It’s Red Bull Rampage weekend, but we’ve got a ton or road and gravel bikes and some other odd hacks, components, and lights before we get to that. Here’s the best new stuff this week:
- Canyon Grail gravel bike
- Wilier Adlar bikepacking bike
- Wilier Filante SL
- Spoon Customs Izoard RR
- Formigli Zero
- Partington $6,400 wheels
- Pivot Brunch Specials
- Magicshine’s 12,000-lumen light
- Zwift Hub One trainer
- Vivo modular shifter
- CarbonWasp ti cranks
- Mavic all-road shoes
- Better Ergon grips
- Marzocchi prototypes
- Red Bull Rampage
Canyon Grail gravel bike drops the double-decker handlebar
The new Canyon Grail gravel bike borrow aero shapes from their Ultimate road bike, gets semi-integrated cable routing, adds internal frame storage, and ditches that double-decker handlebar to reduce overall drag, saving a claimed 9.1 watts at 45kph (~28mph).
It also gets a new QUICKLOADER mini frame bag that magnetically attaches behind the headtube, which acts like a fairing for an add’l 1.5w savings. The new DoubleDrop bar is more ergonomic, with a slight droop and backsweep, plus mounts for their triathlon aero extensions (or your GPS). A 29mm longer wheelbase and 1º slacker head angle with more trail makes it more stable, yet carvable. MSRP $2,699 – $8,999.
Wilier Adlar carbon gravel bike is bikepacking-ready
With a cargo capacity of 35kg (~77lbs) and 700×52 tire clearance, the new Wilier Adlar gravel bike is ready for adventure. A slack 70º head angle and longer reach keep it stable when loaded, and taller fork legs make it suspension-ready for up to 40mm travel gravel forks.
Optional custom Miss Grape 4-bag set attaches to the numerous mounting points. Frame weight is 1100g, five sizes, MSRP from €3,700.
Wilier Filante SL aero road bike
Taking things down a notch from the top-level SLR version, the new Wilier Filante SL uses a more comfortable carbon fiber layup but keeps the same aero profiles. The cockpit is aero, but runs the cables into the headtube (and spacers) rather than through the bar and stem to save costs and make it easier to adjust your setup.
Frame weight is 1010g, about 150g more than the SLR version. Six sizes, MSRP from €5,100 to €7,000.
Spoon Customs Izoard RR Integrated
Spoon Customs Izoard RR Integrated takes their custom steel road bike and pairs it with a larger head tube and Columbus’ new Trittico integrated fork and cockpit to give it a fully stealth appearance.
It’s a race bike, named after and designed for the Col d’Izoard in the Alps. It has a triple-butted chromoly frame with stainless hardware, a T47 BB, and fits 700×32 tires. Inquire for price.
Formigli Zero custom carbon road bikes
If you prefer carbon over steel, the Formigli Zero is their new top of the line custom carbon road bike. It blends aero tube shapes and designs with a fully integrated cockpit built around FSA’s bar and stem.
Subtle shaping leads air off the fork’s crown and around the downtube, and ridges on the top tube maximize torsional stiffness when you’re cranking on the bar up a hill. Frame weights from 980-1050g, made for wireless or mechanical groups, and fits 700×34 tires. Price upon request.
Partington R-series MKII carbon wheels are 1,160g
I heard about these from No22 Bicycles after they got a set for a customer’s bike. Partington’s R-Series MKII carbon fiber wheels usess unique one-piece carbon spokes that loop around the hub and connect to the rim in two spots. Each one uses 108,000 continuous filament fibers and bonded into the rim.
They claim this makes them the stiffest carbon clinchers on the market, and at 1160g they’re among the lightest. The sealed rim bed means no tape, saving more weight. At $6,400, they’re also among the most expensive.
Inside the hub is a floating bearing design that uses the hub’s shell as the outer race, which they say reduced stress on the system so it rolls more freely and lasts longer.
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Orbea Rallon boosts travel, slackens angles
The new Orbea Rallon enduro bike jumps to 167mm rear travel, up from 160mm, with 170mm forks, and the head angle leans back to 64º, or 63.5º in “Lower” mode. The low standover and straight seat tube fits 200mm droppers.
Like the new Occam, it has the downtube storage compartment with sealed bags included, and hidden multitool in the rocker pivot. Four sizes, run it 29er or mullet. From $5,299 to $10,999.
Pivot “Brunch Special” Switchblade & Mach 6 are more affordable
Pivot’s a premium brand with premium pricing, but the new Brunch Special builds start at $4,999, a relative bargain. Available on the Switchblade and Mach 6, they still get Fox Factory suspension (mostly) and droppers, Shimano Deore/SLX/XT blends, SRAM Code brakes, and Race Face cranks. Decent spec all around, on the same frames as the $10k bikes.
