… new red grade Lovey Dyfi trail at the BikePark, MAAP apparel, Crankbrothers Stamp Street Fabio and an Electric Ratboy edit.
Kicking things off is one of the weight weenies’ favourite steeds: the gram-tastic Scott Scale RC…
Scott press release:
Introducing the ALL-NEW SCOTT Scale RC. Lightweight perfection. Discover NOW!
Givisiez, Switzerland. December 2022. Introducing the ALL-NEW Scale RC, a bike which stands like no other for SCOTT’s thrive for innovation, technology and design. A bike which is truly connected to SCOTT’s racing heritage by carrying that racing pedigree in its DNA.
It was in 2009 when a young athlete won the MTB World Champs in Canberra, Australia. Nino’s first elite World Champion title and only the first of many more to come. 2010 at the XCO Dalby Forest World Cup race, Nino Schurter outsprinted Julien Absalon to a photo finish to win his first MTB World Cup. Not to forget the Bronze Medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and a silver medal in London 2012 as well as many more wins and titles linking to the SCOTT Scale being ridden to success by athletes all around the globe.The Bike: The SCOTT Scale – the fastest bike back then, the fastest bike today!
The ALL-NEW Scale RC SL is the perfect blend of stiffness, light weight and 30 years of carbon expertise. These characteristics, encompassed in an uncompromising frame design, decisively accelerate the Scale away from the pack with every pedal stroke.
WEIGHT
When it’s about advancing a product at the highest level, it all comes down to marginal details. These are what make a real impact on the performance of both the bike and rider. It’s more than an advantage measured in single grams. A meticulously developed system, balancing an optimal blend of stiffness, strength and just the right amount of compliance, is what we were after. With the all-new Scale RC, we hit the sweet spot and optimized weight throughout the product range. When developing the new Scale RC, we deliberately wanted to do a few things differently. The Scale RC stands out with some smart construction solutions that manage to optimize weight and demonstrate SCOTT’s power of innovation. These features are found in all carbon frame options of the Scale RC – HMX-SL, HMX and HMF.
With the all-new Scale RC, hardware weight has almost halved, from 82g previously to 45g in total (HMX-SL). This was achieved through reducing the use of metal inserts including the chain guide, bottle cage inserts and a reduced amount of cable routing parts due to optimized routing in general.
With the all-new Scale RC we constantly reduced the amount of metal inserts wherever possible. Instead, lighter polymer versions were incorporated and can be found as the bottle cage inserts on the HMX-SL frames. These can be plugged completely, sitting flush on the frame due to a smart and flexible clipping mechanism. Being able to set up the plugs and mounts needed provides riders with maximum flexibility and further eliminates potential vulnerable points as these are easily replaceable in the event of a damaged thread. Plugs and inserts are easy to set up without the need for additional tools and further contribute to the overall clean design.
Polymer plugs on HMX-SL frame
The dropout features an advanced, hollow construction, which allows the axle head to clamp against the inner surface of the dropout and leaves the head flush with the surface. This enables the lightest possible construction approach and a clean looking design from the outside. While being able to directly shave off 7.5g with the new dropout construction, the optimized design favors a narrower construction of the rear triangle area, which in turn enables a reduction of 20g in this area of the frame.
A small service door, which is accessible through a downtube cover, allows easy access to the interior of the frame without the need to remove the bottom bracket. Frame maintenance is made easy with regards to cable routing.
The chain guide has been simplified to sit flush against the frame. This very small bracket offers the most minimalistic construction. When not in use the bracket held against the inside of the frame can be easily removed and the aperture can be covered completely with a smart plug offering a clean design.
We recently (rave) reviewed the Mondraker Crafty Carbon R, so consider this bike on our wishlist for 2023…
Mondraker press release:
MONDRAKER CRAFTY CARBON XR LTD. LIMITED PRODUCTION – UNLIMITED POWER
The new Mondraker CRAFTY CARBON XR LTD is a limited edition model, not only because of its limited production or its very special paint job, but also because it’s one of the few models on the market today that comes with Bosch’s new and exclusive Performance Line CX Race motor. A Premium combo of power and exclusivity that make the new CRAFTY CARBON XR LTD stand out from the crowd. With very few available worldwide you’re going to have to fight to get your hands on one.
