The Schwinn Cimarron remains one of the more affordable 1980s MTB frames and when a bike is affordable, creativity blossoms. Check out what Alexander did with his 1987 build, featuring the wild and kooky Suntour S-1 rear mech!
#MTB
tag
Radar
Panorama Cycles Boreal Pinion Touring Bike
Just announced today, the newest bike from the East Coast of Canada-based Panorama Cycles is a pinion gearbox touring bike dubbed the Boreal Pinion (4,399$ – 5,999$ CAD). Find out more below…
Radar
VIDEO: Starling Cycle’s Joe Varndell – Full Time at MTB University
Not only is he super talented on a mountain bike, but he actually studies mountain biking at college. Yep – that’s actually a thing you can do now! Joe joined the Starling Cycles team a few years back and went on to enroll into BASE College in Scotland, studying mountain biking full-time.
BASE is the Borders Academy of Sporting Excellence (BASE) Mountain Biking Performance course, based out of the Borders College in Peebles, Scotland. Joe’s time at BASE is spent learning how to be a better rider and racer, but also sports science, psychology, coaching skills and everything you need to be an all-round expert two-wheel athlete. Because Starling thinks Joe is rad and the brand thinks his story is rad, it decided it was time to tell his story.
Reportage
More Than It Seems: A 2024 Revel Rascal Review
After its first top-to-bottom update, the new 2024 Revel Rascal may be the most versatile mid-travel 29er Travis has ever ridden. But does versatility matter when you’re just here to have fun?
Radar
VIDEO: SBTS Connected Communities – Indian Valley Loop Project Update
The Indian Valley Loop Project proposes 70 miles of new trail construction, linking the towns of Taylorsville, Greenville, Round Valley Lake and Crescent Mills with a mix of motorized and non-motorized singletrack. It will also connect into the existing Mount Hough trail system in Quincy, as part of the larger Connected Communities project, which aims to link 15 mountain towns with a shared trail network, using outdoor recreation as an economic driver. The IVL project is a big part of the recovery for this region in northern California, much of which is still rebuilding following the devastating 2021 Dixie Fire. Planning for the Indian Valley Loop project was jumpstarted through a $50,000 grant from the Friesen Foundation. Read more at SBTS.
Radar
VIDEO: Mark Bentley – Fairlight Riders
In Fairlight‘s second short film in this series, Mark Bentley (aka Bentley Components), reflects on his connection with the Yorkshire Moors, how he fell into making machined parts for bikes and how ‘following his nose’ on a mountain bike is still where his riding passion lies.
Mark is a proper engineer, a trained tool-maker; he knows his craft! Deep knowledge of process and materials, helping turn our ideas into physical objects that are functional, light and elegant. We are really proud to have the Bentley logo on our frames. Thank you Mark. Filmed by Chris McClean.
Reportage
Opening the Door: Onur Reflects on How His Single Speed MTB Saved His Life
John first met Onur through the Land Cruiser world. He’s a legend in that community. Then, scary life stuff happened, and suddenly, Onur realized his lifestyle needed to change. He had a heart attack and had to get into shape… fast! His life depended on it. Read on for a heartfelt story about how Onur reconnected with the bicycle, thanks to his supportive friends, and how he’s addicted to his trusty single-speed mountain bike!
Reportage
Readers’ Rides: Cub House Builds – Daniel’s Dirt Drop Dirt Shark
This Friday, we have a very special Readers’ Rides, supplied by our friends at The Cub House in San Marino, California. This is a good one so let’s get to it!
Radar
VIDEO: Danny MacAskill and Steve Peat Ride the Trotternish Ridge in the Isle of Skye
Danny MacAskill is happiest when his friends are having fun. Which is why he invited Steve Peat up to the Isle of Skye, Danny’s homeland, to show him the fun that can be had on a ridgeline rollick. The Trotternish Ridge is an epic route that links together multiple summits starting at the Quiraing and finishing at the Old Man of Storr, two stunning geographical landmarks that bookend the plateau…
Radar
Promising, but Inconclusive: A SRAM Maven Disc Brake First-Ride Review
Travis has been clamoring for a more powerful SRAM brake, and the new Maven is definitely that. But one issue in his first-ride review left him uncertain.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Kris from 44 Bikes’ Personal 140 mm Ti SS MTB
Long live single-speed mountain bikes! And with a titanium bike, you know it’s going to live a long time. Some say they’re immortal, even. Kris from 44 Bikes sent over another one of his beautiful personal builds for a very special Readers’ Rides today, so let’s get to it!
Radar
Hayes Dominion A4 Brakes Go Purple
Hayes’ best-known braking system, the Dominion A4 levers and calipers, just got flushed with a new hue for 2024, purple, prompting a Jimmy Hendrix reference: Purple Hayes. The trend of anodized mountain bike components began in the late 1980s and went well into the 1990s, with many manufacturers continuing the trend into modern times. Yet, this new purple wave sweeping components as of late causes pause… check out the Purple Dominion A4 brakes at Hayes.
Reportage
Artificial Selection: A Revel Bikes Tirade 29er Hardtail Review
Announced today, the Revel Bikes Tirade is a 29er, 140-millimeter travel titanium hardtail, unlike anything the brand has offered in the past. With generous tire clearance, beautiful cable routing, and more, it’s clear Revel has used merged its own design prowess, learned through making phenomenal full-suspension bikes, and the re-labeling of its titanium brand, Why Cycles, to force an evolution of the almighty hardtail. Read on for John’s nerdy science talk intertwined with commentary on how hardtails are still having a moment in 2024 below!
Radar
The Best Custom-Length Dropper Seatposts
Dropper posts range from 75 to 240 mm, but what if you’re right between sizes? These are our favorite posts that allow you to fine-tune your travel.
Radar
WTB Unveils a Whole New Grip Lineup
WTB was one of the first MTB companies and in their early days used to carve down Magura motorcycle grips for MTB use. The brand has come a long way since launching the Toe Flip, and today it announced a whole new grip lineup ($29 each) with varying thickness, profiles, and in two colors; black and tan. Let’s look at these all-new grips below…
Radar
Leatt 2024 Edurance Collection
Leatt started as the game-changing neck brace for moto in Cape Town, South Africa has evolved into a complete line that now serves XC and gravel riders. For 2024, Leatt partnered with Gregor Egger and Lukas Baum from
Speed Company Racing (winners Cape Epic 2022, and 2nd 2023) to develop best-in-class helmets and apparel.
Radar
Stridsland Vintage MTB 94, 104, 110 BCD 1x Chainrings
If you’re working on a vintage MTB conversion into a basket bike, commuter bike, or touring bike, and want to go with a 1x drivetrain, you’ll be shocked to find that there aren’t many options for vintage crank bolt center diameters. Stridsland took that as impetus to make some!
Radar
FORGE+BOND Introduces $1,250 American-Made Carbon MTB Wheelsets
This may be the most promising step forward yet in the potential of U.S.-made thermoplastic-style carbon components. We’ve talked a lot about FUSIONFIBER, the carbon rim material used on wheels from Revel and Chris King. And when the engineering team behind FUSIONFIBER launched their own brand, FORGE+BOND, it was positioned essentially as the tip of the spear. It’s who would be exploring what’s possible with this unique material and process. And not surprisingly, their debut wheels were aimed at the high-end carbon wheel market, including models laced U.S.-made hubs from Industry Nine starting at $1,900. But pricing in the carbon wheel game has gotten extremely competitive, so FORGE+BOND has now introduced the much more affordable Shift series to their wheel lineup, offering wheels with U.S.-made FUSIONFIBER rims for $1,250.