It’s time for another World Cup Downhill bike check! Our regular freelance photographer James Vincent was up at the recent Fort William Downhill World Cup shooting all of the action as well as spending some time in the pits capturing a selection of the best-looking bikes and innovative tech. Last week we took a detailed look at Danny Hart’s prototype Two15 high pivot bike; today we’re checking out home favourite Reece Wilson’s Trek Session high pivot race bike.
Crowd favourite Reece Wilson showed up at his home World Cup with a Scottish-themed custom paintjob courtesy of Trek.
The Trek Session has been around for well over a decade and, when it comes to its evolution, it has never stayed still. Starting out as a 26 inch-wheeled bike way back when, it’s morphed into a 27.5” machine before more recently accommodating big 29er hoops or the magic mash-up of 27.5” at the rear and 29” and the front, commonly referred to as a mullet (business up front, party out the back). We’ve seen Reece ride with both the mullet configuration and the full 29er setup in the past, however at Fort William the plucky Scot chose to run a pair of the big hoops in an effort to carry more speed over the long high-speed section that makes up the top of the course.
Reece would pilot his custom painted Trek Session to a fine 17th place on his ‘home track’ at Fort William.
The big shift in suspension configuration came last season when the Trek Session joined the high-pivot party; like a significant number of bike brands focused on racing the World Cup Downhill Trek made the shift over to a high-pivot rear end in an effort to make their premium race bike even faster over the rough stuff. A high-pivot moves the bike’s main pivot high above the chainring and the rear wheel axle to encourage an enhanced rearward axle path through the travel off the rear suspension. This is not something particularly new, however these new-generation high-pivot bikes have addressed a problem that plagued the previous generation bikes with the same configuration. In the past one of the potential drawbacks of this sort of setup was that chain growth and pedal kickback were an issue. As the rear axle travelled through its suspension the chain tightened and pulled back on the cranks; These new-generation high-pivot bikes have solved these age-old problems with an ‘idler’ which is basically an extra jockey wheel placed above the chainring, eliminating those issues and giving the benefit of a more plush suspension feel as your wheel moves rearwards and upwards away from obstacles rather than just upwards.
Reece’s custom paintjob was clearly inspired by the Saltire Scottish National Flag.
Being Reece’s home race the proud Scot was rewarded with a stunning custom paintjob from Trek, with a great-looking blue and white fade representing the Scottish Saltire flag, sometimes referred to as the St Andrews Cross. Scroll through the images below to see all the clever little details in his race-ready setup and to better understand Reece’s choice of components that helped him take on one of the season’s most demanding World Cup races, all expertly tuned by Trek Factory Racing’s head mechanic Joe Krejbich.
The custom Trek Session tuned and ready to race one of the World’s most demanding downhill tracks.
Former World Downhill Champion Reece Wilson may not have the Rainbow Stripes anymore but his Scottish-themed bike is pretty cool.
Reece’s Trek mechanic is focused on tuning the Session to be perfect for every run.
The ‘B’ on the rear coil-shock signifies that it’s part of Rockshox’s prototyping development program.
The Mino link allows the Trek team to make a small adjustment to the geometry of the Session.
It was a prototype last season and then went into production late last year – Trek joined the high-pivot party with the all-new Session.
All good high-pivot downhill bikes need a good idler jockey wheel to prevent chain growth and pedal kick back.
A no-nonsense 7-speed SRAM XO rear derailleur seems to be a pro-downhill staple on the World Cup scene.
A SRAM 7-speed trigger shifter gives a nice definite gear selection – perfect for when you’re under pressure mid-run.
Reece seems to run his SRAM Code RSC levers pretty close to the bars. Note the small amount of grip tape too.
Powerful SRAM 4-Por hydraulic pistons and large 220mm diameter rotors provide plenty of stopping power.
DT Swiss 350 hubs laced to Bontrager 29″ rims are fast rolling and tough enough to cope with the demands of the infamous Fort Bill course.
Reece chose to run 29″ wheels front and rear (no mullet setup for him!) with Bontrager Line DH 30 rims taking on the rough track.
Tyre choice is tricky for Fort William World Cup, with such varied terrain within the length of the course.
It’s a firm favourite within the pits – Crankbrothers Mallet DH pedals for Reece.
No mistaking who’s bike this is. Proud Scot Reece Wilson was flying the Scottish flag all weekend.
With amazing attention to detail Reece’s bike is proudly signed off by Trek Factory Racing’s head mechanic Joe Krejbich.
It wasn’t to be Reece’s day this time around; no podium this time for the Scot, but a still respectful 17th place showed he wasn’t too far off winning pace.
The latest Trek Session with its high pivot suspension configuration reflects the constant testing and development program at Trek Factory Racing.
Trek Session High Pivot Downhill Bike, full specification:
Frame: Trek Session High Pivot, Alloy
Shock: RockShox Boxxer Blackbox
Fork: RockShox Boxxer Blackbox
Cassette: SRAM X01 DH
Derailleur: SRAM X01, DH 7-speed
Shifter: SRAM X01, DH 7-speed
Cranks: SRAM X01 DH, 165mm
Chainring: SRAM X01 Eagle, 34t, 6mm offset
Chain Device: MRP G4
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC
Rotors: 220mm front & rear
Wheels: Bontrager Line DH30 32h Alloy Rims, DT Swiss 240 front hub, DT Swiss 350 rear hub
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!
Today’s product feature takes a closer look at a stylish low-step city e-Bike from Gazelle, a Dutch brand which can boast a rich bicycle manufacturing history; this is the Chamonix T10 HMS 630 and it’s ready to ferry you around town with less effort and maximum efficiency.
We’ll dive into the Chamonix e-Bike details in a moment, but first a short bicycle manufacturing history lesson; Royal Dutch Gazelle has been making bicycles in Dieren, Gelderland, in the Netherlands for more than 125 years and today is one of the most popular bike brands in the lowland country where cycle commuting is an every day staple of millions of Dutch people. At the latest count the company is making over 250,000 bikes every year with their bicycle design brief still echoing Dutch cycling culture – ring your bell, wear your street clothes, transport anything from groceries to you children! That elegant, city bike styling runs through their whole range, with e-Bikes such as the Chamonix representing the evolution of traditional city bikes into modern pedal-assist bikes.
Dutch cycling brand Gazelle have created a truly versatile city e-Bike for daily commute duties.
Gazelle want to share their secret with the rest of the world; when it comes to safe, comfortable riding in a busy urban environment the Dutch brand have the perfect riding solution – upright, comfortable and in full control, ready to react to what’s going on in front of you up the road. We’ve cherry-picked the Chamonix T10 HMS 630 to feature here as it’s a great representation of the sort of city e-Bike that Gazelle are so well-known for over on the European mainland; so let’s look at some highlights…
Gazelle can boast a rich manufacturing history and is a go-to brand when it comes to choosing a powerful, reliable e-Bike.
At the heart of the Chamonix T10 HMS 630 is the powerful Shimano Steps pedal assist motor; located at the bottom bracket this lightweight, quiet and efficient motor drives the bike’s cranks when you pedal, amplifying the pedaling force you’re putting through the bike and helping you ride faster with less effort, keeping you feeling fresher and more comfortable as you move around town.
The 630 within this bike’s model name is a hint towards the Chamonix’s battery capacity; you may not be familiar with this factor, but it’s worth considering. All e-Bikes feature a battery that powers the motor and each e-Bike’s battery will be labelled by it’s watt hour capacity (Wh), with a larger number indicating a greater capacity when it comes to the life of the rechargeable battery. The bigger the battery capacity the longer the range of the e-Bike; you may hear cyclists or bicycle retailers referring to ‘range anxiety’, this is basically the rider’s concern – how far and how long can they ride on one charge. This particular model of Chamonix features a long-range 630Wh battery, there is also a model with a smaller capacity 50Wh battery which will not give the same amount of range on one charge.
The Shimano Steps E6100 provides 60Nm of powerful pedal assistance to get you around town in comfort.
