Welcome to The Lunch Ride, a weekly recap of the best new road, gravel, and mountain bikes, tech and gear. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday.

Wahoo Steering // Ibis // Easton // Trek // Paris 2024 & more!

wahoo kicker steering paddles for handlebars

This week is a truly random assortment of hacks, parts, bags, graphics, and four mountain bikes. Wahoo adds bolt-on steering paddles, the Olympics unveil their graphics, there’s a Bike Mechanic video game, tie-day custom paint, color-matched frame bags, a bike stand that hangs in your doorway, and lots more. Here’s the best new stuff this week:

  • Wahoo KICKR STEER
  • Easton EC90 ALX bars
  • Paris 2024 cycling logos
  • Bike Mechanic Simulator
  • Ibis DV9 Hardtail
  • Liv Lurra women’s MTB
  • Alchemy Arktos updates
  • Trek Rail eMTB
  • Lezyne Pro Tubeless Kit
  • Trek Tie Dye paint
  • MW Slice frame bag
  • Winnebago Adventure Wagon
  • Altangle door frame workstand

Wahoo KICKR STEER adds in-game steering to RGT

new wahoo steering device mounted on a bicycle handlebar, shown from various angles
Click any image to enlarge.

The new Wahoo KICKR STEER ($99) adds a smartphone-powered steering device to your handlebar, letting you control your avatar’s direction in their RGT Cycling app. Part of the Wahoo X subscription, RGT is a Zwift competitor with digital routes resembling real-world rides. This lets you steer through turns, tuck into a draft, or whip around a competitor in the game.

If you just want to try steering out for free, the RGT Remote app or your keyboard will work, too, albeit requiring you to take your hands off the bar. Or, the KICKR BIKE’s thumb buttons will let you steer, too, but it’s a bit more expensive than this.

Easton EC90 ALX size-specific all-road, gravel handlebars

easton ec90 ALX carbon fiber handlebar for road and gravel with 10-degree flare and ergo tops

The new Easton EC90 ALX handlebar tips the scales at just 204g (42cm) with a carbon layup and top shaping that are size specific. Smaller bars get a more compliant layup and smaller diameter, so each size (from 38 to 46cm) should ride and feel just right for every size rider.

They have a 10º flare, down from 16º on the gravel-ready EC90 AX, giving you wrist clearance in the drops, and bar clearance when riding side by side on the road. They have an 80mm reach, 123mm drop, and retail for $299.

Paris 2024 Olympic Pictograms

paris 2024 cycling pictogram event logo graphics for track, road, BMX, triathlon and mountain biking

The icons for each sport at the 2024 Paris Olympics are unveiled, and they’re awesome. Cycling ones shown here, check the full collection at Paris2024.com (animated video teaser here).

Bike Mechanic Simulator 2023 video game

bike mechanic simulator video game screenshots

Coming later this year to PC, XBOX & Playstation, the Steam demo is available now for Bike Mechanic Simulator 2023. Troubleshoot, repair, and test ride customer bikes, create custom builds, grow your tool collection, and build your shop. There’s a planned gameplay storyline, too.

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Cube Stereo One lineup revamped from XC to EN

With bikes ranging from “downcountry” XC up to Enduro, plus an eMTB, the Cube Stereo One mountain bike range now covers every rider. Rear travel ranges from 120mm up to 170mm, with new lightweight carbon, alloy and blended frames featuring adjustable geometry and shock mounts for tons of versatility across five distinct models. Full details at the link.

Ibis DV9 carbon hardtail targets racers on a budget

2023 ibis DV9 carbon hardtail is an affordable mountain bike for junior racers

The Ibis DV9 returns as an affordable all-carbon hardtail with sizes and prices to fit NICA racers (and adults). Geometry is updated with a 2º slacker head angle (now 66.5º) and shorter 425mm chainstays, yet it still fits 29×2.6″ tires and 120mm forks…and two bottles in all frame sizes!

A low standover makes it more maneuverable, and dropper posts come standard on all three builds. Complete bikes are just $3,499 to $3,999 with decent builds, and framesets are $1,499 if you have parts that need a home.

