Fresh Goods Friday 677 – The Dead Moody Edition

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Chandler Bing, Halloween, Bonfire Night and Editor’s Choice arguments. That’s what this week has been about for us lot here at STW HQ.

“Drifting legend” (it says here) and Aotearoa’s very own Mad Mike has taken on the most difficult downhill mountain bike track in the world – Red Bull Hardline – in his truck. The vid below has been produced to celebrate the 10 year anniversary Red Bull Hardline. Blimey. Ten years!

Calibre Line T3 29

  • Price: £1,300 (£1,100 for Go Outdoors cardholders)
  • From: Go Outdoors

I’ll let you into a little secret. This bike actually arrived last week. Yep, it could/should have gone in FGF 676 alongside its smaller wheeled sibling (the Calibre Line T3 27.5). But… time got the better of me and it got bumped to this week’s FGF 677. It’s looks pretty good doesn’t it? RockShox Recon fork, decently wide bars, shortish stem, dropper seatpost, 11-42T 11-speed drivetrain, SRAM Guide T brakes and an overall geometry that appears to be sound (XL: 495mm reach, 65.5° head angle, 440mm chainstays, 130mm head tube etc). Okay yeah, the 2.6in Rekon tyres are going to be a handful in the current ground conditions but hey. It’s still an appealing package for £1,100 (Go Outdoors member price).

Madison Isoler Merino Waterproof Sock

These waterproof socks have a nylon outer and inner made from merino wool and acrylic blend. There’s an extra thick panel on the ankle for padding. And they’re not a boring black!

Fox Crossframe Pro Helmet

Lightweight trail helmet that would lend itself to gravel riding due to the peak-like shape at the front. It features MIPS, BOA retention system,  Fidlock magnetic buckle, excellent ventilation and an integrated sunglasses holder. A combination of gloss and matte panels make it look rather stylish.

Troy Lee Designs Mathis Jacket

We’ve gone with moody monochrome photography for a couple of jackets from Troy Lee Designs. Why? Well, the honest answer is that my camera was accidentally in some weird setting that resulted in crazy colour captures. So I’ve gone down the black and white route. Anyway. Jackets. This TLD Mathis jacket combines synthetic down with wicking knit side panels and stretch lined sleeves. Packable. 40g/m² PrimaLoft Gold fill. A plant-based, Teflon EcoElite water resistant finish. Wicking knit side panels. Stretchy lined sleeves.

Troy Lee Designs Crestline Jacket

A light, synthetic down jacket. Filled with PrimaLoft Gold (not Wispa Gold). Protected by plant-based, Teflon EcoElite water resistant finish, again. Packable, again. Two zip side pockets and a ‘tubular’ rear through-pocket. Reflective logos. Possibly not a jacket to actually mountain bike in very often but looks ideal for the befores and afters of ATB.

Calibre T3: You are their factory rider

Mountain biking is expensive, isn't it? The folks at Calibre don't think it needs to be.

Highlight: Niner Jet 9 RDO

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT: For this 14-year span, the JET has always maintained a place in the Niner…

Pirelli Scorpion MTB Tyre Range

The complete range of Pirelli Scorpion mountain bike tyre has evolved into a comprehensive offering of…

Product Highlight: Bum Butter

Happy Bottom Bum Butter is a natural handmade chamois cream. You simply put a small amount…

Shimano PD-M828 Long Pins

Something unexpected occurred this year. I found myself using a venerable pair of Shimano XT flatties. And loving them. A pair of Shimano PD-M8020 ML flat pedals to be precise (I’m not even sure you can get these pedals anymore). I think the key to unlocking the pedal was when I came across a packet of longer pins for them. Sticking just three longer pins in each trailing edge (3 x 4 = 12 pins per pack) of the pedal lead to a significant improvement. So I’ve got more long pins to complete to pin swap-out.

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Thread Of The Week

Winner winner blokeuptheroad gets a chicken dinner. Not really. The prize is something much more exciting that that*

The winning TOTW in FGF gets a prize. So @kormoran please email editorial@singletrackworld.com for your random prize. Don’t forget to include your postal address, as it really speeds up delivery logistics like. Ta!

*prize may not be more exciting than a chicken dinner but it should last longer (it will probably be a Singletrack Forum Bottle Opener).

PSA Deal Of The Week

Yes, there are still some Five Tens left in the Evans Cycles sale that was all over the forum earlier this week. You don’t even have to choose the wackly not-quite-right models, and you don’t have to have size 12 or size 4 feet.

Hair.
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.

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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.

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