Year: 2021

…‘Downcountry’ ?! I know what you’re thinking, what are they talking about now? As if mountain biking didn’t have enough sub-genres already! Well, it’s worth pointing out that this term is being used more and more in-store and during idle chat on the trailside; when you start to see a trend developing it’s time to sit up and take notice, particularly if you work in the fast-moving, ever-shifting-sands of the bike trade…

Riders have been using the term to describe the type of mountain bike that starts out as a lightweight cross-country rig and is effectively beefed up a little to handle more demanding trails and aggressive riding. Here at Wheelbase we’ve seen the trend for this type of bike usually as part of a custom build where our customer starts out with their chosen frame and fork and then specs their components to be that bit more gravity-focused. Key factors include beefed-up suspension travel, usually increasing from 100mm up to 120mm, wider, higher-volume tyres, 4-pot brake callipers, bigger disc brake rotors and a dropper seat post; all of these tweaks allow you to ride harder on the downs while being way more efficient on the climbs and on day-long epic mountain bike marathon adventures.

Need more convincing? Look no further than Cross Country racing at the highest level. If You’ve watched any of the RedBull coverage of the XCO Word Cups recently you’ll have no doubt noticed just how technically demanding the courses have become. The races are fast paced and action-packed these days with races not just being won on the climbs; there’s been a fair amount of victories that have been won thanks to just how well racers can ride the downhills and technical sections.

Responding to the needs of their own racers and picking up early on the developing trend of Downcountry mountain bikes from the general biking community Cannondale have launched the all-new Scalpel Carbon SE LTD Lefty, billed as the ultimate marathon racer and high-speed trail slayer.

This new, beefed up Scalpel needed a whole new fork as the conventional Cannondale Lefty Ocho fork wasn’t going to deliver the extra travel required for this bike. The all-new Lefty Ocho 120 features (surprise!) 120mm of travel and an extra-long fork offset which gives you more stability and confidence when things get rough, while keeping the steering XC-quick everywhere else.

Cannondale have matched that longer-travel front end with a RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate shock out back with 120mm of travel; the shock features a 2-Position mode adjust and adjustable rebound to help you tune your ride.

Cannondale make a point of telling us that the Scalpel Carbon SE LTD Lefty follows their ‘Proportional Response’ principle; this evokes visions of world leaders describing how they are going to react to some lawless state lobbing motors over the border but rest assured it’s nothing that troubling. Cannondale use Proportional Response to customise and fine-tune the layout of their suspension for each frame size so that every rider from the tallest to the smallest experiences the same brilliant suspension performance.

An aggressive cross-country mountain bike still needs to be super-light and efficient; the key to this Scalpel’s incredible suspension performance and agile, featherweight feel is thanks in no small part to their FlexPivot at the chainstays of the frame. These patented carbon plates create virtual Horst link pivots, while being stiffer and lighter than bearings. Cannondale reassure us that they’re incredibly durable, very flexible and completely maintenance-free.

Another feature that’s of note on the Scalpel SE LTD Lefty is Cannondale’s Ai – Asymmetric Integration – what’s this? It’s their unique offset drivetrain which helps to provide enhanced clearance between tyre and frame allowing you to run larger volume tyres – perfect for the kind of riding this bike has been developed to do. This setup means that the rear wheel actually features less dish, this means that the spokes run at less of an angle between hub and rim which helps to create a stiffer, stronger wheel.

We love the look of this mountain bike and can see that this approach will be really popular with riders and racers taking on marathon-style races and fast-paced super-technical trails. Our very own multi-discipline mountain bike racer Lucy Bell who is notoriously fast on tight, technical trails is the perfect candidate for an aggressive Downcountry setup like this, having already raced 8 hour epics on a conventional Cannondale Scalpel we can imagine she would have bags of fun racing this machine!

The all-new Cannondale Scalpel Carbon SE LTD Lefty will be available in-store and online very soon, watch this space!…

 

This week our Fast Bike Friday feature is looking 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 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 providing great value for money. The versatile Fuel EX 8 XT is built around two different wheel size options depending on your bike size; while fast-rolling 29” wheels feature on most frame sizes, on an extra-small frame you’ll get a more proportional 27.5” wheel to help give you better stand-over clearance and it’s also good to see that for the size small option Trek have actually given us a choice of 29” or 27.5” wheels.

The Fuel EX 8 XT’s stout but light alloy frame is ready for action…

The Trek Fuel EX 8 XT trail bike is built ready for rowdy riding; as you cast an eye over the bike the big travel fork, active rear suspension, large aggressive-tread 2.6” tyres and dropper seat post all hint at what this bike has been designed to do – conquer tight, technical trails at speed and handle big hits with ease. This versatile trail bike doesn’t just excel on the downhills though, with years of experience and the constant evolution of Trek’s design and engineering principles with regard to full suspension platforms the Fuel EX 8 pedals surprisingly well uphill without being effected by all of that suspension travel. Throw in an efficient 1x drivetrain with a massive 12-speed 10-51T cassette and there’s really no reason to fear the uphills; this is a trail bike that’s capable of taking on the most demanding terrain you can find regardless of whether you’re pointing it uphill or downhill.

The Fuel EX 8 is built for rowdy riding…

The Trek Fuel EX 8 XT Alpha Platinum Aluminium frame is packed full of user-friendly features that have previously been utilised on a number of Trek’s other mountain bike models. One such feature is the Knock Block which is a clever frame defence system integrated into the bike’s headset and headtube; in the event of a crash where your bars spin this system limits the rotation of the handlebar to prevent the fork crown or handlebar controls from damaging the frame. There’s also a downtube guard to protect from any potential damage from flying debris as well as Trek’s Control Freak system – a simple setup which provides neat, efficient brake and gear cable routing through the frame; every little detail on the frame has been considered and refined where necessary.

The high-value Alpha Platinum Aluminium frame is packed full of user-friendly features…

The Fuel EX 8 XT’s rear suspension takes proven technology and designs that have evolved over years of design and development at Trek; with a bike brand that is so well established in MTB and with so many full-suspension mountain bikes across their complete range of bikes you won’t be surprised to see a number of suspension innovations on the Fuel EX that are also found elsewhere.  Trek’s ABP system separates suspension and braking forces, keeping suspension active under braking. If you’re braking on rough terrain the last thing you want is for the suspension to stop working and for the rear wheel to start skipping about so that you lose traction and control just when you need it most. The ABP system sees the brake being attached to the floating portion of the swingarm allowing for fully-active suspension even under heavy braking.

Trek’s APB system keeps suspension active thanks to this concentric pivot and careful placement of the brake on the floating portion of the swingarm…

The rear suspension is plush, active and adjustable thanks to its Magnesium Rocker Link, Mino Link and APB…

The Fuel EX 8’s 130mm of active rear suspension is facilitated by a Fox Performance Float EVOL rear shock which has been tuned by the Trek Suspension Lab to include their RE:Aktiv suspension system. This clever shock was developed in partnership with Penske Racing Shocks & implemented by Fox and is completely unique to Trek bikes; the principle behind this shock is simple – when you’re pedalling you want your suspension to be firm and supportive, when you suddenly hit rough terrain and encounter big hits you want your shock to absorb it with full-travel. The RE:Aktiv tuned shock allows this consistent control all the time; it’s NOT two separate settings; Trek use a Regressive Damping system which adjusts how reactive the shock is to different types of input. When you’re pedalling the shock is being subjected to low-velocity shock compression and the corresponding damping means the shock is firm; when you encounter a big hit there is a high-velocity compression and the corresponding damping means the shock opens fully to allow full compression. Clever and unique to Trek!

The Fox Performance Float EVOL RE:Aktiv shock tuned by the Trek Suspension Lab provides 130mm of travel…

It’s all about the details on this Trek Fuel EX  with another brilliant addition being their Mino Link featured on the rear swingarm. The Mino Link gives you the ability to fine tune the bike’s geometry to suit your preferred style of riding and the sort of terrain you typically ride; this link can be adjusted quickly and easily using just one tool. Flip the Mino Link back for a slacker headtube and a slightly lower bottom bracket giving you more stability for steep, fast and lose descents; if you’re spending more time negotiating tight, technical singletrack flip the Mino Link forward for a steeper headtube angle and a higher bottom bracket giving you faster, more-responsive steering.

