Last Coal V4 vital stats: full 29, 180mm fork, 165mm rear, 63° head angle, 77.1° effective…
… Scott Contessa Signature range, Branchy Protection, Fox Transfer SL dropper seat post, Fox Racing Union footwear, Reserve alloy wheels. This week’s roundup of the most interesting New Stuff.
Transition Bicycle Company press release:
THE TRUSTY TOOL FOR ANY TRAIL
- Dual 29″ Wheels: Clearance up to 2.5″
- 140mm front and 130mm rear travel:
- Drop in headset bearings
- Internal cable routing: Clean headtube routing for simple, fully guided cable management
- Size Specific Chainstays
- 27% progression
- Gear accessory mount
- UDH
- 5 Sizes: S-XXL
- Lifetime Warranty
- Orchid or Espresso colourways
- Frame Weight: 6.6 lbs/3.00 kg (Size MD w/shock)
With dual 29 inch wheels, 130mm rear travel and 140mm front, the Smuggler may just be the most versatile bike in our lineup. A highly progressive leverage curve and comfortable, confidence-inspiring geo make it eager to keep going mile after mile while remaining surefooted in even the most technical terrain. Sitting squarely between the Spur and Sentinel in travel, geometry, and capability, it shares qualities of both. Inspiring and rewarding to hammer on your favorite singletrack, while never holding you back when the trail gets steep, the Smuggler will make sure you enjoy it all.
Inspiration
We went into the Smuggler project with the intention of creating a bike that had the quick and high-energy feel of the Spur, but with a bit more travel front and rear. What we ended up with was a perfect blend of the Spur and Sentinel in geometry, travel, capability, and weight. It’s not all downhill in the PNW; there’s plenty of singletrack, technical trail, and meandering connective routes. The Smuggler is perfect for a day when your path comes across all of the above.
Frame Design Evolution
The Smuggler exhibits a few frame design features that further our push to have clean aesthetics while remaining easy to service. The most notable is the headtube area that provides better functionality and serviceability. The new headtube has integrated bearing cups and no longer needs headset cups pressed into the frame. This allows the frame to have super clean cable ports at the front of the headtube with fully guided internal cable routing from the headtube to the port above the bottom bracket shell. From there, cables cleanly enter the rear triangle hidden from view.
Progression In All the Right Places
The kinematics are similar to the Spur with a little over 27% progression. This provides a bottomless feel in a mid-travel package. Paired with the Fox Float X shock, the Smuggler can be set up to suit any rider’s preference. Looking to increase rear travel? Simply remove the travel reducer in the shock to bump the travel up to 140mm. Looking for a bit more progression? Just add a larger volume spacer. All of this equates to a super lively, active, and forgiving rear suspension feel in any terrain.
Windover Bikes press release:
Introducing: Windover Bikes
Boutique UK bike brand Windover Bikes has launched a range of steel frames and carbon forks for the adventure-minded, with stock available to purchase now.
Established by Enigma alumni Chris, Sam and Rich, Windover is founded on their expertise for frame design and construction. A shared passion for gravel, bikepacking, endurance racing and MTB riding led them to produce their own frames, with industry-leading specifications and features.
UK manufacturing is an important part of the Windover ethos, and the beating heart of the brand is their framebuilding workshop in Worthing, Sussex. Currently, all frames are built with Reynolds 853 dual-zone butted tubesets, with the finished article then built up with components from fellow UK brands, such as Hope, Rideworks and DCR Wheels. Local production capacity is set to grow in the near future, and Windover has also an EU-based partner with similar values who is building frames to meet existing demand.
The Bostal model has been designed, tested and tweaked meticulously over the last 3 years, and is now in stock and ready to go. Intended as a versatile gravel/adventure bike, it’ll take up to 700 x 50mm tyres or 650b x 2.25”, whilst still being able to fit a double GRX chainset. Internal cable routing utilising a T47 bottom bracket shell, and a simple-but-durable powder coat finish, give the bike a clean, purposeful appearance.
The Beacon, on the other hand, takes gravel to the next level. Perhaps better described as a rigid MTB or off-road touring bike, this UK-made platform offers 29×2.4” / 27.5×2.6” tyre clearance with progressive geometry in either drop bar or flat bar specific format.