The Gazelle Chamonix T10 HMS 630 features a complete Shimano Steps e-bike system that includes their clear, easy-to-navigate centre-mounted display unit which gives you all the stats you’ll need including the e-Bike motor mode you’re riding in (High, Norm, Eco, Off, Walk), gear position indicator, range indicator and battery level indication. You can also power the e-Bike on and off from the display unit as well as turn your front & rear lights on and off according to the levels of light you’re riding in.
Top Japanese component brand Shimano provides reliable pedal assistance with their Steps e-Bike drive system.
A simple remote on the left of the handle bar lets you toggle through the e-Bike motor modes quickly and easily.
The Shimano Steps LCD Centre display gives you all the data you need at a glance.
Upfront there’s a clever internal suspension unit stowed away within the bike’s headtube. This telescopic suspension will take the sting out of rough roads and keep you in control even with the odd unexpected pot-hole in your path. Gazelle have matched this ride-softening fork with an equally comfortable suspension seatpost giving a small amount of movement below the saddle to help you stay comfortable in the saddle.
Gazelle have spec’d a capable integrated suspension fork to take the sting out of rough roads and pot holes.
A suspension seatpost from Post Modern keeps you comfortable, isolating you from road buzz when you’re in the saddle.
Gazelle have also included their clever adjustable stem system within the cockpit of the Chamonix T10, this is a great addition to the bike and allows you to make fine adjustments to the fit and feel of the bike. If you’re the type of rider who is looking for a more upright, confidence-inspiring position this small function is a great addition; similarly if you find yourself sharing this bike with your partner it helps to make the bike more accommodating to different body dimensions with some simple, quick adjustment.
The Chamonix’s adjustable stem lets you fine tune your position to suit you and make riding as comfortable as possible.
Other great features that have been included specifically to suit the demands of the daily commute in and around town include front and rear lights that are neatly integrated into the bike and are powered by the name large 630Wh internal battery that powers the e-Bike’s motor. The light can be controlled from the Shimano Steps display so if you don’t need them during daylight hours you can switch them of and save power. With load-carrying in mind Gazelle have included a sturdy and durable rear pannier rack allowing you to carry a maximum of three bags / packs, fitting one either side of the rack and another on the top. This opens up the possibility of being able to carry your groceries or work equipment as you travel through town, so no need to wear a bulky rucksack.
With a Trelock Veo 50 light powered directly from the bike’s powerful internal e-Bike battery a sudden loss of light is not a concern.
A powerful front light will illuminate the road in front of you in poor light conditions.
With lights powered via the Chamonix’s e-Bike battery you’ll always be more visible to other road users.
With full mudguards, rear pannier rack and integrated rear light the Gazelle is ready for daily commuting duties.
A rear pannier rack helps you carry your shopping or work stuff and features and integrated rear light.
It’s safe to say the Netherlands experience their fare share of rain and wet riding conditions just like us unfortunate Brits, with this in mind Gazelle have fitted the Chamonix with a pair of full mudguards to protect you from road spray on wet rides. Some mudguards can tend to vibrate and flap around, potentially rubbing with the tyres, however there’s no such concerns on this practical e-Bike, with permanent, secure fittings to keep everything where it should be. With security in mind Gazelle have spec’d an Axa Block XXL Ring Lock which is cleverly located on the seatstays of the frame and effectively stops the rear wheel from rotating once locked with its own removeable key. We would always recommend you use a good quality, highly-rated D-lock to secure your bike, but this extra level of security will certainly deter would-be bike thieves from having a go at stealing your beloved e-Bike.
Move along bicycle thieves, the Axa Block XXL Ring Lock keeps the Chamonix safe and secure.
An integrated Axa Block XXL Ring Lock immobilises your bike adding extra security when parked up.
When it comes to the drivetrain (the bike’s gearing) Gazelle have matched the brilliant Shimano Steps motor with the Japanese brand’s user-friendly 10-speed Deore groupset. This drivetrain consists of a simple 1X setup (one-by setup) which means that there’s a single chainring up front combined with a wide ratio cassette outback giving you 10 gears over a wide spread of gear ratios to help ensure that there’s a suitable gear available for every riding scenario, whether you’re riding up a steep hill or are flying along on fast, flat roads. The 38T chainring combined with an 11/42T cassette accommodates each gear selection fast and efficiently, with the chain moving smoothly across each cog thanks to the light and precise-shifting 10-speed Deore rear derailleur. All gear selections are made via a simple trigger shifter on the right of the handlebars, with every gear shift being light, crisp and precise; there’s no danger of fluffing a gear change any time soon.
With a single 38T chainset that includes a chain guard the Chamonix’s drivetrain is simple and efficient.
The Shimano Deore 10-speed rear derailleur provides a wide selection of gear ratios while keeping your chain securely located.
An efficient 10-speed Shimano trigger shifter means every gear selection is crisp and predictable.
With the extra speed of an e-Bike, instantly gained thanks to that powerful Shimano Steps motor, the Gazelle Chamonix T10 HMS 630 needs a good set of anchors to slow the bike down quickly and effectively. To always keep you in control this stylish e-Bike comes spec’d with a pair of powerful hydraulic disc brakes that will help you scrub off speed when you need to, keeping you in full control of the bike regardless of the road conditions. On rainy days disc brakes are completely unaffected by wet roads, thanks mainly to the fact that the braking surface is taken away from the wheel rim to the centre of the wheel hub. You’ll also find that the power of a hydraulic brake is far more consistent and controllable, allowing you to modulate the amount of braking power applied to the system’s disc rotors.
Powerful Shimano Hydraulic brakes keep you in control in all riding conditions.
A durable, daily commuter e-Bike needs a pair of reliable wheels to carry you over multiple miles on mixed road surfaces. The Gazelle Chamonix comes spec’d with a pair of Mach1 650 double-walled aluminium wheels which are built to stand up to the demands of regular rides without carrying any unnecessary weight penalty. Similarly a bike that is required to take on the urban environment, day in day out needs a set of sturdy tyres which can stand up to rough roads and unexpected debris; the Chamonix comes fitted with a pair of Schwalbe Big Apple tyres which feature a nice tread pattern that strikes a balance of being able to roll fast and efficiently on tarmac while giving enough grip to keep you in control of your bike. As you’d expect for a town e-Bike like this the Big Apple tyres also include a good amount of puncture protection within the rubber compound.
Schwalbe’s Big Apple tyres feature puncture protection for enhanced durability.
Schwalbe Big Apple tyres roll fast and let the Chamonix hold its speed while providing ample grip.
The Gazelle Chamonix T10 HMS 630 e-bike is a modern classic; all of that Dutch bicycle manufacturing history is reflected in the bike’s elegant silhouette it’s very obviously a machine with its DNA routed firmly in the Netherlands. The Shimano Steps motor and internal battery are so compact and discreet that it’s easy to miss that this is an e-Bike at all. With a step-through frame and high front end the Chamonix helps you ride confidently around town with a feeling of control and comfort. Factor in all the little extra details that help to make this bike so practical within an urban environment and you’ve got yourself a really reliable daily commuter that gets you out of your car and away from the frustrating traffic jams to travel more economically while increasing your general fitness too.
The Gazelle T10 HMS 630 e-Bike makes a great alternative to using the car for short trips in and around town.
Frame: Aluminium frame with 70.5 head tube angle and 71.5 saddle tube angle, concealed cables, integrated battery in the frame for large capacity (630Wh)
Fork: Aluminium with 40mm of internal headset suspension
Drive Unit: Shimano STEPS E6100 (60 Nm), Max speed 15.5mph
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!
Looking for a new opportunity? Then look no further than a company that is going places.
WHEELBASE, home of the UK’s largest cycle store in the Lake District National Park has been at the forefront of the bicycle industry for over 25 years. Living and breathing bikes, the team behind Wheelbase have successfully built up their business across the North of England with long-serving stores in Staveley, Ilkley and Darlington; more recently we have expanded nationally opening flagship stores in Coventry and Stockton-on-Tees. As well as our bricks and motor stores we sell online to customers all over the UK through our wheelbase.co.uk website. Here at Wheelbase we pride ourselves on being inclusive retailers who are ready to help EVERYONE get into cycling.