The Mino Link allows you to adjust the Fuel EX 8’s geometry quickly and easily…

To match that sophisticated 130mm of suspension on the rear of the Fuel the EX 8 comes spec’d with Fox’s brilliant Rhythm 34, Float EVOL air spring fork with GRIP damper. Inspired from FOX’s MOTO background the GRIP damper uses their FIT sealed cartridge technology combined with an independent floating piston. GRIP allows excess oil to purge through specially designed ports at the top of the damper helping to maintain consistent damping.  There are three compression damping positions which can be easily adjusted on the top of the fork – Open, Medium and Firm; these Boost110 forks with 140mm of travel are built to take the big hits in their stride.

The Fox Rhythm 34 Float suspension fork with 140mm of travel is ready for the big hits…

The Rhythm 34 features an EVOL air spring and GRIP damper…

The Rhythm’s GRIP Damper is quick and easy to adjust on the fork crown…

Trek have included their own Bontrager Line dropper seatpost on the Fuel EX 8 XT and have spec’d the amount of travel specifically to the size of the frame; for bikes sized XS and S there’s 100mm of travel while sizes M, ML, L, XL and XXL all get droppers with 150mm of travel. The Bontrager Line is internally routed through the frame and is cable activated rather than hydraulic. A simple shifter is fitted to the underside of the handlebar on the left hand side and is compact, neat and easy to use without cluttering up your cockpit. If you’re going to ride this bike aggressively (and you will!) then the addition of a dropper seatpost is a must, enabling you to quickly get your saddle out of the way when you’re dropping into that steep techy descent.

Trek have spec’d their own internally-routed cable-activated Bontrager Line Dropper seat post…

The Bontrager Line dropper seat post is activated by a simple lever on the left of the handlebars…

As the name suggests, the Trek Fuel EX 8 XT comes spec’d with a Shimano XT groupset (there’s also an option to buy the same bike but with a Sram GX groupset if you prefer, for the same price). This latest Shimano XT groupset is 12-speed and features lots of innovative features that have been developed and further-refined from previous iterations. Key features of this 1x drivetrain include a 12-speed cassette with a huge range of gear ratios ranging from a tiny 10T cog to a massive 51T cog so there’s no chance of spinning out on the descents or running out of low gears on the climbs. The XT rear derailleur features a clutch to keep the chain in tension and preventing it from unshipping from the cassette or 30T chainring upfront.

The Fuel EX 8 XT’s 12-speed drivetrain consists of mainly XT componentry… 

You may have already spotted that, despite the Fuel EX 8 XT’s model name this isn’t strictly speaking a full XT groupset as Trek have fitted a Shimano SLX chainset; this is not an unusual practice as bike brands will often mix and match componentry to ensure that they can hit a particular price point and this case it’s VERY easy to see just how much bang for your buck you’re getting elsewhere on the bike. Despite flagging this up, it really is a minor point; the SLX chainset with a direct-mount chainring is almost equally as light and stiff as the equivalent Shimano XT chainset.

Trek have spec’d an SLX chainset rather than XT on the Fuel EX 8…

Gear shifting duties are taken care of by a 12-speed Shimano XT M8100 shifter…

The Shimano XT M8100 long cage derailleur can handle a 51T max cog…

A trail bike that’s as nimble and agile as this is going to get you up to speed pretty fast; with the potential to launch you into steep drops and tight turns at full chat you’ll quickly find yourself needing to scrub off speed to stay in control. Thankfully Trek have spec’d a pair of Shimano MT420 4-piston hydraulic brake callipers; these 4-pot brakes are more powerful than a typical 2-piston calliper that you will find on a more cross-country, less gravity-orientated mountain bike. These brakes are matched up with large Shimano 180mm rotors and user-friendly Shimano MT4100 brake levers for a dependable setup capable of handling the demands of aggressive gravity-assisted trail riding.

Shimano MT4100 levers place powerful braking capacity at your fingertips…

Powerful Shimano MT420 4-piston hydraulic disc callipers scrub off speed quickly and in control…

As you’d expect from a complete bike from Trek the Fuel EX 8 XT comes with a durable wheelset from Bontrager. The Bontrager Line Comp 30 front wheel features a Boost110 alloy hub with a 15mm thru axle built onto a tubeless-ready rim while the Bontrager Line Comp 30 rear wheel features a Boost148 alloy hub with a 12mm thru axle and a Shimano MicroSpline freehub (to accommodate that massive 10-51T cassette) built onto a tubeless-ready rim. Depending on which bike size you’re riding those wheels will either be 29” or 27.5” as we highlighted earlier, needless to say both options are pretty bombproof and have been spec’d with aggressive trail riding in mind.

29″ Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels shod with XR4 Team Issue tyres are tubeless ready…

Those capable Bontrager wheels come fitted with a pair of Bontrager XR4 Team Issue tyres. Trek have spec’d a 2.60” wide option upfront and a slightly slimmer 2.40” option at the rear; that extra volume on the front will help you plough through unpredictable terrain and hold traction on tight, lose turns. The XR4 Team Issue tyres feature Inner Strength sidewalls for enhanced protection from cuts to the sidewall inflicted by sharp rocks – a scenario not uncommon here in the Lake District, but wherever you ride this is a welcome addition.

The XR4 Team Issue tyres feature an aggressive tread pattern and Inner Strength sidewalls for enhanced protection… 

The Trek Fuel EX 8 XT is the trail bike for you if you’re looking for a versatile full suspension mountain bike that encourages you to ride harder and faster than you have previously in the pursuit of pure, laugh-out-loud fun with your mates. A ‘do it all mountain bike’ is a term that can be over used, however, in this case it’s most certainly true! Trek can back up this claim thanks to some clever design and engineering of the frame’s suspension platform, custom shock and refined trail-friendly geometry. The Trek Fuel EX 8 XT is equally at home at your favourite trail centre as it is on more natural terrain when you’re undertaking a marathon singletrack session and it climbs as well as it descends thanks to that clever RE:Aktiv shock. If you measure quality in performance per pound, then the Fuel EX 8 XT with its strong, durable alloy frame, plush active suspension and rather choice selection of componentry is one seriously good option.

The Trek Fuel EX 8 XT is a high-value 29er trail bike that’s packed full of tech…

The Trek Fuel EX 8 XT mountain bike is available now in-store and online…

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!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

 

 

 

We’ve got new bikes coming into stock every day at WHEELBASE, here’s just a selection of some of our latest arrivals from the World’s best brands…

 

 

We’ve got new bikes coming into stock every day at WHEELBASE, here’s just a selection of some of our latest arrivals from the World’s best brands…

 

 

 

 

 

This week for Fast Bike Friday we’re casting our eyes over the stunning Merida eOne-Sixty 8000 E-MTB 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 new Steps EP8 motor and 630Wh battery, secondly Merida have created this bike around the ‘Mullet Principle’, what’s a Mullet bike? We’ll explain later, first let’s look at the Motor that drives this super-fun E-MTB.

The stunning Merida eOne-Sixty is packed-full of tech…

The new Shimano EP8 motor noticeably more compact than its E8000 predecessor and is considerably more quiet; it boasts a significantly lighter weight overall and allows for cleaner integration into the E-MTB’s chassis. In use the motor is smoother with a more natural feeling to the pedalling assistance. Another key improvement is the EP8’s heat management allowing the motor to output max torque for longer without overheating. The Shimano Steps EP8 motor has a maximum torque output of 85Nm with the power delivery being direct but incredibly smooth to ensure you are in full control with a natural ride feeling. The motor features a Magnesium drive unit casing which is more compact than previous Shimano motors as well as being 300g lighter than their E8000 motor.

The Shimano EP8 motor is more compact than its predecessors…

Switching on the Merida eOne-Sixty 8000 with the button on the top tube brings the simple to understand black and white digital display to life. Once on you can toggle between the motor’s ‘Eco’ ‘Trail’ and ‘Boost’ modes using the slim ,ergonomic and easy to use switch located next to the left-hand grip.

