Ibis Cycles, Ibis Mojo HD, Maxxis, News, Santa Cruz, Schwalbe, seth's bike hacks, Specialized - January 10, 2018

Mtbr’s Most Read Posts In 2017

Charging in 2018 like it’s a steep AF drop.

As we push headlong into 2018, it’s fun to look back on the year that was. Top storylines in the world of mountain biking ran the gamut from endless debates on tire size, to further adaptation of 1x drivetrains, to longer travel dropper posts, and of course lots and lots of new bikes that are longer, lower, and slacker. These trends were reflected by the most popular stories on Mtbr, which included a lengthy conversation on the ideal tire size, beta on exciting new bikes, myriad product reviews, and of course a few can’t miss videos, including two that featured angry bears. Here’s a rundown of the 20 most viewed Mtbr posts from 2017.

1. A new tire size is coming

The debate about the ideal tire size heated up in 2017, with plus somewhat falling out of favor, being replaced with what Maxxis calls Wide Trail. Wide in this case is in the 2.5 to 2.6 neighborhood. This post takes a deep dive into the new tire size and why it makes sense for many riders. You can learn more here.

2. Santa Cruz Chameleon Spy Shots

Everyone loves to get a sneak peek at what’s coming next. In this case it was some spy shots of the latest iteration of the Santa Cruz Chameleon, a slacked out hardtail with plus tire capability. Get all the beta on the bike here.

3. Ibis Mojo HD4 first ride review

The much-loved enduro-slaying Ibis Mojo HD3 got a makeover for 2017. Now appropriately dubbed the Mojo HD4, the revamped rig is even slacker than before, now with a 64.9-degree head tube angle. Rear travel is 150mm, while 160mm is standard up front, though it’s approved for up to a 170mm fork. Check out the Mtbr first ride review to learn more.

4. $149 bike versus a real MTB trail

Our friend Seth of Seth’s Bike Hacks fame decided to see just how hard you could push an $149 big box store bike. You can see the ugly results here.

5. Yeti SB4.5 Bike Review

Bike reviews are Mtbr’s bread and butter, and this analysis of Yeti’s ultra-capable short travel 29er trail bike drew a ton of interest. See if it was thumbs up or down here.

6. Specialized Chisel hardtail launched

Specialized may have a rep as a high zoot brand. But luckily, the don’t just make bikes for one percenters. Their new Chisel is surprisingly racy, incredibly light, and retails for between $1500 and $1850. All the racy details are here.

7. Why you may not need to bunnyhop your bike anymore

In 1997, Jeff Lenosky set the world record for bunnyhopping height on a mountain bike. But Jeff says there’s an easier way to get up and over obstacles on the trail — the punch. In this video tutorial Jeff details this more useful technique.

8. Ten things you should carry on every ride

One of the great joys of mountain biking is the element of exploration. Whether that takes place in your backyard or the backcountry is up to you. But regardless of how far you go, it’s important to be prepared. This post details a list of the top 10 essential items you should carry on every ride, because walking home sucks.

9. Project Alloy Trail Bike

Many riders will argue that you get the best bang for your buck by dressing up an aluminum frame with the nicest components you can afford. If you can look past the extra pound or two, you can literally save thousands. So, when looking to buy, should you invest in a nicer frame or better spec? To find out, Mtbr built up this custom alloy trail bike. See how it turned out here.

10. Mountain bikers avert charging bear

The headline says it all. Check out this video to see what happened.

Best of the rest

Now that you’ve seen the top Mtbr posts from 2017, here’s the rest of the top 20.

Big thanks to the entire Mtbr community for making 2017 a great year. Here’s to a 2018 that’s filled with more amazing mountain biking adventures.