Big week! Three new mountain bikes, three new gravel/all-road bikes, plus new wheels, stems, tires, a very interesting hydraulic brake pre-pressurizer mod, and a ridiculously priced derailleur pulley system. Plus, DJI dropped two killer new pieces of tech to help you capture better action video and photos on (almost) any ride. Here’s the best new stuff this week:
- Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Alloy
- Orbea Oiz
- Santa Cruz Hightower
- FSA KFX i28 XC wheels
- Pivot Vault
- Ribble All Road Ti
- Brompton G Line
- Hope gravel stem
- Cascade Brake Adjuster
- absoluteBLACK Ti OSPW
- Pirelli P-Zero 40
- DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
- DJI Neo drone
Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Alloy gets all the carbon features
Following the Carbon launch in July, the new Stumpjumper 15 Alloy brings the same highly-adjustable geometry w/ SIX distinct settings – head angle, BB height, and suspension progression.
It also gets the dual-stage Genie shock (deep dive here) for 16.3% better bump force management than a traditional air-sprung shock, so it feels more like an Enduro for the first 70% of its travel before ramping up to prevent harsh bottom outs.
It also gets their SWAT downtube storage, lifetime suspension pivot bearing replacements (original owner), and routing for mechanical drivetrains, something the carbon version doesn’t have! MSRP $3,000 to $4,500; frameset $2,300.
Orbea Oiz XC race bike gets lighter than ever
The new Orbea Oiz is sleek as hell, with a frame weight of just 1,740g and complete bikes as low as 9.98kg (22lbs, size M, with pedals, water bottle, computer mount and their MP10 100mm dropper post that weighs just 419g!). Yet the frame is 12% stiffer and adds oversized bearings at suspension pivots.
It has 120mm travel with a regressive curve and high anti-squat, so it’s firm when you’re pedaling hard at the beginning of the stroke, but opens up deeper in the travel to tackle big hits. It comes with their 2-way Squidlock that independently controls dropper & lockouts from one spot, a fully integrated one-piece bar/stem, and fits two bottles inside the front triangle! (video here)
Santa Cruz Hightower is a better do-it-all-MTB
Designed to be a proper do-it-all mountain bike, the new Santa Cruz Hightower gets an even lower rear shock and linkage layout, moving the pivots down and forward to further reduce anti-squat, so there’s less pedal feedback and better traction while hammering.
It’s a bit longer & slacker, but stops at ~64º head angle to keep the handling snappy (it’s adjustable). Size specific chainstay lengths keep handling similar for all riders. It has 29″ wheels, 150mm rear travel w/160mm forks, internal frame storage, 5 sizes, 6 builds. MSRP from $4,999 to $10,999, framesets $3,899. (video explainer here & ride video here)
FSA KFX i28 carbon XC wheels go wide & light
At a very reasonable 1,566g, the new FSA KFX i28 XC race wheels have already won a World Championship under CFR’s Alan Hatherly. They have an asymmetric hookless 28mm wide (internal) rim with variable 22-24mm height, reinforced around the spokes but otherwise thinner for better traction compliance and low weight.
The PRS hubs use a 72-tooth helical ratchet for quick, rock-solid engagement and use large sealed bearings for better durability and easy serviceability. Microspline and XD only, 6-bolt brake mounts. MSRP $1,810.
This week’s newsletter presented by:
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Pivot Vault gravel bike adds features, drops weight
Long overdue for an update, the new Pivot Vault gravel bike adds their Toolshed in-frame storage (includes two bags, lid holds quick links and mini tool), has more tire clearance (up to 50mm), and a more streamlined version of their Iso-Flex elastomer seat post damper to smooth the ride.
They also gave it more BB drop for a better “in the bike” feel, paired with shorter cranks to maintain ground clearance. Geo is longer and slacker with 10-20mm shorter stems and lower standover height. It’s suspension corrected, with longer trail for better stability.
It has a UDH hanger and fits 1x/2x groups with stealth or semi-stealth routing. All that and it’s lighter than before, fits 5 water bottles, and they’re reasonably priced (for a Pivot). Bikes from $3,999 to $6,149; framesets $2,699.
Ribble Allroad Titanium bike
Blending 3D-printed headtube and seat tube clusters and traditional (but sveltely shaped) tubes, then hand smoothed and polished, the new Ribble Allroad Ti not only looks good, it’s also aero. The headtube is designed for full stealth routing
Dropped seatstays improve compliance and comes with 700x32mm tires, but room for 700×38 tires or fenders on hidden mounts. Compatible with electronic and mechanical drivetrains. Available in 5 sizes, complete bikes from $4,165 to $9,515. (video here)
Brompton G Line folding gravel bike is a big deal
I mostly don’t post Brompton’s updates because they’re mostly color and spec updates. But the new Brompton G Line is an entirely new model that’s not only their first gravel bike, it’s also their first with larger 20″ wheels.
They come with custom Schwalbe tubeless gravel tires, Shimano 8-speed Alfine hub, and wider pedals and handlebars. It’s also their first bike with hydraulic disc brakes, yet it folds down just as quick (~20 seconds) as all of their bikes. As light as 13.9kg (30.6lbs), available in standard and e-bike versions. On sale early 2025.
Hope RX Gravel stem gets aggressive drop
With drop-bar mountain bikes as gravel race bikes having a moment, no better time for the Hope Tech RX Gravel Stem to drop in with a big -15º rise. This lets you get into a more aggressive position on any bike, but especially helpful if you’re trying to offset the height of an 80-100mm travel XC fork.