The new SW-EM800-L assist switch includes a more ergonomic concave button profile…

To accompany their new Steps EP8 e-bike motor system Shimano have produced an equally compact, integrated battery for the downtube, freeing up bike brands to create even more svelte-looking e-bikes, as seen here on the Merida eOne-Sixty 8000. This 630Wh integrated battery is quick charging with a 50% charge taking 2.5 hours and a full charge taking 6 hours. The Merida engineers have cleverly added vents at the headtube of the eOne-Sixty to help keep your battery from overheating which is a nice touch.

The internal Shimano Shimano E8036 630Wh tube battery is super-compact enabling Merida to design a great handling chassis with good weight distribution…

There’s a lot more information available on the new Shimano Steps EP8 E-MTB motor system; we recently published a guide to the new motor which includes more details on how you can customise the settings of your own bike to tune the motor to behave in the best way that suits you and your riding. If you want to find out more please follow the link below; but for now let’s get back to the eOne-Sixty 8000 bike and find out more about that Mullet setup…

You can read a detailed review of the Shimano EP8 Motor by clicking the link below…

A brief history on mountain bike wheels sizes and how Merida have arrived at the Mullet option…

…So first off mountain bikes had 26” wheels which, in hindsight, were pretty awful! These wheels accelerated well but didn’t necessarily roll well over bigger obstacles on the trail. Then 29ers came along – 29” wheels helped more racey, cross-country focused mountain bikers to carry their speed over rough terrain and they proved really popular, however the 29er wheels were deemed too cumbersome and slow to accelerate for riders focused on more playful trail riding; the wheel choice for them quickly became the 27.5” option – basically the best of both worlds – faster rolling than a 26” wheel but still more agile and easier to accelerate than a 29” wheel.

For while that’s how things stayed with most hardtails and cross-country-focused MTB’s featuring 29” wheels and more playful trail and enduro-focused MTB’s featuring 27.5” wheels. The next significant thing that influenced what wheel size we rode was the advent of Pro Downhill Racers running 29” wheels! They did this because they recognised that they could carry their speed better through technical terrain and they were particularly popular with taller riders. All of the best bike brands were quick to tune the geometry of their bikes to accommodate these larger wheels and at the same time 29” wheels became lighter and more durable thanks to advances in wheel and tyre technology.

So then we all discovered that 29” wheels could be just as fun as 27.5” and in most cases could be quicker too and those bigger wheels started to feature on a large majority of trail and enduro MTB’s as well as on cross-country-focused hardtails. THEN some forward-thinking Downhill Pros (yes, we’ve got them to thank again) started experimenting with running a 29” wheel up front and a 27.5” wheel at the back – the Mullet setup was born! Why Mullet? Because it’s business upfront – big wheel, fast-rolling over obstacles, and party out back – a smaller wheel for a playful, slightly more agile bike; this setup also suited smaller riders such as Danny Hart.

Which brings us back to the Merida eOne-Sixty 8000 E-MTB and the Mullet configuration on this particular bike; Merida’s rationale for this setup has a lot to do with the extra demands of an electric mountain bike. What the designers and manufacturers have found is there’s considerably more force going through the rear wheel and the smaller 27.5” wheel copes better with these forces. Because of their clever Mullet setup the eOne Sixty 8000 is able to accelerate quickly and plough through technical terrain while coping with the significant forces applied from both the bike’s motor and the terrain that the bike is negotiating.

The Merida eOne-Sixty 8000 features a Mullet setup…

The Merida eOne-Sixty 8000 is spec’d with a 160mm travel Marzocchi Z1 Ebike+ suspension fork complete with iconic Bomber decals running down the fork legs; Marzocchi Bomber forks have a rich heritage in downhill mountain biking, harking back to more than twenty years ago, however this fork is ACTUALLY a Fox fork. Marzocchi is now part of Fox Racing and while this fork carries the Bomber name it actually benefits from a ton of Fox’s fork technology including their EVOL air spring and Grip damper.

The e-bike-specific Marzocchi Z1 Ebike+ fork has been built to meet the demands of aggressive E-MTB riding…

You can adjust the Marzocchi Z1 Ebike+ on the fly…

To balance out the suspension travel from the Marzocchi fork upfront Merida have fitted the eOne-Sixty 8000 with a Fox Float DPX2 Performance rear shock which has been E-MTB tuned and features 150mm of travel; a lot of the technology found in this Fox shock has been developed and used previously in Enduro racing so it’s built to withstand the sort of forces applied from riding an E-MTB off-road.

The Fox Float DPX2 Performance rear shock is E-MTB tuned…

Clever linkage placement combined with the capable Fox Float DPX2 Performance shock gives 150mm of rear wheel travel…

An E-MTB that’s been built for aggressive trail riding, with bags of suspension travel will no-doubt have you pushing the limits of your riding ability very quickly. With this in mind Merida have spec’d their own Expert TR cable-activated dropper post so that you’ll be able to get the saddle out of the way and move more freely around the bike when you hit those steep arse-over-the-back-of-the-bike descents. The dropper post is activated by a neat Shimano lever on the left of the handlebar; sitting under the bar away from the digital motor shifter it’s easy to activate in the heat of the moment but doesn’t get in the way when you’re toggling through the Shimano EP8 motor modes.

Merida have spec’d their own Expert TR cable-activated dropper post…

You probably won’t be surprised to see a bike of this calibre being spec’d with some of the best Shimano MTB components available. The eOne-Sixty 8000 features Shimano’s 12 speed XT groupset which couldn’t really be more simple to use and is extremely reliable, providing crisp, precise gear shifts every time regardless of what conditions you’re riding in.

A 12-Speed Shimano XT M8100 shifter takes care of gear-changing duties…

The 12-speed rear derailleur includes a clutch which is activated at the flick of a switch and adds tension to the chain to prevent it from unshipping during your ride (you only need to flick it off again if you’re removing your rear wheel for any reason). This system comes into its own when you’re blatting down rocky, loose terrain and has proved itself to be virtually bombproof on the sort of rocky, technical descents we have to negotiate here in the Lake District. Needless to say, this drivetrain has all the gear ratios you’ll need with a 34 tooth chainring upfront combined with a 12-speed cassette giving you an enormous spread of gears from 10T to a whopping 51T. Once you become accustomed to selecting the right motor mode in unison with your gear changes you’ll quickly find that you can ride almost anything!

A 12-speed Shimano XT RDM8100 Shadow+ rear derailleur with clutch keeps gear changes precise…

As E-MTB’s continue to evolve and bike brands offer more powerful motors, increasingly durable componentry and ever-more-capable suspension this type of bike inevitably gets faster and faster. To keep you in control and able to ride out of steep, technical terrain Merida have spec’d a pair of Shimano SLX 4-piston hydraulic brake calipers to enable you to scrub off speed quickly and effectively; these 4-piston calipers are combined with whopping 203mm rotors that give a bigger braking surface and help dissipate heat when you’re breaking hard.

Powerful Shimano SLX 4-Piston hydraulic brakes enable you to scrub off speed quickly and effectively…

The powerful rear Shimano SLX 4-Piston brake caliper… 

As we’ve highlighted already we’ve got a Mullet wheel mash-up here; the rear 27.5” wheel features a Shimano SLX 148x12mm Boost hub laced to a tough 36 hole Merida Expert TR alloy rim with a super-wide 29mm inner width which is also tubeless-ready. This bomb-proof rear tyre is shod with a 2.5” wide Maxxis Aggressor Tyre which has been designed to provide loads of bite, traction and control even when you’ve got your EP8 motor pinned.

The super-tough 27.5″ rear wheel with 148x12mm Boost spacing and heavy-duty Maxxis Agressor tyre can handle the extra demands of this all-out E-MTB…

Upfront there’s a matching Shimano SLX 110x15mm wide front hub laced to a 32 hole 29” Merida Expert TR tubeless-ready rim. The front wheel is fitted with a 2.5mm wide Maxxis Assegai tyre with a really aggressive square-profile tread pattern that gives plenty of traction and control on tight, loose turns so that when you throw your bike into a turn at full speed you can be confident that you’re going to ride out of it (with a huge smile on your face!).

That fast-rolling 29″ front wheel features a super-wide 29mm inner-width tubeless ready rim shod with  chunky Maxxis Assegai tyre…

The Merida eOne-Sixty 8000 features a decent own-brand Merida Expert CC saddle that will stand up to the rigours of off-road riding and the occasional tumble. Not ones to miss an opportunity to include a particularly user-friendly addition Merida have included a small surprise stowed underneath the saddle.

