Author: John Dodgin

 

The Orbea Rise M20 eMTB is an e-bike that is garnering a lot of attention on the shop floor, and for one obvious reason, it doesn’t look like an e-bike! Yes, this sleek mountain bike does indeed possess an e-MTB motor and internal battery. It’s just so discrete it really is a case of blink and you’ll miss it. From the first minute you lay eyes on the Rise it’s obvious that Orbea have set out to do something entirely different to the normal understanding of what a contemporary e-mountain bike should be.

Blink and you’ll miss it. Yes, folks this is indeed an e-mountain bike.

 

Orbea’s design brief was simple for the Rise – create an e-MTB that was less ‘e’ and more ’bike’. A lightweight e-MTB that’s more agile and maneuverable but can accommodate a full day of riding, helping riders to push the limits without conceding to an overly powerful motor and heavy battery; aspects of a conventional e-MTB that can sometimes take some of the fun away from a long ride on the trails. In a nut-shell Orbea gives a more authentic ‘acoustic ride’ feel with just the right amount of pedal assistance to help you reach more epic locations and strike out on longer mountain bike adventures; this is a whole new e-MTB riding experience and will suit a great number of mountain bikers who so far have been put off by the extra weight penalties of a typical e-MTB.

A lightweight OMR carbon frame and stripped-back drive system brings the Rise M20 closer in looks and ride-quality to its acoustic cousins.

 

At the heart of the Orbea Rise is their unique Rider Synergy (RS) Concept. The Orbea design team wanted to deliver a new riding standard – ‘less e delivers more bike’, helping the riding to become more natural with a motor which enhances the ride, without dominating it. Orbea call this sentiment ‘rider synergy’ (RS), reflecting a design approach which sees range, power and interface being considered as one.

Orbea’s Rider Synergy (RS) concept has been specifically developed with Shimano to echo authentic pedaling cadence input.

 

The RS motor was developed in partnership with Shimano and consists of the already popular EP8 e-MTB motor but with modified hardware. The unique Orbea RS firmware means the motor responds with more power; when you pedal harder the Shimano motor responds with more power giving full assistance in the right places at the right times. It’s smooth rider assistance responding to rider force with no lag or drag, just and elastic, natural pedaling feel. The unique RS firmware has changed the behaviour of the EP8 motor with a smoother power band and responsive echoing of cadence input, especially in the 75-90rpm range.

Orbea have worked closely with Shimano to tune their popular EP8 motor with modified hardware.

 

When you pedal harder the Shimano motor responds with more power giving full assistance in the right places at the right times.

 

The Shimano EP8 motor’s Orbea RS firmware provides a subtle yet powerful 60Nm of torque (limited from the motor’s standard 85Nm) so that the RISE feels completely natural, giving an enhanced feel of your body’s own engine. Orbea developed their own RS battery, creating the lightest, smallest and most discrete battery out there; because of the bike’s light weight battery consumption is greatly reduced; a greater reliance on your legs means battery range is extended, with 4 hours of riding on one charge or for even longer rides you can use an Orbea  range extender and give an additional 612Kw of power for up to 8 hours of riding and more than 8,000m of climbing in Eco mode. The low weight of the RISE also makes it feel agile and sporty, and battery consumption is significantly reduced. And with RISE you can keep pedaling for longer as the bike is designed to take you further. The total ride time with the onboard battery and portable range extender is 8 hours and more than 4,000m of climbing in Eco mode.

Discretion is the name of the game when it comes to the design of the Rise e-MTB, with the inclusion of the drive system being very neatly integrated into the frame.

 

When it comes to the connection between bike and rider the Orbea Rise  RS Interface is sleek and simple. Orbea were clear at the outset – they didn’t want any unnecessary displays, sensors, extra wires or glowing buttons; a traditional, uncluttered bike was what the designers were aiming for and this was critical for their RS concept. There’s a compact button shifter on the left of the handlebar allowing you to toggle between Eco, Trail and Boost modes along with two tiny LEDs to broadcast data.

A super-compact button shifter on the left of the handlebar lets you toggle between Eco, Trail and Boost modes.

 

A tiny LED display integrated into the Rise’s electronic cable lets you know how much power you’ve got left on your ride.

 

Orbea’s charging port sits near the motor, with its ‘Clean Clip’ sealing securely with their RS Range Extender battery (bought separately) it you’re using one.

 

The Orbea Rise M20 boasts 140mm of plush rear wheel travel, making it a capable motor-assisted trail bike.

 

The rear Fox Float DPS Performance shock has been custom tuned to keep up with the demands of aggressive trail riding.

 

It’s quickly become the standard; 148mm boost rear spacing for a super-stiff junction between the rear triangle and wheel.

 

The Rise M20 features progressive trail geometry including a suitably slack head angle.

 

Seamlessly matching the rear of the Rise M20 a pair of Fox Float Performance forks upfront feature 140mm of travel to take the big hits.

 

A lock-out on the top of the fork lets you firm up your ride when you’re pedalling back uphill.

 

The Rise M20’s groupset is predominately made up of Shimano SLX components.

 

A 12-speed Shimano SLX rear derailleur keeps gear shifting smooth and predictable.

