Fresh Goods Friday 591: looking out for bluebells edition

by and 27

Although the pesky wall calendar may claim that it’s not spring until March 27th or something ri-dic-u-lous, we’ve already spotted bluebell shoots er, shooting up. So it’s spring. Deal with it, calendar people.

Despite everything, the mail does not stop. Here is a selection of stuff that’s arrived (or finally allowed to be revealed) at ST HQ this week…

More 80s-ness synth-crooning chinky-ness, for those who like that sort of thing

SRAM GX Eagle AXS Upgrade Kit, GX Cassette & XX1 Chain

  • Price: AXS Upgrade Kit £554.00, GX Cassette £206, XX1 Chain £77
  • From: sram.com

Pink and black. Very Coco.

Destined for Ross’ Raaw Madonna. The GX AXS Upgrade kit is the more affordable way to go electric. It includes the rear mech, shifter, battery and charger so is based around utilising your existing cranks, cassette and chain – only changing the battery powered components. One thing’s for certain, it’s certainly quicker to mount to a bike than a cable-actuated (ugh, how primitive) drivetrain.

SRAM Code RSC brakes

Leverz
HS2 rotorz

Similarly Madonna-bound, these stoppers are in for a reet ol’ thrashing as part of our ongoing 4-pot disc brake group test.

Ohlins RXF 34 m.2

Swedish squish

New 120 or 130mm travel downcountry fork. We’ve had this fork for a few weeks now but it was Super Ultra Top Secret until this week. Read our review here.

Spolier: it is really good and really, really expensive.

Specialized Camber helmet

Fabric conditioner, model’s own

This is the Specialized helmet that I [Benji] hasn’t smashed into the ground, yet. See below for the other Spesh lid that wasn’t quite so lucky.

The none-more-lofty fix-position peak is something of an opinion splitter. Well, actually I’ve found anyone who actively ‘likes’ it yet but the search goes on. It is rather odd. It’s demonstrated to me that I never knew just how much I use/appreicate the peak on my helmets until it was effectively ‘gone’.

To be fair, I think the high peak design is entirely based around ventilation. Further test riding required.

Anyway, I think I prefer the colourway (yes, colourway) of this Camber. And I think it’s fits my noggin a bit better too. You can read the deets of this lid here.

Altura Cave Softshell Hoodie

Techno fluffs

A softshell hoodie is a very useful garment. Although I hardly ever ride in one, there’s nothing better for wearing before/after a chilly ride. Or doing some al fresco bike wrenching/washing.

Seventy quid strikes me as pretty good value too.

GeoMetron G1 Hybrid

Look at the GeoMetry on that!

Another item we’ve had for a while but haven’t put in Fresh Goods up until now. There’s no secret embargo to blame. It’s me [Benji] to blame. I just can’t stop riding this bike. I’ve had to eventually leave it at Singletrack Towers so I can get on with riding other test bikes.

This G1 is a mixed wheel 162mm travel, coil sprung rear (air fork) mountain bike from the warped mind of Chris Porter and co.

It will come as no surprise that this bike is very capable downhill. What may come as a surprise to hear is how lovely it is as a cross country bike.

It is a real preconception buster. Including my own.

Full review in our mullet bike test in the mag soon.

Specialized Ambush 2 helmet

This is the helmet that I [Benji] stacked big-time whilst wearing. What can I say? Well, it did its principal job admirably. The three rides I did in it before smashing it were fine too.

Unfortunately I now can’t play the piano.

I never could before the crash though.

LifeLine Pro Trainer Table

This stand-up desk is ideal for those of us that WFH. There’s a beer caddy, universal socket, two USB ports, an under-table cable tidy, and a nice grippy rubber patch for your laptop/cereal bowl. There are also two generous-sized book/kindle/phone holders. If you’re a member of the STW Zwift club, you could also use it on your turbo trainer.