Scott Bikes press release:
Contessa Signature Collection: The mountain bikes
Have a hunger for rippin’ trails? Our Contessa Signature mountain bikes were made to climb uphill in the blink of an eye and to go down even faster.
Find out more about our new platforms: the new Genius platform with its fully integrated rear shock, and the all-new Lumen platform which has pushed the boundaries of what a lightweight e-bike can be!
The complete collection includes women’s specific touch points such as:
Syncros women saddles were developed keeping in mind that touch points and position on the saddle can be different for female riders.
Specific handlebar length: on our Contessa bikes, the Syncros handlebar is smaller than on our other bikes. This allow a better contact point to the bike for women.
Contessa Genius ST 910
You’ve heard about the new Genius platform with its integrated rear shock! With this Contessa model ST (“Super Trail”) we wanted to make a bike for the most aggressive female riders.
Contessa Lumen eRide 900
SCOTT has set a new trend in terms of e-MTB: the lightweight category. And our Contessa Signature model is ahead of the game with its carbon frame, and weight of 17.6Kg. If you think you know what an e-MTB is, you might be surprised with this new model.
Bike Mechanic Simulator press release:
Bike Mechanic Simulator 2023 coming soon (PC demo out now)
Bike Mechanic Simulator 2023 is a realistic simulator, where you can learn the ropes of the bike mechanic and progress in running your workshop. The gameplay involves repairing, servicing and bike assembly within the jobs received for completion. The player’s role is also to maintain the workshop with its tools and repair stand.
“While the demo is being out now, we’re looking forward to hearing from the players whose opinions are also the valuable source for the further game development. The full version of Bike Mechanic Simulator 2023 will be packed with more content, and each of the elements will be scrutinised and enhanced. Our main objective is that the game is not only a realistic simulator, but also a good entertainment and something to chill at. For this reason, Bike Mechanic Simulator 2023 will, to some extent, as far as the mechanic job is concerned, be simplified”, said Tomasz Sobiecki, CEO of Manager Games S.A.
The final version of the game will combine the main story mode with the sandbox mode. The core theme will be focused on the expansion of your workshop into a multi-room one, equipped with more and more sets of tools. In terms of the storyline, it will evolve around various events and the renovation of an antique bicycles.
In Bike Mechanic Simulator 2023 you’ll find a wide range of bicycle variants, starting from city bikes, mountain bikes and road bikes as the main category. Each model has a dozen of various components.
Bike Mechanic Simulator 2023 – main features:
- bike mechanic career;
- servicing, repair and bike assembly;
- various jobs;
- many bike types and their components;
- story mode combined with sandbox mode.
The premiere of the full version Bike Mechanic Simulator 2023 for PC (Steam) is planned for the other half of the year. PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch versions are to join later.
Branchy Protection press release:
BRANCHY PROTECTION. New protector for the rear derailleur
It protects the rear derailleur from direct impacts and snagging by rocks, branches, sticks, furrows or any other obstacles in your way. Avoid being stranded in the mountain and save trouble and money. It really works and can be an essential component in many bikes.
This new safeguard also protects the rear hanger and deflects away sticks and branches heading towards the rear wheel. It is made of a high mechanical performance thermoplastic, rigid and resistant, which absorbs impacts and has the ability to recover its shape. It weighs just 35 grams but it is tough for rough use.
Its design allows it to be attached to almost all bikes and all brands in the market. It can be used with all full suspension systems and with practically all hardtail bikes too. Branchy is especially recommended for Mountain Biking, Enduro, e-bike, Downhill, Gravel…
Fox press release:
All-New Fox Transfer SL
STARTING AT 327G FOR OUR 27.2MM FACTORY SERIES, THE SL IS 25% LIGHTER THAN OUR STANDARD TRANSFER POST, MAKING IT THE LIGHTEST MAINSTREAM DROPPER ON THE MARKET. WITH LEVER OPTIONS FOR DROP BARS, FLAT BARS, AND 2X FRONT SHIFTERS, IT’S THE PERFECT UPGRADE FOR GRAVEL GRINDERS, DIEHARD XC RACERS AND AVID TRAIL RIDERS WHO WANT THE PERFORMANCE OF A DROPPER WITHOUT THE EXTRA HEFT.
