Category: Bike Reviews
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Santa Cruz Tallboy Review: Version 5
It’s been a long time coming, but today, we finally have the Santa Cruz Tallboy 5. I’m personally pretty excited about this one because the Tallboy is consistently one of my favorite short-travel trail bikes. In the past, it’s always leaned a bit toward the descending side of the spectrum; Santa Cruz goes as far…
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Zipp 1Zero HiTop SW: Primer and ride review
It’s been quite a while since we’ve talked about wheels, but now seems like a good time — The Zipp 1Zero HiTop SW wheels dropped today, so we’re going to run you through all the juicy details as well as some quick ride impressions. They’re light, compliant, and come in a couple of flavors to…
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Orbea Oiz Review: XC Showdown
Last but not least, we have the Orbea Oiz. With the most travel in our entire test group, I would have assumed the Orbea Oiz would have felt the most “trail.” While the fit is more on the trail side of the spectrum, the suspension characteristics feel very XC. It’s a nice combo for making…
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Santa Cruz Blur Review: XC Showdown
Up next, we have the Santa Cruz Blur. The Blur is Santa Cruz to its core. It’s a blast on the descents, with a comfortable and confident attitude. It’s no slouch on the climbs, either. It provides traction for days and a comfortable fit and feel. It comes in several flavors to suit the XC…
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Giant Anthem Review: XC Showdown
On paper, the giant Anthem might be the most traditional XC bike in our test. It has the least amount of travel, the steepest angles, and a very aggressive cockpit. Out on the trail, however, it doesn’t feel so traditional. Its suspension characteristics are superb, the Fox Live Valve works wonderfully, and the bike is…
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Cervelo ZFS-5 Review: XC Showdown
We’re going to kick off the showdown with the super top-secret bike, the Cervelo ZFS-5. Well, I guess it’s not a secret after today. Cervelo may be more well known for their road and gravel bikes. In fact, they’re probably still buzzing from their 2023 TDF win just a few weeks ago. They’ve recently taken…
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SRAM GX AXS T-TYPE: WIRELESS WORKHORSE
SRAM has once again gone above and beyond in pushing the boundaries of innovation with their latest release of the T-type GX drivetrain system. The GX groupset from Sram has always been known as the workhorse of their drivetrain lineup. The new SRAM GX AXS T-Type is not about to change that reputation. Meet the…
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Ibis HD6 Review: The Goldilocks Enduro Bike?
So here’s the deal with the Ibis HD6. I’ve got a big soft spot for the Ibis HD series. I owned an HD4 back in the day and absolutely loved that bike. So to say I have high hopes for the HD6 would be a bit of an understatement. So does the new Ibis enduro…
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Transition Smuggler Review: The Perfect Compromise?
The Transition Smuggler lands itself smack dab in the middle of just about everything. It’s one of those do-it-all bikes with a Transition flare. It’s relatively lightweight, climbs quickly, and certainly packs a punch on the descents. I’ve got a lot of praise and a minor gripe or two. So stick around to see if…
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Yeti SB135 review: Little Wheels, Big Fun.
Today we’re camping in Moab and we’re doing a Yeti SB135 review. The 2023 Yeti SB135 replaces the outgoing 27.5” SB140. When I first pulled it out of the box, I thought Yeti had screwed up by releasing a 27.5” trail bike in 2023. The rest of this video will make me look like a…