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And yet we all thought that Europe had banished this spectre once and for all. Wrong! But perhaps a trip into nature on a mountain bike is the right way to stay grounded in these times. We have put together the current must-buys for you.
Protective cover: Helmet O'Neal Blade V22
This was previously the helmet of world champion Greg Minnaar (now Fox). Because Greg was always in a hurry, the Californians designed the Blade to be lightweight (< 1 kg) and milled so many slots into it that Greg always kept a cool head. The futuristically designed crash cover is available in carbon (€ 450) and composite. Clever: the magnetic fastener saves fiddling. Also included: a specially developed system designed to absorb rotational forces.
Price: from 200 euros >> available from Maciag Offroad
Adhesive: Flat pedal shoes Scott MTB Tuned
The Swiss confidently call their sole "Sticky Rubber". Does it really provide maximum grip? We don't know. There's white artificial leather on the top. That looks chic. We know that! The flat pedal can do everything, from trail to downhill.
Price: 99,95 Euro >> available from Maciag Offroad
Impact foam: Protector ION K-Pact Lite
Cushioning is the hard currency in the world of schooners. The higher the cushioning, the greater the protection! The thicker brother of the new K-Pact Lite scored top marks with its Sas-Tec foam in our lab test. That's why Ion has now added a buffer from the Swabian foam manufacturer (Euro protection level 1) to the slimmer Lite version. The K-Pact Lite is suitable for tamer trail and enduro use. If you want the protector with a zip for quick donning and doffing on tour, you'll have to shell out 20 euros more.
Price: 100 Euro >> at Mountain friends or Maciag Offroad
Ankle cuff: Flat pedal reverse base pedal
16 steel pins spike into your shoe on the base pedal. They pin the bike to you and you to the bike. Reverse equips the aluminium footboard with a steel axle and "Baurillium" bearings - that sounds robust. The base pedal is not light (423 g), but it is inexpensive. Available in black, copper, blue and cool chrome (photo).
Price: 69.90 euros, available from Reverse Components
Calming injection: Fox 36 suspension fork
In our tests, the Fox 36 enduro fork has often won the test. Now the Fox engineers want to make it even lighter. And stiffer. And more comfortable. Wow! Weight of the top version (29 inch) with Grip2 cartridge: 1942 grams. Available in black and this eye-catching orange colour.
Price: 1559 Euro >> available from Maciag Offroad
Wurstfabrik: Crankbrothers Cigar Tool tyre repair kit
Bang, and the tyre spits white drool. Happens often, often looks stupid because there's nothing to seal it. Because when tubeless tyres run out of air, there's usually a big mess with slimy tubes, sticky hands and soiled clothes. That won't happen if you have this neat little tin (Stevie Smith edition) with you. It contains five rubber sausages for sealing if the rock has bitten a large chunk out of the tyre - with a CO2 cartridge option for racing. But we are freeriders, have time and prefer to pump.
Price: 30 Euro >> available at Alltricks
Panzerfaust: Bluegrass React gloves
War vocabulary also in FREERIDE, although the React is not armoured at all, but merely protects the fist with robust fabrics, absorbs sweat and dampens vibrations when the handlebars twitch and jerk in the hand. It's also available in subtle colours if the red is too bright for you.
Price: 40 Euro >> available at Alltricks
Screensaver: Glasses Oakley Sutro Lite Sweep Vented
Prizm lens is what the US eyewear experts call their super lens. It enhances contrast, is even bulletproof and comes in XXL format in the Sutro Lite, because fashion dictates that the bigger the lens, the better! Oakley recommends the Trail Torch tint for mountain biking. The Californians have punched holes in the lens for even better ventilation - clever!
Price: from 166 euros >> available at Bergzeit
Luftikus: Helmet Specialised Gambit
Allen Bischofberger has left no stone unturned to make this full face light (680 g, M) and supposedly super safe. Check out the video on YouTube! The Gambit has a carbon composite shell with integrated air channels. Four adjustable cheek pads and a ratchet system are supposed to fix the helmet firmly and comfortably to the head. Sounds good, but we won't know if it's true until we've tested it. More soon!
Price: 360 Euro >> at BikeInn or Liquid Life available
Beacon: Ledlenser Signal CU2R headlamp
Time forgotten, sun down, light gone! And now? With the CU2R, the LED specialists from Solingen offer an affordable emergency light. Lights up white or red as required and can be strapped to your arm, rucksack or bike. So you can get home safely!
Price: 19,90 Euro >> available at Amazon
Grouper: E13 Helix Race cassette
Drive worn out? How about this? Aluminium on the outside, steel on the inside - the smart 12-speed cassette offers a wide range with 9-36 teeth (Cromoly steel) and 42-50 (7075 aluminium) and can be combined with Shimano and Sram drivetrains. Weight: 345 grams.
Price: 289 Euro >> available from Maciag Offroad
Big thing: SR Suntour Durolux 38 suspension fork
"We want to get in on the action too!" thought the Japanese company SR Suntour and gave their enduro fork a larger calibre as a challenge to the big players. After all, Fox (38 mm) and Rockshox (ZEB) almost share the market between them. So Suntour also gave its fork thick stanchions for more stiffness and trimmed it to be "extra rowdy". To test whether the recipe worked, the manufacturer sent its freeride cowboys Kurt Sorge and Carson Storch into the terrain. We also want to test the power fork at the next opportunity! Available from 160 to 180 millimetres.
Price: from 875 euros, available from Suntour
Seat cushion: Ergon SM Downhill saddle
Downhillers rarely sit in the saddle, so the SM Downhill is rather robust with its all-round padding, compact for plenty of tyre clearance and shaped in such a way that it can be easily steered with the legs and the bike stays on course. Sexy: the titanium frame with an oilslick look.
Price: 150 Euro >> available from Maciag Offroad
