GEAR
WHAT WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS MONTH
MOST WANTED
WOLFTOOTH RESOLVE DROPPER POST £350
Head to the Wolftooth website, scroll down to the bottom and you’ll find an exploded diagram of the Resolve’s internals. Listed there is every single part involved in the manufacture of the post, and a price to buy a replacement should yours go wrong. Keep looking and you’ll also see the user manual, links to how to do the repair yourself, or a way to get it serviced by the pros. Dig further still and you’ll also see this is the case for all the brand’s hardware, with a two-year warranty and a pledge to keep on making the parts you need. Clearly, when Wolftooth said all its customers should have the right to repair its products, it wasn’t joking.
The Resolve looks just as impressive as the back-up. It’s the world’s first dropper with a self-bleeding cartridge, Wolftooth says, which means every time you depress the post, it purges any air that might have leaked into the system. Bye bye that mushy post feeling. Bikeyoke did something very similar back in 2017 when it launched the Revive, but you have to manually purge the cartridge by turning a key.
Available in three different lengths and stretching up to 200mm of infinite travel, the Resolve doesn’t have the longest drop out there. It does, however, have a crazy-low stack height of 32mm, which means the section poking out of the bike – the collar, the travel and the saddle clamp – is minimal. Great for getting your saddle out the way for steep descents, then.
The Resolve also boasts a short insertion depth; a low weight at 440g in the 30.9mm diameter with 125mm drop; internal travel adjustment in 5mm increments; and there’s even an air filter in the bottom. saddleback.co.uk
IRS
Industry Nine’s iRiX headset is machined from 7075 alloy, anodised and laser-etched. It comes in two top cover heights with integrated adjustable shim stacking, comes in 11 colours and has replaceable silicone lip seals, steel bearings, and a lifetime warranty. From £150, industrynine.com
WIND SOCK
The Leatt Airflex Ultralite Knee Guard is minimal, with a gel mesh pad to absorb energy from an impact. The precurved pad covers the top of your shin and is perforated to increase breathability. High-rise slip on; moisturewicking fabric sleeve; silicone grippers; five sizes. £100, hotlines-uk.com
TRAIL (NO)BIKE
One for the trail runners out there, the Scott Ultra Carbon RC shoe uses a lugged outsole, rocker-shaped design to reduce heel impacts, and the sole is carbon-fibre to help you bounce. Comes in half sizes, blue or black/yellow colour options. £210, scott-sports.com
LOOK MUM, NO HANDS
The Dialled Dino Windproof Kids MTB Jer