LifeLine Pro Bearing Press Kit

I (Amanda) have just become the friend with the bearing press. I have a friend with a BB removal tool, another friend with a vice and hacksaw, and several other friends with many other specific tools. Collectively, we can all maintain our bikes now. If you’ve got a good group of riding friends, you don’t need to spend a fortune on All The Tools, just share!

LifeLine Pro Sliding T Bar Hex Set

These tools are not for sharing.

Exposure RedEye Micro Rear Light

If you have a head-mounted Exposure light, such as a Diablo or Zenith, this little add-on is fantastic. A rear light that never needs charging, as it piggybacks off your front light. It also means you don’t need to get frustrated trying to push the rubber goober back into the charging socket.

Singletrack Recycled Bottle Opener Dog Collars

Clunk-click every sniff

Waterproof, no stink upcycled backing is Sustainable & Eco-friendly. Latch-lock metal buckle is 4 times stronger than plastic buckles. ID Spot separate tab loop. 1000 times less bacterial growth than standard nylon collars means no odour, even after hours of wet play. Guaranteed Fun, Safe, Tough.

Pup-Top Bottle Opener – There is a bottle opener at the human end. Available in medium and large.

Thread of the Week

This week’s TOTW goes to @Poopscoop for this most excellently and relentlessly entertaining typo thread. Is that a bugle in your pocket or…? thought-provoking fact-fest…

This week’s #STWFGF winner

Tag us on Instagram and/or Twitter – and win stuff!

Every week we running a competition over on Instagram and Twitter to win a free subscription to Singletrackworld (or some other item of merchandise if you’re already a subscriber/member).

Simply tag your riding pics with #STWFGF on Instagram or Twitter and… that’s it.

We sift through the tagged candidates at the end of each week and pick a winner. The winning #STWFGF pic gets proudly displayed in Fresh Goods Friday.

Congratulations go to @drmuch1978 for this winning shot. Email editorial@singletrackworld.com we’ll sort you out with your prize.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by lewis deacon (@drmush1978)

Nights over Egypt Hebden Bridge.

It probably is time to get lifted. Thanks George.

See you ALL next week. We’ll be taking a register.

Author Profile Picture
Amanda Wishart

Art Director

Amanda is our resident pedaller, who loves the climbs as much as the descents. No genre of biking is turned down, though she is happiest when at the top of a mountain with a wild descent ahead of her. If you ever want a chat about concussion recovery, dealing with a Womb of Doom or how best to fuel an endurance XC race, she's the one to email.

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Home Forums Fresh Goods Friday 591: looking out for bluebells edition

Viewing 27 posts - 1 through 27 (of 27 total)
  • Fresh Goods Friday 591: looking out for bluebells edition
  • lewisdeacon
    Full Member

    Thanks for choosing my post for #STWFGF will be in touch via email

    dirkpitt74
    Full Member

    I have the lifeline hex set – brilliant, really well mad and a super nice fit.

    footflaps
    Full Member

    What’s going on with the two larger sized “LifeLine Pro Sliding T Bar Hex Set”? Some weird twist…

    Rubber_Buccaneer
    Full Member

    This week’s TOTW goes to @Poopscoop for this most excellently and relentlessly entertaining typo thread. Is that a bugle in your pocket or…?

    You haven’t read it have you, couldn’t possibly be a lazy copy and paste 🤣

    Rubber_Buccaneer
    Full Member

    What’s going on with the two larger sized “LifeLine Pro Sliding T Bar Hex Set”? Some weird twist…

    Extractor for bolts that have seen a little ham fistedness. Not just the largest two just that someone hasn’t lined all the tools up nicely so it’s on the far side of the next size down

    colin9
    Full Member

    I’ve had an Exposure RedEye for years, brilliant for winter commuting. Really bright.

    belugabob
    Free Member

    Delirium Tremens during a turbo session – what could possibly go wrong?

