New gear at Crankworx Whistler

New wheelsets, shoes, helmets and suspension were all on display in the demo area

Canadian Cycling Magazine August 28, 2016

Photos and words by Stuart Kernaghan

Crankworx isn’t just about competitions, big air and mountain bike celebrities. There are also plenty of new products to check out in the demo area. Here are some of the gear highlights from Crankworx Whistler 2016.

Race Face Turbine R wheel set

Canadian component manufacturer Race Face was showcasing a number of different products at its booth, the most interesting of which was the new Turbine R (for Rally) wheelset. The Turbine wheels are built around the all-new Vault rear hub, which uses an oversized shell for a claimed increase of 20 per cent stiffness, six pawls to deliver quick engagement, large bearings selected specifically to decrease load and increase lifespan, and low-drag labyrinth seals to keep out the gunk. User serviceability was also key when designing these hubs, according to Race Face.

Vault hubs are designed to fit with all current fork and rear end standards; non-Boost models can be modified by swapping end caps but Boost hubs are dedicated. Listed weight for tubeless-ready (non-UST) 27.5” Turbine R wheels is 1730-grams and 1815-gG for the 29” wheel set. Race Face says that weight savings for carbon wheels is negligible but they are looking into producing them some time in the not-too-distant future to meet the invariable consumer demand. MSRP for the Turbine Rs is $1,400 and they are available now.

Five Ten MacAskill and Freerider Pro Shoes

Most riders in the Whistler bike park run flat pedals and the shoe of choice amoung flat pedal riders these days seems to be Five Ten. The company had their complete line of shoes on display but the newest additions to the line-up were the new MackAskill and the Freerider Pro models. Like all Five Tens, both new shoes have the Stealth rubber sole for amazing traction on flats.

The MackAskill is named after trials rider Danny MackAskill, who wanted a low-profile, light riding shoe that didn’t look like a riding shoe. It features a one-piece toe for increased durability and is stitched to prevent delamination. The Freerider Pro is a more park-oriented shoe with impact-resistant toe protection that firms up on contact and a medium stiff mid-sole to get power to the pedals. Both shoes are still brand new, so availability will be limited for a little while. Expect to pay around US$130 when they do hit stores.

Cane Creek DBCoil [IL] suspension

Suspension manufacturer Cane Creek was showing off its new DBCoil [IL] air/coil rear shock, which combines the weight savings of an air shock with the performance benefits of a coil shock. Effectively, it minimizes the fade that can happen with air shocks on longer descents. Cane Creek also came up with an all-new Valt coil spring to go along with the shock, saving an additional 150-200-g off a standard steel coil spring.

The new shock, which is designed for 120-mm to 160-mm trail and all-mountain bikes, still has the range of adjustments that Cane Creek shocks are known for – high and low-speed compression and rebound damping – as well as a reportedly more effective climbing platform (compared to a standard air shock). Weight for the new units is supposedly comparable to a Cane Creek DBAir shock with a piggyback reservoir. The DBCoil [IL] comes in the new metric shock sizing, as well as standard sizing. MSRP for the aftermarket version is US$550 and it’s available now.

Fox Helmets

Fox Head (not to be confused with Fox, the suspension company) is well known for making killer riding and casual apparel, but it’s less well known for its line of helmets. Fox had a number of different models on display at its massive Crankworx trailer, including its Metah all-mountain and Rampage Pro Carbon full-face helmets.

The Metah has 14 larger vents rather than having a large number of smaller vents. It was influenced by the Rampage Pro Carbon and features extended coverage for the sides and rear of the head. The helmet uses Fox’s Varizorb EPS liner to provide protection against impacts and the company’s Y-Strap anchor system for easier adjustment. The Metah is available in S/M and L/XL sizes, for an MSRP of US$150; there is no MIPS version of the helmet. The Rampage Pro Carbon is the helmet of choice for slopestyle and big air riders like Brett Rheeder and Kyle Strait. Fox designed it with comfort and safety in mind and uses three EPS foam sizes as well as two carbon shell sizes to ensure correct fit. Vent holes in the chin bar, forehead area, top and rear keep the helmet cool. MSRP is US$450 for the MIPS version.