Fresh Goods Friday 654

Dec 07, 2023

Benji is out on a hill with bikes. So is Amanda. Charlie is on holiday. This video was already in here, so it means something to someone but I (Hannah) have no idea what. But I am partial to a spot of Leonard Cohen. If I close my eyes, I can smell the carpet on the floor of my living room…it's a sort of mix of dust and plasticine. I was 5 years old when Various Positions came out, and I can remember lying on the floor as it played. Probably because we didn't actually have a sofa when I was a kid. The floor had a sort of hairy flames orange and yellow carpet on it that came with the house, and a prickly mat over the top (that I always knew as the Boxing Mat, which I assumed was because it was an old boxing training ring, except now the internet is drawing a blank) because… I’m not sure how a prickly mat adds comfort to your life but I think that was the logic. And Various Positions is probably fairly inappropriate for a 5 year old. But anyway. Here's some Leonard Cohen that doesn't make me think of prickly carpets.

And now here is a whole pile of new fresh stuff. Yum.

We had the pleasure of entertaining Mr Silverfish (Yeti's UK distributor) this week and he brought us a SB135 to have a thrash about on. And thrash about on it I (Benji) duly did. The Yeti SB135 is something of a rarity: a full 27.5in wheel mountain bike. What was it like, you ask? A big barrel of fun. I found full 27.5in noticeably easier to adjust to compared to a lot of mixed wheel bikes we’ve had of late. To be honest, in the current buff-tastic conditions and rolling on proper tyres with good brakes and top-drawer Fox dampers, how could it fail? I’ll tell you how it could fail: by me feeling rough AF and having to sack off the ride halfway and go home and cry into my paracetamol.

Canyon is unleashing a whole new wave of e-mountain bikes at the moment. This one right here is a totally new model: the Canyon Strive:ON. 160mm rear travel, 170mm travel fork. Mixed wheel size mullet. Bosch motor. The bike we’ve got in here is the mid-range Canyon Strive:ON CFR. After a highly amusing bout of autocorrect, I (Benji) now affectionately know this bike as the Canyon Steve:ON. Steve:ON will be going into an upcoming full-power e-bike bike test alongside rival motors from Shimano and Yamaha et al. In the meantime, read Hannah's First Ride Review of the Canyon Strive:ON CFR.

When you’ve got a fair few sets of flat pedals to assess, you need a benchmark shoe. And it don't get more benchmarky than the Five Ten Freerider Pro. The sizing appears to have changed a bit in recent years (they’ve got a bit snugger for their nominal size) but if you half-size up from your previous/usual, you’ll still be lovin’ everything that these iconic sneaks offer. That is, grip ‘n’ feel. Grip and feel.

Truth be told, we’d actually thought Adidas had killed off the Five Ten Impact range but we were wrong. As proof, here's the Impact Pro Mid. Imagine Kylo Ren's 1980s British Knights but flat pedal friendly. How can that be a bad thing? The higher ankle adds support and helps block debris. Stealth S1 Dotty tread outsole. As with the Freerider Pro above, size up a bit. They’re rather tight for a supposed UK9. If you’re not a fan of Rylo Ken or Knightly Brits, how about we describe these as Herman Munster meets Knight Rider?

A very small, portable washing machine! This is effectively a dry bag with a vacuum valve and a load of little knobbles inside. You Put your dirty washing in, add water and soap, seal the bag and then scrub at it for a while until the water turns a cloudy brown… This is a vanlife purchase, though it's probably useful when you just have one item to freshen up and no other washing to do.

This laptop or tablet sleeve is available in several sizes, and it has an auto-inflate function that protects the contents. You can add more air to it if you want it to be extra protected, or you can use it as a pillow!

"In its over-inflated state, the Scrubba air sleeve acts as a small, comfortable travel pillow, perfect for relaxing at the park or trying to catch up on some sleep at the airport." – So, you can sleep on the job.

We’ve featured Lo Tide alcohol free (and very low 0.5% alcohol) beer before but… it's here again purely to acknowledge and celebrate the name of its lager: Forgot To Take My Pils. Well played, Lo Tiders. Well played.

