Drivetrain & Pedals
Tectonic has taken the winning formula of their Altar V2 pedal and adapted it to a composite (and much cheaper) version: the Alibi. Does it match the Altar V2’s strong performance, or is the Alibi something else altogether? We’ve been riding them for a few months and have thoughts.
Flash Review: Shimano XT M8200 Di2 Drivetrain and Brakes
Update 8.12.25: We’ve started spending time on the 9-45 tooth cassette version of the new Shimano XT Di2 Drivetrain, and have some thoughts on how it stacks up against the standard 10-51 tooth version.
Rimpact Chain Damper
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.
Flash Review: Rimpact Chain Damper
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.
Bosch CX-R Motor & Software Upgrade for CX Drive Systems
Update 7.16.25: We’ve been putting a few more miles on our Santa Cruz Bullit now that we’ve installed Bosch’s new Performance Software Upgrade, and it makes an impressive difference in both power and torque, and adds some other compelling features.
OneUp Components Clip Pedals
OneUp’s flat pedals have been extremely popular for quite some time now, so does their first clipless offering — the creatively named Clip Pedal — deserve similar acclaim? Here’s our take.
Outlier Void and Pendulum Pedals
Outlier’s Void and Pendulum pedals don’t look like anything else out there, so is their performance similarly quirky, just plain good, or somewhere in between? We’ve had multiple reviewers spend a lot of time on both versions and are ready to weigh in.
Shimano Deore M6200 & XT M8200 Di2 Wireless Drivetrain and Wheels
Just two weeks after launching their first wireless MTB drivetrain at the flagship XTR tier, Shimano now has Deore and XT versions for folks who want wireless shifting at a more affordable price. Here are all the details.
Shimano XTR M9200 Di2 Wireless Drivetrain & Wheels
Shimano’s long-awaited wireless XTR group is here. Here are all the details — and our long-term Full Review after spending several months with the new shifter, derailleur, cassette, cranks, and wheels.
Hope Carbon Cranks
Hope has added a carbon fiber crank to go along with their Evo aluminum one, and we’ve spent a ton of time on it to see how it stacks up. Check out what we’ve found.
SRAM GX Transmission Upgrade Kit
SRAM just launched the new 70 and 90-series mechanical versions of their T-Type groupsets. Now there’s a cheaper way to convert a mechanical Transmission setup to the GX wireless version.
FSA Gradient Cranks, Wheels, and Cockpit
FSA just dropped a full new Gradient lineup aimed at the Enduro side of the sport, including a new wheelset, cranks, bars, and stems. We’ve spent a few months riding the whole lot for a few months now with promising results — check out our Full Review.
OneUp Wave Flat Pedals
OneUp has released a new flat pedal — the Wave — and they’re not quite like anything else on the market. By merging convex and concave shapes, OneUp has created a new platform shape, and they make some big claims as far as its benefits. Read on for more on these new pedals.
SRAM Eagle 70 & 90 Transmission
The long-rumored mechanical version of SRAM Transmission is here, in two variants — Eagle 70 and Eagle 90. Check out what’s new with the cable-actuated Transmission variants, what’s shared with the existing electronic versions, and our on-trail impressions so far.
Bent SRAM Transmission Cages & Some Troubleshooting Advice
A few months ago SRAM quietly released a new part that a lot of you should know about, and we’ve got a little advice on how to live with SRAM Transmission.
Flash Review: OneUp Clip Pedals
OneUp’s new Clip Pedals sound promising on paper — offering a thin platform, relatively low weight, and supposedly less play than SPDs. We’ve got some early thoughts on how well those claims are borne out.
Shimano GRX Di2 2 x 12-Speed Drivetrain
Shimano’s GRX RX825 group brings Di2 technology to a 2 x 12 Gravel layout. After logging plenty of miles on the new setup, we think RX825 will have a lot of appeal to a broad set of riders. Our Full Review has all of the details.
Time Speciale 10 and Speciale 12 Pedals
It’s always worrisome when a longtime favorite product gets revised, and Time’s new Speciale pedals were the latest to give us “did they screw it up?!” anxiety. So, have these pedals been meddled with under Time’s new SRAM ownership, or is it business as usual with the Speciale 10 and 12? We have thoughts.
TRP Evo 12 Drivetrain
The big two S-brands have a stranglehold on the mountain bike drivetrain market, but that isn’t stopping TRP from trying to join them. So, is TRP’s Evo12 drivetrain a worthy contender? Check out our Full Review for our take.
SRAM S-1000 Transmission & DB8 Stealth Brakes
SRAM’s AXS Transmission continues to trickle down to more affordable groups — meet the new S-1000 group and updated DB8 brakes.