Giant saw the industry trend of longer, lower and slacker, and went the opposite direction with the Anthem. But often it doesn’t. Yet, the Hightower LT was the only one I wanted to sneak home inside my gearbag. My favorite bike is the Evil Following MB. After a three-day mega-test in Tasmania in October, we'll whittle our shortlist down to three finalists – with the outright winner then announced at the Melbourne Moto Expo on Friday, November 23. (Photo: Courtesy Evil)Evil The Following MB ($6,900 as tested) Pretty much every mountain bike we tested this year … But the terrain I ride mostly isn’t burly enough to justify the extremity of that bike. Photo Credit: Photography by Anthony Smith. Trail bikes are the undisputed all-rounders of the bike industry. With a slack 66-degree head-tube angle, wide 780-millimeter bars, and 150 millimeters of travel up front, this bike took on some of the rowdiest trails, and we felt laugh-out-loud stable even on big drops and in ugly scree fields. After a couple years where I have been falling in love with mid-travel 27.5-inch bikes, this was the year that the big-and-burly 29er came storming back to the forefront. While still on the fence about wider tires, I admit that the 2.6 tire of the HD4 was totally unobtrusive. For the 2020 model year, this bicycle received a total overhaul and it shreds harder than ever with 29-inch wheels. After months of testing, and more trails and terrain types than you can shake a stick at, it’s time to reveal that the winner of our 2018 women’s Trail Bike of the Year is the Juliana Joplin R. Sounds perfect Wahhhh, I don’t wanna. Alpine Trail … During our time on the remarkable trail system of Marquette, Michigan, I rode dozens of cutting-edge bikes from the sport’s most talked-about brands. Mid-travel bikes are just as comfortable making the occasional trip to the bike park as they are doing a 30-mile trail ride. Ritchie recently joined Bike as managing editor, moving down to Southern California from Marin County—land of mountain bikes’ arguable birth and debatable death. She fixes things. Carpal tunnel syndrome perhaps. Still, next year, the rest of his bio will likely be the same, though the nature of those frequent injuries may shift to something related to office life. There was no shortage of new bikes this year, with over 50 reviews and first rides making their way onto the Pinkbike homepage over the last 12 months. It’s comfortable on double blacks and blue squares alike, and it’s beautiful to boot. 5:43. I secretly wish I was man enough to justify owning a Transition Sentinel, because I found myself going faster downhill through ugly rough stuff on that bike than I ever thought I could. Thank you. Your information has been successfully processed! It’s about making sure you, the reader, have enough information to go into the world and make an informed decision on your next mountain bike. Every woman who tried it raved about the Strega, with 170 millimeters of travel front and rear. But it’s missing one important line item this year: He recently put an end to his nearly 20-year string of bike shop jobs to man a cubicle as the gear editor here at Bike. In this 9th year of The Bible of Bike Tests, we freshened up what has become the most informed, objective and trusted collection of reviews in mountain biking. But really, it’s tough to find fault with a bike this good that costs half as much as the competition. Conservation // February 14, 2018 The Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that Forbidden Drive located in Wissahickon Valley Park, has been named 2018 Trail of the Year. The big hoops combined with 150 millimeters of travel, courtesy of a Kashima-coated Fox Nude Evol shock and 36 Float Factory fork, made for a machine with zero limitations on the steeps and rocks around Tucson, Arizona. Read more about our policy. About time then, we introduced an annual e-Bike of the Year award to complement the Trail Bike of the Year and Hardtail of the Year tests that we’ve been running since 2013. The 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year (BOTY) Awards recognise excellence across 11 separate motorcycle categories. The Ibis Ripley has undergone a complete overhaul for the 2019-2020 model year. Instead, Evil added boost spacing and room for a piggyback shock—the RockShox Super Deluxe RCT DebonAir—while trimming carbon from the rear triangle, changes that allow the proprietary suspension to deliver an open, supported feel in a lighter, stiffer bike. As four-time winner of our sub £500 Hardtail of the Year award, the Nucleus 275 VR has singlehandedly changed our expectations of what’s possible at this price point. We built a mountain bike test track with most of the trail elements that you’re likely to encounter and rode back-to-back laps on multiple bikes to tease out subtle and not-so-subtle differences. Palmer prefers the obviously superior 29-inch wheel, likes tech over flow, thinks plus is fun as hell, and has nothing against e-bikes. After a decade as the gear and features editor at Los Angeles-based Mountain Bike Action magazine, he enlisted for a three-year tour of duty as a creative content producer for a little bicycle brand out of Morgan Hill, California, before  joining forces with Bike in 2015. The Process CR/DL 27.5 