Flat pedals from OneUp, Sweet Protection's latest helmet and all-road tyres from Michelin

And a lot more, along with the top stories of the week

Liam Mercer

Jun 16 2023

The cool things are still flowing through the office and this week is no exception as we've got a dropper post from Race Face, pedals from OneUp, a new helmet from Sweet Protection and a saddle from PRO. There's also Manitou's latest Mattoc fork, which the brand dubs 'the people's fork'. Of course, we'll also highlight the best news on the site this week.

This week has been a big one for first-ride reviews as SRAM has launched an all-new Apex Eagle mechanical groupset. Our very own Aaron flew out to the States to get a taste of the brand's latest shifting tech. This one's not to be missed. There's also our first ride review of the Yeti SB135 LR, a bike launched just a month or two ago that runs 650b, or 27.5in wheels. We've also got a first taste of Canyon's updated Neuron:ON CF 8, a true all-mountain e-bike.

With last weekend's spot of racing being so dramatic, we couldn't help but ride that train as we bring highlights of Rachel Atherton and Jordan Williams' win at Lenzerheide, and talk about Nino Schurter's 34th win.

A quick feature for you to read is our interview with the designer of the Canyon Torque:ON, Peter Kettenring.

Of course, we can't let you go without talking about this week's reviews and one in particular really stands out - the YT Industries' Decoy Core 3 which scored a whopping five stars. We simply think it's one of the best e-MTBs out there thanks to its unshakable versatility, good value and welcoming ride character. In other news, Pat has taken a look at GRVL's 3 Season jacket which also got near to top marks for its breathability, hood design and easily reachable pockets.

Race Face Turbine R dropper post

£379

Here is Race Face's Turbine R dropper post that's said to take a 'less is more' approach and uses Fox's patent-pending seat clamp design which Race Face reckons reduces the stack height by quite the figure. It's available in five travel lengths, from 100 to 200mm (with 30.9 and 31.6 clamp diameters) and it uses a standard shifter cable and housing for actuation. The brand also says that it's 25g lighter than the previous iteration.

www.raceface.com

OneUp Aluminium Pedals

£139.50

Next, we've got OneUp's simply named Aluminium Pedals. These come sorted with a large but very thin, 8mm platform that's loaded with 10 pins that are accessible from the opposite side of the pedal. That platform is shaped with a slight convex profile to help follow the foot's natural arch.

On top of that, the pedal is user-serviceable thanks to a clever cassette tool lock ring system.

oneupcomponents.com

Sweet Protection Bushwacker 2vi Mips

£219

This is Sweet Protection's latest and greatest trail mountain bike lid that comes complete with fancy 2vi tech. It's the brand's own technology that's said to increase performance and comfort but it also uses Mips that helps prevent rotational impact forces in the event of a crash.

As the spec list continues, the helmet benefits from a multi-density EPS foam with four impact shields for each corner of the head. There's also a variable elasticity shell that Sweet Protection has designed to offer protection at both high and low-speed impacts but without compromising on weight.

The Bushwhacker 2vi is available in six colours and three sizes.

www.sweetprotection.com

PRO MSN 1.3 Enduro saddle

£120

PRO's MSN 1.3 Enduro saddle, as its name suggests, is designed for enduro by offering a neutral saddle position for comfort over long periods. It's shaped with a short length and an anatomic fit recess with a drainage port. Its base is carbon reinforced while using stainless steel rails. Available in 142mm and 152mm widths, it benefits from PU padding and foam. As for weights, PRO claims that the saddle weighs 255 and 275g respectively.

www.pro-bikegear.com

Manitou Mattoc Pro

€1,260

Last but absolutely not least is Manitou's latest Mattoc Pro fork which promises to bring big performance and lightweight versatility to both cross-country mountain biking and mild enduro riding. This has been made possible thanks to an adjustable travel feature that offers 100mm up to 150mm of suspension travel thanks to the DoradoTM air spring. It also presents a 19% boost in stiffness against the previous model.

Much like the Mezzer Pro we reviewed not long ago, the Mattoc Pro comes with Manitou's IRT chamber, which acts as a second positive chamber that can be adjusted to control the midstroke and end stroke progression.

There's a lot more to this fork, so head over to our news piece for now, or keep your eyes peeled for the full review coming soon.

hayesbicycle.com

Author block

Liam Mercer

Since beginning his mountain biking career while working as a resort photographer in Greece in 2014, Liam became a freelance contributor at off.road.cc in 2019. From there, he’s climbed the journalism job ladder from staff writer to deputy technical editor, now finding his place as technical editor.

Partial to the odd enduro race, heart rate-raising efforts on slim-tyred cross-country bikes, hell-for-leather e-MTB blasts or even casual gravel jaunts, there’s not a corner of off-road cycling where Liam fears to tread. With more than 40 bike reviews under his belt and hundreds more on MTB, e-MTB and gravel parts and accessories, Liam’s expertise continues to be cemented and respected by the industry.