Release: Mechanix Wear x 100% Glove
"100% has teamed up with Mechanix Wear, to release an exclusive collection, consisting of two popular work gloves, the Original and FastFit. Mechanix Wear, the leader in hand protection, and 100%, a premium sports protection brand, joined forces to collaborate on the most advanced gloves for working hands.
The collaboration combines the best garage gloves with the featured 100% extended logo and signature colors. A special print on the palm of the gloves is taken from the original 100% tagline, “How Much Effort Do You Give?” 100% continues to inspire a whole new generation of athletes asking this same question.
“We created 100% to make the most advanced performance eyewear, technical apparel and sports protection for the most demanding athletes on the earth,” said 100% co-founder and CEO Ludo Boinnard “We’re excited to partner with a like-minded brand that takes this same approach to building the most advanced gloves for working hands.”
“Mechanix Wear and 100% have a deep connection and storied past in the world of motocross,” said Michael Hale, CEO of Mechanix Wear. “Both brands are driven by passion and an unwavering commitment to protect riders and mechanics on and off the racetrack. Mechanix Wear is proud to collaborate with 100% by offering our proven glove technology and industry leading protection to one of motocross’s premier brands.”
The 100% and Mechanix Wear Collection consists of two styles; the Original and FastFit and each is available in five sizes.
FastFit
The next generation of FastFit work gloves are here. Take control with high-dexterity 0.6mm synthetic leather and stay connected with touchscreen technology in the palm of your hands. The FastFit delivers an unmatched fit with TrekDry evaporative cooling to keep your hands cool and comfortable.
The Original
Stop throwing away perfectly good gloves due to worn out fingertips. We covered the fingers of our Original glove with ultra-grip, High Abrasion Resistant (HAR) material. HAR provides 60% more coverage to high wear areas, greatly reducing fingertip and seam failure for longevity. Form-fitting stretch Spandex and a durable microfiber palm provide a second-skin fit with exceptional dexterity for jobs big and small."
News: Commencal's new Supreme WC Prototype
Commencal have an entirely new prototype Supreme for the 2021 world cup season with a new suspension platform. Keep reading to find out more...
"It's a prototype, a lab bike that means we can try many new concepts under the most testing and extreme conditions.
In order to work with a minimum of unknowns, we use a lot of tubes from our current bikes and this allows us to ensure perfect management of stiffness as well as limiting the risks in terms of resistance. This SUPREME features a brand new kinematic with a Virtual High Pivot. Through this system, we're always looking for more performance and liveliness, without compromising the capacity of our now renowned High Pivot Point.
There is no commercialisation on the cards yet, however it’s sure that this is the dawn of a new era for the future of COMMENCAL DH.
You will be able to enjoy Amaury, Myriam, Thibault and Angel behind the handlebars for the whole season!"
Release: Updated Santa Cruz Bronson
Santa Cruz have updated the Bronson for the 2022 new bike season, with the biggest change being a move to mullet-spec. Read on for more...
"When we dropped the Bronson on the world in 2013 we caught many people with their pants around their ankles. 27.5-inch wheels were the new kid on the block and people weren’t ready for a disruptive little middle child to muscle it’s way into the household. The Bronson was among the first of its kind to adopt the in-betweener wheel size and the timing was just right to make it infamous.
Eight years later, the fourth generation Bronson comes in swinging with mixed wheels. It’s something that our other naughty kids, the Syndicate, have been playing with for a while on the V10s and Bullit eBikes. The big wheel up front gives the Bronson more traction (bigger contact patch and more rollover) which results in more confidence for the rider, while the BB to axle drop of the smaller, 27.5 rear wheel makes it easier to drop a shoulder into a late turn or lift the front wheel up and over obstacles.
Our demo crew have a saying, ‘If in doubt, take a Bronson out.’ It’s not that it’s the most versatile or anything cliché like that, it just has always had the biggest personality of any bike we build. Now the mid-travel and MX wheels mean it’s up for anything and urges a wider array of riders to get into more trouble. The good kind of trouble. With 150mm of travel and a leverage curve similar to the Hightower, it has enough to go deep on any landing and the VPP™ suspension design makes sure that there’s no wasted energy when heading back up for another go. Proportional chainstays set the Bronson up for a wide range of rider sizes (we offer five sizes from XS to XL), while protective armour (downtube and shuttle pad), internal cables, and a bottle cage inside the front triangle mean that this wild child does have table manners.