CURRENT VACANCIES
Full Time Sales Assistants – Wheelbase Lake District
Location: Staveley, Kendal LA8 9LR
We are currently looking for outstanding applicants to be Full Time Sales Assistants at our WHEELBASE Lake District store.
We are looking for people who enjoy working in a busy retail environment and delivering outstanding service to our all customers. We sell the latest products from the leading brands across all cycling disciplines – mountain, road, electric, leisure, kids and adventure.
You will be a positive member of the team, sales focused and offer a best-in-class customer experience through great dynamics, a premium product range, accurate sales recording, time management and merchandising.
The role is fast paced, varied and testing.
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO:
Achieve a best-in-class customer experience and ensure the team delivers exceptional customer service.
Have a passion for cycling and develop your product knowledge across mountain, road, electric, leisure, kids and adventure bikes, clothing and accessories.
Engage with customers, from meeting and greeting to asking questions, listening, and understanding their needs.
Correctly process your sales and keep the customer up to date with progress.
Be a team player – support the Store Manager and the rest of your store team.
Create a positive working environment and deliver the WHEELBASE brand values and culture of openness, inclusivity and community.
The store must be merchandised daily following guidance and always presented to a high standard.
SKILLS AND INTERESTS:
Passionate about cycling.
Willingness to develop inter-personal skills and product knowledge.
Ability to be a team player and motivated to deliver the best customer service.
Have great commercial sense and be sales orientated.
An excellent communicator and relationship builder.
Ability to work under pressure in a busy retail environment.
Meet challenges with a positive attitude.
General IT skills.
HOURS: 40 hours per week.
SALARY: We offer a very competitive salary, based on ability and experience
HOLIDAY: 28 days paid holidays, including bank holidays (pro rata on days worked)
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
Generous staff discount scheme
Cycle to work scheme
Professional working environment
Casual but smart dress code
Staff social opportunities
TO APPLY: if you would like to apply to join the WHEELBASE Lake District team in Staveley, please email a covering letter explaining the role you would like to apply for plus your experience and why you would be an ideal candidate to join the team, plus please attach an up-to-date CV.
CLOSING DATE: Sunday 19 June 2022
PLEASE NOTE: Due to high volumes of applications if you do not hear back from us with a request for an interview, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Full Time Customer Service Assistant – Online Sales – Wheelbase Lake District
Location: Staveley, Kendal LA8 9LR
We are currently looking for outstanding applicants to be Full Time Customer Service Assistants for online sales, based at our WHEELBASE Lake District store.
We are looking for people who enjoy working in a busy environment and delivering outstanding service to our all customers. We sell the latest products from the leading brands across all cycling disciplines – mountain, road, electric, leisure, kids and adventure.
You will be a positive member of the team, sales focused and offer a best-in-class customer experience through great dynamics, a premium product range and accurate sale processing.
The role is fast paced, varied and testing.
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO:
Answering customer questions on our range of products from the worlds best brands and our mail order service.
Selling bikes via telephone, email, Live chat and social channels – we aim to end each day with an empty inbox.
Liaising with our ‘Pack For Shipping’ (PFS) team of mechanics and our order processing team.
Liaising with our five shop teams and setting up in store collections.
Processing cycle to work applications.
Aftersales customer care, excluding warranty and technical support.
You will be part of a dynamic and friendly team of like minded people in our mail order department
SKILLS AND INTERESTS:
Passionate about cycling.
Willingness to develop inter-personal skills and product knowledge.
Ability to be a team player and motivated to deliver the best customer service.
Have great commercial sense and be sales orientated.
An excellent communicator and relationship builder.
Ability to work under pressure in a busy retail environment.
Meet challenges with a positive attitude.
General IT skills.
HOURS: 40 hours per week.
SALARY: We offer a very competitive salary, based on ability and experience
HOLIDAY: 28 days paid holidays, including bank holidays (pro rata on days worked)
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
Generous staff discount scheme
Cycle to work scheme
Professional working environment
Casual but smart dress code
Staff social opportunities
TO APPLY: if you would like to apply to join the WHEELBASE Lake District team in Staveley, please email a covering letter explaining the role you would like to apply for plus your experience and why you would be an ideal candidate to join the team, plus please attach an up-to-date CV.
CLOSING DATE: Sunday 19 June 2022
PLEASE NOTE: Due to high volumes of applications if you do not hear back from us with a request for an interview, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Part Time Sales Assistant – Wheelbase Stockton-on-Tees TS18 2QQ
We are currently looking for outstanding applicants to be Full Time and Part Time Sales Assistants at our brand-new retail store – WHEELBASE Stockton-on-Tees.
We are looking for people who enjoy working in a busy retail environment and delivering outstanding service to our all customers. We sell the latest products from the leading brands across all cycling disciplines – mountain, road, electric, leisure, kids and adventure.
You will be a positive member of the team, sales focused and offer a best-in-class customer experience through great dynamics, a premium product range, accurate sales recording, time management and merchandising.
The role is fast paced, varied and testing.
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO:
Achieve a best-in-class customer experience and ensure the team delivers exceptional customer service.
Have a passion for cycling and develop your product knowledge across mountain, road, electric, leisure, kids and adventure bikes, clothing and accessories.
Engage with customers, from meeting and greeting to asking questions, listening, and understanding their needs.
Correctly process your sales and keep the customer up to date with progress.
Be a team player – support the Store Manager and the rest of your store team.
Create a positive working environment and deliver the WHEELBASE brand values and culture of openness, inclusivity and community.
The store must be merchandised daily following guidance from HQ and always presented to a high standard.
SKILLS AND INTERESTS:
Passionate about cycling.
Willingness to develop inter-personal skills and product knowledge.
Ability to be a team player and motivated to deliver the best customer service.
Have great commercial sense and be sales orientated.
An excellent communicator and relationship builder.
Ability to work under pressure in a busy retail environment.
Meet challenges with a positive attitude.
General IT skills.
HOURS: Part time 16 hours per week
SALARY: We offer a very competitive salary, based on ability and experience
HOLIDAY: 28 days paid holidays, including bank holidays (pro rata on days worked)
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
Generous staff discount scheme
Cycle to work scheme
Professional working environment
Casual but smart dress code
Staff social opportunities
TO APPLY: if you would like to apply to join the WHEELBASE Teesside team, please email a covering letter explaining the role you would like to apply for plus your experience and why you would be an ideal candidate to join the team, plus please attach an up-to-date CV.
CLOSING DATE: Sunday 19 June 2022
PLEASE NOTE: Due to high volumes of applications if you do not hear back from us with a request for an interview, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.
It’s time for a World Cup Downhill bike check! This is Danny Hart’s prototype Two15 HP downhill bike snapped at the recent UCI Downhill World Cup which took place at the iconic Fort William venue in the highlands of Scotland; our regular freelance photographer James Vincent was there for the weekend and managed to capture the Two15 HP in the pits. This is the second year that Danny is onboard Cube and this season he’s moved over from the Two15 production downhill bike to a brand new Two15 HP prototype bike for 2022. Why HP? Well HP signals that this new bike features a high pivot suspension configuration.
Regarded as the Formula One of mountain biking, the Downhill World Cup circuit sees the most significant prototyping of bikes and equipment within any discipline of cycling, with technical trends sweeping the pits faster than the latest viral pandemic. Previously we’ve had everyone racing to develop 29” wheel-sized downhill bikes, then came the mullet (more on that later) and now the latest obsession in the race paddock is the high pivot.
Danny’s Two15 HP prototype sported a fresh paintjob for the Fort William Downhill World Cup.
