The Manitou Mezzer Pro, green pedals from Pembree, Crankbrothers Mallet E shoes, RRP's Proguard Rear
Including this week's top stories
This week, we've got a very exciting Five Cool Things that include what Manitou reckons is the lightest enduro fork on the market, a modular rear mudguard and some eco-friendly bike cleaner. Boosting the eco credentials of this week's instalment, we'll also showcase Pembree's D2A pedals and some fresh kicks from Crankbrothers.
- Five things that weren't cool - until enduro happened
- How to prepare for your first gravel race - kit, bike setup and training
- How to tweak your mountain bike's geometry - Cockpit
In terms of features, there's How to ride switchbacks, a tricky feature for every rider, and Mountain biking on a budget - everything you need to know.
It's been a big one for new releases, too, as Mondraker, the Spanish mountain bike brand has unveiled the Mondraker Dusty - the mountain biker's gravel bike. We've been lucky enough to nab a Dusty for a ride, too, so don't miss out on our Mondraker Dusty XR - First ride review. Shimano has also introduced CUES which integrated the mid-tier groupsets into one family, and Crankbrothers added the Mallet Trail to the pedal range. Cane Creek has even made the Air IL and Coil IL smaller.
A week wouldn't quite be the same without a few reviews thrown in for good measure, and Matt Page has shared his thoughts on the latest Easton EC90 ALX handlebar, while Pat tested the £90 Silca Gravelero mini-pump.
Pembree D2A pedals
£130
2023 pembree d2a 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
We always have a huge appreciation for brands that create products with a big environmental push and that's exactly the case for Pembree. For those who don't know, Pembree is a small Uk-based brand that specialises in creating CNC-machined products and pedals using 100% renewable energy, helping to keep manufacturing carbon neutral.
The D2A is designed especially for racers, as it's said to deliver a perfect balance between traction, strength and weight. The D2A offers its grip through 10 in-house-designed stainless steel traction pins that are screwed onto a CNC-machined aluminum body. That body rotates around a CNC-turned stainless steel axle that houses two cartridge bearings and an IGUS bearing, all of which are recyclable.
The pedal measures 100 x 100 x 15mm and is claimed to weigh 446g. It also comes in eight colours.
Manitou Mezzer Pro
£950
2023 manitou mezzer pro 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Manitou says that the Mezzer Pro is the lightest enduro-focused fork on the market, claiming it weighs just 2,032g in 29-inch format. This fork comes with a host of special features, including 37mm stanchions and the Dorado Air Spring, which has been taken from the Dorado downhill fork.
Elsewhere there's the brand's IRT (Inifinite Rate Tune) volume adjuster that allows control over the fork's mid-stroke support and bottom-out progressivity independent from the initial spring rate. This cool bit of tech lets the user tune small-bump sensitivity independently of the fork's performance during bigger hits. The Sealtn MC2 damper comes with a range of blow-off thresholds with separate high and low-speed rebound and compression adjustments.
Another trick up this fork's sleeve is that its travel is adjustable from 140mm to 180 - this is carried out using a special tool and a range of included spacers. Also included in the box is a compatible mudguard.
Rapid Racer Products ProGuard Rear - Cable Tie
£11 - £26
2023 rrp proguard rear 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Rapid Racer Products' (RRP) ProGuard Rear comes in two configurations: Mini Extender and Standard. The former is what we've got right here. Its main goal is to protect your bike's shock and linkage from mud and spray. Its array of snap holes allows for a range of fitting configurations through the use of cable ties.
Add the Extender and it transforms to offer the same protection as the Standard model, which should protect the lower portions of your bike from the same debris. Neither product is designed to protect the rider, making for a more discreet look while offering valuable protection to the important parts of a full-suspension bike.
Crankbrothers Mallet E Lace shoes
£135
2023 crank brothers mallet e lace 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Having reviewed this shoe's flat pedal sibling, the Stamp Lace, we're looking forward to seeing what the enduro-focused, clip pedal shoe has to offer. As with the rest of the brand's shoe range, the Mallet E is designed to match its pedal range but these get a stiff shank for pedalling efficiency and a ramped toe, with a grippy tread for off-bike performance.
Around the shoe are vented panels with a padded tongue for protection. The cleat box uses an MC1 mid-friction compound for easy exit from the pedal and the shoe is pre-installed with a Crankbrothers shim and cleat. However, it can happily accommodate non-Crankbrothers cleats.
Squirt Biodegradable Bike Cleaner
£29.90
2023 squirt bike cleaner 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Another brand with a strong environmental focus is Squirt, having introduced its latest Bike Cleaner. This pack contains 10 sachets of cleaner that can be mixed with water to produce either a mid-strength degreaser or 750ml of bike cleaner. Times that by 10 and you've got an awful lot of cleaner to play with.
The aim of this particular product is to minimise the use of single-use plastics and the associated waste. It's packaged in a card and uses a lot less plastic found in bottle cleaners. This method of packaging cleaner also reduces the volume of water being shipped out of a water-scarce country (South Africa) by as much as 90%. On top of all of that, shipping emissions are reduced, meaning that the product can be offered to consumers for cheaper.
You might also like:
Author block