 

Shimano’s SLX trigger shifter provides light, precise gear shifting at your fingertips.

 

Orbea have spec’d a durable chainset from e*thirteen, with a 32T chainring.

 

The e*thirteen Plus Alu crank is built to cope with the extra forces incurred from an e-bike motor.

 

Shimano have a great reputation for producing powerful, easy to modulate hydraulic braking in all riding conditions.

 

Compact Shimano BL-M6100 brake levers feel great, with just the right amount of lever-pull delivering ample braking power.

 

Canadian brand RaceFace make durable, lightweight and fast-rolling 29er wheels that are perfectly suited to the Orbea Rise M20.

 

Pre-empting the sort of high-speed, technical terrain you’re bound to seek out on the Rise, Orbea have spec’d a pair of gravity-focused tyres from Maxxis.

 

A Maxxis Rekon on the rear provides plenty of traction under power while still being fast-rolling thanks to a sophisticated tread pattern.

 

Upfront a substantial 2.40″ Maxxis Dissector keeps you in control when the Ride M20 is pointed downhill.

 

Those aggressive side-knobs will provide plenty of grip on tight, loose turns.

 

Rounding out the Rise M20 is a collection of own-brand Orbea OC1 components including the stem and handlebar.

 

Nice wide 780mm handlebars give you plenty of control, helping you to wrestle your Rise through the most technical terrain.

 

Beyond the Orbea’s carbon chassis and Shimano drive system the Rise M20 features a confidence-inspiring 140mm of plush suspension travel on the front and rear, provided by market leaders RockShox. A brilliantly functional mix of Shimano components make up the groupset, with a reliable SLX trigger shifter and 12-speed rear derailleur providing light-touch, precise gear selections in any riding conditions. Slowing down this super-fun e-MTB needs to be immediate and effective, with the Rise’s progressive trail geometry and capable suspension platform pulling you ever nearer to the edge of control every time you ride. Shimano BR-M6100 brakes will scrub off speed in an instant, keeping you in control when your riding gets really rowdy, with those classic compact Shimano brake levers feeling great in your hands with just the right amount of lever pull.

We love the Orbea Rise M20 e-MTB; it signifies a bold approach from the Spanish brand and promises a more authentic ride feel with a sensible amount of assistance and a really natural ride quality. With its sleek, lightweight carbon chassis, beautifully integrated drive-system and modern trail-focused geometry the Rise looks and feels just like an acoustic 140mm-travel mountain bike ready for fast, frenetic riding on your favourite singletrack. The almost invisible, nearly silent Shimano EP8 RS motor will enhance your ride rather than completely dominate it; the EP8 RS motor simply amplifies the power that you put in, keeping you riding for longer and more efficiently, thus making your precious riding time that much more enjoyable.

An e-MTB with a more authentic ride feel, we’re big fans of this latest development from brand-leaders Orbea.

 

Orbea Rise M20 2022 RRP £5,899.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: Orbea Rise OMR 2021 140mm travel 29″ C-Boost 12×148
• Rear Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance 3-Position Evol custom tune 210x55mm
• Fork: Fox 34 Float Performance 140 3-Position QR15x110
• Motor: Shimano EP8-RS
• Display: Shimano EW-EN100 Junction
• Remote: Shimano E700
• Battery: Orbea RS Internal 360Wh
• Charger: Orbea RS Charger (36V-2A)
• Crank: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Chainring: e*thirteen e*spec Direct Mount 32T Boost
• Chainguide: Orbearise
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Chain: Shimano M6100
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano SLX M7100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Shifters: Shimano SLX M7100 I-Spec EV
• Handlebar: OC1 35mm 12mm Rise 780mm
• Grips: OC1 Lock-on
• Stem: OC1 3D Forged 35mm interface 7º
• Headset: Acros Alloy 1-1/8 – 1-1/2″ Integrated
• Brake Levers: Shimano BL-M6100
• Brakes: Shimano BR-M6100
• Wheels: Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Dissector 2.40″ 60 TPI 3CMaxxTerra Exo TLR
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Rekon 2.40″ 120 TPI 3CMaxxTerra Exo+ TLR
• Saddle: Fizik Taiga S-alloy rail Consult other components
• Seat Post: OC1 Mountail Control MC20, 31.6mm Dropper
• Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT500 I-Spec EV

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

 

Have you seen our 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…

 

Now, we have been here before but we’re doing it a little differently this time, sending it on gravel bikes! Last time we were here in the depths of winter.

 

The Askham Fell loop is a classic northeast Lakes staple, it offers some great views along with a remote and wild feeling which is sometimes hard to find here in the Lakes unless you really know where to look.

 

The best part is you can start this ride in a variety of different places depending what you’re wanting to achieve. This time around we parked in Pooley Bridge and climbed along the dead-end road leading to the popular ‘High Street’ pass before eventually riding over a gated bridleway where we eventually reached the highest point.

 

From here it’s all downhill – the best part is there are stunning 360 degree vistas from this vantage point, so before we headed down we took a moment to take in some of the most recognisable fells such as Helvellyn, Fairfield and Blencathra.

