Tech Randoms From The Malverns Classic

Aug 31, 2021
by Nick Bentley  




Unite

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Unite's stand was covered in lots of CNC cut aluminum bike jewelry but the stand out was their new set of cranks. These are fully manufactured in the UK from aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum including arms, axle, lock ring, and the retaining/extracting bolt. These cranks are a work of art. They are a direct mount only with regards to the chainring mount, which is similar to SRAM so no new standard is coming in with these cranks. It is a self-extracting design that only requires Allen keys to remove it. The axle is either 30mm or SRAM's DUB standard. Altogether the cranks weigh 560g and come in 8 colors as with all of the Unite components. Initially, the cranks will be 175mm long or 165mm long but other lengths and e-bike versions will follow.

Alongside the new cranks, you can also get the lock-ring as an individual item to replace your plastic lock-ring found on SRAM's cranks, again in 8 colors.

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76 Projects

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76 Projects had a new Presta valve called 'No Clog' HV Tubeless Valves out for display. The one shown is for road bikes but a mountain bike version will be out soon. This valve is specifically designed to work with tubeless setups. 76 Projects' valves have 3 times the air through-put of a normal valve and a redesigned core that helps prevent sealant build-up. Tubeless bike tires and rims were introduced 20 years ago yet all tubeless valves still use Presta valve designs. The clearances in a Presta valve are smaller than the holes that sealant is supposed to be able to block so it's no surprise that the valves get clogged.

The 76 Projects' valves have 'No Clog' internals with greatly increased clearances to prevent sealant build up. Alongside this they have a 300% increase in the volume of air they can allow through over Presta valves. This will fill the tire faster and help seat and seal the bead. This added space will also allow you to inject sealant directly through the valve centre and are compatible with tire inserts. These valves will still fit your standard Presta drilled rims and the valve core is still removable, same as your old Presta valves.


Viris

Viris had all of their glasses and goggles on show, along with their new range of soft goods. There is a lot in the works over at Viris but, much like the rest of the world, they are being held up a little by supply chain issues.

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ION

Alongside some new 4-way stretch riding pants that are new out for ION, they also had their new trail helmet on show. These are about to be released so I can't say too much more than this is what they look like and they will have MIPS.

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Kali

Kali had their new Invader 2.0 trail full face helmet on display. This is what Kali had to say about it "We listened to your feedback on the original Invader and feel like we have solved the fit issues for finicky heads. If you tried the first Invader and loved it but couldn't get a dialled fit, we know you will love the Invader 2.0. This helmet is built with unibody construction, allowing it to pass motorcycle chin bar testing. The Invader 2.0 comes with a large selection of antibacterial pads, 3 sizes of cheek pads, allowing you to create your very own personalized fit. The Invader 2.0 also comes with an adjustable visor and a Fidlock closure system and new Frequency Fit System that allows for vertical and dial adjust."

The Invader 2.0 weighs just 640g and passes EN 1078, CPSC.

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Peaty's

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Alongside Peaty's multicoloured tubeless valves they also had their new range of chain lube and greases on display. Peaty's chain lube comes in LinkLube Premium All Weather, LinkLube All-Weather Chain Lube, LinkLube Wet Weather and LinkLube Dry so no matter what your weather conditions Peaty's have a lube for you.

When it comes to grease, Peaty's have added Bicycle Assembly Grease, Speed Grease and Max Grip Carbon Assembly Paste so no matter what the maintenance task the Peaty's range has you covered.


Atherton Bikes

Atherton bikes had their Enduro out on display - the Atherton A150. This is a 150mm travel 29" wheeled enduro bike, which looks stunning. The frame is constructed of Atherton's custom weaved carbon tubes and 3D printed Titanium lugs. It's a unique build method but one that allows a unique ability to adjust and change bike geometry and sizing on a bike by bike basis if needs be. Tailored is a good description of these bikes, as they may have some parts that are built using cutting edge technology but they are all individually hand-built in Wales.

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Hunt

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Alongside the other wheels that we know Hunt for, they also had their newly updated Hunt Trail Wide aluminum wheels set. These wheels are designed to be the do it all-wheel in the Hunt range. They come in 29", 27.5" and mixed wheel sizes, all of which have a 30mm inner width and come taped ready for tubeless. With regards to the freehub, you can get hunt wheels in SRAM XD driver, standard Shimano and the new Shimano Microspline.


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Hope

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The Hope stand, as always, was covered in the kind of bling that you would expect from Hope. The stand out items though were Hope's new range of clipless pedals that come in all the colours that you expect from Hope and the same amazing Hope quality.

