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Designed For The Dirt: Curve Cycling Carbon Dirt Hoop Wheelset Review

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Designed For The Dirt: Curve Cycling Carbon Dirt Hoop Wheelset Review

Since its launch in 2013, Melbourne-based Curve Cycling has developed an impressive and unique stable of adventure-focused titanium and steel bikes. Perhaps you caught Sam Rice or Pat Valade’s review of their GMX+ or watched Abdullah Zeinab scoop first place at the Rhino Run last year? But before they made race-winning adventure bikes, carbon wheels were their bread and butter. 

After spending time with the alloy rims that came on his GMX+, Sam Rice switched over to carbon Dirt Hoops from Curve and has since put considerable mileage on them. Below, he offers an overview of the wheelset along with an in-depth review…

Introducing the Revel Rover Gravel Bike

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Introducing the Revel Rover Gravel Bike

We got a sneak peek at Revel’s new Rover Gravel Bike when we were in Carbondale earlier this year and today, the brand launched this capable gravel platform with a series of build options – starting at $2400 for a frame+fork – and in two colors.

The Rover fits in nicely with Revel’s sibling company Why Cycles who offers up titanium gravel bikes a go-go and fills the void for those wanting a carbon chassis Revel is known for.

Specs:
-700c X 50mm tire clearance
-Chainring clearance up to 46T
-5 sizes from Small-XXL
-Our two most popular Revel colors Mint and T-1000
-Threaded bottom bracket
-Our custom fork, painted to match
-Headset, seat collar, front and rear axles included with frameset.
-Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH)
-Lifetime warranty
-Complete bikes available with Shimano GRX and SRAM group sets
-Available to ship 2/15/22
-MSRP – Frameset: $2400 Complete builds: $3999 for SRAM Rival kit/ $4600 for GRX/$8199 for SRAM Red AXS

Whisky Parts Co: Spano Bars

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Whisky Parts Co: Spano Bars

Whisky Parts Co’s newest carbon component is the Spano Bars, an all-road or gravel bar with multiple hand positions, a multi-stage flare, and flat tops. These bars feature a compound flare, measuring 12º at the hoods and 20º through the drops and are available in 40cm to 48cm widths. Check out more information at Whisky.

Roval’s New 2021 Control Carbon MTB Wheels

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Roval’s New 2021 Control Carbon MTB Wheels

Roval just announced their a redesigned Control Carbon wheelset for 2021, which combines low weight and strength found in their Control SL rim and built with the new DT Swiss 350 hubs. These Control Carbon wheels feature the same zero-bead-hook design and wider 29mm-inner width, found in Roval’s Control SL as well.

Specs:
-Control SL 29”
-29mm Internal Width
-4mm FlatTop Bead Hook
-Tubeless Compatible
-New DT Swiss 350 Hub Straight-pull
-6-bolt Rotor – 36t Star Ratchet System
-Thru Axle 100x15mm & 148x12mm
-Weight: 1450g w/ Tubeless Rim Tape
-MSRP: $1350.00 – Wheelset
-Lifetime Warranty – No-Fault Crash Replacement

See more at Roval.

Graphic Artist Iancu Designed a Very Special Ginko Firefly for a Japanese Friend

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Graphic Artist Iancu Designed a Very Special Ginko Firefly for a Japanese Friend

As a designer, sometimes you get a commission that really jives with your hobbies. Graphic artist Iancu met a Japanese Cyclist through the Rapha Cycle Club and designed him a dream bike with Firefly Cycles.

“One of the benefits of being part of an international club, the Rapha Cycling Club, is getting to know great people from all over the world. One of them is Haj, who lives in Miami, US, but was born in Tokyo, Japan.

We’ve been talking about our cycling and Japan interests over the years, and he’s always been very kind and appreciative of my work. He really liked the Quirk bike design I had done before, so he asked if I could help design a bike for him as well. The world-renowned Firefly Bicycles team from Boston were building it. This had all the markings of a dream project, so I said yes, of course.”

Head to Iancu’s Portfolio Site to see the full bike.

Moné Bikes: Help Fund this Carbon Riser Bar Dubbed the “Light Bar”

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Moné Bikes: Help Fund this Carbon Riser Bar Dubbed the “Light Bar”

Want a riser bar with a classic cross-brace but also want your bike to weigh less? Enter the Light Bar.

These carbon bars have a 31.8 Clamp. 2.5” of rise, 827mm wide, and 12º of backsweep. That’s a bit less rise and sweep than Moné’s Oddmone, so if you have a similar bar, you can swap the Light Bar in for a some added comfort and less weight.

Moné is making these bars, no question about it but tooling is expensive, so they’re doing a pre-sale to help kick the Light Bar into production. In exchange for your patience, you’ll get wholesale pricing ($239) for a limited time. Presale runs until Saturday, Oct. 24th. The first 30 Light Bar sales will be fast-tracked so you’ll get your bars even sooner.

Head to Moné Bikes to order.