So what is a high pivot and what are the performance benefits? Last year saw an explosion of high pivot downhill bikes from many of the leading brands; a high-pivot suspension configuration moves the bike’s main pivot high above the chainring and the rear wheel axle to encourage an enhanced rearward axle path through the travel off the rear suspension. In the past one of the potential drawbacks of this sort of setup is that chain growth and pedal kickback can be an issue – basically as the rear axle travels trough its suspension the chain tightens and pulls back on the cranks. To solve this we have seen brands fit an ‘idler’ which is basically an extra jockey wheel placed above the chainring, eliminating those issues. The benefits of a high pivot are a more plush feel as your wheel moves rearwards and upwards away from obstacles rather than just upwards.
Danny fine-tuning his ride before the final on Sunday (spot the suspension telemetry recording data on his Fox Fork).
It’s no surprise to see Cube joining the high-pivot party and we saw Danny testing the bike earlier in the year before the season had started; he then showed up at round 1 of the World Cup in Lourdes, France on a raw-alloy version with an air shock before rocking up at Fort William on this painted version featuring a coil shock so it’s looking like we’re getting closer to a production model. As I mentioned earlier, Danny’s Two15 HP is a ‘mullet’ bike (business up front, party at the back) consisting of a 27.5” diameter rear wheel and a 29” diameter front wheel which gives him all the advantages of a faster-rolling front wheel with a more agile rear wheel that he can throw around tight turns a little easier. Being fairly short in stature too, Danny likes the smaller rear wheel when he’s throwing his weight over the back of the bike on steep drops because there’s less risk of him getting buzzed by the rear tyre.
Cube has been prototyping a high pivot version of their Two15 downhill bike during the early race season.
Danny had raced his raw alloy version of the Cube Two15 HP at UK National Downhill Series at Fort William a couple of weeks before the World Cup where he took the win so hopes were high for him going into the weekend of top-flight international racing. He qualified for the final with no dramas and was able to put in a solid run in the final to take an excellent 8th place at his biggest home race of the year. It’ll be interesting to see if this particular prototype becomes the final production version or whether we’ll see further developments before the end of the season. Watch this space!
It’s still in prototype but this bike’s working title is Two15 HP (HP indicating a high pivot).
Danny’s race mechanic tunes the Fox 40 Factory fork following rider feedback and telemetry data.
Danny ran an air shock at round 1 of the World Cup but chose a coil shock for the demanding Fort William course.
Spot the difference? The 2022 Two15 HP prototype features a high-pivot and idler creating a more rearward axle path for super-plush suspension.
The Two15 Prototype’s idler helps reduce chain growth and pedal kickback as the bike moves through its suspension travel.
Tried and tested; Danny sticks with a 7-speed SRAM XO rear derailleur.
A simple, no-nonsense 7-speed SRAM XO trigger shifter helps Danny easily find the right gear in any racing scenario.
Magura Raceline MT7 brakes are powerful and ready to scrub off speed in an instant.
Four pot brake calipers are the norm within World Cup downhill racing; Danny has paired his with 203mm rotors.
The Magura’s iconic fluro yellow stands out, so there’s no mistaking what brand of brake Danny’s running.
Raceline MT7’s are recognised for their superior stopping power.
The Magura Raceline MT 7 calipers look great as well as preforming flawlessly.
Danny runs a durable pair of Newman wheels in ‘mullet’ configuration – 29″ wheel up front and 27.5″ on the rear.
Newman Fade hubs are smooth and fast-rolling.
A typical sight at the World Cup pits, ‘First Ride’ denotes Schwalbe’s prototype and development program.
Schwalbe Magic Mary Super DH tyres feature plenty of sidewall protection.
Tyre choice is tricky at Fort William, with the top of the course being open, fast & rocky and the lower course being wooded & muddy.
Danny runs Cushcore inserts and Schwalbe Doc Blue sealant in his tyres.
The Cube Two15 HP features a pair of 770mm wide Race Face Atlas handlebars.
Danny says his Crud XL Fender is so good he almost doesn’t need to wear goggles.
Danny airs into the Fort William finishing arena to take an excellent 8th place.
The Cube Two15 HP prototype is shaping up to be a rapid Downhill World Cup machine.
Cube Two15 HP Prototype
Full Specification:
Frame: Cube Two15 HP Mullet
Shock: Fox DHX2 200mm travel
Fork: Fox 40 Factory 200mm
Cassette: SRAM XO 7 Speed
Derailleur: SRAM XO 7 Speed
Shifter: SRAM XO 7 Speed
Cranks: Race Face Atlas Direct Mount 165mm
Chainring Race Face Direct mount 34T
Chain Device: MRP SXG
Brakes: Magura Raceline MT 7
Rotors: Magura 203mm front & rear
Wheels: Newman 29″ front 27.5″ Rear
Tyres: Schwalbe Magic Mary First Ride (Prototype) 27.5″ rear, 29″ front
Inserts: Cushcore
Tubeless Sealant: Schwalbe Doc Blue
Stem: Race Face Atlas 50mm Long, 35mm Clamp
Handlebar: Race Face Atlas, 20mm Rise, 770mm Wide, 8° Back Sweep, 5° Up Sweep, 35mm Clamp
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!
Wheelbase are pleased to announce that we have added another fantastic bike brand to our folio! Say ‘hola’ to top Spanish bike brand Orbea; founded way back in 1840 in the city of Eibar in Spain’s Basque country. Orbea originally manufactured guns before diversifying into bicycle production, using their in-depth knowledge of steel tubing to produce premium, race-ready road bicycles. Leap forward 182 years and Orbea is now recognised around the world as being a bike brand at the cutting edge of bicycle design and production across a multitude of cycling disciplines including Road, Gravel, Mountain and E-MTB with racing success through the years within the biggest road races in the world and more recently, at the mountain bike Enduro World Series and World Cup Cross Country mountain bike races.
Today Orbea can rightfully claim to be one of the very best, most-influential bike brands within the industry as they continue to develop cutting-edge bikes that are born out of the performance demands of racing competition but are designed to enhance the riding experience of cyclists at every skill and fitness level. We have had Orbea on our radar for a long time and have been relishing the chance to work with them so that we can bring you some really fantastic bikes including their sublime Rise e-MTB which promises to deliver a completely new e-MTB riding experience and is already garnering a lot of well-earned attention on the Wheelbase shop floor. We’ve focused in on the Rise e-MTB for an in-depth product feature below as well as picking out another few key models that we think stand out for all the right reasons…
Orbea was founded in 182 years ago in 1840 by the Orbea brothers in Eibar in the Basque Country of Northern Spain.
Product Feature – Orbea Rise E-MTB
Check out the stunning Orbea Rise e-MTB! No, that’s not a typo or a slip of the keyboard, 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. Orbea is a new brand to Wheelbase and when we sat down to decide on the key models we were going to initially stock the brilliant Rise was at the very top of our list; we knew the minute we set eyes on it, that Orbea had set out to do something entirely different with the Rise compared to most other e-MTB’s on the market and we were keen to learn more about the design principles behind the light, agile e-MTB.
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.
Blink and you’ll miss it; the Orbea Rise M20 e-MTB is so svelte it’s easy to miss that this is an e-Mountain bike.
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.
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.
The compact Shimano EP8 motor has been specially tuned to work with Orbea’s Rider Synergy (RS) firmware.
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.
Find out more about the Rise and its unique Shimano EP8 Rider Synergy (RS) tuned motor.
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.
We already love the Orbea Rise 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. We’re confident there’s a considerable audience for exactly this kind of e-MTB and it’s great to see Orbea at the forefront of this sort of technology. In the short amount of time that we’ve had the Rise on our shop floor we’ve heard plenty of people questioning whether or not it’s an e-MTB they’re looking; it’s a stunning looking bike that promises a whole new e-mountain biking experience.
The Orbea Rise promises a whole new e-MTB riding experience.
The Orbea Wild FS is a fun and capable full-suspension e-MTB that features progressive, trail-focused geometry with 160mm of travel to handle the most technically demanding descents you can find. Large 29er wheels roll over the roughest terrain, helping you carry your speed regardless of whether you’re pointing the Wild uphill or downhill; speaking of uphill the Wild FS range includes powerful Bosch motors to help ferry you back up to the top of your favourite trail. If you suffer from ‘range anxiety’ you can even fit a second battery to extend the Wild FS’s range up to a massive 1125 Watt Hours.
