MTB News Mix is a weekly update of all things mountain biking where we cover new products, pro race results, trail news, and more.
PRO Tharsis enduro cockpit
It’s been a heck of a week for Shimano and they haven’t stopped. The PRO brand debuted a cockpit setup made just for enduro riders. The Tharsis 3five carbon handlebar is made from T800 carbon fiber and features a 35mm clamp diameter. It’s low on weight at 198g, while an aluminum version weighs 270g. The bars have a 20mm rise, 9-degrees of backsweep, come in at 800mm wide, but can be cut to 720mm. They cost $220.
The 35mm Tharsis stem is machined alloy and weighs 150g. It comes in 35mm, 45mm, and 55mm lengths.
Shimano makes gravel shoes racier
As the gravel segment gets even more racy and competitive, with brands further delineating bikes for adventure, all-road, gravel, bikepacking, and gravel race, it was only a matter of time before the same thing happened to gravel bike shoes.
The RX8 from Shimano is similar to the S-Phyre, but sheds weight and a few features. The RX8s have abrasion-resistant lugs, a heel stabilizer, carbon sole, and a Boa dial.
The RX8s have a claimed weight of 265g in a size 42, and are about 60g lighter than the XC9s. This is done by leaving off one Boa dial, a smaller heel cup, and losing a spike mount. Estimated retail price is around $260.
Shimano releases 12-speed XT and SLX groupsets
In case this news slipped by, Shimano released 12-speed updates to their XT and SLX groupsets yesterday.
Jeff got the chance to test the XT group in Bellingham, WA before the release. Click here to check it out. Retail outlets are expected to receive 12-speed XT and SLX components in the coming months.
New Rotor carbon crankset is light and XC-made
Rotor’s new Kapic carbon crankset is the lightest crankset they have made yet, according to the brand. It’s made with XC marathon racing and endurance riding in mind. The Kapic weighs in at 429g with 175mm crank arms and a 32t chainring (but without a bottom bracket).
The Kapic is available in Boost and Super Boost chainline options in either 165mm, 170mm, and 175mm crank arm lengths. It’s priced at $500. Click here for more information.
Summer is close and the lifts are revving up
Bike parks in Northern Hemisphere are digging out, dusting off, and starting to spin the lifts.
Whistler Bike Park opened last weekend. In Colorado, after a very heavy winter, Granby Ranch will be the first bike park to open. Today, on May 31, Granby Ranch will have 95% of its terrain open with lift access.
Granby Ranch is known for its rough, raw, and dusty trails, but there are plenty of family options as well. The privately-owned property maintains 45 miles of cross-country trails, and since it’s private, it is eMTB friendly
For IMBA Take a Kid Mountain Biking day, the resort will offer free junior bike park passes (normally $27) with the purchase of an adult pass ($39) on June 1 and 2.
For demos, Granby Ranch has Intense M16C downhill bikes, Transition Patrol enduro bikes, and Transition Ripcords for the kids, and eMTB rentals. Visit the Granby Ranch website for more information.
