MTB News Mix is a weekly update of all things mountain biking where we cover new products, pro races, athlete news, and more. This week, we have new flat pedals, a new mountain bike shoe factory racing team, a teaser from Pivot on their new downhill 29er, off-road shoes from Rapha, and more.
Loic Bruni and Tahnee Seagrave take the first World Cup wins of the season
The opening round of the UCI World Cup seemed like a warm-up round for some and just another race for others. Specialized rider and current World Champ Loic Bruni opened his season with a seamless run. Bruni clocked the fastest time through the course’s bombed out technical section and carried speed through the whole track, which was a mix of bike park gap jumps and natural gnar. In the end, he ousted Danny Hart from the top step. Hart finished in 2nd, with Troy Brosnan, Charlie Harrison, and Matt Walker in 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
The top five women were a mix of the usual contenders in the elite category with Tahnee Seagrave and Rachel Atherton battling for the top position. With Myriam Nicole out of the round with an injury, it left a bit more room in the top five though. In the end, Tahnee Seagrave edged out Rachel Atherton again, this time by almost a full second. Atherton took silver on her new Atherton downhill bike. Tracey Hannah, Marine Cabirou, and Monika Hrastnik sealed 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
The UCI mountain bike World Cup picks up again in Albstadt, Germany on May 18 with the first XCO round.
Adventure Cycling creates 1,200-mile Arkansas high country mixed terrain route
A new route which connects loops between Little Rock and Bentonville, Arkansas debuted on the Adventure Cycling Association network May 1, and brings the total mileage on the network to almost 49,000 miles. This mixed-terrain route is comprised of about 50% pavement and 50% natural surface, and passes through the Ouachita Mountains and Ozark Plateau. In total, the route covers about 1,239 miles and 88,000 feet of climbing.
“I believe it will provide a little bit of everything to the cyclists who tackle it. The terrain can be steep and demanding, but there are also miles upon miles of gently-graded, paved bike paths,” said Carla Majernik, director of routes & mapping at Adventure Cycling.
Find out more about the route here.
New sunglasses by 100%
Apparel and eyewear brand 100% launched a new pair of sunglasses, the S3, and have expanded their photochromic models. The S3 is built off of the Speedcraft, but is a little more understated. The lenses are a one-piece, shatter and impact resistant polycarbonate material and are said to have outstanding clarity.
The Speedtrap, Speedcraft, S2, and, Sportcoupe glasses now all have options for photochromic lenses.
Saturday, May 4 is International Women’s Mountain Biking Day
The second annual International Women’s Mountain Biking Day is this coming Saturday. IMBA is engaging women on Facebook and Instagram and asking women riders a few questions leading up to the day.
Use the hashtag #womensmtbday to celebrate if you’re out digging, riding, building, or wrenching. Either way, get out and have fun.
Mountain biker Payson McElveen starts a new podcast
The pro cross-country and endurance mountain biker has taken on another challenge on top of his busy race schedule. In the Adventure Stache, McElveen keeps a casual and conversational format, sans script, and talks with adventure photographers like Chris Burkard, and mountain bikers including Juli Furtado and Kate Courtney. Check it out here.
Smith releases Attack MTB sunglasses
Smith’s new Attack MTB sunglasses make it easy to swap lenses in between varying degrees of light. The temples and frame are magnetically attached and snap or unsnap to make the change easier. The glasses have a single-piece lens for enhanced field of view and the nose pads can be set in one of two positions. The frames are available in six colorways with multiple lens choices. They sell for $250.
Gravel bike tire inserts from Panzer
Tire inserts aren’t just for mountain bikers anymore. It seems like gravel bikes can benefit from them as well, and Panzer is set to release a set geared toward skinny, knobby-tired bikes.
All-new color GPS from Wahoo
The new Elemnt Roam GPS from Wahoo is the company’s first with a color screen, and the unit includes a number of features to make navigation easier. Read more here.
Ibis updates the Ripley trail bike
This is the fourth generation Ripley, and the frame has been completely re-designed from the ground up. Read Jeff’s test ride review of the new bike.
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