The Occam is Orbea’s super-agile trail or ‘enduro-lite’ mountain bike available in either carbon or alloy and featuring 140-150mm of travel with the rear suspension configuration able to accommodate either an air or coil shock. The Occam can boast modern, confidence-inspiring trail geometry which includes a slacker head angle, lower bottom bracket, longer reach, steep seat angle and a longer, more stable wheelbase.
The Laufey is Orbea’s versatile alloy hardtail designed to bring the fun to your mountain bike riding. It’s a slack, simple trail bike which can handle fast, frenetic riding and big hits. Featuring large 29er wheels shod with wide 2.6” tyres there’s plenty of grip on tight, loose terrain and those large-diameter wheels will help you carry more speed while enjoying a smoother ride. All Laufey models feature long-travel 140mm suspension forks to help you blast down the most technically demanding trails you can find while relaxed, trail-friendly geometry will have you railing turns and tackling steep drops with new-found confidence.
Orbea’s great-looking Terra gravel bike is available in alloy or carbon options and represents a truly versatile option when it comes to a light, durable and super-fun-to-ride mixed-terrain bike. Both the alloy and carbon options feature fully-integrated cockpits with internal cables running through the stem and into the frame and fork. The carbon Terra includes Orbea’s Lockr system which provides a storage area inside the downtube and both bikes include multiple mounting points. Tyre clearance is always an important consideration when choosing a gravel bike; the Terra can accommodate 700c tyres up to 45mm wide and 650b tyres up to 50mm wide.
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!
It was a case of ‘Super Sunny Saturday’ on May the 14th as Wheelbase Lake District hosted their Road & Gravel Bike Demo Day. In similar scenes to our Pinarello Demo day which took place during a heat wave last July, riders were welcomed with blue skies and warm temperatures, all keen to try out the very best dream bikes from Pinarello, BMC and Cannondale. With attendees pre-booked to ride their first choice of bike and each of the three brands providing fleets of premium demo bikes the day was an opportunity for individuals to head out on as many as 5 separate rides to compare how each bike performed up against the other on a fast and undulating road circuit packed with short, punchy climbs and fast, sweeping descents.
Our road bike demo riders enjoyed crackin’ weather and fast dry roads.
This time around we were also providing riders with the chance to try out some of the latest gravel bikes from Pinarello, BMC and Cannondale, with a nice little 50 minute loop from the shop, out onto some of our secret and very fun gravel lanes that crisscross the local countryside. All road and gravel rides were expertly chaperoned by fully-qualified local guides Rachel and Lucy along with Glen who helped us plot the entertaining gravel bike loop and former Team Sky professional Russ Downing who had raced on Pinarello bikes for a good amount of his road racing career. Russ was on hand to talk through the finer points of each Pinarello model while helping to keep the road riders in good spirits as they explored the south Lake District. Cannondale brought along their brand ambassador Dan Evans, the former National Hillclimb Champion who not only helped to manage the fleet of stunning Cannondale road and gravel bikes, fitting riders to their size of bike, but also got out on a couple of rides and showed his talent for climbing hills on his back wheel only.
Pinarello UK were on hand to ensure each bike was perfectly set up and ready to ride.
BIG thanks to everyone who joined us for the Road & Gravel Demo Day; we hope you enjoyed the experience! Thanks too to Pinarello UK, Cannondale and BMC for helping us to provide such a fun and enjoyable day of riding, giving our attendees a real taste of what they can expect from the very best bikes available.
Russ Downing and Dan Evans joined us on each ride and were on-hand to talk through the finer points of each bike.
For those of you that missed the opportunity to join us this time, keep a watch on our social media channels and subscribe to our emails if you haven’t already and next time we host another demo you’ll be at the front of the queue!
Check out the awesome photos below by our regular photographer James Vincent who was there with us to capture the day…
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!
Have you heard? There’s a new gravel bike in town and this thing’s super-versatile! Our latest product feature takes a deep dive into the all-new Cannondale Topstone Carbon 2 L gravel bike. The new 2022 range of carbon Topstones launched at the beginning of March (see our launch feature here) and once we’d set our eyes on them we eagerly awaited the arrival of a test-bike to allow us to spend some quality time riding and getting to know this new-gen gravel bike. Cannondale sent us the all new Topstone Carbon 2 L spec’d with a Shimano GRX 800/810 mix groupset and their unique SmartSense lighting system; after spending a few weeks onboard this super-fun gravel bike we’d like to run through all of the key features and let you know what we think of the ride out on the demanding gravel tracks and trails of the south Lake District.
After the recent product launch we were eager to get a ride on the all-new Topstone Carbon.
Watch our Topstone Carbon 2 L bike check video.
Over the last few years it’s fair to say that the Cannondale Topstone has been a really popular gravel bike option for our Wheelbase customers. Cannondale’s large range of carbon and alloy Topstones have helped plenty of cyclists get into the ever-evolving world of gravel biking, but we think it’s fair to say that as time goes on the gravel bike genre continues to diversify somewhat into separate sub-genres – think 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 new-generation Topstone Carbon 2 L came to life in the Kentmere valley in the South Lakes.
Some brands have produced gravel bikes that meet these demands separately – there’s a specific bike for Bikepacking, a specific bike for gravel racing and so on. Cannondale have rather brilliantly created a carbon gravel bike that is so versatile that it can excel in all the gravel riding scenarios we’ve highlighted above. With all bikes featuring their unique Kingpin rear suspension configuration the small range of 2022 Topstone Carbon gravel bikes cater to every style of riding; for example choose the Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty for rowdy riding on the trails thanks to their super-plush 30mm travel Lefty Oliver front fork, or the Topstone Carbon 3 650b for the option to run a fatter, more capable tyre. Alternatively if you’re focused on speedy efficiency and covering distance while carrying your Bikepacking luggage choose the Topstone Carbon 2 L that we’re looking at today and benefit from Cannondale’s SmartSense lighting system, allowing you to continue riding late into the night.
The Topstone Carbon 2 L benefits from Cannondale’s SmartSense integrated lighting system. (It can be removed if preferred).
There’s been a significant number of design improvements compared to the previous-generation Topstone Carbon. The all-new Topstone Carbon 2 L can boast a faster and more agile-looking silhouette to its predecessor and just looks more fun to ride from the get-go. There’s a dramatically increased slope to the top tube which now looks more in proportion to their unique rear triangle featuring the Kingpin pivot point; as well as looking better, the practical benefits of this is an increased stand over which will mean you’ll be able to move more freely when you’re riding technical terrain and if you have to get off in a hurry you’ll be less likely to get painfully tangled with the top tube. While the top tube has been tweaked we’re pleased to say that on the whole the bike’s geometry stays the same, including that relaxed head angle which makes the ride feel stable and confidence inspiring while the bike’s short chainstays still mean the bike is agile and easy to throw around on technical trails.
The new-generation Topstone Carbon gravel bike strikes a nice balance, feeling stable and confidence-inspiring while being playful and agile too.
KEY FEATURES
Kingpin Suspension You’ll probably already be familiar with Cannondale’s iconic Kingpin suspension system from the original Topstone Carbon. For the new 2022 version the same rear suspension now features a low-friction bushing which is more durable than the previous model’s cartridge bearing setup. This simple system which relies on the engineered flex of the carbon fibre rear triangle gives 30mm of travel at the saddle and 10mm at the rear axle; it takes the sting out of rough terrain without adding any extra weight or complexity and is completely maintenance-free.
The Kingpin pivot works in unison with some clever carbon layup in the frame construction to give up to 30mm of travel at the saddle.
The new 2022 version of the Topstone’s Kingpin pivot features a low-friction bushing rather than the bearings seen in the previous version.
Kingpin takes the sting out of rough terrain without adding unwanted complexity or weight to the Topstone Carbon.
OutFront Steering The Topstone Carbon features Cannondale’s OutFront steering, providing confidence-inspiring handling for a stable ride in the chop when things get a little rowdy, while remaining light and nimble when you’re winding your way through tight singletrack or are pointing the bike uphill.
