Merida Ninety Six 8000

Fresh Goods Friday 528 – THE One Where We ASK you QUESTIONS

Fresh Goods

by 27

We are going to start this week’s Fresh Goods Friday with a survey. The results will be sent to Mark, Chipps, Zoe, their MPs, your MP, and your parents.

How do You FeeL abOut Fresh Goods Friday?

  • A) indifferent
  • B) what is it
  • C) shocked and outraged

FROM RECENT MEDIA REPORTS, UNELECTED SPECIAL ADVISORS IN NO 10 ARE INFLUENCING THE ROLL OUT OF NEW CYCLE STANDARDS. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

  1. worried
  2. concerned
  3. shocked and outraged
  4. sweaty and excited

OVERALL HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE PERFORMANCE OF FRESH GOODS FRIDAY?

  • A) Below par
  • B) OUTSTANDING
  • C) God Save The Queen
  • D) shocking and outrageous

Since we know you love surveys, Especially REALLY Well DESIGNED OneS, then might we invite those of you with a spare few moments to complete this one? You could either fill it in seriously, or join the Forum and share your wilder answers. But do that in another tab, because there is important reading to be done here, and a not entirely random mix of tunes to exercise your ears.

Merida Ninety-Six 8000

  • Merida Ninety Six 8000
  • Merida Ninety Six 8000
  • Merida Ninety Six 8000

The 2021 Merida Ninety-Six 8000 stands out as a new wave Cross Country bike designed for the rider who likes to flick into corners, hop off lips and generally ride a little harder than your average trail centre warrior. Not so much a ‘down-country bike’ but rather an aggressive XC bike or XCX maybe?

The stunning blue frame is entirely made of carbon fibre and is made for weight and efficiency while not giving up tyre clearance. Out of the box the 8000 comes fitted with burly Maxxis Minion DHR II tyres front and rear, and while those discs are a little tiny the front brake is an uprated 4 pot. The carbon theme continues with a carbon bar and a pair of lightweight Reynolds carbon wheels. The Sid up-front gives the Ninety-Six 8000 120mm of front wheel travel while the rear end has 100mm of bounce on tap, and there’s a lockout at either end too for even faster fire road sprints.

PNW Loam Dropper Post and Lever

  • Price: £180ish for the post
  • From: PNW

Announced last month, the new PNW Loam Dropper post has arrived from the Pacific North West. It comes in three diameters (though not 27.2) and several lengths. Being from the colder, wetter bit of the States, it features lower viscosity oil for better performance in the cold and weather-sealed seals. And that little rubber ring at the base of the post can be changed to match your bike.

Canyon Stoic 4

This week’s new release from Canyon, it’s a hardcore hardtail that will surely appeal to many. Our medium here has 29in wheels and 140mm travel, as do all size Medium to XL. Size 2XS to Small get 27.5in wheels and 150mm travel. That’s quite a lot of bike. This is the top end model and there are three in the range, starting at £849 for the Stoic 2. Go check out our review.

Singletrack Magazine Issue 134

  • Price: £7.50 (before Member Discounts!)
  • From: Singletrack

The latest issue of Singletrack Magazine just landed, along with free 2021 calendar. Grab yourself a copy now, or give one as a Sub In A Box gift subscription, and get planning the year ahead.

398 Clothing

398 Clothing is a new UK based clothing brand that focuses on casual clothing that looks great on and off the bike. Their current range includes hoodies, shirts and socks but soon they’ll also be offering technical riding gear.

398 say that they’ve designed their kit to feel soft and comfortable even after multiple rides and washes, and if you like the look of their kit you can save a cool 10% off using the code SINGLETRACK10.

Tommy C Hype X Unite Custom Top Cap

Unite is a UK based manufacturer of components from stems and bars to chainguides and custom top caps. We’re not saying that this particular top cap is any different to the one that you probably have, it’s not going to make you a YouTube star or add a new missing element to your riding, but they do look cool and make great stocking fillers.

SKS AirSpy

  • Price: £109.99
  • From: Zyro
  • sks airspy
  • sks airspy
  • sks airspy

The SKS AirSpy is a tyre pressure spy that sits on your rims and keeps tabs on your tyres as you ride. The simple, but smart, little device fastens to your valve then monitors the air pressure on the fly. The AirSpy is equipped with Bluetooth so it can communicate with smartphones and watches via the SKS MyBike App. As well as being a handy tyre monitor, the system can also be used to ensure your tyres are at the optimal pressures when seated.

