Here we are once again, skidding into the holiday season after a year that seemed to evaporate into thin air. I’d like to attribute that to a successful mix of riding time and family time, but there’s always more than enough ‘work’ to keep us busy enough to lose track of the calendar.

2024 helped launch too many new and exciting products to count. Being far enough removed from the pandemic’s start seems to have spurred the release of several big introductions that were on hold during more tumultuous years. Either that has made choosing Editor’s Choice awards easier than in the past, or I’m getting better at choosing the things that bring me the most joy.

Either way, the following picks for the 2024 Editor’s Choice awards were obvious standouts, and would be excellent additions to anyone’s gear stable in the new year!

Best Bike Experience

Editor’s Choice Non-work Related: Total Eclipse Adventure

While most of the product picks were easy to narrow down, the best bike experience is always a tough one. Simply put, we are incredibly fortunate to experience many of the best cycling adventures, usually multiple times per year. But the one that stands out the most to me wasn’t some elaborate press junket in a far-off place. Instead, it happened in (near) my backyard, and involved a rare celestial event with friends and family.

Originally, I had no plans to go see the total solar eclipse in April. But as the date neared, I decided I should at least try since the path of totality was only 45 minutes away. To my surprise, one of our local MTB trails had availability at their campground two months out, so I booked a spot without any other plans. As the event got closer, everything came together including my family and Tyler and his family joining in the festivities.

Experiencing totality with everyone was life-changing, as was my ride with my daughter on the Shotgun Seat during the partial eclipse following. My daughter’s enthusiastic chatter about the eclipse and the ‘blue loop–fruit loop’ trail is something I will never forget. If you have the chance to experience a total solar eclipse with family and friends, don’t sleep on it. And make sure to bring a bike!

Editor’s Choice Work-Related Experience: Riding to the Sea Otter Classic with Otso

If I had to choose an experience that was purely work-related, it would be riding from San Francisco to Monterey with Otso for the Sea Otter Classic. In what seems like a rite of passage for any Sea Otter veteran, I’ve had the invitation to do this with a few different companies over the years, but the timing has never worked out.

This year, that changed as the lack of pre-show events meant I had enough time to fly into SFO to meet up with the Otso crew and start making our way to Monterey. Originally the plan was to ride from near SFO to the surprisingly posh Costanoa campground, spend the night, and then make the big push into Laguna Seca the following day. I missed the first day of riding after arriving under the weather, but after an incredible night’s sleep in a tent bungalow, I woke up the following day ready for a long ride on an Otso Waheela C.

I’m so glad it worked out, since the ride was incredible. It ended up being a long day since many of the Otso ambassadors along for the ride were riding mostly loaded with all their bikepacking gear, but that just meant we had plenty of excuses to stop and smell the roses. Ride stops also included an amazing breakfast and coffee at Cat & Cloud in Santa Cruz, plus the requisite stops at hole-in-the-wall convenience stores for ice creams and cold drinks.

Getting lost in a sandy maze up the back side of Ft. Ord National Monument almost broke us, but after re-establishing our navigation, we found our way to the venue tired but stoked.

Best Mountain Bike

Editor’s Choice MTB: Ibis Ripley v5

The Ibis Ripley v4 is one of my favorite bikes – maybe of all time. So when I heard about the major changes to the bike for the next generation, I had my reservations. I still love the v4, but there is no question that the Ibis Ripley v5 is a much more modern, and more capable bike that will shine in more terrain. And that’s before you convert it to the Ripmo!

With a swap of the fork, shock, and shock clevis & eyelet hardware, you can bump your 130/140mm travel Ripley to a 150/160mm travel Ripmo, and vice versa. I have yet to ride the bike in the Ripmo configuration (coming soon for the full review), so for now, this award is limited to the Ripley.

In addition to its shapeshifting abilities, the Ripley/Ripmo gets truly useable internal downtube storage with a frame that still fits a large water bottle even on the smaller sizes. Add in the ability to run full 29″ wheels or MX 29/27.5″, ample 29 x 2.5″ tire clearance with standard Boost 148mm rear wheel spacing, a threaded BB, looong dropper compatibility, excellent suspension, dialed geo, and good looks, and you have an easy choice for bike of the year.

Best Gravel Bike

Editor’s Choice Gravel: Pivot Vault Gen 4

Unlike movie sequels, it seems if you have a great bike to start with, the next installment is often an improvement. Following the Ripley v5 for MTB, the Pivot Vault Gen 4. The Vault has evolved quite a bit since its early days as a CX-specific model with the current version less specialized and far more capable.

Unlike many other carbon gravel bikes out there, the new Vault isn’t hyper-focused on gravel racing, or a super-slack fat-tire dropbar MTB. Rather than zeroing in on the extremes, the Vault strikes a perfect balance as an all-around gravel bike that would be just as comfortable on a long and fast gravel race as it would be for a big bikepacking adventure.

The svelte frame includes a much more discreet Iso-Flex system which genuinely reduces feedback felt through the saddle. The frame also includes internal frame storage, tons of mounting options including full-coverage fenders, multiple cable routing options, and clearance for meaty 700c x 50mm tires.

It’s light, it’s efficient, and there are even complete builds starting at $3,999 which is impressive for a Pivot.

Best Components

Editor’s Choice Suspension: Fox Live Valve NEO

The more electronics I accumulate, the less I want to be associated with my bikes – but I have to acknowledge a great product when I use it. The previous Live Valve system would never have been something I wanted on my bikes. It was complicated, heavy, had a ton of wires, and did funky stuff depending on the terrain and riding style.

Fox Live Valve NEO on the other hand, is a revolution for Fox and suspension control in general. Starting with the installation, NEO is extremely simple and easy to add to your bike. Consisting of just a rear shock and two brake sensors, the system can be used with any front fork and doesn’t require any additional components like power meters, cadence sensors, etc.

The lack of a fork lockout is one of my favorite things about the system – the original Live Valve always required a harsh impact when the locked-out fork first hit something which caused the fork and the rest of the system to open. Now, your fork acts as normal and the opening of the rear shock is so fast and silent it’s hard to even notice.

I’ve been riding it on the Ibis Ripley v5 which is already an incredible pedaler, but the NEO shock has made it even better. Instantly I was noticing faster climbs without giving up anything on rough terrain. The shock does seem to make the bike sit up a little taller, and there are so many adjustments in the Fox Bike app that I haven’t tried yet, but so far NEO has absolutely exceeded any expectations.

Editor’s Choice Brakes: SRAM Maven SLV Brakes

I mentioned this in our upcoming podcast, but the SRAM Maven brakes are the first brakes from SRAM that I’ve wanted to buy with my own money in a long time. They’re that good. According to SRAM, these are the most powerful brakes they’ve made and you can tell. More importantly, despite the earth-halting stopping power, there is plenty of modulation to allow you to control it. After running these on a heavy ebike, there’s no other brake I’d rather have slowing me down.

The brakes are also based on a mineral oil system which should make them more robust in the long term. These probably offer too much power for a lot of bikes, but if this is a hint of the future of SRAM braking, I’m all for it.

Editor’s Choice Dropper Post: WTC Resolve rev2

The original Wolf Tooth Components Resolve Dropper post was already one of my favorites, so an improved Resolve rev2 version goes straight to the top of the list. I can’t make use of the new “world’s longest” 242mm dropper length, but I can the new spool valve which reduces lever activation force by 25% along with better self-bleeding functionality. Better still, the new posts are actually cheaper, and most of the updates are backward compatible with rev2 conversion kits available for $79.95.

Editor’s Choice Wheels: Reserve 40/44

My ideal gravel wheelset is something bomb-proof for everyday adventures, wide for modern tires, light weight, and aerodynamic. Something like the Reserve 40/44 wheelset. There are lighter or possibly more aerodynamic wheels out there, but few combine that with the absolute durability and lifetime warranty of the Reserve wheels.

I’ve beaten on these wheels daily since first mounting them up, and they’ve performed exquisitely without a single issue.

Editor’s Choice Tires: WTB Vulpine 45

2024 seemed to be the year for fast 45mm gravel tires, and for me at the top of that list is the WTB Vulpine 45. WTB also introduced the Vulpine S which has a completely smooth center section much like Jordan’s pick of the Hutchinson Caracal. But after riding the Vulpine 45 and Vulpine S back to back, I didn’t notice a huge difference in speed and rolling resistance on pavement, but the difference in grip in slick off-road situations was dramatic (if you ride mostly dry conditions, the Vulpine S is a great choice).

I’m sure the Vulpine 45 will wear faster than the ‘S’, but for those who want a fast tire that still grips in most off-road situations, the Vulpine 45 is the clear winner.

Best Accessories

Editor’s Choice Pump: WTC EnCase Pump

I very rarely flat (knock on wood). Despite that, I rarely travel without a pump. I don’t really like CO2 and would prefer something that’s going to work multiple times when you need it. The new EnCase pumps from Wolf Tooth Components are excellent, and most importantly, the smallest 40cc pump will fit in your pocket, or in a downtube storage bag like the Cotopaxi bags included in the Ripley v5.

That means it’s always there when you need it, and you can even stash a tubeless plugger in the end for the complete flat kit package. The smaller pump will take a while to fill a large volume tire, but it’s worth it for me based on how seldom it’s used.

Editor’s Choice Bike Transport: Blivet Tindr Tire Covers

Fat bikes pose some interesting transportation challenges, particularly if you ride when it’s icy. I have plenty of bike racks that can carry a fat bike, but during the winter the last place I want my bike to be is getting sprayed with a salt bath on the back of my car. So I usually put my bikes inside my car during the winter (thank you Honda Element). But studded tires make that a delicate affair, usually requiring a few moving blankets and careful placement.

That was until I found out about Blivet Sports and their Tindr tire covers. These reinforced 600-denier polyester covers wrap around the tire and prevent the studs from digging into your car or yourself. They fit 26″ x 4 to 4.8″ or 27.5 x 3.8 – 4.5″ tires, and sell for $50 per set. Well worth it in my opinion.

Blivet also has some incredible winter boots that were a contender for an Editor’s Choice award, but I simply haven’t had enough time on them in cold temperatures yet. Check back next year as the Blivet Quilo FLT boots are already seriously impressive.

Editor’s Choice Recovery Product: KT Health Ice Sleeve

You don’t get to be a middle-aged mountain biker without some injuries along the way. This year I was introduced to KT Health’s new line of products which included their amazing Ice Sleeve. It’s exactly what it sounds like, but better than you would expect. The soft microfiber sleeve stays flexible when cold, and the compressive sleeve keeps it in place where you need cooling therapy. It will never freeze solid, will never leak even if punctured, and comes in multiple sizes to use on legs, arms, and more (I used it flat on a broken rib). These are absolutely worth the $39.99 price tag, and will help shorten injury duration and get you back in the saddle faster.

Editor’s Choice Bike Adjacent: Engel UltraLite Hard Cooler

Occasionally we get a chance to test gear that I’d call bike adjacent. The Engel UltraLite Hard Cooler is one such example. What caught my attention was that the 60 qt UltraLite was lighter than my Yeti Tundra 50 in spite of being 10 qt bigger capacity. While the Engel ended up being nearly 2lbs heavier than claimed (23.2 lbs), it’s still lighter than the Tundra 50 (25.8 lbs) and offers more capacity and easier-to-operate latches. It also includes a divider and upper dry goods basket, all while coming in at $130 cheaper than a comparable Yeti Tundra 65. Ice-keeping ability seems to be on par with the Yeti, and so far, it’s been just as durable.

Best Clothing

Editor’s Choice Cold Weather Clothing: Ornot Grid Thermal Jersey & Thermal Cargo Bib Tight

I’ve been eyeing Ornot clothing for a while now, and I finally got to try some out for myself – I was not disappointed. Going into the late Fall/early Winter, I’ve been living in the Ornot Grid Thermal Jersey and Thermal Cargo Bib tights. The tights are some of the finest cold-weather bibs I’ve worn with a luxurious fit, excellent chamois, and the right amount of warmth.

It’s a similar story with the Grid Thermal Jersey. The excellent fit and comforting warmth make this an ideal layering piece that I’ve used for just above freezing to near 60ºF with the right combination of base layers and outer shells. It’s clear that Ornot knows how to make clothing for varying conditions, but more impressive is the fit.

Editor’s Choice Warm Weather Clothing: Castelli Espresso Shorts and Bibs

I’ve ridden a lot of different road and gravel kit over the years, and the new Castelli Espresso collection stands out as one of my favorites. Unlike Castelli kit in the past that I recall, the Espresso collection isn’t so small that you have to size up multiple sizes. The medium fit me very well with arm and leg length which was nearly perfect. The feel of the Doppio fabric and Progetto X2 Air chamois makes for all-day comfort.

Editor’s Choice Footwear: Shimano S-Phyre XC903 MTB Shoes

I’ve long prioritized comfort over shoe performance, which usually means I’m not riding XC race shoes. The new Shimano S-Phyre XC903 shoes are so comfortable that you don’t have to eschew performance for shoe comfort. They should be extra comfortable for the $450 price tag, but if you’re going to go all out on your footwear, these are worth a look.

Parting Words

I’ll leave you with a heartfelt thanks to all of our readers and everyone we’ve had the privilege of working with in 2024 and beyond. BikeRumor is and always will be a labor of love for all of us behind the scenes, and the best part of the job is actually getting out and riding with friends and family, old and new. I wish everyone a happy holiday and a happy new year – catch you all in 2025!

Each of these products was entirely chosen purely on their technical merits, by me personally, and for the reasons described above. More great products passed through my hands in 2024. Under no circumstances were any of my picks, paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to the brand or advertiser. My selections are mostly (but not exclusively) limited to products I’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples can make it more likely that we will have considered their products, if only because we can share our real, firsthand experiences.

The post BikeRumor Editor’s Choice 2024 – Zach’s Gear of the Year appeared first on Bikerumor.

Let’s do it. Another year of great gear and my 2024 Editor’s Choice Awards to wrap up the best of the best.

This year again felt like it flew by. That’s partly because I took on more and more of our Euro and mountain bike workload and partly just that there was a fresh flow of great new bikes to test. Plus, I headed out to the tech pits of more bike races this year – from our home Czech CX Worlds to new Enduro & DH World Cups in Poland, to the local XC World Cup, some Gravel World Series racing, and even gravel & road stages of the Tour de France. There was tons of new tech to cover across every discipline, even some really interesting new ebike development.

I’ll admit the ever-growing price of top-end bikes is a bit disheartening to me. But at the same time, several (but not all) of my favorites of the year tended a lot more toward the more affordable end of the spectrum.

