Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2017 i Bicycling

originally—starting in the 1990s—this was a question of ride quality. Though a frame made of any material can be engineered and outfitted with wheels and components to dial in ride feel, in general aluminum bikes were light but bangy, steel was resilient but heavy, titanium was a great compromise between the two, and, eventually, carbon was the lightest but tended to feel deader and give less feedback. Next—starting in the 2000s— it became primarily a question of cost. We used to advise people to go for aluminum below X dollars if they wanted what we call an “enthusiast” road bike—one that is lively and durable enough to see you through years of weekend jaunts, multiday charity rides, fondo-type challenges, or novicelevel competition. The higher cost of producing a good carbon…

Giant Contend 1 PRICE $810 WEIGHT 20.1 LB (S) that’s totally achievable. We recommend the $810 Giant Contend 1, which feels and looks way more expensive than it actually is. The butted aluminum frame, a mash-up of Giant’s racy TCR and endurancefocused Defy (aluminum versions of both are now replaced by the Contend), cherry-picks the best geometry attributes from each: the TCR’s snappy rear end with the more upright and stable front from the Defy. The smart parts package—Shimano Sora with a compact (50/34) crankset and wide, 11-32 cassette—helped me spin easily on pretty much any grade, and the shifting was smooth and responsive, even under load. The brakes require significantly more hand squeeze than higherend versions, but I felt confident in the stopping power. The bike feels smooth and…

Diamondback Airén 5 Carbon PRICE $3,200 WEIGHT 19 LB (52CM) y ep. the women’s Airén 5 Carbon and its unisex counterpart, the Century 5 Carbon, both come with a great set of wheels, along with other quality parts, that give you a lot of bike for your buck. If you’re ramping up to some serious riding goals this season, these endurance models are ready to take them on. Both feature Hed Flanders C2+ disc aluminum wheels, which weigh in at 1,694 grams on our scale. With an internal width of 21mm and external width of 25mm, the rims are wide enough to accommodate up to 30mm tires. Even with narrower tires, the greater width keeps more of the rubber in contact with the ground, which gives you better grip in…

DON’T WE ALL? ONE OF OUR FAVES: THE YETI SB5 BETI X01 EAGLE TURQ. PRICE $6,999 WEIGHT 25.5 LB (S) 250g WEIGHT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TOP-END TURQ AND MID-TIER CARBON FRAMES 150mm FORK 5" OF REAR WHEEL TRAVEL 26.9" OF STANDOVER ON A SIZE SMALL—THE LOWEST IN THE INDUSTRY, SAYS YETI 740mm HANDLEBAR WIDTH OFFERS BETTER FIT FOR MANY FEMALE RIDERS AS FAR AS mountain bike brands go, few have an image as colorful as Yeti. The Coloradobased company was founded in 1985, making it one of the OGs of mountain biking. The brand has maintained a solid racing presence, with team riders like Richie Rude crushing in the 2016 Enduro World Series. And the company has a laid-back mountain vibe that’s focused on community—Yeti even hosts a yearly weekend…

’M NOT A “go-for-it” guy. I prefer the predicable to the reckless. In a recent leadershiptraining evaluation, I was shown to have a cool, blue profile— cautious and calculating. I ride that way, too. I stop and analyze lines, sometimes measuring the size of a jump by walking the distance heel to toe, then doing it again to get it right. For instance, there’s a tricky rock drop in the woods near my home that I’ve stood atop numerous times and then backed away after figuring that the rewards were not equal to the risk. For some time, I’ve wanted a bike that would tip that balance in my favor—through extra travel, more stable geometry, smartly tuned suspension, or some other factor that would make going for it feel less…

ON THE MOUNTAIN GET THE NORCO REVOLVER 9.1 FS. Here’s how it checks the boxes for all the characteristics you want in your next XC race bike. Light. With its full carbon frame and lightweight components, a size small weighs just 23.8 pounds. Efficient. The frame is optimized for efficiency. The down and seat tubes flare as they approach the bottom bracket for stiffness, and Norco employs size-scaled tubing to match frame stiffness to rider size. A Horst link suspension design provides a firm pedaling platform, even when you’re out of the saddle hammering up a rise. The low-profile 2.2-inch Maxxis Ikon tires spin up quickly. Quick but balanced handling. The Revolver is designed to be pushed hard through the twists and turns of an XC racecourse. Its 70.3-degree head…

