He’s considered by many to be one of the pioneers of mountain bike freeride. Over the years, Brett Tippie’s name has become synonymous with pushing the limits of what can be done on a bike.

The Brett Tippie Story, a feature-length documentary, is said to take a deep dive into his home life and background. It follows YT Industries founder and CEO, Markus Flossmann’s trip to Kamloops, BC. It’s here that he meets up with Brett to ride “iconic lines of where Freeride was born.

The documentary also brings new light to Tippies struggle with addiction, turning over a new leaf, meeting his wife, and becoming a father. It sounds like it’ll be a good one.

YT-Industries.com

The post YT Industries Launches Live Uncaged: The Brett Tippie Story appeared first on Bikerumor.

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.

I guess I am the Harvester of Sorrow this week. First the GT Bicycles story, and today, I bring the news that Rocky Mountain Bicycles has applied for restructuring. The 40+-year-old Canadian bicycle company applied with the Superior Court of Québec for protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA).

The press release says that it was the pandemic that started Rocky Mountain down this path as the brand struggled to secure supplies due to shortages and rising costs. And then post-pandemic, Rocky Mountain had to contend with a sharp drop in selling prices.

With margins tightening, it put Rocky Mountain under a kind of financial pressure they were not prepared for. So, feeling that their choices were limited, they initiated the restructuring procedure. They launched the Sales and Investment Solicitation Process (SISP). This will help them become a “resilient and successful, long-term business”.

Given the number of bike brands that seem to be in trouble recently, it’s not surprising to hear of another that is facing financial uncertainty. But it is a surprise to hear that is a company as big and as iconic as Rocky Mountain. We’re hoping the restructuring works out for everyone in the long term!

From the Press Release

SAINT-GEORGES, QC, Dec. 19, 2024 /CNW/ – RAD Industries Inc. (the “Company” or “Rocky Mountain“) announced today that it has filed an application with the Superior Court of Québec (Commercial Division) (the “Court“) for Court protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (‘CCAA‘).

Despite strong demand for its bikes during the pandemic, the Company struggled to secure supplies due to shortages and rising costs. Once the pandemic was over, the Company had to contend with a sharp drop in selling prices.

As a result, margins have tightened, putting unprecedented financial pressure on the Company. Rocky Mountain has no choice but to initiate restructuring procedures to launch the Sales and Investment Solicitation Process (SISP) to become a resilient and successful long-term business. 

By undertaking a restructuring process under the CCAA, the Company will be able to avoid business interruption as much as possible and reduce the resulting impacts of the current situation. The Company will ask the Court to appoint Ernst & Young to act as Monitor under the CCAA. Lavery de Billy is acting as Legal Counsel to the Company.

Bikes.com

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Life Time is investing in the future for 2025 by launching the Life Time Grand Prix U23 Development Program. Its a new initiative aimed at cultivating the next generation of elite off-road cyclists, while hoping to add dimension to the dwindled 2025 roaster. The program will provide young riders aged 18-22 a shot at competing alongside the sport’s biggest names, with a clear path to earning a coveted spot in the 2026 LifeTime Grand Prix.

The Program Breakdown

The U23 Development Program challenges athletes to compete in four of six marquee events within the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix series. The top male and female finishers will be awarded entry into the 2026 Grand Prix. Riders will race on a separate U23 leaderboard, with their best four results counting toward their overall standing. Two events can be dropped, but a minimum of four starts are required to qualify.

What if there’s a tie?! In case of a tie, Big Sugar Gravel will serve as the tiebreaker—though participation in that race is optional.

Here’s the full 2025 race calendar:

• Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel – April 11, 2025
• Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200 – May 31, 2025
• Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB – August 9, 2025
• Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival – September 13, 2025
• Life Time Little Sugar MTB – October 12, 2025
• Life Time Big Sugar Gravel – October 18, 2025

Mentorship and Development

A standout feature of the program is mentorship. Current Life Time Grand Prix athletes will be encouraged to connect with U23 participants, offering guidance and insights gained from racing at the highest level.

“As the owner and producer of 15 off-road cycling events, Life Time is dedicated to growing the sport of cycling. We look forward to playing a direct role in this development with the launch of the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix U23 Program and providing young athletes with a platform to compete and grow at a high level.”

Kimo Seymour, President of Media and Events at Life Time.

Want to Apply? Here’s How

Interested U23 athletes must complete these steps by January 15, 2025:

1. Submit the U23 Development Program application by the deadline.
2. Meet the age requirements:
   • Minimum age: 19 by December 31, 2025
   • Maximum age: Must not turn 23 before January 1, 2026
3. Register for at least four events from the Grand Prix calendar.

For more information and application details, head to lifetimegrandprix.com.

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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.

Wolf Tooth Components (WTC), just launched a clean new mount for its EnCase Pump. The Inline Mount allows for quick access and sleek storage.

The current EnCase Pumps ship with the included side mount. This mount is great for storing the EnCase Pump right alongside your water bottle or cargo cage.

The new Inline Mount, however, allows the user to mount the EnCase Pump in place of a water bottle cage. This would be ideal for the underside of the top tube mounts, or the underside of the downtube.

The Inline Mount is part of the Encase Pump product line, as well as the EnCase System overall. The Encase Pump was launched earlier this year. They come in 40cc and 85cc.

They are compact, hold tools, and push enough air for high-volume tires. On top of all of that WTC says they have the “best in class” sealing that keeps harmful elements, like mud, grime, and dust out of the pump.

Encase Pump InLine Mount Retail and Detail

Retail: $14.95

• Easy-to-use rubber straps
• Weight: 15g
• Dimensions: 3.25″ x 1.5″ (82.5mm x 38mm)
• Material: Glass-filled Nylon

WolfToothComponents.com

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Alessandro Colnago, Ernesto Colnago’s nephew, wants to make his path in the cycling world. He is leaning on an abbreviation of his world-famous Colnago name and partnering with WaiWis to launch an all-new premium bike brand, ACOL. 

