Author: John Dodgin

Launched today! Introducing the all-new Cervelo Aspero-5 series…

…following hot on the heels of Cervelo’s original Aspero gravel bike, today sees the launch of the all-new Aspero-5 model featuring a number of significant upgrades from the original Aspero. As we’ve highlighted before in our regular Fast Bike Friday feature, there is now a veritable sea of gravel bikes out there, with an ever-growing range of options when it comes to exactly what type of gravel riding you want to do. When you start looking in more depth at the type of gravel bikes currently on offer you soon discover that there are ‘sub-types’ within the gravel bike genre – super-lightweight aero race machines, tough utilitarian bike-packing machines, affordable alloy bikes with geometries that are closer to more traditional road bikes, playful burly options with 650b wheels & dropper posts and carbon gravel bikes with cleverly engineered technology designed to isolate you from rough terrain.

Let’s be clear, the Aspero-5 is an out-and-out performance gravel bike designed for speed, with Cervelo describing it as an off-road race bike. As the gravel bike market grows and evolves we have found that our customers are coming over to gravel riding from three very different cycling disciplines – mountain biking, light-touring and road riding; the pattern so far is that the MTB’ers tend to gravitate to the more playful, burly options, sometimes with larger-volume 650B wheels and relaxed angles. The adventure and light-touring cyclists are looking for functional utilitarian gravel bikes capable of carrying a load. The roadies coming over to gravel bring their high-fitness and performance expectations with them and this is where the Cervelo Aspero-5 really fits the bill.

The Cervelo Aspero-5 features an all-new cockpit with internal cables running trough the carbon bars, into the alloy stem and through into the carbon frame and fork. You can adjust the trail of the fork by simply changing the position of the fork dropouts; the ‘Trailmix’ dropout comes into effect when you’re moving from a 700c to a 650B wheel size, allowing you to fine tune the wheelbase of the bike and the contact patches of your tyres. Another trend we’re seeing with our gravel customers is a mix in preferences for the bike’s drivetrain, again the split tends to be between riders coming over from road and mountain biking; MTB’ers tend to enjoy the 1X drivetrain for its simplicity and performance off-road. Roadies on the whole seem to prefer a 2X drivetrain, giving them a slightly larger range of gears that are better suited to rides than spread themselves equally between miles on and off-road. Cervelo have included two SRAM 1X options and one Shimano GRX 2X option within this new Aspero-5 sub-range of gravel bikes; there’s a neat removeable front derailleur mount on the frame to cater to all tastes.

All Cervelo-5 models include a fully-integrated bar, stem, frame & fork combo. The bar on each bike is a carbon bar with a slight flare but nothing too excessive – another hint towards this bike’s focus on high-speed performance. There’s some welcome rubberised downtube protection to protect the carbon frame from small rocks and stones flipping up from gravel roads; Cervelo have spec’d a 27.2 carbon seatpost to help add a little bit of compliance and enhanced comfort when you’re in the saddle. As we mentioned earlier, there’s the option to run 700c or 650B wheels and tyres; when is comes to clearance between frame and tyre you’ll be able to run a maximum tyre width of 51mm on 650B wheels and 45mm wide tyres on 700c wheels. Check out the full specs of the three Aspero-5 models below…

Cervelo Aspero-5 Red eTap AXS 1 £10,799.00  We will have a 54cm in Lime Shimmer in stock in two weeks time – contact us to pre-order!…

Full Specification:

• Frame: Cervelo Aspero-5 Carbon
• Fork: Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Áspero-5 Fork with Adjustable Trail
• Headset: FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2
• Thru Axles: Cervelo Indexed Thru-Axles w/ Lever, 12×100/142
• Shifters: SRAM RED eTap AXS HRD 12 spd
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM RED eTap AXS Max Wide 12 spd
• Front Derailleur: N/A
• Cassette: SRAM Force 12s XG1270, 10-36
• Crankset: SRAM Red AXS 1 with Power Meter 36T
• Bottom Bracket: SRAM Dub
• Brake Lever: SRAM Red HRD
• Brake Caliper: SRAM Red HRD
• Brake Rotor : SRAM CenterLine XR 160mm
• Wheels: Reserve 32mm DT350 XDR, 24h (F), 24h (R), 24mm IW, Center-Lock, Tubeless Ready
• Tyres: Panaracer Gravel King SK Folding 700×38
• Handlebar: Carbon AB09 16deg Flared Carbon
• Stem: Cervélo ST32 Alloy
• Saddle: Prologo Dimension NACK
• Seatpost: Cervélo SP19 27.2 Carbon
• Accessories : Cervelo Faceplate Front Computer/Accessory Mount, Cervelo Rear Accessory Mount, Smartpak 400A Top Tube Storage Bag

 

  Cervelo Aspero-5 GRX RX815 Di2 £8,699.00  In stock now…

Full Specification:

• Frame: Cervélo Aspero-5 Carbon
• Fork: Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Áspero-5 Fork with Adjustable Trail
• Headset: FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2
• Thru Axles: Cervelo Indexed Thru-Axles w/ Lever, 12×100/142
• Shifters: Shimano GRX RX815 Di2, 11 spd
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano GRX 815 Di2, 11 spd
• Front Derailleur: Shimano GRX 815 Di2, 11 spd
• Cassette: Shimano HG800, 11 spd, 11-34
• Crankset: Shimano GRX 810 48/31 w/ 4iiii Precision Dual Sided Power Meter
• Bottom Bracket: JY-BB 24
• Brake Lever: GRX RX815 Hydraulic Disc
• Brake Caliper: Shimano GRX RX815 Hydraulic Disc
• Brake Rotor : Shimano SM-RT800, 160mm
• Wheels: Reserve Reserve 32mm DT350, 24h (F), 24h (R), 24mm IW, Center-Lock, Tubeless Ready
• Tyres: Panaracer Gravel King SK Folding 700×38
• Handlebar: Carbon AB09 16deg Flared Carbon
• Stem: Cervélo ST32 Alloy
• Saddle: Prologo Dimension NACK
• Seatpost: Cervélo SP19 27.2 Carbon
• Accessories : Cervélo Faceplate Front Computer/Accessory Mount, Cervélo Rear Accessory Mount, Smartpak 400A Top Tube Storage Bag

 

Cervelo Aspero-5 Force eTap AXS 1 £8,199.00 In stock now…

Full Specification:

• Frame: Cervélo Aspero-5 Carbon
• Fork: Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Áspero-5 Fork with Adjustable Trail
• Headset: FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2
• Thru Axles: Cervelo Indexed Thru-Axles w/ Lever, 12×100/142
• Shifters: SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD 12 spd
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM Force eTap AXS Wide 12 spd
• Front Derailleur: N/A
• Cassette: SRAM Force 12s XG1270, 10-36
• Crankset: SRAM Force AXS 1 with Power Meter 36T
• Bottom Bracket: SRAM Dub
• Brake Lever: SRAM Force HRD
• Brake Caliper: SRAM Force HRD
• Brake Rotor : SRAM Paceline 160mm
• Wheels: Reserve 32mm DT370 XDR, 24h (F), 24h (R), 24mm IW, Center-Lock, Tubeless Ready
• Tyres: Panaracer Gravel King SK Folding 700×38
• Handlebar: Carbon AB09 16deg Flared Carbon
• Stem: Cervélo ST32 Alloy
• Saddle: Prologo Dimension NDR T4.0
• Seatpost: Cervélo SP19 27.2 Carbon
• Accessories : Cervelo Faceplate Front Computer/Accessory Mount, Cervelo Rear Accessory Mount, Smartpak 400A Top Tube Storage Bag

 

The all-new Cervelo Aspero-5 is in stock at Wheelbase now! Available instore and online…

Every now and then a bike lands at Wheelbase and when it’s out of the box and built, nearly all staff (roadies included) stop what they’re doing to take a better look; when we wheeled this awesome new Nukeproof through the shop to prepare it for its photoshoot the Giga got just such a reaction! This week for our Fast Bike Friday feature we’re taking a detailed look at the all-new Giga 290 Elite; Nukeproof have billed this type of machine as a ‘Super Enduro’ bike, with capabilities sitting neatly between that of a typical downhill bike and a conventional enduro bike. With increased suspension travel and an ability to handle the biggest hits is there a legit need for such a bike? And if so have Nukeproof met the brief?…

There’s a three-way evolution going on between gravity-focused riders, the bikes that they pilot and the terrain that they ride. With each factor influencing the other it’s a constant arms race between them; riders are more skilled, the trails get more demanding, the bikes get bigger to cope with the extra demands. This is real chicken and egg stuff – are the bikes getting bigger because the trails are getting bigger or are the trails getting bigger because the bikes are getting bigger?! Either way the Nukeproof Giga has been developed specifically to suit this scenario; as gravity-focused riders continue to push the boundaries we’ve seen bikes with bigger wheelbases and longer reach developed for faster speeds, taller berms and bigger jumps.

