What We’re Watching — September, 2021
What We’re Watching is back, this time with some recent event coverage, several new edits, and a couple of throwbacks for good measure.
David Golay
Galfer on MTB Brake Tech (Ep.81)
Mountain biking with inadequate brakes is terrifying, but the role of pads and rotors is often underappreciated. So we sat down with Daryl Simmons of Galfer USA to go deep on brake pads and rotors, including differences in pad materials and why the basic metallic vs. organic debate doesn’t tell the whole story; what factors influence wet-weather performance and heat resistance; rotor design and how to think about choosing rotor sizes; and a whole lot more.
Flash Review: Nicolai / Geometron G1
The Nicolai G1 stands out as being just about the most aggressive-seeming Enduro bike on the market, and we've been spending time on it. Check out our Flash Review for our initial impressions.
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Debatable: Internal Cable Routing Isn’t Worth It
It seems like almost every bike comes with internal cable routing these days, but why? Our Bike Editor lays out his case for why cables ought to stay external.
2021 Forbidden Dreadnought
“A DH bike in all but the small print” is a bold claim for a 154mm-travel bike, but the Forbidden Dreadnought just might live up to it — in more ways than you might think. Check out our full review for all the details.
Chris Porter on Mullets, Dual-Crown Enduro Forks, & More (Ep.80)
Chris Porter, one of the most interesting and most opinionated figures in the MTB world, is back on Bikes and Big Ideas. We discuss the Geometron G1 & how Chris chooses to set up his personal bike; dual-crown Enduro forks & how we both wish they were more common; EXT suspension, including the Era fork and custom G1-spec Storia shock; & much more.
Hip Pack Roundup — 2021
Hip packs have gone from being an ironic fashion throwback to a commonly accepted mountain bike accessory, but they now come in all shapes and sizes. We’ve been testing six options, from ultra-minimalist to quite roomy, and here you can check out how they compare and which would work best for you.
Tech Tip of the Week: Quieting Shimano Brake Pad Rattle
Shimano’s brakes are some of the most popular options out there, but their finned brake pads also have a reputation for rattling. Luckily there’s an easy DIY fix to quiet them down. Check it out.
Gear of the Year (So Far) (Ep.79)
We check in with several of our reviewers to discuss the gear they’ve been most impressed with so far this year; the new products they’re most excited to check out; and along the way we talk about mullet bikes, bike shop pranks, and unveil several genius new ideas that we definitely shouldn’t be giving away for free.
2022 Canyon Lux Trail
The Canyon Lux has seen plenty of action (and results) on the World Cup XC circuit, and now it’s got a bigger sibling, the Lux Trail. The new bike is a lot more than just an XC race bike with a little extra suspension, though — check out all the details in our First Look.
EXT Era Fork
After making a big splash with their rear shocks, EXT’s first fork is here. There’s a whole lot that’s interesting and unusual about the Era, but how does it all add up on the trail? Check out our full review to find out — now with some additional thoughts from Xan Marshland.
Would You Rather: Dream Hardtail or Mid-Price Full Suspension?
Dream hardtail or more modest full suspension bike as an everyday ride? That’s the question we’re tackling in our new “Would You Rather” series. Check out our reviewers’ individual takes on the site, and let us know what you’d do in the comments.
Fanatik
Fanatik is an outstanding mountain bike-specific shop in Bellingham, WA, with a focus on custom bike and wheel builds, and a large e-commerce presence. They're the local go-to for parts, service, and complete bikes, as well as an integral part of the Bellingham mountain biking community.
Mountain Bike Tires: A Guide & Comparisons
In this guide, we're comparing more than a dozen of the most popular Trail, Enduro, & DH tires to each other, highlighting their pros and cons, and helping you figure out which option might work best for you. In our latest update, we've got a couple of new additions from Schwalbe and Michelin.
Mtn Biking 201: A Guide to Tire Casings & Rubber Compounds
What are tire casings and rubber compounds — and why should you care? And how do one brand's casing and compound options compare to another's? In this Gear 201 article, we answer those questions and more, and we've just added our thoughts on the latest rubber compounds and casings from Schwalbe and Michelin.
Steve Vanderhoek on Le Tour de Gnar, Freeride, and Firefighting (Ep.78)
Steve Vanderhoek just put out one of the best video edits of the year, where he & Yoann Barelli rode just about all of the gnarliest features in the Sea to Sky Corridor in one truly wild day. We sat down with Steve to talk about the mental challenges of riding scary, high-consequence lines; filming & riding with Yoann & Remy Metailler; balancing all that with his career as a paramedic and firefighter; & a whole lot more.
2021 GT Force
High-pivot Enduro bikes are popping up all over the place these days, and now there’s another option on the market — the all-new GT Force. Check out our First Look for more info.
What We’re Watching — August, 2021
Our What We’re Watching series is back, with an assortment of videos short & long; goofy & important; & relaxing to very high adrenaline. Check out a bunch of the best video content we’ve recently seen — plus a sneak preview of our next Bikes & Big Ideas guest.
Reviewer Reports: DW-link Head-to-Head; Forbidden Dreadnought; Shimano vs. Sram; & Category-Defying Pedals
David Golay talks to Dylan Wood about two short-travel, DW-link bikes at opposite ends of the price spectrum; a range of longer-travel Enduro bikes from fairly conventional to quite unusual; some category-defying pedals; thoughts on the importance (or lack thereof) of bike weight; & the current state of the Shimano vs. SRAM drivetrain wars.
Little Bellas / Sabra Davison (Ep.76)
Sabra Davison grew up ski racing and running, but when she got into mountain biking, she saw girls participating at far lower rates — so she decided to do something about it. Sabra (along with her sister, World Cup XC racer and two-time Olympian, Lea) founded Little Bellas to get girls into riding bikes, and develop the confidence to keep with it. We sat down with Sabra to talk about Little Bellas; how to make skill building fun; removing barriers to participation in what is an expensive sport; and a whole lot more.