FGF 612: Very Common Not Very Wealthy Edition

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It’s a photo-heavy edition of Fresh Goods Friday this week. We hope your broadband connection or cellular data network can handle it!

Let’s hope the photos speak for themselves because our fingers are fairly worn out after a busy week of event reports, new bike launches, magazine feature writing and several million email convos.

Still, nice to be busy init? On with the Eff Gee Effing…

Kudos to the Lionesses

Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS

Straight out on to the fells

Hey look, it’s the most important bike of the decade. Why is that? Because x 5. Anyway, normally we try to wait a bit a get some fresh out-of-the-box piccies of bikes to use in FGF but… well, we couldn’t wait to get out on this bike! So some smartphone pics of an ever so slightly splattered bike will have to do.

First impressions? Trek have nailed what they set out to with this bike. Whether we agree with what they set out to do, you’ll have to wait until next week’s First Ride review.

Frog MTB 62

Another kid bike in for future Kids MTBs Buyers Guide. The Frog MTB 62 is a 24in wheel junior mountain bike. 8-10 year olds or any kid with inside leg measurement of around 62cm (hence the ’62’ name). Frog Bikes junior specific air 65mm travel suspension fork with lockout and damping control. Easy-reach junior specific hydraulic brakes. Shimano rapid-fire 9 speed shift lever. Patented Frog cranks. Quick release seat post for easy height adjustment. Kenda MTB tyres.

Look Trail flat pedals

  • Price: £149 Trail ROC+, £44.90 Trail Fusion
  • From: Look Cycle

Two new flat pedal designs from the inventors of clipless pedals. The Trail Fusion is the composite flatties. More affordable, average kinda size (107 x 105mm), 161g (each!), 18mm thick, green/blue/red/purple/black options. The Trail ROC+ is the metal flattie. Bit bigger (107 x 107mm), 195g (each!), 16mm think, black/silver/orange. Both opedal designs have back-accessible pins. The Trail Fusion is available around now. The Trail ROC+ should be out by the end of the year.

Mavic Crossmax XL S 29

Classic metal wheels from the iconic yellow brand. “Best in its class alloy Trail wheelset.” 30mm wide rim. Fully sealed rim with no rim tape for easier tubeless-ing. It also saves a claimed 30g per wheel and does away with the tape hassles. ISM rim machining, which removes material in strategic areas of the rim. 24 straight-pull spokes. Infinity hubs feature the ID360 double ratchet system for fast engagement.

Ride Concepts Livewire

Livewire was the shoe that Ride Concepts started out with. MAX GRIP rubber outsole.
Dual-density EVA insole. Elastic lace tidy. Anti-bacterial mesh lining controls odor. Molded toe and heel protection. Fully gusseted tongue. Available in Black, Blue Smoke or Sand.

RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate

  • Price: £530
  • From: SRAM

The first of two much-awaited shocks for a future group test of non-megabucks coil shocks. Maxima Plush fluid inside. Separate and independent open and threshold pistons. Low Speed Compression adjustment allowing fine tuning of compression needs from the base tune.

Burgtec cockpit

  • Price: Bars £74.99, Stem £94.99, Spacers £15.99
  • From: Burgtec

Quite frequently at ST Towers we get test bikes where we find that the front end feels a bit low. Especially on L and XL size bikes. So we’ve approached the purveyors of our favourite handlebars – Burgtec – to kindly provide us with a low-front-end-solution-package. And here it is: Ride High Josh Bryceland Signature Alloy Handlebar ­(38mm rise), Enduro MK3 Stem 35mm (35mm length), and a set of Carbon Stem Spacers. Thanks Burgtec bods! No more* going over the bars or tucking the front end for us.

*that’s cursed it

Burgtec The Bartender Pro Greg Minnaar Signature Grip

L-R: Burgtec Camo, Mixed Playdough, Bloody Mary

Whilst we’re at it. Some grips to have available to replace any nasty harsh OEM grips that come with some test bikes too. 31.5mm diameter. 30A rubber. Single Lock-On. Tapered core (always gently tap them on to the bar with a soft-faced mallet). 12 colours: Burgtec Black, Race Red, Deep Blue, Purple Rain, Gum, Iron Bro Orange, Electric Yellow, Nasa Grey, Toxic Barbie Pink, Mixed Playdough, Burgtec Camo, Bloody Mary.

