As we’re rather busy setting up the Shimano Singletrack Classic Weekender course and have been up all night fighting with van suspension, Fresh Goods Friday is a little bit shorter than usual. However, what we lose in length, we make up in quality. Without any more preambling, let’s gallop into the weekend…
Trek Remedy 8
If you’re been reading her blog, you’ll know that Jenny (not our Deputy Ed, we have another one) is off to do the Megavalanche in Alp d’Huez next weekend along with web boy Jon. She’s been in need of a small sized, light weight but burly bike – and Chris from Trek came up with the perfect Remedy. With seasoned enduro/Super D racer Ross Schnell using his on events such as the Downieville Classic, it should be just the ticket for glacier bashing and general Alpine sending.
Price: £2,500
From: Trek UK
Using Trek’s concentric ‘ABP’ design, the Remedy offers 150mm of travel at either end, both controlled by custom DRCV sprung Fox shocks front and rear. The DRCV system features an extra air chamber which opens on big hits, which Trek says gives excellent small bump response combined with ‘seemingly bottomless’ travel in the really rough stuff.
The back end can be converted from standard QR to a 142x12mm through axle and the magnesium shock link uses a pair of ‘Mino Link’ chips to adjust the head angle from 67.5° to 67° and drop the bottom bracket 7mm at the same time. As you’d expect from the people that created the standard, it’s got an E2 tapered headtube up front.
The drivetrain is a mix of Shimano SLX and XT and there’s some nice looking Bontrager finishing kit, including tubeless ready rims and XR4 tyres. Best of all, it comes in a bijou person friendly 15.5″ frame size with masses of standover but still nicely rangey top tube. We like.
POC Trabec helmet
Just one of the companies that seem to have made a successful transition from snow sports gear to the world of mountain biking, the Trabec is an enduro style, low backed helmet. It’s covered in 16 vents and the EPS core is strengthened with Aramid fibres. The seamless polycarbonate shell covers even the rim of the helmet, which is good if you’re a bit careless and end up bashing your helmet around – like us. The pads are treated with Polygiene to stop them ponging and the helmet is available in a load of rather nice colours if you’re not a Ford Model T sorta rider…
Price: £140
From: 2Pure
Bluegrass Brave full face helmet
Yet another bit of rough and tough kit for Mega riding duties. Bluegrass is the hard riding protective kit offshoot of helmet specialists MET and this helmet certainly has some enduro laurels, having been used by Remy Absalon and Jerome Clementz while they were busy winning the Mega in 2010 and 2011. Olympian BMXer Shaznade Reade is also on the Bluegrass roster this year..
The fibreglass outer and EPS inner provide loads of protection and very little mass without resorting to expensive carbon fibre. There are some seriously large vents are at the front to aid breathing as well as all over and the special break-away peak design should prevent it getting ruined in a crash.
The helmet is also available in five sizes, from XS to XL, so if you’ve struggled to get a comfy fitting full facer in the past then there should be one that suits you. As well as loads of sizes, there are loads of designs too, including the official Megavalanche version. No word on whether it promises a winning Mega run, but we can hope eh?
Price: £125
From: Bluegrass/Fisher Outdoor Leisure
Bluegrass Bobcat knee and elbow pads
If your head is sorted out then that leaves knees, elbows, so we were also sent these Bobcat knee and elbow pads by Bluegrass. They use a soft shell with super dense padding to provide all-round knee protection. The broad straps with silicone grippers should keep the stretchy neoprene ‘sock’ in place and they’re nicely broad, especially the elbows, so should sit comfortably for extended periods. They also come in magic-impact-hardening foam d3O versions.
Price: Knees: £55 or £89.99 for d3O – Elbows: £45 or £79.99 for d3O
From: Bluegrass/Fisher Outdoor Leisure
Bluegrass Grizzly Lite spine protector
Accounts Lisa is modelling the zip-up spine and back protector, which uses a flexible and removable d3O back plate plus coccyx guard to keep you safe while crashing – or alternatively breakdancing. The perforated mesh vest itself uses a full length zip at the front to make it easy to get on or remove and the shoulders are made from lycra to sit well under packs. The waistband features a silicone gripper, so you shouldn’t end up with a crop top style look happening…
Price: £119.99
From: Bluegrass/Fisher Outdoor Leisure
Scott MTB Premium shoe
The name might sound a bit no-frills, but this race shoe is far, far from it. It’s the top of the race off-road shoe from Scott and uses a HMX carbon fibre sole – with a 9 out of 10 rating for stiffness. It uses the BOA lacing tightening system with a neat loop-over on the lower mount to enable you to have an extra tight instep. The synthetic leather outer is designed to give maximum support while the mesh construction should keep you nice and cool – should the sun ever shine. The insole uses neat inserts to allow you to tune the fit with both metatarsal and arch wedges of different sizes.
Price: £249.99
From: Scott
