This week we have two gorgeous steel gravel bikes, one classic and one that’s bleeding edge, plus some ultralight climbers’ wheels, a Silca x Supreme collab (and really tall aero socks), fork tuning bits, a carbon bottle cage, lightweight dropper posts, bold new e-cargo bikes from Trek, and more! Here’s the best new stuff this week…
- Battaglin steel gravel bike
- Ritchey Outback 50th Anniv
- Silca x SUPREME?
- PC’s ultralight wheels
- ENVE CIM bottle cages
- Transition Smuggler
- Fox Transfer SL Trail
- Formula fork tuning
- Reserve alloy MTB wheels
- Bell Full 10
- Trek Fetch+ cargo bike
- Electra e-bike
- Brompton x CHPT3
Battaglin Portofino G custom lugged steel gravel bike
Battaglin (batta-yeen) has long pushed the boundaries of lugged steel bikes with oversized tubing and brilliant finishes and details. The new Portofino G gravel bike takes this up a notch with a straight 1.5″ head tube to hide all hoses inside…nothing to hide the incredible cromovelato finish.
Their custom seatpost clamp uses a hidden wedge to put even pressure on the post with no visible bolts. Tubing is custom drawn Columbus GB81 steel with a carbon fork, max tire is 700×40. Only 70 will be made each year, each full custom including paint. Frameset price is €5,000.
Ritchey Outback 50th anniversary gravel bike
Available in limited quantities with this faded Half Moon Blue paint and special decals, the 50th Anniversary Ritchey Outback frameset runs $1,699.
It’s otherwise the same as ever, featuring rack & fender mounts, 700×48 or 650Bx50 tire clearance, and easy external cable routing. Shown here built with Ingrid Component’s cranks, cassette, and rear derailleur, plus Ritchey wheels, tires, and cockpit.
Supreme x Silca mini tool, plus Tall Aero Socks!
You know you’ve made it when Supreme requests a collab, and they asked Silca, who made a custom Supreme-branded Tredici mini tool. Naturally, it sold out before Silca could even post about it.
For those days when your unshaven legs are creating drag, the new Silca Tall Aero socks cover more with “turbulator” chevrons to smooth airflow…and save 5-10 watts! They’re made in Italy, cuff height is 19.5cm (the UCI legal limit), with flat toe seams and six colors. MSRP is $30/pair.
Princeton Carbon ALTA 3532 ultralight climbing wheelset
With a new low-profile 348g rim that keeps their signature mixed-depth wave pattern, the new Princeton Carbon ALTA 3532 wheels deliver a modern 21mm wide (internal), tubeless-ready disc brake climber’s wheelset as low as 1,094g.
Weight savings come from a new rim layup and design, minimizing interior material while shortening the drive side (rear) and disc brake (front) spoke lengths to improve bracing angle and lateral stiffness. Optional 215g Tactic Racing hubs help, too. The solid tire bed means no tape required to go tubeless. Prices from $3,000 to $4,150.
ENVE Carbon Injection Molded water bottle cage
The new ENVE C.I.M. bottle cage uses long fiber carbon-reinforced polyamide that’s injection molded into a full coverage cage. Rails wrap around the bottle tightly and completely, preventing bottle creep and ejection, even on the roughest terrain. It’s just 31g, and surprisingly affordable (for ENVE) at just $35.
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Transition Smuggler gets longer travel, cleaner cables & lines
Last updated in 2018, the new 2023 Transition Smuggler adds 10mm more rear travel, now at 130mm, paired with 140mm forks. The frame is updated to match the aesthetics, kinematics, and size-specific chainstays of the Spur and Sentinel, sitting between them in travel.
Designed to be equally effective up and down the mountain, it gets new drop-in headset bearings and cleaner internal cable routing, tool/accessory mount, and 29×2.5″ tire clearance. Framesets (6.6lb claimed, carbon, size M w/ shock, $3,699) are available now, complete bikes coming soon. Prices from $5,999 to $8,499. (video here)
Fox Transfer SL droppers add longer 125-150mm travel options
Originally only available in 50/70/75/100mm travel for XC and gravel bikes, the lightweight Fox Transfer SL dropper post now has 125mm and 150mm travel lengths. Aimed at Downcountry and Trail bikes, they weigh just 432g and 437g respectively, but only come in 31.6mm diameters.
That’s up to 167g lighter than comparable Transfer posts, and it’s available in Factory (Ti hardware, Kashima upper, $399) and Performance Elite (+10g steel hardware, Black upper, $329). Minimum insertion is 80mm, max is 275mm. Remote lever sold separately.
New Formula CTS insert makes forks way more supple
Formula’s CTS (compression tuning system) is a series of swappable high-speed compression damping circuits that let you quickly & easily customize your fork’s tune. The latest Violet circuit opens up high speed ports to allow for much faster, easier compression in fast hits (like rocks, roots, etc.).
