New Specialized Recon, Cape Epic bikes and more

Our round up of the best tech from this week.

Adwitiya Pal

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Apr 6 2024

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After a jam-packed March, which saw us bring to you new bikes from a host of big names on the MTB scene, such as Canyon, Specialized and Mason, as well as cool tech tidbits including power meter pedals and a few race-ready shoes, we’re starting April a little slow but as always steady. There are still lots of things to get excited about in this week’s edition of Tech of the Week, so keep scrolling to read more…

Specialized introduced new Recon with more off-road-walking comfort

The S-Works Recon first appeared on the scene in 2018 and was labelled as the “fastest shoe on dirt” by the California-based company. Specialized doesn’t make the same claims anymore but what’s cool about this carbon-black cleat is the enhanced off-road-walking comfort.

The latest Recon uses a flexible outsole and upper to make it comfier for hike-a-biking up a short incline or navigating stairs to the coffee shop after a long ride. But don’t worry, it’s got some mean on-the-bike improvements, too, including a good, stiff sole for better power transfer and pedalling efficiency, while also being light in weight.

It’s available in three models, the most affordable one starting at £100 and going up to £210 for the top-end model, which comes with a carbon-fibre sole plate and dual Li2 Boa dials and is suitable for those looking for all-terrain riding.

Read more about the Recon here: Specialized's new gravel shoes redesigned with flexible sole.

Our guide to the 2024 RockShox rear shocks range

Rear shocks are an integral component when it comes to your mountain bike, supplying much-needed squish at the rear to bolster comfort and control. RockShox is one of the choice protagonists in this space and has something to offer everyone, whatever your mountain biking discipline – and we’ve got just the guide to take you through all the models at every price point, from the Deluxe and Super Deluxe to the fabled Monarch.

Check out our guide to the 2024 range of RockShox’s rear shocks.

We had a close encounter with Ila Stow’s Cape Epic-conquering Liv Pique

Paired with German national Laura Stark as Team Fortress Women, Ila Stow took to the Cape Epic with the third-generation Pique from Giant’s stand-alone women-specific brand, Liv.

Off.road.cc got some time with the new bike at Stage 7's Grand Finale in Stellenbosch and went through some of the details, which include several key revisions in suspension, carbon layup, and geometry, nearly 300g have been carved away.

Have a closer look at Ila Stow's Cape Epic-conquering Liv Pique or you can read our news story about Liv’s new Pique XC.

We also got up close and personal with Lukas Baum’s Orbea Oiz

Orbea Leatt Speed Company’s Lukas Baum rode the focused and measured Oiz, if maybe a tad unconventional owing to the bike's rowdy paint scheme, at this year’s Cape Epic. Although the bike was more standardised than previous editions of the Cape Epic, it still came with plenty of tweaks and customisations.

These included custom Sigma Rox matching the bike and kit design, the RockShox Flight Attendant with a softer 35 per cent sag, and the SRAM XX1 Transmission with a monstrous 38T chainring.

Catch all the customisations and other cool features on the Lukas Baum’s Orbea Oiz.

Our guide to the best mountain bike brakes in 2024

Brakes are an essential facet of going fast. Being able to scrub off speed in a heartbeat not only makes riding safer but it means you can brake later and keep the average speed up. While all brakes do the same thing, they all do it in slightly different ways, providing different lever feels, power deliveries and all kinds of adjustments. There's a lot to think about when it comes to buying a brake but we've made it easy by narrowing it down to the best options on the market

Read the whole guide here: Best mountain bike brakes 2024.

Keep your vision clear with our guide to the best goggles for mountain biking

Keeping stuff out of the eyes is essential to a great time out on the bike. While glasses do a very solid job, goggles step things up a notch by providing enhanced protection, better stability and improved integration with full-face helmets. Here are all of the goggles that have scored four stars or more in our testing.

Check out the best mountain bike goggles of 2024.

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