MTB News Mix is a weekly update of all things mountain biking where we cover new products, pro race results, trail news, and more.
Commencal has updated their gravity-first rig, the Furious, piloted by athletes DJ Brandt, Kyle Strait, Myriam Nicole, and more.
The new Furious is made from an aluminum 6069 frame, which Commencal says should have a longer lifespan than the 6061 aluminum version. The suspension and kinematics have a new tune, the frame is stiffer for big hits, but the brand says it maintains an easy-to-ride feeling.
Other changes include a two-piece rear swing arm, rather than three, a stiffer rear end, and two different suspension modes – one for grip that is more sensitive, and a dynamic mode, which is more responsive and playful. Check out the Furious on the Commencal website or compare prices online.
H&I Adventures and EWS Partner for Italian Enduro Tour
MTB adventure company H&I have partnered with the Enduro World Series (EWS) to make Finale Ligure, Italy a stop for EWS Travel, a new type of MTB vacation that puts riders in destinations with big MTB communities. The tour will be accompanied by an EWS champion, says H&I, and will take riders through Finale’s mountains on an eight day adventure.
Tour dates are available on May 30, Aug. 16, and Sep. 13. The tour costs $2,828, based on double occupancy. Prices include all accommodations, meals, guides, shuttles, airport pickups, some medical services, and an EWS goodie bag. Flights, bikes, and equipment are not included. See more here.
Red Bull Rampage 2019 goes down on Friday
The “Superbowl” of mountain biking, and the greatest freeride competition, goes down on Friday, Oct. 25, at 10am MST and is available to watch on Red Bull TV.
This year brought the edition of Marzocchi Proving Grounds as a Rampage qualifier, and it will be the second year at the new venue, which proved more than challenging in 2018.
Check out the action on Red Bull TV and keep an eye out for Rampage content, since we’ll be on the ground in Virgin, UT.
Blackburn’s new tools properly outfit a MTB
Part of the fun around bike personalization is choosing the set of tools that is right for you and your bike. Blackburn has three new designs out that further compliment rider personalities and functions.
The Pro Plugger Co2 kit, pictured on the left, is a deployable Co2 and comes with the Pro Plugger tire plug kit for $60.
The Pro Plugger (center) can be bought alone for $40 and is a more compact version of the original Plugger tubeless repair kit. It can be mounted easily on the top tube or in a pack.
On the right, is the Big Switch Ratchet Set that sells for $45. This incorporates a bi-directional ratchet and comes with a hex set and Torx bits.
EWS coming to US East Coast in 2020
The Enduro World Series just announced that round six will take place at Burke Mountain, Vermont for the 2020 season. While Burke Mountain has hosted EWS Qualifying events in the past, this will be the first full EWS competition to take place in Vermont or the East Coast for that matter. The race is scheduled for August 1-2, 2020.
Squirt now has an eMTB-specific chain lube
Thought that a motorcycle lube would work for an eMTB? A bike lube? Nope. Squirt says that the demands on an eMTB drivetrain are unique to the power load.
“E-bikes place higher demands on their drivetrains than standard bicycles, due to higher torque loads and power outputs. This means that e-bike chains experience higher rates of wear.”
The Squirt e-Bike Chain Wax is the same, biodegradable wax/water emulsion formula as normal Squirt lube, but is fortified with high-pressure friction modifiers. The e-Bike Chain Wax is also slicker than normal lube, which will stand up to higher torque and last longer in wet conditions.
