The Radavist

he Stone King Rally is not just a race; it’s a celebration of what mountain biking is all about.

Spanning six days of high-mountain adrenaline, riders from far and wide embark on an MTB enduro-style point-to-point adventure from Arvieux in the French Alps to Bordighera on the Italian Mediterranean coast.

Riders are treated to some of the world’s most beautiful mountain bike trails, covering a staggering 275 km with an arm-pumping 21,000 m of descending. As we commemorate the last of the three Stone King Rally events, komoot aims to preserve its legacy through the trails, tales, and phenomenal mountain biking experiences it has provided.

Explore the Stone King Rally route with the komoot trail collection.

Fox has entered the electronic dropper-post market with the Transfer Neo. Travis has one arriving any day now, and will publish a review in just a few weeks. That’s when we’ll indulge in philosophical musings about what this might mean for the shifting dominances of SRAM, RockShox, Shimano, and Fox. But for now, we’ll just cover the facts.

Magnus Manson needs no introduction on the Canadian racing scene. Standing next to Finn Iles on the 2016 Junior World Championship podium, for a Canada 1-2 sweep in Val di Sole, Magnus was just beginning to establish himself on the World Cup Circuit as part of the new wave of Canadian DH racers…

Ronnie’s Alumalith debuted here in our 2022 Philly Bike Expo coverage and since that virgin voyage, he’s put countless miles on it from the Northeast to the Southwest. Long overdue for an overhaul, his refresh looks very similar to Josh’s build with a Sklar-built Bullmoose. Check it out for some ASMR vibes this afternoon and be sure to visit Ronsbikes.com.

Welp, that didn’t take long. Just a couple days ago, Travis shared his first impressions of Forge+Bond’s prototype handlebar, but we didn’t know what it would cost. And we didn’t know when—or if—it would come to market. That may not seem like a normal way to announce a product, but this isn’t a normal product. 

Forge+Bond is probably doing a bunch of ongoing experiments with Fusion Fiber, their signature thermoplastic carbon material (see our first post about Forge+Bond for more details). The handlebars probably happened to be far enough along that they wanted to see what people thought. And maybe they saw a big uptick in traffic from the handful of reviews and handful of teasers that have been circulating. So, they picked a date and a price. The date is today, and the price is $265.

We’ve ridden a handful of Fusion Fiber wheels, and we always wonder when this unique approach to carbon fiber might make the leap to other components. Well, we can keep on wondering, but the prototype handlebar that Forge+Bond sent to Travis last month has us thinking about the future.

This is a good time for thick grips. There are more options than ever for anyone seeking a little extra surface area. Travis is a bit of an expert on the subject, and never travels without a set of grips 33 mm or larger in case he needs to borrow a bike. So, he’s gathered a baker’s dozen and gave them a squeeze.

Inspired by Hailey’s review of the Panorama Cycles Torngat Ti in full-fat winter mode, François submitted a full-length Readers’ Rides review of his Torngat Ti in summer mode. Let’s check it out!

The FAIR Bicycle DROP BEST UC is more than just an excuse for Travis to talk about how much he really loves steep seat angles. It can add years of life to an outdated mountain bike by moving its saddle forward by more than an inch. Or, it’s a solution for people who really hate steep seat angles.

Ride Concepts took everything it loves about the Tallac and beefed it up in a robust mid-top silhouette, resulting in the Tallac Mid shoe…

The Tallac Mid has tech, more protection, and more support. Designed for all day rides, hard MTB tours, trail work, and everything in between.

The PerformFit™ Wrap from the BOA® Fit System is designed to improve power transfer and efficiency while providing a micro-adjustable, precision fit you can adjust on the fly. A mid-height collar seamlessly integrates 3D-molded D3O® protection on the medial and lateral sides to provide extra support and keep your ankles safe from side-impacts.

There’s also an integrated D3O® padding for top-of-foot for impact protection. Featuring the same trusted reverse-hex outsole as the low-rise version—grip on and off the bike is second to none. The Cordura® upper with welded construction is abrasion-resistant and built to last, one epic ride after another.

Like its low-top predecessor, this shoe is designed for big days in big terrain. The Tallac Mid is an aggressive shoe with protection and stability at its core. Available in a flat pedal or clipless sole.

Features (Flat)

• PerformFit™ Wrap from the BOA® Fit System delivers dialed in performance with micro-adjustable precision fit
• Integrated D3O® pads for top-of-foot protection
• 3D-molded D3O® collar protects ankles from side impacts
• MaxGrip rubber outsole
• Hexagon outsole featuring reverse hex traction pattern on toe and heel for hike-able climbs and descents
• EVA midsole provides support and shock absorption
• Fully gusseted tongue prohibits intake of dirt and debris
• D3O® High Impact Zone Technology insole absorbs impact and reduces fatigue
• Lightweight bonded upper featuring Cordura® mesh for durability and breathability
• Anti-bacterial mesh lining controls odor
• TPU mud guard to protect against dirt, debris and rubbing
• TPU toe and heel protection with reinforced anti-abrasion film
• Heel pull tab for easy entry
• Weights: 440g (per shoe – size US9/EU42)

Features (Clipless)

• PerformFit™ Wrap from the BOA® Fit System delivers dialed in performance with micro-adjustable precision fit
• Integrated D3O® pads for top-of-foot protection
• 3D-molded D3O® collar protects ankles from side impacts
• ClipGrip rubber outsole
• Hexagon outsole featuring reverse hex traction pattern on toe and heel for hike-able climbs and descents
• EVA midsole provides support and shock absorption
• Fully gusseted tongue prohibits intake of dirt and debris
• D3O® High Impact Zone Technology insole absorbs impact and reduces fatigue
• Lightweight bonded upper featuring Cordura® mesh for durability and breathability
• Anti-bacterial mesh lining controls odor
• TPU mud guard to protect against dirt, debris and rubbing
• TPU toe and heel protection with reinforced anti-abrasion film
• Heel pull tab for easy entry
• Weights: 530g (per shoe – size US9/EU42)

See more at Ride Concepts.

Although the luster of mountain biking has never dulled for Andy McKenna, it’s been several years since he’s ventured back to the foreboding mountains of Torridon where he once thrived as a mountain bike guide. The time has come to confront his foe.

Andy’s enlisted an inspiring ally to take on these Torridonian giants: In Episode 4 of the ‘Evolution Stories’ series, Small Steps to Big Things, Andy teams up with ultra-endurance adventurer Jenny Graham in one of their beloved bothies to plot rides and chat about the ingredients for living life and setting world records.

With Crust Bikes’ Scapebot frame, you can swap from 29 x 2.4″ tires and wheels to a massive 26″ x 3.8″ setup… but it takes some tinkering and a clever hack. Shed tinker lord Spencer shows us how in this supplementary video to his Scapebot review.

Summer means something different for mountain bikers in Los Angeles. Unless you’re in Malibu, it’s not a great time of year to ride. Travis is not in Malibu, but he’s got ten products that will make the season more palatable.

Pairing with today’s launch of the third-generation Ripmo, Ibis is releasing the fifth iteration of the Ripley. In fact they’re more than just a pair…

After five years of service in the New Zealand Army, Robin Goomes was at a crossroads. She had to decide whether to continue her career as a heavy machinery operator or to make a massive bet on herself and pursue her dream of becoming a professional mountain biker. Robin had never competed outside of New Zealand, and it was rare for women to secure invites in a male-dominated sport. Despite these uncertainties and the ever-present risk of injury, she decided to roll the dice.

Crust Bike‘s Geared Wombat, the modern 27.5″ wheeled rigid MTB, got a new coat of paint for 2024…