Cannondale’s OutFront steering is stable and confidence-inspiring.
SmartSense All bikes in the 2022 Topstone Carbon range are either equipped or are ready to upgrade to Cannondale’s SmartSense system which entails front & rear lights, rear radar and an integrated PowerPack. The Cannondale Topstone 2 L includes the ambient reactive front and rear lights but does not include Garmin’s rear radar. For those of you who prefer not to have the SmartSense system on your bike, it can be removed with the PowerPack recess acting as a cradle for Cannondale’s Topstone trail-side tool kit.
The SmartSense front light developed in partnership with Lezyne reacts to ambient light, increasing in brightness as darkness falls.
The SmartSense rear light is ambient-light-reactive too.
At the heart of Cannondale’s SmartSense system is the integrated PowerPack battery.
Superior Carrying Capability Cannondale have done everything possible to encourage you to spend longer on your gravel bike. Instead of doing your usual out and back ride in ‘a oner’ why not load up the Topstone Carbon 2 L with everything you’ll need for a multi-day adventure. There’s plentiful gear and water bottle mount bosses on the frame and fork for all of your Bikepacking luggage.
With multiple gear and water bottle mounts this bike’s got more bosses than corporate middle-management.
Proportional Response Cannondale have included their Proportional Response principle to the construction of each frame size in the Topstone Carbon range. Size-specific construction, with different carbon layups specific to the size of frame and fork means that every size of rider experiences exactly the same ride quality.
Proportional Response means each size of bike gives exactly the same ride quality.
Increased Tyre Clearance and Greater Wheel Compatibility The new 2022 Topstone Carbon 2 L includes a significant change to its wheel and frame configuration compared to the previous generation Topstone. Gone is their unique Ai wheel and frame system which meant that the wheels had to dished differently to conventional wheels and swapping out wheels from one bike to another was more complicated than it had to be. Now all wheels are standard dished for easy interchangeability; the other improvement is seen in the mud-shedding clearance capability of the new Topstone. Thanks to that new dropped drive-side chainstay you can now run up to 45mm wide tyres and still benefit from 6mm of clearance between tyre and frame.
The new Topstone Carbon can take 45mm tyres and still have 6mm of clearance between tyre and frame.
Clever use of a dropped chainstay on the new Topstone Carbon frame allows for wider tyres.
Threaded Bottom Bracket
Cannondale have returned to a conventional threaded bottom bracket for the new generation Topstone Carbon. This is a trend that we’re seeing across all of the top bike brands and the rational is twofold; the first reason is that it makes home bike maintenance easier and means quick bottom bracket changes are a more realistic option – a plus if you’re touring remote areas of the world on your Topstone! Secondly, by moving away from a press-fit to a threaded bottom bracket any potential for unwanted noise reverberating through the frame is removed. The people have spoken and Cannondale have listened.
SPECIFICATION
The Cannondale Topstone Carbon 2 L comes spec’d with a great mix of components including Shimano’s gravel-specific GRX Groupset. With a mix of GRX 800 and GRX 810 components making up this 11-speed drivetrain you can be confident that your gears will continue to function flawlessly even when conditions get particularly wet and muddy.
Shimano’s gravel-specific GRX groupset more than meets the demands of off-road riding.
Shimano’s GRX gear shifter and brake lever units, designed specifically to meet the demands of gravel riding, give a secure hand-hold even when wet thanks to their embossed brake hoods. Every gear selection is light, crisp and precise, while braking feels powerful and controlled regardless of whether your hands are positioned on the hoods or on the drops. This is partly down to Shimano cleverly repositioning the pivot-point of the brake lever, compared to their road-going equivalents to help make braking leverage more effective when you’re predominantly riding with your hands on the hoods.
The GRX shifter and brake units feature clever ergonomic detailing to better suit off-road riding.
Little details like the embossed rubber brake hoods help to keep you in control even in wet weather.
Gear ratio choice on a gravel bike can make or break how much fun you’re having while riding on mixed terrain; if your gears are too low then you’ll be spinning out on the roads and faster gravel sections. Equally if your gears are too high you’ll be running out gears on steep and loose climbs and will struggle to keep momentum. Thankfully the Shimano GRX groupset has every eventuality covered with a double 48/31T chainset up front combined with a wide ratio 11-34T 11-speed cassette out back giving you almost every gear ratio you’ll need on any mixed terrain adventure. With the Topstone Carbon more than willing to carry a Bikepacking load too these low climbing gears will come in handy when you’re heading out fully-laden with luggage on multi-day riding adventures.
The GRX chainset featuring 48/31T chainrings provides versatile gear ratios to suit all riding scenarios.
The GRX 810 rear derailleur with clutch mechanism means every gear selection is precise and your chain stays securely located.
Scrubbing off speed quickly and effectively off-road is an absolute must; gravel bikes have a habit of pulling you into more and more technical terrain as you continue to discover new tracks and trails. The beauty of a light, fast carbon fibre gravel bike is that you’ll be able to all-but dance up smooth gravel climbs; however, pointed downhill on tight, technical singletrack descents you’ll very quickly find yourself riding at your limits. A good pair of brakes is going to help you make drastic changes to your speed and remain in control even when things get rowdy. Cannondale have spec’d a pair of 160mm disc rotors married up to a pair of powerful GRX 800 hydraulic disc brake callipers to help ensure you’re always in control.
Powerful Shimano GRX 800 hydraulic brakes scrub speed off quickly and keep you in control even you’re pushing the limits.
Cannondale have fitted the Topstone Carbon 2 L with a pair of light, fast-rolling but durable WTB KOM Light i23 TCS rims laced to smooth Formula hubs for a no-nonsense wheelset that will stand up to the increased rigours of riding off-road for the majority of the time. The rims are tubeless-ready and are already taped; Cannondale ship the Topstone with tubeless valves and the process of converting over to tubeless is quick and easy. We did this with the Vittoria Terreno Dry 38c tubeless-ready tyres before testing the bike and have found the set up to be 100% reliable. The Terreno tyres feature an almost slick central tread with a more pronounced profile on the outer edges of the tyre; we have been impressed with how these tyres performed both on road and off-road, but they may be challenged by the sort of wet and muddy riding conditions more commonly found here in the Lake District; as it was, with dry and dusty trails, they performed flawlessly.
The Vittoria Terreno Dry tubeless tyres have performed well and roll really fast and efficiently on smoother terrain.
Finishing off the Topstone Carbon 2 L spec is a collection of propriety parts from Cannondale; the carbon SAVE seatpost, which has been specially developed to accommodate their SmartSense rear light, is a lightweight carbon post which flexes a little in unison with the frame’s Kingpin configuration further adding to the bikes’ compliance and comfort in the saddle. All good gravel bikes need a nice wide handlebar with flared drops to really help both bike and rider descend off-road with confidence and control. The Topstone Carbon 2 L features a Cannondale 2 ShortDrop alloy bar with a 12 degree flare which really helps you hold that nice wide stance, helping distribute weight more evenly and increasing steering leverage on tight turns. The final contact point is taken care of with a Fizik Terra Argo x5 saddle with a nice stubby-nose profile and mid-with profile which will suit most riders and proved to be comfortable even on long all-day epics.
Nice wide Cannondale 2 ShortDrop alloy bars with a 12 degree flare really help with leverage and control on tight, loose turns.
THE RIDE
We’ve had the Topstone Carbon 2 L for a good few weeks now here at Wheelbase and have had a really good opportunity to put the bike through its paces on a variety of terrain and in slightly different riding scenarios such as short, sharp blasts on technical terrain and longer, more endurance-based rides that take in a mix of road and high-elevation gravel roads, with multiple hours spent in the saddle.
We put the all-new Topstone Carbon through its paces on multiple terrains.
The Topstone Carbon has excelled within every cycling scenario; on the longer mixed terrain rides the bike performed really well, zipping along on the road at speeds not dissimilar to a typical road ride. In fact on the sort of weather-beaten broken-up back roads of Lancashire and the South Lakes the Topstone was a real asset, with those 38mm tyres and the wide handlebars giving us a greater sense of control than if we were on our road bikes; this had one tester wondering why they even owned a ‘proper’ road bike at all!
