Those who follow the mag assiduously will have noticed that one of the mountain bikes I have most enjoyed lately is the Forbidden Druid V2(test here), particularly because it combines a relatively new concept, the high pivot, with a rather unique geometry that requires some rider adaptation before it is fully appreciated. It’s kind of like that music that you don’t like at first glance, but the more you listen to it, the more you appreciate it. Seeing my enthusiasm, the Canadian guys at Forbidden sent me a frame with the new pink color scheme to assemble. I point out that it also exists in oth ..read more

Late this Fall and throughout an unusually warm Winter I’ve been spending time aboard my personal bike, a Santa Cruz Nomad, on a fully redesigned Roval carbon fiber wheelset – specifically the Traverse HD. Available at two price points, the wheels can be purchased laced to either DT Swiss 240 hubs or the more affordable 350 hubset. At the time that the samples went out, Roval was out of stock on the 240 rear wheels and I had the slightly unconventional request of a mixed wheel size (29″ front / 27.5″ rear). Eager to get me on some wheels, Roval sent out a 240 front and a 350 rear wheel. It’s w ..read more

Specialized presents the new Epic 8, and with it the Evo version, i.e., the one with more travel. The number can only bring to mind the Tarmac 8, unveiled last year, effectively aligning two of the California brand’s most beloved models. Once again, the race version of the Epic differs greatly from the “downcountry” version, but, contrary to what happened in 2020, the Epic 8 Evo is unlikely to be used in competition instead of the Epic 8, which you see in the photo below. In fact, the latter already has 120/120mm of travel, forgoes the Brain in favor of the Rock Shox Flight Attendant, and has ..read more

Scott introduces the Voltage, a light ebike with TQ motorization, a built-in 360Wh battery, 29-inch wheels, 160mm of travel at the front and 155 at the rear. I was able to preview it on the trails in Girona, Spain, and then on those back home, assisted by the unstoppable CrisB. Our followers will notice similarities with the Scott Lumen, and indeed the Voltage has the same motor and battery, as well as the now typical Scott design with the shock hidden in the frame. The character of the bike is radically different: this is an all mountain that loves downhill. Details and review in the video (I ..read more

Cannondale introduces its first light ebike, the Moterra SL, and it does so in its own way, that is, with a lightweight product but equipped with a 600Wh battery and an 85Nm Shimano EP8 motor, so not depowered. Carbon frame, mullet format, i.e., 29″ front and 27.5″ rear wheels (compatible with 29″ via flipchip), 150mm rear and 160mm front travel. I had a chance to preview it on the trails in Braga, Portugal, and I can already tell you that I rode more than 1300 meters of elevation gain using Trail assistance, the second after Eco of the 4 available, finishing the day with 2 notches out of 5 r ..read more

Arc8 introduces the new Extra, an enduro bike with carbon frame, 160mm of travel at the rear, 160/170 at the front, 29/29 or mullet format, and that can accommodate both coil and air shocks. I had a chance to try it for a day on the Graubünden trails in Thusis, using the new Story Lodge as a base. The most significant feature of the Arc8 Extra is its suspension system, called the Dual Pivot Suspension System (Slider System), the same one I had tested on the Arc8 Evolve. The advantage of this system is described this way by Arc8:“In our dual pivot suspension system, a slide replaces the tradit ..read more

The Scott Ransom was the Swiss brand’s latest full suspended mountan bike that was not given the all-integrated look we saw for the Spark and Genius (with the exception of the Gambler). As you can see from the photos and video, the Scott engineers have managed to hide a 170mm travel shock inside the frame and at the same time have radically changed the character of this bike: it is no longer a trail bike with an oversized travel, like the old model, but a thoroughbred enduro. It accommodate a 27.5″ or 29″ wheel at the rear, and it has a headset that can change the head angle from 63.8° to 65 ..read more

The Forbidden Druid V2 is the trail bike from this Canadian brand that we haven’t talked about in depth here in the mag, until now. 130mm of travel at the rear, 150mm at the front, full carbon frame and 29-inch wheels, but with the option to choose it in mullet configuration. There are two features that make it special, one of which immediately jumps out at you: the high pivot. A solution chosen to obviate the chain pull given by the Trifecta suspension system, an inverted foour bar linkage designed to give the rear wheel a trajectory that initially goes backwards. This kinematics allows the ..read more

The Fizik Nanuq GTX shoes were unveiled in late November, right on time with the start of the cold season, at least according to the calendar. In practice, winter temperatures have been waiting for another month, so now we are ready to present their test. Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX Details GORE-TEX Koala membrane BOA Fit System Ripstop fabric: abrasion and cut resistant X2 outsole: Vibram rubber Sole stiffness index 3 Weight measured with Crank Brothers cleat, size 42.5: 499 grams per shoe. Sizes: 36-48 (37 to 47 also in half sizes) Color: Black-Grey Flat pedal version available Price: €279 Fizik ..read more

Last November, Leatt introduced its new HydraDri 7.0 Clip winter shoes. We had a pair sent to us, and after waiting for the cold weather to arrive, we were finally pleased: the frigid temperatures of the past few weeks created ideal conditions for this test to take place. Leatt describes these shoes as suitable for all seasons, since their primary intention is to keep the foot dry but, given their construction, they are for all intents and purposes a product best used in temperatures below 8°. Details Leatt HydraDri 7.0 Clip HydraDri 10K/10K waterproof membrane. Leatt SPD channel offers comp ..read more