The latest Norco Sight, more from Title, Crankbrothers Mallet E LS and Hutchinson's racey gravel tyres

Our weekly round up of the top tech to come in for testing, and the best stories.

Liam Mercer

Jun 28 2024

As we enter the lead-up to Eurobike 2024, things are getting pretty exciting and we'll have loads of updates over the next week. As for Five Cool Things, the kit continues to flow with Norco's latest high-pivot Sight, Hutchinson's mega-racey Caracal gravel tyres and a little more from Brett Rheeder's componentry brand, Title. Read on to find out what else has come in for our testers' discerning eyes.

But before looking at the coolest kit at the office right now, let's glance over the top stories that have appeared on off.road.cc this week. First off, Rondo took centre stage, revamping its beloved RUUT with an all-new frame that looks like it's been taken straight out of a sci-fi film.

Over to the MTB side, Starling's Murmur went downcountry with the Mini-Murmur. This new 120mm travelled bike uses the same steel frame as the brand's trail bike, the Murmur, but uses a shorter stroke shock and a shorter travel fork. This makes for a steel cross-country/down-country bike littered with cool Hope componentry. We even managed to get some time on the bike ahead of launch so check out our Starling Cycles Mini-Murmur first ride review for more. Sonder also updated its Cortex with a new trail-friendly geometry.

In other news, Garmin launched a brighter and better Edge 1050 GPS unit and OneUp Components unveiled its super light and affordable hubs. Fox also looks poised to set trends once again with its new Purevue goggles that are made to be ridden with open-face helmets.

Crankbrothers Mallet Enduro LS clipless pedals

£180

It's been seven years since we reviewed the Mallet Enduro pedals but there's now a long-spindle model which gets the same concave platform, six pins per side and the classic four-sided entry mechanism. However, these particular pedals provide a 57mm Q-factor.

Long spindle variations of pedals aren't terribly common, so an option that increases shoe clearance is excellent for those who prefer a wider stance over the bike.

Other features include a 6061-T6 aluminium build for the pedal body with 17-4PH Stainless wings. The lengthy spindles are constructed from forged SCM 435 Chromoly steel with inboard Igus LL-glide bearings and an Enduro MAX cartridge bearing outboard. While the 300 series stainless steel spring offers no method of tension adjustment, the release angle is dictated by the cleats you choose to run. The standard set provides 15 and 20-degree release angles whereas there are also easy-release cleats with a 10-degree release.

www.crankbrothers.com

Norco Sight C1

Earlier this year, Norco not only changed distributors but also overhauled the Sight and Optic mountain bikes. We've managed to wrangle the Sight for review and it borrows the high-pivot layout from the Range enduro bike. Dubbed the VPSHP (Virtual Pivot Suspension - High Pivot) suspension layout, the brand says that it drapes the Sight with a more confident ride whether you're going up (or down) and that the bike is prime for big efforts between the tapes or backcountry epics.

We've got the size 3 on test which gets a 472.5mm reach, a 64-degree head tube angle and a 77.5-degree effective seat tube angle. There's then a 434mm chainstay. The Sight can then accommodate a 29-inch rear wheel or a 650b hoop through a Missing Link Kit that retains the geometry and suspension kinematics regardless of the wheel size.

As for componentry, this particular model isn't available in the UK (yet, at least). It's adorned with some clever cost-saving parts that don't skimp on performance. Upfront is a Fox 36 Factory fork with 160mm of travel and Fox DHX2 Coil shock damps 150mm. The drivetrain is a mix of SRAM's T-Type kit that revolves mostly around the GX level but the mech comes from the XO lineup. There are then Stan's wheels laced to Race Face's new Vault hubs and OneUp Components' dropper post with 210mm of drop.

While this build isn't being brought to the UK, the air-sprung C2 model will set you back £6,500.

www.norco.com

Title ST1 35 Stem

£110

Brett Rheeder's componentry brand, Title, is still finding its feet in the UK but if one piece could show off its quality and durability aims, it's the ST1 stem. This one comes with a 35mm clamp diameter and we've got it in its 40mm length (a 35mm length option is also available). Title says that it's 38mm in stack height and 58mm wide.

Intended for all-mountain, enduro, downhill and dirt jump riding, the stem is tested to do exactly that, having passed EFBE's TRI-TEST GR tests. It's then CNC machined from a solid block of 6061-T6 aluminium.

Coming in six colours, the ST1 can also be picked up to suit bars with a 31.8mm clamp diameter.

www.titlemtb.com

Hutchinson Caracal gravel tyres

£50 - £55

With gravel racing quickly growing in popularity, we're seeing many almost slick-looking gravel-specific tyres coming to the market. Hutchinson's new Caracal tyres are poised to be the brand's fastest yet. In for testing are tyres with two different casings, a race-specific and mega light carcass and another that's a bit harder wearing for general larking about.

The Caracal Race uses technology first introduced on the brand's road-going rubber such as the SwiftEasy casing and MachTread 3.0 rubber compound. The non-race model uses Hutchinson's Hardskin bead-to-bead reinforcement but both are built with a slick centre tread with minimal shoulder knobs for grip when cornering.

Both tyres are available in one size – 700x40c.

hutchinson.com

Mixx StreamBuds Sports Charge 2 wireless earbuds

£50

The best headphones for cycling come in all shapes and sizes and, with so many options, the purchasing decision can be overwhelming – especially regarding features and pricing. And, let’s face it, some frighteningly expensive options are on the market. Mixx Audio is a UK-based company with 18 years in the industry and a mantra based on bringing affordable, premium headphones to the people.

The Mixx StreamBuds Sports Charge 2 wireless earbuds are a no-frills, easy-to-use option. The over-ear hoops are flexible and wrap around the ear securely and without interfering with your cycling helmet or sunglasses. While these are not specifically designed for cycling (they can be used for running and gym sessions, too), they make a great option owing to their feathery weight and unobtrusive fitment in the ear.

Like many options on the market, the StreamBuds Sports Charge 2 wireless earbuds use touch buttons to control music, pause, adjust the volume, answer or decline calls on the go and activate Google Assistant or Siri with a single touch. Run time is between six and seven hours (the charging case adds a further 25 hours of charge). They can be fast charged, too – 15 minutes of fast charge time will give you two hours of playtime, rendering the frustration of forgetting to charge your headphones a thing of the past.

The charging case has a digital display showing the battery status of each earbud, which serves as a reminder should you want to recharge them 100% ahead of a long ride. Built-in Qi Wireless charging is also available with the Sports Charge 2

What makes the Mixx StreamBuds Sports Charge 2 wireless earbuds such a great option is the £50 pricing – Aaron Borrill

www.mixx-audio.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.