There is basically no point in writing anything for today’s preamble, because what could possibly be more exciting than those rockets landing. If you didn’t watch that in astonishment then we’ve got no chance of ever impressing you with anything. They plummeted towards earth and then rockets fired and bits folded out and then they landed exactly where they were supposed to land and didn’t even wobble and they’re super tall and skinny and don’t look like they should be able to stand up at all never mind land themselves from a great height. Blimey. 100% pure future-is-now awe. For anyone that grew up on a diet of Thunderbirds and still can’t quite get over green screen technology, it’s boggling.
And so we shall not attempt to wow you with rockets or astrophysics. Instead, we shall help you come down from that midweek high and gently lull you towards the weekend, from the rocket-propelled heights, through Fresh Goods Friday, and into whatever the future holds for you.
Orange Stage 4 RS
- Price: £4600 (+£100 for this paint)
- From: Orange Bikes
Looking super fresh, this Stage 4 RS has been treated to a lick of ‘Mountain Mint’ paint. With 29in wheels, 120mm travel Pike fork and 110mm RockShox Deluxe RT3 shock, we’re looking forward to taking it out to the trails. It has a much lighter aesthetic to it than Oranges of old, and while you may think it’s designed as an XC sprinter we wonder if it will have a similar playfulness that it’s little brother the Orange Four had?
Next up, a whole host of parts destined to be fitted to Chipps’ Saracen frame. Let’s take a look at his build kit…
Shimano Deore XT Cranks
- Price: £129.99
- From: Madison
Shimano XT 11-46 Cassette, SLX 30t Chainring, 11spd Chain
- Price: £99.99 cassette, £34.99 Chainring, £34.99 Chain
- From: Madison
Shimano 6 Bolt Rotors
- Price: £31.99 (160mm), £34.99 (180mm)
- From: Madison
Shimano Centre Lock Rotors
- Price: £29.99 (160mm), £34.99 (180mm)
- From: Madison
Shimano Bottom Bracket
- Price: £34.99
- From: Madison
Shimano SLX Brake
- Price: £94.99 per end
- From: Madison
Shimano XT Rear Mech
- Price: £89.99
- From: Madison
Shimano XT Shifter
- Price: £54.99
- From: Madison
Elite Headset
- Price: £19.99 (lower), £14.99 (upper)
- From: Madison
Pro Lock On Race Grips
- Price: £21.99
- From: Madison
Pro Koryak 50mm Stem
- Price: £49.99
- From: Madison
Pro Koryak Dropper
- Price: £199.99
- From: Madison
Madison Prime Saddle
- Price: £39.99
- From: Madison
Maxxis Minion SS and Minion DHR II 27.5×2.3
- Price: £49.99 (DHR), £59.99 (SS)
- From: Madison
Pro Koryak 760×20 Handlebar
- Price: £54.99
- From: Madison
Phew! No doubt Chipps will be putting it all together in a last-minute frenzy the night before some event, or possibly flight. To complete the look, either while he’s building or riding, he’s got a couple of t-shirts to wear too:
Saracen Front View Bike T-shirt
- Price: £19.99
- From: Madison
Saracen Just Ride T-shirt
- Price: £19.99
- From: Madison
And when he’s finished putting it all together, he might be in need of a drink:
Gin
- Price: £nfs
- From: Kind People
A rather lovely 50th birthday present for Chipps from the folks at Madison. It’s not that bad being 50 really, is it?
Fox Suspension Clothing
- Price: £29.95 (Ride 2.0 Tee), £29.95 (Trucker cap), £14.95 (Socks)
- From: Silverfish
Since Silverfish is the new distributor of Fox suspension products, we’ve got a collection of promotional clothing. It’s a pretty cool cap, but perhaps not so much on Ross, and especially not on Hannah.
Seven iDP Arctic Glove
- Price: £19.99
- From: Seven iDP
Designed to be both water resistant and quick drying, this is a glove for when the weather is a bit pants. The neoprene uppers will get wet, but should ask like a wetsuit and keep you warmer than other sodden fabrics would.
Seven iDP Transition Glove
- Price: £19.99
- From: Seven iDP
These are pared down lightweight racing gloves designed for breathability and dexterity. With a mesh palm and perforated uppers, these look like they might also be suited to summer riders who can’t bear to ride without gloves.
Royal Racing Socks
- Price: £12.99 (Altitude, left), £9.99 (Crew, right)
- From: Royal Racing
The Altitude is made with 7% wool and 53% Dri Release for long days out, while the Crew is 37% Coolmax and 31% Cotton for cool feet on summer rides.
Royal Racing Impact and Core Jerseys
- Price: £44.99 (Impact, left), £29.99 (Core, right)
- From: Royal Racing
The Impact is made with Polygiene for smell control and has a single zipped pocket for stashing a key. The Core is a simpler jersey made from CoolDry fabric and with nice raglan casual styling.
Royal Racing Drift Jersey and Impact Shorts
- Price: £39.99 (jersey), £89.99 (shorts)
- From: Royal Racing
The Drift jersey has 3/4 sleeves and Polygiene to tackle the pongs, while the Impact shorts have a ton of ventilation and 4-way stretch fabric. Two waterproof zip pockets should keep you jelly babies dry.
