Stuck for Christmas gift ideas? Take a look at our Gift Guide! We’ve put together over 30 products to help you find the perfect present for the cyclist in your life. Choose from gifts for Mountain Bikers, Roadies, Kids and Commuters….
This week we’re taking a look at the striking and rather unique Trek Supercaliber 9.8 XT 2021 Cross Country mountain bike which is packed full of lightweight componentry along with a Shimano XT groupset and 29” carbon fibre wheels making it a race-ready bike straight out of the box. BUT hold on, what’s going on underneath the top tube?! Is this a hardtail or a full-suss bike? Or something in between?! Well, lets start with a quick history lesson; this bike has already been around for a couple of seasons and as we all know the bike industry doesn’t stand still for long, but it’s worth a quick look back at the Supercal’s design and development at the highest level of World Cup Mountain Bike Racing and how this unique bike caught everyone’s attention when it launched…
What’s under the covers?…
The Trek Supercaliber first appeared early mid-season in 2019, being piloted by the men and women of the international Trek Factory Racing Team, with each bike carrying a rather un-subtle black covering over whatever was going on beneath it. A shrewd marketing manoeuvre by Trek to draw attention to a soon-to-be-launched model? Or a necessary part of the design process to allow prototype bikes to be tested within the most demanding MTB races in the world? Probably the former, but either way the world’s bike media sat up and took note with lot’s of speculation and spy-shots being published around the world.
The Supercaliber meets the demands of modern World Cup racing…
When all was finally revealed we discovered that Trek had taken on a whole new approach to rear suspension design with a solution that fell somewhere between their Iso-Speed Decoupler found on the Trek Procaliber hardtail and their Top Fuel full-suspension mountain bike with 120mm of rear wheel travel. Trek’s exclusive IsoStrut integrated shock with 60mm of travel suddenly gave their racers the option of running a new short-travel cross country mountain bike that could handle sprints and climbs faster than a full-susser but could also descend faster and in more control than a hardtail.
The IsoStrut is revealed…
The Trek designers have integrated a fully-tuneable Fox Performance rear shock into the structure of the carbon fibre frame eliminating any extra moving parts normally associated with full suspension bikes, producing a simple suspension platform with minimum weight gain. The IsoStrut shock is encased in the frame’s structural stanchion which helps prevent any potential for twisting or flex while giving the feel and behaviour of a conventional carbon hardtail UNTIL you hit an obstacle and activate the shock.
IsoStrut shock is integral to the structure of the frame…
Built to meet the brief of being a world-class cross-country mountain bike capable of not only handling tough, technical and rocky descents but also gaining an advantage on long singletrack climbs as well as being able to win a desperate sprint for the line the Supercaliber utilises years of Trek’s expert engineering and development in carbon fibre frame manufacturing. Pivotless seatstays eliminate the need for extra linkages and the potential for excess lateral movement which can sap the power being put through to the rear wheel. With a clever carbon layup and sensitive shaping Trek have created wide, flat seatstays that are designed to flex and bow giving 60mm of plush suspension travel while being just as responsive to pedalling input as a conventional hardtail.
Lightweight, no-nonsense pivotless seatstays…
The Fox Performance air-sprung shock is fully tuneable using a standard shock pump, allowing you to tune the spring rate to suit your weight and riding style; it also features a dial for rebound adjustment. Fitted with a remote lockout this shock can be quickly shut off on the fly. Coming straight off a steep, demanding descent into a long fire-track climb? Need to put the power down quickly to gain a gap? No problem, the lockout is at your fingertips.
Lockout the rear shock on the fly…
OK, so that’s the frame. What about the components and groupset? Well, Trek have spec’d the Fox Performance 32 Step-Cast suspension fork up front with a Float EVOL air spring.
100mm of travel from the race-ready Fox Performance 32…
This lightweight Boost 110 fork balances brilliantly with the Supercaliber’s rear shock giving 100mm of travel which can be tuned with a GRIP 2-position damper and locked out when you need to via the handlebar mounted lever.