The Merida eOne-Sixty 8000 E-MTB is packed full of tech and user-friendly details; what’s this under the saddle?!…

The Merida multi-tool is stored in a small rubberised case underneath the saddle so it’s quick and easy to access when you need it and is protected from the elements too. This small tool is a great little addition and is one less thing you have to remember to pack each time you head out on a ride.

There’s a pretty slick little multi-tool stowed away under the saddle…

If you’ve got a powerful 630Wh battery powering your E-MTB motor it makes sense to run a bright front light off it too; this is exactly what Merida have done. A Lezyne E-Bike Power STVZO E115 light is fitted as standard and features a German STVZO optimised lens with flood and long-range beam. The high-performance always-on LED delivers 310 lumens of light and is durable thanks to its heat-dissipating CNC machined aluminium construction while its auto day/night system extends battery run time.

An E-MTB with its own power source may as well include its own front light as standard! – The LEZYNE E-BIKE POWER STVZO E115…

The 310 Lumens Lezyne front light is a great addition…

Merida have also spec’d a rechargeable USB REAR Light CG-214RG on the rear…

The Merida eOne Sixty 8000 is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when some of the best bike brands in the bike industry work together to create a modern E-MTB. Merida have taken the excellent Shimano Steps EP8 motor and battery system and have integrated it into a really fun, capable electric mountain bike that features carefully selected components that will enhance your riding experience every time you throw your leg over the bike. The trail-friendly geometry, large amount of plush suspension travel and that inspired ‘Mullet Wheel’ configuration all hint towards just how much fun you’re going to have on this bike. Blast down your favourite trail-centre black-run before heading back up with ease thanks to that brilliant, compact Shimano EP8 motor.

The Merida eOne-Sixty 8000 E-MTB is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when some of the best brands in the bike industry work together…

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!

Click the link below and search our archive…

Blog written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

When the Cervelo Caledonia launched last summer it caught a lot people’s attention, not least because within a bike brand full of more functional, business-like model names such as S5, R5, P-Series and R-Series the model name ‘Caledonia’ immediately stood out as something different; did this name hint at a road bike that was less about performance and more about freedom and versatility? Our curiosity had been piqued…

The Cervelo Caledonia actually gets its name from a street in Toronto, Canada which sees Cervelo’s head office staff riding out on their weekly after-work group ride. It turns out those social rides were fairly typical of how a large proportion of us are increasingly riding our road bikes; cycling on the road is not all about performance and an endless hunt for more speed, nowadays it’s about riding socially with friends, seeking out new café stops, exploring new terrain and not flinching when the roads change from smooth tarmac to rough back lanes and even small stretches of gravel road. This ethos has been helped in no small part by the advent of disc brakes on road bikes which have significantly increased tyre clearance opening up the option of running larger volume tyres that can handle rougher terrain. Better brakes, more capable tyres, sophisticated carbon fibre construction and carefully considered frame geometry have all contributed to producing the sort of versatile, user-friendly road bikes that we probably should have been riding all along.

So as we’ve established the Caledonia doesn’t fit in a box nicely, it was conceived on Cervelo’s Thursday night rides on routes that often play fast and loose with the ‘road ride’ terminology. As the designers and engineers on this ride tried to stuff bigger tires into their R5 road bikes or streamline their Aspero gravel bikes the realisation that they needed a totally new kind of road bike became too obvious to ignore.  Calling on their existing library of tube shapes that have been proven on a wide range of other Cervelo models the designers were able to duplicate the qualities required – aerodynamic, stiff, ultralight, compliant and quickly move to the refinement process to create a bike that hit a brilliant balance point of being durable and comfortable while also being fast, aerodynamic and race-ready.

…Race-ready? Didn’t we say this was a road bike for soul-searching cyclists focused on long social rides on mixed terrain? Well, yes, but it turns out that this bike is also ready to race, should that be your fancy! Typically for a brand with such a rich racing heritage Cervelo also developed the Caledonia in collaboration with their World Tour riders to satisfy the need for a dedicated cobbles bike. If and when we see the return of the infamous Paris-Roubaix Classic road race (post-Corona Virus restrictions) don’t be surprised to see the pros from the Jumbo-Visma team opting for the Caledonia; Roubaix is harder on bikes than any other race on the calendar, and there’s zero margin for error. In direct response to pro racer feedback Cervelo increased the rear center, lowered the bottom bracket and increased fork trail; the result is a fast-handling race-ready bike with added stability.

The Cervelo Caledonia range is split into two sub-ranges of bike – the Caledonia-5 is Cervelo’s premium offering and features an integrated cockpit with fully-concealed cables through the handlebar and stem as well as a more-compliant D-shaped carbon seatpost. The Caledonia sub-range of bikes feature traditional non-integrated handlebars and stems with cables running externally until they enter the frame. The other difference is the seatpost, which in this case is a conventional round 27.2mm alloy post. Both options place lower modulus carbon in key areas to increase compliance (comfort) where you need it most, mitigating the stiffer, more brittle nature of hi-mod carbon fibre which is used elsewhere in the frame to increase the stiffness required to be fast and responsive to pedaling input.

Some fast facts…

• Caledonia-5 sub-range features fully integrated bar / stem with concealed cables
• Caledonia-5 sub-range includes D-shaped carbon seatpost
• Caledonia sub-range features conventional bar stem and external cables
• Caledonia subrange includes conventional alloy 27.2mm seatpost
• 34mm Max tyre clearance
• 31mm Max trye clearance with mudguards
• All frames feature removeable mudguard mounts
• Mounting point for top tube bag (Caledonia sub-range only)

 

You can find out more about each model in the Caledonia range by hitting the links below. Want to read all about the stunning Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS? Scroll down for a full write-up along with some great bike pics from our photographer James Vincent…

 

Cervelo Caledonia-5 Red eTap AXS

Cervelo Caledonia-5 Dura Ace Di2

Cervelo Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS

Cervelo Caledonia-5 Ultegra Di2

Cervelo Caledonia-5 Ultegra

Cervelo Caledonia Ultegra Di2

Cervelo Caledonia Ultegra

Cervelo Caledonia 105

 

A closer look at the Cervelo Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS…

The Cervelo Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS road bike sits in the upper echelons of the Caledonia range of bikes with the ‘5’ in its title denoting that this model is spec’d with Cervelo’s premier frameset featuring a fully integrated cockpit along with concealed cables. The result is a cleaner, uncluttered setup which is arguably more aerodynamic, helping you to ride more efficiently over long distances (every second counts!). Designed for modern road riders as we’ve previously described, the Caledonia-5 has been constructed to handle long-distance, high-pace rides with no limits; that means it’s a bike that’s ready for unpredictable rides that have a tendency to stray away from perfectly smooth tarmac; Cervelo’s designers and engineers have created a compliant carbon frame that is both comfortable and responsive to power input and combined that technology with some very well-thought-out geometry to provide stability on rough terrain without compromising on sharp handling.

The stunning Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS with cool, cable-free looks…

The Caledonia’s clever geometry gives a stable feel without compromising on sharp handling…

The Cervelo Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS includes a D-shaped carbon seatpost that has been designed to flex when you’re in the saddle, providing enhanced compliance and comfort. The D-shaped seatpost works in unison with the Caledonia-5’s carbon fibre frameset which features dropped seatstays and a very refined carbon layup to provide more forgiveness in key areas which further aids comfort during long hours in the saddle.

Dropped seatstays and clever carbon layup add compliance where it’s needed…

The ‘5’ in the Caledonia-5 denotes the higher spec’d frameset with fully integrated handlebars and stem…

When we looked at the Caledonia range as a whole we mentioned that this model has had significant input and feedback from the pro road racing teams that are currently competing on Cervelo road bikes. Despite most of Cervelo’s marketing material reinforcing the fun, free-spirited approach to riding the Caledonia, their designers and engineers were still focused on producing a fast, efficient and aerodynamic bike that could be raced too; looking head-on at the Caledonia-5 proves just how much focus they’ve put on all things ‘aero’. This particular model is spec’d with SRAM Force eTap AXS wireless transmission so that immediately eliminates traditional gear cables, leaving only the hydraulic brake hoses to be routed through the handlebars, stem and into the frame and fork. With Cervelo’s own carbon handlebar and alloy aero stem merging seamlessly into the frame the Caledonia-5 has been designed to cut through the air more efficiently giving you an advantage regardless of whether you’re looking to knock some time off your favourite Sunday café-run or are positioning yourself to get in the break at Paris-Roubaix.