The Union Clip Pedal comes in 3 varieties: the RC (which is more of an XC race pedal), the TC (which is a trail orientated pedal with a medium sided platform and 4 pins) and the GC pedal (which is aimed squarely at gravity orientated riders).

Alongside the new pedals were the XCR lightweight cross-country brake set which hope launched earlier this year.


Pyga

Pyga had plenty to see but front and centre was their new candy paint option being shown off on their Hyrax trail bike, this is an option for all of their bikes and looks stunning.

However, it was hard to miss the Pyga MoBu. The carbon layup is just too good to paint, so this 115mm bike will be coming unpainted and with a lifetime warranty on not only its frame but also its bearings.

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Pivot

Pivot had their brand new Firebird on show. This bike is an absolute brawler ready for anything you can throw at it.

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DMR

Nothing too new on the DMR but they did have some amazing custom-painted bikes.

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GT

GT had plenty of retro bikes on show but when it comes to new bikes they had the brand new GT Force with its idler gear high pivot set up.

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Cannondale

Cannondale had a few new releases on their stand. The brand new Cannondale Jekyll was the pride of place with its high pivot idler set up, all in an amazing oil slick paint scheme.

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Dave was also chilling in the corner of the stand. The new Cannondale Dave dirt jump bike looks like a winner.

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Leaving the gravity stuff behind, Cannondale have a new XC bike out. The Scalpel Carbon SE LTD Lefty has more travel than ever before with 115mm of rear travel and 120mm brand new lefty fork. The Scalpel Carbon SE LTD Lefty has a brand new lightweight carbon FlexPivot frame. The key to Scalpel’s suspension performance and lightweight frame is carbon flex points replacing bearings. These patented carbon plates create virtual Horst Link pivots while being stiffer and lighter than bearings.

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Author Info:
Mandownmedia avatar

Member since Nov 28, 2019
245 articles

113 Comments
  • 75 1
 Oh man Viris is an unfortunate company name
  • 10 1
 It's the smell.
  • 18 1
 Like ISIS on "Archer"...rather unfortunate
  • 3 1
 Perfect goggles for when you catch pinkeye.
  • 3 4
 @ReformedRoadie: or Shimano ISIS bottom brackets
  • 8 2
 …yeah, rumor is that they were just about to release some new goggles named after a Mexican beer…but the Pacifico goggles just didn’t do well with focus groups.
  • 4 1
 @matt-15: You mean ISIS standard to compete with Shimano Octalink. Only slightly less heinous than a terrorist state.
  • 12 1
 Could've named it CorneaViris.
  • 13 1
 They were originally called inoculars, but only half of the population said they would wear them and/or didn’t believe they’d keep their eyes safe from harm, so they went with viris instead.
  • 4 6
 Why is it an unfortunate name?
  • 6 4
 @Pw3669: you’re right man, had samples and everything but then the pandemic started so we binned that idea.
  • 8 4
 @VirisBrand: What planet do you live on?
  • 11 11
 @Uncled: the same planet where people are buying my product, so I’m pretty good with that one
  • 4 0
 Perfect for when you're riding your Vitus
  • 2 2
 @VirisBrand: jokes aside, you guys make some sick looking glasses. I’d never heard of you until this article, now it looks like I’m gonna have to part with some money!
  • 6 3
 @Pw3669: save your money, just rebranded glasses from China. You can get the exact same glasses on Amazon for about £18 under the “west biking” brand. I even took mine to Virus’s stand to confirm this on Sunday and yes, identical, even the lenses.
  • 2 4
 @JJ-The-Scott: It's VIRIS not Virus! You should of said hello too, I hope you didn't take a free sticker??
  • 2 1
 @VirisBrand: maybe this time people will actually get the product they pay for
  • 2 1
 @VirisBrand, perhaps you would sell a lot more of your rebranded specs, if you didn't have a name that was so shit awful you have to get on the back foot and defend it anytime you get any coverage online.
  • 1 2
 @Uncled: Wow. What happened to people being Kind mate! Thats a bit below the belt. Thats someones business you are ripping into.
  • 2 1
 @VirisBrand: I was being kind.
  • 55 1
 "aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum"

