Syntace Wheels
Like a BMW M5, Syntace has always known how to blend brutal high performance with understated looks. Always forward thinking, they were the first company to pioneer the benefits of a wider rim, and their new C331 carbon wheels set looks set to maintain their reputation. With a 33 mm internal width, and asymmetric construction, tire stability should be high. Weighing in at only 730 g / 840g acceleration should be equally sporty. UK riders will love the long lasting ENDURO bearings used throughout, and at £1260, while not cheap, they have undercut a lot of the competition.
For more information, check out the Syntace page.
KS Exa-Form Speed Up Manual Dropper Post
We have to ask ourselves, what do we really need from a dropping post? Of course, you can spend mad money in pursuit of the latest wireless black magic trickery, but sometimes you just need a post that goes up and down. For those who strive for the simple life, the £85 KS Exa-Form Speed Up is the answer. Featuring no internal hydraulic cartridge system, the SpeedUp offers up 175 mm of drop using a simple mechanical lock. Operated by pulling up or pushing down, using an under-the-seat remote, this means you can switch it between bikes and at a shade over 400g you also save a bunch of weight. Boasting up to 175 mm of simple travel, 30.9 and 31.6mm diameters, this will be the answer for price focussed winch and plummet riders.
For more information, check out the KS website.
POLE comes to the UK
When it comes to cycle geometry, most brands herd together like sheep, swapping 0.1 of a degree here and there while bleating in chorus. Then there are the mavericks like POLE and GeoMetron, hunting around the edge of the field like wolves, picking off the weak and old. Radical in every way the POLE Evo-Link is huge, long, low and incredibly slack for a 29er – and it flipping works. The internet is alive with interest in the heretical design and now they are coming to the UK via Velo-brands. We will be building up a POLE very soon for a long term test, so stay tuned.
If you want to check out the POLE’s radical geometry, check out the POLE website.
Niner RLT 9 RDO
Now we love a bit of bike bling, our editorial team still gets excited by titanium and can stroke a Kashima stanchion for hours – so we had to feature this radical Niner RLT 9 RDO adventure bike. 1100 g aggressive frameset and dropped top tube scream speed, while the frame has clearance for tyres up 44 mm on 700c wheels. However, what really made us smile is that it has rack mounts. Rack mounts? Can you imagine hanging heavy panniers from this beautiful work of art, it’s akin to fitting a roof rack to the top of a Zonda and lifting a sofa on top. Then we saw the price of this top Limited Edition model! £8500. When it comes to desirability and eye-watering prices, Niner just dropped the mic!
To check out the rest of the RLT range, check out the Niner website.
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