All kinds of people all around me for several months rode the Elby. Every one of them loved the Elby. I love the Elby. I love it so much I like saying the words the Elby. Just saying the Elby makes me a happier person. I have extensive time on the Specialized Turbo, the Stromer, the Faraday Porteur, and other pedal-assist e-bikes, and the Elby is by far my favorite noncargo. (For my cargo pick, see page 32.) Here’s what is wonderful about the Elby: 1 The name. The Elby. 2 The styling. The Elby is the first e-bike that fully is what it is—it’s not trying to look moto souped-up and hard-ass, doesn’t masquerade as just an elegant bicycle by hiding the motor and battery in a traditionallooking frame,…

COASTER BRAKE FTW! NO-HANDS BRAKING MEANS YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR MORNING BREW ON THE FLY—WITHOUT SPILLING, EVEN. Electra Loft 1 Here are 19 more things you can do on this shiny singlespeed. 1) Marvel at how exquisitely raindrops bead on the nickel-plated frame. 2) Take the five minutes you won’t need to spend scrubbing grease off your jeans— because you have a chainguard— to Google “kitten latte art.” 3) Turn almost any ride into a workout—no shifting required. 4) Signal a turn confidently while braking. 5) Devote the mental energy you’d otherwise use thinking about gearing to something really important—like whether your town will ever get a Tim Hortons (Canada’s maple-loving answer to Dunkin’ Donuts). 6) Be glad that you didn’t have to leave a $2,000 artisanal town bike locked…

Jamis Xenith Pro PRICE $4,599 WEIGHT 17.6 LB (56CM) Because even though you can get a well-rounded, racy-feeling bike with high-quality parts for $3,000, that extra two grand gets you something like this: Frame At $5,000, frames are often a brand’s highest grade and lightest, or a level down. The $4,599 Xenith Pro’s frame, for example, is exactly the same as the $5,199 Xenith Team, Jamis’s flagship model. From the very first pedal stroke the Xenith Pro shows its need for speed with a stiff, race-oriented ride. It’s eager to change direction and accelerate, and with the flat-mount disc brakes and stiffening thru-axles, it’s just as adept at slowing for corners then carving through them. Drivetrain At this price, it’s most common to see smooth-shifting Shimano Ultegra, Dura-Ace, or a…

there was a time when bicycle technology was less complicated. Things like headsets and bottom brackets were simple pieces that could be moved from bike to bike. Today’s technology is impressive, but it’s evolving at a pace that can feel difficult to keep up with. So what if you want a bike that will last? One that you will very likely be able to repair and maintain with little fuss, for its long life. Something that nonetheless comes in a modern configuration that won’t make you look like you are riding in from the turn of the century. And that (with a swap of wheels or tires) will do anything from club rides, to dirt and singletrack, or road races. I know what kind of bike I’d choose. It would…

WHY COLNAGO? It’s difficult to find a bike brand with a more impressive pedigree. Founded in Cambiago, Italy, in 1954, Colnago claims victories in Grand Tours, spring Classics, world championships, the Olympics, and hour-record attempts. And it has worked with some of the greatest racers of all time, including Merckx, Saronni, Dancelli, Motta, Maertens, Museeuw, Freire, Fondriest, Ballerini, Rominger, Petacchi, and Zabel. BUT WHY AN AERO COLNAGO—ISN’T THAT, LIKE, ANTI-HERITAGE? Nope. Colnago embodies a living and breathing heritage, not some artfully packaged nostalgia. The former racer and race mechanic in founder Ernesto Colnago— who, at 85, still walks across the street from his home to work at the headquarters every day—has always inspired him to experiment prolifically. Two of his most legendary frames are the Master, a steel frame that…

FUJI CROSS 1 .5 DISC PRICE $1 ,419 WEIGHT 20.5 LB (58CM) If you’re looking to dip your feet into the muddy world of ’cross, you want a bike that is good enough to put on a start line, can grow with you as you progress for a couple of seasons, but also—if you decide ’cross isn’t for you—is versatile enough to ride some gravel and light singletrack or be equipped as a commuter, so you don’t end up throwing your cash away with your ’cross-racing dreams. You want a bike like the FUJI CROSS 1.5 DISC. Here’s what makes it right. ALTERNTIVES WA N T A M O R E T R A D I T ION A L DRI V E T R A I N ? Ridley…