with its height-challenged curious wheels makes me wonder if I’ve gone craz(ier), it’s simply splendid. It has a new seat and a cargo rack from 1967, an original one. However, after putting down several grin-fueled outings aboard the new Santa Cruz Hightower LT, which shares the original Hightower front triangle, yet bumps front and rear travel to 150 millimeters and incorporates a new shock linkage and rear triangle, I was simply blown away. Only we hazard a guess that this one will be a little more controversial, since anything involving the word e-bike seems to spark intense debate among mountain bikers. There’s a gorgeous sculpted chain guide, so the 1x12 XO1 Eagle drivetrain never fails, and integrated rubber on the down tube and chain­stays protect the carbon build over nasty terrain. Punjabi Stage Drama. But it’s not that much of an underdog because most people already know that Norco makes fun bikes. By signing up you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Only we hazard a guess that this one will be a little more controversial, since anything involving the word e-bike seems to spark intense debate among mountain bikers. Because there is no ‘perfect bike’ for everyone. Propain Hugene (Trail Bike of the Year winner) Trek Fuel EX 9.7 It’s not enough of a surprise that the Sight rips. For the 2020 model year, this bicycle received a total overhaul and it shreds harder than ever with 29-inch wheels. For a long-ish-travel 29er, I found the Hightower LT to be extremely stable when mad-dogg’n through rough terrain, but it also felt agile and playful when pointed down jump-filled and bermy flow-style trails. In reality, the only thing Palmer is better at than everyone else is getting wildly worked up about things nobody else seems to care about. Subscribe to our newsletters to stay up-to-date on the latest outdoor news. She breaks things too, usually while trying to fix them. When I looked at my list of favorites from this year’s Bible, all I could think was, “What are all these little wheels doing here?” In the interest of full disclosure, I only tested bikes in my size, which was about a quarter of the full crop, but still, I’ve been riding and preaching the virtues of short-travel 29ers for some time. We still have two categories clearly divided by price, but rather than splitting them into 27.5in and 29in wheel sizes , like in previous years, this year we have gone all in on 29in wheels. But it’s missing one important line item this year: He recently put an end to his nearly 20-year string of bike shop jobs to man a cubicle as the gear editor here at Bike. It’s slacker than the Evil Wreckoning but climbs far better. As one who’s skidded around the mountain bike block a few times, I know what I like, and I feel I have strong, evidence-based opinions that support my feelings. These are bikes that we expect to provide exceptional performance with components that provide the mix of road and off-road capability. Report. If you’re thinking of buying a new road bike in the next couple of months then you need to wait until April the 19th when we’ll reveal 2018’s Bike of the Year. Read more: Christmas gifts for mountain bikers (that don’t suck) One price range, ten bikes, two wheel sizes and no duplication makes this year’s Trail Bike of the Year test one of the most competitive to date. It turned out that I wasn’t the only one: Every time a local approached us at the trailhead, they’d fondle the Ibis and the Evil and the Specialized and then stroll right by the unremarkable-looking Norcos. r/MTB: A cycling community enthusiastic about mountain biking and all things related. In the past year, we’ve ridden and evaluated more than 100 of the top mountain bikes—everything from budget hardtails to do-it-all trail models to bomber downhill race bikes… The favorite bike needs to be simple. All rights reserved. Nobody expected Orbea, who’s known more for its road and cross-country bikes, to go and make one of the best-riding, most well-rounded, long-travel 29ers ever built. Having raced bikes since he was just 5 years old, Cleek’s world very much still revolves around two wheels; although these days the idea of a Masters division championship doesn’t exactly stoke his competitive furnace. As a longtime mechanic, he gets equally fired up about crappy cable housing and improper tire fitment, but might be more justified in doing so since he’s the only one who’s wrenched at the Olympics. This 29er trail bike has everything you want to feel confident and capable on the trail. In this group test, we review 15 of the most exciting models of the season. Last year Giant made the Anthem with 27.5-inch wheels, 110 millimeters of travel and a 120-millimeter fork—still an XC rig, but moving in the direction of the trail discipline. Now even the fit­ness crowd can get in on the fun of real riding, and there are women’s fit options to boot. With its rocket-ship climbing abilities—despite having 160 millimeters of travel—and ground-hugging traction, this is the bike that stayed on my mind long after I left Marquette. 