Burgtec 10mm Pedal Socket

It can be a struggle to fit our ropey old cheapy socket into our MK4 or MK5 Burgetc pedals? We worry no more! This socket fits perfectly. It’s the little things in life eh? Literally.

Burgtec T-shirts

The Stamp T-shirt
Skull T-shirt

T-shirts! Because summer. Skull Tee is Relaxed tit, 100% organic ring spun cotton, 180gsm. Stamp Tee is Medium fit, 100% organic ring spun cotton, 155gsm.

MRP Ribbon Coil

A mid-travel (140mm) suspension fork that isn’t air sprung!

MRP: “The Ribbon Coil gives you the spring tunability and stroke control previously found only with air, while giving you the supple linear spring curve, lower friction, longer service life and consistent feel that you get with a coil spring. MRP Ribbon coil forks have also received updates including the ChocoLUXE internals and Norglide Bushings providing less stiction and deliver better-than-ever performance. Also including tried and tested features like the PSST pressure relief valves, bladder-free EssenTTial damper utilizing a low-pressure IFP, Outcast arch design and the acclaimed Ramp Control technology.”

MRP Hazzard

The second of this week’s coil shocks.

MRP: “The Hazzard is the new go-to for riders who won’t compromise on performance or control. The Hazzard gives you all the benefits of coil-sprung suspension (supple action, lower friction, longer service life, and more consistency) and control over both high and low-speed compression damping, rebound, and spring preload. If that weren’t enough, the Hazzard features a convenient low-speed compression switch that firms up the shock immensely for sustained climbs and stage transfers – where saving energy is paramount. Plus, with our new Progressive Springs, you can use the Hazzard on bikes that previously required air shocks!”

Chrome Men’s Sutro Short

Durable, 4-way stretch city to trail short. 5 Bar Flexi comfort waistband. Seamless bonded hem to avoid chafe. Quick dry, stain & water-resistant. 14in inseam with a looser adjustable fit.

Chrome Men’s Union 2.0 Short

Water resistant, durable 4-way stretch city and trail short – detail heavy including an extra back pocket and reflective hits. “Tough as nails, great for everyday wear.” Full-length gusset for on-the-bike comfort. Zipper secure right rear pocket. 4-way stretch with water/wind resistant DWR. Relaxed fit with 14in inseam.

Chrome Tensile Hip Pack

Tough bumbag. Truss 5 Bar Construction. Lifetime warranty. Hip or crossbody carry. Interior organisation pockets. Separate main compartments. Made from weather resistant, recycled, laminated ripstop nylon.

Singletrack Magazine Issue 144

  • Price: £7.50 for non-Members, from £3.99 for Members
  • From: ST Shop

Best day of the every-other-month! New mag day. What’s in this issue you ask? Read all about it here.

Get your order in now, and we will ship as soon as they arrive.

Magura MT5 Brakeset & Rotors Competition Prize

  • Price: Circa £240
  • From: Magura

Newsletter competition goodies from Magura. For the few weeks we’ve been running competitions for those folk on our weekly newsletter. Next week’s prizes have been provided by the lovely people at Magura. Basically, if you sign up to our newsletter and correctly answer the question that will be in the next newsletter, your name will go into the draw to win these brakes and rotor (and jersey if you’re size Medium!)

TOTW

This week’s total bestest thread was from midlifecrashes about something very relatable. I have a load of old flagstones to dispose of. Can anyone help?

ach week the winning TOTW gets a prize. And it’s the majestic Forum Bottle Opener that is to be awarded currently.

Ahoy there midlifecrashes, please email editorial@singletrackworld.com to claim your opener. Please include your postal address, as it speeds up despatch!