Time for some serious self-reflection. ENDUROOOO! Did you find enduro in your soul? Check out the Pivot Firebird Pro XT/XTR 1x. A NOTE ON HANDLING A bike this long and slack takes a slightly different handling style than a trail bike. Instead of turning through a corner with the front end, you initiate a turn with a flick of the bar, then countersteer as the bike drifts through—you’re pretty much steering with the rear end at times. The Firebird’s geometry works particularly well in supersteep turns with a ledge in the middle, where you’re falling into them as much as riding through. one of the most abused enduro bike clichés is, “It climbs like a cross-country bike and descends like a downhill bike.” From the standpoints of geometry, weight, and…

YES! WHY CHOOSE WHEN YOU CAN HAVE BOTH? The Santa Cruz Tallboy was redesigned last year as one of a new breed of bikes that can accommodate 29-inch tires or the wider 27.5+ size. You can buy the Tallboy as either, with the option to convert to the other platform in the future. This trail bike takes the longer-lower-slacker approach that’s currently in vogue, with a longer top tube, Boost 148 rear-axle spacing that helps enable Santa Cruz to run shorter chainstays, and a relaxed 68-degree head tube. Rear travel is 110mm, with a 120mm fork in the 29er setup or 130mm for 27.5+. SO MANY OPTIONS! Santa Cruz makes the Tallboy frame in two carbon levels and the aluminum version we tested, and it comes in 12 build kits…

THE LIV AVAIL and I are lost. We’re not “bad lost,” and nowhere near “dangerously lost,” but we’re lost enough for me to pause on the edge of a cornfield and fumble my gloved fingers around a mapping app in search of familiar names. It’s easy to get turned around on the twisty, rural roads near BICYCLING’s Pennsylvania headquarters, where hundreds of interconnected route options are like a Choose Your Own Adventure book (which, at least, almost always ends with “You had an enjoyable bike ride” rather than something dire from the book series, like, “You just got eaten by a shark”). Now we’re back on the road and heading in the opposite direction, reversing the slow, steady climbing work I just completed. The fact that I’m not crushed about…

we’ve sampled many of the new endurance models, and the Roadmachine is one of the more race-influenced, with quicker reflexes, a crisper-feeling ride, and cleaner frame design (no shocks, decouplers, or springs) with some aerodynamic shaping. A flat headset bearing cap allows one of the lowest bar positions among its peers. (If you want a higher bar, it’s still possible with BMC’s 20mm taller headset cap.) BMC also built in more vertical compliance than is found in a racing bike, and more control via disc brakes and a slightly stretched wheelbase. Wide-range gearing, clearance for larger tires, and hidden fender mounts offer additional versatility. Our Roadmachine 02 Ultegra weighs just over 18 pounds for a size 54: not unreasonable, but it does reflect the weight penalty of the 11-32 wide-range…

IF YOU’VE GOT $1,500, GO FULL SUSPENSION, BECAUSE ON THE HAWK HILL YOU CAN GET: 120mm of front and rear wheel travel Hydroformed alloy frame with modern long, low, and slack geometry 27.5-inch wheels Meaty Schwalbe Hans Dampf tires Shimano Deore drivetrain with single (1x) chainring with narrow/wide teeth for chain retention and wide-range 11-42 cassette Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors What you won’t get at this price Dropper post IT USED TO BE that to get a great mountain bike at an introductory price, a hardtail was the best bet—the cost of adding suspension was money better spent on nicer components. Now, prices have dropped to the point where some high-performing full-suspension bikes are also real bargains. The Marin Hawk Hill is one of them. I took…

Hell, yeah! These days, even the Cannibal dines on dirt. Go with the Eddy Merckx Strasbourg 71 Alloy. Detail We Love: Cables are semiinternally routed for a clean look. BUILT TO GET YOU OFF THE GRID Premium lightweight aluminum alloy frame with a monocoque carbon fork Shimano BRRS805 hydraulic disc brakes Clearance for up to 40mm tires (Clement Strada USH 32s come stock) Curved fork, kinked chainstays, and thinner seatstays help damp vibration on rougher terrain The 27.2mmdiameter seatpost flexes more than 30.9 and 31.6mm versions for a smoother seated ride Fender and rack mounts on the rear triangle and fork Twelvemillimeter bolt-on thruaxles stiffen the connection between wheels and frame and ensure consistent braking performance Reliable Shimano 105 drivetrain; also offered with SRAM Rival or Shimano Ultegra I LOVE…