Fox Performance 32 Step-Cast fork, remote lockout…
Trek offer the Supercaliber 9.8 model in two guises – GX or XT giving you the choice of groupset between Sram GX and Shimano XT. This is a really good approach from Trek as we all know that the spec of a particular groupset can make or break the popularity of a bike and riders generally seem to feel strongly on whether they’re a Sram fan or a Shimano fan.
Shimano XT chainset with 32T chainring…
As the name suggests the Supercaliber 9.8 XT we’re looking at here features Shimano full XT groupset with a 1×12 speed drivetrain consisting of a single 32T chainring up front combined with a wide-ratio 10-51T cassette out back. An XT M8100 long cage, clutch rear mech partnered with XT M8100 12-speed shifter guarantees crisp, predicable gear shifting even when you’re under mid-race pressure.
Full Shimano XT 12 speed groupset…
The finishing kit of the Supercaliber 9.8 XT reflects Trek’s focus on creating an out and out race-ready MTB with a pair of Bontrager Kovee Pr0 30 carbon 29er wheels fitted as standard; these lightweight hoops come fitted with fast-rolling Bontrager XR2 Team Issue 29×2.20” tyres. Both the rims and the tyres are tubeless ready so straight out of the box you’ve got everything you need for a fast, light and durable race wheel setup.
Tubeless ready Bontrager Kovee Pro 30 carbon 29er wheelset…
Continuing the theme of lightweight high-performance components Trek have finished off the Supercaliber 9.8 with a Bontrager Kovee Pro handlebar made from their own Trek OCLV carbon which features a 5mm rise and is 720mm wide. Similarly the seatpost is a 0mm offset Bontrager Pro OCLV carbon post fitted with a Bontrager Montrose Elite saddle with lightweight titanium rails.
Lightweight OCLV carbon handle bars and seat post…
So who is this bike for? Well, cross country racing snakes is the obvious answer; everything has been spec’d with this in mind, however, it would be a shame to pigeonhole the Supercaliber 9.8 as a bike that only comes out on race day. This bike is fast, lightweight AND extremely versatile mirroring a lot of the qualities found in a typical gravel bike, which more and more cyclists are now drawn to. Arguably as fast and responsive, the difference with the Supercaliber is that when things get more rowdy and you swing off the fire track onto tight, rough singletrack this bike really comes to life and can handle the extra demands of riding technical mountain biking terrain – it’s World Cup proven after all. If you’re the type of rider looking to cover some significant distances over a diverse mix of terrain and surfaces and tend to chase ever faster Strava times then the Trek Supercaliber 9.8 XT mountain bike is for you.
Trek Supercaliber is too good to save just for race day…
Check out Trek’s video for even more information on their IsoStrut suspension platform….
Currently in stock at Wheelbase:
Trek Supercaliber 9.8 XT 2021 £5,300.00
Trek Supercaliber 9.7 NX 2021 £3,950.00
Blog written by Johnny Dodgin
Bike Photos by James Vincent
Long-time friend of Wheelbase Guy Kesteven has just put together some great new videos over on his YouTube channel; this time he’s reviewing the Mondraker Crafty R 2021 E-MTB.
Riding a super-demanding 39.78km loop of the Lake District, Guy’s ride took in Garbun, Sadgill, Gatesgarth, Nan Bield and finished up in HP Woods.
Guy’s bike tests are certainly thorough! This loop which started off in great weather conditions but turned more and more challenging throughout the duration of ride took Guy 4 hours and 44 minutes to complete but credit to the Mondraker Craft R and its Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 4 motor the demands of this Lake District epic ride were matched by this very capable, super-fun 160mm travel E-MTB.
Check out Guy’s Live Ride…
Despite having to use the bike’s motor in walk assist mode on the steepest, most loose un-rideable sections, the battery life on this ride was extremely good. Here’s some key stats to take note of:
Distance: 39.78km
Moving Time: 4hrs 44mins
Elavation: 1,345m
Bosch Motor Usage : 90% Tour Mode (140 Nm), 10% EMTB Mode (140-340Nm)
Battery Life Left: 28%
Need to know more? Watch Guy’s Tech Talk…
The Mondraker Crafty R 2021 E-Mountain Bike is in stock at Wheelbase now, see the bike here.
