SRAM’s latest family of Eagle Transmission derailleurs hyped their durability, but nothing is indestructible, and MRP thinks their new Cage Guard is the perfect insurance policy. Sure, it’s just a little $30 piece of engineered plastic. But MRP knows a thing or two about keeping mountain bike drivetrains safe. And based on the dents & gouges in my own Transmission derailleur after just a half a year of riding, I feel like mine could use a bit of extra protection…

MRP Cage Guard protects SRAM Transmission derailleurs

MRP has been in the business of creating bash-guards and low-friction sliders to protect our sensitive drivetrain, literally since the birth of technical mountain bike riding took hold in the 1990s. So seeing them decide to make a bash guard for some of the most expensive mountain bike derailleurs ever mass-produced seems pretty logical to me.

Machined in-house in Grand Junction, Colorado from durable & slippery Delrin thermoplastic, MRP created the 8g Cage Guard “to protect your SRAM T-Type derailleur pulley cage from costly damage caused by rocks and debris“.

MRP says the new Cage Guard does double-duty of first preventing impact damage, and secondly of keeping your alloy cage from snagging when it hits a sharp or especially abrasive rock.

Bounce off, and glide over rocks. Because ultimately, limiting cage damage ensures the best shifting performance out of your premium SRAM Transmission.

Do you really need a bash guard on your SRAM MTB Transmission Derailleur?

Look, making a derailleur that works with a 10-52T spread is always going to mean a long cage hanging down within reach of trailside rocks. I know a big part of SRAM’s latest direct-mount Eagle T-Type Transmission derailleurs was easier serviceability. And the spin-off cage trick really makes replacing a cage faster & easier, that is if you have a spare lying around. But these big angular cages do seem to stick out more than even the previous generation of Eagle derailleurs, making them more vulnerable low-hanging-fruit for hungry rocks.

Sure, the new T-type design means you can easily replace the quick-release alloy GX cage for around $100, a shiner alloy XX cage for about $150, or the fancy carbon XX SL cage for $200. But that means the cheapest replacement Transmission cage will still cost you more than 3x the price of the MRP Cage Guard. So, maybe with $30 of Cage Guard prevention, it’ll never come to that.

Yes, it is maybe debatable whether 8g of plastic is really going to prevent a well-placed rock strike from killing your derailleur cage. But it certainly won’t hurt, right?

I can say that I’ve hit a lot of rocks, bashing my trail & enduro bikes through rock gardens. And I also fondly remember more than two decades of bashing crankarms and chainrings onto rocks with MRP guards protecting me.

MRP Cage Guard – Pricing, compatibility & availability

This new little Delrin plastic MRP Cage Guard sells for $29.95, directly from Mountain Racing Products. And yes, that’s a pretty expensive piece of plastic, but it’s a lot cheaper than any replacement T-type derailleur cage. The Cage Guard is designed to bolt onto the latest generation of direct (full) mount SRAM Transmission derailleurs. Just remove the T25 lower pulley bolt, slap the Cage Guard on, then tighten it in place with the included longer stainless steel M4 bolt.

It’s compatible with everything from the OEM-only S100, GX, X0, XX & the top XX SL T-type derailleurs. So you get bash guard protections whether you have a steel, aluminum, or carbon outer cage.

MRPbike.com

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SideLights is a new Swiss start-up that wants to make cyclists more visible with their world’s first 360° & Double Beam cycling safety lights. The concept is simple, by lighting up the ends of your bars, motorists can better see cyclists at night when approaching from all directions. And since SideLights includes a pair of bright headlights (600-lumen combined) set wide at the ends of your handlebar, drivers are more likely to see you coming, and better able to judge your approaching speed.

SideLights bright cycling lights in your handlebar ends

Dreamed up by Swiss “BMX enthusiast and commuter cyclist” Arthur Claessens, and brother of Olympic BMX-medalist Zoé Claessens, SideLights was created with the singular goal of improving bicyclist safety by making them more visible to motorists.

Claessens’ patent-pending solution puts a multi-functional set of lights in each end of your handlebar to ensure 360° visibility. Facing forward is an adjustable angle 300lm headlight under each end of your grips. Facing back is a 100lm taillight. And emanating from the side is a 100lm side indicator with turn signals that are activated by pressing down on a large button with the palm of your hand, without having to really take your hand off the bar.