A bike like the Bronson is meant to play rough-and-tumble, and as a result should also be ready to rumble. We build our bikes to last while most brands aim to just pass basic testing. But if a rider was really going to put their bike to the test in the real world over and over again it means building something beyond the standards. While the Bronson might not win any awards for ‘lightest on test’ it will be the bike that’s stiff enough for real mountain biking on today’s trails and is a bike that will outlast the rest. That’s why we proudly wave the flag of our lifetime warranty and have done so long before it became a box for a marketer to check. For the life of the bike we provide legendary rider support, which means all the human help and tech details are right at a rider’s fingertips. Fun fact: we also offer lifetime bearing replacement (if you’re too forgetful to take 15 minutes to service them)."
Release: Updated Juliana Roubion
Juliana have released the latest iteration of the Roubion, with the biggest change being the move to a mullet-configuration. Read more below...
"A 1:25000 scale map, a weather forecast and the Roubion. Three things you shouldn’t hit the high mountains without. And while we can’t guarantee you won’t get lost or soaked, we’re pretty sure there’s no better bike to tackle ancient alpine terrain.
The 150mm of VPP® lower link rear wheel travel and full carbon frame are built for a lifetime of tough climbs and tougher descents. Matched with a 160mm fork and Reserve carbon wheels, the whole package is ready to tackle an Enduro World Series at the drop of a beret. And whether blind racing or just blindly enjoying the trails as they come, the Roubion’s MX wheel combo feels like the best mix since Aperol met spritz. A 29-inch front wheel serves up high-speed stability and high-rolling confidence. Meanwhile the 27.5-inch rear makes for an intuitive and highly maneuverable rear end that loves to get sideways around the most ragged of switchbacks.
This bike is rapid, so when it comes to stopping power and control we’ve mixed things up here also. A 200mm front and 180mm rear brake rotor pairing ensures you shouldn’t overcook the corners no matter how hot you’re coming in. The Roubion’s chainstay lengths are all specifically sized for the XS, S and M frames too, meaning handling remains consistent across the range. And like all Juliana’s, each shock is tuned to work better for slightly lighter riders than equivalent Santa Cruz models. With free replacement bearings and lifetime frame guarantee as standard, the Roubion remains our #1 choice for rallying the world."
Review: 100% R-Core X Pant
Riding pants have come a long way since I was a kid. I remember the first set was a grey set of Fox 180 Moto pants I got for Christmas. I thought they were the coolest things ever. I would ride everywhere in them. They were thick, heavy and probably would still be around with the cockroach if the world went up in flames in a nuclear war.
Fast forward to 2021., I may not still own them Fox pants but I still think riding pants are the coolest thing out. Lucky riding pants have come a long way since I was young. We now have a vast range of them out there designed around mountain biking specifically.
I was lucky enough to be given a set of 100 percent R-Core X pants to test. 100 percent has a rich motocross history dating back to the 1980s but more recently has moved into the mountain bike scene. This history and knowledge show in their products: well-designed features, fit, ventilation and materials.
The R-Core X pants are aimed at the trail enduroish market., They are packed with clever features. The first thing you notice when you put the pants on is just how much airflow they have. There were many times I put them on and thought there I must have put a rip in the crotch purely from the breeze passing through them. Fit wise, they sit in the middle of the range - not too tight and not too baggy, enough room to move and also fit kneepads on underneath. A mixture of four-way stretch spandex and DWR coated polyester provide stretch and strength where you need them most. Silicon gripper pads on the back of the waist help keep the pants up while you do up the fantastic boa on the front. Why don’t more people do this? It makes a lot more sense than buttons or straps. The boa allows for micro-adjustment on the tightness and I personally love the way it looks. Rounding out these pants are two well-placed zip pockets on the front - big enough to get a phone and a small tool in one pocket.
I've spent about a month and a half putting these pants through their paces, from punishing wet rides in the rain to six-hour rides into the bush for overnight missions and quick laps around my local spots. They tend to be the go-to set I grab when I'm heading out riding due to their lightweight feel and overall comfort. All the ventilation helps you not overheat, the fabric stays pretty dry on the wet rides.
What I have noticed on days where it is a bit warmer is that the material used isn't the most breathable. I’d often pull my phone out of my pocket mid-ride and it would be covered in sweat. Not an ideal thing for an electronic device but pop your phone in a sandwich bag before you go riding and you’ll be sweet. Would this put me off buying these pants? Absolutely not. As much as the material might not be the most breathable, the vents keep you cool on warm days. The fit and comfort are fantastic. You almost forget you are wearing them. Fantastic features such as the boa, silicon grippers and vents add up to a great versatile set of durable riding pants that work all year round and won’t let you down.
Distributor: FE Sports
Words: Jake Hood
Images: Caleb Smith
Story: Lens of a Local
Spend 48hrs in Rotorua riding with a local and you’ll return home yearning for more. It’s not just the place but the people who make this iconic mountain bike town shine. To round the year out (and what a bloody weird year) Gary (Gaz) Sullivan invited us to come and ride his local trails aboard the new Canyon Spectral 29.