Here at Wheelbase we’re massive fans of the Shotgun Kids Mountain Bike Seat, with plenty of our own staff using them with their young families. An alternative approach to the typical rear-mounted child seat the Shotgun places your child safely in front of you and turns their riding experience from a passive, ‘just-a-passenger’ feel to an active participant riding up front with the trail opening up in front of them. The days of your little one dozing off in a rear-mounted child seat are gone – the Shotgun means your child will be where the action is, facing down the trail, giggling and laughing at the feeling of exhilaration as you ride your favourite family bicycle loop.
Make a lasting impression for your little shredder – bike riding should be fun!…
The Shotgun Kids Mountain Bike Seat has been designed for children aged 2-5 with a maximum weight of 22kg or 48lb. Up until recently the front-mounted bike seat, which has been remarkably popular with bike-mad families was sold separately to the additional mini handlebar, which was available to those parents looking to decrease the reach to the bars for their smallest child. Now for the first time Shotgun are selling their front-mounted seat, the mini handlebar and an additional front mudguard as one complete package, which we think is a great move as most of our customers felt it was a more child-friendly setup to have both components running on the their bikes.
Here’s the technical specs of the Shotgun mountain bike seat…
The Shotgun Handlebars are packed full of child-friendly features…
Learn more about the Shotgun Front Mounted MTB Seat on Shotgun’s YouTube Channel….
With a fully adjustable saddle to let you fine tune the fit for your small child, quick installation and removal thanks to a handy quick release and secure moulded rubber padding to prevent paint damage to your dream mountain bike the Shotgun seat is a versatile and user-friendly piece of kit. Picture the scene – you’re at your local trail centre for the day, taking turns with your partner to shred your favourite red and black routes while the kids enjoy the playground. All back together again it’s time to quickly install the Shotguns and ride the blue trial as a family.
The Shotgun setup is bound to make mountain biking more fun for ALL of the family!..
Available now at Wheelbase….
Shotgun Front Mounted MTB Seat Combo £148.98
Shotgun Kids MTB Seat £119.99
Shotgun Kids Handlebar £26.99
This week we’re looking at a very special Cyclocross / Gravel bike with wireless transmission which we’ve spec’d with a Vittoria Elusion carbon wheelset. But before we get into the details, let’s cut to the headline; both of these products are currently on offer with significant discounts applied…
Cannondale SuperX Force eTap 2020 was £5,499.99 NOW £3,999.00
Vittoria Elusion Carbon Wheelset was £999.00 NOW £599.00
We currently have good stock of both the SuperX gravel bike and Vittoria Elusion wheelset so if you’re looking for a versatile bike that can be raced at your local cross race or used for all-day off-road epics, or simply want to pimp your current bike with a lightweight, affordable carbon wheelset then follow the links now!
Right, back to the blog…..
The Cannondale SuperX Force eTap 2020 bike sits atop Cannondale’s Cyclocross range of bikes, but to pigeonhole this bike as a cyclocross-only bike would be doing it a very big disservice. The design of this lightweight, highly-versatile carbon fibre cyclocross bike has been continuously tweaked and refined over the years before arriving at this current iteration. Cannondale’s latest version features generous amounts of tyre clearance in the front and rear of the bike allowing the SuperX to accommodate gravel tyres up to 42mm wide; this combined with a forgiving amount of compliance engineered into the carbon frame and seatpost as well as a wireless groupset that features a broad range of gear ratios and includes a double chainset upfront means this bike is calling out for gravel adventures long after the cyclocross season has passed.
Cannondale have spec’d a Sram Force eTap AXS groupset with double cahinset…
Here at Wheelbase we equip our own racing team with the Cannondale SuperX cyclocross bike, (albeit the alternatively spec’d single-ring SuperX GRX model) and have seen it piloted to numerous Regional and National level cyclocross race wins over the past few seasons including, most significantly Lewis Craven’s win last season in the Vets National Championships race. Our team riders love how the SuperX rides, giving a snappy & responsive feel in the heat of a mid-race battle when accelerating out of corners or fighting for a sprint to the finish line. As well as being stiff and responsive when you need it to be, the SuperX is comfortable too with cleverly profiled chainstays and seatstays taking the sting out of rough terrain. Up front a super-wide headtube and fork-steerer combination keeps your steering precise on the tight turns typically found in cyclocross racing; with a 71.5 degree head tube angle and a 55mm OutFront offset fork the SuperX strikes the perfect balance between providing sharp and responsive steering for cross racing while being relaxed enough to feel stable and predictable on long gravel descents when you’re out exploring further afield.
