Flow’s Fresh Produce | New Continental tyres, clever tools & fresh kit from POC


Greetings Flow Frothers, and welcome to another tip-top edition of Fresh Produce!

It is ALL happening here at Flow HQ – Mick’s currently up in Queenslandia shooting Reef to Reef, Colin’s packing his bags for a family adventure over in Colorado, and Wil’s stuck at home in quarantine with Covid. At least we’re covering all bases then!

There’s also been a heap of exciting news in the mountain bike world over the past couple of weeks. We’ve reported on the release of a brand new Norco Fluid, and Pivot Cycles has also boldly jumped into the lightweight e-MTB game with the gorgeous Shuttle SL. Colin has been doing some investigating to find out what’s going on with the Wangetti trail up in Tropical North Queensland, and he’s also uncovered details about a plan to formalise trails in Wollongong. Further south, Tasmania is adding another destination to its repertoire in the Heemskirk Range. Lucky buggers!

rockshox flight attendant fox live valve
We deliver the most comprehensive review out there comparing RockShox Flight Attendant and Fox Live Valve. Which do we pick? Check out the review for our verdict!

It’s been busy on the bike testing front too. We recently welcomed the provocative Scott Patron to the Flow test fleet, while the new Cube Stereo 160 has arrived to show us just how impressive its package is for the money.

Last but certainly not least, we published a juicy review comparing and contrasting the RockShox Flight Attendant and Fox Live Valve electronic suspension systems. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive review pitting these two systems against each other, and we’re stoked to have been able to put it together for you.

Oh what’s that? You’re hungry for more? Dang, that’s quite the appetite! Well no need to get hangry on us, because we’ve got a whole bunch of new gear for you to feast your eyes on. Get your knives and forks ready, and enjoy this extra plump edition of Flow’s Fresh Produce!


Continental Argotal, Kryptotal & Xynotal Tyres

continental argotal kryptotal xynotal tyre tire
Continental sent us a variety of Argotal, Kryptotal and Xynotal tyres to put to the test for an upcoming review.

Continental is making big moves with its new mountain bike tyre lineup, which features brand new tread patterns, fresh rubber formulations, and three different casing options. There are new names too, which sound a bit like the artificial sweeteners you’d find on the chewing gum packet;

With each tread pattern you then have three different casing options; Trail, Enduro or DH. The casing names are pretty self-explanatory, and each is combined with a rubber compound to match. So the Trail casing uses a firmer ‘Endurance’ compound, the Enduro casing uses a ‘Soft’ compound, and the DH casing can be had in ‘Soft’ or ‘Super Soft’ compounds.

There is a lot to get your noggin around, so Continental sent us out a variety of different options to put to the test on our home trails to see how they stack up against well-known options from Maxxis and Schwalbe. Stay tuned for our in-depth review on Conti’s new tyre range.


Fizik Terra Alpaca Saddle

fizik terra alpaca saddle
Fizik’s new Alpaca saddles allow you to carry more spares and tools on your bike, rather than having to lug them around in a backpack.

Fizik has two brand new mountain bike saddles that have been released under the Alpaca label. This name refers to the saddle’s integrated tool storage, which allows you to carry a compact multi-tool and two CO2 cartridges in dedicated holsters underneath the saddle tail. It’s essentially a modern alternative to the humble saddle bag, albeit one that offers a much lower profile arrangement that affords proper rear tyre clearance when using a long-stroke dropper post on a full suspension trail bike.

You can purchase the saddle on its own or with the multi-tool and CO2 included, which is how our Terra Alpaca arrived.

Designed for trail and enduro riding, the Fizik Terra features a broad and relatively flat profile. There’s a scalloped relief channel through the middle, and a flattened nose to provide a stable perch on really steep climbs. All the edges are smooth to reduce catching on baggy shorts, and the rail uses a closed-loop design for maximum strength.

The included multi-tool is well made and it gives you quick access to all the necessary bits you’d likely need on the trail. You get 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 8mm hex keys, T10 & T25 Torx keys, Phillips & flat head screwdrivers, and an integrated CO2 chuck. When locked away in the holster, it’s all very secure and we’ve not experienced any noise or vibration while riding.

By the time you add two CO2 cartridges however, it does see a decent chunk of weight placed high up on your bike. That’ll be a turnoff for racer types and weight weenies, though the practicality is appealing for everyday riders who are less concerned by gram counting.


Marzocchi Bomber Air Shock

marzocchi bomber air shock
A budget-oriented version of the Fox Float X shock, the new Marzocchi Bomber Air aims to give you all the adjustments you need, and nothing more.

The Bomber Air isn’t just the newest suspension product to come from Marzocchi, it’s also the first air-sprung shock we’ve seen from the brand since it was taken over by Fox Racing Shox.