I thought we were over the "aircraft-grade" bullshit, especially when the alloy (and usually the heat treatment) are listed right after the useless phrase. Because the alloy and treatment are what matters, not some made-up and undefined factor of airworthiness.
  • 22 0
 Thank you! Or "military grade" lol
  • 47 0
 I have been on a plane. I am aircraft-grade.
  • 1 0
 To be fair, aircraft do tend to ascend and descend at relatively steep grades. And, they are fun to fly in.
  • 11 0
 Or "weapons grade", don't forget about that absolute winner of a metal alloy descriptor
  • 2 0
 @erg6k: I do like weapons grade though...sounds gnarly AF!
  • 7 1
 I work in the Alu industry an I can tell you the standards an certification of 'aircraft, weapons or MOD ministry of defence ' grade jobs we have are super higher than most of the parts we make, even some vital parts you'd think would be a LOT higher. Every part of the process is tested and certificated to a point that sometimes we've had to turn down jobs due to levels that we just can't work to.
  • 8 0
 @kinematix: Climbs like an SR71, descends like an.........umm, best not go there
  • 3 0
 @erg6k: Weapons grade is quite an accurate descriptor when it comes to fissile material.
  • 1 0
 @erg6k: Yep. Technically the rocks and burning pitch thrown by a trebuchet are “weapons grade”.
  • 1 0
 "7075 provides the greatest strength available in aluminum bar. It is widely used in aircraft applications where light weight plus strength are required"

www.ryerson.com/resource/the-gauge/grade-anatomy-aluminum-6061
  • 28 9
 Want more flow through these tubeless valves? Use simple Schrader valves instead of fancy aluminium Presta valves with a a larger inner diameter which may or not may snap if you look at them wrong.
  • 12 0
 That's a new standard I'd get behind
  • 8 0
 @mr-moose: can i be first to package a drill in plastic free packaging for people to drill out their rims
  • 5 3
 Same here, I just don’t understand why people still cling on to Presta. I just drill my (aluminium) rims a tiny bit snd use Schrader valves.

If you take out the valve core the tip of a small Stan’s bottle fits perfectly in them as well for no mess topping up.
  • 7 2
 That's something I still can't understand. What's the point of ptesta again? Schrader I can inflate at any gas station or car pump
  • 4 1
 Yes this. Schrader is superior. I used to have Schrader tubes in all my bikes but with tubeless all valves are presta, and all rims too
  • 1 0
 @melonhead1145: luckily I still run ghetto tubeless with split BMX tubes. Now I know you can only get Presta tubeless valves I’m even less keen to ditch ghetto
  • 3 0
 @donpinpon29: It was for having a smaller hole in the rim. But now that rims are wider it doesn't matter I guess.
  • 10 1
 @CustardCountry: the small 2 oz Stan’s bottle tip also fits in a presta valve when you remove the core. That’s how I’ve been putting Stan’s in my wheels for years. I carry the small bottle in my pack so I can add more on the trail if necessary without breaking the bead to add more. And my aluminum presta valves, (American Classic) have never broken or clogged.
  • 2 0
 I came here to post the same thing, schrader for the win. Thanks to @fartymarty for getting me onto some good ones. Drilling your rims is no big deal. I used to do it to every wheelset back when I ran tubes. I drilled my Mrs carbon rims on Sunday, it took about a minute. The whole conversion took about fifteen minutes from putting the bike in the stand to her riding out the door. Most of that time was removing the tyres, installing them again, and filling with sealant.
  • 2 0
 @Twenty6ers4life: Yea the article mentioned with their fancy paints presta valves being able to put sealant directly thru them, but that's always how I've done it. Never had a problem with my stems just removing the valve core and squeezing it in.
  • 2 0
 @Afterschoolsports: glad to help. Preach the schrader gospel.
  • 3 1
 @fartymarty: yep. you can even find Stan's branded Schraders if you look hard enough. meant for fat bikes.

Drilling out my rims for schrader is one of the best changes i've made in a long time.
  • 2 0
 @groghunter: I used them and they weren't that good. The rubber pulled away from the stem. The motorbike ones have been much better.
  • 2 0
 @fartymarty: good info. mine are a random Asian amazon brand, been fine so far.
  • 1 0
 @groghunter: Joes no flats also sells tubeless Schader valves. Many online shops stock these. The only thing is that I haven't found tubeless Schrader valves that are compatible with inserts, so that they vent to the side.
  • 17 1
 For those in the know, is Shimano's crank system patent completely air tight? Seems to be the case, as AFAIK nobody else uses their clamping and preload system. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is miles ahead of the rest
  • 3 0
 FSA did a crank along the same lines as Shimano. 24mm steel axle, preload cap on non-driveside, 2x 5mm bolts to clamp. Mine was the Moto X. Dunno if they licenced it, mind.
  • 4 0
 FSA used to use the same system (preload bolt + 2 pinch bolts) on some of their road cranksets. But that was around ten years ago and AFAIK they're not making any cranks with that system anymore. I do still see imitations of the system on some lower-end bikes (e.g. a Giant Talon) but it's not particularly common. It remains my favorite system because of the lower torque values required.... getting DUB cranksets off can be a real PITA if they weren't greased properly before installation.
  • 1 0
 if only i could get a sram ring for my XT cranks
  • 2 0
 @noideamtber: Bad experiences with XT rings?
The original chainring on my M8000 cranks lasted for 3 years, only retired it this week because the crank itself is now banana shaped.
  • 5 0
 @noideamtber: absoluteBlack
  • 1 0
 @Arierep: @DHhack no, just so i can run the good sram's system properly rather than shimano.
dhhack, do they make one that will fit but without shimano style toothing? ie run the better sram chains?
  • 6 2
 Totally agreed. I can't see any reason why anyone would buy another system apart from the Shimano one, which appears to be nigh on perfect.

