Year: 2021

As the year comes to a close we thought it would be a good time to take a look back at some of the best ‘Fast Bike Friday’ features of 2021. Every week we publish an in-depth feature on a chosen ‘Fast Bike’ from Wheelbase HQ in the Lake District and accompany it with a large set of crackin’ photos taken by our very talented photographer James Vincent. We’ve seen some amazing bikes over the year, from super-fast aero road bikes to long-travel Enduro mountain bikes, capable gravel bikes and the latest hi-tech electric bikes. To see 2021 out in style we’ve compiled our favourite 45 Fast Bikes for you with handy links to each full ‘Fast Bike Friday’ feature, have a scroll through to find out more about some of the hottest bikes at Wheelbase this year. We’re already looking forward to 2022 when we’ve got even bigger plans for the feature. Happy New Year!

Johnny Dodgin & James Vincent

 

 

For our first Fast Bike Friday of 2021 we took a look at something VERY special! A unique custom build from our road bike department – a Cannondale Systemsix aero road bike complete with a Fat Creations custom paint job! We love the feel of this bike which is super-aero, reducing drag and helping you to ride faster for longer. As we all know, small differences in performance can be hard to measure but when your road bike is this aerodynamically efficient you don’t just benefit from enhanced straight-line speed but also gain an advantage in tight sprints, technical descents and even on long climbs.

Cannondale SystemSix – Fat Creations Custom Paint Job

 

Fast Bike Friday took a look at the Merida Big Trail 400 hardcore hardtail in January. Tough trail-focused hardtails with longer-travel suspension forks upfront are very much a staple within UK mountain biking with this simple setup being really popular amongst riders looking for a bike that can handle rowdy, technical trails and aggressive riding. To meet this demand Merida developed a bike with very modern ‘trail bike’ geometry. With a slack Enduro inspired 65.5° head angle the Big Trail 400 features a 140mm travel suspension fork to handle steep, tight, technical trails.

Merida Big Trail 400

 

Next our Fast Bike Friday feature focused on the popular Topstone Carbon gravel bike, with this particular model being the Women’s Topstone Carbon 4. This bike has become one of the more established gravel bike options available to consumers and has quickly gained popularity thanks to its unique looks and cleverly engineered performance qualities, with their ‘Kingpin’ configuration on the rear of the carbon frame being at the heart of this capable gravel bike.

Cannondale Women’s Topstone Carbon 4

 

Within the extensive range of BMC road bikes the Roadmachine is billed as BMC’s ‘One Bike Collection’, a true all-rounder that’s built for epic all-day rides with a frame developed specifically to offer more compliance and comfort, helping to reduce body fatigue and keep you feeling fresher for longer. That said, it’s worth getting one thing straight – this is not your typical ‘comfort road bike’ with a ridiculously high head tube or with gimmicky suspension elastomers; the Roadmachine is still very-much performance-focused.

BMC Roadmachine 01 Three

 

Fast Bike Friday took a look at the URS 01 THREE from premium Swiss brand BMC. On its arrival to our Lake District store we couldn’t wait to unbox and build the URS, with a lot of fans amongst our shop staff. The URS 01 THREE instantly caught our eye, thanks to its hot colour, BMC’s iconic angular tube profiling and the relaxed-angle fork all hinting at this gravel bike’s progressive geometry and potential for fun, technical off-road riding.

BMC URS 01 Three

 

The Merida eOne-Sixty 8000 E-MTB is designed for aggressive trail riding with 160mm of travel up front and 150mm at the rear. As well as being packed full of the latest tech with some very welcome extras there are two key elements to this E-MTB that stand out from the get-go; firstly the eOne Sixty 8000 features Shimano’s brilliant Steps EP8 motor and 630Wh battery, secondly Merida have created this bike around the ‘Mullet Principle’, what’s a Mullet bike? Read the feature to learn more.

Merida E-One Sixty 8000

 

In February we looked at the fantastically versatile, super-fun to ride Trek Fuel EX 8 XT full-suspension trail bike. This capable bike is a great option for riders looking for one mountain bike that does everything well; the Fuel EX 8 is only one option within the wide range of Fuel EX models available and is made from Alpha Platinum Aluminium rather than OCLV Mountain Carbon which you’ll find further up the range, this means that the Fuel EX 8 is more affordable while still including many of the key benefits you’ll find on the more expensive Carbon options.

Trek Fuel EX 8 XT

 

When we focused in on the Kona Rove DL gravel bike our first impressions were that this was one uber-cool, quirky gravel bike with a retro feel; but beyond the styling was there a bike that rode well and which meets the demands of modern gravel riding? Well, yes! This was a case of ‘steel is most certainly real’.

Kona Rove DL

 

Most of our Fast Bike Friday features tend to focus on high-end super-bikes including Road, Gravel, Mountain and E-MTBs which we can’t help being seduced by but sometimes may come at the expense of looking at more obtainable all-rounders that offer great value for the money. The Cannondale Trail Neo 4 was a great option for those considering buying their first E-Bike and were looking for a versatile bike that can be used for the daily commute during the week, before heading off further afield at the weekend.

Cannondale Trail Neo 4

 

Next we looked at the Mondraker Dusk R 29 E-MTB, an all-alloy full-suspension trail bike that included 150mm of rear travel featuring Mondraker’s brilliant Zero Suspension system matched up with a very capable 160mm Fox 36 Float Evol fork up front. The Dusk R 29 quickly proved itself to be one of the most popular E-MTBs on our showroom floor with this model selling through as soon as we had stock.

Mondraker Dusk R 29

 

Fast Bike Friday showcased an absolutely stunning aero road bike which was truly deserving of its ‘dream bike’ title; complete with a custom Trek Project One paintjob which made the bike look super-fast even when it was standing still. New for 2021 the Madone SLR 7 got a serious upgrade over its predecessor; while it kept all of its race-winning aerodynamics and great ride quality it got significantly lighter thanks to the frame being constructed from Trek’s new top-level 800-Series OCLV carbon composite.

Trek Madone SLR 7 Project One eTap AXS

 

In March we donned our goggles and strapped on our backpacks to take a look at Kona’s full-on Enduro World Series worthy bike – the long travel Kona Process X Enduro mountain bike. We discovered just how versatile this bike was when it came to adjustability, with loads of scope to custom-tune the bike to suit your own riding style and help master the most demanding Enduro stages out there. This bike was a tinkerer’s dream!

Kona Process X

 

Fast Bike Friday looked at the brilliantly versatile Cannondale Women’s Synapse Carbon 105 road bike; this awesome all-rounder offered race-level performance, all-day comfort and all-road capability, meaning unsurfaced tracks were not going to stop you continuing your adventures.

Cannondale Women’s Synapse Carbon 105

 

In April we focused on this absolute beauty! The Trek Procaliber 9.5 was a super-fast cross-country hardtail mountain bike that featured a stunning flame-coloured paintjob and was captured by our highly-skilled photographer James Vincent. All credit to him, he did a wonderful job of capturing the Procaliber 9.5 for us.

Trek Procaliber 9.5

 

Every now and then a mountain bike lands at Wheelbase and when it’s out of the box and built, nearly all staff (roadies included) stop what they’re doing to take a better look; when we wheeled the awesome new Nukeproof through the shop to prepare it for its photoshoot the Giga got just such a reaction! Our Fast Bike Friday feature took a detailed look at the all-new Giga 290 Elite which Nukeproof billed as a ‘Super Enduro’ bike.

Nukeproof Giga 290 Elite

 

Next up we featured a very special limited edition Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC 10th Anniversary 625 e-MTB from bike brand Cube who had teamed up with their German colleagues at Bosch to celebrate the ten year anniversary of Bosch e-bike motors. As we casted our eyes over James Vincent’s stunning photos we were struck by this Cube’s amazing paintjob described on their website as ‘Carbon n’ Oilslick’.

Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC 10th Anniversary 625

 

In May our Fast Bike Friday feature focused on not one but two Fast Bikes at the same time! The Cervelo R5 Disc was an amazingly superlight carbon road bike that was well-recognised for being one of the best handling bikes available, providing responsive steering without being skittish; the R5 came in a number of different specification options so we looked at the brilliantly spec’d Force eTap AXS and Ultegra Di2 models together.

Cervelo R5 Disc

 

Fast Bike Friday featured the Kona Remote 160 DL e-MTB, an e-MTB firmly which was focused on having fun on the trails. A healthy amount of suspension travel and progressive trail-focused geometry meant the Remote was built to be stable at speed to give a confidence-inspiring ride when it was pointed downhill. But what about getting back to the top of your favourite trail? No dramas, the Remote featured Shimano’s compact, powerful EP8 motor!

Kona Remote 160 DL

 

The super-stylish Genesis Fugio 20 was featured in May and showcased a gravel bike with a split-personality. Part utilitarian gravel adventure bike and part playful singletrack shredder the Fugio 20 was not only capable of ferrying camping gear over endless tracks and trails in remote locations but was also ready for fun-filled, playful trail riding.

Genesis Fugio 20

 

Our first Fast Bike Friday feature of June looked at a real gravel speed-machine – the Cervelo Aspero Apex 1. It was very clear from the get-go that this was not a bike that had been built to fit the utilitarian, bike-packing mould; this gravel bike was unapologetically built for speed and performance over mixed terrain and riding surfaces. As Cervelo themselves had put it very succinctly in their own marketing spiel, the Aspero is meant to ‘HAUL ASS, NOT CARGO’.

Cervelo Aspero Apex 1

 

Next we cast our eyes over the rowdy, aggressive Nukeproof Reactor 290 Factory carbon trail bike. A bike that was built to be super-fun when the trails point downward but was also efficient when it came to pedaling back up to the top. Packed full of clever design details and proven engineering principles the 29” wheeled full-suspension MTB proved to be a true all-rounder which was ready to enhance your riding and make trail riding even more fun.

Nukeproof Reactor 290 Factory

 

The Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod Disc Ultegra was super-light, stiff, aerodynamic and just happened to feature the same stunning paintjob found on the SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod bikes that were being piloted by the EF-Education Nippo pro-cycling team in 2021. Cannondale produced an ultralight Hi-Mod BallisTec carbon frameset that also happened to have low-drag properties thanks to its highly truncated airfoil tube shapes which offered the same light weight and equal or better stiffness than the traditional round tubes found on their previous-generation SuperSix but significantly reduced drag by up to 30%.

Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod Disc Ultegra

 

Later on in June we highlighted how international Cross Country Mountain Bike races were gaining a lot of attention for the first time in around 25 years, with the mountain bike media sitting up, taking notice and giving more air time and column inches to this discipline of mountain biking. With race courses becoming more technical than ever and with demanding sections in each race helping to influence the results riders have really upped their game, spending a fair chunk of their training time focused on technical riding and skills improvement.

What did this have to do with our featured bike the Cannondale Scalpel Carbon SE 2? Well, alongside the evolution of the cross country race courses, the skill of the riders and the brilliant race coverage it’s fair to say that in recent times the bikes have really moved on, being able to handle the extra technical demands thanks to an increase in suspension travel, changes to frame geometry, the use of dropper seat posts and wider tyres – the Scalpel Carbon SE 2 was a great example of just such a bike.

Cannondale Scalpel Carbon SE 2

 

Next we featured the Teammachine SLR01 One LTD – a stunning all-round road bike from Swiss brand BMC which was a lightweight & spritely climber that also happened to be brilliantly aerodynamic with a beautifully shaped frame-profile featuring a fully integrated cockpit which included an aero handlebar & stem with internal cable routing. Sitting very near the top of the Teammachine SLR range the SLR01 One LTD was packed full of cutting-edge technology; while the aerodynamic fully-integrated frame and fork stood out for all its innovation and aesthetic qualities.

BMC Teammachine SLR 01 One LTD

 

In early July our Fast Bike Friday feature headed back onto the gravel! Initially, walking around the Wheelbase shop floor the Cube Nuroad C:62 SL gravel bike didn’t necessarily catch the eye; there were no garish colours or quirky frame features designed to isolate you from rough terrain like you might see from other brands. But once we stopped and took a minute to cast our eyes over the Nuroad C:62 SL we soon realised that this was a really premium gravel bike with a great carbon chassis, a fantastic SRAM eTap AXS wireless groupset and super-light carbon wheelset. Then there was the paint job; what we thought was just a matte black finish actually included some stunning iridescent glitter details on closer inspection.

Cube Nuroad C:62 SL

 

Fast Bike Friday featured a stunning Trek Project One road bike – the Emonda SLR 9 eTap in the team colours of the Trek Segafredo professional cycling team. This lust-worthy ultralight road bike included SRAM’s flagship electronic wireless groupset, featherweight Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 carbon wheels and some great finishing kit including Bontrager Aelous RSL carbon integrated aero handle bar and stem.

Trek Project One Emonda SLR 9 eTap AXS

 

Next we looked at a modern classic – the Yeti ARC C2 carbon hardtail mountain bike. Why a classic? Well, the ARC has a very rich history dating back to the early 1990’s when it first appeared at mountain bike races in the States and was piloted to countless victories under such mountain bike racing luminaries as John Tomac, Juliana Furtado and Missy Giove. The all-new ARC C2 was no purist cross country machine though; while it subtly acknowledged its rich racing heritage this new offering from Yeti was a more progressive trail-focused 29er hardtail with a capable 130mm travel fork and long, stable geometry with a fairly relaxed 67 degree head angle.

Yeti Arc C2

 

At the end of July ‘Fast Bike Friday’ looked at a truly versatile bike-packing, adventure and gravel bike from quirky Canadian bike brand Kona – the Kona Libre was a drop-bar-bike that came pretty close to fitting the ‘one bike does all’ job description.

Kona Libre

 

Our first feature of August focused on something a little different – the Reaction C:62 Rookie was a full-on, race-ready carbon fibre cross country mountain bike that just happened to have been shrunk down to child-friendly proportions. OK so the Reaction C:62 Rookie was a little niche but it was clear the bike would enhance your child’s riding and enjoyment of mountain biking; with such a light carbon frame, capable suspension fork and a simple, reliable, precise-shifting SRAM groupset.

Cube Reaction C:62 Rookie

 

Shortly after its launch Fast Bike Friday took a detailed look at the all-new Pinarello Dogma F, the successor to their previous top of the range model the Dogma F12. Launched just before the 2021 Tour De France the Dogma F had already scored an amazing Gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics piloted by Richard Carapaz of Ecuador following shortly after his third place podium spot at Le Tour. At first glance we thought that the new Dogma F didn’t look a whole lot different to its predecessor, but once we drilled a little deeper we soon discovered that there were some significant refinements on the F12.

Pinarello Dogma F SRAM Red eTap AXS

 

Next our Fast Bike Friday feature looked at the simply stunning, glittery, iridescent Cervelo Aspero-5 Force eTap AXS gravel bike, a premium gravel race bike packed full of cutting-edge technology and performance-focused features. Before we got into the details we encouraged our readers to take a minute to appreciate that attention-grabbing paintjob with its magical colour-changing properties; but there’s more to the Aspero than just good looks, as we highlighted, Cervelo’s gravel bike has been around for a couple of seasons now and during that time has quickly gained a reputation as a gravel bike with its sights set firmly on speed, efficiency and performance.

Cervelo Aspero-5 Force eTap AXS

 

How best to describe the Cervelo S5 Disc Ultegra Di2 aero road bike which we featured at the end of August? One of our work colleagues probably put it best – ‘Tron called, he wants his bike back’. It was a fair comment; this stunning bike looked like something from a science fiction film, with the Cervelo S5 standing out from the crowd thanks to its unique looks which were a result of some very thorough design development and testing in the wind tunnel and in real world conditions.

Cervelo S5 Disc Ultegra Di2

 

At the start of September ‘Fast Bike Friday’ checked out a bike that was launched in early summer and quickly garnered a lot of attention thanks to its stunning looks and its unique suspension configuration; the Cannondale Jekyll 1 2022 was a long-travel mountain bike aimed at super-fast Enduro racers and trail riders who love to push the boundaries and conquer steep, tight, technical singletrack and wide-open super-fast tracks peppered with high-speed berms and huge gap jumps.

Cannondale Jekyll 1

 

Our Fast Bike Friday feature focused on the Cube Stereo 150 C:68 TM next; a capable hardcore 29er full suspension bike aimed squarely at aggressive trail riding and Enduro racing. It’s fair to say that Cube like a long model name, squeezing in all of the bike’s vital stats into a title to indicate what the bike is all about. So what exactly did we have here? Well, Stereo is their full suspension trail bike platform, 150 denotes the amount of the rear travel you get  – 150mm (with 160mm upfront), C:68 is Cube’s high-grade carbon fibre frame material and TM indicates that this bike has been tuned to be a no-holds-barred trail bike thanks to its high-performance suspension, brakes and durable wheels as well as a modified trail-focused cockpit, dropper seatpost and efficient 1x transmission.

Cube Stereo 150 C:68 TM

 

In mid-September we celebrated the arrival of Scott bikes at Wheelbase by taking a detailed look at the super-stylish, innovative Scott Spark RC Team Issue AXS full-suspension cross-country mountain bike with its unique internal rear shock and progressive geometry; a bike that had already garnered a considerable amount of attention from the cycling industry press and wider mountain bike community thanks to that original suspension configuration. Scott UK had a whole fleet of the all-new 2022 Spark RC Team Issue AXS bikes available for staff training with their retailers and upcoming demo events with the public around the UK. Josh, Scott’s Northern Area Sales Manager (and super-fit racer) joined us at Wheelbase Lake District on a beautiful, sunny evening to run through the technical aspects of the Spark RC Team Issue AXS bike and to ride with us on some of our best local trails so that we could all get a real feel for this new bike. Needless to say I was particularly excited to ride this full-suspension cross-country mountain bike after all of the recent industry chat around it.

Scott Spark RC Team Issue AXS

 

Our next Fast Bike Friday feature focused firmly on speed and aerodynamic efficiency with the Pinarello Prince Disc Ultegra road bike in the spotlight. Available in several different guises that particular model featured Shimano’s brilliantly functional Ultegra 11-Speed mechanical groupset, powerful flat-mount hydraulic disc brakes and a pair superlight Mavic Ksyrium Elite UST wheels.

Pinarello Prince Disc Ultegra

 

The first Fast Bike Friday feature of October looked at the Atlas 6.7, a versatile mile-munching gravel bike from German brand Focus which, thanks to some clever geometry tweaks and intelligent equipment specification, is equally at home flying through tight singletrack at speed as it is taking on endless miles of gravel, fully laden with bike-packing equipment.

Focus Atlas 6.7

 

We looked at the stunning Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod Disc Red eTap AXS road bike  next; in a quirky and rather fetching metallic glitter Lavender colour set off with retro-cool tanwall tyres and featuring SRAM’s cutting edge Red eTap AXS wireless electronic 12-speed groupset this road bike garnered a lot of attention on the showroom floor. Don’t get it twisted though, this road bike was not all style and no substance; with a rich racing heritage the SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod is packed full of innovation and technology which has been proven at the highest levels of competition.

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod Disc Red eTap AXS

 

Next up Fast Bike Friday went into full-on gravity mode with the Cube Two15 Race downhill mountain bike. Despite the rapid growth of Enduro racing and the ongoing development of versatile Enduro and Trail bikes which prove popular with the masses there’s still a demand for race-ready downhill bikes that can take on a season’s campaign on the most demanding race tracks out there. For a privateer downhiller, racing on a tight budget then a bike like the Two15 Race is the ideal racing companion; spec’d with everything you’d expect from an out-of-the-box race-ready machine.

Cube Two15 Race

 

This Ibis Ripmo AF comes to us as a build kit, giving one of our lucky workshop technicians the opportunity to custom build this capable trail bike. Fast Bike Friday were on hand to not only shoot and write about this Californian full-susser but film the build process too. Watch the video and read the feature to get a better understanding of what the Ibis Ripmo AF trail bike is all about.

Ibis Ripmo AF

 

At the end of October we were back on the gravel with the stunning Grevil Ekar from premium Italian brand Pinarello; Fast Bike Friday advised you to leave your bike-packing luggage and camping mug at home because this gravel bike was built to be super-fast and fun, being more focused on aerodynamics and speedy agility thanks to its aero-angles and large volume 650B wheel and tyre configuration.

Pinarello Grevil Ekar

 

Our next Fast Bike Friday feature looked at a super-hot, cutting-edge gravel bike from premium Swiss bike brand BMC. The URS One Apex 1 was described as equal parts ‘fast and fun’ with a superlight carbon frame boasting BMC’s unique and cleverly engineered Micro Travel Technology for enhanced comfort, combined with some sophisticated angular tube-profiling which increases stiffness and pedaling efficiency.

