Evil finally updates the Following, within reason
Evil has been teasing fans with photos of their new frame on Instagram over the past week, and now they have officially launched the new Following. The frame design is distinctly Evil, and the DELTA suspension is still easy to spot, but it has a much cleaner look. While most of us would expect the 120mm travel 29er to gain travel, or get slacked out angles — because that’s the zeitgeist with short-travel bikes right now, and because it’s Evil — that’s not the case this time.
“Too many bikes are chasing the same Reach horizon as everything gets numbed into aircraft-carrier lengths, and every bike uses the same 65-degree headtube angle—XC to Enduro+, hardtails included. You might as well just pick by color. Not us.”
The most modern touch is a 77° seat angle in low mode with a 120mm fork, but it measures 76.5° when it’s in the extra-low geo mode. In “X-LOW” the Following head tube angle is 67.2°. The chainstays measure a short 432mm, made possible by Evil changing the rear spacing to SuperBoost 157. Fork offset is 51mm, and even the wheelbase is shorter than most other bikes debuting at this time, with 1177mm in a size medium.
Although Evil comments about everyone chasing reach increases, the Following reach has been made pretty long, at 460mm for a size medium, with a 20mm difference in between sizes.
The Following now has fully internal cable routing, chain slap noise guards, and can be fitted with piggyback shocks. Evil says that the Following still has its playful and poppy feel, and now it’s paired with a seemingly powerful seated position for hammering. So perhaps there’s some magic there. Frames are available for preorder on the website now for $3,100. Completes start at $5,800 with a SRAM GX build. Frames and complete builds are available for purchase at Worldwide Cyclery.
Salsa Stormchaser is a singlespeed for reliability
The Mid South, formerly the Land Run 100, is a typically mud-caked gravel century race that’s known for destroying groupsets. Salsa took this terrain hardship and the night before this year’s race, released the Stormchaser, a singlespeed gravel bike made to embrace the mud.
The Stormchaser is made from aluminum, has 12x142mm rear axle spacing, and is dropper post compatible. The dropouts can also be swapped to make room for a cassette, for a geared conversion. 142mm spacing makes room for a 700x50c maximum tire width.
The lines of the Stormchaser resemble the other entry-level gravel bike from Salsa, the Journey, and the geo isn’t far off. The Stormchaser does have a one-of-kind penny-matching paint job that should pair with midwestern mud. See more information about the Stormchaser on the Salsa website. Frames and complete bikes are available from Aventuron.
Why Cycles Wayward V2 is a 29+ adventure bike
Why Cycles, a boutique titanium brand out of Carbondale, Colorado has given the Wayward adventure bike some updates after listening to rider input. The Wayward V2 makes use of 29-plus tires for the purpose of traction wherever the bike takes riders.
The new Wayward still uses 3/2.5 titanium tubing and sliding dropouts, but now geometry is based around a 120mm fork instead of a 100mm fork. The top tube has been lowered to get a longer dropper post in the seat tube and rear tire clearance is widened to fit a 29×3.0. More braze-ons over the frame make it easier to carry more gear.
Pricing is the same for the V2 Wayward, with a frameset priced at $2,500, frame and fork at $3,050, and complete builds start at $4,800. Check out Why Cycles for more info.
Win a spot on BC Bike Ride and a Rocky Mountain Instinct C50
BC Bike Ride, the complimentary road trip experience to BC Bike Race has launched its 2020 registration and is throwing a little contest to mark the occasion. Entrants to the contest have a chance at winning a spot on the BC Bike Ride guided adventure and a new Rocky Mountain Instinct C50.
Just go to the registration page and answer some questions prepared by the BC Bike Ride team. The contest is limited to one entry per person and is open until April 15.
Viathon adds Shimano GRX drivetrain to G.1
Direct-to-consumer brand Viathon, which debuted last year, has updated its build kit choices for the G.1 gravel bike. The G.1 800 will now have a GRX groupset by Shimano, and IRC Boken 40c tires.
The G.1 GRX 800 comes in at a very reasonable $3,000, not bad for a carbon gravel bike with Shimano GRX 1×11 drivetrain, hydraulic brakes, and Mercury G1C carbon wheels. Soon to be available at Walmart.com.
SPANK Industries drops the new HEX Drive hubs
SPANK Industries has an all new hub out and it is high in engagement and low in price. The HEX Drive hub has 3.5° engagement, six pawls, and 102 teeth. It’s made from an alloy body and freehub, has enhanced seals and oversized bearings, and is available with an XD, HG, or Microspline driver.
HEX Drive hubs come in a 28H, and 32H J-hook option for gravel or freeride, and a 28H straight pull option for trail and enduro. The hubs are 300g and 147g for rear and front respectively, and are priced at $200 and $100. Available at JensonUSA and Wiggle.
Liv Cycling partners with Ladies AllRide
Liv Cycling is partnering with the women’s skills clinic Ladies AllRide as a global title sponsor. The two brands have a similar mission of getting more women on mountain bikes and it looks like it will be a fruitful partnership.
“Ladies AllRide is inspiring women to find their confidence on bikes and is contributing to the growing number of women participating in the sport,” said Meredith Brandt, CEO of Ladies AllRide. “We have seen tremendous year over year growth in attendance at our skills camps and together with Liv, are excited to build out these global events to share our experience and passion for mountain biking with more women around the globe.”
Etnies 2020 Crank series is tougher, stickier
Staple skate brand Etnies has updated its Crank collection, and its signature Brandon Semenuk shoe, the Jameson Mid Crank. Etnies added a more tacky Michelin rubber outsole compound on the Marana Crank and Marana Mid Crank. The shoes are still largely freeride and dirt jump minded. The Jameson Mid Crank sells for $100 (Amazon, Wiggle) and the Marana Crank sells for $110 and Marana Mid Crank (Backcountry, Amazon) for $120.