By mounting to the bike by sliding into the open end of your bar, the SideLights extend out just a few centimeters beyond your regular grips, but can offer full 360° visibility. It also lights the outer edges of the bike, so passing motorists are more likely to better understand the width of the cyclist, and then to also pass at a safer distance away from the rider.

And since the lights are set wide apart, they help drivers see you coming in an environment where they are expecting to see horizontal pairs of headlights, like on other cars. This set-apart arrangement also helps others more accurately estimate a cyclists approaching speed, improving safety all-around.

“As a regular cyclist, I wanted a product that was easy to use, efficient and, above all, safe for everyday rides,” explains Arthur Claessens.

Tech details

• each SideLight is 52x32x180mm
• aluminum main body with bar end bump protectors & stainless steel battery tubes
• ~150g per side
• white headlight output: up to 600lm (combined)
• yellow side lighting output: up to 200lm (combined)
• red taillight output: up to 200lm (combined)

• 3 lighting modes with long run times (combined lumen outputs include all lights)
• 150lm ECO for 8hr, 300lm MEDIUM for 4hr, or then 700lm FULL for 2hr
• battery: 2x 1500mAh batteries, USB-C rechargeable
• IP67 waterproof, for rain & dust resistance

• deemed ‘theft-resistant’ due to the need to use an extended tool to install & remove (once you pull out the battery)
• compatible with handlebars from 0-30° backsweep
• fits almost all grips with open ends (min 15mm internal diameter)
• optional grips & rearview mirror also available

SideLights – Crowdfunding pricing, options & anticipated availability

SideLights is currently running a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to get the project off the ground. A seemingly unlimited number of super early bird deals remain for a price of 119 Swiss francs (~$137) for the SideLights Beamkit which includes the 2 bar mounted lights, 2 removable rechargeable batteries, a charging cable, and the extra long hex key to install them. There are also multiple packs for riders who want them on more than one bike, or shops that want to resell them.

SideLights already beat their Kickstarter funding target by 5x. They move into final tooling now, with backer delivery estimated to happen in April 2025.

SideLights.com

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Let me start with an acknowledgment that the cost of top-tier multisport GPS smartwatches is eye-watering, yet this new Coros Pace Pro manages to bring the best tech and genuinely long battery life a bit more into reach. The generally more affordable Coros Pace family of GPS-tracking multi-sport smartwatches goes Pro with a new top model promising an improved display, faster processor, and all-around improved performance. Plus, it keeps the Coros core of super long battery life – up to 38 hours of GPS activity tracking or 20 days of regular smartwatch use – light weight from just 37g, and affordability…

Well at $350, at least it’s relatively affordable compared to the top-tier multi-sport watches from trusted brands…

Coros Pace Pro affordable premium GPS smartwatch

A year ago, I only really knew of Coros anecdotally as a smartwatch brand used by ultra-distance runners because of the watches’ light weight, GPS accuracy, and super-long activity-tracking battery life, and their relative low-cost compared to the legacy names in sport trackers.

Then we heard at the start of 2024 that Coros was preparing to bring their low-cost, lightweight & super long runtime strategy to cycling, my interest was piqued. Even before we got any details on what would become their $250 Dura GPS cycling computer with awesome 120-hour battery life. So I wanted to try out their Pace family of smartwatches to see how they worked on- and off-the-bike.

So, I strapped a Pace 3 around my wrist and have pretty much not used another smartwatch since. Its in-app and on-watch menu navigation took me a while to get used to (mostly because these days new devices don’t come with much in the way of explanatory operating instruction manuals). But once I figured it out (and flipped the watch’s band & its electronic face around 180° so that my wrist didn’t accidentally press the pause button during activities), I’ve been perfectly happy with the Pace for tracking runs, mountain bike rides, hikes, XC skiing & spilt-boarding. Plus, generally tracking my fitness, sleep & recovery when I want to know more.

And now, there’s a faster, brighter, more powerful Pace Pro that does everything I already love with the regular Pace 3 better, plus the mapping capabilities of smartwatches more than 2x as expensive.

Comparing it to the Pace 3

I know you might not know the $230 Pace 3 that I already use, but it has excellent GPS tracking capabilities. It is thin, smooth-edged & weighs just 40g. And I only have to charge it really once-a-week when I use it to track rides, or could go 2 weeks when I am tracking cycling activity with by Wahoo Elemnt Roam or more recently with the Coros Dura (which coincidentally has the same display just with touch added). Really, I usually stick it in the charger every other time I hop in the shower for 15 minutes or so, and it is always charged.