Magicshine’s 12000 lumen-dicrous Monteer MTB light
The Magicshine Monteer 12000 puts out a ridiculous amount of light, with flood and spotlight modes and up to 121 hours of runtime, albeit not at 12k lumens. It comes with a 10,000mAh battery and wireless remote to cycle through 10 modes.
On-light indicators show remaining charge, and an app lets you customize light modes. An air scoop on the front feeds air through it and out the back to keep it cool. MSRP $549, helmet mount available separately. (video here)
Zwift’s Hub One singlespeed trainer gives you all the gears
If you’re using your trainer on ERG mode and never shifting (like me), the new $599 Zwift Hub One has only one cog that works with any chain up to 12 speeds and comes with a 1-year Zwift membership. No more buying an extra cassette.
It comes with a wireless Click remote to simulate shifting through 24 virtual speeds, and it can detect your bike’s gear ratios to automatically simulate them. It has +/-2.5% accuracy, 1800w resistance, and 16% max grade simulation.
Vivo 12-speed trigger shifter lets you customize paddle shape, reach & texture
For $315, the Vivo F3 shifter pod lets you customize the shifter paddle shapes and textures to get the contact point exactly where you want it. The mechanical bits are a mix of alloys, titanium, and hardened & stainless steels.
The thumb pads are interchangeable 3D printed composites, and you can mix and match for about 30K+ configurations. Currently only available for SRAM Eagle 12-speed mechanical derailleurs.
Carbon Wasp 3D-printed ti Pinion cranks
Got a Pinion gearbox on your bike and want to drop 170g off the stock alloy crankset? The new Carbon Wasp Titanium Cranks will do that. Stock sizes are 165/170/175mm, but because they’re 3D-printed you can get them in custom lengths and Q-factors, too. Weight is 270g/pair, MSRP is $806, or $862 for custom.
Mavic adds mid-range gravel & XC shoes
Following their recent Allroad SL wheels, Mavic has new mid-range shoes for off-pavement pedaling. The Cosmic BOA SPD gravel shoe (left) has a perforated synthetic leather upper, stiff-yet-walkable nylon/glass-fiber outsole, has TPU lugs for traction, and a BOA L6 system for $156.
The Crossmax BOA (right) adds a co-molded TPU toe bumper with more aggressive lugs. Also $156. Both come in multiple colors.
Ergon’s original wing grips get EVO upgrade
New Ergon GP1 Evo grips upgrade to medical-grade, hypoallergenic, SGS-certified, pollutant-free rubber sourced from Germany. The grips are made in Germany, too, shortening the supply chain to make them more eco-friendly.
Refined alloy clamps get a hidden bolt, and multi-density rubber contact patches provide grip and cushioning. They’re also available with their BioKork which blends Portugese cork with their new rubber formula.
Prototype Marzocchi suspension spotted at Rampage
Marzocchi’s last “Super” version was a ridiculous 300mm-travel dual-crown fork. Now, they’re teasing a new “Super” Z-series fork and Bomber Air shock on Thomas Genon’s Rampage bike. The only visual structural difference is that the lowers extend beyond the dropouts, and the shock has different decals, so I’m thinking it’s internal changes.
How to Watch Red Bull Rampage 2023
The annual spectacle of (near) death and (likely) destruction that is Red Bull Rampage starts today, Friday, October 13th, and will stream on ESPN+ in the US starting at 9:15am MDT. If you want a teaser, check out these preliminary runs here, here, and here. And then remember that these are just practice runs. PRACTICE RUNS!
Small Bites
- Meanwhile, under the mountains of Red Bull Rampage…
- This guy will try to ride solo, self-supported across Antarctica, again
- Trek is now taking trade-ins and selling used bikes
- Intense just launched a dirt jump bike
- Pinarello custom program adds more colors, graphics & models
- Studio 51 is making cycling-inspired jewelry in Rhode Island
- Chris King’s Open House (10/21) has outdoor/vanlife brands, too!
Parting Thoughts
I had some huge rides this week, three days in a row with a little mini ride that was basically a sprint on day four.
I used to allow myself more days between rides except for the few multi-day stage races I’ve done (Breck Epic, etc.). I tell myself those days off are good. My legs are tired and need to recover.
But the truth is, I’m almost always just as strong and fast on back to back to back days. And I’m able to push it pretty hard on days 2, 3, etc.
Even better, after a “brick” like that, I usually come back stronger than ever.
So, the next time you think “oh, I rode hard yesterday, maybe I’ll take today off”, challenge yourself to go hard again. And then maybe one more time. Then take some days off. I bet you’ll be glad you did.
Go hard,
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