Issue #025 RSS

Issue #025, Review -

FOCUS JAM C SL Review – How much Fun is the New Trail Bike?

Mountain peaks tend to be peaceful places where time stops. They’re places of reflection and a somewhat gluttonous indulgence in panoramas. But for riders, they are very rarely the destination – and they are usually the place where time only just gets started. Just take the FOCUS JAM, which values mountain peaks as the precursor to a massive endorphin rush and a broad grin. It’s time to pump it up, baby!

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Issue #025, Review -

Scott Spark 700 Plus Tuned Review – is XC the better Enduro?

The Specialized Epic, Cannondale Scalpel, and SCOTT Spark – we’ve heard all about their exploits at grueling Cape Epic stage races and medal hauls on tough XC World Cup circuits (oh, and did we mention the Olympics?), but are they solely the preserve of the world’s watt-crushing elite, or do they have a place on the trails too? Yes, if you ask SCOTT, who have just transformed the new Spark into a platform capable of everything from Olympic-standard mountain biking to tricky days at the bike park. We’ve put the SCOTT Spark 700 Plus Tuned on test to find out if it really can push boundaries.

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Issue #025, Review -

The Lab #025: Parts and equipment long term reviews

Our global test team has been pushing products to the very limit on the world’s toughest trails. In The Lab, durability is rewarded and weaknesses have nowhere to hide. This time, we tested the ORTLIEB Bikepacking Handlebar-Pack and Seat Pack, the FOX Transfer seatpost, the SQlab 611 active Carbon saddle, the Specialized Boomslang pedals, and the ACROS Popular Carbon bars.

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Feature, Issue #025, Racing -

Self-experiment – racing the EWS as an amateur in the BMC Racing Team

With my heart pounding in my chest the clock ticks to zero, and I stumble my way out of the start gate. Overly eager to match the pace this bike and kit are used to, I ride like a newborn foal taking its first steps, overshooting and blowing turns until, sure enough, I explode over the bars to sample the French dirt. What the hell was I doing?

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Issue #025, Review -

Battle Royale – Trek Slash 9.9 29 RSL vs. Specialized S-Works Enduro 29 Comparison

Back in the Coliseum or today in the boxing ring, duels are an exceptional way to scout out the strongest. Right now the enduro world is seeing a standoff between the Specialized S-Works Enduro 29 and the Trek Slash 9.9 29 Race Shop Limited. But to end this stalemate, we invited the two big hitters of the big-wheel arena for a duel. One winner: machine vs. machine.

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