With that in mind, l’ll just dive into my Editor’s Choice round-up of the best new gear that I actually tested first-hand this year. Plus, I’ll also have a few solid Honorable Mentions for some promising new things that I simply haven’t gotten enough time to ride just yet…

About Cory

Another year, another quick refresher on who I – a bike tech nerd & technical off-road rider – am, and why my picks might matter to you. For over 30 years, mountain bikes have been my go-to tool for fun with friends, fitness, racing, and just solo exploration. I’ve also been a designer & maker of all things big & small for even longer. I’ll ride anything with two wheels, but am really partial to getting myself and my bikes dirty. But riding, every category, means I might have the most year-end picks of our whole crew, too.

Anyway, if I had to think hard about it, I could probably say I managed to put every bike I rode this year onto at least a bit of dirt, even those lightest, fanciest aero road bikes. So even though I appreciate a bit of old-school retro tech, I’m really happy that we’ve got powerful disc brakes and fat tubeless tires on all types of bikes these days.

Riding (& testing) bikes isn’t always easy

Interestingly (at least to me), I’ve crashed more on mountain bikes this year than in probably the last 5 years combined. But I know exactly why. A few big mountain bike innovations that I dove head-on into testing this year have meant me pushing much harder and faster on some of the gnarliest terrain I’ve ever ridden. And sometimes I’ve ended up on the ground unexpectedly (or well, it was most often to be expected). But a step up in rideable protection this year has meant I walked away relatively unscathed from all but one of these ‘incidents’. And even that one, I rode away from, but was sore for quite a while. But what sticks with me is that bike tech progression helped me push myself further this year (more or less safely), and that’s something I can look back on favorably as the year ends.

Riding bikes can be hard – whether we do it for work or for fun, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

Best Experience

Editor’s Choice: Stupid Adventure Rides with Friends

Does it get any better than a best friend that convinces you and a bunch of other like-minded idiots to go ride somewhere silly on bikes, maybe on ones not well-suited for the type of terrain at hand, or in weather that is dubious at best, maybe bordering on dangerous at worst? I can’t think of anything better. And I’ve got one of those great friends. This year we didn’t ride together as much as we usually do. But we made up for the number of rides with quality & action-packed adventure for his one birthday ride. We started soon after sunrise in freezing fog, climbed a huge mountain with a ludicrous hike-a-bike in the middle, and finished long after dark, hours later than we planned.

Even with the no-drop pace, attrition was high, losing about 1/3 of our group along the way (don’t worry we planned a few bail-out spots where other friends would safely pick up the stragglers). But fun was had by all, no one died, and we emptied a keg in the evening.

★★★★★: 5 stars. No notes.

Editor’s Choice: A Family Trip to Saalfelden Leogang’s Big Mountain Bikepark

Now for something a little less extreme. Leogang is probably best known among mountain bikers around the world for its World Cup DH track. But the bikepark itself has a lot more to offer. Think massive jump lines, multiple downhill tracks, a few levels of groomed park flow trail, and some killer new natural-feeling enduro lines.

And with something like a dozen possible uplifts on adjacent mountains accessible with a single lift pass, there literally are all sorts of trails available for mountain bike riders of all ages and all skill levels. Within the short span of just a long weekend, I watched my wife jump into an airbag for her first time ever, descend crazy steep mud-slicked singletrack, ride long (but safely wide enough) twisting north shore-style bridges, and then flow along an alpine ridge trail above tree line with my teen & pre-teen kids. Not to mention slowly riding the Speedster DH track, taking about 5x as much time to get down the hill as Vali Höll.

★★★★★: 5 stars. Stay on the Leogang side, but don’t forget to cross over to Saalbach & Hintergelmm, too.

(OK, that’s the end of my star ratings. Back to lots of words… and effectively several condensed reviews!)

Mountain Bikes

Editor’s Choice – Long-travel: Scott Ransom

This new Scott Ransom is more versatile than any long-travel mountain bike that I’ve ever ridden. I could leave it at that.

Debuted last February, this is 170mm of plush 6-bar travel out back paired as stock with 170mm up front. I first rode this bike at the tail end of 2023 ahead of its release, but was so intrigued by how it felt and how its unique rear shock remote worked that I had to have one.

My own personal Scott Ransom build is at once over the top, with 180mm of Formula Belva travel up front and ultra-premium Trickstuff brakes, but balanced with a low-cost MicroShift drivetrain and either carbon DT or alloy Hunt all-mountain wheels. This ultra-capable freeride shredder legitimately looks like a DH bike how I’ve set it up. But I’m 100% OK with pedaling it up and down the mountain all day. And that essentially comes down to two features – a smartly designed shock with remotely controlled air volume & compression damping, plus an all-new 6-bar suspension layout.

That new suspension design and slack but not-too-long geometry certainly does the trick. But, sitting just above the dropper remote, it’s that 3-position Trac-Loc remote-actuated shock that seals the deal. But remember, it’s not a lockout.

Freeride down, trail back up

Instead in the fully open Descend position, the shock has access to the full volume of the large air canister. Then, in the second Ramp Control position on the remote lever, a portion of the air can is simply cut off, effectively reducing total air volume and giving the same effect as having added several volume spaces to the shock. The final Climb position where you would expect to find a lockout is actually the Trail mode you might find on a traditional XC 3-position lockout. There, suspension travel is reduced to 140mm and compression damping ramps up, so you get a firmer ride with a more stable platform and more efficient pedaling.

The result is a bike that transforms from fully open plushness to Descend the gnarliest tracks at high speed, then a Ramp-ed up suspension mode for hitting jump lines or smoother trail with a poppy & playful feel, and lastly a still active but controlled mode to Climb back up any hill just like you were on a mid-travel trail bike. It literally transforms 1 bike into 3 – from Freeride to All-Mountain to Trail at the push of a button. Yes, I want this function on every long-travel enduro bike I ride going forward!

Editor’s Choice – Shorter travel: Canyon Spectral KIS

The kiss of death, but in a good way, I promise.

Onto a shorter travel bike because not everyone really wants to go full freeride…

My other big Editor’s Choice for mountain bikes this year was another innovator – the Canyon Spectral KIS. What’s unique here is Canyon took their all-mountain bike – bordering on light enduro, and they shortened travel to differentiate it as more of a trail bike – dialed back to 140mm out back, 150 up front. Then, they added their unique KIS steering stabilizer tech, developed with Syntace. Basically, a lightweight & adjustable spring inside the top tube self-centers your bars (it doesn’t slow inputs so it’s not technically a steering damper), gently straightening the front wheel when it’s knocked off-line by any obstacle in the trail. The self-centering force is higher at first, decreasing as you turn the bars, so it doesn’t make it harder to steer at all.

But it truly has a big, noticeable impact on how the bike handles.

Next-gen, softer KIS

This is the 4th KIS-equipped bike I’ve ridden in 2 years, and the most interesting from a real all-rounder mountain biker’s perspective. It may not be 100% the perfect bike for all riders, but almost every mountain biker could certainly benefit from it. What really stands out for me is how well it unobtrusively keeps the bike stable through the rougher sections of trail at speed, and how it loves to be tossed up into the air. Point it where you want to go into steep, loose, or slick trails… and as the front wheel hits obstacles along the way and starts to bounce off track, it just automatically points itself back where it’s supposed to be. I could jump into a pile of wet roots or loose rocks, and not really worry where the front wheel was going to land. It just quietly and intuitively instills confidence in tricky trail situations, as you ride along.

Keep It Stable

Now, along the lines of my previous talk about some extra minor crashing… this great bike kinda got familiarly nicknamed ‘the kiss of death’ this season. That’s because it actually requires you to rethink how you ride, at least at slower speeds. I often ride our demanding boulders & steeps with a trial-inspired slow techy style of riding, where I’ll stop & balance for a second to readjust & pick my ideal line, just before I drop into some steep chute or down a steep slab. But then sometimes as I drop in, the steering stabilizer will automatically straighten the bike out as I start to ride. More than once (with KIS set to its strongest setting), I’ve ended up off my desired line as the bike overcorrected – even once into a tree.

That sounds like a big downside, but really I suspect most mountain bikers won’t ride quite like I do. And even then, I’ve adapted my drop-in technique to account for it by now. The trick is if you have several trail bikes (or swap between test bikes as much as I do). The KIS system rewards rider who takes the time to rethink how they handle the bike to max out benefits from the system.

My full takeaway is that only people with a garage full of bikes should steer clear. Everyone else could really benefit from some KIS-assisted riding.

A great all-mountain bike, made better by KIS

The Spectral itself is already a great bike. Long, slack & stable enduro-ready geometry in a mid-travel 29er trail package, with internal frame storage and easy flip-chip swaps to a Mullet setup if you prefer a more playful ride. Add in the KIS steering stabilizer, and you really can throw this bike into the most technical trail sections at higher speeds than you are used to with the confidence of knowing that the bike is going to stabilize itself. It’s pretty impressive.

Gravel & Cross Bikes

Editor’s Choice: Equator Sensei

This affordable titanium Equator Sensei gravel bike is my latest go-to for pretty much any mixed-surface riding. With a mix of almost all-road geometry, still enough room for 47mm wide tires, and tons of mounts for everything from classic racks to modern bikepacking bags, it feels fast on hardpack and roads, but is still plenty stable and predictable when hitting loose gravel fast.

I’ve even put 50mm tires in it with a decent clearance, but it shines with fast-rolling 45s – like these all-new Schwalbe G-One RX tires I ride now.

And of course, it’s affordable titanium – with framesets from just 2440€ & complete Di2 bikes from 6350€. That means you get a classic forgiving ti ride, and a bike that’s likely going to last forever. Don’t worry about scratching the paint, dinging a tube, or it ever rusting.

This is a bike that just wants to go ride in any conditions, on any type of terrain, anywhere. And it will keep doing that for years to come.

Honorable Mention: CDuro Gravel prototype

This prototype is an obvious Honorable Mention because it’s not quite ready for the big time, so I haven’t had a chance to ride one. But I really love what CDuro is doing with its unique carbon construction. Instead of laying up individual plies or even simply filament winding tubes (which is how they start), CDuro uses a unique robot machine winding technique to loop carbon fibers from one tube across the joint to another tube.

This Integrated Loop Technology (ILT) takes automated carbon tube production to a new perfectly-repeatable level. And it results in a raw, sinew-like aesthetic that will surely be polarizing. But I dig that it unabashedly highlights the unique technical construction method, not hiding the joint or adding unnecessary filler.

I’m genuinely curious how this will evolve into a production bike in 2025, and look forward to getting a chance to ride one.

(All) Road Bikes

Editor’s Choice: Basso Venta R

A 100% made-in-Italy semi-aero, integrated carbon road bike for 2850€ that will fit 35mm fast gravel tires, the new Basso Venta R sounded like the kind of road bike I could get behind from the start. To be honest, a lot of legacy Italian bike brands don’t really make their carbon bikes in Italy anymore, so when I saw a low-cost Basso made in Italy at such an affordable price, I was a bit shocked.

But its secret seems to be build simplicity, volume, and a mid-level carbon layup. There’s only one build – a no-nonsense mechanical 105 2x build with quite heavy alloy wheels, that make a great entry-level. Plus, there are still 7 stock frame sizes and simple black or white paint. My large 56cm test bike weighed 9.25kg out of the box without pedals, so it’s no featherweight. But I easily shed more than half a kilo swapping to some carbon wheels and even fast gravel tires that I already had in on test.

What that means though, is this probably the most affordable all-road bike I’ve tested in many years. And it happens to be a great-looking, made-in-Italy road bike at the same time, with quick handling geometry inspired by Basso’s much more expensive race-ready road bikes and fully integrated internal cable routing that still works with all disc brake groupsets – mechanical or electronic.

Ride it on tarmac, ride it on dirt roads, and upgrade to lighter wheels when you have more money to spend.

Honorable Mention: Ribble AllRoad Ti

This integrated titanium all-road bike wins my Honorable Mention because I’m just amazed at the value they pack in here. The Ribble AllRoad Ti is the first 3D-printed, ti bike that normal cyclists might actually be able to afford. 3D-printing titanium brought the possibility to have sleek – almost carbon-like – tube shapes and next-level integration. But most swoopy, techy ti bikes these days have prices starting in the five-digit realm.

Ribble offers one of those super premium builds. But the bike that caught my attention is another 105 mechanical build at just $4135 / 4780€ and a claimed 9.9kg with alloy wheels. Like the Venta, 35mm tires fit and a wheel swap would make a solid upgrade down the road. But this seems like a killer entry point to a pretty great-looking titanium do-it-all road bike.

eBikes

A special standout in my mind this year were the eMTBs. Between seemingly minor powertrain updates and all-new drive system players, I feel like the latest crop of performance eMTBs is just so improved to make ebike naysayers reconsider how much fun an ebike could be. The latest motors are quieter, more powerful yet smoother on & off power, and they are almost all more customizable these days.

Editor’s Choice: Amflow PL Carbon Pro

This is the eMTB that might just make you rethink riding ebikes off-road.

The most important ebike development, in my opinion, this year was the entry of drone maker DJI into the market with their all-new Avinox motor. Who better to make an ebike drive system than a company already used to making smart electric motors that have to be powerful & light enough to manage flight in variable wind conditions, have batteries to max energy output & range while keeping weight to an absolute minimum, and more efficient control systems developed to get every ounce of juice out of an electric drive system without any extra weight.

Only one ebike company so far is fitted with this compact new DJI Avinox drive system, but I suspect more will jump on in the coming years.

Enter the Amflow PL Carbon Pro. Amflow may be a complete newbie to the cycling scene, but their eMTB debut is pretty stellar. This ebike is almost as lightweight as the lightest light-assist eMTB, even with a big 800Wh battery inside. But it also puts out more torque than pretty much anything in the full-power ebike segment. I’m talking about a massive 105Nm of torque. Drop this beast into Turbo mode and flies uphill with the regulated 250W of averaged-out ‘nominal’ pedal-assisted power, peaking out momentarily at 850W in ideal situations.

100W & 105Nm, oh my!

But press the Boost button next to your dropper remote, and DJI delivers up to 1000W of boosted power at the 105Nm max torque for up to a full half a minute. It’s way more power than you need on any trail, but wow it feels like flying by the seat of your pants for a moment on a short steep gravel or paved road ramp.