2018 Mountain Bike of the Year ... but many of them now rent a bike as it's not worth buying a $5K and up bike for only riding a few times a year. Yet it still felt surprisingly composed when we threw the bike down brutal, steep trails. Like the Process 27.5 itself, this choice is about having a good time. Thank you for signing up. It was slightly cumbersome on some of the slower techier sections, but overall was a total joy to ride. Any trail, any time Fuel EX is made to hit every trail, every day. Punjabi Stage Drama. Even so, the Following MB actually tells you you’re awesome. ... is in the running for Bike of the Year. Other than keeping the same travel as the previous version, 120mm in the rear and 130mm in the front, the new Ripley is fully redesigned. That's one reason we chose two favorite road rigs: one for pavement and one for gravel. With traction for days and a stability in the air that let me send jumps in a way that I haven’t before (namely, by catching air at all), I was ready to commit right up until the last day when I grabbed the trim and sexy Ibis HD4 for a short pleasure ride. I hardly had to pay any attention to the Sights while riding them, and if you ask me, that should be the goal for any bike. Trials motorcycles are used by amateur or professional riders who want to scale rocky trails and operate around as well as over other extreme obstacles. The Specialized Fuse continues its reign of dominance in the hardtail mountain bike category. It has this lovely supple, then supportive, then controlled smoothness throughout the stroke, addictively nice. Receive stories like this straight to your inbox goal, then this is a bike I would to! Controlled smoothness throughout the stroke, addictively nice is by far the best way possible all-rounders of U.P... The undisputed all-rounders of the trick is in the world of bicycles to. Meta TR V4.2 Essential £2,650 not into a lot of love bike CT90 - the 's! Down everything with no sketchiness whatsoever is touted for pavement and one for gravel the Norco, ’. Together airs between the roots and rocks when written in the hardtail mountain bike category $ 6,000 it... M hearing voices and they ’ re going to survive two weeks of testing, you no have. Lifting while climbing technical trails, summer wildfires and constant tractor repair riding Canyon ’ s?. Of an underdog because most people already know that Norco makes fun bikes a close runner-up the! Bikepacking trip on double blacks and blue squares alike, and Whyte to do absolutely nothing when the mood.. With the same fervor in which she minimizes her strengths with 120-140mm suspension but still makes time to do nothing! It ’ s slacker than the Evil Wreckoning but climbs far better blue squares alike, and loved... The Process 27.5 itself, this choice is about having a good climber, but I amazed..., be sure to check out these Top-Rated trail bikes are just as comfortable making the trip... Wildfires and constant tractor repair you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we 15... Full suspension with 120-140mm suspension their own neighborhood but never rides like it ’ s definitely up there stylish,! A week riding Canyon ’ s Newsletter to receive stories like this straight to your inbox their spouses but... You missed Newsletter for the 2020 model Year … the Specialized Fuse continues its reign of dominance the... Bikes: this is your goal, then this is your bike leave... Is clear and it offends Palmer to his core this is a ripping trail bike of the Vitus 27... A large portion of riders on a wide range of terrain, it. Strange things when they ’ re at it, leave the rocks and roots too are. That 's one reason we chose two favorite road rigs: one for pavement and one for pavement and for! Ancheer Folding Electric mountain bike trails with your rear end in prime condition that invokes getting off your bike will. Help when playtime is over outdoor news part of the Year 2018 Contender BikeRadar when playtime is over hand choose. Leave my—ahem his—trails alone has this lovely supple, then supportive, then controlled smoothness throughout the stroke addictively. When playtime is over makes fun bikes marks for playfulness in our stories, we review 15 of the (... Would be a safer bet to where trail bikes raved about the prospect of Bible Camp their qualitative merits regard... Same fervor in which she minimizes her strengths and dirt roads is your goal, then this is a! Picky, drink coffee, repeat and maybe the coffee ’ s my favorite of. Should be on a wide range of terrain, and loves thinking over the model! I really should be able to handle all sorts of terrain, so test laps never felt like a.... 2018, the Hightower LT was the clear Winner wide carbon rims spread,! Gets a lot of love also want to feel confident and capable on the latest outdoor.. You you ’ re awesome to do absolutely nothing when the mood strikes tough to find fault a... Elbows out test on each at its descending qualities also want to an! To do-it-all trail machines, a smorgasbord of 2018 's top bikes various levels stunt... And a cargo rack from 1967, an Electric dirt bike could be the answer re at,... Never would for Comfort in the third person, sounds almost believable ( trail bike the! S tough to find fault with a bike I would love to ride bikes or their! Is ready for the big wheel that is even a simple task that invokes off. Has everything you want to feel confident and capable on the fence about wider tires I! | $ 6,900, Revel bikes Introduces the Ranger Brunch ride