The Giga has been billed as a ‘Super-Enduro’ bike…

With 170mm of rear travel the Giga 290 Elite is a monster truck of a bike which has its origins in the Nukeproof Dissent (their downhill race bike) but has been adapted specifically for ‘Super Enduro’ duties; to be genuinely enduro-capable the Giga has to be able to shred the downhills but also climb pretty efficiently too. Frame geometry is long, low and slack with a 63.5° head angle (compared with 63° on their Dissent downhill bike and 64° on their Mega enduro bike) but also features a steep seattube angle to help ensure that a seated climbing position remains effective. Nukeproof have done a brilliant job of squeezing massive amounts of travel into the frame with enough clearance for those large 29” wheels; yes it’s a big bike with a big bike feel but it still rides like a versatile enduro bike thanks to the way the Giga uses its travel. How exactly to they do this? Well the suspension platform has been cleverly designed to be super supple off the top, supportive in the mid stroke and progressive throughout the rest of its travel. Meanwhile the anti-squat has been optimised to so that climbing is not an uncomfortable inefficient experience like it would be on most full-on downhill bikes.

Frame geometry is long, low and slack with a 63.5° head angle…

There’s some clever stuff going on with the Giga’s suspension platform and, as we’re increasingly seeing from all key brands, there’s a good amount of adjustability to help you to fine tune the bike to suit your riding style. The Nuke Proof Giga’s platform is based on the same horseshoe driven linkage that features on their Dissent downhill bike but in this instance there’s also a two-stage flip-chip located on the main pivot.

Despite the complicated looking horseshoe linkage this is really a single pivot bike; that single pivot can be moved up and down by rotating a small tab within an eccentric axle. This is a really well thought out feature which allows you to alter the progressivity of the rear suspension; rather brilliantly this can easily be done on the trailside with an 8mm allen key, simply loosen the 8mm bolt, take weight off bike, swing the tab through 180 degrees and retighten the 8mm bolt. There are two settings to choose from – 25.5% progression  and 29% progression; the default factory setting is the 25.5% (low position) option which is more supportive in the early stages of the travel with slightly more leverage at the end of the stroke. Alternatively, in the 29% option the suspension platform is more compliant on small hits with more force required to bottom out the suspension.

You can quickly and easily alter the Giga’s progressivity with this swing tab…

The Giga 290 Elite’s frame and rear tringle is constructed from UD 700/800 Carbon fibre allowing the Nukeproof designers to optimise the stiffness and compliance of key areas of the frame. The Giga’s front triangle has been tuned to be stable and to provide precise handling and the rear triangle has been constructed to enhance compliance, track well and provide extra traction. Another benefit of the rear triangle being carbon is that there’s a lower un-sprung mass which help the suspension perform even better.

Full carbon construction means a ride-enhancing mix of stiffness and compliance in the main frame and rear triangle…

The Giga’s frame features a small mudgaurd to help protect the rear suspension linkages…

The Giga 290 has been sculpted to fit a 750ml water bottle, allowing the bottle to sit securely within the frame (Nukeproof have even included a carbon bottle cage); with the demands of Enduro competition in mind there’s also an accessory mount under the top tube for multi-tools and like. The frame even includes a pre-fitted clear paint protection kit which is a really nice touch and there’s some substantial protection from the 3D contoured rubber downtube protector as well as additional seat and chainstay protection to help negate the inevitable scuffs and scrapes that come with aggressive gravity-focused riding.

The carbon frame features a sculpted recess to allow a bottle to sit securely…

Nukeproof have spec’d the Giga Elite with a very capable Fox Float X2 rear shock which includes a 2-position lever designed to allow you to make on-the-fly adjustments to the shock. In the open setting the shock utilises its preset high and low speed compression settings (these settings only have an effect on compression damping when the lever is in the OPEN position. Flip the 2-position lever to the FIRM setting and the shock takes on a very firm low-speed compression setting to give a more effective climbing and sprinting platform. Being able to adjust low-speed rebound allows you to better control the shock’s performance under braking bumps, technical climbing and off-camber cornering when you need extra traction.

The Fox Float X2 2-position lever allows you to make on-the-fly adjustments…

The low-speed rebound allows you to better control the shock’s performance under braking bumps, technical climbing and off-camber cornering…

A Super-Enduro bike like the Giga deserves an out and out Enduro-focused fork to handle just what this bike is being asked to do. Nukeproof have spec’d a pair of Fox 38 Performance Elite forks with 180mm of travel and a Grip 2 Damper; this long travel fork is packed full of technical features and includes super-wide 38mm stanchions providing sublime lateral stiffness and enhanced steering. The 38s feature a floating axle providing smoother movement throughout the entire range of the fork’s travel and dramatically improving sensitivity on smaller hits.

The Fox 38 Performance Grip Damper forks also feature lower leg channels which dramatically increases air volume in the lower legs; why is this important? Well, when a fork compresses the volume of the air in the lower legs decreases; the more the compression the more the pressure increases which actually prevents the fork achieving full travel. These channels help reduce that pressure while also helping the bath oil to circulate further up into the fork’s lower legs helping to keep the foam rings and bushings lubricated as the fork moves through its travel. This model also includes Fox’s Bleeders which allow you to quickly equalize atmospheric pressure (there’s a potential for pressure to build-up in fork lower legs, preventing full travel being achieved) so this feature is a brilliant little detail.

Nukeproof have spec’d a pair of Fox 38 Performance Elite forks with 180mm of travel…

A FLOAT EVOL air spring features technology which increases negative air spring volume helping to optimise the fork’s small bump sensitivity; the FLOAT EVOL air spring is renowned for its ‘linear spring curve’ which basically means that under compression the air spring consistently travels through plushness, extra mid-stroke support and tunable bottom-out progression. Those lower leg channels we just highlighted work in perfect unison with the FLOAT EVOL air shock helping to reduce air pressure captured in the lower legs and allowing the EVOL to move freely with no additional forces applied.

As the model name suggests these Fox 38 Performance Elite Grip Damper forks include Fox’s GRIP damper, inspired from their MOTO background it uses their FIT sealed cartridge technology combined with an independent floating piston. GRIP allows excess oil to purge through specially designed ports at the top of the damper helping to maintain consistent damping. Adjustment of the Fox 38 Performance Elite fork’s compression and rebound is quick and easy, allowing you to tune how your fork performs using the dials at the top of the fork crown and the bottom of the fork leg.

Adjustment:

• High-speed compression (outer dial on fork crown) 8 clicks
• Low-speed compression (inner dial on fork crown) 16 clicks
• High-speed rebound (upper dial on bottom of fork leg) 8 clicks
• Low-speed rebound (lower dial on bottom of fork leg) 16 clicks

You’ll be able to fine tune the performance of this fork to suit you and your riding style…

The FLOAT EVOL air spring is renowned for its ‘linear spring curve’…

Nukeproof have spec’d a full Shimano SLX groupset on the Giga 290 Elite; this 12-speed drivetrain is ultra-reliable with precise, consistent gear shifting pretty much guaranteed in any riding conditions making it perfect for the demands of Enduro racing and aggressive trail riding. With a compact 30T chainring up front matched with a wide ratio cassette consisting of cogs ranging from 10 to 52 teeth there’s a gear ratio to suit all eventualities, regardless of whether you’re pointed uphill or downhill. The Shimano SLX 12-speed shadow plus rear derailleur features a clutch mechanism to help keep the 12-speed chain securely located and Nukeproof have also included a small chain catcher of their own located on the chainring so even when your riding gets really rowdy and you’re rattling through a set of stutter bumps the drivetrain will stay functional and efficient.

A Shimano SLX chainset with Hollowtech 2 cranks and a compact 32T chainring is up to the job…

A Shimano SLX wide ratio cassette provides all the gear combinations you’ll need, uphill or downhill…

An 11-Speed SLX rear derailleur with a clutch provides precise gear changes and keeps the chain secure…

A Shimano SLX 12-speed trigger shifter provides light, crisp gear shifting in all conditions…

Nukeproof have included their own neat chain catcher…

It’s nice to see that Nukeproof haven’t cut any corners speccing the Giga 290; they’ve fitted a complete Shimano SLX braking system that consists some small functional details that make it perfectly suited to the demands of hardcore downhill riding. As you’d expect the SLX hydraulic brake calipers are four pot and they come fitted with Shimano metallic brake pads with fins to keep the brakes cool and in control. Front and rear brake rotors are 203mm diameter so there’s plenty of braking surface for those four pot calipers so you’ll be able to quickly and effectively scrub off speed as and when you need to without the fear of the system over-heating.