BMC URS One Apex 1

 

Fast Bike Friday cast their eyes over the truly drool-worthy Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX cyclocross bike next, with its stunning ‘Purple Haze’ paintjob and no-nonsense cyclocross-specific components. As ridden by our very own Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli cyclocross team at races all over the UK including the National Trophy Cyclocross series, the all-new SuperSix EVO CX launched in August this year and marked a significant change in Cannondale’s cyclocross line-up, with the older Supercross being succeeded by this more versatile ‘cross bike.

Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX

 

Fast Bike Friday looked at something a little different, which initially needed a little explaining; the BMC Roadmachine X One was part-road-bike (the clue’s in the title after-all) and part-gravel-bike. During the unboxing and bike-build process it got our workshop technicians talking; is this a versatile road bike with some off-road capability? Or a super-fast gravel bike which doesn’t hold you back when you hit the smoother roads?

BMC Roadmachine X One

 

In December we took a detailed look at a super-light cross-country racing machine from Trek. The Procaliber 9.8 is a fast carbon fibre hardtail MTB and is very much the lightest and fastest mountain bike in Trek’s large range of cross-country-focused race bikes. The Procaliber has been an established model in Trek’s MTB model range for a number of years but it has seen some significant changes for this new-gen Procaliber.

Trek Procaliber 9.8

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Keep up to date with our Fast Bike Friday collection, showcasing the very hottest bikes at Wheelbase. Updated every week, you can see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

So where to start with this one, the beginning is usually a good start and not to mention it is the most wonderful ride of the year! Many will agree.

So what is the Santa ride may you ask! Well, it’s an annual charity ride from the Eagle and Child Inn situated in Staveley, a cycling friendly pub come bed and breakfast which welcomes muddy tyres, boots and paws! Serving hearty food and also local ales.

So what does the Santa ride involve I hear you ask. Well, there does seem to be a dress code and it that is made up of either a Santa costume or anything associated with Christmas, there was around 50 plus Santas and I lost count of how many reindeer were riding bikes! Talented reindeer to say the least!

The ride starts from the eagle and child, pedalling north towards Kentmere. The weather couldn’t of been better. A cool clear night with a full moon illuminating the fells beyond. Absolutely bliss.

The ride climbs up Hall Lane, a B road that inevitably turns into a bridleway half way up. This is a steep pull and one that got santas legs well and truly warmed up by the time we reached the gate to head across part of the Fell called green quarter. Here you pass through a couple of becks, for those of you that are not familiar with the Cumbrian or northern dialect a beck is described the common term for a brook in northern areas, beck often refers, in literature, to a brook with a stony bed or following a rugged course, typical of such areas.

After slipping and sliding down the fell it was back to the road for the mile or so to Kentmere village hall for half way refreshments. I have failed to mention up till this point that this ride was for a 6:30pm start off so it was all done on the dark and everyone lit up like Christmas trees. Refuelled and ready for the second leg is was done to Kentmere Hall to the climb up the descent that all us Wheelbasers love flying down usually.

From the top it’s a smooth flowing ride to the top of our other favourite descent of another local ride of 3 rivers this ride gets its name from crossing 3 rivers, park beck, black beck and Nuttera beck.

Now, I’m usually one for keeping in the reigns but I know this descent relatively well so I thought there’s generally no alternative but to just send it and have some fun however with its being a grassy trail for the first third of the funny there was plenty of sideways action, plenty to keep you busy on the bars. The remainder is a shale track which flows super fast and is plenty of fun even in the dark!

Once the fun was over it was a short road ride back to the pub for refreshments and a well deserved pint or two!

Written by Andrew Barlow

Photos by Andrew Barlow

It’s Fast Bike Friday! This week we’re casting an eye over a super-slippery aero road bike that’s already proved itself in winning moves at races including the prestigious Giro d’Italia. The aero-efficient Cube Litening C:68X SL was piloted to victory on Stage 3 of this year’s Giro by Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert rider Taco van der Hoorn after he took an extremely close win, holding off the bunch sprint behind him to take the win after an audacious all-day breakaway. So if we wanted proof that this top-of-the-range carbon aero road bike from Cube can hold its speed over long distances and is able to cut through the air efficiently then we’ve already got it; now let’s take a closer look at what makes this bike so fast…

The super-slippery Litening C:68X SL has been designed to be as aerodynamic as possible.

 

In the pursuit of pure and sustained speed the engineering team at Cube wrote themselves a very simple brief – make the Litening’s frame, fork, seatpost, integrated bar and stem as slippery as possible through the air. To do this Cube spent endless hours number crunching and using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) backed up by extensive wind tunnel testing each and every component-part of this road bike’s chassis. This painstaking process paid off with the Cube engineers reporting a 30% improvement in drag reduction compared to the Litening’s predecessor. As our Giro d’Italia stage winner has already proved, in a world of marginal gains that’s enough to make the Litening C:68X SL a genuine breakaway machine.

The iridescent finish on the Litening C:68X SL is something to behold.

 

The iridescent finish on the Litening C:68X SL is something to behold; as you move around the bike the colour appears to move over the bike. With a slightly translucent finish you’re able to see the carbon fibre weave throughout the frame and can’t help noticing the beauty and sophistication of how the frame has been crafted. C:68X is Cube’s premium carbon fibre which magically blends strength and low weight in one brilliant material. C:68X sees a dramatic reduction in the amount of resin used in production, bringing down the level to just 32%. The texture of the resin was improved too, adding nanoparticles to help make it stronger and then the Cube engineers cleverly specified a range of different fibre choices and orientations allowing them to add controlled amounts of stiffness or compliance to separate areas of the frame and fork as required.

Cube used up to six different fibre types in the carbon layup process to help save weight while increasing aerodynamic efficiency, with fibres on each section of the frame being utilised according to load – more materials for weight bearing portions, less materials for portions that don’t carry so much load. The end result of this sophisticated manufacturing process is a frame with more rigidity and compliance exactly where it’s needed for a more comfortable but safer frame.

The Litening is built from Cube’s premium C:68X carbon fibre material.

 

Every tube profile and junction between each portion of the frame has been carefully shaped to cut through the air efficiently. 

 

The Litening C:68X SL features a fully integrated cockpit with hydraulic brake hoses being routed internally through the frame and fork.

 

CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and wind tunnel testing have informed every surface of the Litening.

 

The Litening’s forks are equally aero and are seamlessly integrated into the frame’s headtube.

 

As is the trend now in contemporary road bike design the Cube Litening C:68X SL is fully integrated; this basically means that the bike’s frame, fork, handlebar, stem and seatpost have all been designed and constructed to work as one complete unit. This design approach creates a truly aerodynamic chassis that cuts through the air more efficiently than a traditional road bike fitted with separate components. Cube don’t just stop at forward-facing wind-tunnel testing, they’ve developed the Litening to be efficient in crosswinds too making sure the Litening performs in the real world.

The Cube Litening C:68X SL includes a neat carbon fibre Integrated bar and stem which comes proportionally sized to each frame size.

 

No detail has been overlooked with even the integrated headset featuring an aero top cap; areas of the head tube and fork crown have also been slimmed down significantly to cut through the air more effectively. Overall the Litening C:68X SL’s frameset could be described as brilliantly contemporary, boasting all of the features you want to see on a modern aero road bike; with full componentry integration, internal cable routing for Shimano electronic gears (not required in this instance with the SRAM wireless configuration), a removeable front derailleur mount if you prefer to run a single chainring upfront, multiple bottle mounts and significantly there’s clearance for road tyres up to 28mm wide to fit the current trend of running wider tyres.

Even the integrated stem’s top cap is sensitively shaped to be more aero efficient.

 

The flattened-out profile of the integrated handlebar cuts through the air, helping you to hold your speed.

 

Cube have spec’d this premium aero road bike with SRAM’s fantastically efficient Red eTap AXS wireless 12-speed groupset. The clean, uncluttered looking Cube Litening C:68X SL has been designed to cut through the air, saving you a significant amount of watts over longer distances, so what better groupset to fit than one with a completely wireless setup; this clutter-free configuration enhances the Litening’s aero-efficiency even more! Those neat gear shifters contain simple button batteries which power a unique shifting signal to both the front and rear derailleur. Moving down to the drivetrain you’ll find that both the front and rear derailleurs feature small rechargeable batteries which clip onto the mechs securely and last for up to 60 hours of use before needing a recharge.

Cube’s top of the range Litening C:68X SL features SRAM’s premium Red eTap AXS wireless groupset.

 

If you’ve never ridden a road bike with an electronic drivetrain before it’s worth pointing out just how different it feels; instead of using the force from your fingers to select each and every gear the simple press of a button does all the work for you, with a wireless signal initiating the shift and the derailleur’s small motor doing all the work for you. This might sound fairly insignificant but the difference should not be underestimated; this system benefits smaller hands and comes into its own when you’re riding in cold weather in gloved hands too. With a fully powered, wireless gear shift each change is light and positive. That precise gear shift is really confidence inspiring – with its digital consistency encouraging you to change gear more often than you perhaps would with a conventional cable-activated groupset, leading to a more sophisticated use of the gears available, keeping you feeling fresher for longer during epic all-day rides.

Operation of the SRAM Red eTap AXS wireless groupset couldn’t be more easy, simply press the right lever to shift down the block and the left lever to move up the block. Press both right and left levers together and the front mech will shift, either from the big ring to the small ring or the small ring to the big ring depending on where your chain is currently sitting. If you want to change how your bike shifts you can customise the settings via the SRAM App to enable you to shift up the block with the right lever and down the block with the left lever.

An instantaneous wireless signal from the shifter activates the front and rear derailleurs as required.

 

SRAM’s unique Red D1 chain features a flat-top profile that adds strength to the thin 12-speed chain.

 

With 12 cogs squeezed into the rear cassette there’s a really good spread of gears with minimal jumps between ratios.

 

Every component in the SRAM Red groupset is ultra-light and performs flawlessly.

 

When it comes to braking on the SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod you can rely on powerful SRAM Centreline XR hydraulic disc brakes which are easy to modulate for confidence-inspiring control even in unpredictable, wet weather and on poor road surfaces. With flat mounts on the Litening C:68X SL frame and fork the brake calipers look neat and uncluttered; specially profiled 160mm disc rotors help to prevent the brakes from overheating under continuous braking while thru-axles keep everything secure and in place further adding to the stiffness and positive handling of the bike.