Liv Lurra women’s trail hardtail MTB

The new Liv Lurra women’s mountain bike is a bit longer and slacker than the DV9, with a 66º HA and 130mm forks, and 438mm chainstays. Top tube accessory mounts let you add gear without giving up bottle space.

The frame is their lightweight ALUXX-SL aluminum with house-brand dropper, alloy cockpits & Crest suspension fork. XS bikes get 27.5″ wheels, M/L get 29er, and Small size can be had with either. Complete bikes are just $1,500 to $1,850.

Alchemy Arktos gets new 125 & 140mm travel options

2023 alchemy arktos trail mountain bike gets new 125mm and 140mm travel options with new colors

Refined kinematics with a new main linkage give the Alchemy Arktos new travel options, bumping up the two shorter travel options to 125mm and 140mm rear.

The 150mm option remains in the line, and all three can be converted from full 29er to a mullet mixed-wheel bike with a linkage kit. The new travel versions have new colors, too, and are available for pre-order, shipping in May.

Trek Rail eMTB upgraded with Bosch Smart System

All models of the Trek Rail e-mountain bike now come with the Bosch Smart System. Carbon bikes now have an integrated screen plus mini remote, and alloy bikes get the larger bar remote with LED indicators. Both allow mode customization via Bosch’s Flow smartphone app.

Lezyne Pro Tubeless Kit tire plugger

lezyne pro tubeless kit with tire plugs and co2 chuck includes two sizes of bacon strip plugs

The tidily packed Lezyne Pro Tubeless Kit hides a complete tire plugger kit, including 10 plug strips (5×1.5mm, 5×3.5mm), a valve core removal tool, and CO2 inflator into a 50g package.

The tube’s threaded end caps secure the metal bits so they don’t rattle, and thread in on both sides to use the tube as a handle. The $40 kit fits most CO2 holders; the $50 Loaded version includes a 20g CO2 cartridge and mounting bracket.

Trek gets groovy with Tie Dye Project One custom paint

Trek’s new Project One ICON Tie Dye options gratefully include a Rainbow blend, plus a more subdued pastel and four monochromatic options. Available on their Madone SLR, Domane SLR, Domane+ SLR, Speed Concept, and Checkpoint. They’re all hand painted, so every bike is unique.

Mission Workshop Slice frame bag

mission workshop slice frame bag and on-bike storage bundle with saddle bag and handlebar roll bag shown on a bicycle

Mission Workshop’s excellent construction & durability now comes to the Slice Frame Bag ($110, 1.5L / 96.6 cu.in., 129g, eight colors). The YKK Aquaguard zippers seal the basically waterproof, ultralight Hypalon/Dimension Polyant X-Pac fabric. Internal elastic straps keep tools/CO2/levers organized.

Combine it with their Saddle Bag and Toro Handlebar Bag for a discounted On-Bike Storage System bundle ($254). Available in six matching colors.

Winnebago x Adventure Wagon Sprinter Van

winnebago x adventure wagon custom sprinter van

Combining premium features like a kitchen area, potable water system, upgraded mattress, and self-contained toilet with a modular bed and storage system, the new Winnebago x Adventure Wagon Sprinter van brings the best from both brands.

Rather than buy AW’s DIY kit for your own van, these are professionaly built by Winnebago on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 170 chassis using Adventure Wagon’s T-track mounts and internal frame, adjustable bed, and soft storage bags.

Altangle Hangar door frame bike work stand

altangle hangar door frame bicycle repair stand fits in doorway and works with gravity

The Altangle Hangar turns your door frame into a bike repair station using a similar concept as portable pullup bars. Gravity and leverage hold the stand in place, and it supports bikes up to 50lbs (23kg).

It’s made of CNC’d aluminum, has a 360º rotating 3″ jaw opening to fit almost any tube, and spans doorways up to ~37″ wide (it measures 39.5″ itself). Rubberized contact points avoid marring your wall or bike, and it folds down small and weighs just 7 pounds. MSRP is $340, on sale now for $272.

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Small Bites

Deals

the lunch ride logo cycling cap

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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