Part of the fun of wandering around Crankworx is discovering little gems from all corners of the MTB realm. Yes it’s a bit late for Crankworx news now, but we held out to obtain some additional info before wrapping up this post.
This year, I checked out some interesting stuff like Vorsprung Suspension’s new Smashpot coil conversion kit for air-sprung forks, which isn’t yet on the market but is already on the circuit… Bikerumor also caught one of North America’s first looks at Peaty’s bike care products and stopped by Yakima’s booth for a quick look at their new HangOver hitch rack.
Vorsprung’s Smashpot Bottomless Coil Spring System
If you’re craving the feel of a coil in your air-sprung fork, check out Vorsprung Suspension’s Smashpot bottomless coil spring system. This conversion kit gives riders the active feel of a coil spring from within their air shock’s chassis, and it features a unique damper to control bottom-outs.
The Smashpot’s spring is completely linear, but when you’ve compressed most of the coil Vorsprung’s ‘progressive engagement hydraulic anti-bottom out’ system comes into play. Throughout the last 50mm of travel, a speed and position sensitive hydraulic damper engages and helps bring the fork to its bottom-out point smoothly.
The Smashpot is compatible with Rockshox’s Pike, Lyric, Yari, and Revelation forks, and also fits Fox 36’s (it will likely fit Fox 34’s as well but Vorsprung is still checking internal clearances to make sure). If demand warrants, they may also create a version to fit DVO Diamond forks, among others.
It’s easy for Vorsprung to make the conversion kit fit various forks- all it takes is different top caps and foot studs to adapt the Smashpot to each brand/model. It also helps that the travel can be adjusted anywhere from 140-180mm.
There will be about ten different spring weight options, covering riders from 110lbs up to 260lbs. Also, the bottom-out damper is externally adjustable and can be re-valved if neccessary.
Installing the Smashpot will add 350-450g to a fork (exact numbers will vary based on the spring weight). Sometime this fall the Smashpot will hit the market with a price tag around the $300 USD mark. Oh and we’re not allowed to name names, but I got the hint that a lot of high-ranking EWS racers have Smashpots hidden in their forks!
Peaty’s Products
Steve Peat may not be racing anymore, but he’s keeping his name in the game with a new project- Peaty’s lubricants, bike cleaners, tire sealant and tubeless valves. These products are aimed at all cyclists, not just mountain bikers, and the liquids are all eco-friendly. Peaty’s products are already available across Europe, but they’re coming to the USA this fall.
Peaty’s Tubeless Sealant is biodegradable and ammonia-free, and those blue dots are nano platelets that help seal up larger punctures. This sealant is also designed to not dry out inside your tires; assuming the tire stays inflated it should never go dry, but they quote six to nine months as a minimum expectation. The Tubeless Sealant is sold in 120ml pouches that will seal two 27.5” tires, and in 1L and 5L bulk bottles. The pouches are ideal for riding or travelling with, and their spouts allow you to inject sealant through a de-cored valve or directly into the tire.
Special valves? Well there are some special things about Peaty’s, including a lifetime warranty! If you bend, break or crack a valve, Peaty’s will fix or replace them for free (see website for details). Made from anodized aluminum, the valves come in one 40mm length that should fit most rims. These valves also include caps with built-in valve core removers.
Peaty’s Link Lube is an oil/wax lubricant that’s designed for all conditions. As the picture shows, it requires a good shake to mix it up before applying. The clear part of the lube is an anti-corrosive, water-displacing oil that penetrates your chain, while the blue part (their secret sauce) provides the lubrication.
The biodegradable Loam Foam bike cleaner is made with organic gelling agents so it sticks to your bike until you’re ready to hose it off, and it’s safe to spray on brake components and carbon parts. A 1L spray bottle and 5L refill tub are available, plus a 1L bottle of concentrated Loam Foam that turns into 5L of full-strength bike cleaner.
Peaty’s Drivetrain Degreaser is a cycling-specific, high-strength degreaser that foams up as it loosens greasy residues from your drivetrain components. The degreaser is also biodegradable, and comes in a 500ml spray bottle.
Yakima’s HangOver Hitch Rack
Yakima was on Whistler’s Village Stroll with the six-bike version of their new HangOver hitch mounted bike rack on display. The HangOver angles the bikes’ handlebars to squeeze them all in as tightly as possible, and rubber straps secure both wheels to the rack. The rack tilts down for accessing your trunk (when not loaded), and includes a built in bottle opener! Check out Bikerumor’s previous coverage for all the details on Yakima’s 2019 HangOver racks and other rooftop accessories. #Vanlife!
