Somewhere in the world, lots of people are buying stuff, apparently. People are fighting over cut price electronic gadgets that will toast their breakfast waffles while simultaneously straightening their hair. Others are buying three heated footstools for in the living room, because at 70% off RRP you might as well have one for you, one for them, and one for the cat, right? And it still only costs as much as if you’d only bought one, which did seem like quite a lot for something you’d never realised you needed but it’s 70% off and they didn’t have any kettles (which you did need) left.
Some of these things are going to get placed into gift bags and given to you by well meaning relatives. The entire church hall raffle economy depends on people buying ridiculous quantities of ridiculous stuff, and for some unfathomable reason, they’re all buying it today. Don’t be those people. Step away from the footspa and the massage seatcover.
Besides, you’re going to need your money, for stuff for you. You went to work, you earned the cash, you sat in the office or slaved on the shop floor to make it. You could have been like Mr Ultraromance, worked as little as possible and lived off beans, and spent much more of your life riding. But instead you supported your dependants, earned enough to wear a full complement of clothes a little more often than Bene and pay for boring but important stuff like dental work and Council Tax. So why shouldn’t you spend a little on yourself? Maybe there’s something in the list below that will take your fancy? Maybe there’s something that has been stupidly reduced in the name of the Friday whose colour we shall not mention?
Maybe you are protesting the import of rampant consumerism and are on a strict buy nothing day. Maybe you’re spending the day tweeting about how you’re not buying anything and the only gifts you’re giving this year will be some home made wine made from fruits gathered by your own fair hand from your local hedgerows. There’s an elderflower cordial for the the children too, although the only elderflowers you could find were growing along the side of the M4, so the lead content might be quite high.
Or maybe you’re here just hiding from it all. In which case, when you’re done reading what lies ahead, you might like to come back to this. Any blank pages, typographical errors or general cock ups contained in the magazine which we sent to the printer this week have absolutely nothing to do with this. Nope. We’ve not been distracted at all. Total focus. When we saw that hill on the trail we didn’t find ourselves pressing our middle finger in an effort to press the up key into pedalling harder. Not us…much.
But before you get on with whatever you’re doing, be that actual functional tasks or functional task avoidance, let us get on with the only Friday that is of any importance. It knows no colour, and rarely causes public fights. It’s Fresh Goods Friday!
Giant Anthem 1
- Price: £3349
- From: Giant Bicycles
This, is the brand new 2017 Giant Anthem. It’s had a serious re-work over the last model, and is basically super-dooper new from the ground-up. Available in alloy and carbon versions, we’ve got the Anthem 1 on test, which is the top-spec version with the Alluxx alloy frame. It’s got 110mm of rear travel, 27.5in wheels, and a 120mm travel Fox 34 on the front.
A Giant Anthem, the day after Thanksgiving. An excuse to link to this.
The new Trunnion mount features at the core of the updated Maestro suspension system, which now delivers 110mm of travel over the old Anthem’s 100mm. Wanna know if it makes a difference? Then make sure you’ve subscribed before Sunday night to get your copy of Issue 110 to find out what Wil thinks of this new set up.
The composite Trunnion mount has changed the way the shock can be mounted, as well as being stronger and lighter than the old alloy version. It’s also got blue bits on it, so there’s another feature for ya.
Full Shimano Deore XT M8000 drivetrain and brake setup on the Giant Anthem 1. For the same monies, you can get the Anthem Advanced, which comes with a lower-spec groupset, but the lighter carbon frame. In total, there are 6 different Anthems, so there’s likely to be one that’ll play to your budget.
While most brands are spec’ing the smaller 11-42t cassette on their XC bikes, Giant has enlisted the low-gearing assistance of Shimano’s new 11-46t Deore XT cluster. That’s some big ol’ sprockets right there!
Regardless of price, all Giant Anthem models come spec’d with an alloy one-piece swingarm. It’s got a sleek bolt-up axle out back, which locks down the 148x12mm rear hub. The additional Boost offset used on the Anthem 1’s drivetrain has allowed Giant to shorten the chainstay to a snug 420mm. Toight like a toiger!
Tubeless tyres come spec’d front and rear on the Anthem 1, with a Nobby Nic up front and a faster Racing Ralph out back. Wheels are Giant’s own XCR1 model, which features a carbon fibre rim with a 27mm internal width. They’re tubeless compatible, and they’re laced to straight-pull hubs with DT Swiss freehub guts.
