Thomson try out colour (shock!)
There are two pieces of kit which are pretty much defacto choices for the discerning mountain bike rider. Even in the less rarefied atmosphere of Mole HQ, if it comes to spec’ing a seat post and stem chances are the Thomson models will be at the top of the list.
I was convinced of their quality early in my mountain biking career when an 18st mate (DevonMole) gave the seat post a thorough testing in the Alps on his Inbred hardtail. I figured if he couldn’t break them…
The only downside til now has been that the Thomson kit only comes in black or silver. Understated they may be but it’s not obvious where your money is going (unless you look at the end of the seat post and realise that the round external circumference hides an ovalised interior). Besides, we all like to colour match stuff in this retro-ironic age as Hope have proved time and again.
So Thomson have been playing around with different finishes (as reported by BikeRadar recently) and have come up with what is called a Permadized finish – essentially a form of anodising that works from a paper transfer so you can create unusual designs. It’s claimed to be as durable as anodising but offers more than one colour – I’m quite taken by the US flag on the stem pic but would prefer them to come up with a tattoo style circle of mole prints of course. But that’s not going to happen is it?
More unusual news from this most conservative of brands comes in the form of a new quick release mechanism for a seat collar.
Frankly, I reckon you have to go a long way to beat the tactile performance of a Salsa flip off collar in this regard but Thomson are aiming for something much more streamlined as a way of saving us baggy short wearers from ourselves. We’ve all experienced the disappointment and fear of snagging our shorts at inopportune moments haven’t we? It cost me a pair of shorts last year.
It’s good to know Thomson aren’t sitting on their laurels isn’t it?
About the author
Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.
Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.
An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.
If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.
There are 6 comments on ‘Thomson try out colour (shock!)’
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Tony says:
That looks like a ’90 MTB throwback with the stars and strips on it. Very cool tech though. It does give some scope of colour / patch matching for the more detail obsessed amongs us – no Mole names….you know who you are….
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Posted on February 16, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Dandy says:
Stop mincing about, name and shame, Tony. It’s time we fought back against those ponces with their imported colour-matched US hubs, bars, seat clamps, brake detailing, etc. and with riding outfits to match. Poofs.
What’s wrong with black, eh?
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Posted on February 17, 2011 at 10:38 am
John R says:
Thanks for the tip Dandy – so black is the new bling!
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Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Matt says:
It’s funny isn’t it. I remember hankering after an all-black bike with black wheels/hubs etc. some years ago but have just invested in some white wheel rims – last year’s colourway of choice – of which I’m innordinately proud.
The wheels turns etc…
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Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:29 pm
KevS says:
A bunch of Lycra clad mincers the lot of ’em! 😉
I do wear Lycra but would insist on adding baggies and proper MTB gear over the top before leaving the house. Cries of Poof would be too much to bear. There have to be standards after all.
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Posted on February 17, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Tony says:
Obviously Andy I’d want to distance myself from the sort of obsessive who matches their bars, grips, dropped seatpost, saddle, chain, BB, wheels into a gold and black scheme (with a touch of white). I obviously am not that obsessive since my new wheels are black without the gold.
Now where is the Wiggle page for the colour matching valve caps and brake hoses…….
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Posted on February 17, 2011 at 1:35 pm