The early summer weather was in full swing and long days meant for long rides. To start the 48hrs we’d heard about the amazing sunsrise at the bench overlooking Mount Tarawera. It’s best to start with a bang so we rose early to be up there before the sun. Before the sun – the pre-dawn when you feel most connected to Papatūānuku. The faint light before dawn was soon overshadowed by the sun’s rays peeking over Mount Tarawera. Once the sun was up, part two of our adventure began.
Canyon Spectral 29 Tech
Firstly, as Canyon is a consumer-direct brand it’s worth noting that the box arriving is the first thing you actually touch and feel from the brand. They ensure it’s a good experience the box that the bike comes in is super organised and uses minimal excess bubble wrap and plastic.
The Canyon Spectral CF 29 is a new trail bike from the direct-to-consumer company. The rig comes with 150 mm travel at the rear and, depending on the model, 150mm or 160mm upfront. So, you might have guessed by the name, but yea, it rolls 29 wheels. Initially only available as a carbon version (CF). Canyon’s masterplan with the Spectral 29 was to mix the agility of the 27.5” existing model with additional stability. The Spectral 29 bears little resemblance to its 27.5” counterpart. This is ground up and the geometry and suspension have had fundamental revisions. And even though there’s longer geometry the company claim it’s lighter than the Spectral 27.5”. But it’s stiffer too thanks to the huge chainstays (with tough protector) and reduced kink in the downtube. However, with the thick chainstays, it does limit the Spectral 29 to 30-34 chainrings. Canyon’s own G5 cockpit is top notch and up for abuse too. What’s more, is that Canyon has made improvements with the durability of the pivot bearings.
Canyon’s paid real attention to making the Spectral 29 durable and easy to service. Cables and hoses are routed through tube-in-tube guides and feed out where they’re meant to. There’s a threaded BSA bottom bracket. I particularly liked that you can get replaceable inserts to ensure the frames not destroyed by pesky cross-threaded bolts. Lastly, all the suspension pivots are removed from the non-drive side. Bloody brilliant idea!
Let’s turn to the suspension. Canyon has refined their “Triple Phase Suspension” concept. Anti-squat at sag has been increased, but it also drops off more quickly as the suspension compresses to reduce pedal kickback. The support and progression of the suspension have also been increased. Not only should it help the bike climb more efficiently but also offer more traction, pop and control for the descents.
Onto the geometry, the Spectral CF 29 is longer, and significantly so! The reach-in size L is a generous 485 mm and at the same time, the 64° head angle is noticeably slacker while the 76° seat tube angle (160 mm model in low setting) is 2° steeper. On the 150 mm fork Spectral 29 in the high setting, that goes up to 77°. Chainstays are 437 mm long across all sizes. A flip-chip on the shock mount allows the geometry to be adjusted by 0.5° to suit your preference. Canyon states that this is offered primarily for those riders looking for a higher bottom bracket on the climbs. I did notice a few bottom outs with pedal strokes so would have raised if we’d had a little more time with the bikes.
The bottom bracket drop is 36 mm in the low setting. Uber modern! But there’s a long seat tube. In size L, which is what I rode, this is 460 mm long. Which means you’ll need to choose the bike around the seat tube length rather than reach. It makes it easier to choose frame sizes for most riders according to Canyon.
Lastly, Canyon offers the Spectral CF 29 in two versions with two spec options for each. You can choose to go with either Spectral CF 7 or 9 which comes with 150 mm travel up front, SRAM groupset, RockShox suspension and DT Swiss wheels. Or you can opt for a Spectral CF 8 with a 160 mm fork, Shimano XT, FOX suspension and a Minion DHF and DHRII pairing laced on DT Swiss XM1700 - which is what we had for testing. It’s a lot of bang for buck coming in at $6,949. The 7 and 9 ranging from $5,699 to $8,649. There’s also the Spectral LTD which runs FOX and XTR for $10,399.
Back to the trails! It’s on the second day when Gaz wanted to showcase one of his iconic loops throughout the lush forest. This is where having local intel or someone that’s been to the area often helps. I always get a little excited about a ride like this as it’s a showcase of the local’s best stuff. You know they’ve ridden the trails thousands of times so you know what they’ll send you down will be the goods. Before we set off for the day, we headed for breakfast at Zippy Central Café. A plate of eggs and a strong black coffee had me sussed for the ride ahead. I’ll let Gaz fill in the details of the trails we did and how he stitched them all together.