The Caledonia is not only comfortable and durable it’s pretty darn aero too!…

Clean, clutter-free cockpit featuring Cervelo’s own carbon handlebars and alloy stem…

The Caledonia-5 features fully concealed brake hoses within the integrated stem…

Clutter-free cockpit thanks to wireless shifting and hydraulic brake hoses concealed within the bars…

As the Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS’s name suggests, this particular model in the range features SRAM’s brilliant 12 speed wireless Force eTap groupset. Sitting one rung below SRAM Red eTap AXS on the groupset ladder, the Force drivetrain takes all of the technology from Red and makes it more affordable by being manufactured by slightly cheaper materials. The efficient wireless activation remains the same and is brilliantly functional as well as being user-friendly and intuitive to use.

SRAM’s popular Force eTap AXS groupset brings wireless shifting to the masses…

The wireless Force eTap AXS 12-speed rear derailleur picks up a signal from the gear shifters and changes gear precisely every time it is activated. The battery that powers its motor is neatly integrated into the derailleur and is easy to remove and charge when required; to ensure that the chain always stays in place and is never bounced off the cassette or the chainrings SRAM have included a clever Orbit fluid clutch within the body of the derailleur. Specially profiled jockey wheels and the addition of a thin flat-sided 12-speed chain further enhance the efficiency of each gear change.

SRAM’s brilliant 12-speed rear derailleur with Orbit fluid clutch…

The front derailleur is activated by pressing both the front and left gear levers together at the same time, shifting from the small ring to the big ring with one activation and then back from the big ring to the small ring the next time you press both gear levers together at the same time. This becomes pretty intuitive pretty quickly!

The Force eTap AXS front derailleur features a removeable battery for convenient recharging…

This 12-speed groupset features SRAM’s unique ‘X-range’ approach to gear ratios, created in an effort to decrease the size and weight of the drivetrain while making the jump between each gear ratio smaller for an overall more user-friendly riding experience. For the Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS Cervelo have spec’d a 48T/35T chainset combined with a 10-36T cassette to ensure that you’ll always be able to select the appropriate gear for every riding scenario.

The gear ratios of the 12-speed Force eTap AXS groupset are unique to SRAM but give you all the gears you’ll need…

The SRAM Force eTap AXS groupset also features its own power meter integrated into the chainset. Designed specifically for electronic shifting with Quarq’s premier DZero power measurement technology the spider-based power meter readings are accurate within +/1.5% and take measurements from left and right legs separately. If you were in the market for a power meter anyway this might just be the deal maker – it’s a great addition to the Force groupset by SRAM.

The Force eTap AXS includes SRAM’s own power meter integrated into the chainset…

Force eTap AXS features SRAM’s distinctive flat-topped 12-speed chain…

The Cervelo Caledonia-5 carbon frame and fork features neat flat-mounts for the SRAM hydraulic disc calipers to attach to. The overall look is compact and unobtrusive with the rear brake caliper sitting neatly within the rear triangle of the frame safe from the potential for crash damage and tucked away from airflow to help the bike remain as aerodynamic as possible. The SRAM Force calipers combined with 160mm Paceline rotors provide ample stopping power in all weather conditions and on mixed terrain.

SRAM Force flat-mount hydraulic disc-brake calipers are compact, neat and powerful…

Cervelo have worked in partnership with Reserve to spec a suitable pair of wheels for the Caledonia-5. A bike that’s this fast and versatile, which is going to encourage its riders to push the boundaries more and more needs a durable but lightweight, fast-rolling wheelset. The Reserve 35 wheelset has been designed to be a mile-munching pair of wheels that are aerodynamic but with a rim profile that’s not too deep so that you still get quick, predictable handling on your most challenging rides. Reserve have produced carbon rims with a 21mm internal rim width to allow you to run tyres from 25mm wide up to 35mm wide with a bead hook that allows you to set up your tyres tubeless should you want to.

Cervelo have spec’d a pair of light but durable Reserve DT370 centre lock, XDR drive wheels…

Cervelo’s Reserve wheelset feature versatile tubeless-ready carbon rims capable of taking tyres from 25mm to 35mm…

To finish off the Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS road bike Cervelo have spec’d a Prologo Dimension saddle which is a great choice for a bike of this type. Prologo describe this particular model as a saddle that’s suitable for all disciplines and is perfect for men and women. Reflecting a trend we are seeing more and more of from most saddle brands as well as own-brand saddles from the larger bike manufactures the Dimension is relatively short with a short nose (35mm less than a traditional saddle) and a slightly wider profile (143mm wide) to allow for better pelvis support, making it ideal for long hours in the saddle.

A Prologo Dimension saddle is ergonomic and features a short nose…

Designed to be supportive for longer the Prologo Dimension is well suited to this type of road bike…

The comprehensive Cervelo Caledonia range of bikes provides plenty of choice in terms of integration / non-integration, componentry and budget so you should be able to find a particular option to suit you and the type of riding that you want to do. The Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS is a brilliant option within that range, with a lightweight fully-integrated frame, fork, stem and handlebar setup, a wireless electronic groupset with the addition of a power meter and a pair of lightweight but durable carbon wheels. Ten years ago if we were selling a high-end carbon fibre road bike, we would invariably be selling an out-and-out race bike which, although very popular, was not always perfectly suited to the needs of a keen non-racing cyclist. The Caledonia reflects just how much the bike industry has come in terms of listening to customers and the wider cycling community; this bike has been designed and constructed specifically to enhance our enjoyment of riding in the real world, on epic all-day adventures where the freedom to find new more challenging terrain with friends is more important than race results and performance stats.

The Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS is representative of all that’s good with modern road bikes…

The Cervelo Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS is available in store and on our website now….

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Caledonia-5 Force eTap AXS photos by James Vincent

 

The Cervelo Caledonia-5 just scored 4.5  out 5 stars in a Cyclingnews review; after a six month long-term test they deemed the Caledonia-5 to be ‘the one bike to it all’. Read the full review by clicking the link below…

 

If you’re a road cyclist who has been battling through the winter, you’ll have no-doubt been riding in some pretty challenging conditions, head to toe in thermal, waterproof gear or will have been putting in endless hours indoors on your smart trainer staring at the same piece of wall in the ‘pain cave’. Well, there’s hope on the horizon, it’ll warm up, you’ll soon be shedding layers and enjoying long rides on dry roads again.

It’s not so bad, the next few weeks and months will fly by; things WILL get better. One way you can really build in an incentive to get through the tail-end of winter is to begin to start planning your dream bike, why not make this the year you finally indulge yourself and allow yourself to ride the bike that you’ve always lusted for, after all you’ve worked for it. Whether you’re a keen racer looking for a new road bike to meet the demands of fast and frenetic racing throughout a packed season or are planning a summer of long, challenging rides there’s nothing like a new dream carbon fibre road bike to re-focus your attention on riding and enhance your enjoyment of cycling throughout the summer months.

To get your juices flowing we’ve pulled together a showcase of some of the hottest road bikes for 2021 available from the best brands that we stock here at Wheelbase. Super-aero, feather-light, extra-comfortable or maybe all of the above! Each brand has their own take on what makes the ultimate modern road bike; needless to say, all bikes feature hydraulic disc brakes which has quickly become the established norm then there’s lightweight carbon wheels and in some cases electronic gear transmission and fear not, with each brand offering their flagship models in a range of different specifications there’ll be an option to suit you and your budget. Speaking of budgets, don’t forget that all of our 2021 road bikes are available with 0% Interest, Zero Deposit Finance to help you spread the cost of your dream road bike; find out more about our 0% Finance here.

