Gear Watch Wednesday is a weekly update on the latest mountain bike gear releases and products that Singletracks has received for test. Have gear news to share, or products you’d like us to check out? Email [email protected].
A lot of our favorite gear is seeing major updates this year, a sign that pandemic-related supply chains are perhaps finally returning to normal. All photos provided by the respective brands unless otherwise noted.
Fox Transfer update
The Fox Transfer just got a slew of updates, starting with a new 240mm travel version that matches the previous longest drop post from OneUp. Fox says they’ve improved the air and oil seals and upgraded the bushings to reduce the need for maintenance and to reduce friction. The new Fox Transfer also sees a refined seat clamp and the travel is adjustable in 5mm increments to fit more bikes and more riders.
- Price: $339 for Performance Elite, $449 Factory Series
- Buy from Jenson USA
Race Face handlebars now offered in three widths
Attention riders: Race Face wants you to know that cutting down your bars reduces compliance significantly. For example, trimming a set of bars from 800mm to 760mm increases the bar’s stiffness by 24%, according to the brand.
So, the latest Race Face Era carbon bars and Turbine aluminum alloy bars are offered in three different widths (760, 780, and 800mm) and three rise options from 10mm to 40mm. The new bars also feature a narrower clamping area to achieve the desired vertical compliance but which could limit options for mounting a light or GPS unit.
- Price: $169.99 Era, $89.99 Turbine
- Buy from evo
Race Face Era chainring mates aluminum, carbon, and steel
When it comes to chainrings, all-aluminum construction weighs about half of all-steel, but wears out five times as quickly. The new Race Face Era chainring is designed to be both lightweight and long-lasting thanks to steel teeth bonded (ie glued?) to a carbon spider. On the inside of the spider, an aluminum crank interface ring is bonded using a similar process. All told the Race Face Era is said to weigh about 83g for the 32T size, 2g lighter than the brand’s equivalent direct mount aluminum alloy chainring.
- Price: $149.99
- Buy from Jenson USA
Industry Nine brings new Solix hubs to MTB wheelsets
The new Industry Nine Solix M hubs bring 605 points of contact to XC and trail wheels for 0.59° of engagement. The hubs are designed for 24-spoke wheels, and Industry Nine is launching both carbon and aluminum alloy wheelsets featuring the Solix M hubs. Singletracks hopes to test the SOLiX M TR285 alloy wheelset which is said to weigh just 1,535g.
- Price: $695/pair for the hubs; carbon wheelsets from $2,395, alloy from $1,405.
- Buy from Industry Nine
All new Marzocchi Super Z long-travel fork
The Marzocchi Super Z is “designed to have all the strength and support of a double crown fork with the convenience and versatility of a single crown package.” The Super Z boasts 38mm stanchions, up to 190mm of travel, pressure relief bleeder valves, a Grip X damper, and mounts for 200-230mm rotors at a claimed weight of 2,180g.
- Price: $999
- Buy from Worldwide Cyclery
Insta360 X4 camera goes 8K
The new Insta360 X4 is the brand’s most powerful camera yet with the ability to capture 360° video at 8K resolution and 30fps. A new processor means the Insta360 X4 can also record 4K@100fps and its improved voice and gesture controls promise to be more responsive and easier to use.
Hutchinson Python Race cross-country tire weighs just 600g
The Hutchinson Python tire won the first ever Olympic gold medal in mountain biking back in 1996, piloted by Italian rider Paola Pezzo. This week Hutchinson is releasing two new versions of the Python: the Python Race (above) and the Python 3. The race tire weighs just 600g while the Python 3 is designed to be a bit more durable as an everyday rider, weighing between 780 and 810g.
- Price: £59.99/€69.99
- Buy from Hutchinson retailers
Ride Concepts Livewire updated
The Ride Concepts brand launched in 2018 with the Livewire and after six years (and a new owner), the brand has updated one of its most popular shoes. The latest Ride Concepts Livewire has been completely revamped with a lower profile look, synthetic uppers, a more durable outsole, and HighGrip rubber soles. The new Livewire is also available in kid sizes for the first time.
- Price: $110 adult, $90 youth, $70 kids
- Buy from Ride Concepts retailers
Stinner x MADE photo stick
The Stinner x MADE photo stick is surely appealing to those of us in mountain bike media who are constantly photographing our bikes. For everyone else? Unclear. The made-in-USA stand is collapsable and constructed from steel with a titanium version is coming soon.
- Price: $59.99
- Buy from stinnerframeworks.com
Crankbrothers Candy Lace shoes
The Crankbrothers Candy Lace mountain bike shoes are designed to pair well with the brand’s Candy clipless pedals, though they work with pedals from other brands too. A stiff, fiber-reinforced sole and synthetic upper with a relaxed fit promises comfort on long rides.
- Price: $159.95
- Buy from Crankbrothers
