The Lauf Elja, PNW's Loam Stem, locks from OnGuard, bearings from Enduro Bearings and our very own Ciovita kit
Five Cool Things is back – and we've got some seriously cool kit to show off.
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After a bit of time off to make way for Electric Week, Five Cool Things is back, primed to highlight the most interesting kit that's recently come into the office ahead of review. To mark its return, we're going to check out Lauf's first-ever mountain bike, PNW's CNC-machined stem and locks supplied by OnGuard. As it's getting wet out there, we've got some replacement bearings from Enduro Bearings and perhaps the coolest thing we've got this week is off.road.cc-branded kit from Ciovita.
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Although it has been rather quiet on the news front, we've been seriously busy over the last few weeks, not only bringing you the best e-MTB content but also a raft of features, including an exclusive interview with Tahnee Seagrave as we discuss her return to form after serious injury. The racing theme continued as we dived deep into the details of cross-country short track and told you exactly what to expect from 2025's UCI Gravel World Series, including how to qualify for the Gravel World Champs. Speaking of gravel, we've brought you everything you need to know about the Gravel Burn stage race, organised by the founder of the Absa Cape Epic.
There have been a couple of releases that are worth highlighting as the Calibre Bossnut has made a return and Cotic, the brand best known for its steel mountain bikes has stepped into the e-MTB space with the 150mm Rocket. Pivot has also made headlines with its tweaked Shuttle LT that now boasts Bosch's Performance Line CX Race motor, so for more details, we've got a first ride review on the Pivot Shuttle LT Pro XO.
As for reviews, there have been plenty with the latest version of the Merida Big.Trail 600 was awarded 4.5 stars for its great value and equally as a stand-out ride. We delivered our verdict on DT Swiss's F232 One suspension fork and primed for winter, Zefal's Shield G50 gravel mudguard set has won a coveted five stars. Wrapping things up, Editor, Aaron has been putting in the miles on the mental-looking Rondo Ruut, so be sure to head over to his review to find out whether there's a method behind the madness.
PNW Components Loam Stem
£99
2024 pnw loam stem.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Last week the guys at PNW Components bolstered its range of cockpit components with the all-new Loam stem. The Range stem has served the brand, and its customers, I'm sure, incredibly well over the years but PNW saw a gap to introduce a posher CNC-machined stem to its range.
Not only does it exhibit the quality expected of a CNC-machined, 6061 alloy, product but it has also allowed the brand to offer the stem in many colours. Here, we've got it in the interestingly named Fruit Snacks colour but it can be picked up in orange, black or silver, or Blackout Black, Blood Orange or Lightening if we stick to PNW's rowdy colour names.
It's available in two lengths, 32mm and 40mm and its stack measures 32mm. It features a zero-degree rise and it's finished off with zinc-coated steel bolts, so it's primed to last the test of time.
Lauf Elja Race Flight Attendant
$6,990
2024 lauf elja.jpg, by Liam Mercer
With a history of creating some of the most hair-brained products on the market that actually work (we're talking carbon leaf-sprung suspension forks here), all ears at off.road.cc pricked up when we caught wind that the brand was working on its first mountain bike. And in true Lauf form, it's every bit as whacky as we expected, and it's got us all a bit excited.
First and foremost, the Elja (pronounced el-ya) is a single-pivot cross-country bike. Lauf has chosen that route because it doesn't believe that the super complex suspension layouts currently on the XC market are all that necessary. By building a bike with one pivot, the brand claims to have saved weight while retaining pedalling efficiency and general suspension performance.
But this is where things get even more interesting as rather than picking traditional pivot bearings for the pivot to rotate around, the Elja employs an actual bottom bracket instead. Not only do the larger bearings boost longevity, but they are also super easy to replace, requiring only a BB tool to remove.
While not present on our test bike (yet), the brand has worked with Goodyear to produce 2.6-inch cross-country tyre as it's believed that fatter rubber not only makes loads of sense for a 120mm travelled bike like this but that they'll also be commonplace on the XC circuit in no time.
There's a lot more going on here, so keep your eyes peeled for the review coming soon.
Enduro Bearings 440C Stainless Steel headset bearings
£26.92
2024 enduro bearings 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Okay, so bearings aren't the most exciting bicycle component out there, but they're certainly one of the most important. And while we've checked out some Enduro Bearings goodness before, its headset-specific bearings have arrived at a great time because, as we move deeper into the wet, cold and muddy months, now's the time to service your headset with fresh bearings and clean grease.
But what is cool about Enduro Bearings' headset bearings is that they're built with stainless steel races, so they should resist corrosion and simply stay smoother for longer.
Speaking of longevity, the brand has launched a new Lifetime Warranty on its 440C Stainless Steel headset bearings. This move has been spurred by the rise of internally routed cables and hoses that run through headset bearings. Of course, this setup poses complications and increases the cost of service when a cheap bearing gives out, so Enduro Bearings is encouraging customers to opt for slightly pricier but better quality and more durable alternatives. All customers have to do is return their Enduro Bearings 440C Stainless Steel headset bearings to the point of purchase for freshies free of charge. The warranty, however, does not include labour.
OnGuard 8019L Mastiff Chain Lock and Ground Anchor Silver
£40 - £115
2024 onguard locks.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Locks might not be the most electrifying products but they could save you a lot of money and heartache. No one needs to tell you that performance mountain bikes and e-MTBs are super expensive, and then there are all of the upgrades, tyres, stems and fancy bits of pieces you've invested your hard-earned cash on and that's not to mention the memories gained on your pride and joy.
Unfortunately, we mountain bikers don't talk about locks enough and, in the grand scheme of things, the investment into a quality lock system is relatively inexpensive but could save you thousands. We've all heard those horror stories of mates having their bikes nicked and chances are, if they were locked up, there would be far fewer tales of bikes being torn from garages, sheds or vans.
OnGuard's Mastiff chain lock w/padlock is sorted with a long list of features and certifications as it uses an X4P Quattro bolt locking mechanism, which is essentially a lock that fastens the shackle on four sides. There's then the Z-Cylinder keyway, which the brand says is resistant to picking, pulling and drilling. The hardened steel chain is coated with titanium to help resist cutting and prying. Included are five keys and a lifetime warranty.
The Silver Ground Anchor then sits at an 80 on OnGuards security level scale. It employs a 14mm hardened steel shackle and includes all the bolts you'll need for installation.
off.road.cc Ciovita kit
2024 ciovita orcc kit.jpg, by Liam Mercer
We've got branded kit! It might not be for sale but we can't help but show it off. Our friends at Ciovita got in touch to offer us the opportunity to dive into its custom clothing configurator and make full use of the brands' designers.
After choosing products from Ciovita's Trail Baggies and Bibs and Shorts ranges, we sent over our logos and some incredibly crude mock-ups. Then, the designers got to work, turning our ideas into reality. Within a few weeks, the garments went through the process at Ciovita's manufacturing facilities as logos and colours were sublimated to fabric, before arriving at our office.
Ciotiva's custom clothing service isn't just reserved for media or professional cycling teams as it's happy to help individual riders and smaller clients design and produce their own kits. There are two services to choose from, too, with the CANVAS option being the brand's full custom service and FUSION being better for those who want a quick turnaround with vinyl printing.
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