All that might sound like too much power. But what really convinced me of the virtues of the Amflow PL Carbon Pro was the Auto mode of the DJI Avinox system. Sure, you can spend a lot of time in some super-powered modes, but then it feels more like you are being pulled up the hill instead of riding a bike. And likely you’ll burn through those 800Wh in no time.

But pop this thing into Auto mode, and DJI makes sure you get the max range out of your battery, but you still have the max torque and max power available at your fingertips. Riding felt more natural and smooth in Auto mode, yet still, when you ramped up input into the pedals, the motor kicked it up a notch, seemingly just as strong as in Turbo mode, but with battery range longer than Trail mode. Outside of trying to run the battery down as fast as possible burning laps back up gravel forest roads, I think I would never take this thing out of Auto mode except to drop down to Eco for even longer range or to ride slower technical descents with less motor feedback. Anyway, the Boost button is always there if, for some unearthly reason, you feel like you need more power, say to catch up with a friend (or drop them like a bad habit!)

Smarter, full-power ebike drive

Plus, there’s also tons of mode customization in the DJI app that lets the end user tweak how natural or how torquey you prefer the pedal assist in each mode. It really is up to you how you want this ebike to feel.

The only real downside is limited availability. For now, you can only pick one up in a few global markets. Sure, my 10,000€ Amflow PL Carbon Pro was on the expensive side of ebikes. But there’s also a much more reasonable 6400€ version with the same motor, battery & frame… just a more reasonable suspension spec, mechanical derailleur, and alloy wheels.

At 20.8kg without pedals for my Large 1.2kg PL Carbon Pro test bike, this is truly a lightweight among ebikes, without any silly light or especially boutique components. And yet, what you get is possibly the most-powerful e-mountain-bike on the market this year, but also one of the most even-tempered!

Honorable Mention: Merida eOne-Sixty SL

I give the new Merida eOne-Sixty SL just an Honorable Mention, not because I didn’t ride it at all, but because I only got a couple of days on it. And yet it pleasantly surprised me more than I had expected. It is a light-assist eMTB, powered by a 5cw5Nm Bosch SX motor and a relatively small 400Wh internal battery.

At a real weight of 20.4kg for my 9500€ test ebike, it was light enough to truly descend and flow trails with the feeling of a regular, albeit heavier alloy, all-mountain bike. It is significantly more maneuverable than most (but not all) full-power eMTBs, and is an easy ebike to hop around on the trail with a good weight balance that never felt sluggish. And the SX motor really makes for a smooth pedal-assist feel. Never too torquey, always like you are riding on fresh legs.

It’s a great ebike for riders that prefer softer motor support. What gets me though is, if you are in one of their available markets, you can now get the much more powerful Amflow for less with money at the same weight with a lower-spec, or just a bit more money for a more premium spec.

Wheels & Tires

Editor’s Choice – MTB tires: Schwalbe Albert Radial

I could go on and on about these tires. In fact, I kinda did with the next edition of the Bikerumor podcast December Tech Round Up. That’s coming soon so keep your ears peeled.

These tires are literally, game-changing. The uniquely simple update to a more radial construction of these Alberts and Schwalbe’s updated Magic Mary & all-new Shredda give the tires magic-like grip. The secret is that since the direction of the primary fibers that make up the body of the tire are shorter and angled more directly across the tire from bead-to-bead, the tread is able to deform more locally to an impact of obstacle. The result is much-improved tire deformation for much more grip at the same tire pressures. In the end, I run +2-5psi more than before and still get better grip. Sure, there’s some extra rolling resistance compromise that means these won’t be viable XC race tires. But this new Albert tread is generally quite smooth rolling, without really sacrificing much all-rounder grip.

Now when I need a set of new trail, all-mountain, or enduro tires… this is the only tire I want.

No single product I have tried this year will make as big an impact in the lives of experienced mountain bikers more than these tires. And really, at ~$75€ a piece – and Trail or Gravity casings – this is the most reasonably priced and high-value upgrade that I think most mountain bikers can make to be ready for next season.

Editor’s Choice – Road & Gravel wheels – Parcours FKT aero gravel wheels

I’ll admit that I’m often a little skeptical of company aerodynamic claims. I’m happy to see new products refined in CFD and the wind tunnel – because free watts are lovely, even if they aren’t always the most affordable. But indirect or apples-to-oranges comparisons are often not exceptionally useful. So color me surprised when I could literally see the aero performance of Parcours’ new FKT aero gravel written in dust on their sidewalls.

These wide 27mm hookless internal, mid-weight aerodynamic carbon wheels have a unique profile that is widest at 40mm in their midsection, and then taper back to the bead where they meet the tire. The general concept is that by more closely mimicking the bulb shape of a 40mm gravel tire – which is also widest in its midsection – the rims are aero both in the front where the tire cuts first into the wind and at the back of the wheel where the rim leads into the wind. Then, in the middle, the narrower section where the rim & tire meet creates a dead zone where air is essentially trapped as the wheel is spinning, and air flows past the wheel smoothly with less drag.

In the end, you can see their aerodynamic performance in how dust simply doesn’t ever settle on the half of the rim closest to the tire (but it does settle on the nose of the rims.)

They aren’t especially flashy. But I set some personal Fastest Known Times on local segments before sending them back to Parcours. And they hit a sweet spot of visible aero performance, light-enough weight, and reasonable enough affordability that I think makes them an excellent all-rounder gravel bike upgrade.

Components & Gadgets

Editor’s Choice – Drivetrain: Campagnolo Ekar GT

This past spring, Campagnolo followed up their 13-speed Ekar mechanical gravel bike groupset with Ekar GT, billed as a lower-cost alternative to make Ekar even more accessible. It was positioned as a lower spec, but in reality, it improved on the original in a number of ways, while keeping the excellent brakes, carbon levers & no-nonsense, precise mechanical shifting.

Ekar GT has a more robust rear derailleur with pulleys that don’t clog up with mud anymore. Its cassettes are actually lighter than the originals, and there’s a new wider range 10-48T option (480%).

In fact, since the cassettes are now modular, I managed to mash-up a 9-42T & 10-48T to create a super range 9-48T cassette (533%) for the widest gearing range in the gravel industry. Its shifting is perfect in 11 out of the 12 shifts, with one shift in the middle being OK. That makes this the perfect cassette for me for loaded bikepacking, while I can then use a 9-42t (467%) for everyday gravel riding.

The only real downside vs. OG Ekar was a substantially heavier alloy crankset. But if there’s one component users like to upgrade out of groupset, this is the first thing to go – whether you are looking for a power meter or something fancy like a set of titanium eeWings.

Campy Ekar GT... everything great about the original 13-speed Ekar, except 15% more affordable and with bigger cassette ranges. I call that a win.

Editor’s Choice – Suspension: Formula Belva enduro fork

Hands-down the most plush, best-feeling mountain bike fork that I’ve ever ridden!

This past spring Formula officially debuted the double-crown Belva enduro mountain bike fork with 170 or 180mm of travel, after several years in development. I first rode the Belva as a prototype back in 2021 before it had a name, and was immediately enamored.

The simple concept was to take a standard 35mm stanchion 160mm travel Selva, and to increase its travel not by beefing up the stanchions, but by extending them past the headtube to a second crown. The result was a long travel enduro fork that was as light or lighter than an equal travel Fox 38 or RockShox Zeb. But it also has a lower axle-to-crown stack height and smoother action because of the better support & force transfer you get from two thinner double-crown connections vs. the cantilever of a single oversized crown design.

My production Formula Belva fork weighs just 2.47kg, and is set up with 180mm of travel but the same a-c of the Fox 38 that I rode on the first Ransom I tested.

Ultra-plush double-crown enduro travel

The only real downside is that there’s an inherent steering angle limitation with a double crown, but realistically internal routing and steering block headsets have also shown that doesn’t really matter while riding even the most tight & twisty trails. The other is looks. This fork undeniably makes my enduro Ransom look like a full-on DH bike. But I don’t really mind that at all. In fact, it makes it even more fun to turn heads riding this bike up the mountain past them. And with a lockout easily accessible on the top of the right leg (now just next to the bar) even climbing steep gravel or paved climbs feels like no energy is lost.

In the end, the travel is so incredibly smooth that I can plow through the roughest tracks I’ve ever ridden. Or fully send it off ever-bigger drops, fully embracing this Ransom’s desire to be a freeride bike. Yet, I can also easily increase the large volume air chamber’s pressure a bit if I feel like I want a bit more support, and more of a super trail bike feel. Then of course, with Formula’s signature CTS tuning chips, you can easily adapt the forks compression tune to an individual’s personal riding style.

Who would have guessed that my favorite enduro fork would actually look like a DH fork!

Honorable Mention – Braking: Trickstuff Maxima

Me only giving these an honorable mention and not a full “editor’s choice award” has nothing to do with performance. I have actually tested these thoroughly. And I think these may be the best mountain bike brakes that I have ever ridden. But… they are not for everyone. And I don’t just mean that they cost 1300€ for a pair of brakes.

Trickstuff’s Maxima brakes have been the holy grail of gravity mountain bike brakes since they debuted several years ago. At once, because of their rumored stopping power, but also because they were incredibly hard to get ahold of. Produced in small batches, they always sold out immediately. Now with some distribution help from new parent DT Swiss, the brakes are easier to source. And I got ahold of a new all-black set this past summer.

Incredible stopping power

Their power is incredible. But the lever feel is a bit unfamiliar at first. Like other brakes, the initial pull to the braking point is quick & smooth, at which point the brakes have most likely already stopped you. But, from there, lever pull continues to be smooth & easy. Standing next to the bike, that means you can slowly pull the lever almost all the way to the bar. But on the trail what it means is that after the brakes engage, even more power is available with a very tiny amount of additional lever pull. And you will never pull the lever to the bar before you have completely stopped. The result is that you don’t get hand fatigue or forearm pump when pulling the levers for longer periods on super steep or rough/rutted tracks. It’s pretty amazing, but requires some willingness for the mountain biker to adapt to something different.

In reality, not everyone will love them, not everyone will appreciate their different ‘feel’, and they are so expensive that they’re far out of most bikers’ budget. But… wow, they really are powerful without putting a lot of stress on your hands.

Tools

Editor’s Choice – Home mechanic: Fix Manufacturing 224 Torque Wrench kit

Yes, it’s just another torque wrench. Yet somehow, this Fix Mfg 224 Torque Wrench kit is the one that made me switch for my most common install and adjustment needs. It has easier-to-read settings that pretty much every other compact adjustable torque wrench I’ve used. You have to turn the handle until the arrow points at the correct settings. Even Nm markings on top, odd on the bottom – separating the two takes the guesswork out of whether you should be exactly below the line, splitting the line, or covering it.

Then, there’s a broader useable range than most compact cycling torque wrenches – here 2-24Nm covers pretty much everything sensitive outside of cranks or bottom brackets (where, not that I would recommend such a thing, but… you can probably get away with tightening to ‘as tight as possible’). It comes in a nice lightweight meat box. All the bits I need and an extension are neatly tucked inside. And it costs a reasonable 120 bucks.

Clothing & Protection

Editor’s Choice – Leatt Velocity 4.0 X-Flow MTB goggles

I already was quite happy with the airflow of Leatt’s Velocity 4.0 MTB goggles a few years back when they introduced vented mountain bike-specific lenses. But realistically, I run too hot and sweat too much to wear them outside of cool to cold weather for any rides that include sustained climbing. Even taking the goggles off to climb, my helmet gets so sweaty and humid that putting goggles back on instantly results in fogging.

Then, last winter, they launched a follow-up with the Leatt Velocity 4.0 X-Flow MTB goggles. By completely cutting off the lower section of foam padding and removing all of the mesh fabric that covered the top & side vent structure, Leatt boosted airflow substantially. Now, I can wear goggles in hot weather – especially helpful for warm weather enduro racing or dusty bikepark laps with friends in peak summer. I make a small modification by cutting a slit in the side of the foam to make room for Rx glasses underneath, and I’m good to go for extra hot weather eye protection!

Editor’s Choice – Leatt ReaFlex Chest Protector

One of my biggest revelations in finding super technical trails this year was this Leatt ReaFlex Chest Protector (renamed from AirFlex when I got mine). It’s not that this thing offers more protection than other great chest and back protectors I’ve ridden (and this one is actually a bit limited in some aspects.) But I had almost never worn a chest protector before on any ride that would see me pedaling uphill even a little bit. And frankly, I would only wear a back protector in a lift-served bikepark or at an event that explicitly required one. I simply sweat too much and am always too hot during summer riding to even consider a full-coverage chest and/or back protector.

But this Leatt ReaFlex Chest Protector is soft and flexible with a viscoelastic (hardening on impact) protector front & rear for Level 1 chest & back protection. What that means is I can literally take it off, roll it up, and then strap it to the handlebar for every climb. That has meant that I take this thing on almost every local technical trail ride and bigger enduro rides and races. It gives me much more confidence when sending it off some feature that might be at the limits of me/the bike/my tires.

And I have crashed a number of times and got up unharmed.

The one downside is that it offers a little false confidence, as there’s only very minimal side (flank) protection. And I did once slip onto a rock just under that minimal flank pad, reminding me for several weeks later how it left my kidneys & lower ribs vulnerable. For sure, when I go to the bikepark, or more technical trips with uplifts, I break out even more protection.

Parting thoughts

That’s a wrap on another busy year, and a solid overview of my highlights for the best new bike gear of 2024.

It’s been a year packed with a lot of great off-road riding. And I already have more set up for the New Year. At the moment, there’s fresh snow on the ground outside, and I’m looking forward to some more good winter fat biking from my doorstep – with some new tech waiting to get tested. Plus, a new cargo trailer is on the way to haul everything from tools for local trail maintenance to camping gear for longer adventures with family and friends. And I set January plans to ride in one of the few EU countries I’ve yet to set foot in. Plus, the first new gravel & mountain bike testing trips are already lined up for early spring. I’ve even been in discussions for a few interesting Factory Tours as well, so it’ll just be a case of figuring how to squeeze them into my busy schedule to share more interesting tech with you our devoted readers.

Until then, I hope you all enjoy the holidays, and hopefully a much-needed break. Go ride your bikes. Even if it is cold, wet, or snowy… a day on the bike is better than any day just thinking about bikes. Or if you’ve overtrained, take a breather. We’ll all be here when you’re ready to come back. And we promise lots of interesting new bike tech to share in the New Year!