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Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

More posts from Ben

Home Forums FGF 612: Very Common Not Very Wealthy Edition

Viewing 29 posts - 1 through 29 (of 29 total)
  • FGF 612: Very Common Not Very Wealthy Edition
  • dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    I saw the price on those mavics and thought “that’s good for a big name set of carbon wheels” then I read the description.

    ta11pau1
    Full Member

    I’ll start.

    How much?! The shorts I mean, not the Trek EXe… 😁

    kiwijohn
    Full Member

    Yeah, nah…
    That last track was way better than expected.

    pnik
    Full Member

    Skull Tee is Relaxed tit,

    Not sure what that means? Ladies t shirt or for my moobs?

    montylikesbeer
    Full Member

    £12k+ for a push iorn, I’m getting somthing very wrong here.

    DickBarton
    Full Member

    I’m clearly well out of touch with prices…suspect my lack of interest in the fashion of the sport (I’ve yet to find a comfier riding kit than lycra padded shorts!), but there are a lot of things here that seem to be seriously pricey!

    The bit that has surprised me the most is the 10mm socket costing a fiver, I saw the picture and guessed it would be a tenner at least, going on the cost of everything else.

    Madness what some people are willing to pay – aware of cost of living, transport costs, etc. – which do aid the price increases – but things are pricey these days.

    footflaps
    Full Member

    How much! £745 for a child’s bike and it doesn’t even look like a Frog?

    I’d be onto trading standards straight away, just after I cancel by STW subscription (for the 14th time this week).

    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    £12k+ for a push iorn, I’m getting somthing very wrong here.

    If you’re pushing a 12k ebike I humbly suggest you are doing something wrong.

    toby1
    Full Member

    but there are a lot of things here that seem to be seriously pricey

    You bought a tank of diesel recently, it’s about the price of a pair of shorts! World’s gone mad I tell ya!

    DickBarton
    Full Member

    Yeah…but my brain is wired to consider fuel for the vehicle a necessary evil that I need to pay for – without the fuel, I can’t get to where I need to be for work, taxi services for kids or for social stuff – it isn’t an optional thing.

    I guess the difference with the stuff here is that it is optional (unless of course there are no other products available that do the same thing when I need the actual item), hence the price of fuel is bad just now but I pay for it as I’m needing it, this stuff I don’t need so I’m seeing it more objectively and realising that it is a lot of money.

    Aware someone did something clever with inflation and all that and priced up the high end kit from the 90s and found it wouldn’t be much cheaper than the high-end stuff of today, but inflation, cost of living crisis and the power of our pound has conspired to make everything more pricey and it is very noticeable now (for all the optional stuff – the necessary stuff is more expensive but as it has been bought frequently the price hike isn’t quite so noticeable unless you compare now to 6 months back).

    darthpunk
    Free Member

    I’ll say it…….£13K for a bike???

    Ducati’s are also available

    Northwind
    Full Member

    I can afford the socket, excitingly

    kelvin
    Full Member

    I wouldn’t buy a Ducati ebike, have you seen them?!?

    thisisnotaspoon
    Free Member

    Can we have the “lost touch with financial reality” edition next week?

    You bought a tank of diesel recently, it’s about the price of a pair of shorts! World’s gone mad I tell ya!

    The difference is Decathlon will sell you a pair of similar shorts for £35, with a half decent padded liner thrown in.

    tomhoward
    Full Member

    What do the comments sections/forums of sports car enthusiast websites look like when a brand releases something new and 6 figures? Any different to bikes at 5?

    ta11pau1
    Full Member

    What do the comments sections/forums of sports car enthusiast websites look like when a brand releases something new and 6 figures? Any different to bikes at 5?

    It’s a little different as there’s been million pound cars for ages, but mtbs have only recently in the last few years gone over 10k. Not many are saying ‘how much? You could buy a house for that’ as it’s either a dream car that they only ever own as a Lego model, or they’ve already got one ordered and they own several houses worth multi millions.

    However, I too am sick of the motorbike comparison – aside from having 2 wheels there’s not much else similar, and yes you can buy a new bottom of the range Ducati for about £11k, you can also buy a Ducati for £90k.