Compact SLX brake levers provide a controlled, confidence-inspiring feel…

Shimano SLX four pot brake calipers provide ample stopping-power…

Small details help make braking more efficient – metallic brake pads with fins take care of braking business…

Well-proven Shimano braking technology is pretty much fit and forget…

There’s 203mm brake rotors front and rear to help scrub off speed quickly and effectively…

Let’s move onto the wheels; a bike that’s this big, with so much travel and large 29” wheels is going to gain speed very quickly, allowing you to plow through rough terrain and hold your speed on tall, tight berms. This type of full-on riding is going to ask a lot of your wheels, but thankfully Nukeproof have come through again speccing a high-quality wheelset that meets the brief. The Giga 290 Elite features a pair of DT Swiss E 1900 Spline 29” wheels, a wheelset that has been developed specifically to handle the rigours of Enduro racing and riding (the ‘E’ in their product name hinting at their suitability for Enduro duties); DT have managed to strike just the right balance between weight and stiffness with tough aluminium rims laced to durable DT Swiss hubs via strong straight pull spokes.

A durable DT Swiss rear hub with sealed bearings and a 3 pawl freehub is smooth and functional…

Front and Rear DT Swiss hubs feature strong straight-pull spokes…

Wide E 1900 rims with a 30mm inner-width are stiff, durable and give the tyres a nice square profile…

The Nukeproof Enduro Racing team including the legend Sam Hill race on Michelin tyres so it’s not surprising to see the Giga 290 Elite shod with Michelin’s brilliant Wild Enduro 29×2.4 Gum-X tubeless ready tyres. The Wild Enduro Gum-X tyres feature a special GUM-X3D rubber compound with decreased rigidity for better directional control and enhanced versatility in the dry or on slightly wetter trails, making these durable all-rounders well suited to riding in mixed conditions. There’s a tough Enduro-specific Gravity Shield TPI casing to help prevent damage to the sidewall from rocks and trail debris; the Wild Enduro tyres feature front and rear-specific tread patterns developed to excel regardless of what’s thrown at them, with the rear focused on providing traction and support and the front focused on superior control with those big side knobs keeping you in control as you rail the berms.

Race-proven on the Enduro World Series Michelin Wild Enduro 29 x 2.40″ tyres will keep you in control…

Look at those big side knobs – they’ll help you rail round loose turns…

Thanks to their clever rubber compound and open tread pattern the Wild Enduros will excel in most conditions… 

An Enduro-specific Gravity Shield TPI casing will help prevent sidewall damage…

The rear tyre’s tread pattern provides plenty of traction but rolls fast too…

Finishing kit on the Giga 290 Elite is made up of Nukeproof’s own brand components with a solid looking machined 50mm Horizon stem matched up neatly with their Horizon V2 handlebars featuring a 25mm rise and a proportional width depending on the size of Giga you choose to ride – 780mm for small and medium bikes, 800mm for large, extra-large and xx-large bikes. Nukeproof have spec’d a pair of Sam Hill signature grips which are lock-on and feature a nice grip pattern that feel comfortable in gloved hands.

Nukeproof’s own Horizon components adorn the Giga 290 Elite…

Sam Hill signature lock-on grips are slim and comfortable…

A Brand X Ascend internally routed, cable-activated dropper post takes care of getting your saddle out of the way quickly when you’re dropping into a steep, technical trail. The dropper is activated by a neat Shimano lever on the underside of the left-hand handlebar; The amount of drop differs depending on the size of Giga – 125mm drop on the small bike, 150mm drop on the medium and 170mm drop on the large, extra-large and xx-large bikes.

A Brand X Ascend dropper post gets your saddle out of the way quickly…

A neat Shimano lever controls the cable-activated dropper post…

Finally, there’s a Nukeproof Horizon saddle which features a good profile that should suit most riders (when you’re in the saddle grinding back up the hill to the next timed stage) and includes a pressure-reliving cut out as well as a tough finish to stand up to the rough and tumble of Enduro racing and gravity-focused trail riding.

The stubby Horizon saddle features a profile which suit most riders…

The Nukeproof Giga has caught the attention of a lot of the mountain bike community in the short time that it’s been released. Industry insiders, the cycling media and bike retailers alike (including us!) have all enthused over what Nukeproof have achieved with the Giga. This really is a bike that’s not only kept up with the demands of aggressive Enduro-style riding but has actually surpassed them; it’s a bike that helps to redefine what’s possible to ride. By merging the best attributes of both their Downhill and their Enduro bikes Nukeprooof have created a versatile machine capable of helping you excel during full-on gravity riding; this bike can more than hold its own on any fast, technical trail, it’ll be bags of fun at your favourite bike park and can handle uplift sessions on huge Alpine mountains; built to shred steep, rough terrain and be stable at super-high speeds you’ll be seeking out increasingly demanding trails to test yourself and your Giga.

The Nukeproof Giga has surpassed the demands of Enduro racing and has created its own ‘Super-Enduro’ category…

The Nukeproof Giga 290 Elite and other Giga models are available now but stock is frenetic! If you’re interested in buying the Giga please check with us in-store or online for availability…

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

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

 

 

Check out the all-new 2021 Merida eOne-Sixty 5000! Exclusive to the UK market this awesome E-MTB has been built to excel on the trails and take your riding to new levels thanks in no small part to its excellent Shimano Steps EP8 motor and 504Wh battery which will help propel you through terrain you previously deemed unrideable. Merida set out to make an E-MTB that is super-fun to ride and feels as playful and agile as its ‘acoustic’ non-powered cousins, so we’re not surprised to see the eOne-Sixty 5000 spec’d as a Mullet bike; what’s a Mullet bike and what are the advantages of running such a setup? Read on…

The Merida eOne-Sixty is exclusive to the UK…

…Wheel size choice used to be simple! Until recently most trail-focused riders chose the 27.5” wheel over the 29” option (29ers typically being the reserve of racey cross-country types). The 27.5” wheel replaced the original 26” wheel size and was basically the best of both worlds – faster rolling than a 26” wheel but still more agile and easier to accelerate than a 29” wheel. For while that’s how things stayed with most hardtails and cross-country-focused MTB’s featuring 29” wheels and more playful trail and enduro-focused MTB’s featuring 27.5” wheels. Then suddenly Pro Downhill Racers started running 29” wheels! They did this because they recognised that they could carry their speed better through technical terrain; 29” wheels had become lighter and more durable thanks to advances in wheel and tyre technology and all of the best bike brands were quick to tune the geometry of their bikes to accommodate these larger wheels.

So we all discovered that 29” wheels could be just as fun as 27.5” and in most cases could be quicker too; quickly those bigger wheels started to feature on a large majority of trail and enduro MTB’s. So, everyone settled on 29” wheels for riding everything right? Well, no not quite; some forward-thinking Downhill Pros started experimenting with running a 29” wheel up front and a 27.5” wheel at the back – the Mullet setup was born! Why Mullet? Because it’s business upfront – big wheel, fast-rolling over obstacles, and party out back – a smaller wheel for a playful, slightly more agile bike; this setup also suited smaller riders such as pro downhiller Danny Hart.

So why exactly have Merida spec’d the Merida eOne-Sixty 5000 E-MTB in the Mullet configuration? Their rationale for this setup has a lot to do with the extra demands of an electric mountain bike; the Merida designers have found there’s considerably more force going through the rear wheel and the smaller 27.5” wheel copes better with these forces. Because of their clever Mullet setup the eOne-Sixty 5000 is able to accelerate quickly and plough through technical terrain; the large 29” wheel up-front rolls easily over trail obstacles while the smaller 27.5” back wheel copes with the significant forces applied from both the bike’s motor and the terrain that the bike is negotiating.

Business up-front, party out-back, it’s the mullet-configuration!…

The Merida eOne-Sixty 5000 features Shimano’s new EP8 motor which is noticeably more compact than its E8000 predecessor and is considerably more quiet; this motor weighs considerably less and allows for cleaner integration into the E-MTB’s chassis. The EP8 motor gives a more natural, smoother feeling to the pedalling assistance, with another key improvement being the EP8’s heat management which allows the motor to output max torque for longer without overheating. The Shimano Steps EP8 motor has a maximum torque output of 85Nm with the power delivery being direct but incredibly smooth to ensure you are in full control with a natural ride feeling. The motor features a Magnesium drive unit casing which is more compact than previous Shimano motors as well as being 300g lighter than their E8000 motor.