Methodology & Clarification

Each of these products was chosen exclusively by me, purely on their technical merits for the reasons I elaborated in detail above. Many more great products passed through my hands in 2024, but I had to pick what I thought stood head-and-shoulders above the rest. Under no circumstances were any of my picks paid for or influenced by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to any brand or advertiser. My Award selections are limited to products I’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person, Honorable Mentions a bit less so. That does mean that a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide me with product samples certainly makes it more likely that I will have given their products full consideration, if only so I can share my true firsthand experiences.

The post Bikerumor Editor’s Choice 2024 – Cory’s Best Bike & Gear Awards appeared first on Bikerumor.

There was so much new gear, race action, and ground-breaking happenings in 2024 that I’m just starting to process everything. It was a banner year for cycling, racing especially. The Olympic years are always good for new tech and outrageous pricing in the cycling world. All the fans cross their fingers and hope that new tech leads to a victory for their favorite rider (Victor Koretzky over here). While others sit back and wait till the latest and greatest trickles down to a palatable price.

With all the racing, tire companies out-sizing each other, and the rise of the robots (in our shifting only, hopefully), 2024 was one heck of a year as a cycling fan. 

About Jordan Villella

“Hi, I’m Jordan!” I’m Racing Tech Editor at Bikerumor.com. I’m the one who is voted most likely to wear a skin suit in the group ride, can talk for hours about pre/during/post ride nutrition and loves a good CRR graph. I’m also a cycling coach with Cycle-Smart, so I love to see how a refined racing machine complements a well-tuned athlete. 

No matter racing, training, or parking lot beers, my hands-down favorite thing about cycling is the community. It’s one that I’m proud to be a part of and that I cherish with every outing. So, no matter how many gears you have, what kit you’re wearing, or your ride goals, watch out for each other. On the road and in the forests, we’re all we have. 

I wish you all a happy and safe New Year filled with no bonks, fewer flats, and lots of great coffee — Now, onto the gear! 

Event of the Year: Iron Maiden – Future Past Tour 

If you asked me the best event I attended this year, unfortunately, it wasn’t bike-related. It was taking my son to see Iron Maiden on the Future Past Tour. Heavy metal, punk, and the live music scene are a large part of my life. Taking my oldest to see a live show of one of the greatest to take the stage was a bucket list moment for me. It was also one of the few last shows Nicko McBrain would play live with the band, and that made it extra special after the fact.

My son’s favorite part of the night? Seeing Bruce Dickinson fight Eddie. 

My favorite part of the night? I looked over and saw my son’s eyes huge with excitement as the band took the stage, his first big concert, and it was a classic.

Best BIKE Event: ENVE Grodeo 

For those who don’t know, the ENVE Grodeo is a gravel ride from the ENVE HQ in Ogden, UT, and covers nearly every fun terrain you’d want to ride a bike on. The ride is fun, with enough challenging sections and technical bits to keep the seasoned pro honest. But with rest stops enticing enough to make you actually get off your bike and interact with the people around you. My favorite was the axe-throwing rest stop… that was awesome.

The best part was ending the ride at the ENVE HQ and getting a tour of the carbon room and creation process. No, it wasn’t because “I was with the press.” Everyone who attended the ride was given a tour. It was nice to see the people you were ripping down mountainsides with, giving tours of their workstations and wheel-building processes. For those looking for a ride that’s out of a usual mix of events, the ENVE Grodeo is a must-attend. 

Road Bike Editor’s Choice: Sage Skyline 

I don’t get to ride titanium bikes often, I usually get carbon aero-race gear. That’s great, don’t get me wrong, but when the Sage Skyline bike review came in, I was hooked. The bike is a classic titanium build with round, robust tubes and a modern clearance for larger tires. The bike offers an incredible lively ride sensation while being responsive enough to race.

The comfort and feel of the slight vibration rolling on the tarmac made this bike stand out in my review catalog this season. Sage is a great company; I’ve loved their bikes for a while. This is just the first of their road bikes I’ve ridden. I hope to ride more in the future, and you should check them out if you’re in the market for a titanium bike, no matter the discipline.

Mountain Bike Editor’s Choice: Lauf Elja 

The Lauf Elja is a unique bike, not only in its looks but also in its ride quality. The silhouette is more of a retro chainstay-less design; some feel weird about it. I think it looks fantastic and makes the bike feel less “serious.” That’s the whole vibe of the Elja. It’s unassuming, fast, and a heck of a lot of fun.

When riding the Elja on my home trails, I found myself taking different lines, playing more, and with more confidence. Yes, the 2.6″ tires help, but the Elja ride is playful, but when you wanna go hard, it can deliver. The spec for my “race build” is precisely what I’d want, and the SRAM Flight Attendant suspension with 120mm of travel front and rear is more than enough to get rowdy (I don’t get that rowdy, actually). 

Best Kid’s Editor’s Choice: Giant Faith

The Giant Faith was my son’s first real experience on a full-suspension bike. He’s ridden them around but never fully embraced the “bouncy” feeling. Plus, the ones he rode were small adult bikes, not really “made for kids.” So when the Giant Faith came into review, I was curious to see how he would like it. 

It was heavier than his hardtail (which he loves) and had more controls, but it was like a “magic carpet” in the woods. The suspension was more sensitive to his small stature, and everything from the dropper to the grips was kid-focused. 

I personally like the extra confidence it gave him on the trails. The pedaling platform didn’t have him struggling on the uphills. Plus the spec was finely tuned for what a kid would like, and priced for a parent to replace when need be. The bike is perfectly shreddable and an excellent jumping-off point for intense trail riding. 

Component Editor’s Choice: SRAM RED XPLR 

As I mentioned on the BikeRumor podcast, one of my favorite pieces of kit this year was the new SRAM RED XPLR. It’s not only because the RED XPLR groupset performs so well. It’s because this group hopefully means a step in the right direction for SRAM road groupsets.

When SRAM re-designed the RED group, I was super excited. I didn’t like the older design, especially the brake feel. The new RED groupset, however, seemed to have skipped a few generations, and landed right in a sweet spot of comfort on the road and functionality off-road. 

The shifting is accentuated by the meeting of SRAM’s transmission mountain bike tech and updated lever design. Having 13 gears isn’t the piece that sells the RED XPLR group, but it helps immensely in its cause. I sincerely hope that we will see an updated SRAM Force XPLR and APEX in the future. This tech should be enjoyed by all who want it, not just the race crowd. 

Headunit Editor’s Choice: Garmin 1050 

Over the year, I’ve spent time on many different head units: the WAHOO Ace, the COROS DURA, and lots of smartwatches. The one that keeps coming back on my bike is the Garmin 1050. It has features, including waze-like trail/road issue reporting and excellent mapping. Plus, it has a bell! Yes, it’s not without issues; the battery life isn’t great, and I’d love to see it have a solar panel – but maybe for 2025. The Garmin 1050 has been my ride-or-die for the 2024 season on MTB (it’s too big for most MTB, but…I like it), road (perfect sizing), and gravel (awesome). 

Road Tire Editor’s Choice: Pirelli P Zero Race RS 

The road tire I spent most of my time on this season is the Pirelli P Zero Race RS. It’s super fast rolling, comfortable in the bumpiest conditions (size dependent), and I didn’t have a flat all season. I’ve been a fan of Pirelli tires since they came back into the cycling world, and the P Zero has been my go-to road race tire for the past two seasons.

When the P Zero Race RS arrived, it was like riding the tires I was used to, but faster and gripper. What’s not to love? Well… the price, but you can’t win them all. 

Gravel Tire Editor’s Choice: Hutchinson Caracal

Depending on what kind of gravel adventure or race you’re rolling will dictate your tire. For me, I spent lots of time on mixed gravel with plenty of hard-packed and road sections thrown in. The perfect companion for those days was the Hutchinson Caracal gravel tire.

The 40mm size was just enough volume for my type of riding, and it rolls effortlessly on the road. The size knobs are just enough to rip some single track or pull you out of a deep quicksand (gravel?) and bite into the soggy earth. 

Hutchinson had three excellent releases in 2024, all of which exceeded my expectations, especially the Python 3 and Python Race Tire. I hope to see this trend (and supply in the USA) continue into the next year with another classic company returning. 

Mountain Bike Tire Editor’s Choice: Maxxis Aspen ST 

You know the Maxxis Aspen ST tire if you watch World Cup XCO racing. It’s the one you wanna ride, but they didn’t have it available for you to purchase – because it’s “pro-only”. All that changed this season when they finally made stock for the masses. I was eager to get my hands on a set, and it didn’t disappoint me. The tire is fast, super fast, and it’s an absolute ripper in the right conditions (if you can control it).

The additional suppleness is notable, and the voluminous casing is a great mix with modern cross-country racing. Unfortunately, the wear isn’t that great (it’s a race tire, so Im not bummed), and the price is bonkers, but….man, is it a fast, fun tire. It definitely should be on the short list of cross-country, short-track, and gravel racers looking to squeeze out the most speed (fun) they can on race day. 

Helmet Editor’s Choice: Canyon Disruptr CFR

I’m going to get flack for this, but I like it. The new Canyon Disruptr CFR helmet with the HighBar system was one of my most worn helmets this season. Why? First off, I liked showing off the unique buckle and the “check this out” look I’d get from some “too cool for school roadies.” But I did (do) like the design, and I feel that the HighBar system has promise. 

The unique design is an acquired taste, but I can see it gaining speed in the commuter market and other segments of the sport. I like the fit, the shape of the Disruptr CFR helmet, and the sunglass ports. Win.

Subscription of the Year: Fuel Goods 

For the most part, I think I have my ear to the ground and know about the “cool kit” coming in the sports and nutritional realms. It turns out… I don’t know, and one place that reminds me monthly is Fuel Goods Rider Boxes. About a year ago, I got a Rider Box (from Fuel Goods) and was introduced to the next awesome tea, hydration mix, gels, chocolate, and more. Every month, I would get these treasures, some I knew and some that were extra to me. I didn’t know I would be into some of the pieces in the box, but now I am searching out (like sip-able soup in the holiday box). 

The Fuel Goods boxes aren’t about getting you hooked on new brands or products. They support the month and the activity you’re doing. The newest Holiday Box is an excellent example of that. It arrived with some chocolate (excellent) but also some Ginger Chews, hangover helper (thanks!), and a parade of energy bars and gels (including my favorite TORQ). If you want to meet Fuel Goods’s owners, check out the BikeRumor Podcast. I sit with the team and chat about Gravel Race Fueling and hydration. Highly recommended as a gift for the cyclist or adventurous person in your life. 

Cool Gear Editor’s Choice: Nix BioSensor

Nix Biosensor is a sweat monitor that is “kinda” like a CGM, except it doesn’t penetrate your skin. It creates a layer around the skin and takes samples of sweat, anything for sweat rate and concentration. The companion app will give recommendations and analysis after the ride (and during). 

The cool thing is you don’t need to wear it all the time. You can do rides where you take samples, dial in your electrolytes and sodium, and test again. For athletes looking to dial in their hydration for long events or are experiencing cramps (raises hand), it’s worth a try, and you can pass it around to your crew to share the knowledge. 

Bike Rack Editor’s Choice: Velocirax Tilt and Pivot

With all the bikes coming in and out of our place during the year (including our personal bikes), it’s hard to find a reliable and durable bike rack for family use. We moved this year, and it was a chance to start over bike rack-wise, so I went in a new direction. 

I bought a Velocirax 8-bike wall rack for my garage. It wasn’t cheap, but I figured I was in business if it held up as good as the car rack. The installation was super easy, and I’m no Al Borland (90s kids get that joke). The rack itself is super beefy and clean-looking. It can take a multitude of differing bikes and different wheel sizes. Plus, I can shuffle through each bike without scratching them. Something that was always a challenge with my homemade hanging bike rack I had previously. After nearly a year of use, I’m excited about my decision. Highly recommended.  

Mountain Bike Wheelset Editor’s Choice: Roval Control SL Team Issue

I’m very familiar with the Roval MTB wheel family. I’ve raced the Roval Control SLs for the past couple (5 years), and they are my go-to race wheels. So when Roval updated them, I wondered how. They didn’t do much, but they made them lighter and gave them an excellent kit package and presentation. 

The hubs are silver bling and have each Specialized Factory Racing team member’s signature. The carbon spokes are the same ones used on the Roval Team Edition road wheels. However, the best and most prominent selling feature of the Roval Team Edition Control SL wheels is the extra bits. The wheels arrive with a second set of ceramic speed bearings, replacement spokes, Specializes Fast Track Tires, and much more. 

Road Wheels Editor’s Choice: Mavic Mavic Allroad SL

2024 was a big year for Mavic, especially in the USA. The French brand opened a USA office in 2023 and has been trucking since. One of the most iconic pieces I see from Mavic is their alloy road wheels. I raced on a set of Ksysim SL wheels for years, and they were my babies. I fell in love with the ride of Mavic wheels, and when I rode the Mavic All Road SL wheels, I was reunited with that feeling. 

The Allroad SL wheels are reminiscent of the yellow age of wheels (minus the single yellow spoke). They are light and dependable, and now, thanks to a US presence with Mavic, replacement parts are readily available. Now that carbon has replaced high-end alloy, the high-end alloy Mavic creations are best served with unpaved roads, slight gravel, and the path less traveled. I’m excited to see what they have in store for 2025 and beyond. 

Now — on to 2025!

Each of these products was entirely chosen purely on their technical merits, by me personally, and for the reasons described above. More great products passed through my hands in 2024. Under no circumstances were any of my picks, paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to the brand or advertiser. My selections are mostly (but not exclusively) limited to products I’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples can make it more likely that we will have considered their products, if only because we can share our real, firsthand experiences.

The post BikeRumor Editor’s Choice 2024 – Jordan Villella’s Gear of the Year  appeared first on Bikerumor.

Jeez, I can’t believe it’s time for Editor’s Choice already. I don’t know how you guys feel about it, but the year flew by for me. As the year comes to a close, I am tasked with remembering the products that I tested in 2024 and coming up with my favorites. This is always hard for me to do.

I do feel very fortunate to do what I do for a living. And I am grateful that the brands trusted me with their products and stories. I also appreciate all of you who took the time to read and comment on some of my stories, I appreciate you guys and the kind/not-so-kind words that you’ve taken the time to write.

The readers are at the heart of Bikerumor’s success. I enjoy sharing my thoughts and opinions with you, and reading yours. You guys are the wind beneath my wings—just kidding, but seriously.

I reviewed a lot of gear this year, and frankly, it’s taking me a while to compile a list of my faves. I wish I could just pick one, not because I only have one favorite, but because I feel like it would be easier. Anywho, below are my faves in a few different categories.

Let’s get to my Editor’s Choices for ’24.