(yes I understand that other cranks are more bling, and I did have a nice time on a set of racface that came on a bike for a few years.)
  • 2 0
 Primo power bites? An many other pinch bolt cranks in the BMX world
  • 1 0
 @Arierep: Shimano M8100 chainrings are heavy AF. I've got my original as an insurance plan, but swapped over to an Absolute Black chainring.
  • 2 0
 @GrandMasterOrge: I agree. It’s so hard to justify buying anodised or carbon cranks these days when the shimano stuff is just so good. My bike came with carbon truvativs and I have no complaints about them, but if I was building my own bike, it would be an easy choice to run shimano cranks. I need to find a shimano chainring for the truvativs so I can install all the xt linkglide stuff I picked up recently in singapore. I am regretting not picking up some xt cranks to match, but my credit card had been pummeled pretty hard that day.
  • 3 0
 @GrandMasterOrge: same with me.
I was in a hurry to replace my trashed M8000 XT cranks a couple of weeks ago and decided to pull the trigger on a Deore M5100, for no more than 50€.

Turns out the M5100 crankset is bonkers good, I'm puzzled how great it is for the price. Bling apart, I couldn't justify a 100€ crankset when the M5100 exists, not even worth mentioning a 500€ one
  • 1 0
 @nojzilla: Primo's have a square fit 22mm spindle, they're quite prone to the pinch bolt area cracking. These days, mostly lower end Bmx cranks have pinch bolts (8 spline spindles, Crmo arms). Saying that I've never had a problem with Shimano cranks - maybe it's the finer spline with larger spindle?
  • 1 0
 @nojzilla: Yeah i'd guess they have been around 30yrs at least starting with gt power series i think, hollowbites were even forged in a similar sort of way to shimano hollowtech cranks. Weird. I rode my dh bike for an entire day once after i'd removed the bolts entirely and forgot to put them back, tightened them back up and the splines and everything was fine, you wouldnt have that with any of the other systems.
  • 1 0
 @noideamtber: Wolftooth makes rings for both DM and 4 bolt XT cranks that work with SRAM chains.
  • 17 0
 I like weird bikes. I like Cannondale...sigh.
  • 3 0
 That paint makes me oil sick.
  • 5 0
 That scalpel looks amazing
  • 12 0
 The 76 valves look interesting. But do they allow for 3x the usual throughput or a 300% increase?
  • 7 0
 This guy does math
  • 2 0
 4x times
  • 1 0
 @76projects: How much are they?
  • 8 3
 Nice. Though wished they'd not missed a few details on their beautiful new parts. Nice cranks...but not available in 170mm, tubeless valves...but not for MTB's, nice looking glasses...but with peripheral blocking frame, nice 3d printed titanium...but not polished up for display.
  • 6 0
 Those shades... *cough* X-Tiger
  • 6 0
 That Jekyl looks pregnant.
  • 2 0
 Yup, new Cannondale on the way! In a few months we get to figure who might have been the father.
  • 2 0
 I just wish wheel companies were making drillable (is that a word?) presta do schradder valve holes. I know that enlarging a hole on the wheel can affect the structure, so making it 10 grams heavier to have this feature could be a game changer.

