Drivetrain & Pedals

SRAM Eagle AXS Long-Term Durability

March 27, 2023 by Simon Stewart

SRAM’s new Eagle Transmission is a big change to their mountain bike lineup, but what does the demise of the derailleur hanger mean for long-term durability, and is electronic shifting just an unnecessary gizmo or a genuine benefit? Blister Editor Simon Stewart reflects on four-plus years with the original Eagle AXS drivetrain.

SRAM Eagle Transmission

January 11, 2024March 21, 2023 by David Golay

There have been spy photos of what appeared to be a new direct-mount derailleur, plus updated Eagle cranks, cassettes, and controllers from SRAM floating around the internet for a while now — and today it all breaks cover, along with some new brakes and much more. Check out our First Look for all the info on the new Eagle Transmission.

Crank Brothers Mallet Trail Pedals

February 28, 2023 by David Golay

Crank Brothers just launched a new clipless pedal, the Mallet Trail, meant to slot in between the Candy and the Mallet E — and we’ve been testing it all winter. Check out our full review for the rundown on the design and how it performs on the trail.

OChain Anti-Pedal Kickback Device

October 10, 2022 by David Golay

OChains — the floating crank spiders meant to mitigate pedal kickback — are everywhere in the World Cup Downhill pits, but do they really work, and are they going to be a benefit for mere mortals? Check out our full review to find out, and take a deep dive into the often-misunderstood topic of pedal kickback.

David Golay Blister mountain bike review on the cascade components.

Cascade Components Full Guide

December 28, 2021 by David Golay

Cascade Components’ new chain guide promises great chain retention, low weight, and easy setup — i.e., all the things we look for in a chain guide. But does it deliver? And are there any downsides?

Dylan Wood & Luke Koppa Blister mountain bike review on the Hustle Bike Labs Avery REMtech magnetic pedals

Hustle Avery REMTech Magnetic Clipless Pedals

November 9, 2021November 9, 2021 by Dylan Wood

Hustle's Avery REMtech pedal is the latest take on a magnetic MTB pedal that aims to bring you the best of both the clipless and flat-pedal worlds. Two of our reviewers — one clipless fan, one flats fan — spent several months using the Avery to see where it shines, how it compares to traditional options, how much metal debris is actually on their local trails, and more. Check out their full review.

Hope Evo Crankset

November 2, 2021 by David Golay

Hope’s updated Evo crankset is reportedly designed for everything from XC to DH, and it stands out from most aluminum cranks due to its low weight & made-in-UK design. Check out our review for more on how it compares to the competition.

Flat Pedal Roundup — 2021

July 27, 2021July 27, 2021 by David Golay

It’s certainly possible to spend a whole lot of money on a pair of flat pedals, but should you? Flat pedals cover a huge range from basic composite options through super-blingy machined aluminum wonders, and we’ve been testing nine different options across the whole spectrum. Check out our roundup to find out how they all stack up.

TRP TR12 Drivetrain

May 10, 2021 by David Golay

TRP’s TR12 drivetrain is marketed as a high-end option at a high-end price, but can it compete with the likes of Shimano XTR and SRAM X01? Check out our full review to find out.

Race Face Next R Cranks

August 15, 2018 by Noah Bodman

The Next R sits in the middle of Race Face’s high-end crank lineup, slotted between their burly DH cranks and lighter XC options. So how does the Next R differentiate itself from the many other options out there? Short answer: a lot of ways. Check out our full review.