Fresh Goods Friday 818: The Mo’ is Mo’ Edition

More is more. Or is it? Moar is definitely moar. Is less less though? Do you know what I mean, more or less?

Mountain biking appears to a series of balances and checks. Grip versus resistance. Comfort versus control. Weight versus capability. Low versus high. Long versus short. Messing with the graphic equaliser that is a mountain bike is an endlessly… well, endless enterprise. And long may it continue.

Anyways. Here’s this weeks Fresh Goods Friday! Check it.

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NSFW

Hunt Enduro V3 Mullet MTB Wheelset

Price: £499.00
From: Hunt Bike Wheels

The revamped 3rd generation incarnation of the popular Enduro wheelset from Hunt sees a concerted effort to big-up the durability without over-bigging the weight. No one likes wheels that fall apart and heavy wheels aren’t great for any rider. The new rims claim “industry-leading” impact resistance. The rims are front and rear specific by the way; 31.5mm internal width for the front, 30mm for the rear. Further to the front/rear specific design is the spoke count: 28 spokes up front, 32 rear. The spokes themselves are triple butted Pillar T302 with reinforced heads. Brass nipples too. Rim washers. The hubs feature sealed Enduro™ ABEC5 bearings. The rear hub has Hunt’s H_Ratchet XL 40T DBL freehub – stepped 40-tooth double-ratchet ring system,9° engagement, H_CERAMIK freehub body coating to combat cassette gouging.

Maxxis Minion DHX Tyre

Price: from £74.99
From: Freewheel

Big week for rubber fans this week as Maxxis unveils a brand new tyre model: the Minion DHX. Maxxis has also rejigged its DH casing for existing models such as the Assegai, High Roller 3 and Minion DHR II (the new DH casing is basically incrementally stiffer at the bead with the top of the tyre being suppler). The new DHX is kind of a rejigged DHF – the telltale ‘II’ centre knob and the ‘L’ side knob are still present – that’s been modernised and supposedly better on dry terrain. We’ve got a pair on test at the mo. First impressions? Yes.

Orbea Kimu 27 H10

Price: £1,399
From: Orbea

The Kimu range from Orbea is made up of several wheel sized premium spec bikes. This is the 27.5in Kimu. As you can see, aside from the cute top tube decal, it’s essentially a proper mountain for small humans of any age. Loads of standover. Easy-action decent dropper post. Nice narrow grips. A Marzocchi Z2 fork that works for light riders. Nice Shimano brakes with aftermarket rotors (no cheapy resin-only stamped-out jobbers here). Arguably OTT for all but the keenest kids (or parents) this Kimu is one of the best youth MTBs we’ve seen.

Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 Portable Power Station & SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel

Price: £1,199.00
From: Jackery

Those of you with memories that still work may remember that we had the V1.0 of the Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station in for review a few years ago. We really, really liked it. It was a godsend on multiple camping and bike race/event excursions. This is the new version of the Explorer. The first thing we noticed was its reduction in physical size and weight; both the main unit and the solar panel are significantly less hefty than before. It also claims to recharge quicker. All good stuff. Loads of outputs (USB and 3-pin etc) Some numbers: 1070wh capacity, 1500w output, 23.8lb weight, 400w solar input (max). NB: currently on sale for pretty much half RRP.

Fox Shock Float X & DHX LSC Eyelet Assembly

Price: £31.94
From: Silverfish UK

I never knew this little blue twiddler package existed up until recently. It wasn’t until I spotted the OEM shock on the bike of a friend-of-a-friend that also had a Low Speed Compression dial where it shouldn’t. Basically, if you’ve got a bike that came with a basic Float X (with only a rebound dial and a ‘Firm’ lever) you can turn into a ‘proper’ Float X by installing this £30ish assembly kit. I’m going to attempt to install this kit on the Amflow PR Carbon Pro that currently feels a bit lacking in the rear shock department. Don’t worry, I shall be attempting the surgery as far as possible away from the phenomenon known as ‘fridgesuck’.

New Singletrack Mag stockist: Cadence Cycleworks

Price: £email
From: Cadence Cycleworks

Just around the corner from Singletrack HQ – on Bond Street, Todmorden to be precise – is Cadence Cycleworks. A modest but potent operation run by cyclist-for-life Chris. As well as being rammed with lots of very cool and intriguing bikes and bits (mint condition Cinelli ATB from the ’90s pictured) it’s also the latest place where you can p-p-pick up a copy of Singletrack World Mountain Bike Magazine. If you run a bike shop (or any shop to be honest) and are interested in becoming a Singletrack mag stockist, email us at subs@singletrackworld.com for more details.

Hope Tech EVO GR4 Brake

Price: £240.00
From: Hope Technology

Okay, so technically this isn’t our Fresh Goods. It’s Cadence Cycleworks’ Fresh Foods. But everyone likes to drool over some primo Barnoldswick bling don’t they? I think this is the GR4 calliper (it might be the TR4 actually) that’s hosed-up to the EVO lever. And it’s got purple anodised bits. Which is the main thing.

Forum Thread Of The Week

This week’s winner is kayak23 for the What is this? Rusty metal content thread:

The winning FTOTW in FGF gets a prize. Therefore, kayak23 please email editorial@singletrackworld.com for a random prize. Don’t forget to include your postal address please.

Yorkshire Rainbow T-shirt

Price: £21.60
From: The Singletrack Shop

‘Designed’ by Chipps to celebrate Northern summertime. 100% organic ringspun combed cotton. Sleeve hem and bottom hem with wide double needle topstitch. Set-in sleeve. 1×1 rib at neck collar. Inside back neck tape in self fabric. Glad to be grey!

Singletrava Club

Come on in! The water’s lovely…

Stale Goods Friday – 2012 Genesis Grapil

Price: £2,799.99 (or £4,149.41 in today’s money)
From: Fresh Goods Friday 112

Approximately 14 years ago we wrote: “It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve finally wrestled one of the first production Genesis Grapil full suspension bikes from the hands of designer Dom. Made from double butted 6061 aluminium, it’s designed to be a worth tag-team partner for extended bouts of big mountain riding, as well as pitting yourself against techy death-matches in the woods. They reckon they’ve got the handling clinched, with relaxed angles, 140mm of travel up front and 120mm of linkage activated single pivot bounce out the back, running on low-maintenance and friction Norglide bushings. It’s going to be unleashing the smackdown (hopefully not of the rider) as part of our ‘Lakes bikes’ test for Issue 77…”

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