I've done the schradder tubeless on a non tubeless wheel and it was miles ahead on pumping air inside.
I know the industry is all in the presta design, CO2 inflators, pump heads, almost everything is based on presta valves, but come on, just give us the option.
  • 2 0
 Any street motorcyclists here looking at the ion product and seeing the exact same font as icon street riding gear??? Guessing same company crossing over. They had some decent products.
  • 2 1
 "Hmmmm, what's should I name my new company? Um... Viris! Sounds cool and edgy, right?! Love the unique spelling! No one would ever make a connection between that and Covid, would they? Nawwww, let's gor for it."
  • 7 2
 It was started in 2018. V for vision and Iris the part of your eye. Together makes Viris.
  • 3 0
 Those virus goggles look just like my Chinese knock off 100% goggles with just the name on the strap different
  • 1 0
 Same. Pretty sure they just got a pallet load of the goggles and glasses off "Wish"...
  • 3 0
 Who else has never heard of a steel fullsusp. from DMR?
  • 1 0
 @DorianKane
Not gonna lie.... me.
small piece of that picture looks beautiful and if they are not 3500 USD and actually answer their phone/email like several UK builders hadn’t when I was ready to buy, they may have another sale or two.
  • 1 0
 DMR Bolt and DMR Bolt Long?
  • 1 0
 @vinay: thank you! No signs of them on the site but I will stalk them.
  • 1 0
 @jgottya1: Actually it has been a much older model. It is already sold out in most places I've been looking. Reviews I've seen were mixed. Basically those who were running the very adjustable X Fusion Vector shock were excited, those with the more basic O2 shock a bit less. Seems like you need to be able to dial in some heavy low speed compression damping and you'll be good. I still might consider one if I find one. I can swap nearly everything from my old Cannondale Prophet onto this one. 26" wheels, 27.2mm seatpost, shock... As DMR doesn't produce locally they'll need quite a few orders before they can have them made. But yeah, from what I understand they at DMR love the bike too and as their swopout system (interchangeable dropouts) allow them to fit 27.5" wheels too, I'd say it could still be marketed.

Have you seen Olly Wilkins in the Speed of Sound video? For the main part he was riding this bike:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJgeBFwkW9Y
  • 1 0
 @vinay:
Thanks for the info brother!
Yeah I did some digging late last night after work and it looked like last run was 2017.
Definitely a nice looking, modular platform with being able to run 26/27.5 on it.
Prophets were a nice ride too, I had one when they first came out and had an avalanche rear shock on it (overkill but super plush) they were crisp handling and stiff putting the power down.
I will check out Ollie’s clip as soon I get the coffee in the cup! Thank you.
On the hunt now..lol
  • 1 0
 The Ion pants are made from the same material as my Snickers work pants(carpenter) and they last forever . My give the Ion pants a shot
  • 1 0
 That sounds kinda nutty.
  • 1 2
 Pivot....ready for anything I can throw at it.... it’s carbon fiber. Does anyone ever crash these things into rock gardens and get up and be able to keep riding without holes in the frame? Not just pivot any new carbon?? I do love the stuff and have been enjoying it since the kestrel 4000 and the CSX. But nowadays with where I like to ride, I am just too skiddish of have a high dollar frame destroyed on a moderate fall. GG is the only one I feel comfy about (aboot) giving a go. Even Cannondale a few years back had the ballistic moniker then that vanished with no trace. The new jekyll specs say nothing about the carbon, resin, processes, etc.. I feel sick enough when I smack a nice fly rod roll casting under a bridge or something.
  • 1 0
 Someone needs a commencal
  • 1 0
 Hope! Please make carbon lever blades for the tech E/V 4 brakes! I would buy them. Carbon levers make a big difference for me in cold weather.
  • 1 0
 Sorry but.......the new ION helmet is basically a MET Bluegrass Rogue rebranded?!?
  • 2 0
 Does anybody know how much Atherton bikes go for ?
  • 1 0
 Im willing to bet they are comparable to Yeti, Sc, Pivot or RM..
  • 1 0
 Last time I looked into it the A150 was GBP 3,400 frame only.
  • 1 0
 I didn't even know they were selling any yet.
  • 1 0
 Some nice stuff there and then I saw the DMR cable situation, fukcing horrendous.
  • 1 0
 I feel like if Cannondale made a "bilateral" inverted fork instead of a lefty it would be a pretty big hit.
  • 1 0
 So the Hope brakes are self-managing? Is that like anti-lock?
  • 1 0
 Anddddddd no steel full Susser showing on DMRs website..anywhere.. dafuq!!
  • 1 0
 lifetime warrantee on bearings? that's ambitioius.
  • 1 1
 How the fuck do you put a fender on that lefty
  • 1 0
 @itslightoutandawaywego:
Well.... Yeah a little bit, but it would work better than the downtube, mounted fenders.
  • 1 0
 That red dropper
  • 1 0
 It’s not red. That’s just the lighting.
  • 1 0
 would be nice to have droppers to match color ways tho
  • 3 2
 @quesoquesoqueso:
They do: black. The One True colorway is black. Only black.
  • 1 0
 egonomic brake levers
  • 1 0
 Scalpel looks sharp.







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