Prepare yourself. Get some popcorn and a brew, because you’re in for a long one. Hannah has been to visit her boyfriend Impact Sun Valley in Idaho, Amanda has been to Bike Connection in Andalo, Dolomites, and Mark is on the train to Verbier. Products from all over the globe!
Shand Shug
- Price: £1595.00 Frame & Cane Creek Helm Fork
- From: Shand Cycles
This is for the upcoming bike test in issue 126 of Singletrack Magazine. Who can guess the theme? This Shand Shug has been built up for testing by Antony, designed to take either 29×2.6″ tyres or 27.5×3.0″ tyres under the 130mm Cane Creek Helm. Shand claim to be keeping things simple by only offering a frame and fork package, but with 31 frame colour choices you’ve got more to worry about than what groupset you get.
Hayes Dominion A4 Brakes
- Price: £199.99 per brake (+£44.99 per rotor)
- From: Hotlines UK
Tuned for the shortest dead stroke possible with a crisp bite point, the Dominion A4 is a four piston brake with a tool free reach adjust, a dual port bleed system and a really nice bronze finish.
Coupled with the Hayes D-Series rotor it’s claimed they manage heat with less braking noise by cancelling out noise and vibration. We’ll let David put them to the test.
ProTaper Carbon Riser Bar & Alloy Stem
- Price: £134.99 Bars, £69.99 Stem
- From: Hotlines UK
These carbon riser bars feature a 4 degree upsweep, 20 degree backsweep, 12.7mm rise and are available from 740mm up to 810mm. The stem is a light yet stiff 3D forged and machined 6061 alloy.
Sun Ringle Duroc Pro Wheels
- Price: £329.99 (front), £499.99 (rear)
- From: Hotlines UK
2020 RockShox Reverb Stealth Dolomites Souvenir
- Price: €12.50
- From: RockShox
Amanda was supposed to bring a 175mm 2020 RockShox Reverb Stealth back from Bike Connection, but due to a miscommunication she was gifted… this. We’re a bit scared. Will they come to life next full moon and savage our ankles?
High Above Lookout Pack with Fidlock Tex Base
- Price: €140.00 for a custom design, $11.99 for Tex Base
- From: High Above / Fidlock
Hannah brought this back from Idaho, where Fidlock was one of the brands showing their wares. That’s the black plastic ‘Tex Base’ panel you see on the hip there – it has magnets in it that allow you to twist and lock your water bottle in place, very firmly. So firmly that if you fly through the air while wearing just this hip pack and a bikini, when you crawl out of the boulder field landing you’ll find that your bottle of fresh lime juice is still firmly attached. Do not apply said lime juice to the wounds.
Rudy Project Duffel 43
- Price: $149
- From: Rudy Project
Helpfully provided to help carry back all the haul of many things from Impact Sun Valley was this 43l duffel bag with waterproof zip. Luckily it didn’t rain. Though it did snow, on midsummer’s day. Gah.
Showers Pass IMBA Shorts
- Price: £74
- From: Showers Pass
These are floaty light shorts with a pocket just big enough for an iPhone 7+ in a case. The rear fabric is slightly tougher to keep things modest after many miles of pedalling in all conditions. There’s a cheeky message in the fly too.
Go-Ride Bike Shop Jersey
- Price: tbc
- From: Go-Ride
Hannah was slightly overwhelmed by this pair of bike shops in Salt Lake City. The north store has the most amazing workshop she has ever seen, and the south store has a display of full suspension frames from The Depths Of Time. Amanda is jealous of this jersey because it matches her tattoo.
