Gear Shots 59
Formula The One Brakes
Nothing can wreck your ride like a messed up brake. Most of the trails on the Shore cannot be ridden with only one functioning brake and if anything is running below par you are in for a lousy ride. I’m fussy as a result and I tend to stick with what I know – but when the chance came to try a set of exotic Formula brakes from Italy I didn’t need much convincing.
For 2010 Formula paired their R1 levers with their ‘The One’ calipers to make ‘The One’ brakes. I’m not sure about the naming process but they sure look great.
For 2010 Formula went to the next level with The One by combining the DH calipers with their R1 XC levers. The previous model had a contact adjust knob and a larger, burlier lever. No more – now you get a minimalist, forged lever that weighs very little. The levers can be flopped right to left and each lever has two bleed screws so there is always one facing up. You’ll notice gold accents on the fasteners. The upside is that these are aluminum – the downside is you’ll need to add a Torx 10 wrench to your tool kit if you’d like to be able to tighten your lever on the trail.
This is the lever previously used for The One. Notice the tool free reach and contact adjustments. Those are gone for 2010 in an effort to reduce weight.
The front brake, complete with hardware and adapter, weighs only 240 grams. The 203mm rotor and bolts together weigh another 170 grams – for a total of 410. That’s a respectable weight for an XC brake and downright outrageous for a DH braking system.
The forged, one piece, 24mm dual piston calipers – designed for power.
I’ve tried these brakes in all kinds of weather thus far and I have been relatively pleased thus far. I’ll need more time to give you a full review so stay tuned for that.
Pricing.
Canada – $420 an end plus $85 for a rotor and adapter.
US – $289 an end plus rotor and adapter ($40.95 – $58.95)
Jeremy Schaab helped me out testing the Neoguard and the Formula Brakes on Gravitron in Pemberton – in some gnarly conditions. Photo – Todd Hellinga.
Rapid Racer Neoguard
I don’t like the idea of riding in the rain – but once I’m out there I always enjoy it. If I dress for it and keep moving you can stay comfortable and nothing brings out the kid in you like getting muddy. It’s not all roses though. I’m no fan of dealing with my muddy gear after the ride – or stepping into wet shoes the next day. I also hate getting a goober of mud square in the eyeball. I regularly wake up the day after a pissy ride with grit still congregating in the corner of my eye. Riding on the Shore is generally a low speed operation so goggles don’t work very well, so I’m always looking for other solutions for my soggy adventures.
My most recent pick up comes from a company called Rapid Racer Products. I’ve seen the jerry rigged old tube between fork crown and arch solution often but I had never tried it. Rapid Racer makes a neoprene version that slips on and off with velcro – and it weighs almost nothing (20-25 grams).
The Neoguard comes in four sizes – designed to fit every fork on the market. This Fox 36 fits the small size. I like the product but I could do without the big white letters. I may see how it works turned around.
When I first put the Neoguard on the weather cleared up. I never noticed it was there – until the real West Coast fall weather arrived. I was amazed by how well the RRP Neoguard keeps the crap out of your eyes. I used to cringe and squint going through deep sticky puddles. Now I can keep my eyes trained on the next trail feature knowing I’m not going to get bombed.
If you ride in the rain I highly recommend picking up one of these. They’ll make your rain ride much more pleasant. The Neoguard would be a fantastic solutions for racers as well – either DH or XC – when the option of stopping to clean your eyes isn’t available.
The Fox 40 with a large Neoguard mounted up. You’ll never know it’s there – until you go crashing through a puddle.
RRP has the product listed for £14.99 but it doesn’t appear you can order them online direct. In Canada the Cycle Component Network is listed as an agent and it appears you can order online from them for $29.95 – but it isn’t clear how that works.
SKS Germany Revo Pump
I always carry a pump. There’s nothing worse than having a ride ended by something simple – like a flat or an easy repair – so I ride prepared. Sadly pumps don’t generally have a long life span when they got jostled and mistreated for months in the bottom of a hydration pack. They often seal poorly or pump so little air per cycle that you lose as much air as you gain.
The SKS Revo pump in aluminum. It’s light and compact but it packs a punch.
So who would you trust to make your pump? I’ll take the Italians to make my food, the japanese to make my cars and electronics – why not the Germans to make my pump? Orange Sport is the local distributor of SKS products and they sent us a Revo Aluminum pump.
The integrated gauge isn’t ideal for those of us who run lower pressures – but it is still of some use.
The Revo has a no-nonsense look but it’s actually a full featured little device. It locks closed when not in use and there is a nice little cover to keep crud from mucking up the valve. Once you unlock and open the pump you’ll notice an integrated pressure gauge. While not terribly useful for low pressure applications, it’s not a bad reference to back up your squeeze test. The head locks on to your valve with a twist and I haven’t experienced any leakage. Like most single head pumps, it’s a bit of a pain switching from presta to shraeder – but it doesn’t take too long. For high pressure applications the Revo will rock up to 84 psi.
SKS Revo Pump Canadian Pricing: Black: (polycarbonate) 121 grams $32 Aluminum: 142 grams $40 Carbon: $68 125 grams.
Have you tried any of these products? Any questions? Light up the boards…
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