Day 1 Randoms from Core Bike 2022
It's been over two years since we last visited Whittlebury Hall and with a slightly later than usual showing Core Bike is back in 2022 with warmer spring weather and plenty of fresh new kit to take a look at. Here are some of the bits that caught our eye on day one.
Hope
Alongside its high pivot HB916, Hope also had a few new updates including the Fortus 30 SC rims. The SC stands for single cavity and these rims take the same profile as the previous Fortus 30 rims but they ditch the triple cavity construction for a still strong but slightly lighter weight.
Previously a 29" Fortus 30 rim weighed 720 grams but the 30 SC drops this to 600 grams. A full wheelset is claimed to weigh around 2.195 for a 29" set.
After just releasing its new brakes at the start of March, Hope had a big showing for its new Tech 4 levers and callipers.
Ragley
Ragley didn't have any new bikes on show at Core but they were showing one of the new colours for the 2022 Big Wig hardtails. Due to supply chain issues full bikes are set to arrive late summer but they do have stock of frames now.
Gusset
Gusset had Matt Jones' new signature series grips and saddle on display in his custom marble colourway. These should be available to buy from mid to late summer this year.
Brand new for the show this weekend is the redesigned Slim Jim pedals. The new flat pedals now have a CNC machined body with a low profile concave design and a weight of around 400 grams. When these are available they will cost £70.
Offering a slightly more affordable version of the Slim Jim design, Gusset has launched a nylon version costing £44.99. These pedals are made with a thermoplastic nylon reinforced body and drop 40 grams over the aluminum model.
To fill the demand for higher rise bars Gusset now offers its S2 handlebars in 50mm for both its 31.8mm and 35mm diameter bars.
KS
KS had its new dropper post on display that also has a level of adjustable suspension built-in. We were told that it works by offering a level of bounce when you have the post slightly dropped and uses an air-sprung hydraulic cartridge. The post is available with 70mm, 100mm, 125mm or 150mm of drop in 30.9mm or 31.6mm diameter. A 150mm 30.9mm diameter post is claimed to weigh 502 grams.
MRP
Alongside its 'Ready to Shred' program, MRP now has an extensive custom color program for its fork and shocks. When customing your suspension you can choose from 15 different colors and 12 decal designs with a claimed 3,072 unique options. This adds to the cost of the fork or shock with around £200 added to the bill.
Fidlock
Fidlock had a few small new additions to its range including an 800ml bottle and new caps for the bottles.
Lizard Skins
Lizard Skins had its new Strata grip on display that features a new design and comes in a range of colors with a weight of 118 grams. The Strata grips are made in the USA and feature a multi-directional grip surface.
Mystery Ranch
Mystery Ranch was showing off its range of Hip Monkey bags that apparently can fit six bottles or six golf discs.
Camelbak
Camelbak has released an update to its classic Mule backpacks with new materials that lower the weight and an Air Support™ back panel with improved ventilation. Camelbak offers this new Mule with a slightly altered Women's fit. The new Mule is priced at £120 and includes a 3-litre reservoir.
Also just released is the Mule Evo, this features all the advantages of the normal Mule but it has improved weather sealing to keep all of the elements out. It also features storage on the shoulder straps and multiple chest buckles. The Evo still includes the 3-litre reservoir and costs £140.
DVO
While there weren't many details, we did spot DVO's new Topaz T2 shock that uses an updated cylinder and a new piggyback bladder. The shock also has cooling fins which are said to help keep temperatures lower and the damping more consistent.
SDG
A new addition to the SDG range spotted at this year's Core is a flat pedal. After making the Slater pedal for young shredders SDG found that it only made sense to make something for everyone. The new pedals feature a completely flat profile because SDG found that with flat shoes now having stiff soles there isn't as much need for a concave design. The new SDG pedals will sell for $59 when they are available.
It's not a trade show unless you find some oil slick components.
Built off the design of the Bel-Air V3 SDG has two new versions that focus on either XC/Gravel riding or for eMTB riders. The more eMTB focused saddle has a shorter design with more padding whereas the XC/Gravel focused design includes a cut out in the middle channel.
The SDG stand also featured this saddle featuring an amazing design from @LRartUK who normally make custom surfboard fins in Cornwall.
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They have a legit market though - 60+ year old on upright e-bikes.
Outside: A bouncy Reverb
KS: Let's build one!
These fidlocks actually look pretty good in this regard.
I’ve got a Podium Dirt from them now, but the cap falls off way to easy and it should have more coverage. Actually the cap they had on the previous Podium bottle design was much better as the rubber cap had a groove it was stuck in, now it’s just an afterthought.
Can't recommend them enough.
Plus....whats uglier than a downtube fender? Maybe the swing arms on Oranges, maaaaaybe.
All of my early season riding trails are near a stable and I just don’t risk bringing a bottle any more. Gas up before the ride and keep the rides under 3 hours. The smallest bit of horse poo on the spout can quickly turn the rest of the ride into a shitty ordeal. I’ll allow a max of three stomach gurgles before pointing the bike straight home!
Unless it's some other thermoplastic reinforced with nylon fibers, but that's odd, and still missing details: the thermoplastic in question.
Having flashbacks of Klein frames…
www.vintage-trek.com/Trek-Fisher-Klein-Lemond/1991klein.pdf
Definitely different from a frisbee.
Sorry. “Down-duro dork discus”.
Lots of room in those pouches for some bud lights for the bro’s and a spare pair of plaid shorts.
I have an ass-pack that holds two, and it’s basically the max-weight I’d want hanging out back there.
I’m confused.
Just on the relative bulges between the alloy and plastic pedals, I think the bulges appear to be greater on the alloy pedals because the central section is slimmer on the alloy pedal relative to the plastic. They have a slightly more dramatic taper too which I think makes it look 'worse' than it is. As I said before, the bulges on the plastics aren't really as big as they appear to be there.
I'm still not seeing the 3072 options... Unless you're counting all the travels, and the black color, and the wheel size... But that's actually 6,144.
It's a super cool system, but counting travels and wheel size when talking about colors and decals options is disingenuous, because the colors are a completely personal choice while travel and wheel size are somewhat dictated by the bike itself.
And why wouldn't the e-saddle need the cutout? Isn't e all about "you but further". So a lotta miles in the saddle on trails (extra padding), no cutout? Weird
There's almost zero compression damping, and set up with a 50mm stroke it still felt significantly plusher than my 55mm stroke Float X. I liked it, as a light rider (although I did put a few bands in to increase progression and air pressure was 40psi higher than on the Float X, from 170psi to 210psi, I'm 62kg's), but I can imagine heavier people would struggle with such a light compression tune.
It DID result in my weight being more rearward as I found myself sat in the mid-stroke a lot, hence the upped air pressure. Still felt very plush.
Has since been rebuilt by DVO NZ too, to fix a 'factory fault' that resulted in major cavitation after 15 rides.
So not sure what is the improvement you mentioned? ;-)
Finally bought a bomber cr and the topaz can rest now, after 50+ rebuilds/bleeds.
That was really the main positive I took from DVO, easy to service at home.
"Whose at deep extra cover?"
"What? Why the **** have we got someone on the ****ing boundary with this useless ****ing tailender facing a spinner? Now ****ing get some a yer ****s into the slips and one of your ****ers into silly mid on before I [insert expletive-laden threats of violence]!!!!!