The Most Colorful Bastion Cycles Ever? A Ti and Carbon Dream Bike from the ENVE Builder Round Up

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The Most Colorful Bastion Cycles Ever? A Ti and Carbon Dream Bike from the ENVE Builder Round Up

This year’s ENVE Builder Round-Up featured two builds that didn’t make it through US Customs in time for the complete unveiling. Last weekend we looked at that beautiful Isen, a colorful build on its own, and this weekend, we’re featuring this lovely Bastion, a brand known for its ultra-high-tech frame construction by using 3D printed titanium lugs and beautifully woven carbon tubes. All made in-house in Victoria, Australia. Yes, this Bastion flew a long way to Ogden, Utah for the ENVE Builder Round-Up, but as you can see, it was worth it! See the full details below in an interview video with Bastion and a complete gallery within…

A Gorgeous ISEN Workshop All Season Carbon and Titanium Disc Road

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A Gorgeous ISEN Workshop All Season Carbon and Titanium Disc Road

Last year, ENVE opened its doors to the public for an Open House event. Once inside, visitors took a tour of its Ogden, Utah facilities and were greeted by two-dozen custom bikes from builders across the globe. This year the pandemic forced ENVE to pivot a bit, holding a virtual tour and framebuilder showcase they’re calling the Builder Round-Up. We’re pleased to once again host this showcase, with two-part coverage, so read on below for a full breakdown on these Beautiful Bicycles along with a few teasers of new ENVE product…

Thesis OB1 Bring a Friend Discount Offers $300 Off and a New Olive Drab Frameset

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Thesis OB1 Bring a Friend Discount Offers $300 Off and a New Olive Drab Frameset

Thesis has cracked the market open with their OB1, a carbon all-road bike with all the bells and whistles of other bigger brands, at a saving in cost. They offer customizable builds, with a selection of frame colors and build kits to outfit their OB1 frame. Back in March they offered up the “Bring a Friend” discount, which offered $300 off for any referral to their email and the response was overwhelming. Well, it’s back and Thesis has a bigger team to handle the influx of “Bring a Friend” discounts.

To take advantage of the $300 deal, all you’ve got to do is simply introduce your friends via hello@thesis.bike to get started. You and a friend can introduce yourselves to get $300 off, or if you already have a Thesis, you can introduce a friend to get them $300 off.

Head to Thesis to read more. While you’re there, check out their new frameset color, Olive Drab.

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ENVE’s New Foundation Wheels are a Second-Tier $1,600 Made in the USA Wheelset with External Nipples

ENVE will always have their high-end wheelsets but to make the brand more accessible, they developed the all-new Foundation Wheels. These are their second-tier pricepoint products, made to the same standards as all their wheels, but with a few key differences. Think of them like the Force, or the Ultegra, when compared to Red or Dura-Ace on the road side and the XO1, or XT, to the XX1 and XTR on the mountain side.

These are still made in the USA, but feature external nipples, plus a pinch-flat resistant lip, and are backed by the same lifetime warranty as their standard wheels. On the mountain bike side, there are the new AM30 wheels (all-mountain), and on the road/gravel side, the 45 & 65 wheels.

These wheels have molded spoke holes, where the carbon weave is not penetrated, offering continuity in the structure, versus drilling, which ultimately weakens the material. During our discussions, we worked out launching these wheels on three framebuilder bikes, starting with a Falconer. Over the next few days, we’ll look at two more US-made bikes showcasing the new AM30, 45 and 65 wheels… For now, check out more information at ENVE and see the road launch video below!

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Revel Bikes’ Fusion-Fiber Recyclable Wheels!

CSS Composites has been working on new recyclable carbon technology dubbed Fusion-Fiber for some time now and have partnered with Revel Bikes to produce their new US-made wheels! What differentiates these wheels from other offerings is that the material is 100% recyclable. Not 1%, not 10%, 100%! This is huge when you consider how much carbon material is thrown away!

This technology inspired Revel to produce their first-ever rim, the RW30.

Revel has rims and wheels available now in 27.5 and 29”. The RW30 is an enduro/trail-rated rim. The 27.5 rim weighs 440 grams and the 29er weighs 470 grams. Of course, Revel worked with their good friends at Industry Nine, and all complete Revel wheels will be built with their hubs. Wheels are available with 1/1 or Hydra hubs and Sapim D-light spokes.

Rims retail for $700 each, 1/1 complete wheels are $1975 and Hydra complete wheels are $2200.

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HED Cycling: Eroica Carbon Gravel Bike Wheels

The newest product from HED Cycling is their Eroica gravel wheels. Weighing only 1340 grams for the pair, these wheels feature HED’s signature Dual-Axis Nipple Alignment, allowing for equal load distribution in any terrain.

Eroica Carbon Gravel Bike Wheels Specs:
Wheel Weight: front 625 grams rear 729 grams
Wheel Size: 700C
Hub: front CL Flanged, 12x100mm, rear CL Flanged, 12x142mm
Spokes: Sapim Laser
Spoke Length: front 284mm, rear 280/284mm
Spoke Cross: 2x
MSRP: starting at $1,100

The Cervelo Áspero is the Brand’s Dirtiest Bike

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The Cervelo Áspero is the Brand’s Dirtiest Bike

When I say Cervelo, chances are your mind doesn’t jump right to off-road bikes. It’s probably something aero like a time trial bike or an aero road bike. Big graphics, thiccccc downtube, lots of spandex, and other images pop into my mind. I’m sure I’m not alone. While it wasn’t exactly a surprise when the brand launched the Áspero – heck, everyone is putting out gravel bikes – I was taken back by how good the bike looked. The Áspero has a lot going on visually but delivers one hell of a ride. I’ve been putting in miles on one for a few weeks now and am finally ready to discuss what I like and what I don’t like about it so if you’re curious about the dirtiest bike in Cervelo’s catalog, read on…

Salsa Cutthroat Tour Divide Bike Review for 2023

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Salsa Cutthroat Tour Divide Bike Review for 2023

In 2015, I was able to partake in the launch of the Cutthroat, Salsa’s Tour Divide Race Bike, a unique drop bar 29er and since then, I’ve had zero contact with it. That is until I unboxed the brand new 2020 Cutthroat, which is full of new updates and boy is it a long list. While I plan on reviewing this bike in more detail further down the road, I wanted to give you a look at the new model on its launch day. Read on below for a first look at the new Cutty.