Travis Engel

3 days ago | theradavist.com | Travis Engel

RockShox just dropped top-to-bottom rebuilds of their SID SL cross-country race fork, and its lower-priced counterpart, the Reba…As a refresher, the SID SL is the lighter-weight, shorter-travel, narrower-stanchion subcategory within the SID fork family. It is a classic race machine, with 32 mm stanchions and either 100 or 110mm of travel. The standard SID, on the other hand, has 35mm stanchions, is available with 110 or 120 mm of travel, and is aimed at more capable modern cross-country bikes.

1 week ago | theradavist.com | Travis Engel

It was only two weeks ago that Shimano introduced their first-ever fully wireless drivetrain in the 9200 XTR Di2. Today, it trickles down not one but two levels; to XT and Deore. We haven’t gotten our hands on any of it just yet, but we’ve got stats… And thoughts. When comparing prices of electronic drivetrains, you kinda have to rewire your brain (pun proudly intended). There’s not much that one model can do to offer compelling savings over another.

1 week ago | theradavist.com | Travis Engel

In this installment of For A Change, we meet Gnargo Bike Co.. They reincarnate old steel mountain bike frames into high-quality front-load electric cargo bikes. Their bikes are made to order in northwest Arkansas, are more affordable than off-the-shelf alternatives, and every one of them comes standard with a soul. Travis talks to founders Zach and Elysia, who credit their unique community for Gnargo’s success, but believe their business model is bigger than Bentonville.

2 weeks ago | theradavist.com | Travis Engel

Trek has joined the growing number of brands offering ultra-compact air compressors. The Trek Air Rush is a 108-gram battery-powered pump that’s about the size of a full deck of UNO cards. It’s powered by a 33.7Wh Lithium-polymer (LiPo) battery designed to function in temps ranging from 14° 113° (-10–45°c). The battery charges via USB-C, and when fully charged, can inflate four 29×2.4 ̋ tires to 30 psi or three 700x28mm tires to75 psi from flat, while still saving some juice for top-ups.

2 weeks ago | theradavist.com | Travis Engel

This is more than just a review of the Spot Mayhem 140. It’s an exploration of what suspension does, what we want it to do, and what happens when a small company throws a small chunk of titanium into the works. It’s also an excuse for Travis to talk about leverage curves. I’m always suspicious of any bike considered an “all-rounder.” It’s fine for a bike to be versatile, but it has to make choices. I like it when designers are willing to sacrifice one aptitude to serve another.