Eurobike 2010 is but a memory but we have enough photos and info to keep you going for a while.  This was the best show we have seen in years with lots of new products and trends coming your way.  Key for 2011 is a seed change in groupsets which have moved to 10 speed [...]

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We don’t often plug technologies on this site but we recently came across one that we think is worthy of mention.  Columbia is a company that is reinventing itself in the outdoor clothing world.  We are testing a number of different technologies that they have developed but with all the rain that we have had [...]

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Hot on the heals of our Edge 500 review comes the announcement of a replacement for the popular Edge 705 .  Similar to the Edge 500 in styling but carrying full topographic maps, a touch screen interface and a colour screen its the new cycling range topper from Garmin.

Like the Edge 500 it will have [...]

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For 2011 Syncros are introducing a complete Carbon component group for Cross Country and Marathon use.  Syncros are renowned for their strength and light weight coming in slightly stronger than sister company Ritchey.
FL Carbon wheels

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For the past few years the Garmin Edge 705 has been the cutting edge in terms of GPS cycling computers whether you were a Tour de France rider or a trail warrior. Recently the company introduced this smaller model in response to a request from the Garmin-Transitions Pro-Tour squad who were looking for something [...]

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Shimano has just announced details of a new range of Carbon fibre trail components under its PRO brand named Tharsis.
PRO Tharsis Stem

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Giro have just released details of a new helmet, the Xar, a replacement for the Zen.

With an All Mountain focus

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Shimano announced details of their new Shimano XTR groupset today.  Aimed at the XC and AM category it features a major redesign that brings XTR bang up to date.

The XC version of the XTR groupset

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Icebreaker, the New Zealand company that pioneered the outdoor merino wool apparel category, will be taking part in this year’s epic 3,000-mile Race Across America (RAAM) bike race, June 12-21, 2010.

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Syncros are renowned for building components that can take a bit more abuse than standard lightweight equipment yet are still relatively lightweight.  They have a strong history in mountain biking so when they bring out a new product it is always worth taking note.  First up a set of carbon wheels that while expensive are [...]

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One of the oldest MTB component manufacturers, Ritchey, also make road components.  They are one of our favourite companies and have just announced two new road bars to their lineup.
WCS Carbon Curve

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The Remedy is Trek’s All mountain machine.  Designed around a 150mm suspension platform the bike is destined for going downhill fast. 

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Component manufacturer SRAM has recently announced a complete revamp to the three groupsets (or families) immediately below their revolutionary range topping XX group.  All of them are now 2×10 speed with various levels of the technologies that make up the uber expensive top level series.

For its part X9 has been radically updated and now includes [...]

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For 2011, the new XO returns as a complete product family, featuring the legendary XO rear derailleur, trigger shifters and an all new 2X10 crankset with front derailleur which promises amazing shifting performance. New Avid XO brakes provide the first XO specific brakeset to complete the family.

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This past weekend we were to be found racing the WAR (Wicklow Adventure Race) adventure race in Glendalough.  On our feet for the running leg were Columbia’s trail running shoe, the Ravenous.

Released as part of the revamped product line, the Ravenous is a new shoe from the ground up.

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Shimano announced its new drivetrain system Dyna-Sys on friday with a 3×10 setup to go head to head with SRAMs 2×10 range which now goes from X7 right up to XX (more on this soon).  Whereas the SRAM system uses two chain rings up front, Shimano have stuck with three but narrowed the ratio and [...]

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Santa Cruz have just released details of their new carbon fibre Nomad.  Below is the full press release , it’s a bit of an essay but none the less, enjoy.

It seems like barely a year and a half ago we totally revamped our beloved gnarl-hound with updated suspension, geometry and a host of details that [...]

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Rockshox have just announced a new version of the Domain fork, with the same Domain characteristics brought up to a 200mm dual crown chassis at a fantastic price point.

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The first round of the Leinster Cross country league kicked off this past weekend, just outside Bunclody in Co.Wexford.  It was the first time the organising club Racing 795 had run a race although you would not have known it!

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Recently arrived is a box of delights from Camelbak.  We are currently testing the contents but we thought you might like a quick look at  some of the goodies.

First up is the bike specific MULE.  With a 100 oz reservoir, riders can comfortably hydrate for 3+ hours on the trail and numerous stash pockets will [...]

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Recently arrived into Spoke towers are two helmets from Italian manufacturer MET, the Kaos UL and the Valeno DIM.

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Our female tester declared this the most versatile outdoor product she has ever used.  What ever your passion be it MTB, trail running, hiking, mountaineering etc. and then slipping down the pub afterwards for a quick drink, this is the garment for you.

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Not content to merely blow us away with the new X-7 group, SRAM have also released details on a new 150mm Rockshox fork.

Like X-7 which brings many of the features from XX at a far more affordable price point, the Sektor brings much of the technology from the top end Revelation fork at a much [...]

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One of the main features of SRAMs groundbreaking XX is the 2×10 speed drivetrain.  Unfortunately the price makes it available to only a very small proportion of the market but that is set to change as SRAMs cheapest groupset, X-7, will now feature it as standard.
With a radical redesign,  SRAM X7 features 2X10 drivetrain, X-Glide [...]

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Gore are more well known for their clothing and more specifically Gore-tex but their product range doesn’t stop with garments.  The unique properties of Gore-tex are suited to other applications too including cable liners.

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Schwalbe is launching new versions of its Rocket Ron and Nobby Nic MTB success models onto the market: both tires are now available also as a 29″ size (57-622, 29 x 2.25). These “twentyniners” have long since attracted attention in the USA due to their solid performance in terms of track holding and rolling resistance [...]

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The Sinethesis is METs top end road helmet which adorns the heads of the Liquigas team including France Pellizzotti and Ivan Basso and it is now available in team colours.

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Super-distributors Madison recently had their annual trade show at their headquarters in Milton-Keynes and we made the trip to check out the newest products.
DT SWISS

DT Swiss EXM 150

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Back in November we brought you news of the new Garmin OSi maps for Ireland.  At the time the drawback was the way the country was split into four with a line stretching across from Johnny Fox’s marking the end of North-East and start of South-East, an obvious drawback if you utilise the Dublin mountains [...]

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When SRAM introduced XX last year it was the first full groupset that incorporated a 2×10 setup in mountain biking. We ran a 2×9 setup on a carbon hardtail for most of last season and found it spectacular so no winning over was required from us.

SRAM have launched a new website called SRAM2×10.com designed as [...]

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