Product development was back in full swing for 2014, with accessory, drivetrain and suspension makers racing to show prototypes in summer of '13 and the production versions of their masterworks as early as February of this year. Product debuts were announced weekly, which made the spring and summer months the busiest travel season on record for Pinkbike editors. As we compiled our list of worthy candidates, however, we noted that many of those first-ride and first-look firework shows were staged for items slated for 2015 - which begged the question: “Which products actually released in 2014 stood head and shoulders above the crowd?” Pinkbike’s selections for “Product of the Year” were chosen from five different product categories and if one casually scans the list: a tire, disc brakes, cycling shorts, a floor pump, and a wheelset; he or she could be excused for yawning. Riders who have experienced our five nominees, however, will no-doubt be excited to discover which will earn top honors, because each became an overnight success at the moment of its release. Schwalbe Magic Mary Tire Schwalbe’s Magic Mary isn’t a fast rolling tire, but it certainly rolls fast enough to win races. Its pointy, soft-compound tread is sculpted to blend the qualities of a wet-weather spike with the edging performance of a dry-condition downhill racing tire, and its casing is tough. Regardless of what Schwalbe’s original intentions were for the Magic Mary, it instantly became the first choice for downhill and enduro racers’ front tires and history may prove that it was the most blacked out product ever used in mountain bike competition. We joked with Schwalbe’s design team that the German tire maker should have either left off its large white hot-patch labels, or included black, wide-tip Sharpie pens in the Magic Mary’s shipping boxes, so teams who were sponsored by competing tire brands could more easily conceal them. Are they that good? Would you risk your paycheck to win a race? If you count the number of EWS and WC DH competitors who ran Magic Mary tires in 2014
(We did), the answer is a resounding, “yes.” Magic Mary’s performance is undebatable.
SRAM Guide Trail Brakes SRAM’s response to the industry-wide consensus that Shimano’s XTR and XT Trail brakes with Ice-Tech heat control were head and shoulders above all of their competition was to set their disc brake design team to work developing a new system that could equal or surpass the performance of their Japanese rivals.
Guide Trail brakes represented a return to the basics, in that the master cylinder used the tried and true side-port engagement strategy instead of Avid's proprietary Taperbore system. The rest of the Guide story is about listening to feedback from top riders and addressing their needs with technological improvements. In short, a lot of hard work and design revisions took place before the team signed off on the job.
The result was an all-new brake that had impressive power; best-in-class feel and modulation; the easiest reach and contact adjustments we’ve experienced; and enough fluid in the reservoir to ensure that you can confidently run the pads to their wear limits without pumping air into the hoses. Guide Trail brakes are the first SRAM-branded stoppers, and a braking system that can stand as tall as its industry leading XX1 drivetrain.
Specialized SWAT Bib Shorts Spandex bib shorts as Product of the Year may seem like a stretch
(had to say that), but nevertheless, Specialized has integrated the storage capacity of a small hydration pack and the stash pockets of a short into one very functional, padded undergarment that can be concealed by a conventional baggy short and jersey. SWAT stands for “Storage, Water, Air and Tools” and that is what PB’s editors have been stashing in the slim vertical pockets which are sewn into the rear of the bib shorts. There is room for up to three water bottles
(admittedly, three bottles is not all that comfortable, but it’s possible), or one bottle, some food, a tube, an inflation device, a small wind shell and your mini tool. Jersey pockets have never been a secure enough place to stash heavy or bulky items, and hydration packs, with their confining straps, have been a love or hate accessory for many riders.
Specialized's SWAT bibs get the nomination because they integrate storage close to the body in a comfortable, cycling-specific garment that many riders already prefer over conventional short liners. SWAT bibs have spawned a new wave of alternative stowage strategies among clothing makers.
Bontrager TLR Flash Charger Pump Eco-friendly, human-powered, and brilliantly conceived, Bontrager’s
TLR Flash Charger floor pump has a reservoir that can be pressurized up to 160psi and released to seat the beads and air up fussy tubeless tires. Nearly all tubeless tire reviews mention whether or not the reviewer required an air compressor to finish the job. Those who have wrestled with tubeless installation without compressed air at hand have probably been scarred by the frustration. Many home mechanics have electric compressors and some resourceful ones fill cheap compressed-air storage containers with hand pumps to accomplish the same task as the Flash Charger, but after using Bontrager’s solution, both alternatives seem frivolous. Pump up the reservoir, flip the red handle and boom - the tire is seated. If more pressure is necessary, the hose is already hooked up to the tire and some additional pump strokes will top it off. The Flash Charger is quiet, it needs no electrical outlet, it stores in the same space as any floor pump, and it can be a huge timesaver at the races or on a road trip. Bontrager’s TLR Flash Charger is one of those simple; “Why didn’t I think of that?” ideas that is sure to find its way into most mountain biker’s workshops.