Zoic Navaeh Shorts and Jerra Print Jersey
- Price: $70 (shorts, no liner), $75 (jersey)
From: Zoic
Lightweight shorts with adjustable waist, plus a 3/4 sleeved technical jersey, perfectly matched to blend into one another. And is that a geometric hypno owl we see in the black and white area? Don’t look into its eyes…
Wild Rye Vicuña Tank
- Price: $28
- From: Wild Rye
A vest with a llama on! Whoop! Or, if you’re American, a tank. Riding in a tank is very popular in the USA. Hannah tried it. She now has a bit less skin. Ouch. Read about Wild Rye here, then go to the USA on a nice riding holiday so you can buy some new kit.
Wild Rye Freel Short
- Price: $119
- From: Wild Rye
Nicely tailored shorts with a thigh pocket to fit a big phone, and just enough baggy to get a knee pad under them. Apologies, but they’re not actually that fresh in this picture, because Hannah wore them five days in a row. What a minger.
Zoic Women’s Impact Shorts
- Price: $55
- From: Zoic
This is the first impact short with a women’s specific chamois that Hannah has encountered. Shame she wasn’t wearing them over her bikini when she landed in that rock garden…
Showers Pass Recycled 2 litre dry bag
- Price: £13
- From: Showers Pass
This is a 2 litre dry bag made from recycled waterproof fibres, because that’s the kind of practical, sustainable product Showers Pass likes to make. You should read all about Showers Pass here, if you haven’t already.
Showers Pass Crosspoint Lightweight Waterproof Socks
- Price: £31
- From: Showers Pass
Hannah has had the camp version of these and really rates them. There are no seams, the three layers are sort of extruded and then heat treated together, with the waterproof membrane as the jam in the sandwich.
Let’s have a brief musical interlude on this odyssey. And a health warning. It’s tick season. On this trip, Hannah got to use her tick tweezers – because she’s the kind of mum-person that carries such things around. We’re not sure who was more delighted, the tick’s lunch, or Hannah, for having that ‘I’ve got exactly the right tool for this job’ moment. Get yourself tick tweezers, and check yourself for the little suckers. Correct removal reduces the chance of them passing unpleasant things like Lyme’s Disease on to you.
Chicken Line Trail Hunter Jersey
- Price: €55.00
- From: Chicken Line
Named as such to ’empower women’, which may be lost in translation, but don’t let a name mask the quality of this kit. Designed in Milan, Italy, Chicken Line clothing has a very generous accurate fit much to the surprise of Amanda, who was concerned that her thighs wouldn’t fit in something that’s come from such a fashion-orientated part of Europe. The Trail Hunter jersey features a hidden rear zip pocket, raglan sleeves for full movement on the bike, and a stretch fabric in a very summery print.
Chicken Line Cargo Plus Light Short
- Price: €89.00
- From: Chicken Line
More from Chicken Line, here we have some ultralight all-mountain/enduro shorts with a longer inseam designed to fall at the knee. These shorts feature two side pockets big enough to store modern phones. Made from a super stretchy fabric for an unrestricted ride with an adjustable waistband, they’re so comfy you wont feel held back.
POC Crave Clarity Sunglasses
- Price: £215.00
- From: 2pure
Featuring a lightweight, flexible and durable frame with rubber that stays grippy even when wet, these uranium glasses are designed to fit perfectly with POC Tectal and Tectal Race helmets, although they look great with many others too. Available in four colours.
Nukeproof Blackline Short Sleeved Women’s Jersey
- Price: £40.00
- From: Hotlines UK
The short sleeved option in the Blackline collection from Nukeproof features a feminine cut, a bold colour block design and is made from recycled coffee based fabrics. It has a full mesh back and underarm with added elastane, making it more breathable whilst not being restrictive.
Nukeproof Blackline Long Sleeved Women’s Jersey
- Price: £45.00
- From: Hotlines UK
The long sleeved version features all the same, but with £5 worth of extra sleeves. Fun fact: the designer isn’t a mountain biker, so no inspiration is taken from other kit on the market. That might be why the designs stand out so much?
