Category: Bicycle Brands

Diamondback updates Haanjo gravel bikes

Diamondback will exhibit their updated Haanjo gravel bikes at the Sea Otter Classic 2023 taking place this week in Monterey, California.

The models range from entry level commuter bikes to fully-featured, carbon do-it-all gravel bikes, that Diamondback says excel on both road and dirt.

A major part of the redesign includes changing the axle-to-crown length on the new Haanjo frame so it can be compatible with Diamodback’s Haanjo Carbon fork, Rockshox Rudy or the SR Suntour GVX with travel ranging from 30mm up to 60mm. This new frame can be found on the Haanjo 4 EXP through Haanjo 8C, and will also offer an increased number of attachment points to fit water bottle cages or add a bag on the top tube just like Jason says he likes to do.

Diamondback Haanjo detail of top tube / seat post / rear triangle area.

In addition to the redesigned frame, the new Haanjo 7C EXP has a Rock Shox Rudy 40mm Travel front fork and the Haanjo 4 EXP has a SR Suntour GVX32, 60mm Travel Suspension Fork. Dropper posts are also added to the Haanjo 4 EXP through Haanjo 8C.

The new Haanjo collection ranging from $1,000 – $5,700 will be available online and at retailers in 2023.

Is it time for N+1?

My daily rider is a sixteen year old road bike that still rides quite nicely. I can climb the hills where I live, I descend with confidence, it goes fast enough, it mostly brakes good enough as well, and I can spend all day in the saddle. What more could I want in a bike? I think it retailed for around $2000 new, with a little extra spent to upgrade the wheels.

Over the past few years, I’ve demoed some really nice bikes that retail for upwards of $10,000. These bikes ride like magic carpets. They float up hills, my hands don’t hurt after long braking on some technical descents, and the shifting feels as crisp as a Pringles chip. I feel like I can ride forever on these bikes.

That’s more than I’ll ever spend on a bike, but I’m looking at more reasonable options. Alchemy Bikes, for example, just announced a dramatic price drop for their Lycos gravel bikes. The base-model (non-Au) price for a Lycos is now just $4999 for the SRAM Rival GX AXS build, which is $2500 less than its initial iteration. Alchemy will be at the Sea Otter Classic 2023 next week so I’ll demo this and other models they have on hand while I’m there. I’ll also ask how they managed this dramatic price drop.

Alchemy Bikes Lycos gravel bike

My time is limited, so what else should I try while I’m there? You can find the full list of exhibitors here.

Sea Otter Stories: Fear And Loathing In Laguna Seca

Cain Ramirez is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cowgirl Bike Courier. He has been designated by Cyclelicious as part of the less-than-one percent of transportation cyclists that identify as “Strong & Fearless”.

It started off as a joke.

Rich had just posted a press release for the Sea Otter Classic on Twitter. In it was mention of the Second Iteration of their infamous eMTB Race. I laughed. I don’t ride mountain bikes. Truth be told, I don’t particularly like mountain bikes, or mountain bike culture for that matter. Despite these preconceived notions, I’m a complete sucker for erratic and quirky cycling concepts.

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