Despite being known as an XC race bike, the Anthem has stepped up its trail credentials for 2017 with a 750mm wide riser bar, a short 60mm stem, and an internally routed dropper post. We’re liking XC more and more these days.
Travel is also pumped up on the front of the Anthem, with a chunky Fox 34 delivering 120mm of slidey-ness. All blacked out because, well hey, it’s Black Friday! Or something…Yeah, we’ll work on those segues for you…
The Giant Anthem 1 will be featured in the Issue 110 bike test, where it’ll be saddling up alongside the Trek Fuel EX and the Specialized Camber in a battle of the big names.
Spank Spoon Pedals
- Price: £70.00
- From: Hotlines
14mm thick CNC’d aluminium pedals with ten pins per side, coming in three different sizes – these are Large. As you can see you install the pins yourself with the tools provided. The pedals have chamfered leading and side edges for improved clearance when cornering. Get your lean on.
Nukeproof Horizon Pro Flat Pedals
- Price: £74.99
- From: Hotlines
Black anodised alloy platform and adjustable black pins for a stealthy set of foot podiums. Yes, we did just make that up. A couple of folks in the office are very keen on these, and they’re going into our flat pedal grouptest. By the time you see these again they’ll have been thoroughly ground through all that a UK winter has to offer.
NS Bikes Radiance Flat Pedals
- Price: £89.99
- From: Hotlines
Glowing as if from an inner warmth, these fluorescent orange CNC machined monsters have 11 replaceable pins per side. Once again they’re off to the grouptest – will they still be hurting our eyes with their brightness when we see them again?
Endura Windchill II Jacket
- Price: £79.99
- From: Endura
We know you love to see what poses Wil can come up with, so here he is in a very bright windproof jersey.
As well as being windproof, it has a waterproof stretch front and sleeves, and thermal Roubaix underarm, side and back. Cosy.
Long back to keep you bottom warm, or to make sure the person behind you isn’t having an eyeful of butt-meets-back. Available in other colours if commuter-visible is not your thing. Now what is Wil up to? What is coming next?
Endura Thermolite Biblong
- Price: £72.99
- From: Endura
Biblong is not in fact a small town in Australia, but are thermal bib tights with vest back and reflective flashes. Intended for wearing with additional clothing on the top half of your body.
We should probably introduce Wil to baselayers. But at least his legs are warm, and his knees protected by double thickness fabric.
Shimano SM-SH51 Cleats
- Price: £14.99
- From: Madison
Yes these aren’t very exciting, but we do feature everything that we are sent that we’ve not paid for. And these are the cleat of choice for a few folks at ST Towers, so we’re very glad that the kind people at Madison have sent us a little box full, as we’ve a whole bunch of new winter boots coming in that are going to need cleats.
Lezyne Sabre Tyre Levers
- Price: £17.99
- From: Upgrade Bikes
These are heavy duty tyre levers, pedal spanners and a bottle opener all rolled into one. Or two, as they come in pairs. No snapping of stupid front of magazine freebie tyre lever nonsense with a pair of these. May also be put to use in the office opening beers…but wait…
Lezyne Classic Pedal ROD
- Price: £22.99
- From: Upgrade Bikes
…another bottle opener, with additional spanner function. Rory at Upgrade Bikes saw us making a meal of opening beers on Fresh Goods Friday Live and figured we needed a better tool for the job. The size of the thing really isn’t done justice here, so tune in to Fresh Goods Friday Live to see it in action. Wil’s hands are not small, this thing is big.
Lezyne CNC Pedal Rod
- Price: £29.99
- From: Upgrade Bikes
Another bottle opener, sorry pedal wrench, this time with a CNC machined aluminium handle. Feels like it might come in handy for chasing off ramraiders too. We’re really quite excited about opening beer later thanks to these fine tools.
Stanton Super Series Grips
- Price: £20
- From: Stanton Bikes
Lock on grips with integrated alloy bar ends and tacky rubber to keep your hands where you need them.
Stanton Rigel Saddle
- Price: £55
- From: Stanton Bikes
This is a racing saddle, so you’ll be too focused on going fast to wonder whether its name rhymes with wriggle or Nigel. Titanium rails for weight conscious racing snakes, and available in a range of colours for image conscious racing poodles.
Stanton Slackline 853 Frame
- Price: £599
- From: Stanton Bikes
Ooh, another bike! Well, almost a bike. This is Jason Miles’ new long term test toy, and he’ll be playing out on this 27.5 or 27.5+ ready steel machine just as soon as he’s built it all up.