Neat flat mount SRAM Red hydraulic brake caliper provide plenty of easy-to-modulate braking power.

 

Small but powerful; there’s no aero compromises caused by this neat brake calipers.

 

A super-fast aero road bike like the Litening deserves a pair of race-ready wheels to really help it perform. Adding to the Litening’s already impressive aerodynamic efficiency the Mavic SLR 45 Disc wheelset with its deep carbon rims helps you slice through the air with minimal drag; when roads point skyward their overall light weight means you won’t be held back on the climbs with these super-light wheels ready to accelerate immediately when you get off the saddle and put the power down.

The Cube Litening C:668X SL comes spec’d with a fast-rolling Mavic wheelset.

 

The SLR 45 Disc’s rim is tubeless-ready using Mavic’s own UST system; a clever interface between the spokes, spoke nipples and carbon rim means that the spokes attach to the rim without any need to drill the upper rim bed so that no rim tape is required saving 30g in overall weight. This makes setting up your wheels tubeless much easier too with the newly shaped rim bed making it easier to mount and remove tubeless road tyres. What are the benefits of running a tubeless setup on a road bike? Well, there’s no tube so less weight, there’s less overall friction and more air volume from the 28mm wide Schwalbe Pro One tyres means a smoother, more comfortable ride.

45mm deep carbon Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 wheels shod with 28mm Schwalbe Pro One tyres help to keep things aero.

 

Cube have hit the mark yet again with the Litening C:68X SL. Race-proven at the highest level of competition already, with every aerodynamic aspect that the designers and engineers have worked on being successfully showcased in some of the most demanding road races in the world. With a fully-integrated aerodynamic chassis and all of the contemporary elements we’ve all quickly come to expect from a modern road bike, namely hydraulic disc brakes, no exposed cables, a cutting-edge electronic groupset, lightweight aero carbon wheels and super-comfortable 28mm tyres the Litening is both a capable racing machine and a real-world mile-muncher that you’ll be able to pedal all-day-long.

The Cube C:68X SL is a premium aero road bike with no compromises when it comes to component specification.

 

Cube Litening C:68X SL 2022 RRP £8,099.00

Full specification:

• Frame: C:68X Monocoque Advanced Twin Mold Technology, Aero Headtube, Full Internal Cable Routing, Flat Mount Disc
• Fork: Litening C:68X Aero, Integrated Cable Routing, Flat Mount Disc
• Headset: ACROS, Top Integrated 1 1/8″, Bottom Integrated 1 1/4″
• Shifters: Sram Red eTap AXS 12-Speed
• Rear Derailleur: Sram Red eTap AXS 12-Speed
• Front Derailleur: Sram Red eTap AXS
• Cassette : Sram Red XG-1290, 10-33T 12-Speed
• Chainset: Sram Red Carbon, 48x35T
• Chain: Sram Red D1
• Brakes: Sram Centreline XR (160F / 160R Rotors)
• Wheels: Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 Carbon
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One, Tubeless Easy, 28mm
• Integrated Bar / Stem: ICR Aero Cockpit System, Integrated Cable Routing, Aero Spacer System, Garmin/Wahoo Mount Interface

– Integrated Bar / Stem per bike size – 50cm, 52cm : 400mm wide handlebar / 90mm stem

– Integrated Bar / Stem per bike size – 54cm, 56cm: 420mm wide handlebar / 100mm stem

– Integrated Bar / Stem per bike size – 58cm: 440mm wide handlebar / 110mm stem

– Integrated Bar / Stem per bike size – 60cm: 440mm wide handlebar /120mm stem

• Bar Tape: Bartape RD
• Seat Post: Litening C:68X Aero, Comfort Flex
• Saddle: Natural Fit Nuance SLT Road Carbon

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Want to see more fast bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

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For our Fast Bike Friday feature this week we’re looking at a super-light cross-country racing machine from Trek. The Procaliber 9.8 is a fast carbon fibre hardtail MTB that has been designed and produced in the pure pursuit of off-road speed and boasts a myriad of special features and shrewd componentry specifications to meet that goal. The Procaliber has been an established model in Trek’s MTB model range for a number of years but it has seen some significant changes for this new-gen Procaliber; this MTB is very much the lightest and fastest mountain bike uphill in Trek’s large range of cross-country-focused race bikes.

The Trek Procaliber 9.8 carbon fibre hardtail is a thorough-bred cross-country race bike.

 

A few seasons ago the Trek Cross Country Factory Racing team had a choice between two models – the full suspension Top Fuel for more technically demanding race courses or the Procaliber hardtail which was better suited to less technical race courses with considerably more climbing. Then in late 2019 along came the Trek Supercaliber which featured a very clever IsoStrut integrated shock providing 60mm of travel; this bike was a sort of ‘best of both worlds’ race bike that sat between the Top Fuel full suspension bike and the Procaliber hardtail. Initially it looked like the Procaliber’s day were numbered, however, since then Trek have phased out the Top Fuel as an option for Elite competition and we have seen Trek’s pro riders choosing between the Supercaliber for technical, rocky race courses and the all-new Procaliber hardtail for race tracks that feature more climbing or flat out sprints where every ounce of power needs to transfer through the bike.

Current Cross Country MTB World Champion Evie Richards chooses between the Procaliber and Supercaliber depending on race conditions.

 

An example of this equipment choice could be seen by watching the UK’s very own World Champion cross-country mountain biker Evie Richards this season. She spent 2021 swapping between the Trek Supercaliber and the Trek Procaliber hardtail depending on how she felt the demands of the World Cup Cross-Country courses were best tackled. A great example of this was during the week of the World Championships which saw Evie ride her lighter, stiffer Procaliber to win the Silver medal in the Short Track race before swapping to her more forgiving Supercaliber for the more rocky & technical cross-country race a couple of days later where she duly WON the World Championships!

Evie Richard’s race-ready Trek Procaliber helped her win a Silver medal in the 2021 Short-Track MTB World Championships.

 

Evie Richards (centre) piloted her Trek Procaliber to Silver in the short-track race and her Trek Supercaliber to Gold in the cross-country race.

 

So far in this feature we’ve sort of fallen into the trap of describing the Procaliber 9.8 as a ‘hardtail’ because, well it sort of is compared to Trek’s ‘soft-tail’ Supercaliber bike which could be regarded as having a ‘suspension-lite’ configuration. The Procal isn’t a true hardtail though, thanks to clever engineering in the carbon frame there is actually a fair bit of compliance when you’re in the saddle. The Procaliber features Trek’s highly regarded Isospeed decoupler as seen on a multitude of their bikes but which originated on the first-gen Procaliber.

The Procaliber hardtail boasts extra levels of comfort thanks to their clever IsoSpeed Decoupler.

 

The IsoSpeed decoupler maintains the traditional diamond-shaped frame geometry but ‘decouples’ the seat tube from the top tube, allowing the seat tube to flex with the forces of the terrain while the rider is seated. This genius approach utilises the engineered flex of the carbon fibre making it easier to pedal through choppy terrain helping to save your energy for the climbs and sprints. With no loss of pedaling power the Procaliber remains really efficient while you stay fresher and less fatigued particularly over longer distances making this a perfect bike for cross country races and mountain bike marathons.

Despite this being a super-stiff carbon hardtail the IsoSpeed Decoupler isolates you from rough trails when you’re in the saddle.

 

This all-new Procaliber gave Trek the opportunity to update its geometry and make it more ‘trail-ready’ without sacrificing any of its cross country race speed which the original was so well-liked for. Cross country riding and racing has definitely got more rowdy in recent years and Trek are keeping up with this evolution; the Procaliber’s geometry changes include a slightly slacker headtube angle and a longer reach for a more progressive geometry which is more comfortable and confidence inspiring at speed, particularly on descents. At 432mm the Procal’s chainstays have got shorter to help make the bike feel more agile and there’s also a steeper seat tube which helps to put you in a more efficient climbing position. Tyre clearance has increased too with the option to run tyres up to 2.40” wide, this is another welcome addition if you’re looking for a cross country bike that can be ridden a little harder.

The Trek Procaliber 9.8 features a very special iridescent sparkle paintjob.  

 

The Procaliber 9.8 is constructed from Trek’s own OCLV Mountain Carbon; this carbon fibre is tougher than standard carbon fibre, while it retains its lightweight, stiff properties it is significantly more durable than carbon fibre from other mountain bike brands. With clever material composition and sophisticated lay-up procedures OCLV Mountain Carbon has been proven during Trek’s stringent testing and easily matches the demands of today’s more aggressive riding styles.

Calling on decades of experience the Trek Procaliber 9.8 boasts sophisticated construction techniques that make the frame stiff, light and responsive.

 

Further changes to this new-gen Procaliber include the addition of Trek’s ‘Straight Shot’ downtube, a design that has been successful on other models in their mountain bike range. The previous Procaliber included a bend at the junction with the head tube which was mainly there to avoid any potential problems with fork crown clearance on tight turns and the potential for frame damage when the bars turn suddenly during crashes. For the new generation Procaliber Trek have used the Straight Shot principle to add extra frame stiffness and make steering more precise without adding extra weight. Gear cables and brake hoses are neatly routed through the frame using internal channels making home maintenance easier.

The rear hydraulic brake hose is neatly routed internally through the Procaliber carbon frame.

 

So if Trek have used their Straight Shot downtube surely there’s a potential for frame damage from the fork crown as we just highlighted above? Thankfully no; in unison with their Straight Shot downtube Trek have developed the ‘Knock Block’ a feature that’s seen on many of their mountain bikes, from full-on gravity-focused bikes to their lightweight cross country mountain bikes. The Knock Block is basically a steerer stop which prevents your handlebar controls from hitting the frame’s top tube in the event of a crash and also stops the bikes’ fork crown from hitting the Straight Shot downtube. The newest version of the Knock Block (as seen here on the Procaliber 9.8) features an increased turning radius so even the tightest, slow speed turns aren’t an issue.

The Procaliber 9.8 includes Trek’s Knock Block headset which prevents the bars turning too far in the event of a crash and helps stop damage to the frame.

 

The Trek Procaliber 9.8 sits at the top of the Procaliber range of bikes and so obviously boasts a very lust-worthy component specification. With low-weight at the front of their minds the Trek product managers have spec’d suitably feather-weight components throughout. First-up there’s an integrated handlebar and stem from in-house brand Bontrager. This bar is an all-carbon construction made from the same OCLV material as the Procaliber frame; at 750mm wide there’s plenty of leverage and control to be had on technical descents with these bars. A -13° rise on the integrated stem further hints at how Trek see this bike being ridden – with an aggressive heads-down position for racers who are squeezing every ounce of energy into their race.

