It’s another huge week! We have the rest of the best from Eurobike, hi-tech new suspension & tuning, new MTBs from Ibis, Privateer & BH, impressive titanium work, a fancy truing stand, Chris King’s new old stock, new bikepacking gear from Nemo and Camelbak, and other interesting bits…like a “Digital Human” AI assistant for this year’s Tour de France! Here’s the best new stuff this week:
- Ibis HD6
- BH Lynx Race
- Berria Bravo
- Privateer E161
- SR Suntour TACT
- DT Swiss 535 suspension
- Hunt XC Wide Alloy wheels
- Meti ti XTR spindles
- OneUp alloy cockpit
- A 3D-printed ti road bike
- Scarab Santa Rosa
- Wolf Tooth chainguide
- Abus Gamechanger
- Chris King Factory Finds
- Camelbak frame bags
- An inflatable helmet
- TdF’s Chat AI assistant
Ibis HD6 enduro mountain bike
The all-new Ibis HD6 is a more aggressive enduro race bike than ever. It keeps the 27.5″ wheel in back, but upsizes to 29″ in the front. Travel grows to 165mm with 180mm forks, and the DW linkages are repositioned to allow for a very short, much stiffer yoke w/ coil shock-compatible design.
The top tube straightens out and sits much lower for better standover height w/ a 34.9mm ID seat tube to run bigger, stiffer dropper posts up to 200mm. It fits 2.5″ tires, a concave downtube fits a 24oz bottle (on most frame sizes), and top tube mounts and “Porkchop” bag fitment adds storage. Five sizes, three colors, and four builds plus a frameset ($3,899), bikes start at $6,099.
BH Lynx Race XC bike gets sleeker w/ more travel
The prior model was designed around 100mm travel but could change to 120mm. The new BH Lynx Race flips that around, optimizing for 120mm and a frame weight of just 1,850g w/ shock. The main pivot is oversized for stiffness, and the Split Pivot concentric rear pivot keeps it fully active yet neutral during acceleration and braking.
Cables are fully internal, starting at the headset, and their BlockLock prevents the bar from spinning more than 150º. Seatpost binder is hidden, too, and linkages are sleeker for an overall stealth look. A clever seatpost cage mount angles the bottle to fit two inside the front triangle.
Berria Bravo softtail flexes frame & seatpost for 28mm travel
The new Berria Bravo softtail mountain bike flexes to get 28mm of travel, but it’s not just the frame. 70% of the travel comes from the Tibia seartpost, and once it’s maxed out, the seatstays flex for the final, firmer part of the travel, using a pivot at the top to allow more freedom of movement.
The front triangle is a full monocoque piece with oversized head tube and taller chainstay stubs to maximize stiffness. Top level frames come in at just 999g thanks to more hi-mod fibers, standard versions are 1,270g. Chainstays are short (430mm), head angle is a slack 67.5º, and it fits 29×2.4 tires.
Privateer E161 full metal e-mountain bike
Privateer makes top-level alloy mountain bikes, and the new E161 eMTB is a robust, assisted version of their analog 161mm-travel enduro bike. Using massively oversized, double-sealed bearings at the main pivots, a one-piece forged-then-CNC’d rocker, and full metal bash guard, it’s tough.
Size-specific chainstays and a 78.7º seat angle keep riders of all sizes planted for steady climbing, and the kinematics’ anti-squat reduces pedal bob across the entire gear range, even with the Shimano EP801 motor on turbo mode. It’s paired with a 170mm Fox 38, mixed 29/27.5 Hunt wheels, SLX group w/ Hayes Dominion 4 brakes for €7,499 (£5999)
SR Suntour TACT electronic suspension control
After years (YEARS!!!) of testing and teasing and winning World Cup and Olympic XCO races, the SR Suntour TACT electronically controlled suspension system is finally official. Using a single sensor in the fork, it automatically adjusts fork and rear shock low-speed compression between Firm/Medium/Open modes in 0.004 seconds, so all you have to do is ride.
You can customize the sensitivity through their smartphone app, and it’s powered by a single battery mounted on the frame. Full tech details & pricing are TBA, but look for it on their Edge TT shock and carbon-crowned Axon34 Werx fork this year.
DT Swiss 535 position-sensitive suspension
The new DT Swiss F 535 ONE fork pairs a small coil spring at the base of the air spring piston with a bypass valve that keeps the negative air spring at a higher pressure when fully extended. This combo gives it extremely sensitive small bump performance at the beginning of the stroke.