 

In short, I’ll let the GPX do the taking and encourage you to take to two wheels and enjoy this fantastic part of the Lake District! If you’re looking for refreshments there’s plenty of coffee shops in Pooley Bridge and also a great one over at Lowther Castle should you need fuelling pre, mid or post ride!

See the Askham Fell Loop ride on KOMOOT

 

Written by Andrew Barlow

Photos by Andrew Barlow

 

Have you seen our Fast Bike 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 Feature Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

We’ve pulled together some sweet deals for a Bank Holiday bonanza sale! Enjoy big savings on bikes, clothing and accessories. Up to 36% off on selected products.

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Disc 105 Was £2,850.00 NOW £2,399.00

 

Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 RL Was £4,000.00 NOW £3,400.00

 

Cannondale Topstone 3 Was £1,300.00 NOW £999.00

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX Was £4,00.00 NOW £3,199.00

 

Cervelo Aspero Force eTap AXS 1 Was £6,049.00 NOW £5,141.65

 

 

Whyte 905 Was £2,099.00 NOW £1,499.00

 

Whyte 909 Was £2,750.00 NOW£1,999.00

 

Whyte G-180 S MX Was £3,299.00 NOW £2,499.00

 

Focus Thron2 6.7 EQP Was £3,799.00 NOW £3,419.10

 

Cannondale Trail Neo 4 Was £3,100.00 NOW £2,499.99

 

Eovolt Confort X 20 Folding Electric Bike Was £2,249.99 NOW £1,912.49

 

 

Stages Smart Bike SB20 Was £2,799.99 NOW £1,999.00

 

Tacx Flux 2 Smart Trainer Was £699.00 NOW £499.00

 

Tacx Boost Trainer Bundle Was £249.99 NOW  £199.00

 

CUBE Edge S/S Round Neck Jersey Was £39.95 NOW £29.96

 

CUBE Edge L/S Round Neck Jersey Was £49.95 NOW £37.46

 

Specialized Align II MIPS Helmet Was £45.00 NOW £36.00

 

Mistral Adventure Inflatable Paddleboard Was £679.00 NOW £449.00

 

Mistral Flamenco Inflatable Paddleboard Was £699.00 NOW £449.00

 

 

Grizedale is the Mecca of gravel riding in the South Lakes, with prime gravel fire roads spread over 24.47 square kilometres. Situated between the Windermere and Coniston lakes, no matter which part of the forest you’re riding in there’s a jaw dropping vista around almost every corner. What I like about riding here the most is that I feel completely cut off from the rest of the lakes. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the most popular national park in England this is the place to do it.

 

Today, I’m sharing our ‘Grizdale Gravel Epic’ loop which takes in 22.3 miles of gravel-friendly tracks and trails and includes 2,325 foot of elevation. At a fairly relaxed and sociable pace this ride can be done in around two and a half hours. Starting just outside the village of Satterthwaite which is easily accessible from the A591. The ride starts off with a fairly hefty winch up a fire road climb. It’s long but worth it for the views of the surrounding forest and valleys and Grizedale tarn is also just around the corner if you’re easily drawn to water and fancy a mid-ride dip.

 

After that there’s much bobbing and weaving around the forest, which is best enjoyed with a group of like-minded gravel-biking buddies, before you start making your way down towards Tarn Hows. This is a super smooth, fast and fun descent but just watch out for walkers as this is a popular spot with Lake District tourists.

 

From here you’re heading along the cycle way that leads directly into the village of Coniston, but we’re going to take a trip up to the Copper Mines as it is a sight worth seeing and the descent back down into Coniston is super fun.

 

Once you’ve descended off the hills into Coniston why not take in a well-deserved café stop. I’d recommend The Greenhouse Keeper for good, honest locally-supplied food that will keep you well-fuelled for the remainder of your ride. Back on the bikes and it’s time to head along the undulating lake-side for a short while before taking on the loop’s big climb back into Grizedale. Now, I’ll be honest, this climb feels like it goes on forever, however the rewarding views at the top more than make up for the effort. Silhouetted against the sky in the far distance Dow Crag and the Langdale Pikes provide stunning vistas that you’ll be encouraged to stand and stare at after the monster climb.

 

Once you’ve taken a moment to regroup and recover you’ll be glad to hear that it’s almost all downhill from here. The reward for all that effort uphill? A super-flowing descent which can be taken at speed before you arrive back down at the car park. With 2,325 foot of elevation this ride isn’t to be underestimated, there’s a lot of climbing in such a short distance but it’s totally worth it and if you’re well-prepared, ride as part of a group and pencil a café stop in Coniston then it’s a fantastic way to enjoy the experience of gravel riding in the south lakes.

Click the link to see the Grizedale Gravel Loop on Komoot.

 

Written by Andrew Barlow

Photos by Andrew Barlow

 

Have you seen our Fast Bike 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 Feature Blogs too!

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South Lakes Bike Fest Sat 27th August, Sun 28th August

We’ll be at the 2022 South Lakes Bike Fest in Staveley, home of our flagship Wheelbase store in the south of the Lake District National Park, celebrating everything great about riding your bike in the mountains; why not join us at this friendly, laid-back biking event!