The frame is made with new Reynolds 853 DZB triple button down tube and top tube, a Reynolds 631 44mm head tube and Reynolds 525 seat and chainstays. The aim is to deliver a bike that is comfortable for all day rides, but can still tackle the technical stuff with confidence.
What do you think Jason should build this new frame up with? It’ll take up to a 140mm travel fork, and it’s got loads of tyre clearance, so there’s certainly some options there. Maybe a 26+ front wheel for extra comfort, with a 700x40c rear tyre for cutting through the mud and laying the power down? You know, dragster style?
OWN FR-01 Boots
- Price: €220
- From: Only What’s Necessary
A new take on flat pedal shoes? We are intrigued, and there’s been a fair bit of passing these round the office for closer inspection. OWN stands for Only What’s Necessary, and shoes are pretty necessary if you don’t want your feet to get fraye at the edges, or very very cold. So what’s the deal?
These are a ‘modular’ shoe, with a main, tough outer shoe, and separate soft inners, of which there are two. One inner is a breathable quick drying air mesh for warmer weather, while the other is a weather resistant, fleece lined softshell for not so warm weather. Both liners have D30 Decell B impact protection foam in the bottom. Apparently designed so as not to absorb water, these are supposed to be quick and easy to clean and dry. Somehow we think we’ll get plenty of chance to test that side of things out.
Shimano Boots XM9 SPD Shoes
- Price: £179.99
- From: Madison
Not actually walking boots, although they should be comfortable for any hike a bike that comes your way, these are boots for all weathers and all adventures. Waterproof and breathable and heading towards Chipps’ feet.
Source Hipster Hydration Belt
- Price: £79.99
- From: Ison Distribution
This is a pack that you wear on your hips, not a pack for carrying your craft ales. Although Source does promise that the bladder has special no plastic taste properties, so maybe you could still pick out the hop and citrus flavours. The harness can be removed if you don’t need the extra stability it provides.
This pack comes with a single reservoir, however you can opt for a version with two sections so you can have one for water and one for juice, or energy drink, or beer.
Ridden Crest Sweatshirt
- Price: £29.99
- From: Ridden
This sweatshirt has come in from Ridden, who are the makers of many rather fetching clothing and gifts inspired by cycling. This sweatshirt has escaped from the Advent Giveaway which is starting next, but there are other goodies to be won coming your way. Tshirts from Ridden are made to order, so if you want to get one delivered before Christmas get cracking and get your order in.
Ridden Posters
- Price: £14.99
- From: Ridden
More escapees from the Advent Box Of Love. If you want to avoid another pair of slippers and a ‘Best of Top Gear’ DVD, then get yourself over to Ridden’s website and pick a few links to send to the kind of people that usually give you such rubbish.
Seriously, starting next week there’s going to be some great stuff up for grabs. From small gifts for keen riders like those offered by Ridden, to big tech components and clothing. Tune in to Facebook Live or check out the daily stories on our website to find out how to enter our daily competitions.
And there you have it. A selection of deliciously fresh goods to savour and whet your appetite for a weekend of bikes, mates, and all-round good times! In the typical Fresh Goods Friday spirit, we have a toe-tapping musical package to help ease you through the rest of your Saturday-eve, and seamlessly into the weekend. Given we’re up to our necks in the midst of deadline week, this remix of Foal’s ‘Late Night’ is also a very appropriate tune that we’re dedicating to our editorial team who have been enduring minimal sleep in order to get the new issue into your hot little hands.
Speaking of, if you love what we do and you want to help support Singletrack so that we can continue modelling cycling apparel and accessories in an inappropriate fashion that other publications have far too much pride to do, then have a look at our subscription options.
ST out.
Comments (9)
Comments Closed
Wil wins model of the week. Chipps really needs to up his game. Hannah and Wil have raised the bar.
Stanton frames 15% off just now.
You playing ‘snog, marry, avoid’ footflaps? 🙂
No updated 29er Anthem then?
continually surprised by the price of pedals, is it me or do they seem over inflated compared to other components?
Im with you Jekkyl. Although Im strictly a Shimano PD 540 kind of chap, I dont get flats or just how much they cost for the same design from each funky CNC house banging them out.
A tune I actually want to listen to this week.
Winner.
Marvellous to see a clip of Jimi Hendrix. Did you know he played at the Odeon in Bolton on April 14 1967. Sadly I was only 12 and could not go. Saw him live on Top of The Pops.
Hope do a nice beer bottle opener and only a fiver.
My mum was at the Hendrix concert in Bolton. A bit before my time but she did take me to a Shakin Stevens concert later in life.