SKS Airworx Plus 10.0

  • Price: £59.99
  • From: Zyro

It was about time Andi upgraded his Aldi special track pump to something more sturdy so he’s just recieved the SKS Airworx Plus 10.0. This pump is longer than your normal track pump which we assume gives it more capacity but also means Andi doesn’t have to bend his old back quite as low while using it. The construction is super solid with a large steel footplate and soft rubber handle for all-day pumping comfort. Looking at the callouses in the pictures above, we think this may be superfluous.

Ashwagandha

  • Price: £4.99 (usually £8.99)
  • From: Grapetree

Definitely not to be taken if you’re pregnant, but otherwise claiming to offer better nights of sleep, reduced anxiety and increased muscle strength, this food supplement is based on traditional Aryuvedic treatments from India. Charlie says he’ll take one with his morning coffee to help him lift all the parcels he’s got to take to the post office. Have you got your orders in? Don’t delay!

Member Discounts on Whisky and Wine

  • corney barrow wine
  • lake distillery whisky

Charlie says: As “Overlord of Leftovers & Member Benefits”, I have selflessly negotiated two more great drinks offers for Singletrack Members this festive season.

Corney & Barrow have been damned fine winemongers since 1780, and after three delightful bottles, I think they are the best winemongers to ever monger wine. They are generously are offering 10% off their really rather brilliant wines this December (see the members section for T&C’s).

Next up: Chipps, Editor and general alcohol taster here at Singletrack introduced himself to The Lakes Distillery for issue 130. Now you wouldn’t want any old untested, 20% off booze offer, so Chipps bravely put Singletrack Members before caution and organs, and selflessly conducted in-depth product testing. We really do look after you lot. Where would you be without us doing all this product testing for you? Again, check out the Members Area for T&Cs.

And don’t forget the North Uist Distillery and Crafty AF Beer, also in the Members Area. With all this fine wine and spirits flowing, there is nothing I like to do more than relax by the fire with a charming song about whisky and wine from the popular pop duo “Ween”. Fun pop fact: Dean and Gene Ween went on to inspire the conception of Sponge Bob Square Pants. And now we know that, we are all a little bit smarter.

Onza Porcupine Tyres

  • Onza Porcupine
  • Onza Porcupine
  • Onza Porcupine

The classic tyre is back! Available in classic colours, and with little cutesy porcupines on between the knobs, but with new school tread pattern and tyre technology. Because maybe function is at least as important as form? These are now available in the UK through Cyclorise, who seem to be acquiring quite a range of brands that will appear to the enthusiast/nerd. The Porcupines are only available in 25.5 and 29in sizes though – no 26in – so the retro nerds will have to remain disappointed.

Discarded Banana Peel Rum

Healthy rum. Rum worthy of featuring in a breakfast smoothie.

We’re off to ask Amanda a few questions about her diet. Here’s some music discovered following a key word search. Actually strangely good with headphones.

What is Fresh Goods Friday?

It’s Singletrack’s long running, weekly roundup of all of the new products that have been sent in to the magazine.

Where do all of the goods come from?

They’re sent in by bike companies and marketing agencies

What happens to all of the products?

They’re featured and then some are reviewed down the line in either Singletrack Magazine or in online reviews and photoshoots.

What happens to them when you’ve finished with them?

They’re usually sent back after review, or kept on long-term test bikes. But no one ever asks for shorts and shoes back. Trust us on that. Once we were asked to return some brake pads.

I’m a company making the next big thing. How much does it cost to feature in FGF?

Nothing. Nil. Zero. Diddlysquat. Sod all. Just send all ‘next big things’ to us at – Fresh Goods Friday, Singletrack Magazine, Lockside Mill, Dale Street, Todmorden. OL14 5PX. Please note that if you require the products back after they have featured then you are responsible for arranging collection at your cost. While it is our policy to feature everything we receive in FGF if we decide your product is not suitable for publication we won’t do it. Publication is at our discretion. Whether a product goes on for publication as a review is at editorial discretion. Beer, coffee & spirits will ALWAYS be tested.

Author Profile Picture
Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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