It’s a combo day, with an updated Rascal from Revel Bikes, Trail BOA shoes from Crankbrothers, and more. Read on for all of the latest.
Revel Releases Fully Redesigned Rascal
The all-new Revel Rascal has been fully redesigned from the ground up to be the ultimate trail bike.
Thoughtfully updated geometry and perfected kinematics provide the updated Rascal an unmatched ride quality and versatility. The Rascal is the bike that caught the industry’s eye and put Revel on the map when the brand launched in 2019. It quickly became their top-selling and favorite model in the lineup for a good reason: its proven capabilities and sheer fun factor are second to none.
The updated geometry preserves the Rascal’s renowned versatility, allowing for efficient climbing, confident descending, and precise handling. Revel has added a fifth size, the XXL, ensuring the bike accommodates a broader range of riders and terrains.
The Rascal V2 keeps the award-winning kinematics the Rascal V1 is known for but gets slight tweaks to make for the best use of the 130mm CBF suspension. The Rascal V2 now provides a more stable pedaling platform with the familiar, lively feel that is expected from the Rascal name. The new Rascal was engineered with the latest technologies and is future-proofed with UDH comparability. Paired with a 140mm fork, it readies the Rascal for anything you throw at it. It’s the bike you take out on an epic high-country mission one day and then rip through rolling flow the next.
When it comes to ride quality and frame weight, their importance is just as crucial as the points listed above. Revel has made significant enhancements to the carbon layup, leading to a noticeable increase in lateral stiffness within the frame. Impressively, these improvements were achieved while reducing the frame weight by 150g.
The Rascal V2 is longer and slacker but not too long, or too slack, with a slightly steeper seat tube. With a head tube angle of 65.5 degrees, effective seat tube angle of 76-77 degrees depending on size, and chainstays at 436mm, the Rascal comes to life on just about any single track anywhere in the world.
To simplify things for dealers and riders alike, Revel used carbon co-molded guided internal cable routing for easy maintenance. The pivot bolt and bearing design is all new and allows for a stiffer, quieter interface and one-tool system for super easy maintenance, in the shop or on the trail.
For the first time ever, all assembly of the Rascal will be handled directly in-house at Revel’s Carbondale, CO headquarters and Taiwan facility.
Framesets are available from $3599 to $3749, while complete builds start at $5999 and go up to $10,499.
Details and Key Features:
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Rear Travel: 130mm
- Front Travel: 140mm
- Wheel Size: 29”
- Frame weight: 2,810g / 6lb 4oz (size Medium, No shock)
- 150 grams lighter than Rascal V1 frame
- New carbon layup provides significantly better lateral stiffness.
- Size appropriate seat tube angles. Slightly steeper on XL and XXL
- SRAM UDH derailleur hanger
- All new pivot hardware package with bigger bearings and axles for a stiffer, stronger frame with more durability and easier maintenance
- Titanium shock mount hardware
- Rear triangle Debris Guard included.
- Full carbon co-molded (the fancy kind!) guided internal cable routing for easy maintenance and a quiet ride.
- 2 sets of mounts for bottles/accessories. 3 sets on XXL
- 5 sizes: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL
- Colors: Ponyboy (yellow), Pinot Gnar (dark burgundy)
All New Trail BOA® Shoes from Crankbrothers
Crankbrothers‘ all-new Mallet and Stamp trail BOA® shoes are the perfect blend of performance and adventure. Featuring an all new MATCH tread pattern and a lightweight yet durable rip-stop upper, the Trail BOA® shoes are designed to provide both all-day comfort and race winning performance.
Whether your journey is from the valley floor into the alpine, or from the start hut to the podium, the Trail BOA® shoes are the ideal companion.
Crankbrothers’ clip-in MATCH outsole is designed to provide comfort and confidence on and off the bike. A ramped cleat box provides easy entry, while an extended 35mm cleat track allows rearward positioning for added stability while descending. After all, interface is everything.
Designed for traction on and off the bike, our Match outsole provides an optimized pedal interface through all-new rounded lugs for a predictable feeling foot placement, paired with high-friction, low-rebound rubber to give you that confidence-inspiring grip when you need it most.
A BOA® Fit System Li2 dual-direction micro-adjustment dial for a precise fit, coupled with a quick-adjust hook-and loop strap for heel retention and stability. In addition, a rip-stop upper material provides durability without a weight penalty, and a TPU-reinforced toebox provides enhanced protection.
The new Trail tread pattern is designed for balanced traction on and off the bike, great walkability, and an optimized pedal interface. A stiff fiber-reinforced nylon shank transfers power efficiently, and a low-rebound EVA midsole damps vibration.
Big Wins for Maxxis Riders at Red Bull Hardline
For the first time ever, Red Bull Hardline, one of two Hardline races this season, was held in Tasmania. This is also the first year that two of these extremely difficult events are being held multiple times in the same season. And as if those firsts weren’t enough, Red Bull Hardline was also the first time we’ve had women at a Hardline event practicing and competing on race day.
To win at Hardline is a monumental achievement – an honor reserved for only for the best riders and equipment around. Rónán Dunne is on a new program this year, and with that new team came the swap to Maxxis Tires. It’s safe to say he’s getting along with the fresh rubber, taking the win at Hardline and getting the best start to the 2024 season that an athlete could hope for.
In the women’s competition, Gracey Hemstreet was focused and had a phenomenal run down the course on race day, taking the win as the first woman to ever put together a top-to-bottom run down a Hardline track. Gracey was also recognized by the rest of the athletes as Rider of the Week, taking home another prestigious award.
Rónán chose to run the Minion DHR II front and rear on his race-winning bike while Gracey went with the tried-and-true Assegai and DHR II combo.
Paul Components Klamper Stem Topcaps
Paul Components‘ Klamper brakes have been around for a while, but it was not until a Klamper pad adjuster accidentally fell into the steer-clamp part of one of their Boxcar stems that someone got the idea to design a headset topcap with the same iconic design.
Paul being Paul, of course they machined them to tolerances waaaay beyond what a topcap needs, and machined “Have A Nice Ride” on it as well, because (of course) they really do want you to have a nice ride.
Details:
- Material:6061 American-Milled Aluminum
- CapWeight:6g
- Finish: Anodized or Polished
- Anodized Colors: Black, Purple, Silver,Pewter, Gold, Blue, Orange, Red, Green, andPink
- Stainless bolt included, star-nut not included
- Machined by a bunch of bike nerdsin sunny Chico, California
Ron is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.
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Current Bike Quiver:
Bird Bikes Zero 29 29″ hardtail mountain bike
Commencal Absolut 26″ Dirt Jump/Pump Track bike
Commencal Tempo 29″ full suspension mountain bike
Felt ZA 700c race bike
Kona Kilauea vintage 26″ mountain bike
Niner RLT9 700c road/gravel bike
Specialized Stumpjumper vintage 26″ mountain bike
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