The South Lakes Bike Fest includes some great mountain bike routes.

 

The South Lakes Bike Fest promises a super-fun weekend of riding, with a wide choice of mapped rides covering a 50 mile bike-backing route, a 50 mile gravel ride, family rides, mountainous mountain bike rides and low-level cross-country mountain bike routes. There’s even skills sessions hosted by qualified cycling coaches to enjoy.

When you’re not on your bike you can indulge in some great food and drink in the South Lakes Bike Fest event village with some great street food, fantastic coffee, copious amounts of cake and some fine real ales for the grown-ups.

With great food, drink and live music there’s plenty to enjoy when you’re not on your bike.

 

No festival would be complete without live music! The 2022 South Lakes Bike Fest will be joined by the rock band Friday Street on Saturday night and there will be more live music on Sunday with Jim Beam playing.

Camping is available to pitch up from 4pm on Friday the 26^th of August until 9am on Tuesday the 30^th of August, with a special quiet family camping area too. Basic toilets and showers are available on site and there’s plenty of camping space. NOTE: On the day camping will be available on the gate too for £10.00 per night.

The South Lakes Bike Fest is a super-social event with loads of rides on offer.

 

The 2022 South Lakes Bike Fest includes all this for just £35.00. Book now and enjoy a fantastic weekend of riding with like-minded people on some of the best mountain and gravel biking terrain in the UK!

Friday

• Evening ride in the local area, the ride will start and finish in the campsite 6.30pm start.
• 50 mile bike packing ride 6.30pm start back for Saturdays fun

Saturday

• Skills sessions with coaches 10am – 4pm
• 50 mile Gravel ride GPX download route 9.30am start
• All other rides start at 10am
• Family ride 10 years plus, must be accompanied by an adult.
• 2 mountainous MTB routes which includes Garburn Pass and Nan Bield, maps and GPX  will be available. (Anytime)
• 3 low level  XC routes in the Kentmere/Longsleddle Valley,
• Maps will be available of all the rides.
• Evenings will consist of live music rocking the Kentmere Valley – Don’t forget the beer, pizza and other alternative foods will be available until late!

Sunday

The same rides as Saturday’s itinerary, available to enjoy again!

There’s rides for all the family at the South Lakes Bike Fest.

 

Book your tickets now!

 

Who loves a hardcore hardtail? We certainly do! If you’re on a tight budget or simply can’t get your head around the potential maintenance and extra workshop hours of a complex, multi-linkage full-suspension mountain bike then a tough little hardtail designed to handle the rigours of aggressive, gravity-focused trail riding is a great option. TREK’s Roscoe 8 may be a little late to the hardcore hardtail party compared to some of the smaller British brands but the delay was worth it. With TREK no-doubt biding their time and watching how this corner of the MTB market evolved they had the opportunity to let the great wheel-size debate play out before committing to fast-rolling 29” wheels and building a very capable trail bike around them.

The new-gen TREK Roscoe has joined the hardcore hardtail party and we love it!

 

First off, to be clear, this generation of Roscoe is VERY different to its predecessor which featured smaller 27.5” wheels with super-wide plus-sized tyres. The previous range of Roscoe was aimed squarely at the entry market, with those wide tyres giving plenty of traction and control, providing confident handling to riders just starting to explore further on their bike for the first time; the previous Roscoe also featured more traditional, less progressive frame geometry too. This new Roscoe 8 and all of the other Roscoe’s in the range leave all that behind, giving the new models more travel, bigger wheels and progressive geometry to reinvent it as a legit hardcore hardtail trail bike.

The Roscoe 8 is part of a new sub-range of bikes that are very different to the previous generation Roscoe.

 

The new TREK Roscoe has more travel, jumping up from 120mm on the previous model to 140mm on the new 2022 model; with a longer-travel suspension fork the Roscoe becomes a more versatile trail-focused bike that’s ready for aggressive riding and the extra demands of high-speed descending on steep, rocky terrain. Big drops, hard landings, rock gardens, the extra capacity of the 140mm travel fork opens up the possibilities of what the Roscoe can handle and simply makes your riding more fun.

The Roscoe 8’s alloy frame has been designed around a capable, long-travel 140mm fork.

 

It’s impossible to talk about trail bikes without talking about progressive geometry – the buzz words around modern trail bike design; progressive geometry basically means that the chassis of the bike has been designed to excel on the descents, giving a confidence-inspiring ride on tight, steep technical trails as well as fast, wide-open terrain. How is this done? Well to achieve a stable-feeling at speed the TREK designers keep the bottom bracket low and make the top tube longer for an increased reach and more room to move around on the bike without feeling pitched forward and combine this with a shorter stem to keep steering sharp and helping to keep your weight back on steep drops. Trek have slackened the headtube angle on the Roscoe 8 moving from a fairly steep 67 degrees on the previous version to a nice slack 65 degrees; this helps to keep you in control on the steepest descents and really lets that long-travel RockShox 35 Gold RL fork go to work.

The TREK Roscoe 8 boasts exactly the sort of progressive geometry numbers you’d expect from this sort of hardtail trail bike.