Reflecting its race-bike credentials the Procaliber 9.8 comes spec’d with an ultralight OCLV carbon fibre integrated handlebar and stem.

 

The Bontrager RSL integrated handlebar/stem combo boasts a negative-13-degree stem rise for an aggressive race-ready position.

 

Keeping overall weight down and helping to increase comfort thanks to their carbon construction the Bontrager RSL bars are a nice 750mm wide.

 

This uber-light, fast cross country mountain bike needs a capable suspension fork to help you negotiate fast-paced, technical sections of the race course; Trek have spec’d a pair of 100mm travel Fox Performance 32 Step-Cast, Float EVOL air spring suspension forks featuring a GRIP 2-position damper. That unique cut-out section of the lower fork legs is what Fox call ‘Step Cast’, it enables a narrow stance and significantly saves weight as well as providing clearance for spokes and rotor. This race-ready suspension fork features a remote lockout too so when you’re taking on long fire road climbs and are out of the saddle putting the power down there’ll be no unwanted suspension bob or loss of energy.

Trek have spec’d the Procaliber 9.8 with a pair of race-proven Fox Performance 32 Step-Cast Float EVOL air spring suspension forks.

 

These capable Fox forks feature 100mm of plush travel to help take the sting off any xc race course.

 

Fox’s unique ‘Step-Cast’ construction helps strip away any unwanted weight while still retaining overall stiffness.

 

Fox’s GRIP 2-position lockout means you can firm up your fork for long out-of-the-saddle uphill efforts.

 

The 2-position lockout lever is conveniently located for on-the-fly adjustments to your Fox fork.

 

Trek have spec’d the Procaliber 9.8 with a super-efficient Shimano 12-speed groupset.

 

The Shimano XT 12-speed rear derailleur provides consistent, crisp gear selection every time you shift.

 

Ready for the very-steepest mid-race climbs, the Shimano 10-51T 12-speed cassette gives you every gear ratio you’ll need.

 

The Shimano XT 12-speed cassette is cleverly constructed to keep weight to a minimum.

 

In a further effort to keep overall weight down Trek have included a lightweight & stiff carbon chainset from e*Thirteen.

 

A simple Shimano XT 12-speed trigger shifter provides light & precise gear shifts from your handlebar.

 

Shimano XT disc brakes are famed for their power, modulation and user-friendly serviceability.

 

Compact Shimano XT hydraulic brake levers only require one-finger-braking to keep you in control.

 

OK, we say this a lot, but it bears repeating – the specification of wheels on a bike can make or break its performance; put a heavy, inefficient set of wheels on a super-light bike and the ride quality and performance will be heavily compromised. Thankfully there’s no such concerns with the Procaliber 9.8 which is spec’d with a super-light, fast rolling pair of Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 29” wheels constructed from Trek’s own OCLV carbon. These lightweight but durable wheels feature a wide 29mm internal rim width to provide enhanced tyre support and allow you to run the sort of super-low tyre pressures you’ll need to remain in control on tight, loose turns and wet roots. Needless to say the wheels are tubeless-ready which will help you to further reduce overall weight, decrease rolling-resistance and of course enable you to run those incredibly low tyre pressures.

This race-ready, ultralight cross-country MTB comes spec’d with an equally light and efficient Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 Carbon wheelset.

 

The Bontrager sealed-bearing hubs are durable and smooth.

 

Trek have spec’d the Kovee Elite 30 Carbon wheels with fast 2.20 wide Bontrager XR2 Team Issue cross-country tyres.

 

A carbon fibre Bontrager Pro OCLV seat post helps cut weight even more, although you can fit a dropper-post if you prefer.

 

A Bontrager P3 Verse Elite saddle comes in a 145mm width, features a cut-out and should suit most riders.

 

Lightweight foam grips are popular on the World Cup cross-country circuit thanks to their comfort and low weight.

 

It’s very clear from the get go that the all-new Trek Procaliber 9.8 is a nailed-on race machine designed to excel within the world of fast, frenetic cross country mountain bike racing. The fact that it’s been proven at the highest level of competition on the World Cup circuit should give us mere mortals all the confidence we need to believe that this bike will enhance our performance and enjoyment of riding and racing. If you’re the kind of rider who likes to take on long, hilly and physically demanding rides or is preparing to launch into a full-on competitive season of mountain bike marathons and cross country races then the Procaliber 9.8 is most definitely up to the job. With a super-light, stiff efficient AND comfortable chassis at its heart the Procal boasts the kind of specification you would find on any elite rider’s race bike, with no compromises on carbon components and lightweight parts.

The Procaliber boasts a rich racing heritage and multiple medal-winning performances; it’s guaranteed to enhance your racing performance too.

 

Trek Procaliber 9.8 2022 RRP £3,775.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: OCLV Mountain Carbon, IsoSpeed, tapered head tube, Knock Block, internal control routing, balanced post-mount brake, Boost148
• Fork: Fox Performance 32 Step-Cast, Float EVOL air spring, GRIP 2-position damper, remote lockout, tapered steerer, 44 mm offset, Boost110, 15 mm Kabolt axle, 100 mm travel
• Suspension Lever: Fox 2-position lockout lever
• Crank: e*thirteen TRS Race Carbon, 30 mm spindle, 34T alloy ring, Boost, 170 mm length – SML, 175mm length – M, ML, L, XL, XXL
• Rear Cassette: Shimano XT M8100, 10-51, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100, long cage, 51T max cog
• Shifters: Shimano XT M8100, 12-speed
• Integrated Handlebar & Stem: Bontrager RSL Integrated handlebar/stem, OCLV Carbon, 0 mm handlebar rise, 750 mm width, -13-degree stem rise, 70mm length – SML, M, 80mm length – ML, L, 90mm length – XL, XXL
• Grips: ESI Chunky
• Headset: Trek Knock Block
• Brakes: Shimano Deore XT M8100 hydraulic disc
• Brake Rotors: Shimano RT76, 6-bolt, 180mm front, 160mm rear
• Rear Wheel: Rim – Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 Carbon, Tubeless Ready, Hub – Bontrager Alloy, Sealed Bearing, 6-Bolt, Boost 110, 15mm Thru Axle
• Front Wheel: Rim – Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 Carbon, Tubeless Ready, Hub – Rapid Drive 54, Microspline, 6-Bole, Boost 148, 12mm Thru Axle
• Rim Strip: Bontrager Tubeless Ready
• Tyres: Bontrager XR2 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewall, aramid bead, 120 TPI, 29×2.20″
• Saddle: Bontrager P3 Verse Elite, Stainless Steel Rails, 145mm Width
• Seatpost: Bontrager Pro OCLV Carbon 31.6mm, 0mm Offset, 330mm length – SML, 400mm length – M, ML, L, XL, XXL

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

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The weekend of the 11^th and 12^th of December saw the 5^th and penultimate round of the National Trophy Cyclocross take place at the Cyclopark cycling centre in Crawley, Kent. With a final chance in 2021 to consolidate his high placing overall before the short Christmas break our star racer Rory McGuire came into Round 5 confident following his recent win at Round 4 in Sunderland.

 

Rory’s typical fast start saw him racing ahead of overall Trophy series leader Corran Carrick-Anderson.

 

This was actually a ‘double-header’ weekend with Rory racing on the Saturday at the Clanfield Cross race which carried valuable UCI points; this race, with a field packed-full of racing talent provided Rory with the perfect final tune-up before the National Trophy on Sunday. Fellow Scot Cameron Mason took the win with Rory finishing strongly in 2^nd place on a course that was tightly packed with lots of slippery corners which suited him well. Rory raced clean and smart finishing ahead of his nearest rival for the overall National Trophy series Corran Carrick-Anderson which was a bit of a morale boost going into the big race on Sunday.

Despite a few mid-race mishaps Rory stayed focused on staying high up in the top ten.

 

Jumping to the National Trophy on the Sunday and the technical Crawley course did not disappoint, giving the racers a chance to show their fantastic bike-handling skills as well as their amazing fitness. The main event soon came around with the Elite race fielding two of our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team riders – Rory who was riding in the green U23 category overall leader’s jersey and Adam Bent who has shown a rapid rate of progress in his first year of racing with the seniors.

Adam took a brilliant top 10 placing, finishing 8th.

 

Rory McGuire treated us to his usual fast start, getting away from the main bunch and placing ahead of overall series leader Corran Carrick-Anderson; unfortunately things did not go smoothly for too long with an untimely puncture impacting Rory’s place at the front of the race. Showing a cool head and a steely focus he fought his way back through the pack until another mishap and a damaged shoe also influenced his position in the race. As we’ve seen before this season Rory has the maturity to stay calm and redouble his efforts mid-race and a final push in the latter half of the race saw him eventually finish in a brilliant 7^th place, helping him to remain in 2^nd position overall going into the final round in the New Year.

Elsewhere in the main Elite race our first year senior racer Adam Bent raced intelligently; making the technical race conditions look easy Adam surfed the mud with his foot out when he needed to onboard the all-new Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX cyclocross bike which launched recently, finishing in a fantastic 8^th place just behind Rory and giving Wheelbase and team sponsors Cannondale some great representation at the sharp end of the race.

Adam was racing onboard the all-new Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX.

 

 

Elsewhere, over the two days of National-level cross racing the Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team had representation in other fast and frenetic races. Dave Haygarth our Vet 50 racer took a brilliant top ten placing finishing in 9^th while our U14 Girls category racer Elsie Haygarth continued her good  run of form placing 18^th in her race. Unfortunately our very own Masters World Champion Lewis Craven was struggling with a small injury and couldn’t race, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to see him racing in his new World Champion’s jersey.

Rory McGuire now heads back to Belgium for some more racing over the festive period; with the highest level of competition over on the continent Rory’s experiences of racing over there will stand him in good stead for his return to the UK and the final National Trophy race at Broughton Hall, Yorkshire on the 16th of January.

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

All photos by Man Down Media

 

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There’s a certain point in the year here in the Lake District where despite your best intentions you can’t be out all day in the mountains; even on the very first turn of the cranks you find yourself soaked to the skin, it’s synonymous with riding in the Lakes at this time of year. To be honest we seem to have nine months of winter and three months of bad weather! Personally I don’t mind this as there’s nowhere else in England I’d rather live.