Wheelbase’s own National Veteran Cyclocross Champion – Lewis Craven in action below…
The Cannondale SuperX is recognised around the world as a legit gravel bike option thanks to all of the clever frame features we’ve already highlighted. Ted King the former professional road racer, who is now based in the States and races for Cannondale within the burgeoning gravel racing scene can attest to the versatility of the SuperX. With a full quiver of bike options including the Cannondale Topstone Carbon and Topstone Lefty Ted will often choose the Cannondale SuperX option if he is looking for a rapid, responsive, fast-climbing bike for the most demanding races out there including the infamous Dirty Kanza and Land Run 100.
Ted King talks about his SuperX…
Kaitie Keough also rides for Cannondale within the US Cyclocross scene and takes regular trips to Europe to race in the cyclocross heartland of Belgium at the very pinnacle of international racing. With numerous wins and podium places in cyclocross Kaitie has also begun to race her SuperX in gravel races including the Dirty Kanza. With very little change to her setup Kaitie will race the same SuperX bike all year round, here’s a GCN review of her SuperX bike in cyclocross race mode…
Kaitie Keough’s Cannondale SuperX…
So, amazingly-versatile carbon frameset aside, the Cannondale SuperX Force eTap’s headliner is of course SRAM’s wireless electronic groupset. When SRAM launched the Force eTap AXS groupset, (which sits one rung below their ‘Red’ eTap AXS groupset), there was a lot of excitement around this technology being made more affordable and accessible. Most of the top bike brands have subsequently spec’d this groupset on some of their flagship bikes since its release and for good reason. The simplicity of wireless gear shifting can’t be denied; easy to setup and maintain, users can expect precise, flawless digital gear shifting in the most demanding, muddy, gritty, grimy conditions making this a great choice for a high-end cyclocross or gravel bike. This 12-speed groupset features SRAM’s unique approach to gear ratios, created in an effort to decrease the size and weight of the drivetrain while making the jump between each gear ratio smaller for an overall more user-friendly riding experience. For the SuperX Cannondale have spec’d a 46T/33T chainset combined with a 10-33T cassette to ensure that you’ll always be able to select the appropriate gear for every riding scenario.
SRAM’s Force eTap AXS wireless electronic groupset…
The Cannondale SuperX Force eTap features some great finishing kit including their own HollowGram SAVE Carbon handle bars and HollowGram SAVE alloy stem combination giving a lightweight, aerodynamic and very clean-looking setup. A compliant, gently flexing SAVE Carbon seatpost adds comfort, particularly over long hours in the saddle while a well-proven Fabric Scoop Shallow Race saddle with lightweight titanium rails is fitted as standard.
Cannondale SAVE HollowGram handle bar & stem combo…
The Cannondale SuperX Force eTap 2020 bike comes with a pair of light, tough and fast-rolling carbon wheels. The HollowGram 22 Carbon wheels feature a 22mm deep rim profile with a wide 25mm inner rim which can easily accommodate wider cyclocross and gravel tyres up to 42mm wide. The carbon rims are also tubeless-ready making them perfect for a reliable, no-nonsense gravel bike setup. Cannondale have spec’d Vittoria Terreno Dry TNT 700x38c tubeless-ready tyres which are definitely more focused on gravel racing than cross and as the name suggests they are also ready for a tubeless setup.
PLEASE NOTE – the wheels in our pictures are not the standard HollowGram 22 wheels included with the SuperX Force eTap, for an accurate spec please see product link here. Which brings us neatly on to our second feature product this week. On special offer right now, the Vittoria Elusion Carbon wheels…
The Vittoria Elusion Carbon wheelset is a versatile option that makes an ideal upgrade for your road cyclocross or gravel bike. The lightweight 42mm-deep carbon rim is stiff and responsive helping you to accelerate quickly and hold your speed more efficiently; this tubeless-ready setup means you can spec your wheels with tubeless tyres to help you enhance bike handling, provide extra-grip at lower tyre pressures, reduce the risk of punctures and decrease rolling resistance.