Ibis 741 and 941 Wheelsets Ibis entered the wheelset business with a powerful statement: a carbon fiber rim that measured 41 millimeters wide with an inside dimension of 35 millimeters. Its tubeless ready bead design incorporated a hookless flange that allowed more carbon to be concentrated there to add a measure of impact protection - protection that Ibis claims to be up to 500-percent greater than at least one of the premium carbon rims that it tested for comparison. Truly lightweight, super-wide rims for trailbikes were first introduced by Syntace in aluminum, and the concept has earned a growing following for the lateral support and cornering stability that they give to the tire.
Ibis earns this nomination for embracing the concept, first by co-sponsoring Derby rims, the start-up company that developed much of the
technology that went into its 741 and 941 designs, and second for introducing the concept to mainstream mountain bikers by producing a durable wheelset that weighs only 1650 grams, at an attainable MSRP of $1299 USD. While the most recognizable brands timidly offer wheelsets with “wider” rims, which are arguably improvements over the 23-millimeter inside-measurement de-facto standard, Ibis courageously offers what it and many others believe will eventually become the go-to for mainstream riders: the 35-millimeter-inner-width trailbike wheel.
Stay tuned for more PB MTB Awards nominees all month.
I would actually give the award to the Special Ed project because I hate backpacks. But great tires and an 'it's about time somebody made that' pump, also.
That being said, the Guide brakes are not worthy of this list because their not incredibly groundbreaking, they use the same calipers as the Trail brakes. (They are amazing brakes, just not revolutionary)
My vote would be for the pump. It's a great for people without access to an air compressor.
Another thing is Avid Bleed Kit - yes it works very well but it was goddamn expensive comparing to syringe and very cheap Shimano funnel.
Once I bought some Shimano Saints and they kept overheating all the time and I hated the levers. After just a few weeks the seals were damaged and I sent them in. I didn't see them for three month (during which I rode my old Avid Juicy 7 brakes trouble free, as I didn't have any others), then the front brake came back and I was told they didn't get a rear brake from me (they were in the same package). I was lucky and the shop were I bought them gave me a new set, as they were super embarrassed.
Last year my Avid X0 Brake came with damaged seals (never rode them, noticed it when bleeding), and 2 weeks later I had a brand new set of X0 Trails, as they didn't get any X0's fast enough!
That's just my own experience, but I think all this Avid bashing is just because people can't service their bike and then think it's the company's fault.
The guide brakes are freiking sweet man. try them. They deserve a spot on this list.
When your (arguably) most important component of a bike is unreliable to a point of it being a safety concern, and not from lack of maintenance, then you'd best expect a reasonable amount of "crucifying" for a number of years
This year I bought a set of RSCs and could not be happier with them, awesome power, modulation and adjustability. I was able to shorten the hoses without a bleed, and they are super clutter free on the bars when combined with XX1 & reverb.... nothing to moan about here, I love them
I find this Avid bashing to be quite amusing, sometimes even funny, but I'm yet to understand the real problem people keep talking about.
Got a pair of 1st gen Elixirs when they came out and ran them for 3 or 4 years with no fuss. Now I have a pair of Codes and they are a blast! Infinite stopping power no matter how long the descent is... Just bleed them right and they will never fail.
Edit to keep it a little bit related to the article: whether considered they're innovative or not, the Ibis wheels are what I would most like from this list.
I'm with you.
I give a shit if those new brakes work fine. I made the decision not to get Sram's brakes some time ago. I don't like headache.
I can compare this situation to what happened with Banshee a couple years ago, when they used bushings instead of bearings: you either maintained the bushings properly with the right procedures or your axles were prone to wear off too soon. Banshee got tired of people complaining and released a new model with bearings which was an instant success.
Avid Guide are kind of the same thing... They took the best out of Elixir and had the conventional oil reservoir. It adds some weight but also adds reliability.
Sram knew its brakes were crap anyway.
The Elixirs are for the record, crap. There are a lot of you saying that they are good. If they were so good, why would SRAM move away from the design all together? Why would so many bike brands offer SRAM drivetrains with Shimano brakes? If they didn't cause problems for some individuals, you got lucky.
@AlexH691 - shorten the hose without a bleed. I call BS. How do you cut the line without getting an air bubble or two in there?
The current bread of shimano brakes were a huge leap forward when released and are still my go-to brake. They also have lower end models (SLX) that are lighter than XT and reasonably priced. You really can't beat or complain about that. It terms of modulation, yeah they take some getting used to if you switch. They do bite like crazy when new. But you can also downsize the rotor to increase modulation if that's your priority.