 

Rather than bemoaning the fact that the dusty trails were a distant memory we headed out from the small village of Staveley, in the South Lakes; for those that don’t know it’s the home of our Wheelbase flagship store. The village got its name from the woodworking industry which thrived in the area a long time ago, benefitting from an endless source of wood thanks to the forests that originally covered the surrounding hills and the close proximity of two rivers for processing the wood. Staveley means literally the “field of staffs”.

 

The ride heads out on the road for a short section, around 8km in total with terrain being divided by road and gravel up to the start of the infamous Garburn pass, a double black diamond descent that leads back down into the Kentmere valley, however were not heading that way on this occasion. We head down an awesome descent to Limefitt Holiday Park, this is around 3km of mixed single track and bridleway; it’s also a route that’s popular with walkers so always checking the coast is clear before opening the taps on this terrific bridleway descent is advisable.

 

From here on, just after reaching the outskirts of Troutbeck the climb begins again from Low Fold onto Robin Lane, a well-trodden bridleway which leads you down to Jenkins Crag, another well-used route along the fell-side into Ambleside. Jenkins Crag is an entertaining yet somewhat technical descent, meandering through ancient woodland on one side with views of Windermere on the other, you can’t take your eyes off the ball for too long though as there’s some really techy rock gardens and slabs to negotiate.

 

Once you’ve emerged from the woodland it’s a very fast paced road descent to the foot of Ambleside. Arguably you have the pick of some of the best cafes Cumbria has to offer. Personally I have a great relationship with the ‘The Copper Pot” on Church Street, well-liked by locals and tourists alike. This is my place to refuel, relax and enjoy a well-earned coffee and a piece of cake.

 

Written by Andrew Barlow

Photos by Andrew Barlow

Introducing the all-new Focus Jam2 7-Series, designed specifically to make you happy!

 

Launched today! The Jam2 7-Series e-MTB from top German bike brand Focus is made for FUN; with the belief that E-MTBs have the ‘power’ (excuse the pun) to make people happier the designers at Focus are clear in their intent – ‘we don’t make E-MTBs to win races and be faster than everyone else, we make them because they make people smile’. On fast downhill runs, off big jumps and up the most demanding climbs the all-new Jam2 7-Series is ready to make you a happier rider!

The Jam2 7-Series E-MTB features a powerful Shimano EP8 motor, 150mm of suspension travel and is built to shred the trails.

 

The Focus Jam2 7-Series has been specifically for the pursuit of fun.

 

The all-new Focus Jam2 7-Series E-MTB features the excellent Shimano Steps EP8 motor on all 3 bikes in the series. Matched up with the efficient 720Wh battery you’ll be able to ride further for longer with that extra pedal assistance giving you a greater ability to conquer that loose, rocky climb and get to the top of your favourite trail ready to let the bike fly downhill. We’ve previously taken a really detailed look at the EP8 motor; click the link below to read more…

The Shimano Steps EP8 motor gives you all the pedal assistance you’ll need.

 

So what do we need to take notice of on the Focus Jam2 7-Series? Here’s the headliners…

INTEGRATION

SUSPENSION

STRENGTH & DURABILITY

GEOMETRY

INTEGRATION

Focus wanted to spec the most efficient E-MTB battery possible to help prevent any potential for ‘range-anxiety’ out on the trail; the 720WH internal battery is neatly integrated into the Jam2’s down tube and is easy to remove giving you the option of charging it either on or off the bike. With storage solutions being a hot topic in mountain biking right now Focus have created a handy way of carrying a tube, mini pump and CO2 inflator with their small tool bag which is securely located via bolt-on-bosses between the top tube and down tube.

Focus have squeezed a super-efficient 720WH internal battery into the Jam2 7-Series and have included a handy tool bag fitted securely to the frame.

 

With an eye on integration for tech, Focus have included a USB-C charging port located on the bike’s main power switch allowing you to charge up your smart phone or GPS unit while you’re on the go. Another nice detail includes a neat little kickstand adapter; we’re increasingly finding that an E-MTB like this is difficult to park up securely at the trail centre café without the potential for it to topple over and although a kickstand can be seen as a little ‘Euro’ in its spec this will be a popular addition with a fair portion of our customers.

A USB-C port gives you the flexibility to charge your smart phone or GPS unit on the go.

 

Focus’ C.I.S. configuration has already been seen on a number of their mountain bikes and it was a no-brainer including it on the Jam2 7-Series too. All of the cables from the handlebar controls (disc brake hoses, gear cable, dropper post cable and E-MTB controller cable) are housed neatly through the stem and into the headset and frame above the battery department in the downtube. This setup looks great but offers some performance advantages too when it comes to preventing any potential for cables to get snagged in the inevitable tumbles you’ll be taking off-road. With the addition of the neat tool bag there’s less need to carry a bulky Camelbak-style pack; factor in a bottle cage too and there’s really no reason to be carrying extra bulk. With space at a premium within the frame Focus have created a specific bottle cage adapter that allows you to squeeze in a water bottle without any interference with the bike’s piggyback air shock.

We’re seeing Focus’ C.I.S. configuration on more and more of their bikes and it’s a nice addition to the Sam2 7-Series.

 

SUSPENSION

At the heart of the Jam2 7-Series suspension configuration is Focus’ F.O.L.D. design principle; Their propriety F.O.L.D. (Focus Optimised Linkage Design) suspension kinematic is already seen on their other Enduro, All-Mountain, Trail and Cross Country full-suspension mountain bikes and is setup so that the suspension effectively has 2 phases of travel. In the first phase of its travel the Jam2’s suspension responds sensitively to even the smallest obstacles. In the second phase of its travel the suspension curve is more progressive to cope with stronger impacts. The air shocks spec’d on the Jam2 7-Series have been specifically tuned to get the best out of the F.O.L.D. suspension kinematic. This suspension configuration suits all skill-levels, with more experienced riders enjoying the active feel of the bike while less experienced riders will benefit from the feeling of greater control.

The F.O.L.D. suspension kinematic is already well-proven on other full-suspension bikes in the Focus range.

 

STRENGTH & DURABILITY

Strength and durability are key considerations when designing and constructing E-MTBs, it’s a constant battle between balancing overall weight with the capacity to withstand the extra forces incurred from both the bike’s motor and the type of riding that this sort of E-MTB encourages you to do. All Jam2 7-Series bikes have been approved for a system weight of 150kg without any compromises to strength and durability. When it comes to component choices and factoring the extra demands of E-MTBing Focus don’t shy away from undertaking rigorous testing before the final spec is agreed; wheelsets, forks and seatposts undergo extreme stress test to meet that 150kg approval. Improvements over previous incarnations of their E-MTBs include suspension forks with bigger stanchions and reinforces spokes, nipples and cassette bodies on their wheelsets. With strength and durability at the core of their design brief Focus have paid special attention to the bearings used in the suspension linkage; with the high loads that they have to withstand and the unpredictable elements that the Jam2 will encounter they’ve spec’d double-sealed bearings that can stand up to mud, dirt and water ingress with no problems.

Focus recognise the extra demands put onto an E-MTB and its components and ensure they spec suitably durable parts.

 

GEOMETRY

The Focus Jam2 7-Series E-MTB boasts the kind of trail-focused geometry that we have all quickly grown to expect on aggressive 150mm-travel bikes like this. We’re also seeing an increasing trend in bikes like this featuring more adjustability allowing you to fine tune the bike’s geometry to suit you, your style of riding and the type of terrain you commonly ride. The Jam2 features a ‘FLIP CHIP’ which is quick and easy to adjust and provides you with two geometry options; in ‘HIGH’ your Jam2 will feel more nimble and playful making it ideal for tight singletrack trails, in ‘LOW’ position your Jam2 will feel more stable and will handle fast, rough trails better.

Geometry Options:

Nimble Ride (HIGH Flip Chip setting)
65,5° Head Tube Angle
76,5° Seat Tube Angle
446,5mm Chainstay
19,5mm BB Drop

Stable Ride (LOW Flip Chip setting)
65° Head Tube Angle
76° Seat Tube Angle
448mm Chainstay
20mm BB Drop

The Jam2’s FLIP CHIP is quick and easy to adjust and allows you to fine-tune how the bike rides.

 

Geometry changes place the rider in a more centred position for improved downhill and uphill performance.

 

Living up to the cliché of German brands always striving for engineering excellence the Jam2 features a number of nice little design details worth noting…

• Water Bottle Up To 750ML: From size medium upwards all Jam2 7-Series E-MTBS can accommodate a large 750ml water bottle
• Frame Protection Kit: All Focus bikes come with a frame protection kit to help prevent damage from flying rocks
• UDH Rear Derailleur Hanger: The Jam2 features a universal derailleur hanger (UDH) which means that you’ll be able to get a replacement one quickly and easily should you snap one
• Fork Bumper: Focus have spec’d a fork bumper on the downtube of the Jam2 to prevent any potential damage from the handlebars of the bike making contact with the top tube in the event of a crash
• Silent Chainstay Protector: A specially designed chainstay protector has been engineered to help minimise any noise caused by the chain hitting the chainstay on rough terrain (a rarity with clutch-mech derailleurs these days anyway)

 

JAM2 7-SERIES MODELS

Focus Jam2 7.0 RRP £7,499.00

 

Focus Jam2 7.9 RRP £5,999.00

 

Focus Jam2 7.8 RRP £5,099.00

 

Wheelbase is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the all-new Focus Jam2 7-Series E-MTB bikes and expect to receive stock too; watch this space!…

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? You can see bikes like the Pinarello dogma and more every Friday. Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

For Fast Bike Friday this week we’ve got something a little different, which initially needs a little explaining; the BMC Roadmachine X One is part-road-bike (the clue’s in the title after-all) and part-gravel-bike. During the unboxing and bike-build process it got our workshop technicians talking; is this a versatile road bike with some off-road capability? Or a super-fast gravel bike which doesn’t hold you back when you hit the smoother roads? There was some consternation at the bike’s minimal tyre clearance and ability to only run up to 32mm wide tyres, but to judge this bike against other gravel bikes is unfair, this is not a dyed-in-the-wool gravel bike and BMC have never billed it as such. This an extremely versatile road bike that is designed to excel on tarmac, rougher road surfaces and the occasional deviation onto more adventurous gravel-focused rides.