Vittoria Elusion Carbon wheelset…
The Vittoria Elusion Carbon wheelset is tough too, featuring strong straight-pull steel spokes complimented with brass nipples. Vittoria have spec’d 16 spokes in the front and 21 spokes in the rear; their hubs feature smooth cartridge bearings that are quick and easy to replace should you need to; the cassette body is Shimano / Sram 10, 11 and 12 speed compatible.
Shimano / Sram 10 / 11/ 12 speed compatible rear hub…
Cannondale SuperX Force eTap 2020 was £5,499.99 NOW £3,999.00
Vittoria Elusion Carbon Wheelset was £999.00 NOW £599.00
Blog written by Johnny Dodgin
All photos by James Vincent
Available now at Wheelbase! Reid E-Scooters are fun AND affordable E-Scooters from one of the most established E-Scooter brands available.
See our Reid E-Scooters in-store or online, ready to ship direct to you anywhere in the UK.
Reid E4 and Reid E4 PLUS E-Scooters feature powerful 250W and 350W motors respectively. Both models include mechanical disc brakes with an auto motor cut-off for enhanced safety.
Here’s a full specification breakdown of both Reid E-Scooters…
With fold-away handlebars Reid E-Scooters are easy to travel with if your journey includes public transport and are easy to store at home or work.
At this time of year fading light or total darkness is always a consideration, Reid have you covered with head and tail lights as well as funky blue underlighting on the underside of the deck.
Check out this recent review of the Reid E4 E-Scooter on Stu’s Reviews YouTube channel below…
Special Offer – Reid E4 E-Scooter WAS £500.00 NOW £449.00
Special Offer – Reid E4 Plus E-Scooter WAS £550.00 NOW £499.00
Available to buy now with no deposit and 0% interest spread over 6 or 12 months.
Current Legislation
Please note, the use and enjoyment of e-scooters is only legal on private property for now; as it stands it is currently against UK law to use a powered transporter such as an e-scooter or segway on pavements, roads and cycle lanes. Here at Wheelbase we can really see the advantages of travelling short distances to and from work without getting in a car to do so, decreasing traffic congestion and helping to improve air quality.
With the added impact of the Coronavirus and the need to travel safely, avoiding public transport where possible we recognise the importance that this new technology can play, which is why Wheelbase have got behind e-scooters now. We have already seen their popularity in cities all across Europe and want to be ahead of the curve in terms of the brands we stock, our product expertise and customer service.
The government has now begun trials of e-scooters for approved rental services within some cities around the UK and we are optimistic that key legislation around the use of e-scooters will change very soon. See more here
Stop for a moment and consider how you travel. Do you live in a city or similar built up environment? Do you tend to make short journeys by car, to and from your home? Do you find yourself struggling to navigate your way through busy streets packed full of stationary traffic or constantly struggle to find somewhere to park your car at the end of your short journey? Perhaps now is the time to reflect on how you travel and consider how you can improve your journey times, improve your own health and most significantly make a valuable contribution to improving the transport infrastructure of the environment in which you live. This week’s Fast Bike Friday feature has been rebranded as ‘Family Bike Friday’….
Riese & Muller is a relatively new brand for Wheelbase but we were quickly drawn to this premium eBike-only brand which positions itself at the top of the eBike tree and has a firm focus on creating a range of high-quality, precision made German engineered eBikes. Riese & Müller are clear in their business strategy – to produce cutting-edge eBikes that play their part in improving the ongoing climate crisis while positively enhancing the lifestyles of its consumers and wider society.
You may be familiar with the term ‘Cargo Bike’. If you’ve spent any time in some of the larger cities in the UK you will have no-doubt seen cargo bikes being used to quickly navigate congested city centres, either moving small loads from place to place by courier, or by high-street vendors selling various goods. In mainland Europe it is now common to see families using cargo bikes as an alternative to getting into their cars for small journeys, with Mums and Dads transporting their kids on the daily school run.