Super-efficient AND super-fun the Topstone really comes to life when you point it off-road.
Once the Topstone had swung off the tarmac and hit some long gravel climbs the clever Kingpin pivot and sophisticated carbon fibre construction of the rear of the bike really came into its own. Climbing for more than half an hour to the highest point of the ride the Topstone Carbon 2 L was super-comfortable in the saddle even when the terrain became particularly rough and it was easy to keep momentum and retain traction on loose gravel surfaces as the Kingpin did its thing. It’s subtle; the bike’s not bobbing up and down and there’s nothing gimmicky going on. You don’t feel any unwanted movement when you’re putting the power down on smoother terrain, you just notice after a while that you’re staying the saddle more than you thought you might have and that you’re not feeling beat up and uncomfortable.
Johnny rode the Topstone Carbon over Lancashire’s Salter Fell gravel road to get a feel for how it performed on long-distance off-road rides.
As we’ve mentioned already, the geometry of the all-new Topstone Carbon is almost identical to its predecessor which is great as Cannondale have nailed it when it comes to angles that keep you stable at speed while retaining a good amount of responsiveness and agility thanks to the short chainstays. At no point did the bike begin to feel skittish or nervous on the descents and when we took the bike onto tight, technical singletrack we didn’t loose control or feel like the bike was getting away from us.
Adam was ready and willing to push the Topstone Carbon 2 L to its limits off-road.
While the new 2022 frame’s top tube has been lowered for increased stand over, that trail-friendly geometry stays the same.
THE FINAL VERDICT
We keep coming back to this point but it’s worth reiterating; Cannondale have created a REALLY versatile gravel bike with the Topstone Carbon. It feels fast and spritely on the road and it’s fun and agile on those sort of short, local after-work blasts that are so much at this time of year. Heading out on longer rides it instantly becomes a reliable pack-horse and is more than ready to ferry you and your Bikepacking luggage over vast distances. It is probably the most comfortable drop handle bar bike I have ever ridden and it’s a bold statement, but if had to set off on an around-the-world Bikepacking trip tomorrow THIS is the bike I would reach for.
The all-new Topstone Carbon 2 L is clearly in-step with the evolution of gravel biking and is a super-versatile machine.
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!
We captured all the action of the 2022 Fred Whitton Challenge, check it out.
The 22nd edition of the Fred Whitton Challenge sponsored by Wheelbase took place in glorious weather under blue skies on Sunday the 8th of May. Back in its rightful mid-spring slot following the delayed September edition last year due to the impact of Covid-19, riders were treated to dry roads and plenty of road-side support dotted all around the long 112 mile course, set in the heart of the Lake District National Park.
The Weather was perfect with clear skies revealing the jagged peaks every where you looked.
The Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge can rightfully claim to be the UK’s most grueling Sportive taking in all the major mountain passes in the Lake District, with each climb striking some level of fear in even the most accomplished of cyclists. Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Wrynose and Blea Tarn test each and every rider with the poster child – Hardknott Pass and its 30% gradients proving to be almost unrideable for a great number of participants. There was over 3,500 metres of climbing to navigate with Hardknott coming late in the day, 94 miles into the 112 course.
Everyone finds their own pace at the Whitton and friendships are easily formed out on the road.
Over 2,000 riders took on the challenge this year on a day which saw cyclists from all over the UK forming new friendships, with natural groups of similar-paced riders forming on the road. Some of the biggest road-side support came at the top of Whinlatter, with scenes reminiscent of a Tour De France mountain stage; riders climbing through crowds of supporters ringing cow bells and shouting encouragement.
The local Kendal Cycling Club was well represented at the Fred Whitton Challenge.
It would be a long day for many participants which saw cyclists heading out from the village of Grasmere as early as 6.00am on Sunday morning and the last arrivals back at the finish crossing the line at 6.40pm. Wheelbase would like to congratulate every single rider who took part and faced this arduous challenge, helping to create a fantastic day as well as raising a huge amount of money for charity, with this year’s edition of the Fred Whitton Challenge helping to make the total raised through the years to over 2 million pounds.
With great weather and safe, dry roads there was plenty to smile about at this year’s Fred Whitton Challenge.
As well as sponsoring the event and providing mechanical assistance before the start Wheelbase also fielded four of our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team riders and challenged them to see if they could set the fastest finishing time of the day. Our multi-cycling-discipline star Giles Drake who is more typically seen racing off-road in Cyclocross, Gravel and Mountain Bike races took on the Fred Whitton Challenge for the first time and came home in first place with an amazing time of 5 hours and 35 minutes. The top three was rounded out by two other Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli riders with Tom Merry taking 2nd place and Oli Dawson taking 3rd place in 5.40.29 and 5.50.34 respectively. Giles’ effort over this attritional course is simply stunning with a 20 mph average speed! Check out his Strava stats below…
Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli’s Giles Drake set the fastest time of the event with a stunning performance on the bike.
Fatigued riders had to ride carefully on some of the steepest, most winding descents on the course.
The long and technical descent off Blea Tarn was a welcome relief to tired legs.
Despite a huge entry of over 2,000 riders the long, arduous 112 mile course had riders spread over many miles.
The smiles say it all – relief that the worst of the climbs are behind you.
On a glorious day in the Lakes there was plenty of road-side support for each and every rider taking on the Fred Whitton Challenge.
Huge congratulations to everyone who came and conquered the grueling Fred Whitton Challenge.
Riders had travelled from far and wide to take on the UK’s most challenging sportive.
Afterwards there was a chance to sit back, relax and enjoy a well-earned post-ride beer.
The 2022 edition of the Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge was a great success, thanks in no-small-part to all the hard work of a huge team of volunteers.
There were plenty of tales to tell at the end of the Fred Whitton Challenge with riders comparing how they had fared.
Did you ride the Fred? Check out our huge Facebook photo gallery and see if you can spot yourself.
Wheelbase’s Giles Drake had the fastest ride of the day, completing the course in 5 hours and 36 minutes.
Tom Merry of the Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team had the 2nd fastest time with 5 hours and 40 minutes.
Rounding out the top three was another of our talented Wheelbase squad – Oli Dawson finished his ride in 5 hours and 50 minutes.
Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli’s Dave Duggan had a puncture early on but still managed to place 96th overall with a time of 6 hours and 55 minutes.
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!
The Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team headed to Lincolnshire for the first round of the National Road Series to take on the demanding Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, one of the UK’s most-cherished one-day races regarded by racers and spectators alike as a true British classic.
Young Scot Matti Dobbins was in action again representing Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli.
Wheelbase sent a young team, looking to gain valuable racing experience within one of the hardest road races on the calendar with Logan Maclean, Callum Thornley, Matti Dobbins and Matt Fox in attendance and ready to race as a cohesive team. In the team car we had former Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team racer Alex Turner behind the wheel, providing valuable tactical guidance and support by calling on his valuable racing experience. Tyla Loftus stepped in with mechanical support at what can be a puncture-heavy race thanks to the infamous cobbled stretches of the Lincoln GP; meanwhile Ryan was helping out as team Soigneur, handing out bottles and making sure each rider had everything they needed to perform.
There was no soft-pedalling at the Lincoln GP, racing was full-on from the start.
Preparation is key and with this young team lacking some experience of racing the biggest races in the UK they used the day before the race as an opportunity to pre-ride the circuit to really get their heads around the course and to get a better understanding of where they should position themselves as well as mastering their gear selection for the steep, cobbled climb of Michaelgate.
It wasn’t Callum’s day, but he’s already showed a real talent for racing this season and is looking forward to the upcoming Stockton GP.
Come race day and the action came thick and fast from the gun; Logan Maclean and Matt Fox managed to position themselves at the front of the bunch before the first ascent of the infamously steep and cobbled climb of Michaelgate; Logan crested the climb at the head of the stretched out group of cyclists with Matt in around 10th position. The mood in the peloton was tense with the constant risk off crashes coming from such close racing on a really technical circuit. In one particularly sketchy moment Logan ended up in a power slide on the curb as he tried to avoid a crash in front of him just before the feed zone; this pushed Logan’s heartrate even higher as he attempted to keep pace within the action.