Why is the CRAFTY CARBON still the benchmark among high-performance eMTBs? Its Zero system with exclusive ebike specific kinematics, its Forward Geometry offering the best possible geometric balance and its use of the cutting edge construction and manufacturing techniques which go into the super-light Stealth Carbon frame create a totally unique aesthetic among eMTB bicycles currently on the market.
NEW BOSCH PERFORMANCE LINE CX RACE MOTOR
Behind such a long name is one key word: Race. The new Bosch motor is as exclusive as it is powerful. More aggressive, more dynamic and with handlebar gripping acceleration, the Race mode has 400% assist compared to 340% for the Turbo mode on the conventional Performance CX model. Torque remains the same at a hefty 85Nm. The motor, built with magnesium casings, weighs 2,750 grams, exactly 150 grams lighter than the standard Performance Line CX.
One of the key features of the new Bosch Performance Line CX Race motor is the “Race” mode itself, which is one mode above the traditional “Turbo” mode, both of which are configurable through the eBike Flow application, as are overall assistance level, dynamic or initial acceleration, maximum speed and maximum torque settings.
It’s also important to mention that the Race mode has a very unique Extended Boost option, postponing the assistance cutoff for a longer period of time once you’ve stopped pedaling, thus helping you to overcome those uphill trails, technical sections and single-tracks which until now had you beat.
As with the other Smart System models in the 2023 CRAFTY range, the CRAFTY CARBON XR LTD comes with the new System Controller (a device integrated into the toptube which lets you turn the motor on and off or even change the assistance mode) and the wireless Mini Remote, located on the left hand side of the handlebar, that can be used to select the assistance mode in the most intuitive way possible. The Kiox 300 external display can also be used to control all of your ride’s data, offering you the widest range of information possible regarding your spectacular CRAFTY CARBON XR LTD.
THE BEDROCK OF A VERY SPECIAL CRAFTY CARBON XR
The exclusivity of the CRAFTY CARBON XR LTD is built on the CRAFTY CARBON XR with which it shares most of its specs, with a stand-out Öhlins fork and shock doing the duty of providing the 150mm rear wheel travel, complemented by 170mm up front. Of course, the finish of the frame with the Transparent Amber color, is unique in the CRAFTY CARBON 2023 range and reveals the layers of carbon that form a part of the structure of the frame tubes.
Of course, we chose the XR version, the most ‘racing’ version of our 2023 CRAFTY CARBON enduro eMTB range, because the most powerful motor in the Bosch range deserves our most exclusive model, the one that truly reflects the spirit of maximum performance and versatility. The most refined frame, with the most powerful motor on the market. Complete exclusivity for riders looking for an extremely capable and absolutely unique enduro bike.
The new Mondraker CRAFTY CARBON XR LTD will be available soon, through official Mondraker distributors and the usual sales channels.
Take a trail bike and turn everything up to 11 and you may possibly end with something almost as rad-looking as this…
Canfield press release:
Canfield Bikes Launches ONE.2 Super Enduro
World’s first CBF downhill bike re-released with new builds, including pedal-friendly single-crown option.
Canfield Bikes, high-end boutique mountain bike manufacturer, today announces new builds including a pedal-friendly “super enduro” option for the first time on the popular ONE.2, the first and only downhill bike built around the patented Canfield Balance Formula™ suspension system.
Channeling the pedigree of the original Canfield The One, the ONE.2 is designed to be the most versatile 8-inch bike on the market. By default, it’s a 29-inch downhill bike with 203 millimeters of travel. But thanks to the ultra-efficient CBF™ tuned linkage, it pedals far better than any bike with this much travel has a right to. The ONE.2 also features a 76-degree effective seat-tube angle and stealth-dropper routing. Rear travel can be reduced to 190 millimeters by short-stroking the shock, and when paired with a 180 or 190-millimeter fork, dropper and wide-range drivetrain, it is perhaps the only true DH bike capable of earning its turns.