 

Trek Émonda SLR

Launched in the middle of 2020 while the world was coping with the Coronavirus pandemic the all-new Trek Emonda didn’t launch in the usual way that Trek typically launch their flagship road bike. Rather than its debut being assigned to the Tour De France as previous incarnations have the  Emonda was revealed to the public first with the pro riders having to wait until later in the year to showcase just exactly what this cutting edge road bike could do. Happily when the Tour De France did eventually take place we saw Trek Segafredo professional Richie Porte take a very well deserved 3^rd place podium spot in Paris onboard the next-generation Trek Emonda.

This newest iteration of the Emonda saw some significant changes with Trek taking the super-popular model and bringing in more aerodynamic frame profiling throughout. The Emonda mixes all of the ultralight properties from the former model and have combined it with a fair share of the aerodynamic benefits seen on their most recent Madone model. The finished result gives us a range of bikes that are ultra-light AND aero making this the fastest climbing road bike that Trek have ever made. That’s a pretty bold claim from the American manufacturers, however, they have a lot of solid science and test results behind them to back up the claim and can show evidence of the bike being more aerodynamic even at the slower speeds encountered when climbing long hills.

This bike is a great choice for the cyclist who is looking for a contemporary, cutting edge road bike that’s capable of doing it all. This brilliant all-rounder benefits from the years of development and refinement that have preceded it with the previous models. The Emonda’s geometry is truly confidence inspiring; this bike feels agile without being skittish and is equally at home riding long epic rides in the hills as it is in a sprint finish at your local race track.

 

Focus Izalco Max Disc 

The German designed Focus Izalco Max Disc is a race-ready road bike which is super-aero and catches the eye thanks to its minimal, clean lines and aerodynamic silhouette. The Focus Izalco Max frameset goes well beyond eye-pleasing aesthetics though with some serious science and German engineering behind its development. Focus have struck that magic balance between lightweight and aero with all of the frame’s tube profiles designed and refined after many hours in the wind tunnel. The use of Kamm tail profiles have allowed the engineers to create an aero frame while cutting overall weight.

Despite the Izalco Max’s aero properties and racey look the Focus designers paid particular attention to how comfortable the bike feels over long distances. Sometimes the smallest details make the biggest difference; a good example of this is the Izalco Max’s carbon seat post design. Focus have developed an aero-profiled D-profile post which kills two birds with one stone, firstly it’s aerodynamically profiled and secondly it’s flattened rear profile has been designed to flex a little giving you added comfort in the saddle.

A subtle but really effective tweak to the frame’s geometry adds even more comfort and compliance. To maintain the optimum sitting position Focus have pushed the seat tube forwards so that the effective offset is only 2 mm. This means that you can enjoy the comfort of a seat post with 15 mm offset, without having to forgo an efficient, aero racing sitting position.

If you are looking for a versatile, modern road bike that ticks all the boxes, namely – disc brakes, aero-profiled frame, enhanced comfort, high-performance stiffness and responsiveness, then the Focus Izalco Max Disc may be for you. But just to reinforce the point, this is not a bike you’ll only want to ride on race day, as previously highlighted this aero road bike is also deceptively comfortable and is more than ready for all-day epic road rides over the hilliest routes you can find.

 

Specialized Aethos

The first thing you’ll notice about the Specialized Aethos is that the silhouette of the bike looks distinctly different to the type of high-end road bikes that are currently being launched. The latest generation of performance road bikes are firmly focused on aero-efficiency with each tube profile shaped to cut through the air and with fully integrated components and cables being the norm; Specialized themselves have recently relaunched their iconic Tarmac model as a more aerodynamic, complete do-it-all road racing bike that climbs brilliantly but is super-aero too, the Aethos completely bucks this trend.

Specialized say that this bike has been made simply for the love of riding; for once they admit, they’re not in it to win. They focused instead on the vast majority of cyclists out there who ride for the love of the sport and the freedom they feel while riding. By ripping up the established rule book which typically leads manufacturers to design modern, contemporary competition-focused road bikes, Specialized achieved a ground-breaking frame design and manufacturing process which gave the Aethos its feather-light weight of just 585grams for the frame, making it the lightest production disc frame ever made. The Aethos frame’s shape is what drives performance in terms of stiffness and responsiveness and Specialized discovered that tubes with subtle, elongated conical sections deliver the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio; they called this new approach their ‘Continuous Curvature Design’ strategy.

With a weight that comes under UCI rule 1.3. 019 which states that race bikes in UCI-sanctioned events must weigh at least 6.8kg (14.99lb) this road bike might just be too good for professional cyclists; for the rest of us though we can enjoy a light, stiff and balanced road bike that handles brilliantly. With key features including hydraulic disc brakes throughout the range, convenient threaded bottom bracket and clearance for tyres up to 32mm wide the Specialized Aethos is the perfect option for those road riding purists who seek out the perfect riding experience and don’t obsess about all things ‘aero’.

 

Cannondale Systemsix

The Cannondale Systemsix which is already well-proven on the UCI World Tour as one of the bikes available to the riders in Team Education First. Usually used for the flatter, faster sprint stages of the Grand Tours this bike is renowned as a super-aero high-performance road bike, however, it’s worth pointing out just how versatile this road bike is. How do we know? Well this model is used by our very own Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli road racing team which saw action in the (albeit limited) races that took place in 2020. The team will continue to ride the Systemsix in 2021 too; 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.

The Systemsix ticks all of the boxes of what is expected from a modern aero road bike; namely an aerodynamically profiled carbon frame, internal brake & gear cables, neat flat mount disc brakes and fully-integrated handlebar and stem which features internal cables that run seamlessly into the frame, all helping to make this bike efficient at cutting through the wind. Through personal experience and valuable feedback  from our Team members we can confidently say that the Cannondale Systemsix is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a fast, race-ready road bike; it’s perfect for taking on your local weekly crit or even your club time trial thanks to its speed, versatility and supreme handling.

 

Pinarello Dogma F12

The Dogma F12 is Pinarello’s flagship race bike as ridden by the world dominating INEOS professional road racing team (formerly Team Sky). This iconic bike has seen many tweaks and refinements over the years with the addition of disc brakes and more aerodynamic profiling being the most recent developments. The success of this bike is undisputable with significant victories and high podium places achieved even in the stilted, abridged 2020 race season where we saw Tao Geoghegan Hart taking a storming overall win in the Giro D’Italia and Richard Carapaz taking second place at the Vuelta Espana.

Their fastest bike to date the Pinarello Dogma F12 features advanced aerodynamics and carbon construction that has been further refined to be 10% laterally stiffer than the F10 helping the bike to handle brilliantly and respond instantly to pedalling input. Part of the Dogma’s improvement in aerodynamic efficiency is down to its fully integrated design with all gear and brake cables stowed within the handle bars, stem and frame; as well as improving performance it looks great too, with that iconic Italian styling shining through once again.

One significant aspect worth noting is the wide choice of sizing and spec and choices available for the finished Pinarello Dogma F12 road bike. There are 13 frame sizes available as well as 16 handlebar sizes giving up to 208 combinations for a truly user-friendly optimum fit. Now the only thing left to consider is which groupset to adorn your Dogma with, do you go with the classic combination, keeping things all-Italian with Campagnolo, spec Shimano’s flagship Dura Ace Di2 option or go for SRAM’s brilliant eTap Wireless groupset…

 

Specialized Tarmac

There was a surprised reaction when Specialized launched the all-new Tarmac SL7. The cycling press and fans alike were initially shocked to see that Specialized had made the Tarmac much more aerodynamic than its predecessor. Specialized already had the Venge, their out and out aero road bike in the range, so why make the Tarmac more aero? Well, the Specialized engineers realised they could effectively morph the two bikes together creating a road bike with all the climbing and handling performance of the previous Tarmac with all the advantages of a more aerodynamic machine, and see benefits even at slower climbing speeds.

The well loved Tarmac model has been around for nearly two decades in one form or another, this latest version still has all the positive aspects of previous models with regards to handling, climbing prowess and snappy acceleration on the flats and uphill sprints. Aero-profiled tubing holds the key to the SL 7’s leap in performance with seat tube, seat stays, head tube and fork blades all benefitting from refined shaping which Specialized engineers claim gives 45 seconds advantage over 40km.

