Fresh Goods Friday 819: The Much How Edition

August 7, 2026
2 Comments

Tis the holiday season for reals. Benji has stepped out to do fun things with the fam, and despite the fact he provided all the usual fun and new gear stuff below, he didn’t write this bit. He just left the word ‘yeh’ sitting here. So you get me running the intro this week. In this week’s edition of FGF we have POC gear, artistic shots of goods from Hope, a candidate for ridiculous product name of the week from Voodoo and even some actual trails. Oh and issue 168 has landed with us at the office so if you are a subscriber, move any fragile items from the doormat as this summer’s beast of mtb literary bulk is about to land heavily.

Subscribers keep the lights on here and as far as business assets are concerned, they are our most valuable resource.

Not a subscriber? You’ve always been one of us. You just haven’t subscribed yet.

Mark

ps. If you are around Cilcain in Flintshire this weekend watch out for me as I tackle an offroad 25 miler ON FOOT. Ultra marathons are like mountain biking but with the wheels and all the fun removed, although the feed stations are pretty good. How are you planning to ruin your weekend? Let me know in the comments. Like and subscribe and all that.

Anyway… It’s Benji all the way down from here.

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Inspired by the Voodoo dirtjump bike (below)

POC Barocon Carbon Helmet

  • Price: £730.00 (not a typo)
  • From: POC
A black POC bike helmet displayed on a white surface with a wooden fence in the background.
Close-up of a black plastic component with a small protruding tab on a white surface.
Close-up of a grey metallic surface featuring a small square opening.
Close-up view of the interior of a POC helmet, highlighting the textured padding and carbon finish.
Close-up of a black helmet showing ventilation holes and internal padding.
Interior view of a cycling helmet showing MIPS technology and safety instructions.

I don’t think there’s any way to really excuse/explain the bonkers price tag of this full facer that will hold much weight with the average rider. Is this helmet the best yet incarnation of protection versus weight? Seeing as it only weighs just over 1000g and bears a whole loada certifications (AS/NZS 2063, ASTM F1952-22, ASTM F2032-22, CPSC 1203, EN 1078, NA DOT) it could well be. It’s still insane that it costs over £700. POC sez: “[what’s different] from our previous helmets and most downhill helmets on the market is that the Barocon Carbon uses an in-mould construction. Rather than bonding a carbon fibre outer shell to an EPS liner with an adhesive, the carbon shell is placed into a tool, which is then filler with EPS so the materials bond directly. This sandwich construction is significantly stronger and more lightweight than traditional downhill helmets.” But yeah. £730.

POC Zygon MTB Goggles

  • Price: £120.00
  • From: POC
A pair of black ski goggles resting on a wooden surface, featuring tinted lenses and a branded strap.
Close-up view of a black and orange ski goggle, highlighting the inner foam cushion and strap on a wooden surface.
Close-up of a ski goggles lens showing the text 'CLARITY BY POC', 'S1', and 'LENS BY ZEISS' on the lower edge.
Close-up of a black and orange ski goggle, featuring a padded interior and a branded strap, placed on a wooden surface.

What better to wear with an insanely expensive carbon hat than some very expensive eyewear. Features: very wide field of view, constructed with a cylindrical lens, goggle ventilation can be adjusted so you can control airflow, triple-layer face foam, Coolmax fabric sits next to skin, removable ventilation lid, Ri-Pel™ protects from dirt, water, sweat, salt, oil and dust, and makes the lenses easier to keep clean, double-layer lens.

Hope 20mm Gravity Stem

A sleek black bike stem with dual clamp rings, featuring engraved branding and precision cut details, displayed on a pedestal against a dark background.
Close-up of two metallic car engine parts displayed on a pedestal against a black background.

Being something of a tragic wannabe myself, I’m very excited to try this super dinky stem from the Barnoldswick Brigade. Whilst it’s not exactly cheap, it’s not as expensive as some other short-run bespoke steerer-topping stems out there. This little unit will be going straight on to my massive reach Cannondale Bad Habit to contrast and compare to the 32mm stem and 12° backswept bars setup. Features: 20mm long, 35mm stack, increased 5mm bar clamp width for additional system strength and stiffness, integrated headset cap (THIS is a great idea), CNC machined from a solid billet of 2014 T6 aluminium, available in 31.8mm and 35mm flavas.

Voodoo Zwazo

A black mountain bike with brown tyres parked on a concrete surface, surrounded by yellow flowers and green foliage in the background.
Close-up of a mountain bike wheel with a black and orange tyre, showcasing the spokes and disc brake in a blurred outdoor setting.
Close-up of a bicycle's rear wheel, featuring a textured black tyre with a brown sidewall and a well-maintained chain and gearing system.

Yours for less than the price of a really fancy full facer comes this super sharp dirtjump/pumptrack 26ain’tdead beauty. From the house of Halfords no less. Credit where credits due, this is very tidy machine. Worthy of special note is a coil sprung dirt jump fork with actual rebound adjustment. Lifetime Frame Guarantee apaz. Oh, and Zwazo means ‘bird’ in Haitian/Seychelles Creole, which I’m sure you already knew anyway. Voodoo: “Inspired by the feel of a BMX but with the stability of a bigger bike, it’s perfect for younger riders learning tricks or anyone getting back into jump lines and trail sessions.”