Then, the PlushPort damping cartridge uses a position-sensitive, lightly-damped low-speed circuit that keeps things soft for the first 33% of travel, then gradually closes that circuit as you move from 33-50% of travel, and then forces damping fluid through the firmer high-speed circuit for the last half of the travel to provide better support on big hits without sacrificing small bump sensitivity.
29er only, travel from 120-160mm, 2090g. MSRP from $1,149. The R 535 ONE rear shock gets similar air spring tech to provide a balanced feel, too.
Hunt XC Wide alloy wheels get FEA optimized for toughness
The 3rd gen Hunt XC Wide alloy MTB wheels get all-new rims with stronger 6069-T6 material and revised rim profiles for better impact resistance and longer fatigue life.
The front rim is 28mm wide internal to create bigger tire volume for more cornering grip, with more compliance to keep you fresh. The rear is 26mm internal and a bit tougher, optimized for lateral & torsional strength and higher impact strength. Designed for 2.2-2.4″ tires, 29er only, with quick 5º engagement hubs. Weight is 1693g, MSRP $479 (€499 / £379).
Meti titanium spindles for XTR pedals drop 50g
The Meti Titanium Axles for Shimano’s PD-M9100 XTR Race pedals replace the entire axle and upgrade to dual deep-groove ceramic hybrid bearings on the outboard side. They weigh just 28g for the pair and claim to save 52g off the set of pedals, giving them a finished weight of 258g versus 310g in stock form.
There’s a rider weight limit of 100kg (~220lb), and they cost more than the pedals themselves, but…
OneUp aluminum handlebar adds carbon-like compliance
OneUp’s excellent carbon handlebar uses ovalized sections on either side of the stem (along with specific layups) to achieve intentional vertical flex, adding a bit of compliance and extra damping to reduce hand & arm fatique. Now, they have an aluminum bar with the same benefits.
It’s 800mm wide, has 20mm & 35mm rise options, 8º backsweep, and 5º upsweep. Claimed weight is 337g and it’s rated to DH standards. Black shot peen finish with tons of sticker color options. MSRP $89.50 w/ free shipping anywhere. That DM stem is new, too.
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Pilot Seiren is a completely 3D-printed titanium road bike
Allowing shapes that couldn’t be made otherwise, waste-free manufacturing, and on-demand production, the prototype Pilot Seiren road bike makes the most of 3D printed titanium.
It’s still a prototype, so details are sparse, but they’re claiming a frame weight around 1,150g (which is respectable) and the ability to use thinner “tube” walls and other tricks to optimize ride quality and offer full customization.
Firefly now makes custom titanium forks
With new 3D-printed crowns, Firefly is now offering custom titanium forks for Road, Road+, and Allroad/Gravel/Adventure. By making them in house, they can offer exact trail, rake, and offset figures, and give road riders the same mount and accessory options as popular “adventure” forks, but with a narrower design and lower A-to-C measurements, keeping handling the same as stock.
They’re available with the same custom anodization and graphics as their frames, too, with tire clearance options from 700x32mm to 700x55mm and 650x57mm. It’s bonded to a carbon fiber steerer and priced from $2,000 (discounted with frame purchase).
Scarab Santa Rosa Disc integrated steel road bike
The new Scarab Santa Rosa Disc Integrated gives their steel road bike a straight head tube and ENVE’s InRoute stem and bar for a fully internal setup.
It also gets a new Campesima paint scheme, celebrating the brand’s Colombian roots and the fact that all bikes are made and painted there, in-house. Check their video to see the area that inspired the bike and brand…you’ll want to go there.
Abus Gamechanger 2.0 aero road helmet
Already one of the best-looking aero road helmets, the new Abus Gamechanger 2.0 improves ventilation by enlarging front & rear vents and reworking interior ducts to help air more easily flow over your head and out the back.
The AeroBlade vent on top has a front scoop that effectively closes off from the wind when you tuck your head down, making it more aero during sprints. Streamlined straps and magnetic Fidlock buckle improve comfort & fit, and it’s compatible with their QUIN crash detection sensor.
Wolf Tooth LoneWolf 1x chainguide for road & gravel
The Wolf Tooth LoneWolf 1x chainguide is designed for road, cyclocross & gravel bikes with single chainrings. It fits the frame’s braze-on mount, with clamps avialable for round seat tubes that lack a permanent mount, too.
A highly adjustable & replaceable plastic guide sits 2mm above and on the inside edge of the chain to keep it from bouncing off, and three different CNC’d alloy arms are available to fit almost any bike and chainring size. MSRP $39.95.