Before we go any further it’s important to clarify that BMC have a ‘proper’ gravel bike model in their extensive bike range. The BMC URS (Unrestricted) is the Swiss brand’s full-on gravel machine with enhanced tyre clearance, a playful geometry and clever MTT (Micro Travel Technology) to help take the sting out of rough gravel roads. We recently took a detailed look at the BMC URS One Apex 1 in another Fast Bike Friday feature and it’s worth revisiting to get a clear understanding between their gravel bike and the Roadmachine X model we’re looking at today.

Way back in January 2021 we wrote a feature on the BMC Roadmachine 01 Three; this model of Roadmachine was spec’d as a super-fast but brilliantly comfortable road bike designed to excel on long all-day epics. It’s worth revisiting the feature to understand what this bike in its purest form is all about, but in summary the BMC Roadmachine is described as a road bike that’s designed to reduce body fatigue with a certain amount of compliance cleverly engineered into the frame without compromising on performance and flat out speed.

Versatile road bike with off-road capability? Or super-fast gravel bike that doesn’t hold you back on smoother roads? Well, it’s both actually!

 

It’s thanks to that sensitive carbon engineering and layup in the construction process that helps to make this road bike so versatile; it’s not going to leave you feeling too beat up when you encounter rougher roads or venture onto moderate gravel roads. Factor in the disc brake configuration with more clearance between the frame, fork and wheels and suddenly a bike like this becomes even more versatile with the option to run a wider tyre capable of tackling terrain which would have been considered unrideable just a few short seasons ago.

BMC have taken their popular Roadmachine model and given it a gravel-focused make over; with those 32mm WTB Expanse tyres and SRAM’s FORCE XPLR eTap AXS wireless gravel-specific groupset they’ve almost created their very own sub-genre of cycling discipline. This ‘Gravel-lite’ configuration will certainly suit you if you’re the type of rider who spends most of your time riding on the road but want a little more versatility and the freedom to bunny hop off the super-smooth tarmac and onto more challenging terrain when you see it.

The BMC Roadmachine X One features SRAM’s new gravel-specific Force XPLR eTap AXS wireless groupset.

 

RMX means you’re onboard a beefed-up road bike (or is a slimmed-down gravel bike?!)

 

The Roadmachine X One includes bolt-on-bosses on the top tube for your gravel-friendly bento box.

 

The dropped seatstays along with a sophisticated carbon layup in the construction process means the Roadmachine X One is super-comfortable in the saddle.

 

While the Roadmachine is officially a ‘road machine’ (the clue’s in the title) with 32mm gravel tyres fitted it becomes a very fast gravel bike.

 

There’s a healthy amount of clearance between the 32mm tyre and the X Premium carbon fork.

 

This versatile all-rounder includes an integrated cockpit for a clean, uncluttered look and some aerodynamic benefits too.

 

BMC’s ICS1 propriety stem and RAB 02 feature on the Roadmachine X One.

 

The BMC bar and stem combo is easily adjustable allowing you to fine-tune your position.

 

There’s some unique tube profiling on the Roadmachine X which adds strength where it’s needed.

 

Building the Roadmachine X was a chance for BMC to spec the brilliant new gravel-specific groupset from SRAM; the XPLR collection includes components designed to enhance your gravel riding experience and are compatible with other SRAM groupset componentry. The SRAM engineers re-focused their efforts on the drivetrain and engineered a whole new gravel-specific Force XPLR eTap rear derailleur designed to work with a single ring upfront for a simple but efficient 1X drivetrain. Sram have increased the length of the rear derailleur’s upper knuckle, dropping the cage and pulley portion of the rear mech lower and further back than their standard road going version. This enables the derailleur to accommodate the wide ratio of gears on the rear cassette without having to run a long-cage rear mech and also helps to keep gear changes more crisp and chain lines more efficient.

BMC have spec’d the Roadmachine X One with SRAM’s new gravel-specific Force XPLR eTap AXS groupset.

 

Just like it’s road-going equivalent, the SRAM Force XPLR rear derailleur is activated via a wireless signal from the Force eTap AXS HRD wireless shifters at the handlebar. The rear derailleur picks up that wireless signal and shifts instantaneously, with every gear change being precise and consistent regardless of the road OR off-road conditions that you’re riding in. Again, just like the road-going version the Force XPLR rear derailleur includes a fluid clutch which helps to increase chain tension, preventing it from unshipping when the terrain gets particularly rough.

The all-new SRAM Force XPLR eTap AXS rear derailleur facilitates a gearing sweet spot that’s perfectly suited to gravel riding.

 

SRAM wireless eTap AXS drivetrain is simple, efficient and dependable in all conditions.

 

During the development of the new XPLR groupset SRAM took the opportunity to tweak the gear ratios to better suit the demands of gravel riding. At the heart of the XPLR configuration is the simple 1X drivetrain (a single chainring up front combined with a wide-ratio cassette); for this to work efficiently and be as versatile and user-friendly as possible SRAM have produced a cassette that includes gear ratios suited to fast tarmac stretches as well as long, lose off-road gravel climbs. To achieve this the cassette features a large 44T low gear and a tiny 10T high gear with the great spread in between; at the smaller end of the cassette the jumps between each gear ratio are small to help you hold your speed and pedal efficiently. The gaps between each gear are larger higher up the block when speeds are lower and the jumps are less noticeable, allowing SRAM to go up to that big 44T cog within the 12-speed cassette.

The SRAM Force XPLR AXS 10-44T cassette includes a wide range of ratios for gravel climbs and tighter jumps for fast riding on the road.

 

SRAM’s instantly recognisable and unique 12-speed Flattop chain helps increase strength and durability.

 

The 12-speed Flattop chain combined with the Force AXS 1 narrow-wide chainring means your drivetrain is efficient and secure with no risk of dropping your chain.

 

The simple 1x drivetrain is completed with a beautifully crafted SRAM Force 1 carbon chainset; there’s a single 44 tooth chainring attached to this super-stiff crank arm giving you a really low 44x44T climbing gear that should enable you to conquer even the steepest, most-loose gravel climbs you’ll encounter on those mixed-surface epic rides that the Roadmachine X One will no doubt encourage you to do. SRAM were pioneers of the narrow-wide chainring configuration which helps to keep the chain securely located on the chainring, however, BMC have gone the extra mile and have included a small chain catcher on the frame for even more security.

A super-light, stiff Force AXS 1 carbon crank with a 44T chainring keeps things simple and user-friendly.

 

The integrated chain keeper is aa nice extra touch from BMC, you shouldn’t need it though.

 

SRAM’s 12-speed Force eTap AXS wireless shifters provide consistent, lightening-fast gear changes thanks to their digital configuration.

 

Gear changes using the Force eTap AXS shifters are easy, intuitive and can be customised to suit you.

 

The SRAM Force XPLR groupset is finished off with a pair of powerful flat-mount Force HRD hydraulic brake calipers that perform brilliantly both on and off-road. Matched up with 160mm Centerline X Rotors the brakes deal well with any potential for heat build up on long road descents as well as giving plenty of bite when you’re riding the Roadmachine X to its limits on more unpredictable terrain. There’s just the right amount of lever pull before the brakes engage making braking modulation easy and predictable, encouraging you to scrub off speed quickly and effectively when you get yourself into a fix.

Powerful hydraulic Force HRD brakes help you scrub off speed quickly and effectively.

 

Let’s be clear, this is a superfast road bike which is able to carry that speed over to any small off-road excursions that you’re tempted to make. With a stiff, light carbon frame you’ll be dancing up the climbs on this bike and will feel encouraged to ride further for longer thanks to that efficient chassis. We all know, however that a lightweight carbon frame and fork is only as good as the wheels they’re attached too; fit a heavy pair of wheels and the ride-quality of your bike can be really compromised. Thankfully BMC have spec’d the Roadmachine X One with a pair of lightweight carbon wheels that roll fast and efficiently on-road but are ready for the rough and tumble of riding off-road. With a nice wide profile those 32mm WTB Expanse tyres sit nicely on the rim to give a fairly wide (for 32mm tyres) footprint, giving you more traction and control on the loose stuff.

The Roadmachine’s BMC CRD wheels boast light but tough carbon fibre tubeless-ready rims.

 

You’ll notice the tread pattern is pretty minimal on the WTB Expanse tyres but this just hints at how BMC see the Roadmachine X being used. There’s actually a slick portion down the centre of the tyre followed by a slightly grooved portion before ending with a more raised, blocky tread pattern on the very outer edges of the tyre to help give more control off-road. That slick section down the middle just means that when you ARE riding on the road you’ll be able to get the best out of the bike without feeling like your speed is being compromised.

The WTB Expanse tyres are 32mm wide and feature just enough tyre tread to provide grip off-road without compromising their ability to roll fast.

 

The Fizik Terra Argo X3 is a gravel-specific model.

 

So, is ‘Gravel-Lite’ your thing? If you’re the type of rider who spends most of their time riding on the road and is focused mainly on speed, efficiency and getting some serious milage under your belt while remaining as comfortable as possible the Roadmachine is a great option. If you’re that type of rider AND you’re gravel-curious, with those tracks and trails you see on the road-side inspiring you more and more to begin exploring beyond the tarmac this Roadmachine X with its slightly more off-road-capable configuration will help to make that transition with little or no compromise on speed and performance.

The BMC Roadmachine X One is a seriously versatile road bike that’s capable of moderate gravel-biking duties.

 

BMC Roadmachine X One £5,700.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: Roadmachine X Premium Carbon with Tuned Compliance Concept Endurance, Internal Cable Routing, PF86 Bottom Bracket, Flat Mount Disc, 12x142mm Thru-Axle
• Fork: Roadmachine X Premium Carbon with Tuned Compliance Concept Endurance, Internal Cable Routing, Flat Mount Disc, 12x100mm Thru-Axle, 50mm Offset (Size 47-51), 45mm Offset (Size 54-61)
• Shifters: SRAM FORCE eTap AXS HRD
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM FORCE XPLR eTap AXS
• Cassette : SRAM FORCE XPLR AXS 10-44T
• Chainset: SRAM FORCE AXS 1 44T
• Chain: SRAM FORCE 12-Speed
• Brakes: SRAM FORCE eTap AXS HRD
• Brake Levers: SRAM FORCE eTap AXS HRD
• Rotors: Centerline X Rotors (160F/160R)
• Wheels: CRD-321 Hubs, CRD-321 Carbon Tubeless Ready 35mm Rims
• Tyres: WTB Expanse, 32mm
• Stem: BMC ICS1 Integrated Cockpit Design
• Handlebar: BMC RAB 02, Ergo Top Shape, Compact Bend
• Seat Post: Roadmachine X Premium Carbon D-Shaped Seatpost
• Saddle: Fizik Terra Argo X3

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

Wheelbase Lake District Sales Assistant Andrew Barlow has been out riding with his camera again, capturing the classic winter colours of our surrounding countryside; with another change of scenery Andy came of of the Lake District National Park and headed out east. Situated in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Wild Boar Fell is situated on the eastern edge of Cumbria and is the fourth highest fell in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. With cold winds and the odd patch of post-storm-Arwin snow, conditions were challenging but the views were stunning. We’ll let Andrew take up the story…

 

Aesthetically this part of Cumbria is far different to what we associate the county with, steep, slate covered scree and rough crags are traded for bleak moorland and gritstone.

