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Redshift is once again hosting a mighty fine giveaway where you can enter to win a Niner RLT 9 RDO Carbon Frame in your size fitted with:
– Redshift ShockStop Seatpost
– Redshift ShockStop Stem
– Shimano GRX Di2 Groupset
– Hunt X-Wide Carbon Wheels
– WTB Venture Tires
– WTB SL8 Saddle
– Xpedo Mforce 8 Pedals
– Stages Power Meter & Head Unit
– Free Shipping
– A Total Value of Over $8,000!
Head to Redshift to sign up!
Wow! What a year it’s been. In the past twelve months, we’ve shot roughly 300 bikes. From gravel races, to NAHBS, the Philly Bike Expo and our normal travels, we really captured some unique builds and we’ve got a good handle on the bikes the readers of the Radavist enjoy checking out based on some key metrics.
Every year we try to do our best to sort through twelve months of archives to narrow down to this list. The first filter is the comment count, which we start at 50 comments. Then comes page views, with the minimum number being 20,000 views. Finally, we look at the social media chatter; including Instagram comments and how many times was the post shared across various platforms.
What we end up with is a list that is filled with a plethora of interesting, versatile, and quirky bikes. The only editorial decision I myself made was to omit reviews of stock bikes. So no Santa Cruz Stigmata or Cannondale Topstone this round!
Check out the full Top Ten Beautiful Bicycles of 2019 below, in no particular order…
This year, Niner has designed its gravel line to include fatter tires, a refined geometry, flat mount disc brakes, countless mounting points for cargo accessories, and most notably, clearance for 700x50c and 650bx2.0 tires. The new RLT 9 models look great, so let’s take a look at them in detail below.
Whoa whoa whoa. What? Last year we saw a plastic shelled prototype of Niner’s full suspension all road, the MCR 9 RDO, and this year at Sea Otter, the brand teased an updated prototype, to the shock and awe of trail shredders and roadies alike.
Niner calls the MCR 9 RDO their Magic Carpet Ride, alluding to the cushy feel that full suspension offers all-day gravel racers. Their theory is the suspension allows riders to run their tires at higher pressures, avoiding snakebite tire tears, rim damage, and less rolling resistance, all with 50mm x 27.5 clearance. Their CVA design – constant varying arc – boasts modified leverage ratios for less travel and total lockout maximizes energy on pavement climbs. The frame is made from Niner’s RDO carbon layup, with one piece forged linkages, has a removable front derailleur mounts and has full sleeve internal routing.
While this bike might not be for everyone, it is cool to see. If you’re feeling this design, let Niner know in the comments and be on the lookout for the MCR 9 RDO late 2019.
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It’s springtime and brands are injecting a bit of color into their offerings, including Niner, whose designs this year are looking great. Our two favorite models, the RIP 9 RDO and he RLT 9 Steel got some camo-inspired paint. The JET 9 RDO and the RIP 9 RDO also got internal cable guide tubes to make installation and maintenance easier. Head to Niner to see all the build offerings for their models.
When your job is to design bikes and graphics for a living, you tend to take your own bikes seriously. That’s what James at Niner did with his own BSB 9. Like most people these days, James got bit by the camo bug but didn’t want to just do a standard paint finish, so he found a local guy just getting into hydrographics and began to problem solve how to paint the fork, leaving the frame matte black with a blaze orange color accents.
The end result rules.