SPECS:
- NEW lightweight design
- NEW Windows in lower post allow cable clamp/slack to be pulled from post side for compatibility with GRX-style dropper lever, and minimize extra cable housing length
- 2-position mechanical post that locks at the top and bottom only
- Longer travel configurations offer an increased exposed length for taller riders
- Shorter travel configurations offer shorter total length for smaller riders
- Coil spring for consistent return performance
- Internal routing only
- 27.2, 30.9 and 31.6mm diameters
- Expanded 50, 70, 75, 100, 125 and 150mm drop options to suit gravel, XC and trail disciplines
- 70-85deg seat angles are supported
- 7mm and 7×9 ‘Ob-round’ saddle rails supported
- 1x lever is Matchmaker, Shimano GRX, and I-SPEC EV compatible
- Available in Factory and Performance Elite Series
- (Factory post includes Ti hardware for additional 10g weight savings)
- MSRP: $399 USD (Factory) / $329 USD (Performance Elite)
Fox Racing press release:
FOX RACING ENTERS THE MTB FOOTWEAR CATEGORY WITH THE UNION SHOE RANGE
New Union shoe offers superb fit and innovative features
Fox spent over two years in design and development, realigning halfway into the project after gaining valuable feedback from their professional and amateur riders. With input from Fox athletes like Greg Minnaar, Laurie Greenland, Jackson Goldstone, Nina Hoffmann and Steve Peat, the result is three new shoe models, two clipless and one flat. Each model will be available in four different colors – Black, Grey, Mocha, and Red – and uses unisex sizing with a range from 37-47 EU (5.5-13 US Men’s / 6.5-14.5 US Women’s). Half sizes will be offered from 41-46 and both clipless models will include two pairs of arch height inserts to customize fit.
All of the Union shoes feature a one-piece, welded upper construction for a consistent, precise fit and protection against the elements. A molded toe cap and reinforced toe box further protect against rock strikes while the Ultratac™ outsole balances grip and durability. The Union and Union BOA® clipless models have a lightweight glass-filled nylon shank for an efficient pedal platform. The Union uses a low-profile Velcro strap and lace system to optimize fit and comfort. The Union BOA features the Dual BOA Li2 system to provide on-the-fly micro-adjustability and improved power transfer to the pedals through a secure and formed fit. The Union Flat uses laces and extra attention was given to the outsole design with custom hex-shaped lugs to deliver control on flat pedals, while the toe and heel lug spacing is suited for hike-a-bike sections.
Pricing
Union Flat: £129.99
Union: £159.99
Union BOA: £219.99
Reserve press release:
RESERVE 30|SL AL & 30|HD AL
Your wheels are arguably the most important component on your mountain bike, which is why we’ve developed an all-new aluminum line of Reserve trail, enduro and e-bike wheels. The Reserve aluminum wheels have been designed and developed to provide a product that rivals the performance of our much-loved carbon wheels, but at a much more accessible price point. And with our industry-leading lifetime guarantee, you can feel confident you will be enjoying these wheels for years to come.
CUSTOM PROFILES
Reserve custom designed the new aluminum rims to deliver the kind of performance you expect from a Reserve wheelset. Ride tested on everything from World Cup tracks to Santa Cruz singletrack, they deliver by design.
DT SWISS 350/SAPIM SPOKES/SAPIM NIPPLES
We wanted the Reserve aluminum wheels to be as hassle free as possible and that means using products that are tried and true: The workhorse of the DT Swiss line with the 350 laced with Sapim spokes and nipples.
ASYMMETRICAL DESIGN (flipped front to rear)
Asymmetrical rims build stiffer, stronger and more reliable wheels by improving the bracing angles and equalizing the spoke tensions between the drive and non-drive side spokes.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Designed For: Trail, All-mountain and Enduro riding
- Spoke Count: 28 (30|SL AL) and 32 (30|HD AL)
- Inner Width: 30mm
- Material: 6069 aluminum
- Sizes Available: 27.5 and 29
- Recommended Tire Dimensions: 2.3 to 2.5 • Wheelset Weight: 30|SL AL 1840g and
- 30|HD AL 1920g
- Rim Weight: 30|SL AL 27.5 – 460g, 29 – 500g
- Rim Weight: 30|HD AL 27.5 – 540g, 29 – 580g
- Complete Wheel Pricing: $699 • Hubs: DT Swiss 350
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