News Roundup - Week of March 3rd

Pivot's Shadowcat is a 27.5" Trail Ripping Fun Machine

The Shadowcat is a totally new breed of feline; a blazing fast, hyper-capable trail bike that pegs the fun-meter for riders of every stripe.

Pivot’s latest trailbike is designed from the ground up to deliver maximum confidence and fun per pedal stroke. Rolling a whole new look and name in the Pivot line, the Shadowcat carries forward the exceptional heritage of the Mach 5.5, with a completely new feather-weight chassis, combining progressive geometry and incredible suspension. The result is a bike that twists the fun dial all the way to the loudest setting and breaks it off.

“Our goal with the Shadowcat was to build the best bike for having fun,” says Chris Cocalis, founder and CEO of Pivot. “The combination of ultra-lightweight, suspension tuning and geometry results in a bike that has an incredibly poppy and fast feeling. From the beginning, the goal was to build a very nimble, ultralight trailbike. The Shadowcat is a super-capable rocketship that just puts a huge smile on your face wherever you ride it.”

The Shadowcat utilizes Pivot’s Hollow Core carbon construction, allowing for a 140mm of travel weighing less than the class-leading Trail 429 and just a few grams more than the remarkably light Mach 4 SL. This svelte, frame is complimented with dw-link suspension tailored to deliver snappy acceleration and super effective transfer of energy. Poppy, playful, and fun to ride everywhere, the Shadowcat carries enough travel and geometry to still rail big lines in sketchy terrain with confidence and control.

Pricing, Specifications, and Availability: The new Shadowcat will be available in two colors – Danger Fruit and Blue Mirage - and can be purchased in six different complete build options from Shimano and SRAM with additional Fox Live Valve suspension and carbon wheel options priced from $6,199 to $13,599. Available now, in sizes XS through L, at key Pivot dealers worldwide. For more information visit Pivot's website

Hope Introduces the All-New Tech 4 Brake

The all-new Tech 4 is more than just a change of colour and logos. It draws on 25+ years of experience designing and manufacturing hydraulic brake systems, to create a brake that not only has increased power but also delivers that power consistently from the moment the lever is pulled.

Designed with the rider in mind, the Tech 4 has an increased hydraulic and mechanical ratio. The result of this produces a linear relationship between brake pressure and lever force making it easy and intuitive to control the power. The increased mechanical ratio has also been fine-tuned using real riding data and extensive dyno testing making it the most efficient at lever forces typically used during riding.

The internal sealing is all new for reduced friction, and the pivot spins on roller bearings, allowing the spring rate to be reduced. This lower spring rate gives a lighter lever action, reducing rider fatigue, whilst keeping our legendary feel and modulation. 

Combined, all the changes result in the best balance of feel and power. Power that is useable throughout the full range of reach and bite point adjustment, whilst still producing a 30% pressure increase over the Tech 3 for a given force.

The Tech 4 uses a hinged clamp to reduce weight, and the reservoir area has been increased to lower the overall stack height. Shifter integration has been improved and now offers 30° of angle adjustment as well as neater packaging and compatibility with the latest shifters. Lateral adjustment on both sides of the master cylinder is also possible to give a wide range of lever position options whilst retaining the tool free bite point and reach adjustments from the Tech 3.

Calipers

The Tech 4 is compatible with X2, E4, V4 and Trial Zone calipers. Both 4 piston calipers have been updated and utilise hybrid style stainless steel pistons with a phenolic insert. This allows for smoother movement and less maintenance, while still being able to manage high temperatures without heat transfer during extreme use.

Pads

All Tech 4 brakes are supplied with new racing compound pads. They are designed to offer impressive performance straight out of the box with little bedding in required, they are also more resistant to fade than standard organic pads. For more information on all our pad compound options see the new pad guide here.

Features

• Increased power versus Tech 3
• Lever shape updated to provide a more ergonomic shape orientated to provide the best mechanical advantage during braking.
• Hinged clamp reducing weight and ergonomics
• Shifter integration improved for more adjustability
• Tool free bite point and reach adjustments
• Hybrid piston design
• Rigid CNC'd one piece caliper
• Compatible with a wider range of current shifter options
• Complete brake available in Black & Silver with the option of Blue, Red, Purple or orange highlights
• Postmount options available
• Choose either standard or braided hose (braided hose is an extra cost)

Options 

All brakes in left or right configuration are supplied with rear hoses (1.6m) fitted as standard so reducing the stocking options required. 