“Taking a visitor for a lap of the forest is one of my favourite things to do. Somehow it refreshes my view of a place I have been riding since before there were trails. I know Liam is similar to me in that he likes a decent ride. Even on my own, I am inclined to make most rides a loop - just feels more like I have been somewhere, rather than lapping out a hill.
On this day we went up towards the top of the Tokorangi hill, via the new Forest Loop climb, but before we got where we were headed, we had a mechanical. This wasn’t with our Canyon’s it was with our photographer, Cameron Mackenzie’s bike. We returned to the start via the spectacularly rejuvenated Challenge Middle and dropped in on Ed and Lenore at Planet Bike - not only great coffee in a mid-forest location, but Ed is also a great mechanic. Sorted.
We then headed up through the remains of Chinese Menu, climbed Direct Road and Frontal Lobotomy, and then the top of Tawa Road to get to the native forest which is the roof of Whakarewarewa. My place for mental repairs and the natural trail is Tuhoto Ariki, so we did that.
After Tuhoto we turned left and climbed to Te Ahi Manawa. Another natural line, hand scratched out of the dirt and not so manicured as some others, Te Ahi dropped us on to Tikitapu Road.
We took a left again and rolled along there to Tangaroamihi, which is Grade 2 but fun. The main reason for that was so we could inhale some carrot Cake and coffee from the Airstream Cafe at Blue Lake reserve.
We then rode Feeder up to the new carpark at Te Putake o Tawa, to my amazement there was a little coffee and snacks wagon there! Note to self: give them a go.
The excellent Grade 2 Te Pou Koropu Loop trail got us to Apumoana, then we descended Hot Cross and Dragons Tail back to civilisation.”
The day was set out to be epic and it bloody delivered. What’s more, is the bike’s capability to traverse and encounter all of these trails with finesse. The pedal ability of the Spectral 29 was evident as Gaz took me on several uphill trails and fire roads. Whilst pedalling, it’s super-efficient and marches willingly forward with the rear end remaining supportive even on steep climbs. In fact, the rear shock was hardly switched, left wide open it tackled the exposed roots on the ups superbly.
That finesse I mentioned earlier is something that the bike’s given me. Tuhoto Ariki is up there for my riding ability but the bike made me feel comfortable and confident. So much so I could get across, down and around nearly all of the features on the trail. That’s something that I haven’t managed before. As the ride went on my confidence kept growing – down to the bike’s impeccable ability to handle what was handed to it.
The Spectral 29 feels planted, it’s roomy and perches you centrally. The high front end combined with the low bottom bracket integrates the rider well, creating a sense of security. Hence my ability to ride some of the steep terrains. It never made me feel overwhelmed. As we ducked and weaved in and out of the native ferns, shaded in points but the dappled light made it hard to see some the trails. Both of us hadn’t ridden the bike much beforehand but as the day’s ride ticked past three hours, we were both comfortable – that’s impressive. Gaz kept unlocking Whakarewarewa trail gems and I grew fonder of the Spectral 29.
As we pedalled our way back, we both started to feel somewhat toasty from the day’s effort. The Spectral 29 changed direction quickly, accurately and precisely and without much effort. The suspension is sensitive without being too soft. The bike generates a ton of grip but also feedback and lets you know what’s happening on the trail beneath you. The Spectral 29 is damn fun and we were both grinning ear to ear throughout the ride. On completion, we were both toast but stoked from the day’s antics. The bikes performed really well, we had a ton of fun on them and it finished with a beer in the back of Gaz’s van. What more could you ask for?!
As the pink dusk sky shrouded Whakarewarewa we headed to the Secret Spot, which is in Waipa carpark. The Rotorua Mountain Bike Club was holding a gathering. Gaz, the local in this equation knew almost everyone there. I got to see how it was to be a local within this community of enthusiastic bike riders. It’s a real bike town and you can see the absolute passion for the sport when you’re in their company. Before the day was done, we ventured to a local Mexican joint, El Mexicano Zapata. The place was authentic and the tacos were tasty. We washed them down with Mexican beer before chowing down some churros for dessert.
We both came away bloody impressed with how the Spectral 29 performs. It ticks all the boxes for a do-it-all bike – offering a ton of fun across any kind of trail. It’s versatile and capable across a wide variety of terrain, bike parks to flow trails. It’s the one bike you’ll own that really does do it all. I for one was a little unhappy about boxing it back up and returning it.
I reflected on the last 48hrs on my journey back to the big smoke. Rotorua’s a town has ample trails blended with culture and great folk that are truly passionate about their region. It’s remarkable what they’ve built there. But I suppose that’s a reflection on the sport as well as the development of trails. It feels like a real bike town and it’s great to be immersed in that culture. I felt this is what I missed most when returning home. Having the opportunity to see the region through a local’s perspective is a real treat. And, although it’s not always possible I’d recommend connecting with a local in any region you visit. They simply just give you great insights and access to their wealth of knowledge. It’s just like having the keys to the city, or rather trails.