Chris King Factory Finds “new old stock”
Looking for a replacement for a discontinued part or color from Chris King’s catalog? Their new Factory Finds parts page rounds up stuff they’ve found in the warehouse, prior season colors, and possibly limited reboots and lists them for sale.
Camelbak M.U.L.E. On-Bike bikepacking frame bags
Camelbak’s getting into the bikepacking scene with their new lightweight, waterproof/resistant M.U.L.E. On-Bike bags made from recycled sailcloth with PFC-free DWR treatment. The Frame Pack ($140-150) comes in 3L and 4.5L sizes and hides a 2L (70oz) reservoir with hose port.
The Saddle Pack comes in 9L ($90) and 1L ($40) versions, the former adding bungie straps on the top for extra gear. The 12L rolltop Handlebar Pack ($100) has an integrated alloy stabilizer bar, and a Stem Pack ($30) keeps snacks (or a Podium bottle) in easy reach. Availability Spring 2024.
Inflabi inflatable bicycle helmet
The Inflabi inflatable bicycle helmet is compressible enough to fit in a pocket, reusable after multiple impacts, weighs practically nothing, and claims to offer 4x the impact protection of foam. It also molds to fit any head, and will fortunately come in black, too, if it gets out of the prototype phase.
Tour de France will have a ChatGPT-powered “digital human”
NTT expands its technical partnership with ASO, this year providing a “digital twin” simulation of the 2023 Tour de France for organizers to watch over the entire event, in real time, from the finish line. Microwave transmitters on each bike communicate with race vehicles and helicopters, transmitting exact speeds, altitude, location, and distance between riders, all in milliseconds.
This data then dumps into a ChatGPT-powered Digital Human named Marianne, who’ll be on kiosks in the race village for fans to ask questions and get instant, up to date answers on the race, as it’s happening.
All of that data will also power predictive race results that you can play against with your own fantasy sports team, and it’ll all work for both the men’s and women’s races this year.
Kit of the Week
Ornot’s new Lightweight Work Jersey pairs an ultralight, very summer-friendly mesh and performance fit at a “working man’s” price of $98. Available in 3 colors, they’re 100% made from recycled PET, even the zipper, and certified climate neutral.
Pair them with their Cargo Bibshorts, which come in matching and complementary colors and have just the right pocket depth. I’ve been wearing these for some time and they’re excellent. Both items available in men’s and women’s versions.
Small Bites
- Shimano 105 mechanical 12-speed spotted, and it’s curvy!
- People for Bikes’ 2023 Best Places to Ride list is out
- Bikepacking Roots’ Community Routes makes trips easier to find
- ENVE added a 42.5mm alloy MTB stem
- Here’s a road bike with graphics created by AI artists Obvious
- Wilde has a Ltd Ed Paul Boxcar stem with splatter graphics
- Trek promises 14-day-or-less suspension repairs w/ free loaners
- Vittoria gravel tires grow wider, and they’re available at BTD
- Here’s a wild 2-speed, full-suss eMTB with Gates Belt Drive
- Here’s Bianchi’s Ltd Ed Tour de France Edition Oltre road bike
- CO’s Purgatory Bike Park’s lifts should be fully open soon
Hot Deals
- All Alchemy Bikes are 10% off with code SUMMER23
- Pactimo’s Summer Stages Sale has kits up to 60% off
- Get 25% off Giro shoes, helmets & gloves at BTD
- Wahoo has computers, trainers & more up to 40% off
- Competitive Cyclist has 2022-23 Yeti bikes up to 40% off
- Get 25% off select Wolf Tooth mini tools
- Handup Gloves are BOGO 50% off
- REI’s 4th of July Sale is on
- JensonUSA has a huge 4th of July sale, too
- Chrome’s Endless Summer Sale has a ton of cool stuff
- Aventon has e-bikes up to $400 off
Parting Thoughts
Hard to believe, but I published my first Lunch Ride newsletter last summer. I really don’t know where the year has gone!
The last time I committed to doing something every Friday, I ended up kicking myself for creating more work for myself at the start of the weekend. I still question my judgement on the timing of this one, but it’s meant to be a quick recap of the coolest stuff so you have something to chat about on the Friday lunch ride.
If you’re digging this, please share it with a friend (or several friends). That’s how these things grow, and, selfishly, I’d really like to see this grow. Thanks in advance, and have a great weekend!
The Lunch Ride is a weekly TL;DR recap of the best new cycling products and tech, written for Riders, not Algorithms. SUBSCRIBE HERE to get it in your inbox every Friday.
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