“A surprising number of customers built up their frames this way when we first launched the ONE.2,” says Lance Canfield, owner and designer. “And it’s how I set up my personal ONE.2. So we set out to offer it as an option for complete bikes, making it easier than ever to have the perfect enduro race weapon or ultimate freeride bike when shuttles and chairlifts aren’t an option. I’ve pedaled some big days on the ONE.2, and you’d never know it has that much travel until you point it down and open it up.”
“I’ve pedaled some big days on the ONE.2, and you’d never know it has that much travel until you point it down and open it up.” – Lance Canfield
Super Enduro versions of the ONE.2 will feature a 190-millimeter RockShox Zeb Ultimate and RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Coil short-stroked, providing matching travel front and rear. A custom Spank Spike Race wheelset built to provide reasonable rolling weight while pairing the 150-millimeter rear hub spacing with an XD driver to accommodate 12-speed drivetrain options is standard. The rest of the build will be shared with Canfield’s Lithium.
Gravity purists need not fret, as the ONE.2 will still be offered as a full DH bike as well, sharing most of its build with the venerable Jedi.
Designed to accept both 29 and 27.5-inch wheels, the ONE.2 can also be run as a mullet mixed-wheel setup.
A slack head-angle and generous reach across all sizes make it easy to find the sweet spot in the attack position, and 440-millimeter chainstays strike a balance between stability and agility. Details like internal cable routing featuring machined interchangeable ports to accommodate different cable configurations and a custom chainstay protector tie it all together.
The Canfield ONE.2 comes in Bentonite Grey with orange links, or Avalanche White with black links in two sizes. Available at discounted pre-order pricing now as Factory Build complete bikes, frame, fork & shock, and frame & shock packages. Delivery expected in February, 2023 with optional expedited air shipping.
Not a bike, but a new bike trail. Dyfi Bike park’s longest track to date zig zags down the West side of the park where the gradient is slightly less steep…
Dyfi Bike Park press release:
Dyfi Bike Park launches a new, “more mellow” red track – Lovey Dyfi!
Dyfi Bike Park’s creator Dan Atherton said “This is the more mellow red track that riders have been asking us for, it’s a bit more chilled so people won’t have to think too much, hopefully they can just let off the brakes and have some fun.”
“Lovey Dyfi” is machine built top to bottom and was over a year in the making. It was probably the team’s most challenging build to date – partly due to its great length at over 4.4km and partly because a good proportion of the trail is low down the mountain where the trail bellies out to follow the valley floor.
Dan said “It took ages! The bottom of the valley was really wet and we were building through clear fell forest so we had to flip stumps over for the 13 tonner to build off creating the clean trail behind us. As ever the dig crew were awesome, they know the terrain here so well. I was really keen that this track should feel different to Super Swooper which is fairly narrow in places and can feel like you’re building up a lot of speed through the tight trees. If Super Swooper is “red tech” then this new track is more “red flow” there’s more space and it’s fairly smooth. Once it’s bedded in it will be quite fast – it’s good to ride on either an enduro bike or an e-bike as there’s a bit of a pedal towards the end – even on a hardtail.
“If you’re on a DH bike you can ride the fast open top section and then switch to the tech of Super Swooper, with the opening of this track we’re linking up other trails within the bike park so that you can build your own route and change things up on every run – the trail joins 50 Hits for a shared final section with a run of fast, rollable jumps but you can also switch into the jumpline higher up.
“I think the top section of this track might be my favourite section of the park yet – it flows so well, we just built it how we wanted it to ride and all the features linked up really naturally, there’s a section about halfway down “Cedar Rapids” we call it where the track cuts through these massive 80,90 year old cedars – it doesn’t feel like you’re in the UK”
Yes, we are mainly running the following PR as a tribute to that hair growth…
MAAP press release:
MAAP X P.A.M. PRESENT THEIR NEW LIMITED EDITION COLLABORATION
PAAM CLUB CICLISTICO AMATIORALE
MAAP x P.A.M. (Perks and Mini) present their third collaboration that combines P.A.M.’s freewheeling aesthetic and signature graphic language with MAAP’s technical engineering and alt-cycling ethos.
