The Radavist

The Highline is a new dropper post from Crankbrothers, marketed towards gravel bikes and XC racing mountain bikes. These 27.2mm posts come in a variety of lengths and feature an optional drop-bar dropper remote. The Highline comes backed with a 4-year warranty, is supplied with Jagwire cable and housing, uses a two-bolt standard head, is linear-pull, and is for internal routing.

HIGHLINE XC/GRAVEL FEATURES:
-60mm short & long / 80mm / 100mm / 125mm of infinite travel adjustment
-diameter: 27.2mm
-insertion lengths: 174mm short & 264mm long / 264mm / 264mm / 264mm (bottom of collar to bottom of actuator)
-weights: 369g & 410g / 434g / 459g / 467g
-60mm minimum stack height

See more at Crankbrothers.

Today Shimano kicked out a bunch of new dirt-related goodies, ranging from stems, handlebars, MTB dropper and yes, a gravel/XC dropper post. The Tharsis 3Five is a 100mm dropper post weighing in at 415 grams, with three post diameters (27.2, 30.9, 31.6mm), internal routing, and a 2-bolt clamp design with an MSRP of $330. Head to PRO to see more!

Revel’s new Ranger XC bike is a lighter and snappier version of its big sibling, the Rascal. Designed around a 29×2.6″ or 27.5×2.8″ wheelset, the Ranger is a 120mm front and 115mm rear travel bike, build on a CBF-engineered chassis. Think lightweight but still capable. The Ranger comes in three build kits, ranging from $4,999 to $9,999 and a frameset, which is priced at $2,799. You can pre-order now at Revel with a mid-July delivery estimate. See more at Revel.

Specs:
-Wheel Size 29″
-Front Travel 120mm
-Rear Travel 115mm
-Shock Spec 190 x 45-22.2 x 8 Hardware Spec
-Boost Axles 148mm rear / 110mm front
-Seatpost Diameter 31.6mm (use our size guide to choose the best dropper height!)
-Bearings: BOLU 6801 VRS full complement, 12mm x 21mm x 5mm 6pcs per bike
BOLU 6901 VRS full complement, 12mm x 24mm x 6mm 12pcs per bike
-Rear Brake 160mm post mount / 180mm max
-Tire Clearance 29″ x 2.6″ or 27.5″ x 2.8″
-Bottom Bracket Threaded (73mm English threaded)
-Chainguide Custom Revel guide included
-Tapered Headtube IS42 upper / IS52 lower
-Colors Johnny Green Jeans / De La Coal
-Sizes S / M / L / XL
-Frame Warranty Lifetime Warranty

Emily Batty takes to the trails with her pup Buddy as she works on her MTB skills…

Manitou has reworked the R7 this year, forming a modern, light, and strong XC-oriented fork designed to take daily wear and tear while still utilizing all the comforts of the competitors’ options. The R7 utilizes a VTT Pro damper, which offers a solid lockout, a soft mid setting, and a plush, wide-open setting. The R7 comes in 27.5″ or 29″, with 100mm or 120mm travel, and 37mm, 44mm, or 51mm offsets. If you’re not feeling the chrome crown, they also make one in black. Head to Manitou to check out more information.

Specs:
Weight: 27.5″ = 1625.2g (estimated, 120mm 44OS)27.5+/29″ = 1648.1.0g (estimated, 120mm 51OS)
Travel: 80-120mm
Steerer: 1.5″ Tapered Aluminum
Spring: Dorado Air w/ IVA
Crown: Forged aluminum, deep hollow bore SLVR
Compression Damping: VTT PRO
Rebound Damping: Half-cartridge adjustable TPC
Adjustments: 3-Position Compression w/ Open Mode Adjust, Rebound, Air Pressure, IVA Position
Stanchions: 32mm 7000 Series Aluminum
Brake: 160mm Post Mount (180mm max rotor size)
Axle: Hexlock2 15mm Axle
Axle to Crown: 27.5″ = 471 – 511mm27.5+/29″ = 484.5 – 524.5mm
Options: QR15, fender kit, short offset crown, remote lockout

… yet we all know that you don’t have to be a weight weenie or a racer to appreciate a good set of XC wheels. Lighter, more durable wheels mean you can get out to your favorite loop with less rotational mass. Roval’s new Control SL Team Wheels come in at 1240 grams for the set, have a rim wall that is 4mm wide, offering up protection against pinch flats, and offer a 29mm internal rim width.

Specs:
-54t DT Swiss Star Ratchets for Precise Engagement
-Included Double Wheel Bag
-Team-Spec Metallic Blue Graphics
-MSRP $2650

See more at Roval.

Spencer and Donny have two different styles and preferences when it comes to riding bikes. One is the ultra XC hardtail guy and the other loves downhill. What could bring them together after such a schism has formed?

If you have the room to fit a 29er by 2.3″ tire on your tourer or gravel bike, then check out these new tires by Hutchinson. The Kraken has minimal side knobs, with a fast-rolling center tread pattern and is vailable in two constructions, ultra-light 127 TPI or ultra-versatile 66 TPI. The Kraken is in stock now at your local dealer and retails for $79.99.

XC tires usually make great tires for bikepacking or touring bikes. Their tread patterns usually roll quite fast on many surfaces but in my experience, it’s the width that keeps many people from mounting them up. Maxxis looked at two tires and plumped them up for trail use, designed for use on wider rims, resulting in the Aspen and Rekon Race tires measuring 2.40″ wide.

The Rekon Race, in particular, has been a favorite pattern of mine and this new width makes them even more appealing. See more at Maxxis.

These days, it seems a lot of brands are looking to their heritage to market their new bikes. Sure, nostalgia sells, but more often than not, throwbacks are more like head-scratchers. Not with the new Cannondale XC frames. Two new F-Si Hi-MOD framesets come with matching Lefty Ocho forks and painted in the classic livery from the early days of XC racing. Choose the Viper Red or Team Blue.

The Team Blue color features yellow “quad-wrap” decals, a head nod, without the head shock, to the CAAD3, CAAD4 and CAAD5 raced in the late 90’s to early 2000’s.

See more at Cannondale.