Shimano’s new EP8 motor which is noticeably more compact than its E8000 predecessor…

Switching on the Merida eOne-Sixty 5000 brings the simple to understand black and white digital display to life. Once on you can toggle between the motor’s ‘Eco’ ‘Trail’ and ‘Boost’ modes using the slim ,ergonomic and easy to use switch located next to the left-hand grip.

The control display unit is simple to understand and use…

To accompany their new Steps EP8 e-bike motor system Shimano have produced an equally compact, integrated battery for the downtube, freeing up bike brands to create even more svelte-looking e-bikes, as seen here on the Merida eOne-Sixty 5000. This 504Wh integrated battery is quick charging with a 50% charge taking 2.5 hours and a full charge taking 6 hours. The Merida engineers have cleverly added vents at the headtube of the eOne-Sixty to help keep your battery from overheating which is a nice touch.

A 504Wh integrated battery is neatly integrated into the frame…

Vents in the headtube help prevent the battery overheating…

The Shimano 504Wh battery is sleek and quick charging…

Find out more about the Shimano EP8 motor by clicking the blue link below…

A Rock Shox Deluxe Select rear shock provides 150mm of progressive travel…

Durable pivots are E-MTB specific for enhanced durability…

Merida have spec’d a Rock 35 Silver R Air sprung suspension fork with 160mm of travel…

A reliable Shimano Deore 10-Speed drivetrain is activated by a M4100 shifter…

The 10-Speed Shimano Deore RD-M5120 rear derailleur with a clutch keeps the chain secure and provides precise gear shifts…

The 10-Speed wide-ratio 11-46T cassette combined with a 34T chainring upfront gives you all the gear combinations you’ll need…

Merida have spec’d a pair of powerful Shimano M4100 four-piston hydraulic brakes combined with large 203mm disc brake rotors to help you control this super-fast E-MTB…

Finishing kit from Merida includes stem, handlebar, dropper seat post and saddle which includes a neat little multi-tool stowed away on the underside…

Full Specification:

• Frame: CFA II Carbon front triangle with 6016 aluminium rear triangle
• Rear Shock: Rockshox Deluxe Select
• Fork: Rockshox 35 Silver R, air, 160mm Travel, Tapered, 51mm fork offset
• Motor: Shimano EP8; 85Nm motor
• Battery: Shimano E803, 504 Wh
• Shift Levers: Shimano Deore M4100
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore RDM5120 10
• Cassette: Shimano CN-HG54, 11-46T, 10-Speed
• Chainset: Shimano CRE70B; 34T chainring with Shimano FCEM600; 165mm length crank
• Pedals: VP Components, VPE-537
• Brake Levers: Shimano M4100
• Brakes: Shimano M4100; 4 piston hydraulic disc brake with Shimano RT30; 203 mm rotor
• Front Wheel Hub: Shimano MT400-B; 110x15mm; 32 spokes; Centerlock
• Rear Wheel Hub: Shimano MT400-B; 148x12mm; 36 spokes; Centerlock; including removable lever with 4/6mm Allen key
• Front Wheel Rim: 29” Alloy Merida Comp TR; 29mm inner rim width
• Rear Wheel Rim: 27.5” Alloy Merida Comp TR; 29mm inner rim width
• Front Tyre: Kenda Regolith; 29″ x 2.4″; wire bead
• Rear Tyre: Kenda Regolith; 27.5″ x 2.6″; wire bead
• Head Set: Merida-1901
• Stem: Merida Expert eTRII; aluminium; 35mm diameter; 0 degree rise – Length : 40 mm all sizes
• Handle Bars: Merida Expert eTR; 780mm wide; 20mm rise
• Handlebar Grips: Merida Expert EC
• Saddle: Merida Comp CC
• Seat Post: Merida Comp TR; 30.9mm diameter; in-line; XS 100mm drop – S/M 125mm drop – L/XL 150mm drop with Shimano SL -MT500-IL lever

 

The Merida eOne-Sixty is available instore and online now…

 

It’s Fast Bike Friday again, and this week’s is an absolute beauty! Today we’re featuring a super-fast cross country hardtail mountain bike – the Trek Procaliber 9.5 and what a stunner it is! Before we start delving into all of the technical details that help make this a superb XC race bike let’s just take a minute to appreciate the fantastic flame-coloured paint job with an awesome fade from red through to orange and yellow. We’re very lucky to have a highly-skilled photographer at our disposal; James Vincent is our regular Fast Bike Friday photographer and all credit to him, he’s done a wonderful job of capturing the Procaliber 9.5 for us.

The Trek Procaliber 9.5 is stunning to look at…

You may already be familiar with the Procaliber model within Trek’s range of cross-country-focused mountain bikes, it’s a bike that has been around for a few years, however it’s important to point out that THIS is the all-new Trek Procaliber which features some really significant updates which we’ll get to in a minute; first a quick summary of Trek’s options when it comes to cross country race bikes…

A few seasons ago the Trek Cross Country Factory Racing team had a choice between two models – the full suspension Top Fuel for more technically demanding race courses or the Procaliber hardtail which was better suited to less technical race courses with considerably more climbing. Then in late 2019 along came the Trek Supercaliber which featured a very clever IsoStrut integrated shock providing 60mm of travel; this bike is a sort of ‘best of both worlds’ race bike that sits between the Top Fuel full suspension bike and the Procaliber hardtail. As a result of this new development Trek’s racers now favour the Supercaliber over both alternative options as it can handle the demands of almost all cross country race courses.

There’s a higher cost implication to the Trek Supercaliber model; it’s a very sophisticated piece of engineering, and Trek are very aware of the demand for more affordable options from us humble XC privateers who are racing on a regional level and riders with absolutely no interest in racing who are just looking for a really light and efficient carbon hard tail mountain bike. This is where the all-new Trek Procaliber comes into play – for 2021 Trek have created a small range of Procal’s to suit your riding aspirations AND budget.

The all-new Trek Procaliber…

So far we’ve been referring to the Procaliber as a hardtail, because, well it is! (when compared to a true full suspension bike or even Trek’s soft-tail Supercaliber bike) however it DOES feature Trek’s highly regarded Isospeed decoupler which provides some additional compliance to the carbon frame. This technology is a carry-over from the previous generation Procaliber; we’ll run through exactly how it works after we’ve taken a look at the significant changes that Trek have made to this new-generation Procaliber.

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

Significant changes to the Procaliber’s geometry make the all-new version more ‘trail-ready’…

All Procalibers in the range including the Procaliber 9.5 which we’re looking at here, are constructed from Trek’s own OCLV Mountain Carbon. This rather unique carbon fibre features on mountain bikes way further up the food chain and it’s great to see it being utilised here. OCLV Mountain Carbon is tougher than standard carbon fibre, while it retains its lightweight, stiff properties it is significantly more durable than carbon fibre from other mountain bike brands. With clever material composition and sophisticated lay-up procedures OCLV Mountain Carbon has been proven during Trek’s stringent testing and easily matches the demands of today’s more aggressive riding styles.

Trek’s OCLV Mountain Carbon is lighter AND tougher than their previous generation carbon fibre…

The Procaliber 9.5 features Trek’s ‘Straight Shot’ downtube, a design that has been successful on other models in their mountain bike range. The previous Procaliber included a bend at the junction with the head tube which was mainly there to avoid any potential problems with fork crown clearance on tight turns and the potential for frame damage when the bars turn suddenly during crashes. For the new generation Procaliber Trek have used the Straight Shot principle to add extra frame stiffness and make steering more precise without adding extra weight. Gear cables and brake hoses are neatly routed through the frame using internal channels making home maintenance easier; as you’ll see in the image below, there’s also internal routing for a dropper seatpost, so if you want to you can run a dropper and get the saddle out of the way on steep descents.

Trek’s ‘Straight Shot’ downtube adds stiffness and enhances steering precision…

So if Trek have used their Straight Shot downtube surely there’s a potential for frame damage from the fork crown as we just highlighted above? Thankfully no; in unison with their Straight Shot downtube Trek have developed the ‘Knock Block’ a feature that’s seen on many of their mountain bikes, from full-on gravity-focused bikes to their lightweight cross country mountain bikes. The Knock Block is basically a steerer stop which prevents your handlebar controls from hitting the frame’s top tube in the event of a crash and also stops the bikes’ fork crown from hitting the Straight Shot downtube. The newest version of the Knock Block (as seen here on the Procaliber 9.5) features an increased turning radius so even the tightest, slow speed turns aren’t an issue.