Best Bike Experience

Editor’s Choice: Overlanding Trip with K-EDGE

I know it seems weird to give my Editor’s Choice award for Best Bike Experience to an experience that didn’t involve bikes. But, to be fair, this experience did happen because of bikes, with the planning for this event starting at the 2024 Sea Otter Classic.

Tyler and I were hanging with the K-EDGE crew at their booth, enjoying some Coors Banquet and chips and salsa, which, over the past several years, has become somewhat of a tradition at Sea Otter.

Except this time, instead of talking bikes, and bike bits, we talked about and planned an Overlanding trip through a portion of the Owyhee Wilderness, which is located throughout South-Eastern Oregon and South-Western Idaho. And, just so happens to be the K-EDGE crew’s stomping ground.

Tyler was planning a road trip from the East Coast to Portland, Oregon for the MADE Show, and he had to make a stop in Southern California. Since I was headed up to Portland too for my second MADE Show experience, we decided to have him stop at my place.

He could park and camp in my backyard, and we could caravan up to Portland together over the next few days. That way, we could camp at some cool places along the way.

The Owyhee Wilderness Area was absolutely stunning. All of these photos do zero justice to this amazing place. My wife and I had an amazing time with the crew at K-EDGE as they showed off their incredible backyard.

This trip got my Editor’s Choice award, not because it was all about bikes, but because I would’ve never had the opportunity for such a beautiful trip with such beautiful people if it wasn’t for the bicycle and bicycle people.

Let me take the time to extend a heartfelt thank you to the K-EDGE crew, Tim, Troy, and Eric for your hospitality, amazing meals, snacks, and all of the planning it takes to execute such an amazing trip. I want to thank Tyler and Harrison for being great caravan partners!

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it, and I look forward to doing it again!

Best eMTB

Editor’s Choice: Salsa Moraine

Although, I reviewed and rode many eBikes this last year, most of them were cargo bikes. But, I also had the opportunity to review a few eMTBs, including the Aventon Ramblas, and the Salsa Moraine. The Aventon Ramblas was a fun bike, but the Salsa Moraine was an incredible bike.

The announcement of the Salsa Moraine intrigued me at the 2024 Sea Otter Classic. After my Ramblas review, I was more eMTB curious than ever, so I thought I’d reach out to Salsa to bring a Moraine Deore 12 in for review.

The bike uses the compact and lightweight Fazua Ride 60 for the assist. At 53lbs, the bike wasn’t very light for a “lightweight eMTB”, but it rode light and felt great. I loved riding the bike. I loved everything about the bike, even the mid-tier component spec.

The Moraine’s geometry seemed to be perfect for me in the large size, making for a very comfortable bike. The suspension design and kinematics were impressive and familiar.

The Split Pivot design is a system that isolates pedaling and braking forces. That’s no marketing mumbo-jumbo, it does exactly what it claims to do.

My Edotor’s Choice Award for best eMTB goes to the Salsa Moraine.

Best Mountain Bike

Editor’s Choice: Salsa Blackthorn C XT

Ok, after I reviewed the Salsa Moraine, I didn’t want to give it back. I wanted to buy the one I used for the review. But, lack of bike funds meant it didn’t work out. So I said goodbye, shipped it back to Salsa, and moved on with my life. Sometimes the hardest part of my job is saying goodbye to some of the bikes that I review.

After a few weeks, I was strolling on Salsa’s website and came across a massive sale on their Blackthorn C XT full-suspension mountain bike. After doing a bit of research on it, I found a large size and went ahead and purchased one for my personal mountain bike.

This bike is gorgeous with its low-key branding, and amazing color. It has a solid spec sheet, and best of all, it has the exact same geometry and suspension design as the Salsa Moraine that I fell in love with during my review of that bike.

The Salsa Blackthorn has me shirking my responsibilities, as I keep going to ride one of the review bikes I have and grab the Blackthorn instead. It makes me want to ride it all of the time.

It’s relatively light at 34lbs (large size w/ pedals), climbs efficiently, and descends like a bat outta hell. It’s one of my favorite mountain bikes I’ve ever ridden. And, it is one of the best bike purchases I’ve made in decades.

My personal mountain bike, the Salsa Blackthorn C XT, although I haven’t officially reviewed it, is my Editor’s Choice for the best mountain bike, because it’s an amazing bicycle!

Best Grips

Editor’s Choice: Ergon GE1 Evo Factory

The Ergon GE1 Evo Factory grips may be the best grips I’ve used in a very long time. They are very comfortable and do what they claim they do – relieve any hand discomfort, and offer a great bar/trail feel.

I use these grips on both of my mountain bikes. I have a pair in Frozen Stealth (black) with the Oil Slick clamp on my Salsa Blackthorn, and the Frozen Moss (green) with the Oil Slick clamp on the Haro Saguaro 1.

This grip is one of the most noticeable, low-cost upgrades I’ve made to a bicycle. They instantly made a difference in how my hands felt on both short and long rides.

I noticed the grip’s highlights and features on rides with long technical descents, where the terrain requires a tighter grip while using more of the brakes. The soft compound helps keep the numbness at bay while providing ample damping.

The ergonomics of the grip are subtle, but obvious as it keeps you in a riding position that is ready for action. And while the grip’s compound feels soft, its purposeful shape still feels very defined and precise.

Best Hitch Rack

Editor’s Choice: 1UP USA 2″ Super Duty

The new 1UP USA’s 2″ Super Duty double hitch rack is a bike rack that’s rated for extreme off-roading. And I enjoy getting off-road as much as possible, so that aspect was important to me.

With the new 2″ Super Duty, they’ve addressed some shortcomings of the older version of the rack. This new one is very beefy, with newly reinforced areas. I don’t rock crawl in my Jeep, but the way the new 2″ Super Duty is built, it looks like it could take that abuse without a problem.

The rack is constructed from corrosion-resistant aluminum, which is used for the entirety of the build. There is no plastic being used. And, as usual, the rack supports bicycles without any contact with the frame or fork, using the load arms on the bike tires.

The new Wheel Chock accessory almost eliminates one of my pet peeves with some tray-style racks. And that’s the continuous movement of the front wheel through the steerer tube, even when the bike is “locked and loaded”. The new Wheel Chock comes in handy for these instances (albeit at a hefty additional premium of $110 per tray).

A welcome addition to the 2024 SD Rack is the addition of true one-handed operation of the rack. there are two ways to actuate the arms of the rack.

If you want to use two hands to open the rack, just press the red button, lift the arm, load the bike, and adjust it to familiar ratcheting as you close the arms onto your tires

Some racks’ integrated locks are better than others. I would say that the 1Up USA Wheel Lock 1/4 Turn (long), is more of a deterrent than a full-blown lock.

But, I like that it doesn’t come in contact with the bike in any way, which is great – if you have a bike rack with an integrated cable lock, it’s not a good idea to drive with it locked since it can rub through the paint on your bikes (or worse).

Honorable Mention: RambleSwing

I have to say that I would not have been able to use the 1Up USA 2″ Super Duty on the Jeep without the awesome Rig’D Supply RambleSwing. The RambleSwing allowed me to run the hitch rack of my choice and still be able to utilize and open the rear door of my Jeep.

It’s also rated for extreme off-roading, so the two products worked perfectly together. Hats off to Rig’D Supply for an amazingly beefy rack swing out. In my opinion, it’s probably one of the best swings out there.

Best Tires

Editor’s Choice: Teravail Kessel

I am in the process of reviewing the Teravail Kessel tire. It is an aggressive trail, all-mountain, and enduro-type tire. I’m using the tire for mostly aggressive trail riding. And it’s at home in most of the conditions I ride in. I say most, because I’m not done reviewing it, and I have yet to ride in soft, wet, and sloppy conditions.

As chance would have it, I’ve ridden this tire on the Salsa Moraine eMTB and loved it. I then brought in a pair to review and put them on the Haro Saguaro 1. I loved them so much on that bike, that I brought in another pair for my Salsa Blackthorn.

They aren’t the lightest tires out there, but they hook up and roll fast. I really don’t notice the weight. Another thing that I like is that the Kessel does not seem hyper-sensitive to tire pressure. I don’t have to obsessively check pressure before a ride. The tire performs great regardless of small incremental changes in pressure.

I find that for a discipline-specific tire, it does a lot really well. It climbs great while the descending is predictable with traction and braking that inspires confidence. I am using the tire in a 2.6 up front matched with a 2.4 in the rear. I use this combo for both the Salsa Blackthorn and the Haro Saguaro 1.

Best Drop Bars

Editor’s Choice: Tumbleweed Bikes’ Big Dipper Drop Bar

Let me start by saying that I love the Tumbleweed Persuader Bars that I’ve used in the past. So when I saw that Daniel over at Tumbleweed Bicycles released the new Big Dipper Drop Bar handlebar, I asked him if I could bring a pair in for review.

Daniel designed the Big Dipper to pair perfectly with Tumbleweed’s drop bar adventure bike, the Stargazer. Ready for a good time, the Big Dipper drop bar is rated for off-road use (ISO 4210 mountain bike strength/fatigue testing). The bar has a clamping diameter of 31.8mm and is made of triple-butted 7000 series aluminum, which is stronger than 6000 series.

I’m a firm believer in the benefits of riding with wider handlebars. In my experience, they offer the rider more comfort and control. The Big Dipper is a wide bar with the narrowest bar being 51cm.

The sizes of the Big Dipper go up from there with the next sizes being 54cm and 57cm. According to Tumbleweed, the width is measured from center to center at the hoods. It has a shallow drop (109mm), a short reach (50mm), as well as a nice 5° back sweep. All of this is perfect for me.

Combine all of that with a nice short reach of 50mm and the 20° flare, and the Big Dipper seems to be the perfect drop bar for me. The bar is so easy and comfy to go long distances.

With the shallow drop, short reach, and 20-degree flare, it’s especially confidence-inspiring on technical descents, when you’re hard braking while in the drops.

Parting Words

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read what I write. I hope you all enjoyed the list, I had a great time this last year. Let me also thank all of the brands for their trust in letting me share my thoughts and opinions about your products. I look forward to another year of bikes and bike people!

See ya!

Each of these products was entirely chosen purely on their technical merits, by me personally, and for the reasons described above. More great products passed through my hands in 2024. Under no circumstances were any of my picks, paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to the brand or advertiser. My selections are mostly (but not exclusively) limited to products I’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples can make it more likely that we will have considered their products, if only because we can share our real, firsthand experiences.

The post BikeRumor Editor’s Choice 2024 – Ron’s Favorites of the Year appeared first on Bikerumor.

Well, 2024 has come and nearly gone already. For me, it’s been another fun year of testing new bikes, components, and plenty of riding gear. During this season I got my first chance to ride the long-standing Specialized Stumpjumper, wrote my first review of a ‘lite’ class eMTB, and had my first opportunity to test clothing from Patagonia.

Due to a surprise health issue, this season wasn’t about setting goals or breaking personal records, it was more a mission to retain my normal capabilities and lifestyle! Thankfully that didn’t prove too difficult and I enjoyed a long season of riding and product testing. Keep reading to see what products stood out the most to me throughout 2024.

About Steve

This year’s most interesting thing ‘about Steve’ is coming up in the next section, but here’s my annual rundown of who I am and why I love to ride bikes. I grew up in Ontario, Canada, riding BMX since the age of five. At 24, I obtained a degree in journalism and moved to British Columbia. My BMX was quickly relegated to pump track and dirt jump duty as I immediately got interested in riding MTB. My first landlord was a dedicated rider and mechanic, and after selling me one of his bikes he mentored me into the MTB scene. Thanks Bill!

At that time I had no idea several years later I’d find myself writing for Bikerumor. I had many published articles in Whistler-based tourism magazines, but suddenly the opportunity came to combine my writing skills with my passion for bikes. Since then I’ve been enjoying constantly expanding my knowledge of bikes and gear, and of course, getting to test ride the latest and greatest bikes!

Best (?) Experience:

Living and Riding with Diabetes

Well, it certainly wasn’t the ‘best’ experience of my year, but definitely the most significant! This spring, I got the surprise of my life when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I was 41 years old, a pretty healthy guy, and with no history of Type 1 diabetes in my bloodline. I was likely diabetic for several months before the final crash hit me. Following two days of extreme fatigue and throwing up, I went to the doctor and got the diagnosis.

Since then I’ve learned how to eat a diabetic-friendly diet, and how to check and monitor my blood sugar levels constantly. Of course, I immediately asked the doctors what impact diabetes would have on my riding. Thankfully, an active lifestyle is ideal for diabetics – exercise naturally reduces blood sugar levels. The main concern when you’re a diabetic cyclist is ensuring you don’t run your blood sugar too low while you’re out riding. There is a simple solution to that: Ride with snacks! Skittles became an initial favorite for me since they’re juicy and won’t melt.

Several months in, I’ve had no serious incidents related to my diabetes and I enjoyed a full season of shredding as usual! For anyone out there who might face the same diagnosis, rest assured it is manageable. It’s very overwhelming and concerning at first, but it only takes a few weeks to get the hang of things. I sure will miss coming home from a ride and devouring an entire pizza though!

Mountain Bikes:

EDITOR’S CHOICE – Specialized Stumpjumper 15

If you’re talking about ‘quiver killer’ bikes, the Specialized Stumpjumper will likely come up in that conversation. In May I joined the launch event for the new Stumpjumper 15 Carbon, then brought the bike home for further testing. I was not surprised to find this bike, after decades of refinement, is indeed a top consideration for one MTB that can do it all.

The Stumpy already had a proven suspension linkage, but this year Specialized introduced the Genie rear shocks on the Stumpjumper 15. This unique dual air chamber shock allows independent fine-tuning of the first 70% and the last 30% of its stroke. Using volume spacers, riders can control the progressiveness of both the initial/mid-stroke zone and end-stroke ramp-up. Specialized says the Stumpy’s 145mm of rear travel is tuned to deliver a bottomless feel. I’d agree they’ve done a great job of tuning the linkage to offer light action into the mid-stroke while providing strong bottom-out resistance with the Genie shock’s help.

The Stumpjumper 15’s adjustable frame geometry offers a suitable range of steering angles from 63-65.5° and two BB height settings. Smaller frames ride on MX wheels, but the S3-S6 frame sizes can run full 29” or MX wheelsets. The frames also offer in-frame storage, plus lots of room for water bottles and long travel dropper posts.

Another thing that impressed me was the weight of the carbon models – my size S3 test bike weighed 31.72 lbs with pedals! Specialized’s move to wireless derailleur compatibility only on the carbon frames may not sit well with some people, but they did keep derailleur cable routing on the aluminum-framed Stumpjumpers.