    Yes, I am geeky enough (and not just about Belgian beers) to spot that without zooming in

    amandawishart
    Full Member

    @footflaps That’s good engineering! They’re strong in the undo direction. The other side of the T-Bar is a regular hex. Rumour has it, I won’t be able to thread bolts so easily with this set…

    chrismac
    Full Member

    Im liking the look of the bearing press kit

    tthew
    Full Member

    I’ve been mulling over a set of Park T bar Allen keys, (yeah Allen keys, I know it’s a trade name, but we don’t own a Hoover either, yet still have one) for a while.
    Luckily I’ve never gone there as those Lifeline ones look awesomely the same, loads cheaper and include the additional Torx driver. Excellent.

    doomanic
    Full Member

    The price of the GX AXS kit and the picture don’t tell the whole story. The cassette is about £90 and no idea on the cost of the chain, but that lot combined certainly isn’t £554!

    singletrackross
    Full Member

    @doomanic – the RRP of the GX AXS upgrade kit is definitely £554, and that actually doesn’t include the cassette. The rear mech alone has an RRP of £342 (and that’s not including the battery), the shifter is over £140, then you’ve got the battery, chain etc.

    dirkpitt74
    Full Member

    Matthew Hornby
    I’ve been mulling over a set of Park T bar Allen keys, (yeah Allen keys, I know it’s a trade name, but we don’t own a Hoover either, yet still have one) for a while.
    Luckily I’ve never gone there as those Lifeline ones look awesomely the same, loads cheaper and include the additional Torx driver. Excellent.

    I originally looked for the Park ones, but no stock anywhere – and then I discovered the Lifeline ones – lots of cash saved, and a really good quality product.

    tetrode
    Full Member

    Great to see the G1 getting some love! I too have been very pleasantly surprised about how good it is at xc.

    desperatebicycle
    Full Member

    Hybrids sure don’t look like what they used to eh?! 🙂

    Wants: Lifeline bearing press kit to sit and admire.

    tthew
    Full Member

    thanks @dirkpitt74 – I’ll order a set of them over the weekend!

    doomanic
    Full Member

    @singletrackross that’s my point exactly. From the picture used people could assume that the GX AXS upgrade includes a chain and cassette, which it doesn’t.

    singletrackross
    Full Member

    @doomanic – Aha! Crossed wires! Yeah, I see that could be misleading. I shall get that updated to reflect the picture.Thanks!

    jamiestogden
    Free Member

    I like the look of that softshell hoody, how does it fit? True to size?

    doomanic
    Full Member

    Is a GX cassette really 206 quid???

    edd
    Full Member

    I’ve had an Exposure RedEye for years, and also agree that it’s brilliant. Don’t think I would want to run it as my only rear light, but it’s fantastic as a second rear light and being head mounted is probably more visible for drivers.

    davros
    Full Member

    I’ve got that bearing kit, it makes the job so much easier with proper tools. Maybe a bit expensive for what it is. But good to know I’ve got every bearing size covered. Coupled with a nice kinetic bearing tool and some expanding collet extractors, I think I’ve got it all covered now.

    Kryton57
    Full Member

    I’ve got money burning a hole in my pocket for a road bike I don’t need, and a wobbly GX mech on my Scott Spark.

    Looking at you GX upgrade kit…

    endomick
    Free Member

    Did Parks lawyers have anything to do with the colour change to black on those lifeline sliding T bars.

    alanclarke
    Full Member

    Another long time owner of redeye back light – good but can also confirm
    will piss off rider behind you,
    has no off switch,
    easily fits in zipped jersey pocket,
    survives cool washing machine cycle

    ktache
    Free Member

    I had one of those micro redeye on my axis, good but of course it fell off, managed to find a full size redeye, helmet mounted with short cable, maybe the last in the country as exposure discontinued them. Much better, brighter, and I could make a lanyard to keep it which I couldn’t do for the micro.

    Northwind
    Full Member

    So will Chris Porter ever admit he was talking absolute shite about 29er wheels?

Viewing 27 posts - 1 through 27 (of 27 total)

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