Blister Reviewer BadgeDavid Golay

David Golay reviews the Hope Tech 4 V4 for Blister

Hope Tech 4 V4

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Hope’s disc brakes got a major overhaul in the form of the new Tech 4 generation earlier this year, and that brought a very major increase in power to the range. But how does their burliest brake, the Tech 4 V4, compare to the competition? Check out our full review.
David Golay reviews the Canfield Jedi 29 for Blister

Flash Review — Canfield Jedi 29

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We've been spending time on the Canfield Jedi 29, and it's an excellent update to a longstanding classic. Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions.

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David Golay and Luke Koppa review the Giro Latch for Blister

Giro Latch Flat Pedal Shoe

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The Giro Latch is a flat pedal shoe designed for all-around use, going squarely head-to-head with the venerable Five Ten Freerider Pro, and the Latch succeeds at being a compelling alternative with good grip, solid durability, and a comfortable fit.
David Golay reviews the RockyMounts GuideRail for Blister

RockyMounts GuideRail

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RockyMounts’ new GuideRail looks quite a bit like the venerable 1Up hitch rack, which has been a longtime favorite of many, but having now spent a lot of time with both, the Guiderail is significantly nicer to use in several key ways.
Reynolds on the Environmental Footprint of Bike Manufacturing (Ep.131)

Reynolds on the Environmental Footprint of Bike Manufacturing (Ep.131)

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We chatted with Reynolds about their new environmental impact study and what they learned about the emissions output from making bike frames. We also get into recycling & why some materials are better suited to it than others; how Reynolds hopes to be a blueprint for other brands to take studying their own output more seriously; and touch on everything from Spitfire airplanes to Roman swords and classic Jaguar race cars along the way.
David Golay reviews the 2023 RockShox ZEB for Blister

2023 RockShox ZEB

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RockShox recently gave their longest-travel single-crown fork, the ZEB, a major overhaul, and the new fork is a big improvement in several key areas — without really compromising what the previous version already did very well. Check out our full review for the rundown, including how it compares to the Fox 38 and Öhlins RXF38.
David Golay reviews the Rocky Mountain Element for Blister

2022 Rocky Mountain Element

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The Rocky Mountain Element has long been a traditional XC race bike, but the new one very much is not. It’s got a bunch more suspension travel and wildly more aggressive geometry than the bike it replaced, but still maintains a fair bit of XC influence, too. So how does that all add up, and who is it going to work best for?
David Golay reviews the Norco Fluid FS for Blister

2023 Norco Fluid FS

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Norco’s affordable all-rounder Trail bike, the Fluid FS, just got a big update, and while the new bike is marketed to beginner and intermediate riders, it’s got great-looking geometry and a nice build spec that seems like it could attract plenty of price-conscious experts, too.
David Golay reviews the Vorsprung Smashpot for Blister

Vorsprung Smashpot Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit

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There aren’t many coil-sprung forks left on the market, but Vorsprung’s Smashpot conversion kit opens up a lot of options for riders who miss that option. And having now spent a lot of time testing the Smashpot, it makes a compelling case for why certain riders might want to ditch their air springs. But who is it going to work best for, and what are the downsides? Check out our full review for the rundown.
David Golay reviews the Shimano AM903 for Blister

Shimano AM903 Shoe

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The Shimano AM9 has been their top-tier gravity clipless shoe for a long time now (and a personal favorite of ours), and while the latest AM903 generation is mostly a case of leaving a good thing alone, it’s got some nice refinements over the earlier iterations.
David Golay and Zack Henderson review the Orbea Rallon for Blister

2022 Orbea Rallon

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The Orbea Rallon is a super precise, quick-handling Enduro bike that offers something pretty different from most of its competitors — while still feeling really cohesive and intuitive. Check out our full review for more detail, including how it stacks up to fourteen other long-travel Trail and Enduro bikes.
Eric Olsen just returned from bike touring between the first three rounds of the EWS, so we sat down with him to hear where he got the idea in the first place; how it all went, including encountering golf-ball-sized hail and a flock of schoolchildren mid-race; the notion of bikes as transportation & European bike touring culture more broadly; and much, much more.

Eric Olsen on Bikepacking the EWS (Ep.126)

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Eric Olsen just returned from bike touring between the first three rounds of the EWS, so we sat down with him to hear where he got the idea in the first place; how it all went, including encountering golf-ball-sized hail and a flock of schoolchildren mid-race; the notion of bikes as transportation & European bike touring culture more broadly; and much, much more.
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