It’s rated for gravel and XC use, has 70/80/90mm lengths, is CNC’d from 2014-T6 aluminum, and comes w/ stainless bolts. MSRP $133 (£105 / €130), weights from 136g – 149g. Ti bolt upgrade saves 12g. Available in black, silver, bronze, red, blue, orange & purple. Set a reminder, they come out October 1.
Cascade Brake Adjuster pre-pressurizes your brake line
Think of this like a braking assist feature that also extends time between bleeds. The Cascade Brake Adjuster bolts onto existing brake levers, replacing the top cap with the expansion diaphragm with a spring-backed piston. The idea is that when brake fluid heats up and expands, it can push that piston back easier than it can push the pads forward, so it should work just like a normal system.
But, that spring tension is adjustable with a dial, so you can preload it to add up to 15psi over atmospheric pressure, making your brakes just a tiny bit easier to actuate once you pull the lever. And they say that extra pressure compresses any air bubbles in your line so they’re smaller and less likely to degrade performance.
Still in R&D phase, but they’ll sell you some if you want to try them. Available for TRP DH-R Evo now, SRAM Maven and Hayes Dominion A4 models on deck.
Your bike has to earn the absoluteBLACK HOLLOWcage Ti
Last week they upgraded their carbon fiber-caged version, and now they’ve added a limited edition cast titanium option. But not just anyone can buy the $1,100 absoluteBLACK HOLLOWcage Ti OSPW – you need to submit a photo of your bike to prove that it’s worth of it. They’ll evaluate, then let you know if it’s beautiful enough.
If approved, choose between rainbow, gold, black, red, and ti-colored anodized lock rings for the lower pulley. Both roll on full ceramic bearings (race & balls) with a rubber silencer ring on the upper pulley to mute chain noise. For Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 only.
Pirelli P-Zero tires add 35-40mm widths
Already a great tire, these new wider 35mm (400g) and 40mm (460g) options for the Pirelli P-Zero Race TLR tire make it a great all-road option for gravel-curious riders.
They’re made in Pirelli’s Italian factory with their grippy-yet-fast SmartEvo compound (using FSC-certified rubber) and excellent SpeedCORE liner, with two-layer 120tpi casing that overwraps into three layers under the tread belt with an extra puncture protection layer there, too. Black sidewalls only. MSRP $94.90 USD / $136.99 CAD.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro action camera
If your trails are dark, or you want the maximum number of manual settings and options for color in post production, the new DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is worth a look. It has a (comparatively) huge 1/1.3″ sensor with high-power AI de-noising in low-light and 13.5 stops of dynamic range for better color gradations in varied lighting.
It also shoots up to 4K120 (or 1080p240) for really slow slo-mo, with automatic subject tracking/centering and horizon & image stabilization, too. Dual color touchscreens and audio feedback/controls make it easy to use on helmet mounts, and up to 4 hour battery life gets you through long rides. MSRP $369, bundles from $449. (video here)
DJI Neo might be the perfect drone for cyclists
If you can’t be bothered to hold your action camera, the new DJI Neo fits in a small frame bag, needs no remote control, and will launch and auto follow you at the push of a button. And it’s only $199, their most affordable 4K camera drone.
There’s no built-in obstacle avoidance, so for mountain biking maybe pair it with their remote control or goggles (or their free smartphone app) to help you fly through trees. But for wide open spaces, it can fly up to ~35mph completely autonomously and perform tricks to help you capture better footage.
Small Bites
- Tifosi’s annual pink shades collection supports Breast Cancer research
- Rouvy adds more social features, workout creator & more
- Here’s a really cool look at some retro mountain bike tech
- Wolf Tooth adds 28-tooth DM chainrings for SRAM & Shimano
- Are mountain bikers happier faster than roadies?
- Cervelo Soloist has a limited edition Tropic Sunset colorway
- Watch the new Anytime freeride MTB flick on Red Bull TV
- Park Tool has a new chain checker for 5-13 speed chains
- State’s Carbon Monster Gravel Fork now has flip-flop dropouts
Hot Deals
- Save up to 40% on Sea to Summit’s reconditioned camp gear
- Get your offseason gym ready w/20% off sitewide at Flybird Fitness
- Get extra $500 off sale bikes at Competitive Cyclist (ends 9/20)
Parting Thoughts
Garmin finally made integrated training easy this week, and it’s about time someone did.
I’ve tried out a lot of GPS cycling computers and watches over the years, many of them promising to capture all of my ride, rest, sleep, HR, O2, steps, and other data.
I’m supposed to use all of this data to… what?
I don’t mind putting in the work on a hard training effort, but I’m incredibly lazy when it comes to looking at the data or using it to create or adapt my training “plans”. And I don’t care enough to pay a coach to do that for me.
Garmin finally figured out that there are (probably) a lot of people like me who like the idea of data but aren’t doing anything with it.
The new Garmin Coach (part of their Garmin Connect app) syncs with their devices and creates training plans for runners and cyclists based on goals and your actual output and recovery.
F**king brilliant. Take all the boring work out of it, give me a workout plan, and customize it to my efforts.
Even better, it’s completely free. No subscriptions or fees. You can even use prebuilt training plans without their devices, you just won’t get the full customization based on efforts recorded on Garmin devices, so it’s a great marketing/onboarding tool, too.
With all premium smart watches and cycling computers offering nearly identical features these days, it’s services and value-adds like this that’ll set brands apart. Here’s their Sale Page if you wanna nab a Garmin device at a discount.
Have a great weekend,
PS – I’ve basically been living in my Club Ride shirts this week. With my arm in a sling for the next few weeks (shoulder surgery), I just ordered a few more, too. They’re super light, breathable, comfy, and the snaps make them easy to put on with one working arm. But I’ve been wearing them for years for cafe rides, mountain biking, and hanging out. Definitely give them a look if you want something fun that’s not Spandex.
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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