Yesterday, BikeRadar took a trip over to visit UK distributor Saddleback for its in-house show. Being the UK’s gateway for brands such as Intense, Silca, SIDI, Castelli and ENVE, the show was full of fetching new kit. Below we’ve compiled five of the most interesting product picks for your viewing pleasure.
The 'Fruit Salad' Intense Recluse
Here at BikeRadar we've already been lucky enough to test ride the latest Intense Recluse trail bike, but we were genuinely taken aback when we saw this example at Saddleback's in-house show.With a livery seemingly based on a popular penny sweet, this particular Recluse didn’t fail to grab the attention of every mountain biker present.
Alchemy's murdered out Arktos
Those who know their confectionary will confirm that a Fruit Salad is never far away from a Black Jack — and, in this case, it’s a similarly tasty proposition.We’re talking about the Alchemy Arktos, in particular this ultra-stealthy (and incredibly spendy) build assembled by Saddleback employees prior to the show.
The frame itself isn’t new and anyone seeking more information on this bike should head over to this previous article, but it's the meticulously colour coordinated parts on this build that truly has to be seen to be fully appreciated.
More luxurious tooling from Silca
Premium tool brand Silca seems to be on a roll right now, after launching a whole bunch of new tooling at this year’s Interbike, but it seems there’s still plenty more to come from the brand.
We got our hands on a few pre-production parts and first up there’s this intriguing little BOA equipped tool roll.
Next there was the Premio apron, which came about after a runaway Kickstarter campaign. Mechanics will appreciate its thoughtful design features including a unique hoody style front pocket, adjustable rear straps that take strain away from the neck, and with a deep slit to ensure test rides are possible without undressing.
Now, if you’ve already bought one of the most expensive pumps on the market then there’s a good chance you might not grumble about upgrading its head, particularly when the new part looks as sexy as this.
Officially known as the ‘Hiro’ side-lever locking presta chuck, this is a presta-specific disc compatible chuck for high-pressure scenarios. This is some next level tool porn for those with deep pockets. In Silca’s own words: "You will smile every time you use it and you will amaze onlookers in the track infield at your ability to achieve any pressure without holding it in place, and you will someday hand it down to your children, who will replace the gasket and use it for another 25 years."
The price? A cool £105 / US$110. Take a look here.
Castelli spring/summer 2017 collection
We also got a sneak peek at Castelli’s Spring/Summer line for 2017. Among the usual technical garments we’d normally associate with the red scorpion, we also found a welcome dash of colour. Expect more coverage on this as and when it arrives.