These are very fluffy merino socks made in Scotland from Scottish wool. Fetchingly modelled here with sandals are the longer ‘Hiker’ socks, also shown are the shorter ‘Trail’ socks. The thicker fluffier area goes all the way round your toes and up your heel, for cushioning, comfort and cosiness. There's a ‘compression strap’ across the foot to help stop the socks getting baggy and floppy and sliding down annoying. This sandal wearer here says ‘it's like getting into the right sized down sleeping bag, they just conform to your feet, despite being thick and fluffy, they’re not baggy.’

Is there a more iconic frame colour scheme than Ritchey's red, white and blue on a steel hardtail frame? The Ritchey Ultra steel frameset is designed as an all-round trail bike, just like it's namesake from 30-odd years ago. The RWB paintjob was to celebrate Ritchey's 50th anniversary of building bikes, including legendary machines like the P21 and the previous Ultra. For today's riding, however, the Ritchey Ultra has been updated with Boost spacing and thru-axle at the rear, while generous chainstays allow for 29 x 2.4in or chunky 27.5 x 2.8in tyres.

Up front, there's provision for a 120mm fork, and there's seat-tube routing for a dropper post, while the rest of the cabling is external. There's a threaded BB shell (which, like all internal surfaces seems anti-rust treated) and frame also comes with drop-in headset bearingsThis frame is an XL, though it still has some pretty modest figures, like a 460mm reach and 68.5°/73.5° angles. Old skool is the new skool, or something.

The Trail 40 name comes from the massive 40mm (external, 35mm internal)) width of these Ritchey rims. Using some kind of Ritchey magic, the deep section rims don't appear to need rim tape, so we have no idea how you fiddle a new spoke nipple in there, but it does mean that there's nowhere for pesky air to leak out. The wheels are handbuilt and signed by the builder, using 28 J-bend spokes in a two-cross pattern. Freehub is SRAM XD (as here) or 9/10/11 speed Shimano. These are 27.5in wheels, and designed for 2.4-2.8in rubber… Valves are included.

This is a very expensive rack, but crikey! It's a joy to use. certainly in the first ride out we’ve done with it. The EPOS 2 holds two bikes and attaching them is really easy and quick. Gone are the normal screw clamps of previous Thule racks and in are quick ratchet straps and folding arms. The lighting board is built in so you just hook up the the electric point, add your number plate and go. The USP though is how it collapses into something the size of a medium suitcase that can just sit in your boot.

This is going to get some heavy use over the coming weeks so standby for a full review.

Charlie says… "Spring has sprung and I have totally got my biking mojo again. Not even a 30mph tubeless gravel bike explosion could kill the buzz. By chance it happened only 100m from my lockup, so I could easily swap bikes and carry on home. So with Stans sealant all over me I grabbed my old Surly single speed and not only nailed the 2 mile climb home. I actually enjoyed it. Since then I have mostly been riding bikes.

Last weekend I rode my bike over many trails to drink beer at a local cricket match. I rode my bike to the bakery for an artisan right on liberal sourdough loaf. I rode my bike to a knock up game of rounders on the village green. I rode my bike to my other bikes and fixed all my bikes. And by chance Singletrack has a T-shirt for such overly motivated turbo evangelistic cycling moments. Down to the last few – so don't miss out."

Absolutely no contest this week. Speeder went and dropped THIS crispy bomb y’all…

The winning TOTW in FGF gets a prize. And it's the fabulous majestic Singletrack Forum Bottle Opener! So, YOOHOO! to Speeder! Please email [email protected]. Please include your postal address, as it really speeds up delivery logistics init.

It's Singletrack's long running, weekly roundup of all of the new products that have been sent in to the magazine.

Where do all of the goods come from?

They’re sent in by bike companies and marketing agencies

What happens to all of the products?

They’re featured and then some are reviewed down the line in either Singletrack Magazine or in online reviews and photoshoots.

What happens to them when you’ve finished with them?

They’re usually sent back after review, or kept on long-term test bikes. But no one ever asks for shorts and shoes back. Trust us on that. Once we were asked to return some brake pads.

I’m a company making the next big thing. How much does it cost to feature in FGF?

Nothing. Nil. Zero. Diddlysquat. Sod all. Just send all ‘next big things’ to us at – Fresh Goods Friday, Singletrack Magazine, Lockside Mill, Dale Street, Todmorden. OL14 5PX. Please note that if you require the products back after they have featured then you are responsible for arranging collection at your cost. While it is our policy to feature everything we receive in FGF if we decide your product is not suitable for publication we won't do it. Publication is at our discretion. Whether a product goes on for publication as a review is at editorial discretion. Beer, coffee & spirits will ALWAYS be tested.