Low-speed compression is unaffected and still externally adjustable. This new circuit comes stock on all forks, and other circuits are available for ~€60. (Install video here)
Reserve launch alloy mountain bike wheels w/ lifetime warranty
Like their carbon wheels, the new Reserve Trail & Enduro/eMTB alloy mountain bike wheels get a lifetime warranty. At just $699 with DT350 hubs, choose from 29er, 27.5″, or a mixed wheelset. And they come with the excellent $50 Fillmore valve stems, too!
The tradeoff is weight. The 30SL-AL is 1,920g (30mm internal rim width, 500g 29er rim weight), and the 30HD-AL is 2,000g (30mm internal, 580g rim weight, and you’re right, that doesn’t exactly add up). The HD wheelset is also available with Super Boost 12×157 Industry Nine hubs, also for $699.
Bell Full-10 goes full send on safety features
The new Bell Full-10 is the first full face MTB helmet with Spherical MIPS, allowing the outer shell to roll and twist independently of the inner frame. Watch their video to see how it works.
Add massive vents, a breakaway visor and included, removable camera mounts, quick-release magnetic pads, titanium hardware and more, and it’s an impressive package for DH, park, and enduro. Four sizes w/ multiple cheek pad widths to fit anyone. MSRP $650, weight is 1,000g (size M).
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Trek Fetch+ e-cargo bikes
The new Trek Fetch+ e-cargo bikes come in two flavors, the traditional looking Fetch+ 2 and the bakfiets-style Fetch+ 4. Both are powered by a Class 1 Bosch BES3 Smart System with 500Wh and 750Wh batteries, respectively.
The Fetch+ 2 ($5,999) has a 240lb capacity, with available hard-sided panniers holding an impressive 20lbs (front) and 159lbs (rear). Or put two kids on it (up to 79lbs each); it’s compatible with popular child seats without any adapters. It comes with 20″ wheels, rear footrests and twin-leg kickstand.
The front loader Fetch+ 4 ($8,499) uses an Enviolo internally geared hub with Gates Belt Drive and steer-by-cable design with larger 27.5″ rear wheel, 20″ front. The front basket holds up to 80kg (176lb) has two built-in, reclining child seats w/ 5-point harnesses. It also has a rear rack that can support a kid’s seat.
They’re available in Europe now, the US in March. Fenders, panniers, & other accessories sold separately.
Electra Loft Go city e-bikes
The Electra Loft Go e-bikes come in step-thru and step-over designs, both for $1,999 (each). The step-thru model has a more upright, relaxed geometry for cruising about. The step-over has a sportier riding position & handling.
Both have an alloy frame with internal 250Wh battery w/ a 250Wh range extender battery available, a Class 1 (20mph max assist) 250W/40Nm hub motor, 7-speed drivetrain, lights, and color-matched fenders.
Brompton x CHPT3 edition titanium folding bike
At 1.5kg lighter than the original, the 4th edition Brompton x CHPT3 edition gets a titanium fork and rear triangle on their steel frame. That’s the start, then they add their own direct-mount 60g 4-speed derailleur, Tubolito ultralight tubes, and custom tan-wall Schwalbe One tires.
A Fizik Terra Argo X5 gravel saddle damps vibration and has a short nose, Ergon grips provide premium handles. A custom waterproof Hypalon frame bag stores an included spare tube. Claimed weight is 9.5kg (20.5lb), retail is $3,200. (Video here)
Small Bites
- Our Hunt Wheels giveaway has a winner, check your email, Martin!!!*
- Watch the Red Bull Valparaiso Cerra Abajo urban downhill race
- Unno made the most chill MTB dream build video ever
- Giro recalls all Merit MTB helmets made before Jan 2023
- Great Smoky Mountains NP is about to add mountain bike trails!
- Yeti sponsors Breck Epic w/ loaner bikes in case you wreck yours
- The new Ritte Esprit carbon road bike is launching in April
- Trek NICA Pathfinder scholarship application period is now open
- New Mission Workshop Acre Puffy Jacket is actually fitted for cyclists
- Outside sells off 8 popular cycling events to CO promoters
- Bellroy has a gorgeous new leather jersey pocket phone wallet
Deals
- Industry Nine’s Big Almost Spring Sale has wheels, hubs 25% off
- Velocio has some killer kit on their “last call” sale pages
- Competitive Cyclist has an extra 10% off some components thru 2/22
- Get 25% off Light & Motion lights through 2/19
*Stay tuned…if Martin doesn’t reply in a few days, we’ll pick a new winner. And we have some other killer giveaways coming up for subscribers to our newsletter. If you haven’t sub’d yet, please join us. Have a great ride!
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