Availability and Pricing

Available from Hope Dealers from 1st March 2022

Prices (RRP)

Tech 4, E4 - Braided hose - RRP £205.00 // €255.00 // $260.00 (ex tax)
Tech 4, E4 - Black hose - RRP £195.00// €245.00 // $245.00 (ex tax)
Tech 4, V4 - Braided hose - RRP £220.00// €275.00 // $280.00 (ex tax)
Tech 4, V4 - Black hose - RRP £210.00 // €265.00 // $265.00 (ex tax)
Tech 4, X2 - Black hose - RRP £175.00 // €220.00 // $220.00 (ex tax)
Tech 4, X2 - Braided hose - RRP £185.00 // €230.00 // $235.00 (ex tax)
Tech 4, X2 Flatmount - Black hose - RRP £175.00 // €220.00 // $220.00 (ex tax)
Tech 4, X2 Flatmount - Braided hose - RRP £185.00 // €230.00 // $235.00 (ex tax)
Tech 4, Trial Zone - Black hose - RRP £190.00 // €235.00 // $240.00 (ex tax)

More information available at hopetech.com.

We Are One Composites' Enduro Team is 100% CanCon

Canadian manufacturing and local sourcing has been at the heart of We Are One since being founded in 2017, so why not apply the same logic to the athletes that are racing the Arrival at the highest level? For 2022 we will be hosting a 4 rider, all-Canadian enduro team.

“Racing is in my blood, and I want to give support to the interior BC athletes so they get the representation and support they need to step up to the next level. Johnny, Jacob, Jack, and Emmett all exude immense talent, and I hope We Are One is that catalyst that rockets them to their personal goals and gives them the opportunity they deserve. ” - Dustin Adams CEO

Returning to the team for 2022 will be Jacob Tooke and Johnathan Helly. Last season was Johnny’s first season racing on the EWS, he collected some strong stage results and split times and has been training hard this offseason to put all the pieces together and deliver the results on race day that he is more than capable of. Jacob joined Johnny for the second block of EWS racing after riding and shooting all over BC, he was able to pick up where he left off after taking some time off the bike in 2020 and reignited his passion for racing. Both Jacob and Johnny were super helpful in making sure the Arrival was equipped to handle enduro racing on the world stage and will look to continue that momentum as the program continues to grow.

In addition, we have two new faces on the team. Jack Menzies hailing from Canmore, AB, turned heads last season consistently collecting podiums, Queen Stages, and Pro stages as a U21. He showed serious promise making the jump up to elite for this season. Emmett Hancock may as well be a household name if you’ve watched the Pinkbike Academy. On top of being the internet's favorite #glassesguy and dominating challenge after challenge on the show, he took a Queen Stage win of his own at a 2021 EWS round and finished constantly in the top 10 privateering the EWS last season. Emmett will be racing his final season as a U21 and will be sure to leave a mark.

We want to extend a huge thank you to SRAM, RockShox, TLD, Spy+, Time, Occam, Dissent, Ride Concepts, the entire team at We Are One, and the family and friends of our athletes for supporting and believing in the team this season!

e*Thirteen Introduces the Quick Fill Plasma Valve

Slow tubeless leaks can come from a number of causes, kill confidence, and can give riders "flat-tire anxiety" the whole time out there. Old sealant dries out and needs to have a fresh dose after a while, but that leaves a nasty mess and creates additional risks from breaking the tire bead – and it might not seal properly anyway. We all know if you spill and let it dry, it might as well be permanent.

e*thirteen engineers are dedicated to producing the best products possible. We think wheels and tires should work perfectly together, and in so, believe a truly complete tubeless wheel system couldn’t be accomplished without the optimal sealant, tape and valves. The first of its kind, the Quick Fill Plasma Valve connects directly without tools, with the sealant bottle tube for direct injection after mounting the tire, resulting in mess free installation. The Quick Fill Plasma Valve enables riders to add sealant on the trail without breaking the tire bead and it resists build up and prevents sealant from clogging and congealing at the valve. No more sticky mess!

The valve features an oversize stem allows for high volume flow, ease of inflation and pressure adjustment. Two piece body and removable valve enables easy cleaning to maintain optimal performance.

The Quick Fill Plasma Valve are constructed with forged aluminum for durability and anodized in a range of colors for customization and corrosion resistance. Compatible with all rim profiles and tire inserts and available in two lengths for optimal fit on deep and shallow rim designs.

Specifications

• Large diameter section for high flow sealant filling, direct from bottle
• Available in 2 lengths to accommodate most rim profiles
• Tool-free installation and sealant application
• Forged aluminum alloy construction
• Anodized colors available: black, bronze, eggplant, naranja, intergalactic
• Engineered to make tubeless tire changes and maintenance easier
• Requires less time, better valve function, and less cleaning after sealant application
• 16-24mm | 17g
• 23-31mm | 18g

For more info, head over to the e*Thirteen site here