WHEN I IMAGINE the bikes that answer this question— and the riders who ask it—I think of one of my favorite road rides here in Boulder, Colorado. It is one that not just any road bike can handle. On some bikes, the gearing isn’t suited for the steeps that push total elevation gain to almost 5,000 feet. On others, lightweight tires will not make it through the sections of sandy wash studded with rocks and ruts. On still others, the overly stiff frame will leave your back and neck aching with every jolt of a pothole or washboarded corner. On the far right, see how the Focus Paralane crushes this benchmark ride, exemplifying why it’s the type of bike best suited for riding everywhere ALTERNTIVES WANT SOMETHING LIKE THIS,BUT… More…

Party wheels Smaller, 650b wheels help make the Bad Boy nimble: It’s easy to turn sharply at slower speeds and to quickly maneuver around traffic surprises, while 40mm tires soak up potholes and cracks in the road. Belt drive for the crazy-busy A Gates Carbon Drive belt and internally geared hub won’t get greasy like a chain and cassette, so they’ll keep your going-out pants clean. The setup is also low-maintenance— nice for folks with packed social calendars and limited time. Integrated lights A Supernova LED light strip on the fork and a series of red LED lights on the seatpost provide extra visibility when you’re riding home after a night out. (We’d still supplement the taillights with a blinky and use a stronger headlight to see in the dark.)…

back when i was leading bike tours across the US, I spent years putting together my perfect touring bike, from the steel cyclocross frame and apocalypse-proof wheelset to top-shelf rack and fenders. Had the Kona Sutra been around then, I could have saved some time. The Sutra is a dangerous bike—not because of any structural issues, but because it’ll make you want to ride out of your office on a Tuesday and keep pedaling until you’ve reached the opposite coast. (My boss hates when I do that.) Here’s how it’s packed with all of my favorite touring features 1 Steel frame The chromoly butted frame is stable and ready to climb twisty back roads with what feels like the weight of two toddlers on board. The geometry put me in…

*BUILD IT LIKE A PRO Airlines are rough on baggage. Set your bike up with aluminum parts (bar, stem, seatpost, and wheels) rather than carbon. And use cable-actuated disc brakes instead of hydraulic, so you can use cable splitters to quickly disconnect them for packing and assembly. Finally, use Centerlock rotors: They’re easiest to install and remove. Start packing. You can escape three ways on the Ritchey Break-Away Ascent. 1 Fly across the world. The frame has couplers that let you break it into two pieces, and can be packed into Ritchey’s rolling Break-Away suitcase (included with the frame along with cable splitters, travel padding, a torque wrench, and extra hinge clamp), which has dimensions that skirt the oversize-baggage fees from many airlines. Caveat: The case won’t fit much besides…

even at the lower speeds associated with off-road riding, aerodynamics matter in gravel racing. Since you spend so much energy battling ground resistance, getting free watts where you can is key to being competitive. Pack tactics come into play. Gravel sections are often linked by pavement. And wind is a major factor in many popular Midwest races (looking at you, DK200). This is the idea behind the 3T Exploro LTD, the brainchild of Gerard Vroomen, cofounder of Cervélo and current coowner of 3T. It is designed to accommodate massive tires (it takes both 700c and 650b wheels, and up to 55mm-wide tires on a 650b rim) while reducing air resistance. Its ginormous, squared-off down tube directs airflow from high-volume tires and water bottles, and the frame also hides other wind…

Ridley Noah SL Disc Ultegra Di2 PRICE $5,889 WEIGHT 18.7 LB (M) It’s now a cliché in pro cycling to talk about marginal gains, the idea that many small advantages add up to a meaningful one. But there is an underlying truth: To maximize your chances to win, you need to look after every detail. Ridley’s Noah SL Disc is that idea in bicycle form. It won’t replace proper training and nutrition, discipline, or tactical smarts. But if all of those things are in place, on the right course the Noah SL Disc is a powerful ally in your quest for victory. Here’s why. INNOVATIVE AERODYNAMICS The Noah SL Disc has a familiar aero silhouette, but Ridley departs from traditional airfoil-style shapes in two key spots: the fork and down…