 

According to Wainwright the fell gets its name from the animal the wild boar which inhabited the area over 500 years ago. But it would be unusual in an area of Viking settlement for its old Norse name to have disappeared, when the names of many of its features, such as the Nab, Dolphinsty, etc. retain their Norse origin. Wild Boar fell was named in a late-17th century boundary description as both Wilbright and Wilbert fell so it’s doubtful that Wild Boar is the original name. We should instead look to the Old Norse tongue for an original name. Another interesting part of history to say the least.

 

I would describe the day as the most perfect winters morning, frost blanketing the lowlands, sheep hugging along the dry stone walls to shelter from the biting wind. The climb up the fell was quite straight forward however it’s fairly drawn out. Ascending to 708 meters over nearly 11km of bridleway it gives you plenty of time to take in the views of the Pennines to the north, Howgills to the west and the Mountains of the Lake District National Park to the far west, the east is obscured by the fell as you climb.

 

Once at the plateau you can almost head back on yourself down towards Little Fell at 668 meters which looks over Kirkby Stephen., however we headed onwards and upwards to start the final approach up to Wild Boar’s summit. Having reached the summit in what I could only describe as a timely manner due to the bitterly cold wind, myself and the rest of the crew were almost grateful for the 20% incline with ourselves being so, so cold. We huddled around the summit cairn as we often do, sharing out sweets to reward our inner child and to induce us with a sugar rush to make it down the descent which leads on to an eventful end to this short story.

 

We come to a crossroads after the first part of the descent; faced with two options, with the first to head a very long way down or, arguably much more fun, to take a shortcut off the fell and keep us in good time with the remaining daylight hours and most importantly the pubs opening hours. The plan was agreed; we would take the short cut. I think had it not been for the wind chill of around below 2 degrees we would’ve happily taken the long way round.

 

The descent was a mixed bag of ice, snow and bog. Heading over the ice really kept you on your toes, not that I could really feel mine and required copious amounts of concentration, something that I would say that isn’t in our abundance within the group that I ride in. After two fallings off a piece we finally reached a section of fell where we could really open the taps and let gravity do all of the work, the snow capped Howgills forever in view. What a time to be out and about on two wheels.

 

After one snapped chain and a few road miles under our belts we were greeted by the smell of smoke of the open fire at the Fat Lamb Country Inn at Ravenstonedale for toasted sandwiches, chips and a well welcomed hot drink where we defrosted and laughed about our slight mishaps on the days ride. Another day in paradise, right?

 

Photos by Andrew Barlow

Launched today! It’s the new Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022 featuring a powerful Shimano STEPS EP8 motor with 630Wh battery and 150mm of front and rear travel making it more than capable of taking on some of the gnarliest, most technically demanding downhill trails out there before assisting you back to the top with ease so you’re fresh for ‘one more run’.

E-MTB technology has moved so fast over the past few years, with motors and batteries becoming more powerful and efficient, as well as being lighter and quieter too. Stood at the trail-head with your mates, waiting to hit your favourite run it’s getting harder to spot the E-MTB’s from the ‘acoustic’ bikes such are their sleek looks and almost-silent drive systems. The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 is just such a bike, with that compact Shimano EP8 motor and neatly integrated battery it’s a case of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’.

With Shimano’s compact EP8 motor and a removable battery stowed in the downtube this is one sleek-looking E-Mountain Bike.

Cannondale have designed the Moterra Neo 4 to be a complete trail bike that’s capable of taking on fast, rolling descents and tight, technical singletrack and is packed full of all the sort of features and component specifications you’d expect from its acoustic equivalent; it’s just that this happens to be an E-MTB too. Constructed from Cannondale’s SmartForm C2 Alloy the Moterra Neo 4 features 150mm of travel front and rear with RockShox 35 Silver R, Solo Air forks upfront and a Deluxe Select R, DebonAir rear shock that has been tuned to handle the extra demands of an aggressive gravity-focused E-MTB.

When it comes to wheel size and geometry, the Moterra Neo 4 ticks all of the boxes we’ve all quickly come to expect from a modern trail bike – large 29er wheels shod with wide 2.6” Maxxis Reckon tyres, plush suspension platform and that all-important ‘trail geometry’, namely a nice slack 65.0° head angle, a long top tube and short stem, short chainstays and a low bottom bracket to keep you nice and stable at speed.

 

150mm travel, Shimano EP8 motor, 630Wh battery, 29″ wheels – the technical spec of the Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 ticks all the boxes.

It’s great to see the new Moterra Neo 4 spec’d with the Shimano EP8 motor; you almost have to do a double take to notice this compact motor and Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh battery stowed neatly into the frame’s downtube and bottom bracket. The Shimano EP8 motor is considerably lighter and quieter than Shimano’s previous E8000 motor, which was previously top of the Shimano range. With a magnesium drive unit casing the EP8 motor is 300g lighter than the E8000 and includes a higher power too (with a maximum torque output of 85Nm); power-delivery being noticeably smoother for a more natural ride feeling.

Click the link above and read our detailed review of the Shimano EP8 motor… 

Toggling through the motor’s three modes – Eco, Trail and Boost couldn’t be easier with each mode selected via the Shimano SW-EM8000-L remote switch on the left of the handle bar; there’s a Bluetooth enabled Shimano SC-EM800 display to provide you with all the on-board information you’ll need and the EP8’s software is customisable via Shimano’s own app, allowing you to fine-tune just exactly how the motor assists your pedaling.

Shimano’s drive system on the Moterra Neo 4 is clean, uncluttered and easy to operate even during the heat of the most technical trails.

With the removable Shimano BT-E8036 630WH battery you don’t need to have ‘range anxiety’ when riding out into the wild; with clever use of the motor and its three modes you’ll be able to take on some epic rides, assisted by the very natural-feeling EP8 motor. Despite its power capacity the battery remains relatively compact and fits neatly in the down tube; it’s quick-charging too with a 50% charge in 2.5 hours and full charge in 6 hours. The battery is quick and easy to remove, giving you the choice to charge it either on or off the bike depending on your preference and storage circumstances; if you’re travelling with your bike this versatility is useful too.

A removable Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh battery means the Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 has an excellent range.

 

The Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh battery can be charged while fitted to the bike or removed and charged separately.

 

Smart engineering sees the compact Shimano EP8 motor, bike’s drivetrain and rear suspension all cleverly positioned for a low centre of gravity and maximum efficiency. 

 

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4’s suspension configuration is laterally stiff to cope with the extra forces of the drive system.  

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 is finished off with a simple, dependable and precise-shifting SRAM SX Eagle 12-Speed groupset with a massive spread of gear ratios from the 10-50T cassette; upfront an FSA E-Bike-specific chainset features a 34T chainring. A fast bike like this needs a good pair of anchors to help slow you down when your riding inevitably gets a little rowdy. TRP Slate G4 4 piston hydraulic brakes provide plenty of braking power in all conditions and are matched up with large 200mm rotors to guarantee you keep the Moterra Neo 4 in control at all times.

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 is finished of with a brilliantly functional 12-Speed SRAM SX Eagle 12-Speed groupset.

 

150mm of rear wheel travel makes the Moterra Neo 4 is a very capable trail bike built for aggressive riding.

 

The Shimano EP8 motor is quieter and more compact than its predecessor. 

 

The plush RockShox Deluxe Select R DebonAir rear shock has been specifically tuned for E-MTB duties.

 

CANNONDALE MOTERRA NEO 4 RRP £5,000.00

The 2022 Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 will be available in-store and online soon, watch this space!…

 

Full Specification:

• Frame: Moterra Neo, SmartForm C1 Alloy, 150mm travel, SmartForm C2 Alloy, Cannondale Tuned Suspension, removable downtube battery, internal cable routing, 148x12mm thru-axle, post mount brake, tapered headtube
• Fork: RockShox 35 Silver R, Solo Air, 15x110mm stealth thru-axle, tapered steerer, 51mm offset
• Rear Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select R, DebonAir
• Fork Travel: 150mm
• Frame Travel: 150mm
• E-Bike Drive Unit: Shimano EP8
• E-Bike Display: Shimano SC-EM800, Bluetooth enabled
• E-Bike Battery: Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh
• E-Bike Charger: Shimano Battery Charger 2A
• Headset: Integrated Sealed Bearing, Tapered
• Shifters: SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-Speed
• Rear Cassette: SRAM PG-1210, SX Eagle, 11-50, 12-speed
• Crank: FSA E-Bike, 165mm, SRAM Eagle, 34T Steel
• Chain: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed
• Brake Levers: TRP hydraulic disc
• Brakes: TRP Slate G4 4 Piston hydraulic disc, 200/200mm rotors
• Wheel Size: 29”
• Rims: WTB STX i25 TCS, 32h, tubeless ready
• Hubs: (F) Shimano MT400, 15x110mm thru-axle / (R) Shimano MT400, 12x148mm thru-axle
• Spokes: Stainless steel, 14g
• Tyres: Maxxis Rekon, 29 x 2.6″, 60TPI Exo
• Handlebar: Cannondale 3 Riser, 6061 Alloy, 15mm rise, 8° sweep, 4° rise, 780mm
• Grips: Fabric Funguy
• Stem: Cannondale 3, 3D Forged 6061 Alloy, 1-1/8″, 31.8, 7°
• Saddle: Cannondale Ergo XC
• Seatpost: TranzX dropper, internal routing, 31.6, 100mm (S), 120mm (M), 130mm (L-XL)
• Sizes Available: SM, MD, LG, XL

 

Written By Johnny Dodgin

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? You can see bikes like the Pinarello dogma and more every Friday. Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…