MTB April Fools Comedy

MTB companies and websites come alive on April Fools Day. Enjoy all the hijinx right here.

NSMB's Hilarious Guide to April Fools

Cane Creek Goes Pogo

Infinite Adjustment!! – Hope Futureproof Hubs

With the growing number of rear frame widths being launched and frustration in the market we identified a need for a future proof rear hub.

After several ideas were tested the final solution proved to be very simple. Inspired by the infinite adjustability of "pump" trainers from Reebok we fitted an expanding air cylinder inside the hub. This cylinder allows the hub to be adjusted to fit all current and future width standards.

The Barometric Uni-Laterally Level Structured Horizontal Internal Tube forms the basis for our patented design. This unit is built into the central section of our iconic Pro2 hub and the user simply inflates it until the desired width is achieved. The hubs are designed to suit all frames from 130 to 200mm widths.

One current restriction when using conventional spokes is that the wheel must be rebuilt if the hub width is altered although we are also working on a new semi-elastic spoke which will allow for the widening of the flanges with changing spokes.

During the research we also discovered an additional benefit when installing this new hub. If the hub is inflated with helium we can also reduce to overall weight of the hub.

We see these new hubs as a genuine "fix all" solution to the current minefield that surrounds bicycle frame design.

Pearl Izumi's Fat Bike Bandolier

LOUISVILLE, Colo. (April 1, 2015)—Pearl Izumi, maker of ride, run and triathlon performance apparel that empowers athletes to perform better 365 days a year, is excited to introduce the Fat Bike Bandolier, a simple, lightweight device to carry all the CO2 you need to keep rolling after a puncture on your fat bike.

The easy over-the-shoulder design does not interfere with enduro fanny packs and will securely carry 50 16g CO2 cartridges, roughly enough to fill two 4.8” fat bike tires to 12 psi. The idea came about during an Arctic fat bike lunch ride from the Pearl Izumi headquarters.

“I was riding with another guy from the office who is totally cheap, and he’d put one of those cheesy glue-less patches on his tube to fix a previous puncture and of course it flatted,” said Keegan Rehfeldt, Product Designer at Pearl Izumi. “He scammed a tube off me and we set about pumping up his tire. 785 strokes later, like 20 minutes, we had it to about 10 psi. We knew there had to be a better way.”

“When we were pumping up my flat tire, we had a lot of time to think,” said Andrew Hammond, Global Brand Manager. “Either we were going to strap a floor pump to the top tube or figure out a way to use CO2. CO2 was the clear choice because of the speed and simplicity it brings to fixing flats, but one 16g cartridge doesn’t even put a dent in a fat bike tire. We needed a way to carry more. That’s when Keegan came up with the idea for the Fat Bike Bandolier.”

The Fat Bike Bandolier will come in two color ways, Attack Black and Enduro Urban Camo, and retails for $39.99. It includes three 16g CO2 cartridges. Pre-orders have exceeded expectations. Look for it at your local retailer in early August 2015; approximately the same time you would finally be done hand-pumping that tube.

About Pearl Izumi
For over 60 years, Pearl Izumi has been evolving and revolutionizing the design and manufacture of performance apparel and footwear for athletes who depend on uncompromising gear. Pearl Izumi products empower runners, riders and triathletes to be faster, more comfortable and to perform better 365 days of the year. In 2014, Pearl Izumi rooted its new world headquarters in the Colorado Front Range where it embraces strong influence, both culturally and structurally, from its Japanese heritage.