Fresh Goods Friday 717: Sound The Sun Klaxon!

Apparently it’s only a week ago that I was on holiday. Since my house is currently shaking thanks to neighbours having their front garden paved over, let us cast our minds back to more serene times. Unless you are currently on holiday, in which case you can close your eyes and relax and enjoy your surroundings. Maybe take a few happy family photos, or some scenic landscape shots? I… erm… took these pictures. Partly because my kids weren’t speaking to me because I committed the unforgivable sin of entering into audience participation at a comedy show.

Anyway, as it turns out, Chicago has a fabulous public transport system ($5 for a 24 hour ticket that covers the ‘L’ elevated train and buses!), decent bike lanes, and excellent clean sandy beaches and swimming in Lake Michigan. Worth exploring if you get chance to visit.

Usually you get home from your holidays to realise you left your charger behind, or a swimsuit. In my case, I’ve left my husband behind. I did realise this as I boarded the plane – it’s not like I only noticed when I got home and it was bin day. He’s stayed on to look after his mum, because he’s a good son (and… acceptable…? husband). To stop myself pining away in his absence (nothing to do with the dishes he’s not here to wash) I think I might go on a little van/bike adventure this weekend. The forecast is for SUN! Make plans NOW! Or, at least after you’ve read FGF. Here we go!

First, music…

Scott Voltage E Ride 900 Tuned

• Price: £10,099
• From: Scott Sports

This carbon fibre bike with tucked away everything hides a TQ HPR50 Mid Motor drive with 50Nm max Torque, a TQ Internal 360Wh, plus (not hidden, obvs) a 160Wh range extender. Up front it’s a FOX 36 Float Factory Grip 2 fork with 160mm travel, and tucked inside there’s a 155m FOX Float X NUDE, with TracLoc. Your left thumb will be kept busy with the TracLoc lock-out, dropper post AND assist controls. This isn’t the top of the range model, so you get SRAM GX AXS Transmission instead of full XO. SRAM Code 4 Piston disc brakes should haul you to a stop when someone wants to ask you about that retro-inspired paint job. Mark is sad that he is too small to ride this bike, which is Benji sized.

Trek Rally WaveCel Helmet

• Price: £149.99
• From: Trek

An all-new design, this is in the middle of the Trek WaveCel helmet range. It incorporates their new WaveCel structure, which is 10% more open than the previous version. This is supposed to help with cooling, and also brings with it a 15% weight saving. Coverage has been increased to provide more protection for the trail rider.

Trek Blaze WaveCel Helmet

• Price: £199.99
• From: Trek

This is the top of the new range, in more of an enduro style. You get a bit more coverage, and you also get removable ear covers. These are actually really easy to take in and out – not fiddly at all. Like the Rally above, you get a BOA fit adjuster, and FidLok strap fastening.

CatEye AMPP 1700 and AMPP2200 Front Lights

• Price: £139.99 (1700), £179.99 (2200)
• From: ZyroFisher / CatEye

Front lights to help you see where you’re going, with wraparound lens to the side to give you a better chance of being seen (by drivers, or trailside monsters). Both will give you a maximum of 60 hours run time (in flash mode). The 200 lumen ‘enduro’ mode on the 2200 model will give you 12 hours of run time, or 1.5 hours at 1500 lumen.

KMC Go Chain Wax and Chain

• Price: £17.99 (150ml), £53.99 (500ml), £41.99 (chain)
• From: Chicken Cycle Kit

Get yourself a pre waxed chain, then give it a re-waxing at least every 100km. No black goop. No cleaning off old wax. Just smooth runnings. Just make sure your chain is dry before you apply the top up coat, and let it dry before you set off on your ride.

Readers Ride Of The Week

• Price: #stwreadersrides hashtag
• From: Instagram

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Whether you’ve got a special new bike or just a bike that’s special to you, this is how you get to tell everyone about it! You can either tag the bike pic with #stwreadersrides on Instagram or you can send us your submissions via this form.

Featured Member Reward Of The Week

• Reward: 30% off SunGod
• From: Singletrack Members Rewards

OK, time to go and make your sunshine plans. Let’s have a tune to see you on the way. Yes, I’ve been watching Netflix since I’m home and husbandless. Name that show.

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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