 

The Roscoe 8 features a nice steep seat angle too which is another feature we see on modern trail bikes. The 74.7 degree seat tube comes into its own when the Roscoe is pointed back uphill, putting you in exactly the right position to be able to pedal efficiently in the saddle with the dropper seatpost up, allowing you to distribute your weight evenly over the front and rear wheels and helping you to maintain traction and control. In some kind of Jedi design trick TREK have been able to shorten the chainstay length of this new-gen Roscoe compared to the previous version despite the increase in wheel size from 27.5” to 29”. This helps to give the bike a more agile feel which encourages you to throw the Roscoe around the most tight and technical trail you can find.

The Roscoe 8’s seat tube is steep at 74.4 degrees and really helps you climb effectively in the saddle.

 

As well as the alloy Roscoe 8 frame boasting that great progressive geometry there’s another few details worth noting. First off, in an acknowledgement to how TREK expect you to ride this hardcore hardtail, there’s a dual-density downtube guard and a full-coverage chainstay guard which does a great job of protecting both the upper and underside of the chainstay. Trek have also included more downtube armour with their dual-density downtube guard and a full-coverage chainstay guard that protects the upper and underside of the chainstay. Internal cable routing is neat and rattle-free and there’s a new design for the bottom bracket shell to allow for neat internal cable routing for the dropper seat post. Speaking of the bottom bracket the Roscoe 8 sees a return to a threaded bottom bracket, making it more user-friendly and opening up the possibility of relatively quick servicing at home.

The return of a threaded bottom bracket is a very welcome feature.

 

The alloy Roscoe 8 frame boasts plenty of clearance for wide tyres like the 2.60″ Bontrager XR4 Team Issues ones fitted.

 

As we’ve already mentioned, the new TREK Roscoe 8 comes with a nice long-travel suspension fork to help really open up the capabilies of this hardcore hardtail. The Roscoe 8 features a RockShox 35 Gold RL fork, providing 140mm of plush travel facilitated by their popular DebonAir spring; a Motion Control damper keeps the fork in control while the fork’s lockout (without a remote lever) means you can quickly lock the fork out for the long climb back up to the top of your favourite trail. With Boost 110 spacing and a 15mm Maxle Stealth thru-axle the junction between the fork and the front wheel hub is stiff and secure, enhancing steering precision and ultimately giving you more control as you blast through the rough stuff at speed.

The RockShox 35 Gold RL fork provides 140mm of plush travel and helps you blast through technical, rocky terrain in total control.

 

The burly RockShox 35 Gold RL fork is built to match the demands of a bike like the Roscoe 8.

 

The fork’s lockout will quickly come into play when you point the Roscoe uphill.

 

The TREK Roscoe features a magic mix of SRAM and Shimano components to make up the complete groupset. Why a magic mix? Because TREK have done that clever thing where they spec a SRAM drivetrain but with Shimano hydraulic brakes; TREK deem the Shimano brakes at this price point to be more effective than their SRAM equivalents so that’s why you’ll see a mix of component brands on the Roscoe. It’s another reflection on just how focused TREK are on getting the spec of each and every bike in their range as competitive as possible.

The Roscoe 8’s groupset consists of a SRAM drivetrain and a Shimano brake set.

 

The Roscoe 8 features a simple 1X drivetrain consisting of a single 30T chainring upfront combined with a wide-ratio 12-speed cassette on the rear wheel consisting of 12 cogs ranging from 11T to a whopping 50T. This huge spread of gears will mean you’ll never be left wanting a suitable gear ratio; the drivetrain includes super-low gear to help you climb almost any gradient and clear technical uphill sections without any problems. Moving the chain over all of those gears with consistent precision and control is a 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle rear derailleur featuring a clutch mech which adds tension to the chain and prevents it from unshipping on the front chainring or on the rear derailleur. A simple SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed trigger shifter provides crisp, precise gear selection every time you go to change gears, regardless of what’s going on in front of you; if you’re barrel-rolling downhill and are on the very edge of control those definite, positive gear shifts from the SRAM NX Eagle shifter really give you confidence to surf through the gears.

The 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle provides flawless gear selection in all riding conditions.

 

A 30T chainring works well as part of this simple drivetrain; note the small eThirteen chain catcher to help keep your chain securely located.

 

A 12-speed SRAM NX Eagle shifter provides precise and positive gear selection every time, regardless of how hard you’re riding.

 

OK, so as we’ve mentioned already, TREK quite often spec their mountain bikes with Shimano hydraulic brakes alongside a SRAM drivetrain rather than going all-in on a complete SRAM goupset, the end result being you get a really dependable pair of hydraulic brakes simply because Shimano’s braking technology has filtered further down their component range. A hardcore hardtail like the Roscoe 8 needs a pair of anchors that will quickly and effectively scrub off speed to keep you in control even when the descents get particularly steep and technical; to achieve this TREK have spec’d powerful 4-piston hydraulic brake calipers with a large-diameter 203mm rotor upfront and a 180mm out back. The Shimano MT4100 brake levers have a great feel, with just the right amount of pull and a confidence-inspiring bite every time you grab them.

Powerful 4-piston Shimano MT420 calipers will slow down the Roscoe quickly and effectively.