The Riese & Muller Load 75 eBike is just such a cargo bike and is packed full of user-friendly features to make it a truly multi-purpose electric vehicle that can be a great alternative to getting into your car. With its low centre of gravity and a huge loading surface, the Load 75 has been designed to help you carry significant loads that would previously of had you reaching for your car keys; this very-special e-Bike has been engineered to be as comfortable as it is practical, using Riese & Muller’s Control Technology design principle to provide an optimised chassis and finely tuned full suspension platform.
The Load 75’s long, low geometry means that steering remains predictable at slow speeds while negotiating the typical tight turns and traffic controls found in towns and cities. Low loading of heavier objects (including your kids!) keeps you safe at higher speeds while Riese & Muller’s suspension design guarantees obstacles such as cobblestones, curbs and potholes are negotiated in comfort and control.
The Load 75 features Bosch’s Cargo Line Cruise motor (Gen4), the latest generation of Bosch Cargo Line Cruise motor which has been developed specifically for use on Cargo eBikes and features 400% pedal assistance with a maximum torque of 85Nm. In practice this means that the rider instantly benefits from the assistance of the motor as they begin to push down on the pedals; this is key in being able to accelerate quickly while carrying a heavy load and really comes into its own when you need to quickly get moving, as traffic lights turn green for example. Other key features of this latest generation Bosch motor include ultra-low pedal resistance, a significantly reduced weight and smaller overall size for next-level integration into the Load 75’s chassis.
So what if you wanted to use this Cargo eBike for the twice-daily school run? Well this model can safely transport up to three children for the short journey, while the practical removeable cover means that wet weather doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker either. The Riese & Muller designers have created a space that allows one child to face the rider while the other two children are forward facing in the direction of travel, a spacious footwell means your little ones remain comfortable without getting in each other’s way so while not guaranteed there should be little cause for bickering!
With a maximum load carrying capacity of 200kg this versatile cargo bike can be used for so many activities including carrying camping equipment for bicycle-touring, for the weekly shop, the school run, carrying work-tools, delivering parcels and so much more. The addition of the Bosch motor means there’s very little to stop you carrying loads that just would not be possible on a conventional ‘acoustic’ bike.
Riese & Muller have also included a Supernova M99 Mini Pro daytime/nighttime running front light to enhance your visibility to other road users, this is complimented by a Supernova M99 rear light which, in stop-start traffic quickly catches the attention of motorists behind you. A potentially heavy load needs to stop quickly and in control; with this in mind Riese & Muller have spec’d Tektro TRP C 2.3 hydraulic disc brakes featuring four pistons to greater enhance braking power along with thicker disc brake rotors to ensure durability and controlled braking in all weather conditions.
For time-pushed family members or small business owners bicycle maintenance may well be far down on the list of priorities and again the Load 75 has been designed with this in mind. A user-friendly Gates belt-drive replaces a conventional bicycle chain, with this technology meaning your eBike is driven by a flexible, reinforced, toothed belt which does not need to be oiled and maintained like a chain does; the bike’s gears are neatly housed internally within the rear hub meaning, again that bicycle maintenance is minimal.
We’re not all the same size, with the potential for this cargo eBike to have multiple users within the same family or commercial organisation Riese and Muller have included a good amount of adjustability including the angle and height of the stem as well as the saddle height to accommodate riders from 1.50m to 1.95m high.
We’re proud stockists of Riese & Muller eBikes; we like their ethos and really trust in their products. These cutting-edge German-engineered eBikes offer a practical, user-friendly mode of transport that will help to enhance your own lifestyle, encouraging you to exercise more, decreasing stress levels typically brought on by congested traffic and allowing you to contribute to the improvement of the environment that you’re living in.
See the Riese & Muller range here
Blog written by Johnny Dodgin
All photos by James Vincent
How good does this new 2021 Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC 625 Kiox E-MTB look?! This latest generation Cube Stereo Hybrid definitely gets its DNA from the mtb-enduro scene, with a healthy amount of suspension travel in the front and rear this capable E-MTB has been designed specifically to cope with the demands of aggressive downhill trail riding; the addition of a powerful Bosch Drive Unit Performance CX Generation 4 motor just means you won’t need an uplift to get back to the top of your favourite trail.