Trek’s clever Knock Block configuration prevents the potential for crash damage to the carbon frame…

OK, so let’s now focus on the IsoSpeed decoupler, a carry-over from the original Procaliber and a very clever piece of engineering that’s well proven on a number of Trek’s bikes including a significant number of their road, gravel, cyclocross and mountain bikes. The IsoSpeed decoupler maintains the traditional diamond-shaped frame geometry but ‘decouples’ the seat tube from the top tube, allowing the seat tube to flex with the forces of the terrain while the rider is seated. This genius approach utilises the engineered flex of the carbon fibre making it easier to pedal through choppy terrain helping to save your energy for the climbs and sprints. With no loss of pedaling power the Procaliber remains really efficient while you stay fresher and less fatigued particularly over longer distances making this a perfect bike for mountain bike marathons.

The Procaliber’s IsoSpeed decoupler provides energy saving comfort…

The Trek Procaliber 9.5 is the most affordable model in the Procaliber range. At £1,775.00 Trek have put together a really competitively priced bike which features exactly the same OCLV Mountain Carbon frame as the Procal at the top of the range. To hit this price point Trek have had to be pretty savvy with component choices; one of the key benefits of being such a large global bike brand is that Trek have considerable buying power when it comes to sourcing components from brands such as Shimano and RockShox; along with their own Bontrager finishing kit Trek can spec their bikes to be genuinely race-ready straight out of the box, no upgrades required. Read on for a full run-down of the components spec’d on the Procaliber 9.5…

The Procaliber 9.5 features a RockShox Judy SL fork with a lightweight Solo Air spring providing 100mm of suspension travel, just enough to help you negotiate tough off-road terrain without making your ride feel sloppy and inefficient. If you’re the type of rider who tends to sprint uphill out of the saddle then you’ll appreciate the TurnKey lockout too. These Judy SL forks are Boost 110 for extra stiffness and steering precision and feature a Maxle Stealth thru axle for quick, easy wheel removal and installation.

When it comes to the drivetrain Trek have spec’d the Procaliber with a full compliment of Shimano components; there’s a 12-speed Shimano Deore M6100 long cage rear mech working in unison with a Deore 12-speed trigger shifter to provide light, crisp and predictable gear shifting every time you press the shifter. It doesn’t matter if you’re frantically changing up the block as you hit a short, steep technical climb or are changing down gears during a full on technical descent gear changes are always consistent. The long cage rear derailleur includes a clutch too which brings an extra level of security to your drivetrain and prevents the bike from unshipping its chain.

A Shimano Deore M6100 12-speed rear derailleur takes care of gear changing duties…

Modern 1X drivetrains (a single chainring combined with a wide-ratio cassette) are brilliantly simple and fantastically functional. To help ensure you’ve got every gear that you’ll ever need to meet the demands of modern cross country racing and general mountain biking Shimano have created this whopping 10-51T cassette – the smallest cog features just 10 teeth and the largest cog a massive 51 teeth. That 51T cog means you have a super-low gear ratio to be able to climb even the steepest tracks and trails.

Upfront there’s a light, stiff Shimano MT511 crankset fitted with a hardwearing 30T steel chainring. The chainring features a narrow / wide tooth profile which helps to keep the chain in place preventing it from unshipping from the chainring. Of course the addition of that clutch rear derailleur means that your drivetrain is doubly secure.

The drivetrain is completed with a Shimano MT511 crankset featuring a 30T chainring…

With a single chainring setup there’s only one gear shifter on the left, keeping the cockpit uncluttered…

To hit that all important price point Trek have substituted Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brake levers for less expensive Shimano BL-MT200 versions. These brakes work great though, as do all Shimano components; they’re a little larger than the Deore model, probably weigh a little more and are slightly less adjustable but they’re just as durable and reliable.

Shimano MT200 hydraulic brake levers are durable and reliable…

The Shimano BL-MT200 brake levers are married up to MT200 hydraulic brake calipers providing consistent, confidence-inspiring braking in all weather conditions and on all terrains. With a superlight carbon frame and fast-rolling 29er wheels you’ll quickly find yourself gaining speed, and when you suddenly need to scrub off speed going into a tight, technical section of the trail the MT200’s will do their job. On the rear of the Procaliber 9.5 Trek have spec’d a compact, lightweight 160mm diameter disc rotor; upfront there’s a larger 180mm diameter rotor to help you immediately slow down and stay in control.

A Shimano MT200 hydraulic brake caliper and 160mm rotor keep your braking system light but effective…

There’s a larger 180mm disc rotor up front to help scrub off speed and prevent overheating…

As you’d expect from Trek the Procaliber 9.5 comes spec’d with a pair of Bontrager wheels (the Bontrager components brand is owned by Trek). All size options for the Procal feature 29” diameter wheels; this has become the norm for cross-country-focused mountain bikes over the past few years. The benefits are clear – they’re fast rolling and help you hold your speed really well; you’ll float over obstacles more easily thanks to their larger circumference and traction is enhanced thanks to their larger tyre-to-ground contact patch.

The Bontrager Kovee wheels feature front and rear hubs that are sealed-bearing with thru-axles and Boost spacing; Boost has quickly become the standard hub width for modern mountain bikes, with the front width being 110mm and the rear being 148mm. The combination of wider hubs and thru-axles mean that your wheels stay securely seated within the frame and increase overall stiffness and steering precision while keeping the disc brake rotors perfectly aligned with the disc brake calipers.

Bontrager Kovee wheels feature sealed bearing thru-axle Boost hubs…

Boost hub spacing and thru axles help enhance steering precision…

Here’s a headliner for you – the Bontrager Kovee wheels are already set up tubeless! Yes, that’s right, instead of having the hassle of setting them up yourselves Trek have already done it at the factory, as both the rims and tyres are labelled ‘Tubeless Ready’ it’s a no-brainer really. Having the Procaliber 9.5 set up tubeless straight out of the box means you’ll immediately benefit from a lighter wheel that rolls faster and enables you to run lower tyre pressures for better tyre traction and greater control; tubeless tyres with sealant inside mean that punctures picked up from small thorns and the like are almost completely eliminated.

The Bontrager Kovee wheels come set up tubeless from the factory – brilliant!…

Trek have fitted the Procaliber 9.5 with a pair of fast-rolling Bontrager XR2 Team Issue tubeless tyres with a tread pattern that’s perfectly suited to the demands of a typical cross country race course. This tread features tyre knobs that won’t slow you down on faster off-road sections, rolling efficiently on harder packed surfaces but will still provide ample grip when surfaces become softer and more traction is required. If you find yourselves regularly riding more demanding rocky terrain (like here in the Lake District!) then don’t forget, as we mentioned earlier, there’s clearance between frame and tyre to run up 2.40” wide tyres should you want to upgrade your tyres.

Fast-rolling Bontrager XR2 Team Issue tubeless tyres strike a sensible balance between speed and traction…

Bontrager XR2 Team Issue tubeless tyres feature a typical cross-country-focused tread pattern…

Finishing kit – handlebars, stem, seatpost and saddle are all Bontrager branded parts. An alloy handlebar with a 31.8mm clamp width is 720mm wide with a 5mm rise on frames sized small, medium and medium/large and 750mm wide with a 15mm rise on frames sized large and extra-large, which are great dimensions for this lightweight race bike, giving plenty of leverage without being to over the top in terms of width. An alloy seatpost features a Bontrager Arvada saddle with steel rails and a 138mm width which will suit most cyclists; don’t forget if you want to upgrade eventually the Procaliber 9.5 features cable routing for a dropper seat post should you want to get a little more rowdy with your riding.

A Bontrager Arvada saddle with 138mm width should suit most riders…

Lock-on Bontrager grips are a nice addition…

So there you have it – the Trek Procaliber 9.5 with its stunning good looks and lightweight, race-ready pedigree. Initially it’s hard to look beyond that beautiful paint job, but when you do you quickly realise that this bike is packed full of innovation while benefiting from a rich racing heritage, sharing features that have been developed for a number of other bikes within Trek’s mountain bike range and beyond. The Procaliber has had a makeover and we approve! With its modern trail-ready geometry, lightweight race-ready carbon frame and that IsoSpeed Decoupler providing enhanced comfort in the saddle this cross-country bike can handle short track racing, traditional cross country races, mountain bike marathons and playful days on your local trails when you just want to ride fast and have fun thanks to that progressive geometry and the option of running wider tyres and a dropper seatpost.

