Breezer Repack
Breezer is stepping into the full suspension world with their 2014 Repack, a 160mm travel 27.5″-wheeled bike.
One of the most interesting features of the new enduro / trail bike is its MLink (or MidLink) suspension system. This is a combination of the dual short bar and the Horst link designs, with the pivot placed in the middle of the chainstays. According to Breezer Brand Manager JT Burke, this makes for a much smoother suspension system, since there’s less pressure on the bearings. It’s also supposed to make for a solid climbing platform that’s still rigid, and we’re looking forward to putting these claims to the test before next spring.
The Repack has a 68-degree head tube angle and has 438mm chainstays. For more information on the geometry, visit the Repack site.
“The big wheel thing, that fulcrum or axle height is really important because it allows me as the designer to get that contact patch closer to my body weight then I could with a 26” wheel, just because that fulcrum height lets me ride in what I call the “Valley of Confidence.” You’re in a cradle there,” says Joe Breeze. “I can play with the geometry some to the favor of the rider.”
The Repack will come in three versions—the Team, the Pro, and the Expert. The Team will retail for $4,399 when it becomes available in January next year. Breeze also hinted that another bike might debt in January with the same MLink technology…
Diamondback Mason FS PRO
Diamondback rolled out five new 29ers this year, including the 140mm travel Mason FS Pro. Based on its predecessor, the Mason hardtail, the $6,000 Mason Pro comes with a SRAM X1 X-Sync 11spd drivetrain, a Fox 34 Float CTD fork, and a Fox Float CTD rear shock. The bike also comes in a Mason FS version, which will retail for $3,500.
The company is also rolling out three models of the 29er hardtail Overdrive Carbon, with either SRAM X0, SRAM X9, or SRAM X7. Those bikes will be priced at $5,500, $3,500, and $2,800 respectively.
Finally, Diamondback developed the Axis this year, a hardtail with—you guessed it—27.5″ wheels. The Axis starts at $750.
POC Octal
The Swedish company rolled into the road biking scene this year with their 2014 Octal helmet. The medium weighs 195 grams and will cost $270 when it goes on sale early next year.
Instead of maximizing the number of vents, POC decided to put larger ventilation slots on the helmet to provide a larger open surface area at the front, which allegedly allows more air to flow through the helmet.
The “eye garage,” essentially small sections of rubbery material inside the Octal’s two front side vents to keep your sunglasses from falling off when you put them on the helmet, looks like another nice feature. Then there’s the ICE. system that you can set up so it calls your family and / or the ER if you exert enough force on the helmet (i.e. you crash). Plus, the impact-detector comes with a built-in GPS beacon so emergency services can find you.