Cube have spec’d the Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC ActionTeam with a light, but tough C:62 carbon frame featuring Monocoque Advanced Twin Mold Technology mated up with an Aluminum 6061 T6 rear FSP 4-Link triangle. With agile trail geometry, Boost 148 rear hub spacing and a fully Integrated battery the cockpit gives a spritely, responsive feel with the bike’s weight evenly distributed throughout the build.
One thing you’ll notice straight away is the Kashima coated Fox 38 Float Factory fork giving a whopping 170mm of super-plush travel featuring 3-position low speed compression adjustment; big 38mm wide stanchions and a 15x110mm thru-axle guarantees super-responsive steering even under load. Cube have matched the fork with a Kashima coated Fox Float DPX2 Factory EVOL rear shock giving 160mm of rear wheel travel and the Kashima goodness doesn’t end there! A matching Fox Transfer Factory dropper post lets you get the saddle out of the way quickly for steep drops and encourages you to seek out even more extreme line choices.
With a fourth-generation Bosch Performance CX motor you get proven technology from the ‘go-to’ e-bike motor manufacturers giving a natural feel and just the right amount of torque to give you the required burst of power to make the technical, loose-surface climbs as much fun as the demanding downhills that you’ll eagerly seek out. Cube have included a Bosch Kiox on-board computer which can be used with their eBike Connect smartphone app. The robust Kiox unit with colour display ensures you can see all your data at a glance and record your trips and other stats before sending all relative data to Bosch’s ‘eBike Connect’ online portal via your smartphone’s Bluetooth connection.
With a full Shimano XT groupset featuring a simple 1×12 drivetrain, made up of an e*thirteen Plus Crank with 36T chainring upfront combined with a massive 10-51T cassette out back you’ll never find yourself lacking just the right gear ratio regardless of whether you’re trying to complete a tough uphill section with no dabs or are hitting the firetrack at highspeed for a quick route home.
Cube have finished off the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC 625 Kiox with tough Newmen Evolution 27.5 wheels wrapped with Schwalbe’s Magic Mary SuperTrail and Big Betty SuperGravity 2.4in tyres to give you dependable traction and grip on the ups and downs regardless of the trail conditions.
If you’re looking for an enduro-spec’d E-MTB with loads of plush suspension travel and a proven chasis and components that’s built to cope with the demands of aggressive trail riding then look no further than the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC 625 ActionTeam. Cancel that uplift, you won’t be needing it; shred the downhills and beat your mates back to the top of your favourite hill with this rowdy E-MTB Enduro bike.
Learn more about the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC 625 ActionTeam here
Blog written by Johnny Dodgin
All photos by James Vincent
A few weeks ago we looked at Whyte’s new 2021 Whyte E-160 S E-MTB an enduro-focused bike with 160mm of travel and a powerful Bosch Gen 4 motor. As E-MTBs become more and more popular it would be easy for some brands to shift their focus completely away from their ‘acoustic’ mountain bikes, but not Whyte.
With their proven, UK-focused trail geometry which has been the mainstay of their mountain bike range for a number of years now, fans of Whyte mountain bikes can be confident that the new T-140 platform continues their focus on creating maximum fun, wherever you ride with this agile do-it-all trail bike.
The Whyte T-140C R features a lightweight, but durable carbon fibre frame with super-smooth flowing lines and internal cable routing which is very pleasing to the eye and gives a stiff, responsive pedalling platform allowing you to climb tight, technical uphill trails, executing those short, sharp pedalling accelerations that are typically required to get up and over small obstacles and loose ground.
The Whyte T-140C R can handle big-hits too, with its 140mm of suspension travel consisting of a capable RockShox Pike Select RC Boost fork up front with Debonair and Charger RC damper combined with a RockShox Deluxe Select + RT rear shock out back. The T-140C R excels on the descents; agile 27.5” wheels shod with grippy Maxxis High Roller II 2.6” tyres mean you can throw this bike into the tightest of singletrack turns, the cleverly designed suspension platform taking all the hits with gusto keeping you in control all the way down.
The Whyte T-140C R features their proven OTO (Optimised Trail Offset) geometry; so while this bike can be described as agile it’s certainly not twitchy; the OTO principle entails the use of a reduced offset fork to improve steering stability moving the mass of the fork and wheel closer to the steering axis for a more neutral steering feel to prevent any potential for twitchy moments when you’re pushing the limits on the downs.