HONORABLE MENTION – RMB Altitude Carbon 70 Coil

My 2024 season started off on the Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 70 Coil. I was stoked to try this bike as I’ve ridden the previous model, and the new version has changed significantly with a revived LC2R suspension linkage. This was also the first chance I had to ride a Rocky Mountain with a coil rear shock.

Between the 160mm LC2R linkage and coil shock, I found the new Altitude did offer better overall bump-eating capability than the previous design. Plowing through rough trails was a breeze on this bike, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the coil-equipped bike climbed. Using the shock’s climb switch is highly recommended, but with its help the Altitude clawed uphill with ease.

The new Altitudes include all the bells and whistles of a modern enduro bike. RMB equips small frames with 27.5” wheels and M-XL sizes with 29” wheels, but the M-XLs do offer MX wheel compatibility. They come with reach-adjust headsets, RMB’s Ride 4 chip to fine-tune geometry and suspension progression, in-frame storage, and ample space for water bottles. Steering angles are nice and slack, and the rear ends were kept long enough to provide a stable ride.

I’d happily take a few more millimeters of reach on this bike, and I’d rather have a 170mm post than the 150mm stocked on the medium frame. Aside from that the only complaint I had was noticeable rattling from the internally routed cables/hoses.

eMTBs:

EDITOR’S CHOICE – Devinci E-Troy Lite GX AXS 12S

Devinci’s E-Troy Lite GX AXS 12S was the first eMTB I’ve ridden that isn’t in the ‘full power’ class, and it quickly convinced me that with the correct power-to-weight ratio, a smaller motor and battery can still provide ample juice for anything short of all-day marathon trail rides.  And while it still outweighs an unassisted bike by a fair chunk, the 44.5lbs E-Troy Lite did offer a noticeably more agile and playful ride than a 55-60lbs eMTB. The MX wheel setup also helps the E-Troy Lite whip around corners nicely.

Devinci gave this bike a Bosch powertrain, with their Performance Line SX motor putting out 600w and 55Nm of torque. The battery is a 400Wh unit, and I like Bosch’s compact and ergonomic mini remote. The top tube display makes it easy to check on the most important things (assist level and battery life) without getting too complex. There are four assist levels to choose from, and throughout my testing, the system performed without fault.

Electronics aside, the E-Troy Lite’s frame geometry is almost exactly what I’d custom build for myself, so I found the bike very comfortable and capable on the trails. Devinci’s Split Pivot suspension proved itself with good small and big bump capability and just the right amount of progression for me. At 150mm rear travel (with a 160mm fork) the E-Troy Lite is a versatile ‘lite’ eMTB that could feel at home on a vast variety of terrain.

Components:

EDITOR’S CHOICE – WTB SG1 Judge and Verdict Tires

While they weren’t the most suitable choice for me personally, I have to applaud WTB for their new ‘Tough AF’ SG1 tires. I tested the Verdict (front) and Judge (rear) models and was truly impressed with their grip in wet conditions. WTB updated their High Grip compound for these new tires, and created a new rubber they say is less slippery when it gets wet. I’d say these tires gripped wet rocks and roots better than anything I’ve ridden yet.

My only issue with the tires was their weight, but WTB did set out to make these tires feel supportive and to strongly resist punctures and sidewall damage. They are targeting eMTB riders or wheel wreckers with these beefy treads, so some extra weight should be expected. I would happily run these tires on a downhill bike, but I don’t own one currently. I tested the tires on my enduro and for a lightweight guy like me they felt heavy and slow on the climbs.

If you prefer tires with a sturdy, supportive sidewall you’ll enjoy the ride from the SG1 tires. WTB even suggests these tires are tough enough that some riders may be able to remove tire inserts without sacrificing ample rim protection. The nice thing is, the tread section of the tires is still pliable enough to provide consistent grip on chattery terrain.

Clothing and Gear:

EDITOR’S CHOICE – 7mesh Spruce Hoody

Once again, 7mesh hit it out of the park with their new Spruce Hoody. Made from their new WTV 200 fabric, this hoody offers top-notch temperature regulation for cool rides. I wore this hoody on all of my rides from October to December, and every time it was the right choice. This is definitely an insulating layer you can leave on for a whole ride and remain comfortable throughout.

The WTV 200 fabric does a great job of retaining body heat, but before you get too sweaty it starts letting heat and moisture escape. It’s impressive how warm the Spruce Hoody can keep you for how thin the fabric is, and if things get really chilly the hood will stretch over a helmet. For near-freezing rides, this thin hoody layers comfortably under a jacket.

7mesh kept construction light with an elastic waist hem, elastic cuffs, and no cinches on the hood. There is some room for cargo via two zippered front pockets. I don’t mind pullovers, but ultimately I do prefer a full front zipper like the Spruce Hoody offers.

The only thing this highly breathable hoody cannot offer is water resistance, but that’s a fair trade for how well it performs in all other aspects.

EDITOR’S CHOICE – Patagonia Dirt Roamer Storm Jacket

This year was my first chance to try some gear from Patagonia. I was happy with the jersey, shorts, pants, and chamois I tested as well, but the Dirt Roamer Storm Jacket impressed me the most. This pullover is waterproof, not just resistant, and it did keep me perfectly dry through rainy rides. Patagonia gave it a large hood that easily fits over a helmet, which really helps keep you cozy when the rain is falling.

Aside from its waterproofing, the Dirt Roamer Storm’s ventilation is its next best asset. Two huge side vents that can be opened from the top or bottom allow for plenty of airflow adjustment. Opening the 3/4 length main zipper lets quite a bit of air in too.   

The jacket fit me great, with long enough arms and body for full coverage and a reasonably lean cut with room for layering underneath. Patagonia included one lower back pocket for small items, which proved pretty easy to access. For the foreseeable future, this will be my go-to jacket for wet rides.

EDITOR’S CHOICE – Crankbrothers Stamp Trail BOA Shoes

Early in 2024, I started test-riding Crankbrothers’ Stamp Trail Boa shoes. Right away, I started wearing them on every ride and left my other shoes aside. The first thing I liked about these shoes is how lightweight they are. I’ve never complained about other shoes being too heavy, but when you put on a nice light pair they feel good! I’ll admit the thin uppers aren’t super protective for your feet, but I liked the lean profile of the shoes.

The Stamp Trail BOAs proved to offer good weather protection and durability. I rode these shoes a lot this summer, and their fabric held up to the abuse. The soles also provide ample stiffness; they did break in a bit but remained stiff enough for good pedal support throughout the whole season. The only thing that wore noticeably was the padded tongue, which has packed in quite a bit after months of riding. The shoes are still perfectly comfortable.

The BOA system makes it quick and easy to pull these shoes on or off, and the single dial design cinched down on my feet evenly enough for a solid, comfortable fit. Lastly, the flat soles offered good grip on various pedals but weren’t so grabby that adjusting your foot position was difficult.

HONORABLE MENTION – Smith Motive Sunglasses

I got to try two pairs of SMITH sunglasses this year, and the Motives quickly became my favorite. With sunglasses, fit is a huge factor, and I liked the way the Motives fit and looked on my face. The large lenses cover nearly your entire field of view and provide great eye protection, and as long as I was moving at any speed they would not fog up. 

My Motives came with Chromapop Voilet Mirror lenses and clear lenses. I love getting a clear set with sunglasses as it doubles their functionality, and the Violet Mirror lenses were dark enough for bright sunny rides. It’s also very easy to swap the Motives’ lenses.

The Motive sunglasses stayed put on my nose, offered good helmet compatibility, and they’re not too sporty looking to wear casually. SMITH includes a hard case and a soft lens bag with each pair. 

HONORABLE MENTION – Specialized Trail Wind Jacket:

At the Stumpjumper launch event this Spring, Specialized set us up with some of their clothing and gear to ride in. The one piece I’ve used the most this year has been the Trail Wind jacket. The Trail Wind jacket is a thin, lightweight layer ideal for those days where you ask yourself “Do I really need a jacket?” If you have any cargo storage available, it’s an easy choice to bring this one along and avoid a chilly start to your ride.

There’s no incredible technology or fancy materials to make this jacket breathable, so you will want to remove it once you warm up. Packing up to about the size of my fist, the jacket is easy to stash in a pack or even a frame storage compartment. 

This pullover’s half-length zipper opens up large enough to easily slip over a helmet. The hood will stretch over a helmet too, but it’s not super roomy. It would be a bit restrictive to pedal around with the hood up, but it would help fend off light rain in a pinch.  

At 5’10” I have a size medium which fits me very well. It offers a nice lean body cut but with ample mobility and enough length in the arms and body.

Off The Bike:

EDITOR’S CHOICE – Purist Mover 18oz Coffee Mug

Sometimes we MTB journalists get pretty useful bits of promotional swag. At the launch for the Stumpjumper 15, Specialized gave the media crew Purist Mover 18oz coffee mugs. I’m a coffee-loving guy, and I am stoked on this mug! Most importantly, it keeps coffee warm for at least five hours, but I also love the Scope Top lid design. You can drink from any part of it, and it doesn’t let a bunch of hot coffee dump into your mouth and torch your tongue. It’s also spillproof when closed.

So far I’ve had no issues with bits of old coffee building up inside the lid’s mechanism, and I have only one small complaint about the mug. If left closed, it will retain the odor of coffee inside. If stored with the lid off, it loses the scent. Since I use mine for coffee only, I don’t mind that it retains the smell. I think it’ll be a long time before I find a coffee travel mug that tops this one!  

HONORABLE MENTION – Thule Chasm 26L Backpack

Early this year I received a Chasm 26L backpack from Thule. To be honest, I didn’t realize how broad a line of backpacks and luggage Thule offered until I got this pack. After several months of using it almost daily, I’d say the quality their car racks are known for carries over into their backpack line.

The Chasm 26L is a medium-sized backpack designed for hiking or daily use – it is not a cycling-specific pack so it cannot carry a water reservoir. It can carry a laptop (up to 16”) in a padded sleeve and offers a decent-sized main cargo area for daily needs. A second full-length pocket features dividers and inside pockets to organize your stuff. On top is a soft-lined pouch for sunglasses or phones, and the side has a stretch pocket ideal for a water bottle.

The Chasm 26L is made from 900D polyester fabric with a PFC-free water-repellent finish, and it easily withstands short walks in the rain.  After months of use, the backpack is showing no damage or wear anywhere. I also noticed the straps stay in place very well, as the buckles have never slipped as I wriggle my arms through them. I find this pack quite comfortable to wear, and I expect it will provide me with many years of service.

Parting Thoughts:

Goodbye 2024, it’s been fun! Even facing a little learning curve regarding how to ride safely with my newfound diabetes, I wound up having a great riding season, testing many high-quality products from some great brands like 7mesh, Patagonia, Thule, and SMITH.  

One of my biggest takeaways from this year is that if I did buy myself an eMTB, I now would seriously consider something in the ‘mid’ or ‘lite’ class. The Devinci E-Troy Lite won me over with ample power, enough range for my usual rides, and better handling than a bigger bulkier eMTB. It will be cool to watch the battle between power output and weight continue over the next few years.

Thanks for reading Bikerumor, keep on shredding, and take care of yourselves!

-Steve

Each of these products was entirely chosen purely on their technical merits, by me personally, and for the reasons described above. More great products passed through my hands in 2024. Under no circumstances were any of my picks, paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to the brand or advertiser. My selections are mostly (but not exclusively) limited to products I’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples can make it more likely that we will have considered their products, if only because we can share our real, firsthand experiences.

The post BikeRumor Editor’s Choice 2024 – Steve’s Best Bikes and Gear appeared first on Bikerumor.

The rare ti Chris King headset is back in a modern update for the latest contemporary integrated headset bikes, in King’s first-ever Titanium DropSet. King Ti headsets only pop up every few years, and in very limited quantities. So, while even their regular rainbow of anodized aluminum headset cups are “built to last a lifetime, fully serviceable, and backed by [their] lifetime built-to-last warranty“, these titanium versions take it to the next level.

If you want to really make your bike happy, get it a King Titanium DropSet!

Chris King Titanium DropSet forever headset for modern bikes

It’s probably been more than 15 years since we really started to see integrated headsets take off in a big way, driven first by more carbon frames and then by tapered steerer tubes. But it’s only been 6 years since Chris King got into the integrated headset game with their original DropSet, solving the variable bearing preload problem with their patented GripLock wedge system.

The key to GripLock is its independent preload of the headset’s loosely dropped-in bearings separately of how it clamps against your steerer tube, so that the bearings stay preloaded as you ride, making it “impervious to the ill effects of load spikes from large hits and heavy braking”. The result is an integrated headset that in the process created some of the longest-lasting integrated headsets that have ever been made.

“Most of the new, carbon road and gravel bikes have internal bearing designs. When bearings aren’t pressed securely into a cup they shift and move and lose preload, which makes them move, creak, and eventually fail. The DropSet solves that problem.”

– Jay Sycip, Chris King Design Manager

And now, Chris King are finally offering these integrated DropSet headsets in rare and sought-after titanium!

Chris King Titanium DropSet headsets – Pricing, options & availability

The new Chris King Titanium DropSet comes in 4 models – DropSet 2, 3, 4 & 6 to fit most modern road, gravel & mountain bikes with a tapered steerer tube and integrated headset. (Not fully integrated internal cable routing, which would need the different AeroSet.) Each sells for the same $300 in matte ti with a ti heasdet cap & bolt, a 40% premium over the standard colorful alloy versions.

They don’t elaborate on how many of each headset they will make in titanium, but my past experience is that they will most certainly sell out. And likely it won’t take too long until they are gone. Then you may have to wait 5 or even 10 years until they pop up again.

These are headsets that will outlast your bike. And these are headsets that you’ll maybe even take from bike to bike over the years. Snap one up now to add some bling to your current bike, and possibly even to your next bikes down the road or trail.

Review: A lifetime King Ti NoThreadSet titanium headset

The King Ti headset I’m actually reviewing here is around 20 years old, and has been pressed into several bikes over those decades. And yes, it intentionally has the symmetrical cups pressed in upside down. Blame that on old bike shop rat traditions.

Now it’s on an old-school Soma Double Cross S&S-coupled canti all-rounder that I’ve been riding since around 2002, and has done everything from racing cyclocross to classic all-road riding & touring to what we now call gravel.