Head to Canyon for more
Words: Liam Friary
Images: Cameron Mackenzie
Release: Santa Cruz Blur & all-new Juliana Wilder
Santa Cruz have updated the Blur ahead of the 2022 season, and Juliana have release an all-new bike, the Wilder, to fill the 'down-country' spot in their range. Read on for more!
Santa Cruz Blur
"Each weekend, at race venues the world over, there is one rider who gets hoisted upon the shoulders of the crowd and carried to the podium. Or at least leaves with a water bottle as their prize. And between each of those races, innumerable wannabes are putting in the hours on the rollers and in the gym all because they want to feel what it’s like to take the win. They know that to beat the pack every advantage needs to be acquired. That’s where the Blur fits in.
We tapped into everything we’ve learned from years of making the highest quality carbon full-suspension bikes so that we could put as little (weight) as possible into the Blur frame. The trim frame and super-efficient Superlight™ suspension will be the key to translating your input into competition beating performances.
But the Blur isn't just for the short track. Two water bottle mounts within the front triangle should keep chuggers happy. And the high quality fit, finish and carbon construction promises multi-day racers a worry free existence—meaning there's no fiddly proprietary parts that could leave you stranded in a Cape Epic or Breck Epic campsite. The carbon frame, while being light, is made to go the distance and as always the legendary Santa Cruz lifetime warranty and Rider Support team has got your back.
The Blur isn’t guaranteed to make you a race winner but being the lightest, full-suspension carbon XC bike we’ve ever made (Approx 23lb as complete. Blur frame is 289g lighter than the previous model) it might be the difference between claiming first place...or just crossing the line."
Juliana Wilder
"Saving weight means little without retaining an appropriate level of stiffness and responsiveness too. So we’ve taken all the acceleration and out-of-the-saddle sprint qualities of a carbon XC race rocket and fused them with a rear-end that still rails corners like a hardcore trail bike.
This unique XC-trail attitude is also reflected in the geometry. The head tube angle (67.1 degree) and reach (425mm) is a little steeper and shorter than a Joplin to meet the demands of aggressive climbing, yet the Wilder’s seat tube angle is a touch slacker and the chainstays a little longer than a Joplin too in order to retain that familiar Juliana confidence on descents. And talking of chainstays, each chainstay length is specific to the individual frame size; meaning riders of every height enjoy the same handling and performance no matter what.
Beyond the details, there are some bigger features that amplify this XC wild child’s abilities. Rapid rolling 29-inch wheels are paired with a 120mm fork to tame the feral lines and smooth the sketchiest of passing manoeuvres. There’s even room for two water bottles within the front triangle for bigger training and racing days."
Review: Hunt Wheels
On the Hunt for stock wheel upgrades.
Apologies for the dad joke…. Usually the guide of ‘cheap/fast/good - pick two’ holds true. In the context of that saying, fast means speed of delivery, but in our mountain-biking world we take it to mean fast rolling. No-one seems to have told Hunt Wheels that their budget-minded offerings should make any sacrifice in order to hit price-points though. There’s no denying Hunt’s pricing structure is at the lower end of the range for aftermarket mountain bike wheelsets, but this is not a bad thing when the trade-offs with quality and performance are minimal - perhaps even non-existent.
This review is a little different in that we’re covering two styles of wheelsets - not in a direct head-to-head conflict style, but with the view that both products provide a budget-conscious offering for riders upgrading their stock wheels. The wheelsets in question are the alloy Hunt XC Wide, and the Hunt All Mountain Carbon. Although the XC wheelset is legitimately an option for riders who are all about the climbs (lightweight and relatively narrow by current standards) they’re an equally valid consideration for all-round trail riders who simply want to ride up, down, around and over all sorts of terrain, without a focus on pure climbing performance.
At face value, one wheelset is XC labeled – alloy and lightweight – while the other is trail oriented – carbon with a performance carbon design. What makes these worth speaking about together, really comes down to pricing. For a rider looking to upgrade their stock OEM wheelset of no-name, or house-brand rims and hubs, both these options are feasible considerations. Keep in mind, the XC Wide is only available in 29, while the carbon All Mountain is offered in both 29 and 27.5 guises.