The all-new Tarmac SL 7 is another great choice if you’re looking for a true ‘all-rounder’ road bike. Race-ready but not at the expense of comfort you can confidently take on a season of races with more casual epic all-day rides in between with no need to change anything on the bike. Disc brakes are so common now they barely need to be mentioned but again, it’s worth noting the versatility that disc brakes have brought to road bikes enabling you to run a slightly larger tyre to add comfort on long days in the saddle on rough roads. The Tarmac is a streamlined do it all machine.

 

Cannondale Supersix

2021 sees the second year that Cannondale have carried the revised Supersix in their range. When the all-new version was launched in 2020 it was quite a significant departure from previous generations of this bike. Opinion was initially divided as the classic looks of the original Cannondale Supersix were iconic and well-loved within the road cycling fraternity. To be fair, the drastic overhaul was long overdue and it’s funny how dated the original version now looks. What seemed controversial at the time is now the established norm – aero-profiled tubing, disc brakes and dropped seat stays all make sense and have solid science behind these refinements.

Not everything from the past has been ignored though with the bikes’ light weight and telepathic handling of the being inherited from the previous version; the Supersix now gives a smoother, more capable and much more aerodynamically efficient ride. Cannondale engineers have managed to reduce drag by a massive 21% compared to the previous generation Supersix. Further aero advantages are gained by clever integration of gear and brake cable running through the handle bars, stem and frame and gives the Supersix its clean, clutter-free silhouette.

The Cannondale Supersix is an awarding winning bike with Bike Radar announcing it as their Bike of the Year Overall Winner. The Supersix has also won the Cycling Weekly Editor’s Choice Award for 2020, described as ‘the race worthy bike thatrolls like a storm cloud beneath you’. You can read a full review here

The Cannondale Supersix is another great all-rounder; the bike is available in a large number of specifications and a couple of choices of carbon construction making it a very good choice for a wide range of budgets. This modern road bike is ready for anything, it’s race ready, super-comfortable and confidence inspiring to ride.

 

 

So, that’s just some of our favourite road bikes available for the 2021 season. You can see all of our options here over on our website and of course if you’re in the area why not call into our Lake District, Yorkshire or North East stores and talk to one of our road cycling specialists.

Blog written by Johnny Dodgin

 

 

 

Today for Fast Bike Friday we’re taking a look at the URS 01 THREE from premium Swiss brand BMC. Wheelbase have only recently begun stocking BMC, bringing another highly-desirable, cutting-edge range of road and gravel bikes into our road department; on BMC’s arrival to our Lake District store the model that we couldn’t wait to unbox and build first was definitely the URS with a lot of fans amongst our shop staff. The URS 01 THREE instantly catches your eye, thanks to its hot colour, BMC’s iconic angular tube profiling and the relaxed-angle fork hinting at this gravel bike’s progressive geometry and potential for fun, technical off-road riding.

This is one good looking Gravel Bike, with BMC’s iconic angular tube profiling featuring throughout the frame…

So why is this BMC Gravel Bike named URS? BMC explain that URS stands for UnReStricted a signature that basically signs this bike off to endless off-road adventures and rowdy riding at your local spot. Right now there is a veritable sea of gravel bikes out there, with each bike brand interpreting the design brief in different, nuanced ways; when you start looking in more depth to the type of gravel bikes currently on offer you soon discover that there are ‘sub-types’ within the gravel bike genre – super-lightweight aero race machines, tough utilitarian bike-packing machines, affordable alloy bikes with geometries that are closer to more traditional road bikes, playful burly options with 650b wheels & dropper posts and carbon gravel bikes with cleverly engineered technology designed to isolate you from rough terrain. The BMC URS almost stands alone as a carbon gravel bike that is both super lightweight and race ready while also having a confidence-inspiring wild side, unlike a lot of its competitors the URS really is UnReStricted.

The ‘URS’ model name reflects the Unrestricted ability of BMC’s Gravel Bike…

While the URS gives off the appearance of a responsive, lightweight climbing machine that’s capable of stealing KOMs on every ride (which of course it is!) it is also a very playful, agile gravel bike that’s ready for fast, fun riding through tight singletrack. How is this done? Well, it’s mainly thanks to BMC’s clever tweaking of the bikes geometry; optimised for modern, aggressive gravel riding the URS features a slack 70° head angle, a long, roomy front triangle combined with a short stem to give you room to move freely about the bike while keeping steering sharp and a slightly longer wheelbase for enhanced stability on steep descents.

The BMC URS features some really progressive geometry for enhanced handling on technical trails…

A gravel bike with this kind of geometry will inevitably encourage you to push harder on tight, technical off-road terrain. With this in mind BMC have included their MTT system on the rear of the frame; MTT stands for Micro Travel Technology and as the name suggests this system provides a small amount of travel to take the sting out of riding in the saddle when off-road. This is a clever system that was first used on BMC’s range of lightweight cross-country mountain bikes, providing 10mm of travel between the seatstay and seat tube. The carbon frame has been cleverly engineered to flex vertically to accommodate this movement while retaining lateral stiffness so that your pedaling input and power transfer through the frame is not compromised in any way. The movement of the MTT system is clearly visible even when you are simply pressing down firmly on the saddle on the showroom floor and it seems a like a really simple but efficient design solution to staying comfortable in the saddle on rough terrain.

BMC’s MTT (Micro Travel Technology) adds 10mm of travel at the rear of the frame…

BMC’s clever engineering of compliance into the URS frame doesn’t just stop at the MTT system; the frame features BMC’s TCC (Tuned Compliance Concept) to give the highest level of compliance through a dedicated carbon layup combined with dropped seatstays which facilitate more flex as well as a D-shaped seatpost designed to flex when you’re in the saddle for hours and hours negotiating mixed terrain.

Dropped seatstays, BMC’s MTT and a D-shape seatpost all enhance comfort in the saddle…

With a keen eye for functional detail the Swiss brand has painstakingly analysed each element of their gravel bike, factoring in all of the sort of riding conditions that their bikes will encounter. With carbon frame and fork protection in mind BMC have included some neat rubber fork blade guards at the dropouts – a brilliant addition that will come into their own when your bike is in transit with the front wheel out or when you’re fixing a front wheel puncture at the trail side; similarly these guards provide protection from flying debris with additional protection on the downtube towards the bottom bracket as well as on the chainstay.

A nice addition to the URS carbon fork is the protective rubber covers on the fork ends…

The URS sub-range of gravel bikes is split into two different groups URS 01 and URS; it’s important to point out that the grade of carbon is exactly the same for both sub-ranges with the only difference being that the URS01 models feature BMC’s ICS integrated fork, bar, stem combination with fully concealed hydraulic brake hoses while the URS models do not. So in this case the URS 01 THREE features BMC’s ICS (Integrated Cockpit System) with gravel-specific stem dimensions; this is an aesthetically pleasing setup keeping the brake hoses in their place, out of sight with the front hose running though the stem, fork steerer and down into the fork and the rear hose running through the frame to the rear brake caliper.

The URS 01 THREE features some slick cockpit integration…

Hydraulic disc brake hoses are routed through the stem and into the frame & fork…

Like all good modern Gravel Bikes the URS includes bolt-on bosses on the top tube to allow you to run a top tube pack…

BMC have married up the URS 01 THREE frame and fork to SRAM’s excellent gravel / cyclocross specific SRAM Rival 1 groupset. When SRAM first launched their purpose-built 1X drivetrain groupsets they were well ahead of the curve. Things in the cycling industry move on quickly but it’s important to remember that they were the first component manufacturers to produce gravel-specific groupsets that featured the simplicity of a 1X setup – one chainring at the front combined with a wide ratio cassette at the rear; this simple solution provides a lightweight, easy to maintain, functional drivetrain with no need for a front derailleur that still provides all the gear ratios you’ll need to negotiate a mix of gradients both on and off-road.

The URS 01 THREE features SRAM’s simple, functional Rival 1X groupset…

The SRAM Rival long-cage rear derailleur features a clutch – technology that was first seen on their mountain bike groupsets – this clutch keeps the chain in tension regardless of what gear ratio you have selected; when you’re riding over rough terrain this tension helps keep the chain secure preventing it from unshipping from the cassette or chainring. BMC have spec’d a gravel-friendly SRAM cassette with a 10-42T range of gears so you won’t be spinning out on fast road descents or running out of gears on the steepest off-road climbs.