It’s had this headset in it since it got repainted in 2015. And the bike’s been ridden in about 6 or 7 European countries since then. Here it was on top of the Madonna del Ghisallo for its road-style cycling pilgrimage – testing pre-production versions of Vittoria’s first-ever Graphene-infused Corsa tubular tires. But it’s back as more of an off-road gravel touring bike these days.

The headset was in two different mountain bikes before this. First in a full-sus Kona trail bike I think, then a ti XC softail.

And it still spins as smoothly as when it was new, having realistically had only 2 or maybe 3 full tear-down services in its lifetime, so far. Bearings opened up, cleaned, regreased, and reassembled. Even the one time that it looked like I had waited too long, a good soak in degreaser and it was shiny like new a couple days later.

But there’s plenty of lifetimes left in both these titanium cups and the precision stainless steel Chris King bearings inside.

The beauty of the 1 1/18″ threadless standard was that there have been tons of bikes coming in and out of my workshop in those past 20 years that could fit this headset. Even though tapered steerers have taken over for the most part, there will always be frames to fit this headset.

Now that integrated headsets are a bit closer to being standardized, a ti DropSet means being more likely to fit your next bike too! Looking around the house, both my wife and I have a gravel bike and a mountain bike that could fit a Titanium DropSet. The hardest decision would be picking which bike deserved it first!

ChrisKing.com

The post Chris King Titanium DropSet Returns Sought-After Ti Headset for Modern Bikes: Review appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Schwalbe G-One race gravel tire family finally adds a rocky, loose & wet conditions tire with the all-new RX. Certainly much more aggressive than the tightly packed low-profile arrows and the semi-slick tread you’ll already find in their gravel race tire line-up, the new Schwalbe G-One RX manages a well-balanced combo of smooth rolling performance backed up with plenty of grip for fast riding or racing in soft and loose conditions, or even wet weather and mud.

Schwalbe G-One RX Pro aggressive gravel bike race tire

Schwalbe calls their new G-One RX, their ideal gravel race tire for “maximum off-road performance”. What that means is a versatile tire designed to offer grip on everything from rocky trails to slick muddy tracks. But at the same time, Schwalbe creates a new gravel tire with high-speed racing in mind. They designed this tire to go fast.

If you have dry, hardpack, and even tarmac racing… the almost slick G-One RS is gonna be your fastest option. Then, if your racing is on dry tracks and roads, but with bits of soft dirt, sand, or deep gravel mixed in, the all-rounder G-One R is probably still your best bet.

But if that smooth gravel is likely to deteriorate more into MTB single track, or there’s going to be more proper rocks & roots to tackle, or that perfect dirt devolves into slick mud… you’ll be hard-pressed to find a quicker, grippier gravel race tire than this new Schwalbe G-One RX.

What’s new?

The all-new RX has hints of the tightly-packed arrows & boomerangs of the original G-One R. But in fact, its tread design is completely new, taking inspiration both from past Schwalbe gravel and cyclocross treads.

The center blocks are close enough to roll quickly on hard surfaces, while still spaced enough to dig into soft terrain. Then, teardrop transition knobs radiate out for support as you lean the bike over. Finally, alternating shoulder rows of tall tapered teardrops, separated by tall longitudinal blocks deliver big support and Ideal center tread pitch for easy rolling Boomerang center blocks for excellent traction and braking as proven by the G-ONE R Tear shaped intermediate tread knobs with long contact patch for strong support under load Curved outer blocks for improved traction as proven by the X-ONE R Longitudinal outer blocks for lateral stabilization and off-camber grip Wide gap designed for self cleaning stability when cornering in loose terrain. Then, ample free space in the transition zone helps clear debris away from those central triangles for consistent grip even in soft mud.

And yet, this new aggressive gravel race tread is still faster than both the G-One Bite or Overbite.

While the rubber keeps the same Addix Race name, Schwalbe says it is a new rubber formula – now using more sustainable recycled carbon black and fair trade natural rubber. And it is their fastest Addix compound rubber yet, decreasing rolling resistance by 10% while keeping the same durability

Newly tweaked Pro casing construction

Schwalbe also sneaks some tweaks inside the Pro tire’s construction, compared to the previous Super Race construction for improved performance. The 3-layered sidewall casing reinforcement, 2-layer casing under the tread, V-Guard anti-puncture belt under the tread, and dual-compound Addix Race rubber construction don’t really change that much. But now, both that extra 3rd sidewall layer and the 5mm wider V-Guard breaker extend a bit until they overlap.

The result, curiously, is both increased puncture protection AND lower rolling resistance. But with no extra weight penalty. Those changes combined with improved rolling performance seems counterintuitive. But when pressed on how that could work, Schwalbe alluded that maybe the materials themselves weren’t exactly the same from one generation to the next. But they did elaborate that tire construction-to-performance characteristic relationships aren’t always as straightforward and logical as one might hope. And it’s not that uncommon to see what should be a stiffer tire actually exhibit decreased rolling resistance in the end.

Only available in Schwalbe’s new Pro line with blue graphics like their professional team riders, the new G-One RX is their gravel tire offering the “best possible off-road performance with more grip in difficult conditions“.

“Off-road, especially on rocky and muddy terrain, enormous amounts of grip are required – this is where the G-ONE RX feels most at home.”

Schwalbe G-One RX – Pricing, availability & options

One of the greatest things about the new Schwalbe G-One RX is that there are tons of options, ready to suit almost any gravel rider or racer. It is the top-tier of Schwalbe gravel tires performance-wise, so it won’t come exceptionally cheap. But my general thinking is always that a good set of high-end tires is probably the best value upgrade you can get when you figure the ride improvement-to-cost ratio.

All sizes & colors of the new G-One RX Pro retail for the same $83 / 75€ price. All you have to do is pick the perfect match for your bike.

The new tubeless-ready Schwalbe G-One RX Pro comes in tan wall (dubbed transparent) or all-black sidewall versions, and three 700c sizes: 40, 45 & 50mm. If you need smaller sizes, say to squeeze into an old CX bike, the R & RS also come in 35mm variants.

Schwalbe.com

The post All-New Schwalbe G-One RX Gravel Bike Tires Mix Racing Speed & Tough Conditions Grip appeared first on Bikerumor.

This wildly shaped Colnago Y1Rs aero road bike feels like a seismic shift for one of the most well-known Italian bike companies in the world. While most big bike players have built full aero road bikes for years, Colnago had been something of a traditionalist holdout – sticking with subtle aero tweaks to their light all-road race bike, or only going completely aero for time trials. And thanks to the dominant riding of Tadej Pogačar, they still managed to win heaps of races and grand tours.

But the situation has changed. And now Pogi has a much more aero bike to take on those flatter, faster days of bike racing…

All-new Colnago Y1Rs proper aero road race bike

The new aerodynamic bike is a major technological shift for Colnago, interestingly at the same time they are modernizing steel road bike production and honoring their classics, too. With the all-new Y1Rs aero road bike, Colnago has created a new aerodynamic benchmark for themselves for top-tier racing. And it’s been a surprisingly long-time-coming, with multiple Tour de France wins in recent years. But maybe this wild all-new design explains a bit more why it took so long.

“Developed in close collaboration with Politecnico di Milano and Khalifa University, the Y1Rs represents a leap forward in design and technology, offering riders a bike built to meet the highest demands of speed and precision.“

Why did they wait so long to go fully aerodynamic?

It seems with the previous UCI regulation on tube shapes, Colnago figured they could get the most all-around benefit out of just evolving their V4Rs platform to balance lightweight and aerodynamics. But once the UCI ditched that 3:1 regulation, it was time to completely rethink how aero Colnago could go with this more flexible framework.

Limitations in CFD accuracy and reliability led Colnago to develop a better simulation model. So, this new aero road bikes was developed more in the wind tunnel than just CFD to ensure more realistic results. What they did was start in CFD then quickly move to 3d printed elements layered over a modular platform that they could take into the wind tunnel.

Then, adding tons of tiny pressure sensors in small holes drilled into the mock-up, Colnago measured the real airflow over the prototypes to collect more accurate data. And with that, they refined their CFD process creating a wind model they say was twice as accurate as anything else used in the bike industry.

“A bike that is, according to our studies, the most aerodynamic UCI-compliant road bike in the World Tour“

What’s new?

All of that led to an innovative new design that mashes up time trial-inspired aerodynamics to create a light and manageable aero road bike for everyday racing. As they describe it, “A bike that is, according to our studies, the most aerodynamic UCI-compliant road bike in the World Tour“.

• Bayonet fork with external steerer in front of the headtube
• DEFY seat cluster, decoupling the seatpost & seat tube
• WYND gull wing handlebar cockpit
• curved/kinked downtube to hug the front wheel
• integrated aero bottle cages
• frame geometry?

Bayonet fork

The Bayonet fork design is simply the result of being able to extend the narrow aero section of the headtube without running afoul of the UCI’s rules – inspired by the Colnago TT1. Longer narrower airfoils just have lower drag. The double steerer (1 inside & 1 outside the headtube) allows for increased stiffness, even with smaller headset bearings.

DEFY seat cluster

The Defy seat cluster is a 2-fold solution. First, without the conventionally-vertical tube shape, the two angled sections of seat tube get effectively deeper relative to the movement of air, while still fitting into the UCI tube shape limitations. Secondly, Colnago says that aero bikes are generally too stiff, so decoupling the straight line from saddle to bottom bracket introduces vertical compliance for improved rider comfort, especially with the now slacker angle of the short post. Once the proprietary seatpost is cut, the rider still has 1.5cm of height adjustment.

WYND bar

The Wynd bar is essentially the same solution just rotated horizontally, with upturned wings said to deflect air away from the turbulence around the centerline of the bike. Yet, while Defy aims for flex, Wynd is said to be the stiffest handlebar setup that Colnago has tested.

Aero downtube & cages

The all-new downtube shape manages to closely follow the front wheel in the upper half of the tube. Then, it gets a kink just at the end of the wheel’s curve to tuck the main water bottle neatly into the frame. Colnago explains that their CFD analysis showed aero benefit to having the front wheel tucked close to the frame or set further apart, depending on each portion of the spinning wheel. So their solution does both in what they describe as, “the final word on the optimal downtube configuration within the limits of current UCI regulations.“

In the end, all of the Colnago analysis showed that conventional water bottles are not very aerodynamic, but they are such a simple & effective solution. But, by tucking aero cages directly into the downtube like this (which we’ve also seen from BMC), they got aero gains with real-world practicality.

So, how fast is a Colnago Y1Rs aero road bike?

Ultimately, the refined aero solution resulted in a 19% reduced frontal area compared to the V4Rs. That alone was sure to make it faster. But then, testing the complete bike head to head with its “best” aero road bike competitor, Colnago says the new Y1RS “outperformed it in any wind conditions“.

The weighted average drag gains are pretty big according to Colnago data. The Y1Rs saves just a single watt straight into the wind, but 8W less compared to its best aero competitor. And a 25W savings vs. the all-rounder V4Rs, further quantifying the rationale for finally getting around to building a proper full aero road race bike.

Geometry

The new MY25 Colnago Y1Rs comes in 5 stock sizes (XS-XL) just like the V4Rs. But the new bike’s geometry has been refined, working with both the pro men of UAE Emirates and pro women of UAE ADQ to improve high-speed handling and control for flat and rolling racing.

This all-new aero road bike features a much steeper headtube angle at 73-73.5° for the larger bikes, and marginally steeper for smaller sizes that are more limited by toe overlap. Plus, a steeper effective seat angle and longer frame reach to put the rider further forward in their aero tuck.

Each frame size also gets its own fork, customized to make sure Trail is consistent for predictable handling in all sizes.

Tech details

Colnago assures that the Y1Rs is still a lightweight race bike. The raw unpainted Y1RS frame weighs 965g, plus 450g for the fork. At the same time, it equals the V4RS in stiffness, actually inching up 3.5% stiffer when out of the saddle sprinting.

• UCI approved
• full carbon Y1Rs frame & bayonet fork
• integrated fully internal cable routing
• straight 1 3/8″ carbon steerer tube with CeramicSpeed SLT headset bearings
• electronic shift, disc brake only
• proprietary aero cut-to-fit seatpost with 0 or 15mm offset
• wedge-style seatpost clamp
• 12mm thru-axles & flat mount brakes 160mm front/140mm rear
• threaded BSA bottom bracket
• 32mm max tire clearance
• 7.51kg race weight, complete size M bike with pedals in UAE Team Emirates pro team build

2025 Colnago Y1Rs – Pricing, options & availability

This slippery all-new Colnago Y1Rs is available from your local dealer now as a frame kit from $6750 / 6710€ if you feel like you need to completely customize your own unique aero road race bike build. That includes the all-new frame, fork, headset, forward-swept handlebars, seatpost, and integrated bottle cages.

Or you can pick from 1 of 5 premium complete bike builds, all with top-tier groupsets only. The most ‘affordable’ complete option features a SRAM Red AXS group & carbon Vision 45 wheels starting at 12,300€, or a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 build with the same wheels for 13,200€. Shimano C50 or ENVE SES 4.5 wheels (at a claimed 7.2kg complete) add 1800€ or 3000€, respectively.

Or opt for a complete Campagnolo Super Record Wireless gruppo like Pogačar had been racing on with Bora Ultra WTO wheels for a princely 16,500€ sum. (Although, UAE Team Emirates & UAE Team ADQ both switch to Shimano in 2025!)

There are even three paint jobs available for that full pro look – UAE Team Emirates’ black & white replica, the UAE Team ADQ women’s glittery white replica, or a Pogi World Champ Rainbow edition to take it over the top.

Colnago.com

The post Colnago Y1Rs Finally Drops a Truly Aero Road Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

For Episode #104 of the BikeRumor Podcast (and video), we’re mixing up the format and bringing the whole crew into the mix. This new portion of the podcast is our new; BikeRumor Monthly Round-Up. We get the core crew (and special guests) together to talk about the months news according to bikes.

Why a Round-Up?

Sometimes, we have more to say about a review or news piece. Each author gives a deep dive into their product review and a behind-the-scenes look at BR Team. Don’t worry — it’s not all weights and “what they should have done”; there’s a fair share of goofing off. 

This Monthly Round-Up includes Zach Overholt, Cory Benson, Tyler Benedict, Ron Frazelle, and Jordan Villella.

Just Want The Audio? Check out the BikeRumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts.

BikeRumor Monthly Round-Up Topics 

• Brompton G-Line
• Ribbles new 3D printed Titanium Bike
• Lauf Elja
• Specialized Crux DSW
• Canyon Disruptr CFR Helmet 
• Camp and Go Slow’s Trout Bar Tape
• Pro’s Closet Auction/Rebirth 
• Pivot Vault
• Tylers Retirement
• Lauf Hub Patent
• and more

Want More?

