Blister Reviewer BadgeDavid Golay

David Golay reviews the Maxxis High Roller for Blister

Maxxis High Roller

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Maxxis says that the newest iteration of their High Roller is a gravity tire for conditions that are somewhat soft and loose, but not to the point of demanding a full-on mud spike. That’s a big departure from earlier iterations of the High Roller, but it would fill a real gap in Maxxis’ lineup (and the MTB tire market as a whole). So, is their description on point? We’ve ridden the High Roller in a wide range of conditions and are ready to weigh in.
David Golay reviews the Fox DHX Live Valve Neo for Blister

Fox DHX Live Valve Neo Electronic Shock

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Fox took their time developing the new wireless version of their electronically-controlled Live Valve bike suspension. We’ve been testing the DHX Live Valve Neo since early summer, and it's clear that Fox has come up with something pretty interesting.
PeopleForBikes CEO, Jenn Dice, on Assessing, Advocating For, & Building Better Bike Infrastructure (Ep.249)

PeopleForBikes CEO, Jenn Dice, on Assessing, Advocating For, & Building Better Bike Infrastructure (Ep.249)

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Getting more people on bikes more regularly is a laudable goal, and building better bike infrastructure is key to making it happen. PeopleForBikes does a whole lot to make that happen all over the US, and we sat down with their CEO, Jenn Dice, to hear all about it — and we dive into off-road bike access & advocacy, the specter of increased tariffs on bikes (and a lot of other stuff), and a whole bunch more.
David Golay reviews the EXT Vaia for Blister

EXT Vaia Fork

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EXT’s first dual-crown DH fork is here, and per usual for the brand, they’ve come up with some interesting ways to do things their own way. Check out what they’ve come up with.
David Golay reviews the EXT Vaia for Blister

Flash Review — EXT Vaia

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EXT’s new Vaia is an inverted dual-crown fork with additional features and design details that set it apart from most of the DH fork market — at least on paper. But how does it stack up on the trail? Check out our early thoughts.

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David Golay reviews the Kona Process 153 for Blister

Flash Review — Kona Process 153

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We were impressed by the new Kona Process 134 when we reviewed it recently, but how about its bigger sibling, the Process 153? We’ve started spending time on the longer-travel member of the family and have some early thoughts to share.

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 Privateer 161 Gen 2 for Blister

Privateer 161 Gen 2

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Privateer made a name for themselves making burly, focused go-fast Enduro race bikes at a remarkably good price with the original 161, and while the 161 V2 continues that lineage, it’s a big departure from the original in a lot of other ways. Check out our Full Review to find out how.
David Golay reviews the Privateer 161 Gen 2 for Blister

Deep Dive: Privateer 161 Gen 2

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We compare the Privateer 161 Gen 2 to the original 161, RAAW Madonna, Chromag Lowdown, Contra MC, Trek Slash, Nicolai G1, Rocky Mountain Altitude, Orbea Rallon, Yeti SB160, Pivot Firebird, Yeti SB165, and Ibis HD6.

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.

If you’re already an active member, please log in.

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David Golay reviews the Project321 G3 hubs for Blister

Project321 G3 Hubs

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It’s hard to do anything that novel or exciting when it comes to hub design, but Project321’s G3 hubs have a couple of unique features that really stand out — and have real performance benefits.
David Golay and Zack Henderson review Michelin's Wild Enduro and DH tire lineup for Blister

Michelin’s New Enduro and DH Tires

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Michelin gave their Enduro and DH tire lineup a big overhaul this year, and we’ve been spending time on the whole range of models. Here are our thoughts on the new Wild Enduro MH, Wild Enduro MS, Wild Enduro Rear, DH 16, and DH 22.
Arid Cycles on Self-Taught Frame Design, the Spade Enduro Bike, & More (Ep.245)

Arid Cycles on Self-Taught Frame Design, the Spade Enduro Bike, & More (Ep.245)

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The Arid Spade Enduro bike prototypes are awfully striking for a host of reasons — including that their designer, Ethan Eggert, is just 19 years old. We sat down with Ethan to hear how and why he decided to start building bikes; how the Spade has evolved over its first three iterations; his plans for eventually selling frames; and a bunch more.
David Golay reviews the Trek Top Fuel for Blister

Deep Dive: 2025 Trek Top Fuel

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We compare the Trek Top Fuel to the prior-generation Top Fuel, Specialized Epic Evo, Rocky Mountain Element, Transition Spur, Santa Cruz Tallboy, Revel Rascal V2, Pivot Trail 429, and Forbidden Druid V2

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 Trek Top Fuel for Blister

2025 Trek Top Fuel

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The last Trek Top Fuel was a big departure from the versions that preceded it — so has Trek given it another major overhaul with their latest update, or refined the recipe that made the outgoing model popular in the first place? We’ve got answers.
David Golay reviews the Vorsprung Smashpot V2 for Blister

Vorsprung Smashpot V2 Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit

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Vorsprung’s new Smashpot V2 still lets you convert your fork to a coil spring, but V2 offers increased tunability, a wider range of travel and fork compatibility options — including dual-crown ones — and a new dual-rate progressive spring setup for longer-travel configurations. Check out our First Look for all the details.
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