Been too busy to read bike websites this week? Here's your catch-up session
Here’s the second of our regular end-of-the-week rundown about all the big and small things that have happened in the bike world this week.
2017 Trek Fuel EX 29
We announced the surprise new Plus-tyred Fuel EX the other week and showed you details of the new Remedy last week, so here’s the less headline-grabbing but still interesting model from Trek – the Fuel EX 29. The frame looks remarkably similar to the Fuel EX 27-5 Plus except it sports a 130mm fork (not 140mm). Read our write-up of the Remedy to read all about the new frame features like Knock Block, Control Freak cable routing, Mino Link and all that jazz.
Lapierre heavily tweak their XC/marathon XR models
Full carbon 100mm full suspension 29er. New suspension system – a lightweight version of the OST+ four-bar found on most other Lapierres. Stealth dropper compatible. Boost axle-d. Metric rear shock. 20mm longer reach. Slacker head angle (69 degrees). Steeper seat angle (74.5 degrees). 5mm shorter chainstays. Di2 shifting ready. Top end XR 929 features RockShox RS-1 and e:I electronically operated rear shock.
Another great looking Merida – the One-Sixty
Merida are on something of a roll. Each bike they reveal shows that they’ve really upped their game with MTBs. The One-Sixty is a brand new model in the range. Enduro specific. Carbon front, alloy rear. 65.3 degree head angle(!), long reach, 430mm chainstays. Most builds are paired up with a 170mm fork too. This bikes clearly means business!
Kona expand the Hei Hei range
The Hei Hei Race looks to be a very interesting bike. Some things are just too good to be true. The meeting of Kona’s new World Cup-proven ultralight carbon Hei Hei Race frame and SRAM’s new Eagle 12 speed 1x drivetrain is a “match made between the course tape and built to maximize your efforts from start to finish”. Read our recent story about the 2017 carbon Hei Hei bikes.
Two World Champion titles in one day for Scott
“Best day ever!” – that’s how Team Scott will remember the World Championships in Nove Mesto after both Nino Schurter and Jenny Rissveds claim their titles in their respective races. That’s pretty impressive and a great piece of racing PR for Scott and their new 2017 Spark bikes.
It’s Megavalanche week AKA crash video time!
The Megavalanche is one of the surefire bucket list events that almost all mountain bikers want to do at some point. We’ll no doubt be swamped with “sick edits” next week but in the meantime here’s a favourite Mega vid from the past…
Other stuff you may have missed on mbr.co.uk
Sometimes even our most ardent fans can’t keep up with our bustling news feed. Here’s a round-up of the other stuff we’ve bunged online this week…
Nine 2017 bikes you won’t have seen before
Three models from Giant, who look set to have a great 2017 with the new Trance, Anthem and Liv Hail. Sneak peaks at a Plus-tyred Habit from Cannondale and a retro-futuristic fun-looking hardtail from GT. What else? A bargain bouncer from Marin. Also some quirky bikes from Rose, Bold and Corratec.
Trail slaying on the new Kona Honzo Carbon
Kona have taken one of our favourite trail-riding hardtails and put it on a plastic diet. On-trend modern geometry. 120mm fork. Boost axles. Stealth dropper routing. Will be available in ‘Race’ or ‘Trail’ guises. The new carbon fibre Honzo builds on the great geometry and handling of the previous metal Honzo models but adds some carbon class and sheds a significant amount of weight. How much weight haas been saved? Kona claim that the Honzo Carbon frame is 600g lighter than the alloy Honzo. That is pretty massive that.
Insane Mountain Of Hell glacier racing helmetcam
Wince your way through seven minutes of mind-boggling mountain biking. Insane Fabien Cousinié hits insane speeds down insane race with insane mass start. Insane. Mountain Of Hell is the race. It’s a bit like the famous MegAvalanche but on a different mountain and not quite so done-to-death. Mountain Of Hell starts up near the top of a mountain in the northern part of the French Alps. On the glacier of Les 2 Alpes to be exact. 2,600m of descent and 20km later the finsih line is in the alpine town of Venosc.
Co-founder of Hope Technology Simon Sharp dies aged 53
North Yorkshire Police said: “I can confirm our officers were called to an address in Flasby near Skipton just after 12-15pm yesterday. The body of a man in his 50s was found at the scene. An ambulance was called but sadly the man was pronounced dead. His death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed.”
Our three favourite Highlands rides have just got that little bit closer
British Airways are set to resume flights from Heathrow to Inverness from May, after a 19-year hiatus. EasyJet flies to Inverness out of Gatwick and Luton, Flybe from City, so the competition should help to drive down prices. In celebration, we’ve compiled our top-three rides within spitting distance of the airport, and they all last longer than the 90-minute flight.
The new Intense ACV carbon 27.5+ bike
A matte brown and gold Plus-tyre bouncy beast with 130/150mm travel. ACV stands for Air Cushioned Vehicle in the world of military bods. So, essentially a type of go-anywhere hovercraft. Ahah – it makes sense now. Carbon frame with 130mm rear travel using Intense’s usual VPP floating pivot design. Travel can be changed to 115mm with a flipchip in the (carbon) linkage.
Chris Boardman wants to open up footpaths to bikes in England and Wales
Boardman is part of British Cycling’s push for greater access to off-road outdoors. British Cycling, a host of outdoor recreation organisations and celebrity cyclists have today written open letters to Environment Secretary Liz Truss and Welsh Environment Secretary Lesley Griffiths calling for people on bikes to have responsible access to more public paths in the England and Wales countryside.
Rachel Atherton: Time to turn it up to 11 in Lenzerheide
Can she make it eleven World Cup wins in a row? Rachel Atherton is charging toward another World Cup Title. After setting a new world record at the last stop in Leogang the Brit is gearing up for her next win at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Lenzerheide. Looking ahead Rachel took the time to talk about the competition, the course and the rising pressure of expectations.