Outerbike photo preview of 2015’s hottest mountain bikes
Outerbike gives riders a chance to check out next year’ bikes in a premier mountain bike destination–Moab, Utah. Photo by Matt Woodley
Scoring credentials to Interbike’s Outdoor Demo used to be the über bike geek’s golden ticket to riding all of next year’s bikes before anyone else. But because Interbike is a trade-only event, the practice is frowned upon, and ultimately an expensive and less-than-ideal scenario, given the traditionally blistering hot temperatures, and loose, unforgiving terrain of its Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Park demo venue.
Sensing an opportunity, the smart folks at outfitter Western Spirit Cycling created the consumer-centric Outerbike event in their home town of Moab, Utah, figuring the allure of a real mountain biking destination would be a more fitting scenario for bringing brands and riders together. If their growing attendance numbers, ever-expanding list of exhibitors, and the addition of more such events in 2015 are any indication, they were right.
Longtime Mtbr forum contributors Kent Robertson and Matt Woodley made the pilgrimage to Moab a couple weeks back and graciously lent us their photos here. They’ve also done some of their own reviews which you get to through the Mtbr Forums here. We’ll be covering a number of these whips in our own upcoming reviews, so consider this a visual preview. – The Editors
2015 Giant Reign Advanced 27.5 1
File under: Mean Green Enduro Machine
The green and yellow livery of the Giant Reign 27.5 1 reminds us of the old tagline “Nothing runs like a Deer,” but you’d never mistake this 160mm-travel carbon beauty for a lawn tractor. Photo by Matt Wooley
Giant’s Maestro suspension just keeps getting better and the 27.5-inch-tuned version of it is dialed. Photo by Matt Woodley
Despite its non-competitive vibe, there’s a frantic LeMans start each morning to get to the most coveted demo bikes first. Photo by Matt Woodley.
Spec highlights include a 130-160mm RockShox Pike RC Dual Position Air fork, RockShox Monarch Plus Debonair RC3 shock and a Rockshox Reverb Stealth seatpost. Photo by Matt Woodley
The Reign also features a Shimano XT/SLX 2×10 drivetrain, an MRP 2x chainguide and a Giant performance wheelset wrapped in Schwalbe tires. Photo by Matt Woodley
Travel: 130-160mm f/160mm r Wheel Size: 27.5-inches
MSRP: $4,750
More info: giant-bicycles.com
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