 

There’s a 180mm rotor on the rear and a larger-diameter 203mm rotor upfront to help scrub speed off when you need to.

 

Shimano MT4100 brake levers have a great feel and just the right amount of pull.

 

Big brakes for a super-fast big-wheeled bike.

 

When the all-new Trek Roscoe launched one of the significant headliners was the bigger 29” wheels; swapping from 27.5” to 29” means that this progressive trail bike encourages you to go big, carrying more speed into and out of tight, technical terrain. As we’ve seen over the past few years every form of mountain biking from cross country racing to downhill and enduro have embraced the larger diameter wheel for their capacity to carry their momentum, handle rougher terrain, reduce fatigue and increase control. Throw in those 2.6” wide tyres and you gain even more control thanks to a larger surface area of the tyre being constantly in contact with the ground through tight turns on unpredictable trails. It’s great to see that Trek have setup the Roscoe 8’s tyres tubeless already, straight out of the box; if the tyres and rims are tubeless-ready it makes sense to do so and means you’ll be able to get out for your first ride with a little less faff beforehand!

29″ Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels are fast-rolling, strong and durable, making them perfectly suited to the Roscoe 8.  

 

Those wide Line Comp 30 rims help to give the 2.60″ Bontrager tyres a larger footprint and more contact with the ground.

 

Large square side-knobs provide plenty of traction and control on loose terrain, while shallower central knobs will help the wheels roll fast.

 

You’ll get plenty of bite from those Bontrager XR4 Team Issue tyres.

 

Rounding out the TREK Roscoe 8 is a collection of TREK-owned Bontrager-branded components including stem, handlebars and grips; it’s interesting to note that TREK size those components according to the frame size of the bike, a small but significant attention to detail that will make all the difference to how your chosen bikes size will feel and handle. Finally there’s a capable TranzX dropper seatpost on the Roscoe 8. A large proportion of the popularity and success of hardcore hardtails is down to the humble dropper seatpost; without one this sort of bike would just not work. With the saddle out of the way, that long-travel fork and that very sorted frame geometry all come together to give you a confident trail bike that can handle high-speed descents and steep drops, leaving you able to move freely around the bike.

The TREK Roscoe 8 is a versatile hardtail that is more than up to the challenges you’ll no-doubt throw at it; the bike comes to life on tight, technical descents, on flowy singletrack or rocky terrain packed full of boulders and drop offs. If you’re the sort of rider who wants to spend more time riding and less time in the workshop tinkering with your bike then the Roscoe will certainly fit the bill.

The Trek Roscoe 8 RRP £2,000.00 is available in-store and online now at Wheelbase.

 

Full Specification:

• Frame: Alpha Gold Aluminium, tapered head tube, internal derailleur & dropper post routing, ISCG 05, threaded BB, Boost148, 12 mm thru axle
• Headset: FSA IS-2, 1-1/8″ top, 1.5″ bottom
• Fork: RockShox 35 Gold RL, DebonAir spring, Motion Control damper, lockout, tapered steerer, 44 mm offset, Boost110, 15 mm Maxle Stealth, 140 mm travel
• Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle
• Shifter: SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed
• Cassette: SRAM PG-1230 Eagle, 11-50, 12-speed
• Chainset: SRAM X1 Eagle, DUB, 30T steel ring, 52 mm chainline, 170 mm length (175mm for size XL)
• Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB, 73 mm, BSA threaded
• Brakes: Shimano MT420 4-piston hydraulic caliper
• Brake Levers: Shimano MT4100
• Rotors: Front – Shimano RT66, 6-bolt, 203 mm Rear – Shimano RT66, 6-bolt, 180mm
• Rims: Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready, 28-hole, Presta valve
• Spokes: 14g stainless steel
• Front Hub: Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, alloy axle, 6-bolt, Boost110, 15 mm thru axle
• Rear Hub: Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, 6-bolt, Rapid Drive 108, Shimano 10 freehub, Boost 148, 12 mm thru axle
• Tyres: Bontrager XR4 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 29×2.60″
• Stem: Bontrager alloy, 31.8 mm, Blendr-compatible, 7-degree, 50 mm length (35mm length size XS/S)
• Handlebar: Bontrager Rhythm Comp, alloy, 31.8 mm, 15 mm rise, 780mm width (750mm width size XS/S)
• Grips: Bontrager XR Trail Comp lock-on
• Saddle: Bontrager Arvada, steel rails, 138 mm width
• Seatpost: TranzX JD-YSP18, 100 mm travel, internal routing, 31.6 mm.
• Seatpost Lengths Per Frame Size: 361mm – XS, S. 425mm – M. 470mm – M/L, L, XL

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Have you seen our 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 are pleased to announce that our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli racing team have a new sponsor! Welcome to Kendal Mint Co. our official sports nutrition partners who will be working with us from now on, helping to ensure that all of our athletes are able to train, race and recover as efficiently as possible.

The Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team look forward to sharing their racing success with new nutrition partners Kendal Mint Co. Photo: James Vincent

 

It’s rather fitting that Kendal Mint Co. have come on-board, with Wheelbase HQ also being based in the Lake District, aligning ourselves to an incredibly successful nutrition brand just down the road from us was a no-brainer. We look forward to working together from now on, with the Wheelbase racing team benefitting from an extensive range of delicious products aimed at enhancing training and racing performance on the bike as well as recovery off the bike.

 

With Kendal Mint flavours included in all their Gels every option tastes refreshing and is easy on the stomach.

 

Kendal Mint Co. are excited to see their brand being represented at the highest level of national road and off-road racing, with our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team continuing to make a significant impact in the sport. Recent successes include a silver medal in the national time trial championships, a national Scottish road race championship win and a brilliant 2^nd place overall for the team in the demanding British Cycling National Circuit Series which sees fast, frenetic town-centre racing taking place in front of large crowds of spectators.

Fast and efficient mid-race fueling & hydration is essential, Kendal Mint Co. are set to make a significant contribution to the success of the team. Photo: Ellen Isherwood

 

The original Kendal Mint Cake enjoys an iconic status within the outdoor and adventure world and can boast a rich history that includes the conquering of Mount Everest, with Sir Chris Bonington completing the ascent in 1975 fuelled by Quiggins Mint Cake; go back even further into the mists of time and you’ll discover that Trans-Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton kept his expedition going on the tasty Kendal-produced wonder food made from sugar, glucose, water and peppermint oil in 1914.

Iso Mix isotonic drink mix with electrolytes is fast and effective at fueling your body and keeping you hydrated on training and race days.

 

Jump forward more than 100 years to today and that rich history continues to inform the delicious sports nutrition products produced by Kendal Mint Co. With a team of sports nutrition experts at the helm the brand have blended cutting-edge sports science with that iconic Kendal Mint taste, developing an extensive range of products that help you train, race and recover as effectively as possible.

Kendal Mint Co. Iso Mix will keep our racers hydrated while fueling their bodies during even the most demanding races. Photo: Ellen Isherwood

 

Natural NRG bars provide natural energy from wholesome ingredients including Honey, Oats and dried fruits.

 

One reason this nutrition brand stands out from the crowd is their delicious flavours, with easy to eat bars and gels which feature that distinctive mint flavour infused within many of their products there’s a light, zingy taste that when combined with the correct energy-giving ingredients gives you a tangible boost in energy when you need it most.

There’s barely a moment to feed during races like the CiCLE Classic; fast and effective KMC NRG gels are easy on the stomach, making them ideal for racing. Photo: Warren Davies

 

Delicious original or chocolate-coated Kendal Mint Cake RECHARGED energy bars taste great and include Electrolytes and Vitamin B.

 

The Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli racing team go into the remainder of the 2022 race season and beyond confident that they’ll be well-fuelled on cutting-edge sports nutrition products from our new partners Kendal Mint Co. We look forward to working with them to get the best out of our athletes while helping to spread the word on this fantastic Lake District brand.

Whether they’re training, racing or recovering there’s a Kendal Mint Co. product to help the team to perform. Photo: James Vincent

 

Click the link to see Kendal Mint Co.’s extensive range of products.

The Kendal Mint Co. sports nutrition range is available to purchase in all Wheelbase stores.

 

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent, Ellen Isherwood, and Warren Davies

 

Have you seen our 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…

 

Launched today in very limited numbers – the unique Cannondale SuperSix Evo Leichtbau frameset symbolises Cannondale’s ongoing passion and drive to continually refine their products, with this new addition being their lightest ever SuperSix EVO frame, superseding their already featherweight Hi-Mod iteration. So why ‘Leichtbau’? because it’s German for lightweight and is also a nice cultural reference to Porsche’s limited-edition Leichtbau 964 sports car which saw production in 1992 with only 86 ever being made.

The Leichtbau is Cannondale’s lightest ever SuperSix EVO frameset.

 

Taking some visual cues from the original Leichtbau as well as sticking with the exclusive, limited edition approach to the marketing of this super-light frameset, Cannondale have only produced 200 Cannondale SuperSix Evo Leichtbau frames worldwide with just 30 being available in the UK.

There’s only 30 SuperSix EVO Leichtbau framesets available in the UK.

 

We’ve seen a recent trend for high-end road bikes becoming increasingly exclusive, featuring unique custom paint jobs designed to make a bold statement within the sea of high-spec dream bicycles. Following on from their incredibly popular collaboration with the Palace skate brand at the recent men’s and women’s Tour De France which saw team riders onboard visually-stunning SuperSix EVO Hi-Mods and SystemSix Hi-Mods, Cannondale are back with the all-new SuperSix Evo Leichtbau. In a scenario where the lines between product design and fine art are becoming ever more blurred we’re starting to see bicycle collectors specifically buying into this phenomenon, with those Palace collab bikes proving the point as they immediately sold out when they were released to the public.

The Leichtbau follows closely on the heels of Cannondale’s Palace skate brand collaboration.

 

But let’s not get too caught up on the aesthetic qualities of the Leichtbau; as we mentioned earlier, this all-new frameset boasts an overall weight that is actually lighter than their previous top of the range model, the SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod, coming in at 750 grams for a raw frame which is 90 grams lighter than the Hi-Mod. This new frameset isn’t all style and no substance; to achieve this new weight Cannondale developed a whole new grade of carbon as well as a new carbon layup and construction process which all blends magically with the SuperSix’s existing ride qualities, namely unrivaled responsiveness and super-confident handling.