Alloy - modest, but capable of embarrassing much fancier, more expensive offerings. First up, the alloy XC Race Wide wheelset. At $700 including shipping, these are available at a sharp price, largely due to Hunt’s online, direct-to-consumer model, which is increasingly common these days. When ordering online, you choose a SRAM XC, Shimano or Microspline driver. Your wheels arrive with tubeless rim tape and valves installed, along with the driver you specified. You’ll also get four spare spokes, of the correct length, for each wheel/side and a spoke key with inset tool specific to the wheelset. You’ll also receive a couple of stickers for your toolbox, your kid’s lunchbox or the neighbour’s letterbox.
The XC Race Wides utilise 28h front and rear with straight pull spokes. Those spokes benefit by being weight saving, but the downside is that they’re a little tougher to true. Alloy nipples offer a weight saving over brass, but are not my personal favourite as they can eventually round off with repeated truing. These are hard-anodised though, so long-term truing shouldn’t involve too much swearing… hopefully. Their weight, with rim tape and driver mounted (but no valve or discs), is 820g for the rear and 780g for the front - giving a flat 1500g total for the 29er wheelset. That is only 17g off their claimed weight and remarkably lighter than competitors in the same price bracket. If the rider’s goal was to achieve a lighter wheelset than that, it would invariably mean going carbon, at quadruple the price - or more. These are on par with the lightest alloy wheelsets available. In-the-field testing show the wheels hold up reliably on a go-everywhere trail bike, but there are limitations to the nature of narrow, stiff alloy rims.
It is worth noting that the XC Wides use 6069-T6 heat-treated alloy, rather than 6061-T6 some competitors use. 6069 essentially claims to offer significantly greater tensile strength at 60+%. This results in Hunt using less material - and therefore less weight for comparable strength. With regard to rim width, a 2.3 trail tyre, inflated to the same pressure, is 68mm wide on the XC Wide’s 24mm I.D. rim, compared to the same tyres’ 70mm inflated width on a 28mm I.D. rim. There is a difference and it is noticeable, but it’s not night and day. Hunt recommend 2.1 to 2.35 tyres. I ran 2.0s and 2.4s because I like to push the boundaries of what I’m told to do. Somewhat predictably, I ended up running 2.3s which felt the most natural, given the rim’s width. Strike one for the rebel spirit. The mounting of all tubeless was painless, with a modest home garage floor-pump set up.
Hunt’s six pawl rear hub, with 72 engagement points, sounds appropriately refined when freewheeling.
In practice, the alloy XC Wides are fantastic - and average, and sub-par! Any review of a product is influenced by the point of reference - what the product is being compared with and measured against, as well as the rider’s intent on how it should be used. If pitching the XC Wides against competitors of far higher cost, of course they’re not quite going to measure up in performance. Likewise, measuring them against any quality carbon wheelset - as we’re about to do here with their trail carbon brethren - is an unbalanced comparison. But, compare them to stock wheels - that come equipped on otherwise capable trail bikes - and we’re talking real improvements, both in terms of weight, long-lasting quality and riding performance. It’s for this reason we’re showcasing the XC Wides as a valid trail bike option, not just a niche XC-racing only product.
It’s not all roses though. The nature of narrow-ish alloy wheels is relatively abrupt tyre profiles (comparing the same sized tyres on wider rims) leading to sudden release of traction when cornering aggressively, and harsher lateral ‘feel’ on choppy terrain. Those couple of millimetres that the Vernier calipers show in inflated tyre width, are negligible on paper but noticeable in use. The feel is difficult, if not impossible, to quantify - apart from relying on anecdotal feedback about how it feels compared to other wheelset options, on sections of trail I know like the back of my hand. They’re just a bit harsh, pinging off deflections of trail surface. It’s an incredibly fine line, but an observable one if you’ve experienced other options. This serves to segue into our feedback on the Hunt Carbon All Mountain wheelset.
Carbon - done right. This is maximum performance without extravagant brand packaging. The price of these is double that of Hunt’s alloy XC Wides. The performance, however, is not double, but is considerable. It’s a prime example of the benefit of diminishing returns. Improvements are evident, but not by the multiples of dollar value. For those who don’t demand the most performance - and its corresponding price-tag - or who value light weight with an emphasis on the benefits it offers, the XC Wides should be high on their list of considerations.
Back to the Carbons… for those with higher expectations of their wheels, and the budget to suit, the All Mountain Carbons have a lot to offer. Overall, the Hunt Carbons have the following characteristics (they’re pitched as ‘features’, but some of them are only features if they are important to you). POE (Points of Engagement) of the freewheel are a case in point. On one hand, the three-degree POE means you have minimal delay in the feeling of getting on the gas. Also, they make a high-tech buzzy sound without being ridiculously loud, like the swarm-of-wasps some of their premium brand competitors seem to be aiming for with their acoustics. It’s nice to have the instant-on kind of pickup, but not really a game changer for a general trail rider. If you’re riding very technical pedalling sections that benefit from trail-like pedalling responsiveness, then sure, it’s a feature. But that’s about 0.1% of the trail riders I’ve ever encountered. Like their alloy stablemates, tubeless tyres mount up easily with a reasonably tight fit in the Carbon rim’s channels. I’d far rather put in a little more effort getting the bead over the rim initially, with subsequently fast and easy inflation/mounting, than having tyres mount up easily then need finessing to fit correctly.