The Procaliber 9.5 – lightweight, race ready AND fun for everyday trail riding too…

The Trek Procaliber 9.5 is available in-store and online now.

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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This week for our Fast Bike Friday feature we’re looking at the brilliantly versatile Cannondale Women’s Synapse Carbon 105; this awesome all-rounder offers race-level performance, all-day comfort and all-road capability, meaning when the smooth tarmac stops and the unsurfaced tracks and lanes start you can continue your adventures and explore more. What deems this a women’s Synapse? We’ll get into that further into the Blog, for now let’s just focus on the Cannondale Synapse range and the benefits this bike brings to modern road cycling.

The Synapse is categorised by Cannondale as an ‘Endurance Road Bike’ on their own website, but one which is most definitely NOT limited to just the road; while the Synapse range does not sit in their gravel category (along side the Topstone and Topstone Carbon) it most certainly is a very closely related cousin which is capable of taking on unmade back lanes and gravel fire tracks. First launched way back in 2005 the Cannondale Synapse has evolved over the years, keeping pace with what the modern road rider expects from their bike; during the past 16 years the Synapse’s focus has moved away from only being ridden on the road to a much more versatile bike built to excel during epic mixed-surface adventures. The Synapse’s frame and geometry was updated in 2017 to meet the demands of modern cyclists looking for a versatile bike capable of efficiently holding speed on the tarmac while being fun and fast on the gravel back lanes.

The Cannondale Women’s Synapse Carbon 105 is brilliantly versatile…

You may be familiar with Ted King, the retired professional road cyclist who has quickly moved over to the burgeoning gravel racing scene. Ted is sponsored by Cannondale and has pretty much every bike in their range at disposal. It’s always interesting to see him move from one bike model to another depending on the demands of the gravel event he is competing in; Ted has raced on the Topstone Carbon, the SuperX (Cannondale’s cyclocross bike) and most significantly the Cannondale Synapse when the race is fast paced without too many technical off-road sections. Click the link below to hear Ted talk about how he sets up his Synapse for gravel racing…

Cannondale sponsored rider Ted King chooses the Synapse for fast gravel races…

The Cannondale Synapse has clearance for up to 32mm wide tyres opening up the opportunity to run this lightweight carbon bike with fatter tyres to cope with rough roads and gravel tracks. If your local roads and lanes are anything like ours there may well be more potholes, broken surfaces and grass up the middle than pristine smooth black tarmac, making the Synapse the perfect all-rounder. Able to handle whatever terrain you encounter, carefully planning rides routes and anxiety over what road surfaces you’ll encounter are a thing of the past.

Clearance for up to 32mm tyres means you’ll be encouraged to explore remote back lanes and gravel tracks…

As we touched on earlier, this particular model within the Synapse range is billed as a Women’s Synapse Carbon 105 road bike but it’s important to point out that there is no significant difference between this frame and the Synapse Carbon frames that are NOT deemed as women’s models. The frame’s sizing and geometry are identical, it is essentially the same bike. This is a trend that has been growing right across the bike industry with Trek and Specialized also following this ethos on a great amount of their bikes. Bike brands are abandoning the belief that women’s body proportions are vastly different to men’s; that’s too much of a generalisation, it’s more the case that our proportions are all individual regardless of gender. Sizing is consistent across the range regardless of gender, so for example if you’re looking at a size medium women’s bike, all of the measurements and angles are identical to the men’s size medium. There are a couple of key differences when it comes to contact points though, there are the Shimano 105 short reach gear / brake levers (more on those later) with a narrower handlebar fitted as well as a women-specific saddle.

The women’s Synapse Carbon 105 features the same frame geometry as the men’s models…

The Women’s Synapse Carbon 105 frame and fork is made from Cannondale’s own lightweight BallisTec carbon; with some clever design and engineering Cannondale have produced a carbon frame that features high-strength and stiffness for a responsive ride which amplifies efficient pedalling and provides instant acceleration. With an ‘advanced composition of intermediate modulus fibres’ (in simple terms the direction of the weave of the carbon fibre influencing how much it flexes) and some sophisticated tube profiling Cannondale’s designers have been able to create a chassis that is super-comfortable and includes compliance in key areas such as their flattened seatstays. Cannondale have also implemented their Pyramid Seat Tube principle to the Synapse, this involves the seat tube splitting asymmetrically to meet the wide 73mm BB30A bottom bracket shell for the perfect blend of minimal weight and maximum stiffness.

Sophisticated carbon fibre engineering implements stiffness and compliance in key areas…

The geometry of the Synapse is spot on for the type of riding that Cannondale expects you to do; in effort to ensure your ride stays comfortable even when you’re into your fourth or fifth hour of riding they have created a bike with a slightly shorter reach and higher front end than an out and out road racing bike. The Synapse also comes with a fair stack of spacers below the stem so there’s plenty of scope to fine tune your favoured riding position. Interestingly the wheelbase on the Synapse is exactly the same as Cannondale’s SuperSix – their lightweight road racing bike; this is worth noting as a gravel bike that’s been designed specifically for off-road duties will typically feature a longer wheelbase for added stability at speed, that said the Synapse’s comparatively short wheelbase means it provides agile handling for a more lively feel. On road the Synapse corners with confidence responding well to quick changes of direction; it’s a good blend of attributes which reflect this bike’s versatility; in a nod to the many ways this bike may be used Cannondale have included a removeable seatstay bridge and hidden mudguard mounts to keep you protected during wet weather and winter rides.

Cannondale have spent time getting the geometry just right for the type of riding the Synapse is designed to do…

As its name suggests the Cannondale Women’s Synapse Carbon 105 comes spec’d with Shimano’s excellent 105 groupset. Sitting two rungs down the ladder from their Dura-Ace and Ultegra groupsets 105 provides a great value drivetrain that’s packed full of trickle-down technology taken from their top-end groupsets. Shimano 105 is an 11-speed mechanical groupset that is easy and intuitive to use; brilliantly Cannondale have spec’d the short-reach version of the 105 brake / gear lever which have been developed specifically for smaller hands – a great detail for this Women’s road bike.

Short-reach Shimano 105 brake / gear levers are a neat detail on this Women specific road bike…

Every gear change is crisp and precise; with a light action you’ll be able to shift through the 11-speed rear cassette and quickly select the gear you need. It’s hard to believe that Shimano have fitted all of the mechanical workings of the gear changer AND the hydraulic brake lever into such a compact and ergonomic pair of levers, but things moves on quickly and as we’ve previously highlighted it didn’t take long for this sort of technology to be find its way from higher up Shimano’s range to this 105 groupset.

Every gear shift is crisp and precise with these Shimano 105 levers…

A long cage 11-speed Shimano 105 GS rear derailleur takes care of gear selection at the rear cassette; 105 is quiet and definite in every gear shift, there’s no skipping or vagueness in your gear selection. The 11-speed cassette gives a wide range of gear ratios from the smallest 11 tooth cog to the large 34T cog which is a super-low gear that’s ideal for overcoming steep hills and loose, technical climbs on back lanes and gravel tracks.

A long cage Shimano 105 GS rear derailleur provides consistent, quiet gear changes on the wide ratio cassette…

A Shimano 105 front derailleur takes care of gear shifting duties at the two front chainrings. Shimano’s most recent iteration of their 105 front mech has been designed with wider tyres in mind; tighter clearances between frame, tyre and front derailleur have increased mainly due to fatter tyres being run on gravel bikes and road bikes and this latest version of the front mech features a whole new lever pull action to work around these restrictions. The shifting action is really light at the gear shifter and gear changes are precise every time, there’s also a trim feature (essentially a half-shift) to allow you to move the front mech slightly as you shift up the rear cassette to help prevent any unwanted chain rub on the front derailleur.

A Shimano 105 front derailleur is precise with a light action at the gear lever…

You might have been expecting to see a matching Shimano 105 Chainset fitted to the Synapse however it’s normal for Cannondale to fit their own brand chainsets on almost all of their bikes across all ranges and models. It’s important to note that this is not a compromise; Cannondale have put a lot of R&D into their own chainsets and bottom bracket standards over the years to create light, super-stiff cranks and durable chainrings working in unison with their BB30a bottom bracket standard which provides an oversized bearing platform and wide crank / bottom bracket axle. The gear ratios on the Cannondale 1 chainset are perfect for this bikes’ modus operandi – a 50T outer ring and 34T inner ring means you’ll have the perfect gear ratio for every riding eventuality. Riding with the chain on the inner 34T chainring and the largest 34T cog on the rear cassette gives you a super-low gear ratio that will help you to overcome even the steepest of gradients.