New Dyfi Bikepark eeb trails

A cyclist riding on a gravel path in a mountainous landscape, with a bright yellow sign featuring a lightning bolt on a wooden post in the foreground.
Aerial view of a winding mountain bike trail on a hillside covered in heather and surrounded by a forest, under a clear blue sky.
A scenic view of a green hillside leading to a rocky mountain peak under a clear blue sky.
A person walking along a narrow path on a grassy hillside, with rolling hills and a cloudy sky in the background.

Opening tomorrow (Saturday 8 August) is the first phase of ‘Unlocking Dyfi’; “a new network of upper mountain EMTB trails that extends the riding beyond the uplift and opens up another section of the mountain. Rather than replacing the uplift, the new trails build on it. Riders use the uplift to gain most of the elevation before continuing under pedal power to a series of more natural upper mountain trails, linking back into the existing bike park for complete top-to-bottom laps.”

Spear & Jackson Little Giant Grass Hook

A curved hand scythe tool with a wooden handle lying on a wooden surface.

Tell me you’ve lost patience with overgrown trails without telling me you’ve lost patience with overgrown trails. As well as being a delightful Halloween prop for a toddler dressing up as The Grim Reaper, this pleasingly basic tool will hopefully save the day when it comes to keeping certain less-travelled tracks and trails clear for the rest of the summer. WHOOSH! Shinpads advised.

Dunking Biscuits: A Biscuit Lover’s Guide by Chris Hulme

A book titled 'Dunking Biscuits: A Biscuit Lover's Guide' by Chris Hulme, featuring illustrations of biscuits and a hand dunking a Custard Cream into a cup, placed on a wooden surface beside a pack of Digestives and promotional materials.
An open booklet titled 'The Biscuit' discussing various aspects of biscuits, featuring a Dunk Rating of 8.3 for Plain Digestive biscuits. It includes text on dunking techniques and flavours, alongside images of biscuits. A hand is visible holding the booklet, with a pack of biscuits partially displayed in the background.
Open book page titled 'Your Tasting Notes' featuring images of Oreo and Garibaldi biscuits, with blank sections for 'Dunk Rating'.
A guide to dunking biscuits, detailing the best biscuits for dunking, their flavours and textures, with space for personal tasting notes. Includes a playful design with illustrations of biscuits and a coffee theme.

“Delving into the world of dunking biscuits to go beyond destructive testing and find the best dunk and beverage for a range of 24 well known biscuits. I started with the staple but humble Digestive the research culminating in the Hob Nob – but which is the best? And which beverages give the most satisfying dunk? You can find out here!”

Singletrackworld Mountain Bike Magazine Issue 168

A mountain biker in red gear performs a jump over a rocky terrain, surrounded by an excited crowd of spectators cheering and raising their arms, featured in a magazine spread with text.
Page from a magazine featuring the Atherton family in cycling gear, with a headline about their experiences after racing. The opposite page includes an interview with Dan Atherton discussing trail building.
An open magazine featuring an article titled 'Racing as a Woman'. The page discusses women's experiences in mountain bike racing, highlighting gender disparities in competitions and the need for equality in sports.
An open magazine featuring a feature on a cyclist, with an image of a man sitting on a couch and various cycling graphics. The headline reads 'THIS MACHINE KILLS FAST BITS' and highlights impressive cycling achievements.
Cover of the magazine 'Singletrack' featuring a winding trail with a cyclist in a lush green setting.

It’s here! My difficult second album. It wasn’t so difficult really. In fact it was a total joy being the editor putting together this corker of an issue. Issue 168 The Racing Issue. In this one: life after racing with the Athertons, the state of local XC racing, women’s experiences in MTB racing and an interview with photography legend Sven Martin (who also took the belting cover shot).

Forum Thread Of The Week

This week’s winner is IHN purely for use of the phrase ‘bugger’s muddle’, which I’m going crowbar into as many conversations as I can from now on

A collection of cycling tools and repair items including mini-pumps, mini-tools, chain splitters, tyre levers, puncture kits, and tubes, organised for convenience during short rides.

As is now the way, contact Benji at editorial@singletrackworld.com for a little show of appreciation.

Stale Goods Friday – 2009 Titus FTM

A black mountain bike leaning against a stone wall, with a green door in the background. The bike features thick tyres, a full suspension frame, and a front fork with a shock absorber.
Close-up of a mountain bike frame showing the rear suspension linkage and shock absorber, with visible dirt on the components.
Close-up of a matte black bicycle frame featuring the logo of a bike manufacturer, with soft cables and a visible suspension component. The background shows a green door and stone wall.

Back before I had simultaneously more and less hair, I wrote: “Titus FTM – it stands for Full Tilt Moto. So now you know. Nice gloss-on-matt graphics. Carbon seat stays and swinglink. The FTM’s dropout area has hints of Schwinn about it, no?”

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Fresh Goods Friday is Sponsored by Pedal Cover – The better route for cyclists

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185cm tall. 74kg weight. Orange Switch 6er. Saracen Ariel Eeber. Schwalbe Magic Mary. Maxxis DHR II. Coil fan.

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