At around $1600 including shipping, they are way sharper priced than their big-name brand competitors. That is not at the expense of performance - I can categorically say their performance is high. My initial rides were as I always approach review items: completely cold, meaning I hadn’t sought out online reviews or any other feedback from my riding buddies or industry friends. Instead, I rode them purely with a blank slate, on trails I know well, to form impressions of their characteristics. I’m no Rainman, but I can tell a good product from a not-so-good one pretty quickly. Part of not being a Rainman, is being analytical enough to hopefully string together some coherent sentences to convey that intangible ‘feel’ – the way a product affects a ride experience.
Before the subjective ride impression, there were a few factors to consider: conventional ‘J’ spokes in a 32 spoke rear and 28 spoke front format are a little more user-friendly than straight-pulls for truing, in the long term. This isn’t a factor in the early years of a wheelset’s life, but for good quality wheels that stick around to see the comings and goings of multiple frames through a rider’s garage, simple details like this eventually become apparent. The weight of our review Carbons, with rim tape and driver in place but no valves or discs, comes in at 1120g for the rear and 820g for the front (1940g total) against the claimed 1878g. The weight of the rear reflects the heavier rear hub and more spokes, of course, but also the heavier rim layup - built for longevity. The weight of the front rim is not the primary thing of interest - that would be the way the front rim handles. Before covering the front though, the back is worth speaking about a little more. Well, kind of – it’s a bit boring. It’s simply rock solid. Our testing took it from varieties of rock-layered South Island trails to high speed, native bush single-tracks in the Central North Island - with their resident sniper roots ready to surprise any unsuspecting rider with a gut-wrenching thump at high speed, when least expected.
Apart from the 28 spoke front and 32 spoke front format, there is a great deal more going on with the rims. Hunt’s focus on purposeful front and rear specific wheel characteristics, is largely down to their rims. With both rims using carbon laid up specifically for their purpose, the rear is essentially stronger and stiffer. It doesn’t have any particular ‘feel’ when riding, apart from being solid when loading up the rear end on high-speed corner exits. It also offers a great deal of confidence with its ability to suck up the occasional case of coming up short on a double jump - or unexpected slam through a rock garden with a muted ‘thunk’ - rather than the dinner-bell ringing ‘gong’ that alloy rims offer.
The front is where the magic happens, though. Like a few of its prestigious high-dollar competitors, the Hunt’s front rim is lighter, with a lower material density lay-up. It sounds like a real estate agent wrote the marketing copy when brands start talking about improved compliance and better grip due to a rim/wheel. Obviously the tyre has a massive influence on those features, but I couldn’t honestly say I felt any particular difference in front wheel/rim flex, or compliance, when riding these wheels. What I can say, is the front end feels more forgiving. Not necessarily a marked difference in the feeling of grip, but definitely the feeling of having a fraction more control over where the front end is pointing and tracking. It’s especially noticeable at the edges of rider ability - the feeling of being able to point-and-shoot, almost like time slowing slightly so that you’re in complete control of where you’re aiming, even while you’re riding at the razor edge of your ability. That’s the primary reason why these wheels punch well above their weight, given the price-point they’re offered at. Sure, the POE and quality hubs are great, and the lifetime crash replacement for the first owner is awesome, but it’s that front rim with the corresponding wheel-building format, with spokes/lacing specific to front and rear, that lifts them to another level. As said before; the difference is not night and day, but is noticeable nonetheless, especially when pushing the boundaries.
As a final detail, they’re available with oil slick spoke colours at a premium price. Pretty, but with no performance impact. If this kind of thing floats your boat - choice, go for it. There is nothing wrong with paying a little more to make your bike look how you want it to.
Overall
If your focus is grounded on bang-for-your-buck and how wheels can change your bike for the better, either set of Hunts are a solid contender for anyone upgrading from stock wheels. Depending on the value of your bike, and your intentions, either could be a smart way to spend money on improving the quality and durability of your bike’s performance. Of course, the carbons are better - get them if you can afford them, and your riding will take advantage of them - but don’t discount the XC Race Wides. For the money, they’re a viable upgrade for many riders. Hunt have managed to hit the fabled three - which shouldn’t be possible - with ‘cheap, fast and good’ being an apt description for these offerings.
