Chromag Lynx saddleThe Chromag Lynx is designed as an all around saddle that will appeal to a number of different types of riders. It isn't a massive and overly soft couch that would quickly become uncomfortable during a long ride (
too much padding and width can restrict leg movement, causing chafing), but there is certainly more to it than a slender and unforgiving cross-country race seat. The Lynx's firm foam padding is laid over a medium width shell, tapering to a round tail section that has been designed to allow the rider to easily get behind the seat, and it measures out at 280mm long and 135mm wide. The nose features more padding than many other seats, making it a good choice for riders who like to slide up to the front of the saddle during hard efforts. Titanium rails help keep the weight at a reasonable 265 grams, although there are plenty of lighter saddles out there. The Lynx can be had in either black or white natural leather tops, and retails for $99.00 USD. More info at
www.chromagbikes.com |
| The Lynx saddle is one of the most comfortable that we've ever used, but ours did have a tendency to creak where the rails meet the saddle's shell. |
 | With the exception of possibly your chamois, it doesn't get much more personal than saddles. What works for a number of riders may not even be close to what you require in a saddle, but having said that I would put Chromag's Lynx at the top of my list of seats that work for me. The shape is narrow enough that it didn't chafe the inside of my legs, but finds that balance where it also didn't feel like it was about to cut me in half. Even long rides that push into the five and six hour mark didn't have me wishing for any other saddle. Everyone is shaped differently, but I was able to run the saddle level without any numbness or discomfort, even when hunched over and suffering up a long fire road climb. The Lynx's nose features more padding than you'll find on some other options and it turned out to be just the ticket for sliding forward on the seat during hard efforts. It needs to be said that one man's ideal saddle can easily be another's hell, but everyone in the Pinkbike office has been quite pleased with the Lynx. My single complaint would be a recurring creaking noise that emanates from where the rails meet the saddle's shell. A quick squirt of penetrating lube will solve it for a week's worth of riding, but it always returns. - Mike Levy |
Maxxis Ardent 29 x 2.4" tireMaxxis' Ardent tire is available in a number of different sizing, compound and casing options, but it's their 29 x 2.4" model that caught our attention. The high volume tire uses an open tread pattern that should clear well in muddy conditions, as well as ramped center knobs to keep rolling speed high. The cornering lugs are laid out in a two stage arrangement, with the H-shaped knobs taking hold first, followed by the stepped and siped lugs that grab hold when the bike is really leaned over. The tire's 2.4" width clearly puts it into the aggressive trail and all-mountain category, but it's the EXO casing, a strong sidewall that is designed to stand up to abuse better, that will let those riders run it at lower pressures without fear of damaging the sidewall. The 29 x 2.4" Ardent uses a folding bead and weighs in at 902 grams on our scale. It retails for $67.00 USD.
www.maxxis.com  |
| The 29 x 2.4'' Ardent offers an incredible amount of predictable traction, but doesn't quite perform as well on hard packed terrain. |
| It has been slow to catch on, but riders are beginning to see the benefits of a high volume 29'' tire - riding a big wheeler doesn't automatically mean that you are a lycra clad XC racer! Many riders move to narrower tires when making the switch from 26'' to 29'' wheels, made possible by the improved traction from the differently shaped contact patch, but sticking with a high volume option can be an eye opening experience as to just how much purchase a tire can offer. Maxxis' 29'' x 2.4'' Ardent did just that. With the big meat under you it feels as if you really can't do anything wrong. Traction is staggering in all conditions, but it is how the big Ardent doles it out that really impressed me. There is no immediate on/off feeling, but rather a very gentle and predictable letting go of the tire when the time does come, making it very easy to control when things start to get rowdy. Rolling speed was also surprisingly good, enough so that I'd have to say that it carries more speed than many other smaller volume tires. While I have suffered a few pinch flats despite the tire's medium duty EXO casing, they likely would have occurred even if I was running a full on dual ply tire. Gripes? When pushing on hard packed terrain we could feel the tire's cornering knobs flexing over more than we felt comfortable with, making for a somewhat vague feeling at the bars. This likely isn't the tire for you if your trails are rock hard. At just a hair over 900 grams it is far from being considered light, even for a 29'er tire, but any aggressive riders who are considering the big 2.4'' wide Ardent will likely be okay with that particular tradeoff. - Mike Levy |
RockShox Monarch RT3 shockRockShox's Monarch RT3 shock is available in two configurations to better suit your bike and riding style; one that uses a piggy back for more oil flow (
ideal for longer travel applications or aggressive riding), and the inline damper show here that is intended for cross-country and trail use. The air sprung shock features adjustable rebound, air pressure and the pedal assisting Floodgate adjustment, making it a simple damper to setup and understand, and anodized sag gradients on the air shaft help make finding the correct sag amount a cinch. It can be purchased with either a large or small volume air can depending on your bike and riding style, and different internal tunes are available to better suit the bike's leverage rate. The 165 x 38mm size weighs a scant 215 grams, and the shock retails for $291.00 - $327.00 USD depending on model.