Royal Racing Heritage Jerseys
- Price: £34.99 (L/S left), £29.99 (S/S, right)
- From: Royal Racing
These jerseys are made of GI+Antibacterial fabric. Other than that, there are no pockets or anything, they’re simply cut and styled jersey that won’t look out of place on the trail or on the street.
Seven iDP TShirt and Royal Racing RR99 Hoody
- Price: £24.99 (Tshirt) £49.99 (hoody)
- From: Seven iDP and Royal Racing
A simple cotton tee from Seven iDP to show your brand allegiance, plus a very warm fleecy lined hoody from Royal Racing for keeping warm post-race. Or in our studio – you might have noticed Hannah wearing one last week. Thanks to Dave for coming to visit us and show us all the new Seven iDP and Royal Racing products. What you’ve seen here are the more trail orientated items – if you want baggier and louder, check out the websites.
Royal Racing Core and Storm Shorts
- Price: £59.99 (Core, left), £89.99 (Storm, right)
- From: Royal Racing
The Core is designed as a simpler short than the Impact, with a 2-way stretch fabric and a mid-thigh waterproof pocket designed to be big enough for modern phones. The Storm Shorts have been tested by us before, and Chipps rates them highly. They’re waterproof, with taped seams and waterproof pockets – there are no updates to them from when we tested them before because they work.
Revive 185mm Dropper
- Price: From €419
- From: BikeYoke
Longer than a long thing, this is the 185mm dropper from Bike Yoke. Ours is 30.9mm diameter, but it’s also available in 34.9mm. It’s a design that doesn’t have an internal floating piston, because BikeYoke doesn’t think you can get the required reliability with that setup. Instead, it only has two dynamic seals, and in case you do get air where you don’t want it there’s an on the bike bleed/reset option called the Revive Valve. It’s designed to be low maintenance, and for the servicing that might be required, you should be able to do it yourself. Check out our review of the Revive 165 dropper post here.
Aussie Grit Flint Thermal Gilet and Flint Shorts
- Price: £125 (gilet), £149 (shorts)
- From: Aussie Grit
Hannah unboxed this kit live earlier this week if you want a closer look. It’s former Formula One driver Mark Webber’s brainchild – he’s a keen mountain biker. The range is designed to work together to deliver ‘an absence of negatives’ – which broadly translates to no annoyances, like zips that rub, pockets you can’t access, or bunching of fabric. The fit is somewhere between full tight roadie/XC Lycra and trail baggies. This gilet has thermal panels and a soft lining, but also has a decent amount of ventilation. The shorts are a one-piece inner padded liner and outer baggy, so that you don’t have lots of waistbands. Instead, there’s a wide stretchy single band that looks very comfortable, plus a drawstring to cinch it tighter if needed.
Aussie Grit Flint Shell and Flint Running Top
- Price: £220 (shell), £89 (run top)
- From: Aussie Grit
The shell jacket is waterproof and breathable with a mesh lining and waterproof zips. The front zip is offset, with zipped chest pocket, and tail gripper to stop the jacket riding up. The running jersey is 11% merino wool, for warmth and stink properties, the half zip has a ‘garage’ to protect your chin, and there are reflective strips on the shoulders.
Aussie Grit Flint Bike Jersey and Flint Light Gilet
- Price: £75 (jersey), £89 (gilet)
- From: Aussie Grit
The jersey has perforations under the arms for ventilation, three rear pockets plus a water-resistant zipper pocket, and is made with SPF 50+ protective fabric. Designed to be stretchy and not snaggy, so it’ll stay in place as you move around on the bike, and won’t get caught up and ripped on bushes. The windproof gilet has a central zip, so if you’re wearing it under the Flint Shell above, the zips are offset. This lightweight gilet has two pockets, including one with a zip, but will still pack down nice and small if you want to shove it into a jersey pocket.
And breathe.
That was a lot of product. With spring and summer entering our minds, we’ve no doubt we’ll be seeing a lot more clothing in the weeks to come, as brands release their warmer weather offerings. What will this year’s fashions hold? Signs are perhaps that we’re moving away from EnduroLoud™ to ShredStealth™ – maroons, greys, blues…the fashion police might be pleased, but it’s going to make us harder for Mountain Rescue to find.
If you’re reading this before 1.30pm, don’t forget to join us live over on YouTube. for chat, products and other nonsense.
Finally, here’s a rocket themed song for you. Not the one that’s been in your head all week.
Comments (7)
Comments Closed
32% of those socks is missing…
The RR Drift jersey is really nice, but it’s £39.99 on RR’s website and £34.99 up there ^^^^.
Surely the price of that XT chainring is a typo?
@shugglez yes, yes it is. Please can I go home now? It’s been a very long week.
@simirving *weeps a little* Is this week over yet?
Surely the price of that Fox t-shirt is a typo?
and the cap
and the socks
lolZ
in other news, looks like the earth isn’t flat after all..!