Nukeproof Nirvana Packable Jacket
- Price: £149.99
- From: Hotlines UK
Fully waterproof, lightweight and breathable jacket that packs down small so you have no excuses for a ride getting rained off. The jacket features elasticated articulated cuffs, a cinch hem and several pockets.
There’s an adjustable hood, a built in lanyard clip which doubles as a packable pouch, underarm ventilation, and a chin guard to prevent zip irritation against the skin and/or beard.
Bell Jersey
- Price: £tbc
- From: ZyroFisher
Bell has fired up the Quattro in its marketing department recently, and to support their goal of becoming ‘cool again’, they’ve gone for some bold graphics and a new slogan.
Photos don’t do this jersey justice, it’s a really good quality with mesh sections, heavy crash-friendly panels, and a good amount of stretch.
FINDRA
Mark and Vic are heading off on their holidays today. Verbier in Switzerland is their target. We say target because they are going, with two Canyon bikes, completely by train. They are riding from their front door and carrying everything with them, including this selection of Findra goodies to keep them warm in the mountains. Their journey takes them from the post industrial landscape of Burnley to Manchester – London – Paris – Lausanne – Martigny – Verbier and will feature in an upcoming issue of Singletrack. Follow their travels and battles with the public transport systems of three countries on Instagram Stories.
FINDRA Orla Print Tee
- Price: £55.00
- From: FINDRA
Made from a fast wicking, temperature regulating and odour resistance merino blend fabric with flat lock seams for comfort and durability and a women’s specific fit. Available in three colours, Vic has gone for Bronzed Green to make us all jealous.
FINDRA Skye Merino Stripe Socks
- Price: £16.00
- From: FINDRA
100% Merino wool for moisture wicking and odour resistance in a unisex fit so you can argue over them. These are a mid length sock with 4-way stretch, and are available in four stripe options and four solid colours.
FINDRA Raasay Merino-Lite Enduro Tee
- Price: £69.50
- From: FINDRA
This lightweight technical merino blend tee features an extended back, flatlock seams, reflective details and the merino blend is coupled with a fine mesh to add ventilation and breathability. Great for layering!
FINDRA
- Price: £38.00
- From: FINDRA
Sharing all the characteristics of the above, only in a flattering women’s cut and no sleeves. This is available in six colour options and they all compliment the current range, making it either impossible to choose or very easy to spend too much!
FINDRA Jura Tech Tee
- Price: £60.00
- From: FINDRA
With raglan arms, flatlock seams and a lightweight Merino blend this tee should provide both comfort and durability. Perfect for that long sweaty train journey.
Well you can’t complain about having no summer riding kit ideas, because there’s plenty up there! Now Amanda is off to Peebles to eat and maybe do some riding, and leaves you with this (frighteningly similar to her bedroom at university, bear and all):
Friday Tunes
Here’s our regular playlist of the week to go along with our Fresh Goods. Each track is picked by a staff member here in the office and added to their individual playlist over on our Spotify page. Head over there to identify exactly who is responsible for each choice.
If you’re travelling, tunes are good to drown out the sound of screaming children, boring adults, and last boarding calls. Here’s what helping the world float by this week.
The Singletrack MTB Chain
Remember to use the hashtag #themtbchain to suggest your additions. If we like your suggested tune and your reason for adding it then it will be included in the playlist.
#themtbchain on Spotify
#themtbchain on Apple Music
Check out our MTB Chain page here to keep up on the additions and to try out more of our Singletrack playlists.
All of the Singletrack staff have their own playlists that list all their choices for each FGF. So if you want to see who is responsible for which song you can find out by checking out their personal choices.
Staff playlist | James
We’re highlighting James’ playlist this week. These are the tunes that help him pack your Singletrack Shop goodies into boxes and envelopes. James is very very good at wrapping and packing. See what you think of his ability to pick a tune.
Comments (2)
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What have you done to upset Pearl Jam?
Ha that’s what I was thinking too!
Bloody youtube !!!
That Shand looks mighty attractive if it weren’t for the forks