Distributor: Hunt Wheels
Words and Images: Nick Lambert
Review: 100% Airmatic Pants
100% has always been a brand heavily correlated to American motocross racing, producing top of the line apparel, products and racing equipment for riders on the track. Over the past few years, 100% have expanded their range to incorporate products for everyday mountain bikers, like myself. The new Airmatic pant is a welcome addition to their ever-expanding array of mountain biking product. This pant has you covered through any conditions the trail wants to throw at you. 100% have combined the fitment of their popular R-Core-X pant with the 4-way stretch material and the reliable, mountaineering buckle system featured on the Airmatic Short. This new Airmatic pant promises to deliver warmth, flexibility, ventilation and most importantly comfort.
Personally, I’ve found it challenging to find the perfect pair of riding shorts that are comfortable and also flattering. I’d never considered riding pants to be an option, as I have always opted for the classic short and knee pad combo. However, the 100% Airmatic pants have been a total game-changer. With a tapered leg cut, a hassle-free adjustable belt latch and two zippered pockets on each side, the pants are my new go-to for trail riding. Both side pockets were large enough to fit my phone, with an inner mesh pocket to hold your phone in place when riding, barely noticing the phone when pedalling. Bonus!
Made of four-way stretch material, the pants are lightweight, pliant and have proven to be incredibly comfortable and pedal-friendly. At first ride, I was sceptical of how lightweight the pants were and whether they would be prone to ripping, however, they proved to be super durable having survived a couple of crash tests without tearing, proving the fabric to be tough and reliable.
The Airmatic pants play well with knee pads, fitting under the pants comfortably, whilst still offering the right amount of stretch without feeling restricted in your movements. However, I found that there wasn’t an awful amount of stretch or adjustment in the waistband, as the pants don’t have adjustable velcro on the sides as most riding shorts and pants have. This just means that you must buy the pants true to size.
Overall, the 100% Airmatic pants are functional and fitting. The tapered cut of the pants keeps cuffs out of drivetrains whilst earning major points in the style department. They up my swagger game when I’m rocking them, well at least that’s what I think?! And, I’ve found them to be a comfortable and fly-looking pair of pants off the bike too whilst doing repairs on my bike or grabbing a craft beer at the local bar. The Airmatic pants are definitely good all-rounder pants, rain or shine and have so far, kept the chill off the autumn Wellington wind.
Distributor: FE Sports
Words: Khulan Tumen
Images: Caleb Smith
Story: Ride Welly - Part Two
Powered by 100%
Read Ride Welly - Part One here.
There’s a chill in the air as we enter into the darker months. Rain has been pelting the roof throughout the night, periodically waking me from my slumber. The wind, the seemingly ever-present wind, is pushing the rain in sideways against the windows. It doesn’t look like easing. Let’s go ride!
Wellington has a reputation for the kind of weather patterns outlined above, yet in the fourteen years I’ve lived here, I’ve decided that the reputation is not entirely true. Sure, there is a reason that New Zealand’s capital city is known as “Windy Welly”, but on the whole, the good days seem to outnumber the bad, at least to me. And a bit of wind and moisture never hurt anyone.
Described by the Lonely Planet travel guide as “the coolest little capital in the world”, Wellington can back up the claim with a vibrant café culture, a healthy live music and arts scene, world-class eateries, a compact central business district and some of the best riding in the country (which, by default, makes it some of the best in the world). The lay of the land makes trails accessible within minutes of the heart of the city in several directions, and there’s no real need to take the car to get to the dirt.
Mount Victoria
Mount Vic is a true blessing for Wellington. From the very heart of the city, if you look up you can see it sitting there, just begging you to come up and enjoy her goodness. The trails there are so good that a round of the XC World Cup was held there in 1997, and National series races are still held there to this day. There are nice and wide and accessible walking/riding tracks that suit all levels, but it’s when you start looking off the sides of the steep slopes that you discover the real gems. Riding these is best done with a local to guide you and warn of the impending drops, chutes and technical challenges that abound on trails like A, V, Damian’s and Boobies. There are, of course, stunning 360º views from the lookout at the top of the hill, which is also the start of the Super D track and the best place to commence each run down the various combinations. It’s easy to put together a half dozen different runs in a couple of hours, and then roll straight into the CBD to re-fuel at any of the myriad craft beer bars or pubs. It’s a lunchtime favourite too, as you can be out of your office and bombing world-class singletrack and back at the desk in the time it takes your colleagues to eat their sandwiches and read the paper. We are blessed by Mt Vic. Praise be.
Stay tuned for and in-depth article coming out in our forthcoming issue.
Words: Brett Kennedy
Images: Caleb Smith