Specialized’s updated S-Works Prevail 3 helmet is designed to be both airier and safer than the outgoing model. Unlike some other aero lids, the Utopia Y is not bulky looking, and it also comes in a wide range of nine colors so you’ll be able to find a look that suits your individual style or matches your bike. Despite its closed-off silhouette, the deep channelling and vents under the brow keep your noggin cool and your sunglasses free of sunscreen-infused sweat. You can adjust the retention band down to the millimetre, giving the helmet an excellent snug – yet comfortable – fit.
We found it comfortable for cooler weather riding and the enclosed design does work in the rain although the slightly bulky shape might not suit everyone. Certainly, if you’re riding regularly in a colder region, or commute year round, then it’s a lid we suggest you take a look at. Perhaps due to the extra protection, the Bell XR isn’t the lightest in class – a medium has a claimed weight of 285g while our large test helmet tipped the scales at 317g. It’s tightened with a wire and BOA dial system at the rear, which gives a secure, stable fit.
Along with 20+ other leading bike companies, Cannondale is proud to be a part of the e-bike battery recycling program organized by PeopleForBikes and administrated by the not-for-profit Call2Recycle. Your payment of $15 goes to an industrywide fund that ensures batteries from Cannondale e-bikes are recycled at end of life and do not end up in landfills. The correct tyre choice would also help calm the stiff and somewhat unforgiving rear end, it is not as harsh as many aluminium frames but taking the edge off it with some floaty rubber would help ease take some of the sting out of the trail. The first thing you notice is that the cockpit is comfortable, it just feels right. Not too long and well balanced with none of the ‘too much weight on the wrists’ feeling that sometimes comes on trail hardtails. Genesis are a British brand that have been building decent bikes and a decent reputation so I was looking forward to a chance to see if the positive buzz about the company and their bikes was well earned.
29-inch wheels fit an interesting niche, as although they have slow acceleration, they carry momentum fairly well and have the smoothest ride quality. With a longer contact patch, they feature more stability and grip than the previous types. That said, there is a small weight penalty over the smaller sizes and they can be harder to maneuver tight turns on smaller tracks or trails. Getting more into the nitty-gritty of the construction of mountain bikes, There are four main types of materials that frames are made out of.
A major advantage these have over mechanicals is that they’re sealed off to outside debris. Set up was simple, the bike did come with a whole bunch of spacers below the stem, after less than 30 seconds on the bike I had these shuffled to get the front as low as possible and it was off to the trails. Genesis bikes became renowned for their use of steel tubing and ethos for function over form. The first Genesis bike was produced under the Ridgeback brand as the Day One model in 2001. The Genesis Tour de Fer, as the name suggests, is a fully equipped long distance all road tourer.
They will then pay a lease straight to the Council to operate in the park, as opposed to different bits and pieces going back and forth. “In that system, Blue Dirt was paying fees to the Alpine Community Plantation for operation in the park, and then Alpine Community Plantation paid Blue Dirt to undertake maintenance work in the park. And then all of the membership revenue from day passes and annual memberships went back to Alpine Community Plantation, and then some of that was going back to Blue Dirt to pay for the maintenance. In November last year, the Council voted to take on governance of the park under a sublicense agreement, where the day-to-day operations would be contracted out to a professional operator through a tender process. The solution was to introduce the membership model, which, despite some initial grumbles, has largely been a success—especially considering the second option was to close the park.
While there are slightly lighter helmets, such as the Kask Protone helmet, it was still an impressively low weight at just 269g (for a size small). With the invention of mountain bikes, thrill-seekers looked genesis bicycles to conquer trails and other natural terrains. But now, with mountain biking being enjoyed by over 40 million Americans annually, it can be hard to figure out how to get into such a popular sport.
This means that the helmet has passed several tests that look at the helmet’s construction, field of vision, impact absorption, retention system, chin strap and buckle. In order to ride in races, sportives, gran fondos and triathlons it is often a requirement to have a helmet that adheres to the relevant local standard. A recently developed safety system called MIPS, Multi-directional Impact Protection System, will often be referred to when discussing the level of protection provided by a helmet.
It’s been a bit of a whirlwind in Bright, but we managed to catch up with Dirt Art and Elevation Parks Director Simon French to find out more about their role in Mystic and what’s planned for the bike park. Once you’ve decided which bike is right for you, you’ll need to factor in the size. For every sized bike there are frame measurements that are important to evaluate for proper bike fit. Mechanical disc brakes use traditional cables and cable housing that are the same used for the older type of brakes, v-brakes. However, instead of having brake pads that squeeze the rim of the tire to slow you down when you pull the brake lever, the brake pads squeeze a metal rotor mounted to the hub of the wheel. These are easier to install, adjust and replace due to the high availability of cables.
A long-term favourite with excellent all-round performance, Giro’s Aether definitely deserves consideration. It is light, airy and includes MIPS along with extra reinforcement in its construction. There are loads of colour options to choose from and it’s very comfortable to wear. However, genesis bicycles recent technological advancements mean that many helmets offer extra systems that provide even greater protection. MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), for example, is designed to prevent damage caused by oblique or glancing blows that rotate the skull around the brain.