SKINNY, SEMI-SKIMMED OR HALF-FAT?
These three are currently being tested for the group test in Issue 83
ISLABIKES BEINN 29
Isla Rowntree had added a proper grown-ups big wheeled bike to her highly acclaimed kids range. It’s a far more inspiring ride than most sub £500 MTBs, it’s as adaptable as anything we’ve tested and it only weighs 26lb.
Price £449.99 + £35 Tyre Upgrade
From: www.islabikes.co.uk
PIVOT LES
We just started testing this, and it just goes to prove that suspension can be over-rated at times. Round the world record holder Mike Hall is riding almost exactly this 22lb set-up on this year’s Tour Divide. (Mike is currently leading the race by a long way http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide13i.php?name=Mike_Hall )
Price: Frame Alone £1600
From: www.upgradebikes.co.uk
SURLY KRAMPUS
Definitely not just another fat bike, the Krampus frame and fork can be run as either a standard 29er or with Surly’s own 29+ wheelset and 3in tyres. Either way, it’s a breath of fresh air on almost any trail you throw it at.
Price: £1699.99
From: www.ison-distribution.com
X Fusion Slant
Price: £489.99
From: Upgrade Bikes. upgradebikes.co.uk
In these days of £1000 forks, X-Fusion is doing its best to produce decent forks at non-astronomical prices. Here’s the Slant. 160mm travel, with a travel adjuster and 34mm stanchions. Oh, and it’s for that 26in size!
Surly Stickers
Price: Trade for beer
From: Surly. surlybikes.co.uk
Surly has always done a great line in bumper and bike stickers. This is the 2014 range, previewed here for you. They’re not easy to get hold of, but there’s a sticker here to amuse and offend just about everyone. Although you won’t see many in the UK, the first Premier member to email Chipps will get sent a complete set in the post. (Just been won by Terrahawk, of this parish)
Sombrio Float
Price: £79ish
From: Sombrio Cartel. sombriocartel.com
The Sombrio Floats are the latest, and very smart, version of the popular Sombrio Float shoes. Designed by Canadians for riding with flat pedals. Doesn’t get more authentic than that, eh? Eh?
Moon Lights
Price: £21.99 for front and rear LEDs, up to £239 for the full-on boxed front light set.
From: Raleigh. raleigh.co.uk
Super bright commuting lights, with a multitude of flashing options. 100Lumens front, 50 rear. And, below, a big rig system with sets up to 1300Lumens
Icebreaker Merino Tees
Price: £60
From: Icebreaker icebreaker.com
These turned up this week and we’ve had to fight off the sticky fingers of the staff to keep them in the Fresh Goods cupboard long enough to shoot them. They feature Icebreaker’s lightest 150g pure Merino and they should last years of keeping you snug.
Reynolds Coathanger
Price: Unlikely
From: Press Launches
Among the odder things that Chipps brought back from Press Camp was this Reynolds wheels carbon coat hanger. It’s made from a factory second rim section, complete with Schrader valve and a spoke for the hanger.
Comments (11)
Comments Closed
coat hanger. need.
£60 for a t-shirt!
Nice detail on the coat hanger though.
Like the T-shirts but £60 is stretching things even for taste in labels.
I really don’t like those IB tees. So asking £60 for one seems a bit like producing 26-and-a-bit inch wheels and expecting me to get excited over them.
The Islabikes bike looks nice. But are they going to start doing the nice steel race bike that some of the team were riding at Mayhem? those were really nice.
IB Tshirts are often discounted, I’ve got one with the bike and a couple of others, super comfy!
oo I needs new shooz
Just been wondering what to do with my old rims…
Hope you’re going to include a Singular. Sam’s been really busy in his shed 🙂
Surly bikes linky doesn’t work
do I get a sticker? (sound like my two year old!!)
Holmesey
The icebreaker tees are a lot cheaper over here in NZ, which makes a change for once