Employee Review: PNW Components Loam Lever
When it comes to bike product reviews, some products garner all the limelight. It’s easy to get wooed by the clean lines of a new frame, the technical capabilities of a fork, or the lightweight strength of a set of fancy wheels. Other items are relegated to the background and we only think of them when they don’t work just perfectly or when they break. In this review, I want to look at one of those unsung heroes of components that should claim a much more prominent podium spot of our attention... the dropper post remote. I put the PNW Components Loam Lever through a ton of testing in sun, rain, snow and more.
First Look: 2019 Niner RIP 9 v3
“Don’t call it a comeback… I been here for years…” It’s only fitting that I’m getting ear-wormed with L.L. Cool J., circa 1990, as I’m carving berms and boosting doubles through Southern California chaparral. The third-generation Niner Rip 9 has got me feeling nostalgic for a few reasons. I’ve ridden these same trails many times on my previous-generation Rip 9—a bike that served me well for two seasons, a bike that I have forsaken for a newer, shinier all-mountain bike even though I couldn’t have been happier with it. I’m going to make some comparisons to that bike, because as much as the v3 is true to its roots… there is not much that hasn’t changed for the newest Rip 9. And I would say that this bike is somewhat of a metaphor for Niner as a company right now (hang in with me for a minute while I explain) …
2018 Best MTB Tires
Mountain biking is a diverse sport that ranges from full-out pedal fests to hard-charging gnarly descents. But, most riders find themselves riding somewhere in the middle; a mix of climbs, tech, descents, and fun jumps. As 2018 comes to a close, we compiled a list of MTB tires that fall in this range of riding and excel at what they do. We surveyed our employees and our customer reviews to determine each winner. Read on to find out which tires won and why?
How to Upgrade Your Mountain Bike: Our Favorite Affordable Upgrades
Whether you’ve just bought a new mountain bike or are looking to breathe new life into an old trusted steed, upgrading key areas of your bike setup can make your bike lighter, faster, more confidence inspiring, and more fun. But, upgrades to your bike don’t have to cost an arm and leg to get a hefty bump in performance. We’ve put together a quick guide of affordable upgrades with big results.
First Look: Evil Offering
Evil changed the face of 29er bikes with their Following several years back. Fans of the brand have been eagerly awaiting the coming of the next iteration of aggressive 29er from Evil, and it has finally landed. The all-new Evil Offering is 140mm aggressive trail bike ready for full send sessions. Jump in to read our review and check out our Jenson USA Exclusive Build.
2018 Best Flat Pedals at Any Budget
There are numerous reasons to choose to put flat pedals on your bike(s). Platform pedals help you to build good skills and techniques while still providing that ability bail out quickly, if needed. Combined with a quality flat pedal shoe, these pedals provide heaps of grip and a huge platform to keep you riding longer and charging harder with confidence and comfort. We’ve put together this guide of best flat pedals at every budget to help you find the right platform pedals to put under your feet.
First Look: Ibis Ripmo
When you've created 2 of the most iconic bikes, the Ripley and the HD4, that occupy different ends of the trail bike spectrum, what is the logical next step? Ibis answered this question with their latest addition to a stellar bike lineup. Introducing the Ibis Ripmo. A bit Ripley, a bit Mojo HD4. Ripmo. It's a bit of a quirky name, but after seeing this stunning bike in person and/or ripping it through your local trails, you won't care what they named this bike. Read on to get the stats and details, and to see our short-term impressions of this 29" trail assassin.
First Look: 2019 RockShox Lyrik RC2 – True Beauty Comes From Within
The 2019 RockShox Lyrik fork has just landed, and we've been racking up miles testing it out. RockShox even sent the legend, Duncan Riffle, to make sure we had it dialed, and to give us the 411 on what's new. Follow the link, and read on, to see our short-term impressions, and all the details of what's new for this rowdy single crown fork.
Revin R35 Road Wheelset Review
Revin Cycling is a new comer to the world of cycling components, but the people behind this brand are steeped in years of industry experience, knowledge, and partnerships. This unique combination allowed for them to refine the recipe to creating quality components that meet a high standard of performance, reliability, and value. Jenson USA is proud to partner with Revin Cycling to help launch this brand to the cycling public. We couldn't wait to get our resident King of the Road, Oscar, out to put the rubber to the road on a set of Revin R35's, and see just what these wheels could do. Read on to see how he got along with these wheels for the last 2 months.
Best Bib for Enduro Racers? Alpinestars Paragon Bib Review
The search for a that perfect solution of being comfortable on your bike while still packing all the necessary gear and water that you may need can feel like an elusive endeavor. Alpinestars is throwing their contender into the mix of "utility bibs" that integrate pockets, hydration and more within the bib to reduce riders' need for additional gear to carry what they need on a ride. But, Alpinestars has an Ace up their sleeve... they've incorporated spine and hip protection into their Paragon bib. Sam slips into this multi-functional lycra kit to see if it has what it takes to take top pick in his drawer full of other bibs.
