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Wingman: The Tobin & Keegan Story

Tobin Ortenblad and Keegan Swenson are two of the three Santa Cruz Bicycles htSQD riders (Alexis Skarda being the third). And while Keegan’s one of the most powerful long-distance riders in the world in his own right, racing is a team sport… and in team sports, relationships – nay, friendships – are paramount.

Hear the stories, as told by Keegan and Tobin, about racing strategies, competition, psychological warfare, laughter, and camaraderie.

Sea Otter Classic 2024: Neuhaus Metalworks – HBSL Titanium XC Race 29er Hardtail

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Sea Otter Classic 2024: Neuhaus Metalworks – HBSL Titanium XC Race 29er Hardtail

The Radavist thanks 1-Up USA for sponsoring our Sea Otter Classic 2024 coverage!

Josh and John are out at Sea Otter this week, covering people, products, and bikes on display. We’re starting the show coverage off a little differently this year with a feature on Neuhaus Metalworks’ newest offering: the HBSL Titanium XC Race 29er. Read on for a look at this new titanium Superleggera chassis and a comparison to the steel Hummingbird hardtail 29er…

Industry Nine SOLiX M Hubs and Wheelsets

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Industry Nine SOLiX M Hubs and Wheelsets

Industry Nine has spent 2024 rolling out all-new lightweight chassis hub systems through the SOLiX lineup. First came SOLiX G and SOLiX SL wheelsets, and now SOLiX M brings the same quick engagement, low weight, and reduced drag to their lightest and fastest mountain bike wheels yet. Let’s check out some Quick Hits on the three new SOLiX wheelset offerings and an all-new hubset below.

Doing the 2023 Durango Derby

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Doing the 2023 Durango Derby

The Durango Derby brought racers from all over to experience the mountain bike pedigree of Durango and its surrounding mountains. We sent Reportage affiliate Kyle von Hoetzendorff out for the weekend to report back on its vibe and he delivered a stellar piece, including an interview with the event’s co-founder, Dylan Stucki, and exceptional photos by Alex Roszko, so read on to check it out!

Meet Your Maker Event Returns to Skyline XC in Napa, CA

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Meet Your Maker Event Returns to Skyline XC in Napa, CA

Skyline Wilderness Park in Napa has a rich history of mountain bike racing, from the Grundig World Cup races of the 1990s to the Single Speed World Championship in 2008. These are classic chunky old-school XC trails that are a perfect match for your favorite hardtail. Come test your abilities in a fun and supportive community!

Meet Your Maker is an ongoing series of rides hosted by the Northern California bike-making community. It all started in 2011 and kinda faded out in 2016, but now it’s back! No stuffy convention halls, no dim fluorescent lighting, just a good time hanging out and talking shop while we partake in the activity that puts a big smile on all of our faces.

The Cannondale Scalpel HT Hi-MOD 1 Returns in 2022 With a New Geometry and Design

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The Cannondale Scalpel HT Hi-MOD 1 Returns in 2022 With a New Geometry and Design

The Scalpel is, as the name implies, a precision blade for cutting precise lines in singletrack. It’s an unapologetic, thoroughbred race machine that has stuck to its roots in the Cannondale lineup for over a decade. For 2022, the Scalpel returns with a fresh new design – look at that paint! – and new geometry with a slacker front end of 66.5º across all sizes. Complete with HollowGram cranks and a mix of high-end Shimano components, the new Scalpel HT Hi-MOD 1 as pictured here has a retail of $5000. Head to Cannondale to see more.

If you want to see a sick custom Scalpel we documented a few years back, check out The Cub House’s own build-up!

Rigid and Spellbound: The Sour Bicycles Pasta Party 29er SSMTB with BERD Wheels

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Rigid and Spellbound: The Sour Bicycles Pasta Party 29er SSMTB with BERD Wheels

In some form of intergalactic serendipity, this review coincides with the 2021 International Singlespeed Day, so hopefully, this article inspires you to dust off the ol’ Cruiser or SSMTB and get out for a sunset shred with your friends.

I’ve had the Sour Bicycles Pasta Party for longer than I’d like to admit for a review period but with supply chain shortages, I decided to scrap my original plans for the build as a geared hardtail and assembled it with various spare parts and some new fancy BERD wheels which ended up resulting in one very unique rigid singlespeed 29er.

The Pasta Party is a strange bird with a few clever details and a few quirks, so read on below for my review of this unique chassis offering from the German brand Sour Bicycles…

The Why Cycles El Jefe

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The Why Cycles El Jefe

The El Jefe is the latest model to land in the Why Cycles titanium catalog. Think of it as the more serious sibling to the S7 and the Wayward. It’s less swoopy, more serious, lighter, and faster-pedaling, yet it has clearance for a 29×2.6″ tire.

This bike is Why’s first “pro-model”, akin to skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding. Jefe Branham is an ultra-endurance legend based in Gunnison, CO, and has been a friend and team rider for Why for two seasons. His feedback as to what his dream bike would be for going fast in the backcountry informed every decision in the El Jefe design. Jefe’s personal mantra is “Fast or Slow Just Go,” so with his input, Why turned it into a sandblasted graphic on the raw titanium. The lily flower in the graphics is a nod to his two-year-old daughter, Lillian.

With a 73.3º seat angle, a 67.5º head angle, and a 120mm fork, the El Jefe is a nimble, fast, and capable hardtail with pricing beginning at $2,349 for a frame only at Why Cycles.

Crankbrothers Announce the Highline Gravel/XC Dropper Post and Drop Bar Remote

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Crankbrothers Announce the Highline Gravel/XC Dropper Post and Drop Bar Remote

The Highline is a new dropper post from Crankbrothers, marketed towards gravel bikes and XC racing mountain bikes. These 27.2mm posts come in a variety of lengths and feature an optional drop-bar dropper remote. The Highline comes backed with a 4-year warranty, is supplied with Jagwire cable and housing, uses a two-bolt standard head, is linear-pull, and is for internal routing.

HIGHLINE XC/GRAVEL FEATURES:
-60mm short & long / 80mm / 100mm / 125mm of infinite travel adjustment
-diameter: 27.2mm
-insertion lengths: 174mm short & 264mm long / 264mm / 264mm / 264mm (bottom of collar to bottom of actuator)
-weights: 369g & 410g / 434g / 459g / 467g
-60mm minimum stack height

See more at Crankbrothers.

Readers’ Rides: Hanson’s Crust Bikes Evasion Lite Review

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Readers’ Rides: Hanson’s Crust Bikes Evasion Lite Review

This week’s Readers’ Rides photos are so sharp, we decided to share it as a full gallery. Hanson Little is an ex-pro BMX shredder and the hands behind Dark Realm Cycling, a brand that operates alongside his partner Vanessa’s Shop Realm. These two put out exceptional bags from their Austin, TX home. We’re featuring Hanson’s Crust Bikes Evasion Lite, a less-burly, lighter Evasion. This stripped-back version is quite the frame! Let’s look at it in detail below.