Fresh Goods Friday 803: The Rose By Any Other Name Edition

Does this week’s edition smell as sweet as last week’s?

It’s hard to say. Mainly because webpages don’t really smell or much at all. Unlike magazine pages. Which do smell. They smell amazing.

This week didn’t see too much flap action on the STW HQ door (blame Choco Egg Season) but there’s still enough nu tings to delve into. All aboard!

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Fresh Goods Friday is sponsored by…

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Schwalbe Romy Radial

• Price: €79.90
• From: Schwalbe

A whole new tyre tread design from Schwalbe. And it’s (unsurprisingly) available in its radial casing. What is the Romy intended usage? Schwalbe isn’t being massively helpful in its description – the Romy is apparently “made for trails, tales and good times” – so I’m just going to come out and say: it’s Schwalbe’s version of a Maxxis DHR II. Which is no bad thing. Indeed, a DHR II with a radial casing does sound a bit like the best all-rounder capable trail tyre of all time. We shall see.

Specialized Ambush 3 MIPS helmet

• Price: £169.00
• From: Specialized

Hurray! A mountain bike helmet with a peak in a sensible location! After being one of the first culprits of the bizarre way-too-high peak trend, Specialized has seen the error of its ways and repositioned the visor back where it belongs. You can even ‘lock’ the visor in position by inserting a little red stick (the ‘VisorLock’) into the mechanism (see last photo). Or, you can just leave it as-is and opt for one of four nicely-positive peak tilt positions. Features: internal composite AirCage with MIPS Air Node Pro system integration, Virginia Tech 5-Star rating, BOA Fit System featuring FS1 with micro-adjustable, 360° wrap. FIDLOCK magnetic buckle. We can confirm it continues the Ambush helmet’s reputation as being one of the comfiest lids out there for most bonces.

Mud Memories

• Price: £TBC
• From: Mud & Memories

Here at Singletrack Magazine, we always pleased to see stuff done in print. Such as these 7″x5″ cards. “Printed on 350gsm matt recycled board, each card offers exceptional texture and print quality, providing an eco-friendly solution without compromise. All cards bear the FSC certification and are paired with Eco Kraft brown envelopes, reflecting the commitment to sustainable design.”

Bikonic Gas-Stand

• Price: £625.00
• From: Bikonic

This is a new way of working on heavier bikes (ebikes init). With the Bikonic gas-stand you don’t lift your bike into a workstand, instead the bike is clamped into the stand with its wheels firmly on the floor and the gas-spring does the lifting. Yes, it also works just fine with lighter bicycles. Features: manoeuvrable (foldable legs and a built in roller for positioning), option to mount on a solid steel plate for permanent fixture, relatively easy to dismantle and fold for storage.

RAAW Complete Bikes

• Price: from £4,800
• From: RAAW

After a couple of years offering only frame kits and rolling chassis, RAAW is now relaunching complete bikes across the Jibb LT, Madonna, and Yalla range with SRAM drivetrains and brakes. “The Jibb LT and Madonna are available with either FOX or Öhlins suspension, paired with SRAM mechanical or wireless drivetrains and brakes. Wheel options include DT Swiss or Newmen, and each bike is finished with Ergon touchpoints, Maxxis tires, and OneUp cockpit and dropper components.” And yes, we are including this just because it’s so nice to see a Raaw Madonna.

Rebel Girl – My LIfe as a Feminist Punk by Kathleen Hanna

• Price: £20.00
• From: William Collins

Yet another music (auto)biography book arrives in the Benji Household. “An electric, searing memoir by the original Riot Grrrl and legendary frontwoman of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre. Hey girlfriend I got a proposition, goes something like this: Dare ya to do what you want.”

Forum Thread Of The Week

This week’s winner is slowoldman for the Singletrackbogseatworld thread:

The winning FTOTW in FGF gets a prize. Thusly, slowoldman please email editorial@singletrackworld.com for a random prize. Don’t forget to include your postal address.

Subscriber Reward: up to 60% off Troy Lee Designs

• Reward: up to 60% Troy Lee Designs
• From: Singletrack Subscriber Rewards

About Troy Lee Designs: “Since 1981, Troy Lee Designs has been developing MTB helmets protective gear and apparel For the World’s Fastest Racers.”

Framed Issue 166 Cover

• Price: £32.99
• From: The Singletrack Shop

Is Joe Wakefield’s cover image for issue 166 the best Singletrack mag cover of all time? Yes. Yes, it is. Commemorate our 25th anniversary issue with some beautiful wall art. Our lustre art prints are printed on a flat, stiff, middle-weight paper with a white base and an instant dry, micro-porous coating. 275 gsm. Lustre finish. Wide colour gamut and something called “high d-max”. Loads better than low d-max (ugh).

Stale Goods Friday – 2010 Saracen Ariel 2

• Price: £2,099.99 (or £3,286.82 in today’s money)
• From: Fresh Goods Friday 51

Once the noughties ended we wrote: “The Ariel is an All-mountain styled bike from Saracen. It uses a single pivot suspension design and the frame is made from triple butted 7005/T6 custom formed alloy tubing. There are three different finish levels, the Ariel 2 we have is finished with race face bar respond bar, stem and seatpost and has Shimano SLX shifting groupset. The frame comes decal free and the free decal sticker pack lets you create your own design.” Loved this bike.

Leisure Lakes Demo Weekend @ Cannock Chase

• Price: £50 per day (read below for more info about this fee)
• From: Leisure Lakes

Not this weekend! The one after. April 25-26th. With over 200 mountain bikes and electric bikes to choose from, this is a pretty great opportunity to get a side-by-side comparison of the latest bikes and kit. 10am until 4pm. The £50 fee? Pretty standard for a demo day but there’s more to it: £12 of every ticket sold goes towards the North West Air Ambulance, £8 of every ticket sold goes towards the Forestry Commission, includes a free hot drink voucher, and your ticket also acts as a deposit against any subsequent new bike purchase.

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