The PAAM Club Ciclistico Amatiorale capsule is a celebration of psy-cycling and off-the-beaten track wild adventures. Inspired by rides across varied terrain mixed with beloved cannoli haunts and espresso stops, the cross discipline apparel features Perks and Mini’s psy-activated graphics, old school logos and friendly beavers for on-and-off bike antics.
Created for cyclocross, crits, track, or just turning it up for Skinsuit Sunday, the MAAP X P.A.M. Skin Suit will make sure riders stand out in the peloton. Made in Italy utilising premium breathable fabrics and the same 3D thermo moulded multi-density chamois as found in MAAP’s Team Bib Evo. To dial up the classic styling, pair with the MAAP X P.A.M. Skull Cap, a nostalgia infused piece for some extra riding ‘stile’.
Rounding out the capsule are Team Fit jerseys, a thermal long sleeve option, cargo bibs, a lightweight jacket and MTB tee. No ride into the wilderness would be complete without essential accessories including padded socks, bottles, cap, neck and arm warmers. The PAAM aesthetic continues off bike with graphic tees, hoodie and sticker pack.
Fabio’s fresh flattie footwear…
Crankbrothers press release:
Crankbrothers presents Fabio Wibmer’s Street Life
Today, Crankbrothers is excited to release a new collection of shoes, the Stamp Street Fabio, alongside a new video project, Fabio Wibmer’s Street Life.
The Stamp Street Fabio collection reflects Crankbrothers’ latest expression of their mission; to improve every rider experience. With both on the bike and off the bike in mind, the Stamp Street Fabio shoe features Crankbrothers’ Match technology for a secure flat pedal connection, a bootie construction for day-long comfort, and a flexible mid-sole design to allow your foot to wrap the pedal for that all- important next bunny hop. All these features, packed together with design elements hand-selected by Fabio himself, and four color options, make the Stamp Street Fabio an excellent addition to the quickly growing Crankbrothers footwear range.
Wearing the Stamp Street Fabio shoes throughout his latest video, Street Life, Fabio, fellow trials rider John Langlois, and friends explore iconic trials spots in and around Nice, France, and even run into some local fans who are very excited to hang out with Fabio and receive some Stamp Street Fabio shoes of their own!
“I am so stoked for everyone to finally see my new signature shoes with Crankbrothers! With this shoe, I got to design the whole collection and the shoe itself, working closely with the Crankbrothers design team to create my perfect shoe for street trials riding, the Stamp Street Fabio, that also crosses over and can be used in daily life. A few weeks ago, we headed to Nice to film a video focused on my new shoes, titled Street Life; I hope you guys check it out!” – Fabio Wibmer.
Electric Ratboy edit…
Cannondale press release:
Defying gravity on an eMTB – Josh Bryceland goes big at Royal Hills
The Royal Hills Bike Park in the south of France is home to some of the biggest, burliest jump lines in the world for riders to push their limits. Cannondale Waves crew member and legendary downhill athlete Josh Bryceland — aka Ratboy — is no stranger to top speeds and high-consequence lines. In his latest edit, he steps out of his comfort zone to showcase what’s possible on Cannondale’s Moterra Neo Carbon LT eMTB.
At first, Bryceland isn’t quite sure if competing at Royal Fest on the Moterra is possible, given no one has ever ridden at a “freestyle event” on an eMTB. After sending the entire line at the park, Josh proves that defying gravity and hitting a jump line that stacks up to moto-cross sized features is entirely possible with an eMTB, reshaping what’s possible for future competitions.
Jumps this size would be dizzying to most, but Bryceland’s care-free attitude shines through as he steps up to the challenge to prove that an eMTB won’t hold back any rider. As an added benefit, the Moterra Neo is the perfect machine for shuttle-assisted bike parks as it provides a lift to the top, without burning any added energy for the next lap.
Josh Bryceland: “Strangely, once I got the first few sends out the way, I felt more confident riding the jumps on the eMTB. That added stability is a nice safety blanket for my rusty old self hitting jumps of this size!”
This film is a stoke-infused peek into Bryceland’s progression of completing the biggest line that Royal Hills bike park has to offer, on the Moterra Neo.
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