David Golay reviews the Shimano XT M8200 Di2 group for Blister

Flash Review: Shimano XT M8200 Di2 Drivetrain and Brakes

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We’ve been quite impressed with Shimano’s latest XTR Di2 groupset, so how close does the XT version get in terms of performance, for about two-thirds of the price? Here’s our early take.

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Win Titan Straps

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The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get a bunch of Titan’s multifunctional straps — 2 of each length of Utility Straps, 2 of each length of Industrial Straps, and 4 of each length of Mini Straps for a total of 28 Titan Straps!
David Golay reviews the Rimpact Chain Damper for Blister

Rimpact Chain Damper

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Rimpact’s Chain Damper looks a whole lot like their take on an Ochain. And, yes, they’ve got some real similarities, but the thinking behind their designs — and the designs themselves — are much more different than you might expect. Here’s what you need to know, including our early on-trail impressions.
David Golay reviews the Rimpact Chain Damper for Blister

Flash Review: Rimpact Chain Damper

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The thinking behind the Rimpact Chain Damper is more novel than it may first appear, and its effects on bike suspension stand out, too. Here’s what we’ve learned so far during our initial testing.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.

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Ibis Ripley AF and Ripmo AF

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Ibis just introduced new aluminum versions of their Ripley and Ripmo, with the same modern, size-specific geometry as their carbon fiber counterparts, in-frame storage, and competitively priced build kits. Check out all the details here.
Santa Cruz Vala AL

Santa Cruz Vala AL

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The new Vala AL brings the first aluminum frame to the Santa Cruz eMTB lineup. Many of the details are the same as the carbon Vala, but there are some differences, beyond just a lower price. Check out our First Look to see what they’ve come up with.

Flash Review: Propain Sresh SL

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We’ve been riding Propain’s first light-assist eMTB, the Sresh SL, equipped with TQ’s latest HPR60 drive system. Check out our initial on-trail impressions, including comparisons to the Yeti MTe and Pivot Shuttle SL/AM.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.

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David Golay reviews the Schwalbe Albert Radial tires for Blister

Schwalbe Albert Radial

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Schwalbe claims to have made a real leap forward in MTB tire construction with their new radial casings — but how does it actually pan out on the trail? And what about the new Albert tread pattern? We’ve spent a lot of time on the radial-casing Albert in a huge range of conditions and are ready to weigh in.
David Golay reviews the Pivot Firebird V5 for Blister

Flash Review: Pivot Firebird V5

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Update 7.16.25: We’ve got some more thoughts on the latest iteration of Pivot’s Enduro bike after spending some more time experimenting with the wheel size and geometry options.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.

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Cannondale Moterra

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Cannondale just launched the latest version of their Moterra eMTB in alloy frame options, featuring Bosch’s Performance Line CX drive system, a range of build kits that accommodate a variety of budgets, and more. Check out our First Look for all the info.
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