Author: Conor Barry
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Trek Fuel EX review: The Cornering King
Today we have the second-ever Trek bike on the channel, the Trek Fuel EX. It falls in the all-mountain category, where the bikes can tend to be a bit… beige. They intentionally lack some pizzazz or specialization in favor of versatility and well-roundedness. And I don’t mean that as an insult. All-mountain bikes are supposed…
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Starling Murmur Review: The Oddball Steel Full Suspension MTB
Today we have the Starling Murmur. This is a weird one, but a cool one. I’m calling this the Oddball build. It’s got very few big-name parts on it — mostly smaller, fringe, and boutique brands. Things like Cast tires, Madrone derailleur bits, Pro taper bars, you get the point. And that’s really the whole…
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TREK RAIL+ REVIEW: Why Boring is so Good
Well, the Trek Rail+ wasn’t on my bingo card. But here we are, and we are stoked to not only have a new brand in the shop, but to already have bikes to ride and review. The Rail+ is a bit boring — but in a very good way. It’s not flashy, it’s not dramatic,…
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Turning the Forbidden Druid Lite Into a Druid Core
I tried turning my Forbidden Druid Lite into a Druid Core, and surprisingly, the bike hardly changed. That result actually made me realize something important about this bike. I recently reviewed the Forbidden Druid Lite, and if you have not seen that review, go check it out. I wanted to get my hands on a…
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Orbea Rallon RS Review: Is This the Future of Mountain Bikes?
The Orbea Rallon RS might be the future of pedal bikes. Or it might be a weird concept. Because this bike doesn’t fit anywhere cleanly. It looks like a Rallon – it’s listed as a pedal bike. But it has a motor, and it powers your shifting and your dropper off the same battery. Orbea…
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Ibis Ripley SL Review: A U.S.-Built Downcountry Bike
The Ibis Ripley SL exists because the internet complained. When the last Ripley launched, people said it was too heavy. Too burly. Too far from what a Ripley “should” be. And instead of arguing in comment sections, Ibis Cycles listened. This is their answer. A lighter, sharper, speed-first Ripley. Short travel. 29-inch wheels. Built to…
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Push Nine One vs Fox Podium: Do Upside-Down Forks Actually Make Sense?
Upside-down forks: are they game changers or just internet hype? I rode both the Push Nine One and Fox Podium back-to-back to find out. Stick around to see if a USD fork is ther ight move for you. Podium vs Nine One: Setting the inverted fork Stage I want to set the stage for this…
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Primer: Orbea Rallon RS
Alright, quick primer, because there’s a lot of confusion already about the Orbea Rallon RS. At a glance, it looks exactly like a normal Rallon. Same silhouette, same aggressive stance, same big-bike intentions. If you saw it on the trail, you’d probably assume it’s just another long-travel pedal bike. But it’s not that simple. The…
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Forbidden Druid Lite Review: The Best Climbing eMTB Ever?
Today I’m riding the Forbidden Druid Lite, and I’m excited about this one for two reasons. First, it’s the very first Forbidden I’ve ever ridden. And if they all ride like this… well done, Forbidden. Seriously. Second, this is my first real experience with the DJI Avinox drive unit. I’ll admit it—I’ve been a bit…
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Orbea Wild ST Review: Sporty, Firm, and Surprisingly Focused
On paper, the Orbea Wild ST is a bit confusing. It has the same travel as a Rise LT but rides nothing like one. And it shares the exact same chassis as the full-travel Wild, yet doesn’t come close to the Wild’s big-mountain capability. It sits in this weird little gap where you naturally wonder,…