Go somewhere else then, and let go of it already.
Banshee probably could have reasonably expected their resellers to take the time to know how to maintain the bikes since the shops chose to stock them. Even then, though, it would depend on how effectively they communicate with their resellers. (Banshee bikes going to non-dealers for service would be a problem in any event, though.)
I kinda think the ibis wheels are a pretty big deal too. 1300 bucks for big wide light wheels that are strong and cost less than ENVE rims? Sounds pretty good to me.
Oh yeah, and that pump rules (theoretically).
Turns out we mostly just use it to be massive dicks to each other. Have you SEEN the comments sections on youtube???
Built that Pump myself for 40 bucks with parts i collected on my way home from work and other than trek's mine even is available...
www.pinkbike.com/photo/11731282
Ok, i admit, 40USD only works if you have a 3d printer, a "harborfright tools" store and "play it again sports" aroudnd where you live but if anyone has a printer i am more than happy to share my .stl files for replication....
Super pumped!
Thanks for the link @mitcos
Is there a uk release date on procore yet?
Those MagicMary are great tires though, but they don't last very long out here in Colorado compared to other big name brands.
As for the pike being a game changer, I got to ride that one too and I liked it but I found it nowhere close to being as much of a gamechanger as most reviewers are claiming. I tried the CCDB inline and I found that one brought a lot more to the table than the fork.
I love them in the Pacific Northwest.
The cycling jersey with pockets was invented over 100 years ago for a reason: it's far and away the most functional and accessible place to put stuff you don't want to strap on the bike.
This has got to be the most surreal moment in the history of bro-brah lycra denial: modify a century-old garment so you can pretend you're not wearing it, then wear a whole 'nother, prettier outfit over the top, so the other girls don't make fun of you.
If you're not comfortable enough with your manhood to wear bibs & a fitted jersey with pockets, go baggy & wear a backpack: function will be inferior, but who gives a sh*t about performance, MTB is all about fashion, right?
Now I know that even Snakeskin-y "tougher" Schwalbes don't last as long as many other tires under hard chargers in rough and rocky places, but they are usually still lighter/stickier...
I ride Schwalbes in a not-so-rocky place and they last fine...for an every day trailbike in a place with many sharp/rough rocks, i'd probably reconsider.
It seems logical that PB wants to make them happy every year, because they fill with many dollars its bank account after all. But...... for God's sake, Specialized SWAT Bib Shorts? One of the best products of the year? Really?
Everything has its limits.
Also the "have you tried it" argument is pretty weak and always has been. I can make a judgement based on my riding needs, abilities and problems. I don't need to try meth to know its a terrible decision, same goes for the ass bib.
I understand why a roadie would like them over jersey pockets but for MTB?? Really?
DISCLAIMER: On big big rides (ie. over 4000 ft) I will no doubt have a pack, but for everything else I am gonna take my SWAT)
Shred on!
I love the Mary's. They wear fast in harsh rocky terrain but so do any sticky compounds. DHF's don't bite as well in soft or wet conditions, there really isn't a comparison. Not the tire for super hard pack that gets baked in the sun all day, but for everything else I've been super happy. Hard to beat finding a new tire that gets you excited during the ride.
But don't you guys think that Sram actually knows about the problems they had with alot of Avid brakes and actually did something about it with the new Sram brakes? (just sayin')
built on myself instead for 40 bucks...
ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb11731282/p4pb11731282.jpg
if anybody wants to copy my pump, you are welcome...
fatties SL have hold up very well until now!
Love the tire but knobs do tear off .
Who have you been in touch with? We have an office in Victoria (Schwalbe NA) but you can also contact our HQ in Germany via mail: info (at) schwalbe.com.
Perhaps a wheel set? Or even bib shorts?
My new fridge that cools my beer. Or my new shovel for building trails?
I'm curious about the magic Mary
There's something about Mary...
But! High Rollers for Life.
Is there any downside to wide rims?
what the hell is that comma doing there?
And wider is a word, no need for '"wide-er."'
Nitpicking aside, some good picks here. Def the pump for me. Tubeless for years now, but mounting tubeless on my new wider rims did take an air compressor for the first time ever, and a pump like this certainly solves a real-world problem. Actually, I've been burning through co2 cartridges just to seat the bead rather than hauling my wheels into the shop for a quick compressor fix. PIA.
Magic Marys are intriguing and on my short list, even though I love Trail Kings, HRII, Minions... Vigilante also intriguing...
Guide brakes are a great development in competing with Shimano- so i've heard- but I'm plenty happy with Shimano.
Wide wheels. Wide carbon wheels. I'd try those.
Nobody needs to know youre wearing the bib shorts.