Designed to suit a wide range of applications from trail rippin’ to freeride huckin’, the Bomber Air is essentially a stripped-back version of the Fox Float X shock. It features a high-volume air can, and it comes in both trunnion and standard mount options with a tonne of different stroke lengths available.

Helping to distinguish the Bomber Air from its Fox counterpart is a big ‘M’ logo and an offset piggyback reservoir. As well as offering a visual point of difference, the crooked reservoir allows for a touch more clearance with water bottles on certain frames.

Just like Marzocchi’s latest forks, the Bomber Air takes a simple approach to damping adjustments to keep the cost down and make it as user-friendly as possible. There’s a single red dial to adjust rebound damping, and at the top of the reservoir, a larger grey dial for adjusting compression damping. You can also tweak the spring rate by adding or removing plastic clip-in air volume spacers.

Given the sharp pricing, we expect we’ll be seeing a lot of these spec’d on complete bikes for 2023. To see how it performs, we’ve just received a Bomber Air shock that we’ll be testing out on a Norco Sight over the coming weeks.


Fox 36/38 XL Mud Guard

fox xl 36 38 mudguard
The longer XL mud guard gives you more spray protection from the front wheel while using a neat four-point mounting system with no zip ties to be seen.

Winter stubbornly rages on here in Australia, and while we aren’t made of sugar, we sure do like to keep the mud out of our eyes when we’re splashing about on the trails. As a neat alternative to zip tying on a plastic guard, Fox recently introduced a couple of mud guards that are designed to mount directly to the latest 36 and 38 series forks. By using both the back of the fork arch and the bleeder valves, the Fox guard isn’t just a lot tidier than using zip ties, it’s also considerably more sturdy, being made from a thicker and tougher plastic.

The direct-mount mud guards are available in two different versions; standard and XL. Compared to the standard version, the Fox XL Mud Guard is considerably longer, providing more coverage against mud spray from the front wheel. Given it’s not that much heavier, we reckon the XL option is the one to go for.


Canyon 3-in-1 Minitool

canyon 3-in-1 minitool multi ratchet dynaplug
Small but mighty – this clever tool from German brand Canyon packs in a whole lot of functionality with minimal bulk.

In addition to making bikes, German direct-to-consumer brand Canyon also produces a wide range of components and accessories. One of the more captivating options is this intriguing multi-tool, which boasts numerous functions in a seriously compact package.

Weighing 42g and measuring just 96mm long, the 3-in-1 Minitool features a ratchet head at the top, and comes supplied with four double-sided S2 steel bits. All the important interfaces are covered including 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 & 6mm hex bits, as well as Torx T6 & T25 bits.

Where things get really clever is when you unthread the lower half of the tool to reveal a hidden Dynaplug tubeless repair tool, which has a plug preinstalled and ready to go. After you’ve plugged the puncture, you can then unthread the Dynaplug head and thread in a CO2 cylinder to inflate the tyre. Neat!

It’s all stored in a lightweight neoprene tool roll, which will easily fit into your saddle bag, jersey pocket or riding pack. The ratchet and bits aren’t as quick to use as a conventional folding multi-tool, but it’s capable of accessing tighter spaces. We also like the clickers in the ratchet, and the machined detailing on the barrel makes it a pleasure to use. Unless you’re making regular adjustments, the 3-in-1 Minitool is a lighter and more compact option that offers greater functionality.


Peaty’s Tubeless Sealant

peatys tubeless sealant
A party for your tyres! The blue Bioglitter in Peaty’s tubeless sealant helps to fill and block punctures.

With all the new test bikes currently arriving at Flow HQ, conveniently we’ve just received a heap of fresh tubeless sealant courtesy of UK brand Peaty’s. Used by the Santa Cruz Syndicate World Cup team, Peaty’s Tubeless Sealant is an ammonia-free and latex-based sealant that is claimed to last for up to six months inside your tyres.

It’s distinctive thanks to the blue speckles of glitter, which aren’t just there for decoration. Made from sustainably harvested trees, this biodegradable glitter is designed to help the sealant coagulate and plug up holes by forming a reinforcing lattice around the puncture wound. It’s also a nice way to embellish your workshop when tubeless tyre installation goes wrong. Well, so we’ve heard anyway…

The goo itself has a much thicker consistency compared to conventional sealant, and in our experience it does seem to last considerably longer too. Peaty’s recommends using 120ml of liquid in a standard 29in trail tyre, and it’s available to purchase in small single-serve soft pouches, in a 500ml bottle or in a 1-litre bottle.


POC Otocon

POC’s new Otocon is the Swedish outfit’s answer to the well-vented, lightweight Enduro helmet.