So what’s new?

So, now the more powerful Pace Pro gets a 3x better resolution AMOLED vs. LCD that is also brighter and can be always on. It has a 2x faster processor, 3x more RAM, 8x bigger memory, 3x faster WiFi up/download speeds, and new full mapping & navigation capabilities.

Plus, it still has the same 38-hour GPS-tracking runtime, but now with all GPS systems tracking at the same time for increased accuracy thanks to a 46% higher capacity battery. That also means that everyday use tracking lasts 33% longer for 20 days of regular stress & sleep tracking between charges. Coros says the Pace Pro is 4mm bigger in diameter, half a millimeter thicker, and 7g heavier (10g heavier comparing the standard silicone watchbands) – all minimal enough changes to probably feel the same around your wrist. Although, I do hope to test out the new watch soon to see how I like the updates.

One other upgrade from Coros’ more-premium Vertix expedition family of watches is a new ECG sensor, presumably for better exercise recovery analytics. And with that, I think the only thing that the $700 Vertix 2S does better than this Pace Pro would be its much longer runtime.

Lastly, the Pace Pro upgrades to a new USB-C charging cable with a dongle that will fit on a keychain, for what appears to be another new proprietary charging interface, but an improved port for better connection.

Ultra-long runtimes

• 345mAh battery
• All GPS systems active battery life: 38 hours, 28hr with Always-On display, 10hr with Always-on & offline music playing
• Dual Frequency GPS tracking reduces to 31hr, 24hr & 10hr, respectively
• Daily Use & Sleep Tracking battery life: 20 Days or 6 Days with Always-On display
• Less than 2hr complete charging time

Tech details

• 1.3” 416x416px always-on full-color AMOLED Display, 1500 Nit auto-adjusting brightness
• Scratch-resistant mineral glass screen
• Fiber-reinforced polymer bezel & body
• stainless steel Digital Dial control button & separate back button
• All-Satellite Dual-Frequency GNSS Chipset for tracking (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS)
• 5 LED 4 photodetector optical Heart Rate sensor
• optical Pulse Oximeter for blood oxygen level tracking (SPO2)
• barometric altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, 3D-compass, environmental thermometer, and new Electrocardiogram sensor
• downloadable Global Landscape maps or Regional Topo maps for navigation
• Compatible with 3rd Party Apps: Strava, Komoot, Training Peaks, Apple Health, Ride with GPS, Rouvy, and 40+ more including many running training apps
• Bluetooth & WiFi connectivity, with over-the-air updates
• 32GB internal memory (1200hr of Activity tracking)
• water-resistant to 5ATM (50m depth)
• 46mm diameter crown x 12.25mm thick
• 22mm quick-release band
• 49.1g typical weight with standard silicone watchband (just 37.1g with nylon band)

Coros Pace Pro – Pricing, options & availability

Again, smart GPS multi-sport watches with a full suite of sensors and full mapping capabilities are expensive. The top Garmin Epix, Polar Grit X2 Pro, Suunto Vertical, or even Apple Watch Ultra 2 all start at over $800. So while not exactly cheap, Coros’ new Pace Pro is certainly more in-reach for someone looking for a do-it-all smartwatch.

The new Coros Pace Pro multi-sport GPS smartwatch sells for $350 / 400€ direct from Coros with a silicone band standard, in your choice of black, light gray, or navy blue. It is available not, although only in black, with the other colors and optional $29 matching lightweight nylon watchbands shipping later this month.

Coros.com

The post Coros Pace Pro GPS Smartwatch w/ Top Tech, Extra-Long Battery Life & Affordable Price appeared first on Bikerumor.

Hope calls their machined alloy EVO crankset the “Everything Crank”, because with arm lengths now as short as 135mm all the way up to 175s, and 4 modular spindle lengths, you really could put a set of these on almost any off-road bike. But wait, Hope EVO135mm… who needs crank arms that short?

Hope thinks a number of mountain bikers who loved their already short cranks, might just want to go even shorter!