    You can buy a MTB for £500 or £15k. Just like the £500 MTB has nothing in common with the £11k Ducati, the £90k Ducati has nothing in common with a £15k eMTB…

    chrismac
    Full Member

    But you could just get fit and not have to buy the motor bike and just ride a bike like we have all managed for decades. In the alps people are even putting their motorised bikes on the lifts!!!! Why

    ta11pau1
    Full Member

    In the alps people are even putting their motorised bikes on the lifts!!!! Why

    That, yeah I’m not sure about that. Maybe that’s thier only bike?

    But you could just get fit and not have to buy the motor bike and just ride a bike like we have all managed for decades.

    This, however… I’m all for ebikes. I don’t have one, but I probably will at some point. Don’t want take this off on a tangent but it’s not just for the unfit – it’s for the older (70+) riders who can then ride with 20 something’s all day and keep up. Or for busy people who only have an hour in the evening or morning on a weekday to ride and whom want to get as many laps in as possible, etc etc etc.

    Face it, MTB is a middle aged blokes hobby, and most middle aged blokes have plenty of cash. Hell even teenagers these days have 3 grand bikes. I had a sodding £600 hardtail with cable discs and about 120mm suspension.

    Anyway, enough – yes some ebikes are expensive. So what. Some are cheap (Vitus esommet is £4000 to £5500). Just because £13k ebikes exist doesn’t mean you have to buy them.

    redsnail
    Full Member

    I just sold mine. Still upset about it. 🙁 Beautiful 1991 400SS

    thisisnotaspoon
    Free Member

    What do the comments sections/forums of sports car enthusiast websites look like when a brand releases something new and 6 figures? Any different to bikes at 5?

    Depends, probably similar if what kit car started including the kinds of one off specials you might see in Octane?

    tomhoward
    Full Member

    I had a sodding £600 hardtail with cable discs and about 120mm suspension.

    Let’s not get into a Monty Python sketch… (but, £200, canti’s, 580mm bars, rigid)

    Just because £13k ebikes exist doesn’t mean you have to buy them.

    This. Nor do they make other, cheaper, bikes worse.

    ctk
    Full Member

    £130 for shorts though!

    tthew
    Full Member

    Some are cheap (Vitus esommet is £4000 to £5500).

    Is that what counts as cheap in your world? Blimey.

    zerocool
    Full Member

    Ebikes are also good for parents who have young kids that need towing up all the hills (3-5 year olds for example).

    And if you only have 1 bike then why wouldn’t you put it on a chairlift or uplift? What are you going to do? Hire a bike just for a trip to the alps or BPW when you have a perfectly good ebike?

    pfrumpy
    Free Member

    I’m in the “how much?” camp, too. Bah, humbug.

    MrOvershoot
    Full Member

    I’m just glad that at last STW have noticed that L & XL bikes have silly low bars compared to other sizes, any pictures of my bikes “XL” the bars are way below the saddle in the riding position and you feel pitched forward all the time

    rickon
    Free Member

    Saw this ‘Price: £13.250’.

    Spat my coffee.

    Said out loud to myself “**** off!”.

    And yes, I’m essentially a dentist and this is a bike aimed at me.

    Are bikes going to become an unsustainable business model if they don’t get a handle on the prices? Will people just suck it up, and switch to PCP style deals?

    I cannnot see myself spending more than £5k on a bike, and I’m someone who used to swap bikes every 12 – 18 months, buying £3k+ frames and parts.

    tomhoward
    Full Member

    this is a bike aimed at me.

    I cannnot see myself spending more than £5k on a bike,

    Apparently it isn’t. It’s aimed at the guy (and, invariably, it is a guy) who walks into a shop, asks what the best is, and hands over a Coutts card. Or has his secretary do it.

    zx970
    Free Member

    I swore I’d never write this, but I can’t stop myself – HOW MUCH???? So, essentially this bike is aimed at the More Money Than Sense brigade.

    BTW at what point in time did Power Sockets (tells you what it does) become Plug Sockets (tells you nothing)?

Viewing 29 posts - 1 through 29 (of 29 total)

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