The ACOL brand is focused on performance-oriented drop-bar bikes. It is launching with a catalog that includes gravel, aerodynamic, classic, and track bikes.

Where does WiaWis come in? WaiWis is an archery brand with a deep history in high-performance materials, including carbon manufacturing. The new ACOL bikes use specific grades of WiaWis carbon, depending on the bike’s intended purpose. 

ACOL: Show Me The Bikes 

The inaugural line from ACOL features a mix of modern and classic bikes, hitting on most key cycling segments (minus e-bikes) and even offering a bike aimed at the rider searching for the Colnago rim brake feel. 

Spec-wise, ACOL offers a mix of Shimano Di2 105, Ultegra, and Campagnolo. As of right now, it is not a SRAM-spec model. Size-wise, ACOL offers an XXS to XL (roughly 48cm to 60cm but model dependent) in most models, with some only available in XS to L. 

Let’s dive deeper into the entire line. 

ACOL SL 

The ACOL SL is the climber’s frame in the ACOL lineup, with a claimed pure frame weight (without removable parts) of only 686g in med). The SL uses Winact-G SL carbon and minimal paint to achieve a lightweight build. 

The bike features a slightly aerodynamic shape but with rounder tube shapes. The SL frame offers clearance for up to 32mm tires and a comfortable ride with thin stays and construction.

The bottom bracket is a press-fit BB86 to keep weight as low as possible, with a shaping very similar to the new Scott Addict RC. 

DIVINUS

The DIVINUS rounds out the aerodynamic portion of the new ACOL catalog. The design isn’t outrageous (like the new Colnago Y1Rs Aero frame), but it’s on trend with what’s at the front of the peloton.

With a claimed frame weight of 885g (med) and a 32mm tire clearance, the DIVINUS should be the most popular ACOL line. The DIVINUS uses Winact G-3 carbon for construction. 

TUSCIA

The TUSCIA is the ACOL gravel and exploration bike. It fits up to 45mm and has a fairly race-driven geometry compared to its peer group.

Unlike any of the road models, the TUSCIA offers in-frame storage and a very boxy frame design. Like others in the ACOL family, the TUSCIA boasts fully internal cable routing and a Shimano GRX 2X crankset spec. 

DNA

The ACOL DNA is the bike that old-school Colnago fans will be most interested in. The DNA refers to Ernesto Colnogo’s days and the glory days of lugged carbon frames. The design is classic, with a rim brake specification and a look that is modern enough but will speak to the classic soul. 

TXT PRO

The TXT Pro is a full-on track race machine ready for the biggest matches and torque. ACOL designed it with geometry optimized for the intense demands of velodrome racing. To maximize speed and precision, the TXT arrives with an aero-specific fork and bars. 

TXT SD 

The TXT SD is an all-around track frame with a more traditional build and component compatibility. This design is less of an all-out aero machine, is compatible with standard stems, and has more fit adjustability. 

Look for more news and pricing as the information becomes available

ACOL.bike

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The 1x pioneering 3T Strada aero road bike returns to its single chainring roots, now fueled by the latest SRAM Red Xplr groupset, ostensibly developed for gravel racing, not the road. But now, with 1x drivetrains much more mainstream – fueled both by gravel racing and time trialing – 3T has put together another killer single-ring road racer…

3T Strada Italia Red Xplr 1x 13-speed aero road bike

3T’s Strada aero road bike made big waves 7.5 years ago when it hit the scene as the first real 1x production road bike, touting the streamlined aerodynamic benefits, plus some of the first 30mm wide road racing tires. Even with their own unique cassettes and a bit of Aqua Blue pro road racing on the 1x setup, it was soon evident that roadies just weren’t ready for 1x. And a year later 3T acquiesced with a 2x compatible version of their road bike. The 1x was still there, but it was clear that the market wasn’t quite ready.

Then, earlier this summer, 3T rolled out an all-new lighter Strada made in Italy. It aerodynamics ratcheted performance up a notch, with deeper & wider tubes, fully integrated cable routing, and mega 35mm tire clearance. But it still had a 2x drivetrain, although with a bolt-on front derailleur tab that hinted a 1x build would be coming.

What’s new?

Matching up the new aero road bike’s even bigger tires on wide & deep aero wheels and its even deeper aerodynamic tube shapes, this new Strada Italia features a 1×13-speed Red Xplr groupset with tighter gearing steps but a wide 460% (10-46T) spread that rivals modern 2x setups.

3T Strada Italia 1x – Pricing, options & availability

The new 1x 3T Strada Italia essentially comes in just one premium, ultra-expensive build since its key component is SRAM’s top-tier wireless gravel group and 3T’s handmade Italian carbon Torno crankset or a Red powermeter. But you do have at least the option for a couple different wheelsets depending on the depth of your pockets.

Or you can always buy a new Strada Italia frameset on its own for 5950€, and build it with a more affordable electronic 1x gravel groupset yourself.

The new 3T Strada Italia 1×13 Red AXS XPLR build starts at about $12,000 / 11,705€ with 3T’s own 25mm hooked internal x 32mm external x 45mm deep x 1640g Discus 45|32 LTD wheelset.

Or for a whopping $13,400 /13,167€ you get a 3T Strada Italia 1×13 Red AXS XPLR with 25mm hookless internal x 45mm biomimicry variable depth x 1308g Zipp 353 NSW wheels.

Either one you pick, 3T builds them to order with a claimed 8-12 week lead time… plenty of time for your check to clear, I hope.

3T.bike

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