Hope EVO 135mm, ultra-short UK-machined alloy MTB cranks

Almost 5 years ago, Hope stepped up their CNC-machined alloy crankset game with the EVO, making them 19% lighter AND stiffer than the previous generation with a more refined, easier-to-install design. Then, 2 years ago they machined the EVOs down even further to just 155mm long. The idea started with shorter cranks for eMTBs to improve clearance riding technical trails, but soon even some DH & Enduro racers were sold on the increase in rider stability, quicker acceleration, improved stiffness, and even lighter weight that came as a by-product.

Hope’s R&D team then said they had tested down to 140mm. But apparently, they didn’t stop there.

Now, the EVO cranks get a 135mm option too!

So why shorter again?

Shorter 135mm EVO cranks get all of the same benefits that Hope hyped with the 155mm version, just taken to the next level. Improved stability, quicker spin-up, improved ground clearance, bigger effective gearing drive ratio, lighter weight, stiffer connection between pedal & bike.

“[M]aybe you are a downhiller for whom the existing 155mm just isn’t short enough. Maybe you want a tougher option for your child’s bike.”

Whatever your reason, a new Hope EVO 135mm crankarm simply means more options to better suit the individual needs or desires of more riders. And of course, you still get spindle lengths to fit all mountain bikes, and the full rainbow of Hope anodized aluminum colors to bring the matchy-matchy bling.

Tech details

• crankarms forged and then CNC-machined from 7150 alloy
• 30mm machined 7075 modular axles, available in 4 lengths for all BBs from 68-120mm wide

• 135, 155, 165, 170 & 175mm lengths now available
• available in black, silver, blue, red, purple & orange ano
• proprietary splined interface for direct-mount 1x chainrings or spiders
• add a spiderless 1x ring (28-32T) for 9-12sp drivetrains, or 4-arm spiders
• NOTE: shorter arms necessitate smaller rings. Hope recommends decreasing 2-teeth for each 10mm reduction in crank length, which means they probably need to start making smaller chainrings than a 28T!
• self-extracting axle-to-arm interface
• weights less than 560g, because that’s for the long 170mm arms including an axle
• 100% UK designed & manufactured, in-house in Barnoldswick, England

Hope EVO 135mm cranks – Pricing, options & availability

The UK-made CNC-machined Hope EVO cranks are now available in 135mm, plus the still short 155mm and more conventional 165, 170 & 175mm lengths. They sell for £270 / $342 / 340€ for a set of arms in the color and length of your choice, and your desired spindle, but without a chainring or spider. A spider will add £30 / $38 / 35€ or a spiderless chainring will add £55 / $70 / 65€ extra.

Get them all now through your local Hope dealer in your favorite color combinations!

HopeTech.com

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It’s a day of tricks or treats, and Hammerhead’s latest update looks pretty tasty if battery life is a concern. Calling it the first major update to the new Karoo (aka Karoo 3), the computer gets an expanded Battery Save Mode to stretch its juice.

It’s important to note that downloading the update will not instantly grant you with 35+ hours of battery life. Under the default mode, you’ll still see about 15+ hours with standard use.

With this update, riders will be able to choose between three different battery states:

• Default Ride Mode (15+ hours of battery in standard use cases)
• Battery Save Mode (30+ hours of battery)
• Advanced Battery Savers (35+ hours of battery)

If you select Battery Save Mode, this will boost battery life to a claimed 30+ hours. This mode automatically turns off and on the screen, having it illuminate only when you need it (turn-by-turn direction cues, alerts, etc.). When these alerts happen, the screen turns on for 35 seconds, then turns back on and you can customize when it turns on. Also, in this mode, screen brightness is limited to 45%.

If you add the Advanced Battery Savers to the Battery Save Mode, that’s when you can see upwards of 35+ hours. Those options seem to include a slower processing option and an additional max brightness reduction setting. The slower processor setting will likely slow down the responsiveness of the computer, but it will still function to record your ride and give you directions.