An 11 speed SRAM Rival long cage derailleur with clutch keeps your chain secure…

SRAM Rival 1 chainset with 38T narrow / wide chainring is simple and efficient…

SRAM Rival 1 shifters are simple and effective; with a left mechanical gear shifter combined with a hydraulic brake lever and a right hydraulic brake lever only with no gear shifter (because there’s no front derailleur) the brake / shifter setup is simple and intuitive to use. Gear shifting is taken care of by one small shift-lever tucked behind the brake lever; when pressed lightly the chain shifts down the block, when pressed more firmly (further inward) the chain moves up the block. If you’re used to Shimano or Campagnolo shifters it will take a moment to get your head around this, but it’s amazing how quickly you adapt to this system which feels a bit more ‘definite’ in its shift when compared to Shimano which can feel a bit light; this is a good thing when you’re making multiple gear changes while you’re negotiating technical terrain and everything happening at once. Another positive aspect with these shifters is the large hoods which are made that way to accommodate the brake’s hydraulic fluid reservoir but also provide a more secure feel when riding on the hoods, negating the risk of slipping and losing grip particularly when you’re riding in wet off-road conditions.

The SRAM Rival 1 hydraulic brake / mechanical shifter is comfortable and intuitive to use…

Braking is taken care of with SRAM Rival 1 hydraulic disc brakes matched with a 160mm rotor at the rear of the bike and a 180mm rotor at the front – another hint towards how BMC see this type of gravel bike being ridden – rowdy; the hydraulic flat-mount brake caliper is neatly tucked into the rear triangle to shield it from any potential crash damage.

Flat mount SRAM Rival hydraulic brake calipers are compact, neat and powerful…

Swiss brand BMC have rightfully spec’d a wheelset from their national contemporaries DT Swiss. The DT Swiss G1800 wheelset has been designed and constructed specifically for gravel biking duties; they strike that perfect balance between being lightweight and quick to accelerate while being robust enough to handle long days over rough off-road terrain. The wheels feature 25mm deep alloy rims which are tubeless ready combined with durable hubs with sealed bearings and centre lock interface for the disc brake rotors.

BMC have spec’d a light but tough DT Swiss wheelset on the URS…

DT Swiss G1800 wheels feature durable hubs with sealed bearings…

Tyre choice on your gravel bike is all important with riders keen to strike a balance between having tyres that roll fast on tarmac and smooth gravel sections while providing enough grip to retain traction on lose or muddy surfaces, especially when you’re throwing the bike down technical off-road trails. The 40mm wide 700c WTB Raddler gravel tyres hit that sweet spot, with a very shallow square tread running down the middle of the tyre the URS 01 THREE won’t be held back on the road; when you head out onto the gravel there’s still enough grip to bite on steep, lose climbs and when you point the bike downhill you can be confident that the larger square blocks that run along the outside of the tyre will dig in and keep you upright on sweeping downhill turns.

40mm wide WTB Raddler gravel tyres are fast rolling but grippy…

The URS 01 THREE has clearance for up to 700c x 45mm wide tyres…

The BMC URS 01 THREE comes fitted with gravel-specific alloy Easton EA70 AX handlebars with slight flare on the drops; nothing too excessive or over the top, just a sensibly shaped bar with a shallow drop and a little flare making them perfect for fast road miles as well as slow, tight turns when you want to spread your centre of gravity too retain control at slow speeds. A WTB SL8 Chromoly saddle fitted to BMC’s own carbon d-shaped seat post is not too narrow, making it comfortable over long distances spent in the saddle; a nice little touch is the scuff-protection trim to help prevent damage to the saddle in crashes or even when you’re just leaning the bike against abrasive surfaces.

A WTB SL8 Chromoly Medium saddle includes extra protection on the edges to prevent gravel-induced scuffs…

The BMC URS 01 THREE really stands out within the sea of gravel bikes now available. It’s no exaggeration to say that in the short time we’ve had this bike on the shop floor it has garnered A LOT of attention from staff and customers alike. The URS 01 THREE is stunning to look at, with its hot yellow colour and iconic angular tube profiles as well as its clean and efficient integration this bike is worthy of all the attention it is getting. That said, this bike is not all style and no substance; as I’ve highlighted in this Blog the URS 01 THREE stands out from the crowd for other, arguably more important reasons – it’s lightweight, fast, comfortable and thanks to its modern geometry is playful and agile making it one the few truly UnReSticted Gravel Bikes out there.

The BMC URS 01 THREE is fast and efficient BUT more importantly it’s very fun to ride…

Check out the BMC URS 01 THREE 360° view below…

If you want to find out more about the other URS gravel bikes in the BMC range or want to explore the full collection of 2021 BMC road and gravel bikes take a look at our recently published BMC Brand Spotlight…

 

Blog written by Johnny Dodgin

All photos by James Vincent

 

 

 

 

We’ve got new bikes coming into stock every day at WHEELBASE, here’s just a selection of some of our latest arrivals from the World’s best brands…

 

 

 

 

 

Every day is an adventure with the all-new Cannondale Adventure Neo electric-bike designed to excel on city streets, local cycle paths and further afield on weekend trips into the countryside. The Cannondale Adventure Neo features an ultra-low step thru frame that combines style and comfort with a Bosch electric motor system for confidence inspiring range capability. Built to suit a wide variety of riders it’s the perfect machine for commuting, cruising around and getting from A to B without the unnecessary struggle on hilly terrain.

The Adventure Neo has been created with comfort and confidence at the very top of Cannondale’s design brief. With a simple, functional step-through frame featuring on all models these e-bikes are easy to get on and off; an upright position further enhances your comfort AND perhaps more importantly your confidence as you ride in a safer-feeling manner. To cushion you from rough road surfaces the Adventure Neo 1 EQ, 2 EQ and 3 EQ models all feature a front suspension fork to absorb bumps and unexpected pot holes as you ride.

Cannondale haven’t stopped there though, to add more comfort and isolate your ride from the terrain they have fitted a Cane Creek Thudbuster G4 suspension seat post to their top two models in the range – the Adventure Neo 1 EQ and Adventure Neo 2 EQ. Even the Cannondale Adventure Neo 3 EQ provides a little suspension and added comfort with the TranzX suspension dropper post with 50mm of travel; this unique seat post lowers at a push of a lever, helping you to get on and off the bike with ease.

So what does EQ signify? EQ means equipped; the top three models in the Adventure Neo range are all equipped and include a rear pannier rack to help you ferry your belongings to and from work or carry essentials when you’re touring in your leisure time, lights to improve your visibility in urban environments, mudguards to help keep you clean and a kickstand to help you park your e-bike easily and securely.

Cannondale Adventure Neo Key Features…

All Cannondale Adventure Neo bikes are powered by premier e-bike motor manufacturers Bosch; these natural-feeling motors simply enhance your pedalling input allowing you to negotiate the city streets with ease, carry a load with no extra effort and conquer hills in comfort. Bosch motors and batteries are as efficient as they are powerful giving you a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge.

The top of the range Adventure Neo 1 EQ features its own radar, and that’s not a typo! Cannondale have collaborated with Garmin to create a clever integrated ‘radar system’ that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind allowing you to keep your eyes on the road ahead. The Adventure Neo 1, 2, and 3 EQ models all include a capable Suntour Mobie A32 suspension fork which provides 63mm of plush suspension travel. These super-comfortable forks even include a lockout so you choose when and where you use your suspension and also feature a crown-mount for a front light (which is also included with the bike!)

Wide, comfortable unisex saddles feature on all of the Adventure Neo e-bikes; the top of the range Neo 1 EQ and second tier Neo 2 EQ include an impressive Cane Creek Thudbuster G4 suspension seat post to provide even more cushioning from harsh roads and pot-holed cycle paths. Cannondale have also included mounts on the frame to enable you to fit a Abus-style wheel lock (sold separately) giving you the potential to make your bike even more secure when parked up between rides.

Cannondale Adventure Neo 1 EQ

Cannondale Adventure Neo 2 EQ

Cannondale Adventure Neo 3 EQ

Cannondale Adventure Neo 3 EQ

Cannondale Adventure Neo 4

 

Cannondale Adventure Neo 4

 

The Cannondale Adventure Neo range of E-Bikes are now live on our website and will be available in-store and online at Wheelbase very soon, watch this space!….