Merlin Malt 725 Steel hardtail, a great choice for the long distance cyclist after a…

This review is for a RockShox Reverb AXS seatpost, 31.6mm post diameter with 170mm travel.…

The 7mesh Women's Northwoods Windshell is a lightweight, packable layer offering windproofing and water resistance.…

The Hunt Proven Carbon Race Enduro race wheels are the top end, hard hitting carbon…

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Merch & Marketing Manager at Singletrack

Grumpy, happy, hairy, overweight and awesome. I started riding offroad in 1978, and never stopped. I was once Charlie The Bikemonger, I invented orienBEERing, the Clunker Classic, and the Dorset Gravel Dash. I own the Bum Butter brand and I'm a co-owner of Dirt Dash Events. I also work at Singletrack, I have the self-appointed job title of "Overlord of the leftovers" and look after the merch shop, and marketing. Other interests include skateboards, surfboards, motorbikes, and cooking (I invented the Beefer Reefer).

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British knights trainers, ooh there's a blast from the past, I’ve got a 80's Troop tracksuit in the loft somewhere. Is it just me or is there something not quite right about a red Yeti.

I’ve checked the list and it appears to be my turn

Ahem, "Nearly ten grand for a bike, are they havin’ a larf?"

Thanks. I think it's TINAS’ turn next week?

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Is the cantilevered-out saddle on the Canyon a hint that the seat angle isn't steep enough?

Could it just be that review bikes come in one size… and your riders/reviewers come in lots of sizes?

Not steep enough for me (72°-ish actual puts lanky legs quite far rearward when at full mast). Well, that's when the saddle isn't slammed forward. it's fine now. Yay for tools and saddle rails.

That Thule rack looks alright but it's over 3 times the price of the excellent Buzzrack that I just bought. So much Thule kit is in the ‘money-no-object’ bracket that I can't see how they survive.

And if anyone still needs convincing that the Knight Rider theme tune is an excellent piece of music, try this version…

Be intersted to know whether you can get those new Thule arms with the Atera style strap on their own?

At the price of that bike rack I’d be worried about thieves ripping my bike off to steal the rack!

Ooh I had a couple of pairs of British knights, never had any Troop but did have some nice Travel Fox as well and Brooks basket ball boots!!

That rack is worth more than my car!

There is something about those Ritchey frames. 👌

@chipps – pics when you build it please…

The Canyon eeb looks really, really eeb.Very fat. 😲

My Wife bought me some of those HebTroCo socks for my birthday. They’re LUSH.

Yeti – lovely (I not-recently traded all my MTBs in and got an Arc and love it) … BUT …the thing that annoys me is the left/back brake twisting back into the left hand port.

I’ve contacted LBS and they said it has to do it that way for Yank/Euro/Brit routing and brake preferences but I can't in my limited brain work out what it can't cross under the BB where they all come out instead of where I have to look at it.

I’m not competent enough to go dicking around for fear of ending up with a bike with front brakes only and a bill for told-you-so from a professional …

Anyone??

Thule kit is in the ‘money-no-object’ bracket that I can't see how they survive.

Plenty enough people with plenty of money….

Also comes in black…

Yeah, but why would you?

It is about £200 cheaper in Black at list prices. The RWB is a 50th anniversary model

Actually, apparently it doesn't come in black. It comes in MUSTARD… Not sure about that one…

Shame you picked a Tina Turner song with the man that abused her. Especially when this exists…

Ooooh, shiny things to buy this week……2 I could afford and need, socks and a t shirt 😉

Shame you picked a Tina Turner song with the man that abused her

Do you have to pretend the music doesn't exist even when it's a stone cold banger?

Apart from folding up, that Thule Rack doesn't appear to do anything my Halfords rack doesn't at a quarter of the price. It even fits in the (admittedly cavernous) CLS boot.

And if anyone still needs convincing that the Knight Rider theme tune is an excellent piece of music, try this version…

Wow, what are the odds of having octuplets? Identical ones at that. And then for them to all chose to play the same instrument. Inconceivable!

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