Battery Save Mode:

• Use Karoo’s Battery Save Mode to automatically turn the screen off – it will turn back on when you need it most (e.g. Turn cues, CLIMBER alerts)
• By default, the screen will remain on for 35 seconds after an event. Riders can customize the timer in their Battery Save settings menu
• Riders can customize which events trigger the screen on. Customize ‘Screen on Triggers’ in Battery Save Settings
• By default, using Battery Save Mode will cap your max screen brightness at 45%.
• Store Battery Save Mode settings within ride profiles for easy access, or configureon-the-fly

Battery Save Mode with Advanced Battery Savers:

• Get more out of Karoo by configuring additional Advanced Battery Saver settings
• Cap Max Brightness in Advanced Battery Saver settings for more battery life
• Set your preferred maximum screen brightness to save additional battery when usingBattery Save Mode
• Now enable ‘Slower processing’. Turning ON ‘Slower processing’ will slow down theCPU and processing speed of your Karoo to save battery. To turn on this feature, click into the “Advanced Battery Saver” menu

It’s nice that these are optional settings since it will allow those who aren’t going to be riding their bike for 30+ hours at a time to have a fast, bright computer. But for those that need it, this seems like a great way to get a very functional computer with extra battery life.

The update is free to download, and new Hammerhead Karoo computers are priced at $474.99.

hammerhead.io

The post Major Hammerhead Update Treats Users with Up to 35+ Hours of Battery Life! appeared first on Bikerumor.

Outrider proposed a simpler, smaller, lighter, and more affordable tire pressure monitoring system for bike tires. Designed to fit inside you tire attached to the base of your existing tubeless valves, this Outrider TPMS solution aims to bring live tire pressure monitoring within reach of a lot more cyclists. Bike TPMS does not have to be super expensive, bulky, and it does not need to be overly complicated. Just like most modern cars have neatly integrated TPMS into their valves, Outrider wants to give cyclists the same benefits without a lot of extra complication…

Outrider lightweight & affordable bicycle tire pressure monitor

Keeping correct pressure in your tires is a matter of control, comfort, and ultimately rider safety. But in reality, a lot of cyclists don’t really check their tire pressure all that often. Or simply squeeze the tires to see if they ‘feel’ about right. And now that so many of us ride bikes with tubeless sealant inside, you could get a small puncture that fixes itself after losing a bit of pressure or even have dried-up sealant inside and slowly lose pressure over time without really noticing it. And of course, either scenario just increases the chances that you could get an unexpected flat while out on a ride.

But often bike TPMS is either costly, or clunky.

“The Outrider is there to make your life easier. Residing inside your tubeless tires, Outrider sends accurate, real-time tire pressure readings and alerts to your Garmin device so you’re always in the know.”

Why not take the guesswork out of the equation and let a set of low-cost and unobtrusive Outrider tire pressure monitors keep an eye on things for you.

Direct TPMS communication & alerts with Gamin cycling computers

• pairs via ANT directly to Garmin cycling computers for live pressure and to send puncture notifications (and unofficially also Garmin multi-sport GPS watches)
• currently limited to Garmin Connect communication to allow for live display of front & rear tire pressures, as well as to send puncture alerts no matter which data screen you display on your GPS

Tech details

• installs inside your tires, e.g. on the base of most existing tubeless valves
• requires valves with removable rubber valve hole seal (i.e. most newer insert-compatible valves)
• fits inside rims with a minimum 19mm internal width
• pressure reading functions independent of airflow through the valve
• +/- 0.7% pressure accuracy from 0-39psi, or +/-1.4% accuracy from 39-85psi
• not affected by sealant
• ~2-year battery life with 1 standard replaceable CR1225 watch battery per wheel (830 riding hours)
• 3.5g weight per wheel

Outrider Tire Pressure Sensors – Pricing, options & crowdsourced availability

This new lightweight low-cost Outrider bike tire pressure monitoring system is still in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign, where it has already achieved more than 22x Outrider’s minimum support threshold. Of course, supporting a crowdfunded project from a new company is nowhere near as sure as ordering from an established company. But it seems like Outrider has a reasonably-priced and relatively simple solution to bike tire pressure monitoring, and they certainly have enough funding to get it off the ground now.

There are still a few Early Bird deals left to get a pair of Outrider sensors for $55, or 30% off their ultimate retail price. Or 2 pairs for $89 for 44% off. And if you back now, Outrider says they’ll already start shipping the sensors in just a few months, in January 2025.

Outride-bike.com

The post Outrider TPMS Puts Light, Affordable Tire Pressure Sensor Inside, On Your Tubeless Valve appeared first on Bikerumor.