Find every episode of the BikeRumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean. Or through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play! Can’t find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! Let us know who you want us to interview,  use this form to send us your suggestions!

Follow Bikerumor

Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear, and tech on The World’s Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Follow Jordan

Like us? Love us? Follow Jordan at: @cxjordancx (Coaching //IG // Strava)

The post Video Podcast #104 – BikeRumor Crew Monthly Round-Up appeared first on Bikerumor.

It’s been over 10 years since Fair Wheel Bikes in Tucson, AZ first shared with us their independent bar & stem testing, but they are back at it, measuring real stiffness in a new crop of 15 modern road & gravel bike stems. What do you prefer: absolute lightest weight, maximum stiffness, the highest stiffness:weight ratio, or maybe some happy medium that might not break the bank. Fair Wheel does the testing so we can all make more informed buying decisions.

Fair Wheel Bikes tests real road & gravel bike stem stiffness

So why did Fair Wheel dust off their test rig? We spoke to long-time head of the shop Jason Woznick, and he said simply that, “it has been about a decade since we did testing…. [and] we wanted to re-test, bars, stems and cranks and see how things have changed.”

Sounds good to us.

I’ve personally known Fair Wheel since around 2001 or so. That’s when I was first introduced to the shop and their weight-weenie ways by a friend who’d worked in there before moving to the East Coast. And then, soon after I headed to meet them in Tucson in person when traveling out to race the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. Fair Wheel bikes has catered to both local looking for trusted service, and bike nerds from far & wide hunting the most exotic components and some of the world’s lightest bike builds.

Although we didn’t get to it then, Fair Wheel recently celebrated their 50th-anniversary last year by updating their road crankarm and handlebar stiffness tests with some more of the latest & greatest modern models. You can check out that May 2023 road crank test here or their updated November 2023 road bar test here.

But now let’s get back to stems.

Why do we trust Fair Wheel Bike’s independent component testing?

The beauty of Fair Wheel Bikes testing components is three-fold. First, they’ve been around for more than half a century, and they kept the same test rig in the back of the shop just waiting. Secondly, they are super analytical but practical, so they keep their tests simple and use the exact same test protocol today as when they started testing components.

And lastly, they’re kind of a bunch of nerds. OK, definitely fellow bike nerds… our favorite type.

Check out their original 2014 stem tests, here.

Stem deflection testing methodology

Their stem stiffness testing is just measuring stem deflection – how far a stem bends under a repeatable load. Again, Fair Wheel brought back their “favorite engineer” Jason Krantz to run the tests. He’s now a mechanical engineer at a global company developing testing & measurement equipment. But he also worked in the cycling industry over his career, for example designing bikes at Titus and sharing our journalistic focus at Bicycle Retailer and Industry News back in the 90s.

The stem deflection testing protocol he developed fixes the stem in a rigid frame, then applies a uniform 100lb (~45kg) load 10″ (~25cm) away from the centerline of the stem. The test simulates a reasonable approximation of the force when a rider is sprinting, pulling against the bar – up on one side, down on the other – as they try to pedal as hard as possible. But the exact force/load/weight doesn’t really matter, as deflection is linear, and they are comparing all stems with the same forces.

Fair Wheel has tried to minimize variables as much as possible. Their methodology says all stems should be 110mm long and -6° of rise, with a 1.125″ steerer clamp and 31.8mm bar clamp. But some stems tested were not available in that exact size, so there’s +1° variability in angle and -5mm variability for just two stems (105mm Pro Vibe Sprint Carbon & Syntace F119). But they explain why that may or may not matter.

What is stiffness?

Something of a disclaimer… neither Fair Wheel nor us at Bikerumor are necessarily saying that greater stiffness actually means a better stem.

Maybe some lighter or even all-road & gravel riders might like a bit of compliance in their stem?

And the Fair Wheel test doesn’t even touch on the potential vibration damping that some materials can provide, independently of stiffness.

But if you are looking for cockpit rigidity for some reduction of energy loss or improved handling performance benefits, stem stiffness is certainly a good place to start in comparisons. And so, we’re pretty psyched that Fair Wheel is there out crunching these numbers for everyone to see.

Scroll down to the bottom of this article if you want to read Fair Wheel’s own detailed description.

2024 Fair Wheel stem stiffness tests’ results

Top 5 Stiffest

1. FSA SL-K at just 3.7mm deflection, made of 2014 aluminum with steel bolts
2. FWB machined Ti prototype at just 3.7mm deflection, made of titanium with ti bolts
3. Ritchey Superlogic C260 at just 3.7mm deflection, made of 2024 aluminum with steel bolts
4. ENVE Carbon at just 4.2mm deflection, made of carbon with ti bolts
5. Uno Stealth at just 4.5mm deflection, made of 2024 aluminum with stainless steel or titanium bolts

Top 5 Lightest

1. Extralite Hyperstem at 82.5g from 7075 aluminum with titanium bolts
2. THM Tibia at 91g from carbon with titanium bolts
3. MCFK Carbon at 92.3g from carbon with titanium bolts
4. Schmolke TLO (ICR) at 94.5g from carbon with titanium bolts
5. Uno Stealth ti at 104.7g from aluminum with titanium bolts

Top 5 Stiffness:Weight Ratio

1. Extralite Hyperstem with 5.6mm deflection at 82.5g for a 2.16 S/W ratio
2. Uno Stealth ti with 4.5mm deflection at 104.7g for a 2.12 S/W ratio
3. Ritchey WCS C260 with 4.7mm deflection at 108.1g for a 1.97 S/W ratio
4. Ritchey Superlogic C260 with 4.1mm deflection at 128g for a 1.91S/W ratio
5. FSA SL-K with 3.7mm deflection at 144g for a 1.88 S/W ratio

Complete 2024 Test Data

Combined 2014 & 2024 Test Data

Bonus stem stiffness content

Quoting Woznick again, “If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably quite interested in the topic in general. For some bonus content we decided to run a test of the same stem in 8 different lengths. You may be surprised how predictable the differences in the results really are.“

My Bikerumor Takeaways from Fair Wheel’s stem tests

My first impression when looking at the new data and comparing it to the old was that on average the new stems are 7.1% lighter but 8.9% less stiff, giving them an average 2.7% decrease in stiffness:weight. Fair Wheel clarified a bit that we probably can’t so easily compare the figures overall, as the individual stems mostly fell in similar ranges. But they did note that new to the 2024 testing were some prototype titanium stems, which are stiffer, but also heavier, skewing the averages a bit.

It is hard though for me to overlook that there were already 8 stems in 2014 (out of 25) with ~4mm or less deflection, while only 2 were so stiff in the new 2024 batch (of 15). I take that to suggest that the industry as a whole might not really be trying hard to make stems stiffer, as much as they are trying to improve aerodynamics & integration.

On the other hand, looking closely though at like stems (Ritchey & FSA, for example where there are essentially the same models in 2014 & 2024), it seems the newer iterations are either a bit lighter or a bit stiffer. That fits with the idea that component engineers are trying to incrementally improve performance, even on basic components like stems.

Fair Wheel’s Takeaways

Jason Woznick of Fair Wheel Bikes did say that he sees, “that as an industry trend, stems have gotten disproportionally heavier than they have stiffer. This is likely due to more modern stems accommodating internal cabling. We plan on doing more testing with more internally routed stems to bear this out a bit more.“

Of note outside of just looking at the numbers, Fair Wheel also adds that their testing shows for road components “the more aero a bar or stem is the more compliant it will be since flat surfaces deflect more than a round one“. So that’s also a bit more context on interpreting their data.

Lastly, let’s all thank Fair Wheel for doing the work to help us pick what components we want on our bikes!

FairWheelBikes.com

Complete Fair Wheel Bikes description of their stem testing process, in their own words…

Stem Deflection Testing:

We’ve once again brought back our favorite engineer, Jason Krantz. Jason’s a mechanical engineer whose graduate work focused on the intersection of composite materials and finite element analysis. Jason has worked for several companies in the bicycle industry and never fails to amaze us with the depth of his cycling related knowledge.

Disclaimer: A lot of typing and numbers have gone into this article and we apologize in advance for any typos should they happen, but would warn that the possibility of mistakes is present.

Some Initial Notes on Testing

Testing Method:

Each stem was mounted in the fixture and the testing performed 3 times and then averaged. All stems tested were 11cm with the exception of a few which are not available in those lengths. Each stem was mounted with its recommended torque specs and preloaded with 20 pounds of force applied 10 inches from the stem (about half way between a road bar and mtb bar) Once preloaded the equipment was zeroed and another 100 pounds of force was added and a measurement recorded. The measurement was taken at the point of load, again 10 inches from the stem centerline.

Loads Tested:

While the actual load doesn’t matter because the response of the structure is linear. [That is, a stem with a stiffness of 150-foot pounds per degree will deflect one degree with a torque of 150 foot-pounds and two degrees with a torque of 300 foot-pounds.] Jason selected a load of 100 pounds because it’s a nice round number, and pretty realistic to what some riders may experience.

For a sprinting rider, let’s say he is pushing on the left pedal with 300lbf (in other words, he can squat 600lbs). The pedal is about half as far from the frame centerline as the handlebar is, so it would take a reaction force of 150lbs at the right-hand bar to counteract the pedaling force. This is the same as applying 75lbf up on the one side of the bar and 75lbf down on the other; the moment at the stem is the same.

Normalizing for Stem Length:

In theory, it’s possible to measure a particular stem of one length and extrapolate its results to longer or shorter versions of the same stem model. In technical terms, this is “normalizing for stem length.” We can do this because torsional displacement is directly proportional to length for a tube of a given cross section. It’s true that a good engineer will use thinner walls on shorter stems (which see lower stresses) and thicker walls on longer stems (which see higher stresses). Still, normalizing to length within a single stem make and model is valid to a first approximation, at least with metal stems. A composite stem is a different beast, because layups (AKA laminate schedules) can vary significantly with length.

While torsional displacement is directly proportional to stem length, bending displacement is proportional to the cube of the length. Our first pass at a stem test setup measures combined bending and torsional displacement, so it would not be valid to extrapolate to longer or shorter stems, even within the same model, at least if you’re looking for absolute values.

If you’re interested in relative values–for example, if you want to know whether stem A is stiffer than stem B–then these results should be quite useful regardless of the actual length you intend to use.

For this test we used 11cm stems in every case except 2 (Pro Vibe Sprint Carbon and Syntace F119) which are both 10.5cm. The stems were similar enough in length that we did not normalize any stems in this test, but in the future we may test some stems that need to be normalized for a fair comparison.

Stiffness to Weight Ratio:

This was calculated using =((1/avg. defl) / weight) * 1000

Bolt Material:

One question we wanted to answer was if there was a noticeable difference between stems with titanium and steel bolts. We selected a few random stems and tested them both with titanium and steel bolts and found no meaningful difference in deflection in stems with one material over the other.

Mounting Direction:

We also wanted to see if mounting a stem with a rise vs a drop made a difference in the deflection. While we were able to measure a difference, less than 0.1 mm at 100 pounds, it was not enough to say that there is a meaningful difference, and was likely within the margin of error of the testing.

Notes about Stem Angles:

One other item we wanted to test was the difference in like stems with different angles. We tested a couple of stems that are available in both 7 and 17 degree angles and found that 17 degree stems deflected an average of 7% less. The tested stems vary from 5 to 10 degrees which should result in deflection variations of up to about 3%, so keep that in mind when comparing two stems of different angles.

Carbon Fiber vs. Aluminum:

Carbon fiber stems don’t offer the weight savings that, say, carbon fiber rims do. There’s a reason for this: stems are regularly stressed in three ways: bending, torsion and shear. In other words, the stresses in a stem are nearly isotropic (uniform in all directions). Carbon fiber is highly anisotropic (stiffer/stronger in one direction than in the others). When you try to lay up anisotropic carbon to deal with isotropic stresses, you end up with what engineers refer to as “black aluminum,” or pseudo isotropic carbon–and a weight that’s very close to an aluminum stem.

There may be other advantages to a carbon stem; vibration damping is one that is often put to the forefront of the debate. It’s true that composite structures generally damp vibration better than metallic ones, and there may be real-world damping benefits to a carbon stem. One way to test stem damping would be to wire an accelerometer to the stem and then strike it gently with a hammer, reading the accelerometer data to see how quickly the vibrations dissipated. This ring-down test may be on the Fair Wheel menu for a future article, but is outside the scope of this test.

Mixed materials:

Hybrid stems, a carbon overlay on an alloy stem. We tested only a couple of these but neither did well, we’ll do more testing on others in the future to develop our thoughts on this medium further.

We tested two similar stems one in full alloy (7s) and one in hybrid (vibe carbon) to see if there was an advantage to the hybrid stems. Both are the same weight and same dimensions with the same puzzle lock clamp. The difference being that the Carbon has thinner alloy, reinforced with carbon. Deflection was noticeably different, the full alloy was significantly stiffer than alloy/carbon.

To speculate on why tests put carbon/aluminum stems on the flexible end of the spectrum, one might consider two competing design constraints. First is galvanic corrosion. When aluminum and carbon touch each other, they’ve made a weak battery. The electron-swapping that goes on will cause an aluminum/carbon part to fail in short order. To avoid this, manufacturers use a layer of insulating material. This layer is often a fiberglass/epoxy composite but could be plain epoxy. Neither material is as stiff as aluminum, so you’re taking a stiffness loss right away.

Secondly, the market won’t tolerate a carbon-wrapped aluminum stem that is both more expensive and heavier than its plain-aluminum counterpart. So manufacturers are forced to use thinner-walled aluminum forgings for their carbon-wrapped stems than they do for their straight-up aluminum stems. Effectively, they’re replacing relatively stiff aluminum with relatively compliant fiberglass and/or epoxy.

Making matters worse, some carbon-wrapped aluminum stems use a 0°/90° weave for aesthetic reasons. This weave’s stiffness reflects the dreaded pseudo isotropy referred to earlier, and is particularly compliant in shear–which, in a stem, determines torsional stiffness.

The net result is a carbon-look stem that has adequate strength but more compliance (and possibly better vibration damping) than a “pure” aluminum stem.

To be clear, the above is what engineers call a SWAG: a Scientific Wild-Ass Guess. It’s a reasonable first pass, but there may be other factors at play that we haven’t considered and which will be further explored in future tests.

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