With the raw frame weighing just 750 grams the Cannondale SuperSix EVO Leichtbau is a great starting point for your dream road bike.

 

The EF Education-EasyPost pro cycling team will be heading to the start of the upcoming Vuelta a Espana on Friday the 19th August, with two of their riders specially chosen to showcase the new Cannondale SuperSix Evo Leichtbau on the unforgiving roads of this grueling three week grand tour around Spain. Meanwhile Wheelbase are pleased to confirm that we have been able to get hold of 3 Leichtbau framesets, available from now in-store and online for £4,250.00 so if you want one, get in touch quick!

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Leichtbau Limited Edition Frameset RRP £4,250.00

 

Key Features:

• Unique Leichtbau Carbon material for Cannondale’s lightest ever SuperSix EVO frameset
• Custom carbon layup and construction unique to SuperSix EVO Leichtbau frameset
• Weighs only 750 grams for raw frame
• Leichtbau frame weighs 90 grams less than Cannondale’s top of the range Hi-Mod carbon SuperSix EVO frame
• Super-light CNC machined alloy details
• Superlight paint application with classic chrome styling
• Each frame (out of a total of 200) is individually numbered
• Exclusive limited edition – only 200 available worldwide, with 30 in the UK

It’s all in the details…

• A Hidden Cable Routing design routes brakes lines through an opening in the front of the headtube for minimal drag and headache-free serviceability.
• The frame features highly truncated airfoil tube shapes that offer the same weight, and equal or better stiffness than round tubes, but reduce drag by up to 30%.
• SuperSix EVO is known for its elegantly smooth ride quality. The SAVE rear stays, integrated binder and 27 SL KNØT seat post bring surprising comfort to EVO’s blistering speed.
• Featuring clearance for some seriously big rubber. 30mm tires fit with ease, for new levels of comfort and capability on any kind of road.
• Speed Release thru-axles allow faster, easier wheel changes and are compatible with most standard thru-axle wheelsets.

Frameset Specification:

• Frame: SuperSix EVO Leichtbau Carbon, integrated cable routing w/ Switchplate, 12×142 Speed Release thru-axle, SAVE, PF30a, flat mount disc, integrated seat binder
• Fork: SuperSix EVO Leichtbau Carbon, SAVE, integrated crown race, 12x100mm Speed Release thru-axle, flat mount disc, internal routing, 1-1/8″ to 1-1/4″ steerer and 55mm offset (51-54cm), 1-1/8″ to 1-3/8” steerer and 45mm offset (56-58cm)
• Bottom Bracket: Cannondale Alloy PressFit30
• Headset: Integrated, 1-1/8″ – 1-1/4″ (51-54cm), 1-1/8″ – 1-3/8″ (56-58cm)
• Seatpost: HollowGram 27 SL KNØT, Carbon, 2 bolt clamp, 330mm, 15mm offset
• Sizes: 51, 54, 56, 58
• Colour: Leichtbau Black, Individually numbered
• Extras: Leichtbau Special Edition Rear Derailleur Hanger and Switchplate, Speed Release thru-axles

 

SuperSix EVO Leichtbau Frame Geometry

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Leichtbau Limited Edition Frameset RRP £4,250.00

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by Cannondale

 

Have you seen our Fast Bike 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 Feature Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

Join us at Cannock Chase Trail Centre for our Wheelbase MTB Demo Day and enjoy riding your dream mountain bike! Wheelbase Coventry will be hosting an action-packed day of riding, with the latest, greatest eMTBs and Mountain Bikes available to shred on some of the best trails in the area.

We’ll have a comprehensive fleet of eMTBs and Mountain Bikes from top brands Orbea and Yeti. You can now book your dream ride online, selecting each bike that you want to test ride during each time-slot available, with rides going out at 9.30am, 11.00pm, 12.30pm, 2.00pm and 3.30pm.

 

 

Our Wheelbase Coventry team will be hosting the MTB Demo Day at Cannock Chase Trail Centre.

 

This is your chance to ride the very best eMTBs and Mountain Bikes from two of the bike best brands available.

 

Yeti and Orbea will have demo fleets of mountain bikes and eMTBs prepped and ready to ride.

 

Ride quality trails on the latest eMTBs and mountain bikes from top Spanish brand Orbea.

 

Yeti will be there with their much-sought-after 160E Enduro eMTB.

 

Did you miss the Wheelbase BIG DEMO Weekend at our Lake District store? Now’s your chance to ride your dream bike at Cannock Chase…

 

Take advantage of our Whyte Bikes clearance sale and save up to 29% of selected Whyte mountain bikes! We’ve got big reductions on hardcore hardtails and full-suspension trail bikes, while stocks last…

Whyte 905 2022 NOW £1,499.00

 

Whyte 909 2022 NOW £1,999.00

 

 

Whyte G-180 S 29er 2022 NOW £2,499

 

Whyte G-180 S MX 2022 NOW £2,499.00