There are tons of aftermarket out-front mount options now to secure your GPS to your bike, but Nano Worx says their unique Aero Mounts will save you Watts versus more conventional mounts. And they have wind tunnel test data to back up that claims. Nano Worx’s secret is that each mount is designed for a specific GPS computer, so it neatly clicks into place behind the aerodynamic nose of the Aero Mount smoothing airflow over and around your device.

Nano Worx 3D-printed GPS-specific Aero computer mounts

Each Nano Worx Aero Mounts is specifically designed to smooth airflow over your specific GPS cycling computer model, with an aerodynamic cowl optimzed for the exact shape of your GPS. And what’s then so unique with these 3D-printed computer mounts is the attachment design. First, you rotate your device into the mount to secure it. Then you slide the GPS forward in the mount to tuck it up closely to the aerodynamic cowl, where a small rare earth magnet holds it in place for maximized aerodynamics.

Nano Worx took their Garmin Aero Mount into the wind tunnel to see how it stood up next to a baseline strap mount on top of the handlebar, no mount at all, and the stock Garmin out-front mount. And the results show a ~1W reduction in wind averaged power at 45km/hr vs. the stock out-front mount, even some reduction vs. no cycling computer at all, and almost 3W savings compared to the baseline mount.

Tech details

• 3D-printed carbon-reinforced plastic construction
• rotate to lock your device into place, then slide forward for aero gains held in place by magnets
• direct-mount out-front style mounting only, including stainless mounting bolts
• compatible only with 1-piece handlebar+stem cockpits from: Canyon, Cervelo, Pinarello, Scott, Specialized & Trek
• compatible with most Garmin (130, 520/30/40, 820/30/40, 1030/40/50) Hammerhead (Karoo 2, 3) & Wahoo (Bolt, Roam V1/2) cycling computers
• optional GoPro-style camera/light mount available separately
• entirely US-made, in Southern California
• rated for road use only (not gravel or mountain biking)
• max 300g load (cycling computer + light or camera)
• weights from 32-52g, depending on computer style

Nano Worx Aero Mount – Pricing, options & availability

All of the cycling computer-specific Nano Worx Aero Mounts sell for the same $49.99 price tag, and are available now for global delivery.

Once you pick your brand of bike from their current list – Canyon, Cervelo, Pinarello, Scott, Specialized, & Trek with more in development – you then check the model of your 1-piece cockpit to confirm compatibility. Then, pick your specific model of Garmin, Hammerhead, or Wahoo GPS device.

Nano Worx will put together or 3D-print-to-order the specific Aero Mount for the best possible aerodynamics for your own GPS cycling computer, on your specific integrated road bike cockpit.

NanoWorx.shop

The post Nano Worx Says 3D-Printed, GPS-Specific Aero Computer Mounts Can Save You 2 Watts! appeared first on Bikerumor.

Off the bat, this is a review of something totally silly but fun, and it’s available for a limited time only, so if you want Sour bikes to make you a Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot, pre-order one by the end of next week or you’ll miss out.

OK, this slingshot is a toy. And it is one that can put an eye out, if not played with carefully and responsibly. But this really is fun to play with, and a nicely-crafted bit of silliness made with care and precision in Germany by the same framebuilders that craft Sour’s steel gravel, road & mountain bikes.

Sour’s first words about it are “Don’t Sue Us Please” and their parting words leave a further disclaimer:

“Please note: This is a toy. Please do not harm any animals. We love animals. And humans. And everything else on this planet.”

Sour Bicycles’ limited edition steel Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot

I think I first noticed these last winter, after the framebuilders of Sour Bicycles in Dresden, Germany decided to make themselves a slingshot to play with in their downtime. And then, everybody who saw it said they wanted one, too.

So, Sour decided to make a batch and see if anyone would actually pay for a handcrafted steel slingshot. And thus, the Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot was born. Of course, they sold out, and I thought that was it.

But now, in the lead-up to the holiday gifting season, Sour decided to resurrect the Sweet ‘n’ Sour Slingshot in all of its glory, including its built-in bottle opener – for responsible adult beverages while responsibly shooting at safe targets. So there’s a pre-order now for 2 weeks, and they’ll ship slingshots out to everyone who buys one now, in time to wrap it up and gift it to a lucky individual on your Christmas shopping list!

Review: Why a slingshot isn’t a bad idea

Yes, a 70€ hand-crafted slingshot made by professional bike frame-builders is undeniably a luxury item. And to be fair, at least a little bit dangerous.