Young racer Logan Maclean continues to ride strongly while gaining valuable racing experience.
Crowds were immense with our rider’s ears ringing each time the team tackled the cobbled climb and the great weather meant that the Lincoln GP was a fantastic day out for spectators. Feedback from the lads after the race highlighted that the hardest part of the race was each time the bunch crested the main climb with some of the bigger teams doing everything they could to split the bunch to pieces. As the racing progressed Matti Dobbins and Callum Thornley got caught out on this most selective part of the course; Matti lost contact at around 120km into the race and Callum popped too after a fantastic racing effort.
Logan and Matt rode well together to stay at the sharp end of the race.
Meanwhile our Aussie recruit Matt Fox was revelling in this atrocious race, constantly fighting for position at the front with little or no fear for the level of racing he was taking on. Reflecting the effort required to even be at the front of the race it’s worth noting that Logan’s max speed approaching the Michaelgate climb was 75kmph; the tenacious young Scotsman didn’t have the best legs on the day but did manage to chase back onto the bunch after missing the split at the top of the climb to go into the last lap securely positioned in the bunch.
Callum Thornley is cheered up the cobbled Michaelgate climb.
As the race came to a close Luke Lamperti of the Trinity team took the win with Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli’s Logan Maclean taking a great 36th position over the line and Matt Fox showing true Aussie grit to take 59th place. At the post-race debrief Logan was initially downbeat, however, on reflection he could see that he had gained valuable racing experience and finished one of the UK’s most gruelling one-day road races in the national series. This was his first race with a length of over 100 miles this year and finishing only 1 minute and 29 seconds after the winner should be applauded.
Matt Fox continues to show true Aussie grit in every race he competes in.
Looking forward to the upcoming races, the Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team can take what they learnt from the Lincoln GP into the Premier Calendar Stockton GP road race which should suit Callum as an accomplished sprinter and there’s plenty of hilly races ahead of them too which riders like Logan are already looking forward to. Well done to our lads on a great showing at Lincoln and special thanks to the team staff for diligently supporting our riders behind the scenes.
It’s clear to see how deep Logan had to go to finish in 36th place.
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!
One of the perks of working in the bike trade is, that from time to time, you’ll get the opportunity to test ride some of the latest, greatest bikes available from the best brands in the bike industry. Andrew Barlow who works at our Lake District store recently got the chance to spend a few weeks getting to know the Mondraker Crafty RR e-MTB better. Having the Crafty RR over spring gave Andrew the opportunity to undertake a long term test for Wheelbase. Here’s his thoughts…
Andrew’s been putting the Mondraker Crafty RR through its paces in the Lake District National Park.
We all know that e-MTB’s are the future, whether you like it or not! The 2022 Mondraker Crafty RR has given me endless hours of fun over the past month or so while I have been riding this exceedingly capable steed.
The Crafty RR has been liberating for Andrew, encouraging him to explore ever-more remote areas of the Lake District.
Now, Mondraker for me has always been a brand that I gravitate towards, niche-y yet inclusive, independent yet affordable and I do feel like the Elche-based brand from the south of Spain strikes that balance particularly well. Here’s my quick overview of this super-fun eMTB from Mondraker. Starting with the battery and motor – the Gen 4 Bosch Performance Line CX Cruise motor with Bosch Smart System is absolutely flawless; I’m impressed by how this latest iteration is 48% smaller, making the e-MTB’s chassis more compact and agile; with the Bosch Powertube 750Wh internal battery hidden in the downtube for a stable, low centre of gravity while making for a particularly clean aesthetic.
The Mondraker Crafty RR coped brilliantly with the extra demands that come with a full Bikepacking load.
The all-new Kiox display positioned on the handlebar stem is vibrant and user friendly much like its predecessors but with more functions such as being able to see your cadence and heart rate, as well as having Bluetooth connectivity. One thing’s for sure, with that 750Wh in-tube battery there’s none of the classic ‘range anxiety’ you may experience on some e-MTB’s spec’d with less powerful batteries. Riding in excess of 50km ridden and with elevation profiles of over 1200 meters I would still be riding home with over 30% charge remaining. This latest large-capacity battery is a considerable breakthrough in the e-MTB world enabling you to just head out, have fun and ride wherever the wheels may take you.
A budding landscape photographer, Andrew used the Crafty RR to quickly gain elevation in a race against fading light.
So let’s consider the Mondraker Crafty RR’s suspension. Up front there’s a Fox 38 29” Float GRIP2 Factory fork with Kashima coating providing 160mm of plush travel; these forks combined with a nice slack 65.5 degree head angle really makes for a stable, confidence-inspiring ride; likewise the rear Fox Float-X LV Factory Kashima shock gives 150mm of rear travel to encourage you to blast through the roughest terrain. With this setup rolling on large 29” wheels the ride is as forgiving as you’d hope it to be and during my time on the Crafty RR I rode way beyond my usual capabilities.
Andrew will be the first to admit that the Crafty RR gave him a whole new level of ability on the challenging descents of the Lake District.
It’s not too bold of me to say that Mondraker really did revolutionise mountain bike handling when it introduced its super-short stem and longer-reach top tube ‘Forward Geometry’. Pretty much every other mountain bike brand has now followed the lead with this sort of progressive geometry; slack headtube angles combined with steeper seat tube angles are now not as niche as they used to be. It might be old news but it’s still worth highlighting how Mondraker’s innovative geometry still makes for a such a stable, nimble, confidence-inspiring riding experience.
With a compact Bosch Performance Line CX Cruise motor and internal 750Wh battery it’s a case of blink and you might miss the fact it’s an e-MTB.
All other components including the Crafty RR’s drivetrain and brakes performed flawlessly regardless of the riding conditions I was faced with and, to be honest, I’ve been up against some challenging weather here in the Lake District this spring! The Mondraker e-MTB handled it all with no issues; with a good mix of 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle groupset components I had all of the gears I needed at my fingertips with each selection being crisp and precise via a light-touch SRAM trigger shifter. A big-travel e-MTB is quickly going to pick up speed and will get you into trouble just as quickly if you can’t scrub off speed quickly and effectively. Thankfully Mondraker have spec’d the Crafty RR with a pair of powerful SRAM Code with 4-piston callipers designed to hack off huge chunks of speed in an instant; combined with large-diameter 200mm Centerline disc rotors you can be sure that when things get a little out of control you’ll be able to wrestle the bike back into control. They certainly saved my bacon more than once!
Super-fast trail shredder or reliable pack-horse the Mondraker Crafty RR will excel at whatever you challenge it with.
Overall I would describe the Mondraker Crafty RR as capable and adaptable; as you’ll see from my recent photos, I’ve put the Crafty up to the challenge of some late-winter Bikepacking duties and it passed with flying colours by morphing into a faithful pack-horse for the duration of my adventures. For me the Mondraker Crafty RR signifies exactly where the very pinnacle of e-MTB technology is right now; increased power and more range combined with an improved compact configuration and super-agile handling. If you’re thinking of heading to what some call the “dark side” for the first time and are looking for an e-MTB that can do it all the Crafty will boost your confidence and put a smile back on your face. You’ll be able to blast up the climbs you’ve always loathed and with that 750Wh battery you won’t have to worry about your battery draining in front of your eyes!
Rear Shock: Fox Float-X LV Factory Kashima, 205x65mm. Settings: compression 2 positions lever, low-speed compression, low-speed rebound, air preload. Trunnion top mount, 25x10mm bottom bushings
Fork: Fox 38 29 Float GRIP2 Factory Kashima, 160mm, e-bike tuned, tapered steerer tube, Boost 15x110mm axle, offset 44mm. Settings: high and low-speed compression, high and low-speed rebound, air preloa
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX Cruise (25Km/h) Bosch Smart System
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!
