This week we’ve got real content worth following, and even things that probably shouldn’t exist 🔥
After a slow and boring start to the year, we finally have something to show you this week.
And if you’re new here, welcome! The idea is simple—a quick, fun spin through everything that’s caught our eye lately.
Let’s dive straight into the story without beating around the bush.
Matthew Fairbrother says that during the year-end break, he decided to take on a simple endurance challenge that was tough on his mind.
He rode 500 kilometers around a single loop with no scenery, no changes, and no break from the monotony.
The challenge wasn’t so much physical as it was a battle with the mind and focus.
The idea was to strip challenges back to their true fundamentals, no frills.
What broke him wasn’t the fatigue, it was the stillness inside his head 😎
This bike will never see the light of day, even though it actually existed for a while.
The company decided to halt the project, and it will never make it into production.
In short, the story is that Focus tried to use a new and different carbon technique to make an e-bike.
The technique relied on a type of carbon that could be recycled at the end of the bike’s life.
But the company manufacturing the technology went bankrupt, and that’s where everything stopped.
Honestly, it’s a shame, because the idea was a real step forward in the world of bikes 🚴
Focus says that exploring new paths always brings surprises, and this time they faced an obstacle they couldn’t overcome.
The company that was making the carbon frames with the new technique went bankrupt, and that’s when the whole project came to a halt.
The bike was ready to redefine carbon bike manufacturing with fully automated, entirely European production.
The biggest advantage was using materials that could be fully recycled.
And since the technology was tied to that specific company, there’s no alternative manufacturer to continue production.
That’s why the bike will remain just a concept and won’t hit the market.
In short, the bike will never be sold, but it proved that making a fully recyclable carbon bike is possible.
The product, materials, and manufacturing process were all market-ready with no technical issues 🚴
Marzocchi Bomber Air Shock 🔥
Price: £509.99 from Silverfish UK 💨
Trek Foray Shoe 👟
Price: £149.99 from Trek Bikes 🔥
Dirty Disco slippers ⚡ Slightly roomy for comfort, METNET zones stretch and conform to your foot, nylon composite plate, precise BOA adjustment system, Tachyon rubber outsole, removable front and rear spikes, GnarGuard rubberized coating, and the upper is 20% recycled material 👣
Granite Design Crust Bicycle Tyre Covers 🔥
Price: $39.99 from Granite Design 🚴
Granite Crust covers are designed to keep your car and home clean after a ride 💪 Made from durable, washable material, and when you’re done, they fold into their own carry bag. Fits 24–29in wheels. Ride hard and muddy, and Crust keeps everything else clean 🚴
2027 Tour de France UK stages route 🚴
Price: completely free from Le Tour 🚴
We don’t usually get too excited about the TdF route announcement, but this time it passes right by my mum’s house 😎 And the best part? The bizarrely named “Côte de Trough of Bowland” climb that’s full of weirdness and thrill 🚴
This stage promises to be full of surprises, sharp turns, and hills that challenge every rider 😤 British fans will be on the edge of their seats cheering every moment, and those riding the route will feel the true race spirit from start to finish ⚡
The return of our featured Readers’ Rides 🔥
Price: completely free, and you could even win a T-shirt and stickers! 🎉 Source: this very form
It’s time to kick Readers’ Rides back into action 🔥 We’ve revamped the form and photo uploader to make it clearer, faster, and easier.
And the best part? Any published submission will earn you a piece of STW merch 😎 What are you waiting for? Send in your bike!
Note: your bike doesn’t have to be new, expensive, or even clean. We want to see real bikes from real riders 🚴
Stale Goods Friday 🔥 2011 Rocky Mountain Slayer
Price: £4,198.99 (or £6,264.26 adjusted for inflation) 🚴♂️ Source: Fresh Goods Friday 90
Back in the mists of time, when companies thought it was a smart idea to put Ardents on burly bikes, we wrote:
“The bike went in for Issue 66’s Winching and Plummeting test. It’s an evolution of the original Slayer we tested years ago, updated with a hydroformed alloy frame, 165mm of rear travel, and 160mm up front via the Fox 36 TALAS R fork.
It uses a four-bar SmoothLink suspension system paired with a custom-valved Fox RP23 shock.
The finishing kit is all rather shiny, with carbon Raceface SIXC cranks, Formula The ONE brakes, and an X9 10-speed drivetrain.
We’re looking forward to some serious plummeting – and hopefully the winching won’t be too bad 😎
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