A Cannondale 1 chainset with BB30a bottom bracket standard and 50T / 34T chainrings is super-stiff and provides user-friendly gear ratios…

It’s amazing how quickly we’ve come to expect hydraulic disc brakes on road bikes as the norm, but such are the rapid advances in technology that these sort of brakes have quickly filtered through to a more accessible price point. If you’re considering making the move over to disc brakes for the first time you will not be disappointed. Disc brakes bring superior braking compared to rim brakes as they are more powerful and provide consistent braking in all weather conditions and on any terrain; a significant benefit of having disc brakes on this Women’s Synapse is that all of the braking power is created by the pressure of the hydraulic brake fluid when the short-reach brake lever is pulled rather than relying on your hand power to activate a conventional rim brake. This is a real benefit that you’ll feel when your rides get bigger and you find yourself getting more fatigued.

Cannondale have spec’d neat Shimano 105 hydraulic flat-mount disc brake calipers to the Synapse Carbon 105 which are tucked neatly into the rear triangle of the carbon frame and on the back of the fork leg. Matched to lightweight lock-on 160mm Shimano RT64 disc rotors this setup provides confidence-inspiring braking regardless of whether you’re riding in the wet or the dry and on any terrain from super-smooth tarmac to unpredictable gravel back lanes.

Flat-mount hydraulic disc brakes give consistent braking in all weather conditions…

Neat flat mount calipers matched with 160mm rotors provide plenty of stopping power…

The Women’s Synapse 105 features a pair of Cannondale RD 2.0 Disc wheels with lightweight double wall 28 hole rims laced onto durable Formula hubs. The front hub is 12x100mm thru axle and the rear is 12x142mm thru axle providing a really secure connection between the wheels and frame / fork, these wide hubs with thru axle configuration ensure that your disc brake rotors always line up perfectly with the hydraulic disc brake calipers. The thru axles are quickly secured with a 5mm allen key, so you’ll need to carry a simple multitool with you when you ride in case you pick up a puncture (you should be carrying one already!).

Cannondale RD 2.0 Disc wheels roll fast and feature durable hubs…

When it comes to tyre choice for the Women’s Synapse 105 there are a lot of options as we’ve already highlighted. With clearance for tyres up to 32mm wide you could spec it with fast 25mm road tyres, off-road capable 32mm gravel tyres or something in between which is exactly what Cannondale have done here with the Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Graphine 700x30c tyres. Covering the best of both worlds these 30mm wide tyres will provide good grip on loose gravel surfaces, provide extra comfort and cushioning on rough roads but still excel on super-smooth tarmac offering very little rolling-resistance to help you ride as fast and efficiently as possible.

Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Graphine 30mm wide tyres roll fast but provide good grip…

These tough tyres will cushion you from rough roads…

With a bike that has been specifically designed to suit female cyclists the contact points – handlebar, stem and saddle are really important considerations. Cannondale have spec’d the Women’s Synapse 105 accordingly, ensuring the handlebars are proportional to each bike size on offer, being generally a little bit more narrow than on an equivalent men’s model. Stems are little bit shorter too; with a generous amount of stem spacers there’s a good amount of adjustability to help you fine tune your position on the bike so that you feel comfortable and in control.

Proportionally smaller handle bars, a shorter stem and those short-reach Shimano 105 shifters help you stay comfortable and in control…

Cannondale have spec’d a Fabric Scoop Women’s Sport saddle on the Synapse Carbon 105; this is a great saddle designed specifically to suit female cyclists. The profile of the saddle is fairly wide at 155mm wide and should suit most cyclists; with a flexy base and forgiving steel saddle rails the Fabric Scoop feels comfortable and supportive even on long rides on unpredictable terrain.

The Fabric Scoop is supportive with a 155mm wide profile…

A Fabric Scoop Women’s Sport saddle is a welcome addition…

The Cannondale Women’s Synapse Carbon 105 bike is a versatile wonder which is equally capable of fast road rides on tarmac and more gruelling adventures on mixed terrain. With the option of fitting mudguards too the Synapse opens up the possibility of using this bike as a full-on winter bike or as a super-fast commuter bike if you want to extend your ride to work and gain some extra training miles. While there’s no obvious ‘comfort-enhancing’ gimmicks on this bike like you might find from alternative brands the Cannondale Synapse is packed full of user-friendly features once you look at it in a little more detail. All of its compliance comes from clever design with some very sophisticated carbon layup and tube profiling engineered to enhance your comfort. This women’s specific model has been thoughtfully spec’d by Cannondale to ensure that it’s inspiring to ride, encouraging you to push your cycling further and strike out on adventures that don’t necessarily end when the tarmac stops.

The Cannondale Synapse is packed full of user-friendly features once you look at it in a little more detail…

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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For this Fast Bike Friday feature we’re donning our goggles and strapping on our backpacks for a look at Kona’s full-on Enduro World Series worthy bike – introducing the long travel Kona Process X Enduro mountain bike…

Seven years ago Kona launched their original Process model and it was an instant hit with mountain bikers who were looking for a trail bike with aggressive geometry, great pedaling efficiency and the ability to attack descents with gusto. Kona’s Process range now includes 12 different bikes with choices between models with 134mm travel, 153mm travel and now a whopping 161mm of travel under the guise of the Process X that we’re focused on today.

The all-new carbon fibre Process X is packed full of Enduro-focused features and some brilliantly spec’d components which we’ll look at in some detail in a moment, but first of all it’s important to highlight just how versatile this bike is when it comes to adjustability, with loads of scope for you to custom-tune this bike to suit your riding style and help you to master the most demanding Enduro stages out there. This bike is a tinkerer’s dream! Regardless of whether you plan to race it, want to complete clean runs with no dabs in the unforgiving Lake District hills or simply rip up your local trail centre the Kona Process X will make your riding way more fun thanks to its long, slack geometry, tons of suspension travel and all of those customisable features to help give you exactly the ride qualities you’re looking for.

Long, slack geometry and tons of travel, the Process X features a 63.5° head angle and a 77.5° seat angle…

The Kona Process X features a stunning paintjob…

The carbon fibre Process X features plenty of frame protection…

So, why Process X? Well the X denotes that this particular Process features two different axle positions; by swapping the axle position you can quickly change the Process’s chainstay length from 435mm to 450mm changing the wheelbase of the bike to give either a longer, more stable ride or a shorter, more agile ride. Changing the axle position also changes the amount of suspension travel in the rear; in the 435mm setting the suspension travel is 158mm and in the 450mm setting it is 161mm so that means that the setting with the longer wheelbase is also slightly more capable of handling the big hits making this configuration the best choice for your most demanding, aggressive riding or racing.

Change your chainstay length and amount of suspension travel with the adjustable axle position…

The Process X uses Kona’s proven single pivot ‘Beamer’ suspension design and features an aluminium rocker link between the carbon front triangle and rear swingarm; in another stroke of engineering genius Kona have included a pair of flip chips in the rocker link that, when swapped around, allow you to change your rear wheel from a 29er (the Process X comes spec’d with a pair of 29er wheels) to a smaller 27.5” wheel giving you a ‘Mullet’ configuration. This 29 / 27.5” setup has steadily been gaining more and more popularity with gravity-focused mountain bikers who want all the benefits of a fast rolling large front wheel, that’s capable of ploughing through everything at speed and a smaller, more agile rear wheel that makes it slightly easier to throw the bike around. It’s a configuration that suits smaller riders too, helping them to throw their weight backwards over the rear wheel on the steeps without any awkward rear wheel hang-ups.

The Process X features an aluminium rocker link…

Kona’s flip chips mean you can change your rear wheel from a 29er to a 27.5″ for a ‘Mullet’ setup…

The Process X comes spec’d with a Fox DPX2 Performance Elite rear shock giving 161mm of travel (or 158mm if the adjustable chainstay length is set to 435mm); the Fox DPX2 shock has been designed specifically to cope with the demands of Enduro and aggressive trail riding and features a twin-tube recirculating oil damper to provide small hit sensitivity as well as being able to handle those big hits that you’ll inevitably encounter. The DPX2 Performance Elite includes a 3-position lever on the shock allowing you to choose from open, medium and firm modes; you can quickly tune the amount of rebound too with the red dial and easily set the air spring pressure to suit rider weight and required sag.