The Otocon is POC’s latest lightweight, well-ventilated, full-face brain bucket. Designed for enduro and trail riding, our size large test helmet tips the scales at 800g, making it about 400g lighter than the brand’s Coron DH lid, but still a bit heavier than the Specialized Gambit (675g) and the Fox Proframe (755g).

There are 18 vents total with deep internal channelling to give the air somewhere to move once it enters the shell. The grill at the front of the chin bar is also removable for ultimate airflow.

Once the Otocon is on your head, it fits much like the POC Kortal trail lid, but getting the sucker on and off your noggin is another story — it’s snug around the bottom edge. Speaking of the bottom edge, POC has moulded three rubber bumpers on the bottom of the shell, which save it from getting scuffed up.

On the back is a dial-based, height-adjustable retention system, which along with two sets of cheek pads included in the box, allows for a tailored fit. Just be sure to keep track of the head cradle when you’re putting the helmet on, as it tends to fold up, if left to its own devices.

The field of view is excellent, and there is no hint of the tunnel vision that comes with some full-face lids. The Otocon also has quite a different aesthetic to a lot of these well-vented full faces. Helmets like the Proframe and the Gambit are quite angular and sharp, while the Otocon uses more rounded and flowing lines.

We have the standard version of the Otocon, which has a RECCO reflector, while there is also an Otocon Race which adds a MIPS Integra liner, twICEme Medical ID and Aramid internal skeleton — for an extra $75 and about 50g.


POC Ora

The Ora goggles fit perfectly into the Otocon and offer some serious fog-busting ventilation.

Along with the Otocon, we’ve received a pair of POC’s Ora goggles. Unsurprisingly they fit seamlessly into the Otocon and Coron helmets, and feature tri-density foam to provide a comfortable seal with your face.

The top and bottom of the frame are vented without any foam covering, which keeps fresh air flowing on the inside of the lens and prevents it from getting misty. This arrangement makes quick work of fog, and the lens has stayed totally moisture free, even out shooting which requires lots of hiking and standing around.

The lens itself is made in collaboration with Carl Zeiss, and the grey neutral tint offers a middle ground between being able to see descending through the deep dark jungle, and burning your retinas in the bright sun — though it definitely tilts toward the former.

To keep the strap from creeping down the back of the helmet every time you hit a bump, the inside has a silicone gripper.


Thule UpRide

Only touching the front tire and the rear wheel, Thule’s UpRide won’t scratch your pride and joy.

Gone are the days of removing front wheels or wincing as you clamp rubberised jaws onto a carbon frame, because there are now quite a few bike rack options that only touch the tyres. Thule’s UpRide is compatible with wheel sizes from 20-29in and tyres up to 5in wide.

Mounting to the rails using T-track hardware, if you have the right crossbars installed it’s dead simple and offers a clean, integrated look — though Thule offers adapters that mount around the bars too. The arms can be customised based on which side of the car the rack is mounted, but this is a fiddly process — lucky you only have to do it once.

Rated for bikes weighing 20kg with a max wheelbase of 1300mm, the UpRide uses two wheel hooks to secure the front wheel forming an ‘X’ where they connect. It’s super important to ensure the arms click together as that’s where the stability comes from, otherwise, your bike may find its way out of the rack as you’re moving.

Once the arms are joined, the rear arm ratchets down on the tire to keep everything upright. At the back the diagonal ratcheting strap seems to adapt to a wide range of tyre profiles much nicer than the more common perpendicular application.

Thule also includes locking cores to secure the rack to your roof, and for the cable lock that’s hidden in the back of the wheel track.


Muc-Off eBike Essentials Kit

Also compatible with regular mountain bikes.

It would seem that no component or accessory on the market is safe from an e-Bike specific spin-off. Not being one to miss out on an opportunity, Muc-Off has come to the e-Party with its E-Bike Essentials Kit.

Technically the only e-Bike specific element of this kit is the chain lubricant. According to Muc-Off, the ‘e-Bike Dry Weather Ceramic Lube’ has been specifically developed to handle the higher torque loads of an e-MTB by creating a dry ceramic coating on the chain. It’s suited to dry and dusty conditions, while the addition of Boron Nitride compounds reduce friction.

Also included in the E-Bike Essentials Kit is a bottle of Muc-Off bike cleaner and a microcell sponge for scrubbing your bike down. There’s a can of the Bio Degreaser for blasting away gunk off your chain, and a stiff-bristled Claw Brush for tackling greasy cassette sprockets and jockey wheels. Lastly you’ve got a can of Bike Protect, which helps to disperse any remaining water and leave a sparkling protective layer on your frame. Not only does it get your bike looking nice and shiny, it also helps to minimise dirt build-up in between washing. Just make sure you avoid spraying your disc brakes!

It appears you're using an old version of Internet Explorer which is no longer supported, for safer and optimum browsing experience please upgrade your browser.