A Bike Rack Made for Off-Roading and Protective Decals from Muc-Off [Gear Watch]

The "world's best-selling helmet" gets an update, a dialed OneUp dropper remote, and an off-road-ready bike rack.

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].

Muc-Off features Cube-Tec in new bike protection kits

Muc-Off, the brand known for keeping things clean, now has the ultimate product for frame cleanliness and order: a Bike Protection Series with adhesive protection made for chainstays, cranks, forks, and everything in between. The Frame Protection Kits use a Cube Tec material with tessellating 45° angled cubes which are said to be strong and flexible. Muc-Off claims the frame protection won’t yellow over time and the kit can “self-heal,” meaning that the scratches will fade if riders apply warm water over the kit. The Protection Kits come in a variety of assortments, from full frame kits for $99 to crank protection kits for $20.

Giro Fixture helmet update, new glove

The affordable Giro Fixture mountain bike helmet just got a new look, and also an updated MIPS integration. Giro says the Fixture II should vent better as well, and this time around there’s a second, larger universal size available in select colors.

  • Price: $70
  • Buy from Giro.

Giro also launched a new protective glove, the Giro Gnar. Featuring D3O on the knuckles and the palm, the Gnar glove is designed for maximum protection.

  • Price: $50
  • Buy from Giro.

Ramble Rack makes a bike rack for 4WD enthusiasts

Bike racks are usually made for taking a bike down paved roads. Anyone who’s shuttled up a nasty road can attest that they fret a bit more about their rig’s security when they’re bouncing up and down ruts and boulders. The RambleRack tries to solve the security issue with overbuilt wheel trays and a ratcheting arm that only makes contact with the tire.

The video above shows some of the extreme testing conditions the rack was put through, and they say “In all our destructive testing the only failure point was a front rim. And our rack had a 20% greater success rate in that test than any other leading tray-style hitch-mounted rack. Note that at these forces all other racks also incurred damages to the rack itself.”

  • Price: Hitch racks start at $899
  • Available: Rig’d Supply

OneUp dropper remote V3

OneUp just released the third revision of their dropper post remote, and there’s a lot to be stoked about. The new design features a replaceable and grippy thumb pad that’s available in seven colors, and it’s said to require 27% less actuation force than the previous version. If you already have a compatible handlebar clamp you can save some money and just purchase the new V3 remote.

  • Price: $45 (remote), $14.50 (clamp)
  • Buy from OneUp

Kali Cascade helmet uses recycled materials

The new Kali Protectives Cascade helmet utilizes eco-friend(lier) materials like recycled EPS foam and recycled plastic, as well as “sustainably sourced” bamboo pads. The Cascade has a FidLock magnetic buckle and 13 vents for maximum airflow. It’s available in two sizes: S/M and L/XL.

  • Price: $260
  • Available: Kali Protectives

HC-W lever blade + Magura MT7 brake

The HC-W lever, designed in collaboration with Loic Bruni, is now available with Magura MT7 brakes to buyers in North and South America. The alloy lever features adjustable reach and should be available this month.

  • Price: $269 per brake
  • Buy from Magura.

Kitsbow Denim Icon shirt is made for the long haul

Photo: Kitsbow

Kitsbow, based out of Old Fort, North Carolina has a new high performance denim shirt out and it’s made to move. The Icon shirt flexes over the back of the shoulders and has mesh venting, as if the shirt wasn’t cool enough. The Denim Icon uses a 4-way stretch twill with the comfort of cotton and the durability of nylon along with the flexibility of Lycra. The Icon comes in a variety of sizes, with women’s signature, and a relaxed fit.