The Fox DPX Performance Elite has been designed specifically to cope with the type of riding you’ll be throwing the Process X into…

Trailside tweaks are quick and easy with the 3 position mode lever and rebound dial…

It’s only right that an Enduro-focused mountain bike should come with a suspension fork specifically developed to cope with the demands of Enduro racing and aggressive trail riding; to meet the brief Kona have spec’d the Process X with a very capable pair of Fox 38 Performance Grip Damper forks with a whopping 170mm of travel. Optimised for long travel this fork is packed full of technical features to help make the Kona Process X excel when you point it downhill; as well as those super-wide 38mm stanchions which help provide superb lateral stiffness and enhanced steering even under the most extreme forces encountered when cornering downhill, the Fox 38s feature a floating axle which helps to provide smoother movement throughout the entire range of the fork’s travel which dramatically improves sensitivity to smaller hits.

The Fox 38 Performance Grip Damper fork was developed specifically to meet the demands of Enduro…

The Fox 38 Performance Grip Damper forks also feature lower leg channels which dramatically increases air volume in the lower legs; why is this important? Well, when a fork compresses the volume of the air in the lower legs decreases; the more the compression the more the pressure increases which actually prevents the fork achieving full travel. These channels help reduce that pressure while also helping the bath oil to circulate further up into the fork’s lower legs helping to keep the foam rings and bushings lubricated as the fork moves through its travel.

A FLOAT EVOL air spring features technology which increases negative air spring volume helping to optimise the fork’s small bump sensitivity; the FLOAT EVOL air spring is renowned for its ‘linear spring curve’ which basically means that under compression the air spring consistently travels through plushness, extra mid-stroke support and tunable bottom-out progression. Those lower leg channels we just highlighted work in perfect unison with the FLOAT EVOL air shock helping to reduce air pressure captured in the lower legs and allowing the EVOL to move freely with no additional forces applied.

The Fox FLOAT EVOL air shock is renowned for its linear spring curve…

As the model name suggests these Fox 38 Performance Grip Damper forks include Fox’s GRIP damper, inspired from their MOTO background it uses their FIT sealed cartridge technology combined with an independent floating piston. GRIP allows excess oil to purge through specially designed ports at the top of the damper helping to maintain consistent damping.  There are three compression damping positions which can be easily adjusted on the top of the fork – Open, Medium and Firm.

Choose between Open, Medium and Firm with the Fox GRIP damper…

When it comes to the drivetrain, gears and braking componentry Kona have spec’d a mix of Shimano parts taken from the XT, SLX and Deore groupsets. This mix of components is not unusual in the bike trade with many bike brands doing the same to enable them to manage to hit specific price points while meeting the correct level of functionality; it’s a balancing act that in this case Kona have got spot on, a Deore chainset with a 32T chainring is matched up with a wide ratio 12 speed 10-51T Shimano SLX cassette to give you all of the gear ratios you should need for general riding regardless of whether you’re heading uphill on a transition stage between two timed runs at an Enduro event or are simply heading into the hills and mountains to seek out the longest downhill run you can find.

A Shimano Deore chainset with 32T narrow / wide chainring is compact and efficient…

In a shrewd move with their ‘mix and match’ groupset approach Kona have ensured the two most important working parts of the Process X’s drivetrain are higher quality Shimano XT components; the 12 speed trigger shifter on the right of the handle bars works brilliantly with Shimano’s XT 12 speed rear derailleur, providing crisp, precise gear changes every time you press the trigger; it doesn’t matter if you’re out of the saddle putting the power down in a short uphill sprint or are quickly changing up the block as you exit a tight berm every gear change is safe and consistent.

Crisp, precise gear shifts are guaranteed with Shimano XT…

With a bike that’s designed to go as fast as possible downhill there is a real need for a pair of dependable brakes to help you scrub off speed going into technical sections and stay in control as the unpredictable trail opens out in front of you. Kona have spec’d Shimano Deore hydraulic brakes and as you’d expect with such a gravity-focused mountain bike they’ve gone with powerful 4-piston options to quickly and effectively slow you down without overheating. To provide plenty of braking surface and tons of brake pad grip Kona have gone with 203mm disc rotors front and rear; no surprises really, these are the standards you’d expect on a modern Enduro bike.

Shimano Deore components take care of braking duties…

Four piston brake calipers and 203mm diameter disc rotors help scrub off speed quickly and effectively…

Kona have spec’d the Process X with a TranzX Dropper seatpost with an internal cable that’s activated via a Shimano lever on the left of the handlebar. This 31.6mm wide seatpost features plenty of drop to get your saddle out of the way quickly and efficiently when you hit those steep, technical descents.

A cable-activated TranzX dropper seatpost gets the saddle out of the way quickly and efficiently…

The TranzX dropper is activated via a neat Shimano lever…

The Kona Process X Enduro bike features a tough pair of fast-rolling 29” wheels (as stock, remember you can always switch out the rear for a slightly smaller 27.5” wheel and run it mullet) with tubeless ready WTB KOM Trail i30 TCS 29” rims which are robust and dependable while still being reasonably lightweight for a spritely feel on the hills; the WTB rims have been built onto DT Swiss 370 thru-axle hubs which feature sealed bearings, completing this durable wheelset built ready for the rigors of Enduro and aggressive trail riding.

DT Swiss 370 thru-axle hubs are durable and dependable…

WTB KOM Trail i30 TCS 29” rims which are robust and dependable…

Kona know that this bike will be ridden very close to its limits most of the time and with this in mind they’ve spec’d a very capable pair of 29er tyres that have been designed to excel on high-speed, loose downhill trails. Up front there’s a Maxxis Assegai; a tyre that’s well-proven on the international downhill racing circuit and is World Cup veteran Greg Minnaar’s signature tyre. The tubeless-ready Assegai features EXO+ construction puncture protection made up of SilkShield running from bead to bead and an additional layer of EXO along the tyre sidewalls; this magic combination greatly increases puncture protection, sidewall durability and pinch-flat resistance making this front tyre a great option for flat-out Enduro racing.

The Maxxis Assegai front tyre is tubeless ready with EXO+ puncture protection…

The versatile Assegai features tall tyre knobs to push through dust and loam to find traction, but also grip on wet roots and rocks…

Out back Kona have spec’d the Process X with a Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO+ TR 3C 29×2.4” tubeless ready tyre; this tyre has been specifically developed for rear tyre duties with Maxxis taking elements from their legendary Minion DHF front tyre and beefing them up to handle the extra demands of a heavy-duty rear tyre. The tyre’s centre tread has been heavily ramped up to provide more traction and control under heavy braking but still rolls fast thanks to clever knob profiles. Just as the Assegai has up front the Minion DHF includes EXO+ puncture protection and reinforced sidewalls to help hold up to the rigours of aggressive trail riding.

The Maxxis Minion DHR II is a rear-specific tyre designed to meet the demands of aggressive trail riding…

That centre tread provides plenty traction while still being fast-rolling…

The Kona Process X cockpit features a neat oversized 35mm bar and stem combo to help create super-stiff and responsive steering even on steep, tight downhill turns, helping you to really throw the bike around and wrestle your way down the trails.

35mm bar / stem combo keeps steering positive…

The bars are a nice width, giving plenty of leverage to keep in control off the bike without being so wide that clipping trees is a constant risk. Kona have completed the cockpit with a pair of their own lock-on Key Grips which are slim and feel good in gloved or un-gloved hands.

Kona’s own XC/BC 35 handlebars feature a nice rise…

The XC/BC 35 handlebars are wide but not so wide that you’ll risk clipping trees in tight singletrack…

Kona lock-on Key Grips are slim and feel good in gloved or un-gloved hands…

A WTB saddle branded as Kona to match their other own-brand components is a nice shape and will be comfortable for most cyclists; the WTB Volt has a durable finish with a reinforced trim on the rear edges, so when the inevitable spills happen this saddle should hold up well to scuffs and abrasion.

A WTB Volt saddle with Kona branding will suit most riders…

The Kona Process X is a fantastic option for anyone looking for a versatile long-travel Enduro bike that can be raced throughout a year-long Enduro series and ridden hard at your local trails in between races. As we’ve highlighted, the Process X is really versatile when it comes to how the bike can be set up; with the option to run the bike as a 29er or a 29×27.5” mullet and the ability to change the geometry of the bike by adjusting the chainstay length you’ll be able to really fine-tune how the bike rides and feels. Features like this mean you can quickly and easily set up the Process to suit your riding style, the terrain you ride and the sort of challenges you plan to take on; it’s reasonable to assume that during race season you run your Process X in one configuration with more rear suspension travel and when you’re done racing and you want to spend time at your local trails you can change it up to have less suspension travel and a shorter wheelbase for a completely different feel.

The Kona Process X is a fantastically versatile long-travel Enduro bike…

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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