But at the same time, this is one of the most affordable handmade products that you’ll get out of bike builder. And it is legitimately fun for the whole family.

Of course, you first need to figure out what you are shooting a Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot at before you go out and order one.

We have a couple of big old European Larch trees in our yard, so we have hundreds of their cones all over the lawn. And every time a strong wind blows, old dead branches with cones still attached fall and need to be picked up. We’ve literally got 2-3cm pinecones coming out of our ears, so the perfect ammo. Check.

We also have a couple of old metal barrels. So quickly breaking out some sidewalk chalk, and we’ve got a perfect target that produces a very satisfying gong sound the closer you get to the bull’s eye. Check, number two.

Fun for the whole family

So now my son, my daughter, and I get to spend some extra fun time together plinking pinecones at a metal barrel. And we can all work on refining our hand-eye coordination skills, with no video games or any screentime required. Plus, now the kids have a bit more incentive to help rake up the yard. Although that hasn’t seemed to help too much, yet.

But at least they are more willing to hunt around for little cones to shoot at the barrel or just a big pile of wood. We haven’t yet progressed to individual tin cans, but I think that will come soon enough when they start to get more competitive. Then, the real competition begins.

A side benefit… our young cat loves chasing after every errant pinecone as it bounces off of whatever we hit. So I guess she’s refining her hunting skills too, and won’t be turning into a fat lap cat anytime too soon.

Tech details

We know you come to Bikerumor for the deep technical details dive on everything we cover, right? So, here it is…

Sour’s limited edition Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot is a 2-piece construction, made from laser-cut steel, precision welded in the same Saxony workshop where Sour fabricates all of their made-in-Germany steel bikes. Then, they get a black powder coat, including individual multi-color splatter made by Sour’s founder Chris himself. “Please Note: Since the splatter paint job is a result mainly of luck, every slingshot will look a little bit different.“

The Sour slingshot features a 31mm diameter soft clear Frozen push-on mountain bike grip made by Freeze, also in Dresden, so you get to see more of Chris’ luck of the splatter. A tough set of tubular rubber hose bands secured with steel ball bearings hold the synthetic leather pouch to propel your ammo.

It measures 24cm long x 11cm wide (9.4×4.3″) and will weigh down your back pocket about 286g, ready for target practice and opening a brew or two when you are done.

Sour’s ltd. Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot – Pricing, pre-order & holiday delivery

Sour is taking pre-orders now until November 8th for the limited edition run of their Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot. Each slingshot pre-order will cost you 69.69€ now.

Then, they’ll head to production in one batch in the second half of November. And Sour will ship them “right in time before Christmas” so you can give the gift of joy and target practice to someone special this coming holiday season. Express Shipping adds 6€ more in Germany, 18€ throughout the EU, or 25€ pretty much anywhere else in the world.

Sour.bike

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Hunt’s latest carbon Proven mountain bike dynamo wheels are just the thing for taking your rides further than ever. Looking one feature at a time, there’s nothing altogether revolutionary in the Hunt Proven Carbon XC Dynamo wheels. Instead, they combine proven lightweight, high-performance, and durable tech to build the first-ever off-the-shelf carbon MTB dynamo wheelset to light up and power the longest ultra-distance rides and races.

Hunt Proven Carbon XC Dynamo ultra-distance MTB wheels

A 30mm internal hookless carbon 29er MTB rim, no-nonsense J-bend steel spokes, a proven SON 28 hub dynamo generator up front, a super fast 2° / 180 POE Boost rear hub, and complete weight under 2kg with unending power.

This is a wheelset that has already been ridden in various R&D iterations to at least 9 wins at 4 of the toughest ultra races in the world over the past three years. Two Tour Divides, three Silk Road and three Atlas Mountain Races, plus a Colorado Trail race too. And now, it’s a stock wheelset you can order straight from Hunt, and just plug into your own ultra-distance bike – whether you plan on racing or just bikepacking without ever worrying that the batteries for your lights & gadgets stay charged!

Off-road race-ready dynamo generator wheels

Hunt developed the Proven Carbon XC Dynamo wheelset to meet the needs of their own Beyond racers – light, tough, and endless power. Like Josh Ibbet who I first rode with 9 years ago when I was introduced to Hunt wheels, soon after he had won the 2015 Transcontinental. Well now Hunt’s Beyond brand manager, Josh shared his green Mason InSearchOf adventure bike for these close-up shots of the new wheels.

