Sometimes, the things I find exciting aren’t the big technical developments, but the options that allow a rider to customize a bike so that it feels unique to them. Take Canyon’s new MyCanyon program. So far, it’s only available on their aero road model, the Aeroad, but if I was about to buy a carbon fiber road bike, I’d be looking at an aero option, so that seems a fit.
Choice at the point of ordering becomes all the more crucial when you start talking about internal routing of brake hoses and integrated bar/stem combos. Last weekend I did a fit on someone whose bike had an integrated bar/stem—by Canyon, no less—and after dialing his saddle position I realized that he needed a 1cm longer stem. The investment to make the switch was going to be significant: a new bar, a new stem and the labor to pull everything, reroute it all and then bleed the brakes. Ouch.
With MyCanyon, the program is more than cosmetic. Riders can choose the group, saddle, wheels and length of stem. I’m hoping that the program takes off, if only to save riders hundreds of dollars in parts substitutions.
Prevelo unveiled a new convertible kid’s bike that can go from balance bike to pedal bike with a minimal amount of fuss. The Zulu One (14-in. wheels) and Zulu Two (16-in. wheels) can be converted from pedals to balance and back again.
Removed the crank thanks to self-extracting bolts, then attach the foot pegs to the BB spindle and then remove the spacer in the seatstay in order to remove the chain. Parents need only two sizes of Allen wrenches (4 and 8mm) to make the switch.
Hollywood Racks
The Crosstrack is Hollywood Racks latest model of hitch rack, designed to compete with all the 1UP USA knock-offs. Once known for cheap trunk racks, Hollywood has dropped all of their old designs in favor of hitch racks, save their spare tire rack, which has few competitors.
I’ve not been a big fan of the 1UP USA racks because the levers can be kinda sticky, but with Hollywood’s Crosstrack, it seems that a light touch is all that will be necessary, even after it has lived outside for a year or two. And compared to many of the other versions of this design, Hollywood has made these very affordable, especially if you only need one for a single bike.
I’m just going to say it: I think Pearl Izumi is employing the best graphic designers making cycling clothing. I’ve not been one to wear baggy stuff when mountain biking (or gravel riding) but their newest pieces look so good and appear to be so breathable, their designs look as functional (read: no monkey butt) as they are fun. Count me in.
Spanish brand Mondraker is making a big push into the U.S. and it’s little wonder with models like the Crafty Carbon R. This eMTB features a Bosch Performance Line CX-G5 motor, an 800Wh battery, 29-in. wheels, 160mm of travel in the front and 150mm in the rear and a Shimano Deore XT group. With such a big battery, I suspect this eMTB will last longer than I will.
Imagine a couple of super-smart engineers got together to make the ultimate track bike. And let’s say they were successful enough with that bike that they were able to parlay that into a road bike as well. That’s what we have with the Stromm RAKTT. The RAKTT is mostly a triumph of engineering, but one of the principals, Dave “Super Dave” Koesel, is possibly the most talented (and hardworking) product manager I’ve ever met. He minimizes his role, but his ability to find composites factories doing top-notch work is second to none. His negotiation skills are similarly exemplary, which his how you get a factory that doesn’t do frames to build your frame.
The RAKTT is the fastest UCI legal road frame on the planet, and as you can see from the overhead photo, it has clearance for tires as wide as 34mm, yes, 34(!), plus it can be ordered in six sizes. It’s not cheap though, and no, they won’t sponsor your masters team.
There’s been a laughable amount of news lately about returning manufacturing to the U.S. Ibis is one of a tiny number of bike makers actually producing bike frames in the U.S. The Santa Cruz-made Exie is both lighter and more expensive than its Vietnamese counterpart and if you ask anyone if they will be moving the rest of the production of the Exie, not to mention their eight other models, to the U.S. they will either roll their eyes or laugh.
The thing is, the quality of the work in the Exie is as good as I’ve ever seen. It’s certainly something to aspire to.
Leave it to Thule to take someone else’s idea and improve upon it. Front wheel racks have been a thing for a while now, and while they hold zero appeal to me, that nudged toward the okay range for me with the introduction of the Thule ReVert, which comes in four and six bike versions. What makes the ReVert different from other offerings is the shock that tips the rack down gently for loading and then assists in tipping the rack back up once loaded.
I’m not yet sold, but I’m impressed, in part because carrying six bikes isn’t possible under most circumstances.
Until next year, Monterey, and hey, thanks for a minimum of dust and no rain.