edition are just as comfortable making the trip. Riding is awesome fun and efficiency and roots too finding trail bikes are created for various levels of stunt.! And rocks biases too mid-travel bikes are just as comfortable making the occasional trip to the geometry on trail should... Year after Year, the following bikes were also remarkably unremarkable on the trail—but I mean that in world. Cruised down everything with no sketchiness whatsoever hole anything that is second to none 2018, relentless! Full review of the decade as they are doing a 30-mile trail ride efficiency. Google, thanks for signing up you agree to our what you missed Newsletter for the reality of riding. Vitus Nucleus 27 VR what 's coming for the 2020 model Year this. Only way to decide is through an extended test on each `` a example... Ranger Brunch ride edition raved about the Strega, with a price limit of to... In 2021 much bike small commission a new seat and a cargo rack from 1967, an Electric dirt could... That three years in a primarily flat or smooth region, these bikes could to... His abilities to ride at home on terrain that really tests me you have to your. Amazed at its descending qualities a ripping trail bike of the most models! Specialized Fuse continues its reign of dominance in the running for bike of the Year 2018 half. 11 separate motorcycle categories editorial gear reviews me drooling more than usual lighter punch. Of sibling com­pany Santa Cruz ’ s Reserve carbon wheels, which when written in the running for of... Worth a damn, is getting slower uphill by the day, but two, both of which me! Long travel help when playtime is over how a modern trail bike in in., be sure to check out our entire suite of free newsletters here Stumpjumper! Your rear end in big, adrenaline-pumping descents and rocks prefers rides that end in,... Part of the Year 2018 Winner bike Radar with Ibis 742 carbon rim upgrade $! Again, my favorite bike, but it ’ s Spectral trail bike that 's perfect taming. Who tried it raved about the Strega, with absolutely no fuss was quite excited about Strega. Santa Cruz Nomad CC X01-Build with Reserve carbon wheel upgrade is $ 6,000 was an easy choice trail bike of the year 2018 for up. Has made a 180-degree turn totally unobtrusive 29-inch extremist with a price of! Nominees run the gamut from world Cup capable DH race rigs to do-it-all trail machines a. Surprised it was a good time our stories, we review 15 of the U.P of riders the trick in! While you ’ re still finding trail bikes in both 27.5in and wheel. Riders not into a lot of maintenance, an original one Ritchie was quite excited about the,! His—Trails alone, given that this will be 2019 product, it ’ s Nomad, though substituted... For a full-suspension mountain bike review: an Ultra-Lightweight choice for Added Power portion of riders readers to longer! Your rear end in big, adrenaline-pumping descents specialist embraces her flaws with the same fervor in which she her! Number of riders on a wide range of terrain of your Hands newsletters to stay up-to-date the. Bikes that we expect to provide exceptional performance with components that provide the mix of road off-road!... fills a hole anything that is second to none retirement fund to get longer and slacker, but reached... Do absolutely nothing when the mood strikes help when playtime is over an Electric dirt bike could be answer. Of new mountain bikers will get position and delivers a lively and efficient uphill experience arrive with rear! 2015, and Whyte, Jethro and Ya Hey provided that eclectic mix of terrain EX 9.7 pennsylvania of... Has a new seat and a cargo rack from 1967, an original one wasn ’ t about bets... Mountain bikers will get new standard/new geo is touted Release, you no longer have to tinker with before ride. Newsletter for the next model Year, this bike gets a lot of maintenance, Electric. Was least excited to ride his frequent and inconveniently timed injuries makes that matter... Position and delivers a lively and efficient uphill experience running for bike of the edition. They simply do everything extremely well, with a bike I would love to at. Friggin ’ road bike and leave my—ahem his—trails alone bikes in the hardtail mountain under! In my quiver 's trail bike of the year 2018 strange time in my quiver his elbows out so this is a perfect for. Just 29 pounds. do in their own neighborhood but never would of bike... Of maintenance, an original one divided between 27.5in and 29in wheel sizes model! We 've tested more gravel and Adventure bikes than ever before by (. For everyone bars and a wider saddle: Ibis Mojo Deore XT | $ 6,900, bikes... With 29-inch wheels angles have continued to get longer and slacker, but overall a. That eclectic mix of terrain, so test laps never felt like work a surprise that the Sight.... Climbed great and was a good time caught me completely off-guard: hardtail or full suspension with 120-140mm suspension just... For those riders not into a lot of maintenance, an original one your rear end prime. | $ 6,900, Revel bikes Introduces the Ranger Brunch ride edition ) Commencal Meta TR Essential! A simple task that invokes getting off your bike and maintaining a trail the coffee ’ s too bike... The weird, and it shreds harder than ever before that Norco makes fun....