The Whyte T-140C R has been spec’d with some very choice components and a capable SRAM GX Eagle 12 speed Groupset. A Whyte ‘Drop It’ dropper seat post with remote paddle lever means you can quickly get the saddle out of the way allowing you to throw your weight right back on the steeps while a 780mm wide / 30mm rise handle bar helps you to remain stable at speed.
This is one seriously fun bike with its UK-trail-riding DNA clearly born out of years of development and refinement on previous generations of Whyte mountain bikes. Whether you’re aiming to descend down Nan Bield Pass in the Lake District with no dabs, or are zipping about on the tight, technical singletrack of the Surrey Hills the Whyte T-140C R is more than ready.
Learn more about the Whyte T-140C R here
Blog written by Johnny Dodgin
All photos by James Vincent
Have you heard? Specialized have a completely new model in their road bike range.
Introducing the Specialized Aethos…
The first thing you’ll notice is that the silhouette of the bike looks distinctly different to the type of high-end road bikes that are currently being launched. The latest generation of performance road bikes are firmly focused on aero-efficiency with each tube profile shaped to cut through the air and with fully integrated components and cables being the norm; Specialized themselves have recently relaunched their iconic Tarmac model as a more aerodynamic, complete do-it-all road racing bike that climbs brilliantly but is super-aero too, the Aethos completely bucks this trend.
So what’s the Aethos road bike for and more importantly who is this new model aimed at?
Specialized say that this bike has been made simply for the love of riding; for once they admit, they’re not in it to win. They focused instead on the vast majority of cyclists out there who ride for the love of the sport and the freedom they feel while riding. This time around they didn’t listen to their cohort of professional athletes currently racing at the highest level and focused solely on ride quality for every-day riding, a bike for dancing up your favourite climbs, completely at one with your bike or carving sweeping downhill bends on perfect road surfaces.
By ripping up the established rule book which typically leads manufacturers to design modern, contemporary competition-focused road bikes, Specialized achieved a ground-breaking frame design and manufacturing process which gave the Aethos its feather-light weight of just 585grams for the frame, making it the lightest production disc frame ever made.
The techy bit….
While the Specialized engineers were not obsessing over aero-tube profiling this time around they were still very focused on the shape of each tube profile, albeit for other, initially less obvious reasons. Their lead engineer Peter Denk was running countless computer simulations when he found that true performance lies in the shape of the frame and its tubing, not the materials it is made of. The frame’s shape is what drives performance in terms of stiffness and responsiveness and Specialized discovered that tubes with subtle, elongated conical sections deliver the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio; they called this new approach their ‘Continuous Curvature Design’ strategy.
Once the Specialized engineers had refined their tube profiling they found they could further improve ride quality by clever carbon layup, enabling them to eliminate traditional stiffness layers and reducing the carbon fibre plies by 11% when compared to their Tarmac SL6. By using unbroken plies every fibre becomes structural helping to dramatically reduce weight.
Is it UCI legal?….
..Well most cyclist’s response is probably going to be ‘who cares!’ and of course Specialized make a big thing of this. With a frame weight so low, depending on the build of the complete bike, it may be difficult to meet the UCI (professional cycling’s governing body) strict minimum weight limit. UCI rule 1.3. 019 states that race bikes in UCI-sanctioned events must weigh at least 6.8kg (14.99lb). Yes, this road bike might just be too good for professional cyclists; for the rest of us though we can enjoy a light, stiff and balanced road bike that handles brilliantly. The lightest disc road frame ever produced builds up to complete bikes as light as 5.9kg; with key features including hydraulic disc brakes throughout the range, convenient threaded bottom bracket and clearance for tyres up to 32mm wide Specialized’s Aethos is the perfect option for those road riding purists who seek out the perfect riding experience and don’t obsess about all things ‘aero’.
This Specialized Aethos Pro is in store now at Wheelbase North East and features SRAM’s brilliant Force eTap AXS wireless groupset and Roval Alpinist CL carbon wheels.
Check out the Aethos Pro available online now