The heart of the Proven Dynamo wheels is of course the also-proven SON 28 front dynamo hub generator. It’s the benchmark dynamo for any modern disc brake wheel build. And it’s especially been developed for efficiency and high power output at slower MTB speeds. So you can count on plenty of light, even when you resort to hike-a-biking.

The wheels are hand-built by Hunt, starting out with their standard Proven Race XC MTB rims, but with additional 3k weave carbon reinforcement around the spoke holes for even more durability. Especially important for a carbon rim ridden hard with fully-loaded bike off-road, far from any hope of repair or replacement if there were an issue.

The carbon dynamo MTB wheels are then laced 3-cross with 28 conventional J-bend triple-butted spokes and brass nipples front & rear for durability and serviceability. And they feature Hunt’s new fastest Rapid Engagement rear hub. With a 90-tooth engagement ring and 6 2-toothed pawls offset in groups of three, you get positive engagement nearly instantly at just 2° (180 POEs).

Tech details

• 30mm internal hookless tubeless 29″ carbon rim, with extra spoke bed reinforcement
• 36mm wide external x 22mm deep
• tubeless-rim tape and valves included
• 28 triple-butted (2.0-1.6-2.0mm) Sandvik stainless steel J-bend spokes front & rear, then laced 3-cross
• 16mm 14-gauge brass spoke nipples
• 2.25-2.5″ suggested tire width (min 2.0″, max 2.8″)
• Boost thru-axle only – e.g. 15x110mm front & 12x148mm rear
• SON 28 6-bolt disc brake dynamo generator front hub with deep groove ball bearings (629-2RSH SKF), alloy dust shields, rubber lip seals & pressure compensation system that prolongs bearing life by reducing water being drawn into the hub system. 5-year warranty from SON
• 3W / 6V output at 18-19kph; 5V output at 16kph.
• CNC-machined 6066-T6 heat-treated aluminum Hunt rear hub with 6 two-tooth pawls in a 3×2 arrangement, HUNT  S_RapidEngage 90T freehub with 2° engagement angle, and precise stainless steel cartridge bearings with dual full contact seals
• H_Ceramik freehub treatment (HG-only) for improved durability/resistance to cassette wear
• spare spokes/nipples, and dynamo electrical connections included
• 1966g weight, claimed per pair of wheels

Hunt Proven Carbon XC Dynamo – Pricing & availability

The new Hunt Proven Carbon XC Dynamo ultra-distance mountain bike wheels are available globally now for £1489 / $1800 / 1850€ and then ship directly from Hunt warehouses in the UK, US & EU for quick delivery. You can pick from freehub bodies to fit almost any adventure mountain bike, i.e. Shimano HG, MicroSpline, or SRAM XD.

Are you ready to take your off-road adventures further?

HuntBikeWheels.com

The post Hunt Proven Carbon XC Dynamo Wheels are an Ultra-Distance Racer Dream of Infinite Power appeared first on Bikerumor.

It looks like the bike computer wars are heating up, and Wahoo has an Ace up its sleeve. Literally, since their new computer appears to be called the ELEMNT ACE. That news was first leaked on reddit when redditor ‘utzachaka’ posted the FCC report from the latest Wahoo computer.

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into an FCC report filing… it’s a lot. And it seems to only get more complicated as more features are crammed into these compact devices. The report seems to confirm that the device will be called the ELEMNT ACE, and it also gives us an idea of the size of its battery. Listed as a whopping 4350mAh, that’s more than double the 2000mAh of the Wahoo ROAM. Even compared to the Karoo 3 with a 3200mAh battery, the ACE seems like it will be packed with juice.

It will probably need that juice as it seems that the computer will make the leap to a touchscreen. That info comes courtesy of the post made by redditor ‘anotherwahooligan’ who posted pictures of what appears to be the ACE box. On the box, you can just make out the words for the features including color touchscreen, a 3.8″ (?) screen, dual-band GPS, 64GB memory, USB-C charging and more.

Under the sensor category, it’s hard to make out, but the first one looks like it might be ‘Wind’? Are we about to see a computer with its own aerodynamics coaching built in? We can’t wait to find out.

The post reddit Leak Hints New Wahoo Ace Computer w/ Touchscreen & Massive Battery appeared first on Bikerumor.