The bike industry sure thinks electronic components are cool right now. But Travis doesn’t care if the TranzX EDP01 is cool. He cares if it actually works.
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Reportage
Shining Bright Like a Diamond: A 2024 Transition TransAM Hardtail MTB Review
The revived 2024 Transition TransAM is shiny enough to attract local corvids in your area, progressive enough to melt the mind of your uncle still pearl-clutching his Salsa El Mariachi, and balanced enough to set a new standard. Read on below as Spencer Harding runs the numbers and throws the book at Transition’s new hardtail MTB!
Radar
Our Favorite Fat Bike Reviews
Fat bikes are strange birds in the cycling world, with their crazy-wide q-factors and monster clearances, but they are also extremely capable platforms that lend room for a lot of creativity. As an arctic blast sweeps across much of the US, and snow blankets our favorite Southwest trails, we’re taking a look back at our ten favorite fat-bike reviews from the last few years. You’ll see a few of the usual suspects from Surly, but we’re also resurrecting one-off creations from the archives and even a Readers’ Ride. Drop into the comments and let us know how you’re getting ‘Fat’ this winter!
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Esker Cycles Announces New Colors for Hayduke and Japhy
Esker Cycles has updated the colors of their flagship steel hardtails, the Hayduke and Japhy, for 2024. The geometry and quad-butted steel frame remains the same as last year. All frames come with updated UDH Portage dropouts. Esker has expanded their offerings to include frame only, frame and fork, complete builds, and singlespeed complete builds.
Read on for more details…
Radar
Under the Hood: Reviewing Gravel Drop-Bar Dropper-Post Remotes from Crankbrothers, PRO, ENVE, Easton, and Wolf Tooth
MicroSHIFT, SRAM, and now Shimano all offer gravel brake levers with built-in dropper post remotes. And there are ways to hack most left shifters to work great as dropper remotes. But if you aren’t currently in the market for a new drivetrain, or if you run a front derailleur, there aren’t many good plug-and-play options that work comfortably from both the hoods and the drops. Travis Engel found just five of them, from ENVE, Crankbrothers, PRO, Easton/Fox, and Wolf Tooth. It turns out they’re all very special in their own little ways.
Reportage
The Current Hardtail Moment: Hailey Reviews the Neuhaus Metalworks Hummingbird 29er Hardtail
It’s a fun thought experiment to try to pinpoint when the decision to buy a hardtail might factor into someone’s cycling journey. Or, it is if you spend most of your time thinking about, designing, and building bikes like Nick Neuhaus and Daniel Yang of Neuhaus Metalworks. For me, the decision came about 18 months ago when I realized that the terrain that held the most appeal—for day rides and multi-day tours—was continually falling in the underbiking category when ridden on my drop bar gravel bikes. And even though I’m still very much cutting my teeth on more technical terrain, Nick and Daniel reached out to see if I’d be interested in reviewing their second steel hardtail design, the Hummingbird. Of course, I gladly accepted the chance to see if I could keep up with this handmade steel singletrack seeker. In addition to testing the bike on a variety of Colorado terrain, during the past three months I had multiple conversations with the Neuhaus guys about the current hardtail moment; how identity and marketing affect one’s perceptions of this somewhat black sheep trail category, and where the Hummingbird fits into this evolving conversation.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Andrew’s Freewheelin’ Crust Bikes Florida Man Singlespeed
Say what you will about social media and its adverse effects on society but we’ve been served some stunning bikes through our Instagram Explore page over the years and as a result have connected with some genuinely amazing individuals. So maybe it’s not all that bad? Today’s Readers’ Ride is case in point: Andrew‘s Crust Bikes Florida Man looks like something we’d document in our Philly Bike Expo Reportage. Andrew went to town with this one and boy oh boy is it a looker! Without further adieu…
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Readers’ Rides: Peter’s REEB Donkadonk Fat Bike
Fat bikes aren’t going anywhere. Well, that’s not true. Fat bikes go everywhere in the winter months in cold and snowy places. This week’s Readers’ Rides features Peter’s REEB Donkadonk, with a lengthy write-up by Peter, so let’s get to it!
Reportage
Best in Class? John’s Review of the Tumbleweed Stargazer Touring Bike
“Best in Class” is not something I would throw around casually. I often find it polarizing to establish such hierarchies when referring to subjective statements. Yet at times, a bike rolls into my temporary possession that deserves the highest of praises. I’ve been riding the Tumbleweed Stargazer for a while now and having reviewed a number of similar bikes in this space, I feel like that title is fitting, yet no bike is perfect…
Let’s check out my full review below!
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Thomas’ Elephant Hardtail MTB
A lot of people have heard of Spokane’s Elephant Bikes thanks to their National Forest Explorer touring bikes and today we have Thomas from Spokane who has documented the process of getting a custom hardtail from Elephant. Read on below!
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Readers’ Rides: Chris’ Rodeo Labs Traildonkey
It’s Friday and that means it’s another Readers’ Rides feature. This time, we look at Chris’ Rodeo Labs Traildonkey, with a pretty wild parts spec. Chris supplied all the build details so let’s check it out below!
Reportage
A Fundraiser for Ride Group: Win This Baphomet Bicycles New Mexico Single Speed Rigid MTB
Today we’ve got something special from our lad Dillen at Baphomet Bicycles and Molly Cameron‘s Ride Group. We’re stoked to host a fundraiser in hopes of raising money for Ride Group so read on below for how you can win this bike, built up with lots of MUSA components and accessorized with New Mexico bag makers…
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Readers’ Rides: Chris’ Kruch “All-Country” Drop Bar 29er
Today’s Readers’ Rides is going to stoke a lot of you out. Chris sent in his Kruch “All-Country” Drop Bar 29er and it’s a real looker, so let’s jump right in!
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Readers’ Rides: Emilio’s Tomii Cycles Sunset Chaser Gravel Rig
This week’s Readers’ Rides comes from Austin, Texas. Emilio’s Tomii Cycles Sunset Chaser gravel bike caught our eye on Instagram, so we reached out to Emilio to see if he’d be willing to share his thoughts about the bike. Read on below for more…
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Readers’ Rides: Dakota’s AWOL Expert
Sometimes we get cruisers, basket bikes, dialed gravel rigs, and other times we get bikes sent to us that really pull at our heartstrings like Dakota‘s AWOL Expert. These bikes were so ahead of their time and since their inception, we’ve seen lots of bikes that have the same look and feel. So when Dakota sent his in, we had to share it! Check out Dakota’s words and photos below…
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Readers’ Rides: Matt’s “Unicorn” Soma Wolverine Review
Matt has submitted a Readers’ Rides post before and this week, we’re featuring his “Unicorn” Soma Wolverine build, which he’s documented in detail for your enjoyment below!
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Balance and Perfect Social Order: Inside Taos-Based Baphomet Bicycles
Hear me out here, set your preconceptions aside for a bit. Before jumping into today’s Shop Visit, I have to clear the air and give an introduction to the iconography and ideologies which represent this particular framebuilder’s brand…
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Morgan’s Kona Unit Basketpacker Review: The Bike I Almost Sold
Sometimes a bike is worth more than the sum of its parts. You know, that feeling of home that isn’t just about having your favourite bars and saddle in the right place. My Kona Unit began life as a $999 single speed complete – a heck of a good value, and a bike I never knew I’d come to love so much.