for a sunset shred with your friends.
I’ve had the Sour Bicycles Pasta Party for longer than I’d like to admit for a review period but with supply chain shortages, I decided to scrap my original plans for the build as a geared hardtail and assembled it with various spare parts and some new fancy BERD wheels which ended up resulting in one very unique rigid singlespeed 29er.
The Pasta Party is a strange bird with a few clever details and a few quirks, so read on below for my review of this unique chassis offering from the German brand Sour Bicycles…
With the launch of the new Santa Cruz Blur and Juliana Wilder, Santa Cruz Bikes pulled together one of the most Wes Anderson bike videos we’ve ever seen!
The El Jefe is the latest model to land in the Why Cycles titanium catalog. Think of it as the more serious sibling to the S7 and the Wayward. It’s less swoopy, more serious, lighter, and faster-pedaling, yet it has clearance for a 29×2.6″ tire.
This bike is Why’s first “pro-model”, akin to skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding. Jefe Branham is an ultra-endurance legend based in Gunnison, CO, and has been a friend and team rider for Why for two seasons. His feedback as to what his dream bike would be for going fast in the backcountry informed every decision in the El Jefe design. Jefe’s personal mantra is “Fast or Slow Just Go,” so with his input, Why turned it into a sandblasted graphic on the raw titanium. The lily flower in the graphics is a nod to his two-year-old daughter, Lillian.
With a 73.3º seat angle, a 67.5º head angle, and a 120mm fork, the El Jefe is a nimble, fast, and capable hardtail with pricing beginning at $2,349 for a frame only at Why Cycles.
The Highline is a new dropper post from Crankbrothers, marketed towards gravel bikes and XC racing mountain bikes. These 27.2mm posts come in a variety of lengths and feature an optional drop-bar dropper remote. The Highline comes backed with a 4-year warranty, is supplied with Jagwire cable and housing, uses a two-bolt standard head, is linear-pull, and is for internal routing.
HIGHLINE XC/GRAVEL FEATURES:
-60mm short & long / 80mm / 100mm / 125mm of infinite travel adjustment
-diameter: 27.2mm
-insertion lengths: 174mm short & 264mm long / 264mm / 264mm / 264mm (bottom of collar to bottom of actuator)
-weights: 369g & 410g / 434g / 459g / 467g
-60mm minimum stack height
See more at Crankbrothers.
Today Shimano kicked out a bunch of new dirt-related goodies, ranging from stems, handlebars, MTB dropper and yes, a gravel/XC dropper post. The Tharsis 3Five is a 100mm dropper post weighing in at 415 grams, with three post diameters (27.2, 30.9, 31.6mm), internal routing, and a 2-bolt clamp design with an MSRP of $330. Head to PRO to see more!
This week’s Readers’ Rides photos are so sharp, we decided to share it as a full gallery. Hanson Little is an ex-pro BMX shredder and the hands behind Dark Realm Cycling, a brand that operates alongside his partner Vanessa’s Shop Realm. These two put out exceptional bags from their Austin, TX home. We’re featuring Hanson’s Crust Bikes Evasion Lite, a less-burly, lighter Evasion. This stripped-back version is quite the frame! Let’s look at it in detail below.
Revel’s new Ranger XC bike is a lighter and snappier version of its big sibling, the Rascal. Designed around a 29×2.6″ or 27.5×2.8″ wheelset, the Ranger is a 120mm front and 115mm rear travel bike, build on a CBF-engineered chassis. Think lightweight but still capable. The Ranger comes in three build kits, ranging from $4,999 to $9,999 and a frameset, which is priced at $2,799. You can pre-order now at Revel with a mid-July delivery estimate. See more at Revel.
Specs:
-Wheel Size 29″
-Front Travel 120mm
-Rear Travel 115mm
-Shock Spec 190 x 45-22.2 x 8 Hardware Spec
-Boost Axles 148mm rear / 110mm front
-Seatpost Diameter 31.6mm (use our size guide to choose the best dropper height!)
-Bearings: BOLU 6801 VRS full complement, 12mm x 21mm x 5mm 6pcs per bike
BOLU 6901 VRS full complement, 12mm x 24mm x 6mm 12pcs per bike
-Rear Brake 160mm post mount / 180mm max
-Tire Clearance 29″ x 2.6″ or 27.5″ x 2.8″
-Bottom Bracket Threaded (73mm English threaded)
-Chainguide Custom Revel guide included
-Tapered Headtube IS42 upper / IS52 lower
-Colors Johnny Green Jeans / De La Coal
-Sizes S / M / L / XL
-Frame Warranty Lifetime Warranty
Emily Batty takes to the trails with her pup Buddy as she works on her MTB skills…
Manitou has reworked the R7 this year, forming a modern, light, and strong XC-oriented fork designed to take daily wear and tear while still utilizing all the comforts of the competitors’ options. The R7 utilizes a VTT Pro damper, which offers a solid lockout, a soft mid setting, and a plush, wide-open setting. The R7 comes in 27.5″ or 29″, with 100mm or 120mm travel, and 37mm, 44mm, or 51mm offsets. If you’re not feeling the chrome crown, they also make one in black. Head to Manitou to check out more information.
Specs:
Weight: 27.5″ = 1625.2g (estimated, 120mm 44OS)27.5+/29″ = 1648.1.0g (estimated, 120mm 51OS)
Travel: 80-120mm
Steerer: 1.5″ Tapered Aluminum
Spring: Dorado Air w/ IVA
Crown: Forged aluminum, deep hollow bore SLVR
Compression Damping: VTT PRO
Rebound Damping: Half-cartridge adjustable TPC
Adjustments: 3-Position Compression w/ Open Mode Adjust, Rebound, Air Pressure, IVA Position
Stanchions: 32mm 7000 Series Aluminum
Brake: 160mm Post Mount (180mm max rotor size)
Axle: Hexlock2 15mm Axle
Axle to Crown: 27.5″ = 471 – 511mm27.5+/29″ = 484.5 – 524.5mm
Options: QR15, fender kit, short offset crown, remote lockout
Well, it had been since March since I left our quaint little town of Santa Fe due to the pandemic. All of my photoshoots, rides, and trips were either postponed or just canceled for the year up to this point. Which, as you all know quite well, can be quite the shock when you spend much of the year on the road! One of the postponed jobs that didn’t roll off the face into the abyss was shooting the new Argonaut Cycles frame and assemblage process. So that found me in Bend, Oregon for a few days and I had a hankering to ride something new…
… yet we all know that you don’t have to be a weight weenie or a racer to appreciate a good set of XC wheels. Lighter, more durable wheels mean you can get out to your favorite loop with less rotational mass. Roval’s new Control SL Team Wheels come in at 1240 grams for the set, have a rim wall that is 4mm wide, offering up protection against pinch flats, and offer a 29mm internal rim width.
Specs:
-54t DT Swiss Star Ratchets for Precise Engagement
-Included Double Wheel Bag
-Team-Spec Metallic Blue Graphics
-MSRP $2650
See more at Roval.
Spencer and Donny have two different styles and preferences when it comes to riding bikes. One is the ultra XC hardtail guy and the other loves downhill. What could bring them together after such a schism has formed?
If you have the room to fit a 29er by 2.3″ tire on your tourer or gravel bike, then check out these new tires by Hutchinson. The Kraken has minimal side knobs, with a fast-rolling center tread pattern and is vailable in two constructions, ultra-light 127 TPI or ultra-versatile 66 TPI. The Kraken is in stock now at your local dealer and retails for $79.99.