www.sram.com  |
| RockShox's Monarch RT3 did a great job of looking after the back of our Superfly test bike, but some riders may prefer a stronger Floodgate setting for sustained or smooth climbs. |
| We tested the Monarch RT3 shock on the back of Trek's Superfly 100, a 4'' travel 29'er that we've probably been riding harder than it's really intended for, but it has given us a great opportunity to push the compact RT3 quite hard. Setup couldn't be easier; start with your air pressure to set your spring rate (use the sag gradients for easy setup), followed by dialling in the correct rebound speed. That's it, you're done. The only other dial to fiddle with is the shock's Floodgate function, a three position lever that is a quick way to adjust the amount of compression damping while on the fly - from fully open for rough terrain, a middle setting for when you want to pump and carry more speed on smoother ground and a firm position that is ideal for long and smooth climbs.
The RT3 proved to be a great performing shock for those who are looking for a lightweight inline damper. The sag gradients on the air shaft made setup quick and easy, and the shock was supple enough on the back of our Superfly to do a good job of increasing traction on loose surfaces. Our test model was equipped with the smaller of the two air can sizes, helping it to keep from using too much of the bike's 4'' of travel. This let me run it a touch softer than I could have if it was equipped with the large can, proving to be a smart choice for aggressive riding. We really only have two grumbles about the RT3. First, we'd like to see its Floodgate lever a touch shorter. While it easy to flip with your gloved hands, it's also just as easy to hit with your knee while riding. This will also be bike dependent, with some designs amplifying the issue and some not having it at all. Our last complaint is that we would have like to have a firmer ride with the Floodgate fully engaged. Again, this will vary depending on the bike's needs, but the difference between fully open and fully closed on our RT3 was negligible. If you do find yourself looking for a firmer Floodgate setting RockShox or a local service center can easily modify this for you as well. While our white Monarch RT3 certainly looks great, RockShox has just introduced a version that uses a made in the U.S.A. carbon fiber air can. We want! - Mike Levy |
Point One Racing Podium pedalPoint One's Podium uses a novel open body design that allows you to see the axle as it passes through the body. Four sealed bearings are used in total, with a large inboard bearing up against the crank arm. The axle itself is a hollow, custom heat treated 4140 chromoly steel unit that uses a zinc plating to resist corroding. The Podium's 100 x 100mm body is CNC'd from 6061 aluminum and features chamfers on the outside edges to reduce the chance of the bike stopping from a pedal strike. The body also uses a built in concave to help hold your feet in place, tapering from 13 to 11mm at its thinnest point. Sixteen hex head pins are used per pedal, threaded in from the opposite face to make removing damaged pins easier. The Podiums weigh 359 grams (
w/ steel studs) and retails for $179.00 USD.
www.pointoneracing.com |
| The Podiums offer a confidence inspiring amount of grip, but turn a bit too stiff for use on a bike that will be pedalled for any length of time. |
| We've used the Podiums on downhill, all-mountain and even some cross-country rides and have come away impressed with how they perform. The grip provided by the 100 x 100mm concave platform feels spot on, not too much and not too little, and the sturdy traction pins have taken a beating, but are all still ready for action. The raised inner section that houses the large inboard sealed bearing had us wondering if we'd be able to feel it when on the trail, but it is invisible in use. The thin profile helps to limit the chance of pedal strikes, but the ones that have occurred haven't done much to faze the Podiums. We're happy with how the Podium pedals have performed, but they do have one drawback that we'd like to see get addressed before we'd consider them the best of the best: while they turn smooth, there is a fair bit of spinning resistance in the design. No, that may not matter for a lot of downhiller's or for those who are going to put them on their DJ bike, but anyone who runs platform pedals on their all-mountain rig will want something that turns a bit easier. - Mike Levy |
