Satchel Cronk
Eurobike 2017: Product Roundup Day 3
As Eurobike winds down and everybody gets ready to head back home, we took one last lap to find anything we might have missed.
Kali Pads
The Mission knee and elbow pads will retail for $45.
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Kali has been making a name for themselves in the protective market for some time, but they have never bothered to make a soft-style pad. Until now. With its new Mission elbow and knee pad combo, Kali is bringing lightweight foam protection at an affordable price. Similar to what we have seen with the D30 material in other pads, the Mission foam went with a different manufacturer that is designed to produce the same results – hardening on impact.
The burlier brother.
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If you are looking for something burlier, the Strike combo uses a significantly heavier duty Zyleum material, while retaining the lightweight flexible feel. Zyleum, a carbon infused rubber, hardens on impact as well, and can also be found on Dainese protection. Kali added an extra 3 millimeters of soft padding behind the material as opposed to the mesh found on Dainese's pads. They also added protection on the sides of the knee with several smaller pads flanking the larger front pad.
Afton Keegan Shoes:
The Keegan will come in flat and clipless models.
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With the Keegan shoe, Afton seems to have created a stylish and casual around town design that stays stiff when riding and flexes while walking. Afton developed a custom shank for the midsole of the shoe, which they claim is designed to flex "up" when you are walking, but won't flex "down" when putting pressure on a pedal. The final version of the shoe will feature a waffle-style pattern on the sole for solid grip when pedaling or hiking. They have also reinforced the toe box so the first toe catcher you come across does blow through the material. Afton will be releasing a clipless version with similar characteristics, however the midsole shank will be lollipop shaped to offer stiffness in the front while allowing flex in the middle.
MRC Shock Cooling Fins
A different approach to cooling.
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As riders are riding faster and stroking their shock more, the oil is getting hotter, decreasing damping ability. That is why many shocks now feature reservoirs. The extra space for oil to cycle through allows it to cool down and as a result the damper stays more consistent. They are not perfect though. MRC has taken a novel approach to help solve the problem. Cooling fins. Available for the Fox Float X2 and DHX2 shocks, these fins are zip-tied onto the outside of the shock and are designed to direct heat away from the damper. We have seen a similar technology on XTR rotors and on many of Shimano's brake pads, and in that application it seems to work, so perhaps MRC is onto something. Made in Germany, the fins will be available to those in the U.S. willing to pay for freight and wait for the fins to cross the pond.
