Gear Watch Wednesday is a weekly update on the latest mountain bike gear releases and products that Singletracks has received for test. Have gear news to share, or products you’d like us to check out? Email [email protected].
Tout Terrain Outback Xplore II bikepacking bike
The Tout Terrain Outback Xplore bikepacking bike just received an update with the ability to run wider tires (up to 27.5×3.0″ or 29×2.6″) and a more effective frame coating to keep the bike rolling rust-free through harsh conditions. Like the original, the Outback Xplore II is driven by a Pinion gearbox and Gates Carbon belt and can be configured with a rigid carbon fork or a 130mm suspension fork.
- Price: €4,799
- Buy from tout-terrain.de
YT Jeffsy limited, retro-inspired UNCAGED 13
This limited edition YT Jeffsy trail/all-mountain mixed wheel bike is giving off serious late 90s/early 2000s vibes thanks to the primary color paint job and the silver Crankbrothers aluminum alloy rims. This seems to be the rare YT release that isn’t at least partially sold out within days of dropping. As of press time all sizes, small through XXL, are still available for purchase.
- Price: $3,499
- Buy from yt-industries.com
Hunt Sustain Phase One wheels are designed with sustainability in mind
Hunt is working to make their products more sustainable, starting with the Sustain Phase One line of wheels. There’s a carbon “all-road” wheel in the line and also an alloy trail wheelset, the Trail Wide 29, with rims made from 75% recycled aluminum material. Even the spokes are uncoated to cut down on energy and chemical use, and Hunt promises to continue stocking replacement parts for all of their wheelsets going back to the first ones they produced in 2015.
- Price: $589 / pair for Trail Wide 29s
- Buy from Hunt
Updated Esker Lorax Ti
The latest Esker Lorax Ti “do anything” drop bar bike adds UDH compatibility and flat mount disc brake mounts to the titanium frame that fits tires up to 2.6″ wide. Buyers can set up the bike with a rigid carbon fork or a 120mm travel suspension fork.
- Price: $2,500 (frame only), builds from $4,500.
- Buy from eskercycles.com
Industry Nine Hydra Grade 300 v2 wheelset
The Industry Nine Hydra Grade 300 v2 wheelset is designed for rough riding, from eMTB to DH. The all-new rim design features “a triple cavity design that reduces pinch flats and increases impact resistance,” and the wheelsets spin on high engagement Hydra hubs.
- Price: Starting at $1,430
- Buy from Industry Nine
New Bluegrass knee and elbow pads
The new Bluegrass knee and elbow protection line is designed to offer a wider coverage area and improved impact energy dissipation. The Bluegrass Aura Knee is claimed to be the “lightest Level 2 certified knee pad” while the 3straps Knee pads feature a unique design that allows you to put them on (or take them off) without removing your shoes.
- Price: From $85
- Buy from met-helmets.com
Updated Lapierre Zesty CF
The Lapierre Zesty CF all-mountain bike has just been updated with a steeper 77.1° seat tube angle and improved kinematics with a more sensitive top end and more progressivity toward the end stroke. The four-bar bike has 150mm of suspension travel front and rear, features a flip chip to convert between 29er and mixed-wheel, and integrated frame storage located at the bottom of the down tube.
- Price: Builds from €4,499
- Buy from Lapierre dealers
Aeroe Spider Front Rack
Aeroe is taking pre-orders for a limited run of their new fork rack, the Spider Front Rack. The rack attachment is designed to fit more suspension forks and offers clearance for tires up to 3.8″ wide. The Spider Front Rack appears to use a similarly robust attachment system to the Aeroe rack Singletracks reviewed earlier this year.
- Price: $120 (panniers, bags, and cradles sold separately)
- Buy from aeroe.com
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May 30, 2024