Fox 36 And 34 SC Forks

Fox’s latest 36 fork (right) may not appear any diferent to their current long-travel single-crown, but look a little closer and you’ll discover it contains a new‘FIT GRIP2’damper. This four-way adjustable cartridge not only gives a wider range of compression settings but introduces external high and low-speed rebound adjustment for the first time, using Fox’s ‘VariableValve Control’(VVC) design. This works in a similar way to changing shims and, along with new seals, is said to noticeably reduce stiction.At 2,095g (650b), the top-end ‘Factory’ fork weighs 75g more than the 2018 model – a price worth paying for the extra tunability.We can’t wait to give it some hammer on the trails.

On the shorter-travel side of things, Fox have released the 34 SC (left), which is designed for epic rides and marathon events where more travel (120mm) and stifness is required than is provided by the skinnier Fox 32. Like on the 32 SC, ‘Step-Cast’ lowers allow a narrower stance and shave some grams. Fox say they’ve kept the stifness of the existing 34, but reduced weight by over 200g. Internally, things are much the same, with an ‘EVOL’ air spring and a threeposition ‘FIT4’damper, which has been given a dedicated tune. A‘Kabolt’ tooled axle saves further weight, helping the 29er/650b+‘Factory’ fork clock in at an impressive 1,655g.

Merida Big Nine 100

Wit the bikes swapped over, we head out on the same loop again, this time on the 29in Big Nine 100. Whereas the Big Seven was snappy off the line, the 29er takes a couple more pedal strokes to get up to speed. That said, once it's up there, it's easy to keep the big wheels rolling, allowing us to cover ground with ease. The fire road is at times a little rough, and the bigger wheels roll over the imperfections so we barely notice them.

READ MORE >>

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

Chromag HiFi 35 (50mm) stem

This is a seriously solid stem. Chromag use 5mm Allen bolts throughout, which makes it that bit easier to fit because you don’t have to swap tools. Once torqued up to the recommended 6-8Nm, it clamps both steerer and bar solidly, with no appreciable flex. We couldn’t get it to twist on the steerer, either in our static test or when riding. It’s also available in a 35mm length and three other colours. At 204g the HiFi is the heaviest stem on test by some margin, despite being one of the more expensive offerings here. Price $112

READ MORE >>

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

READ MORE >>

SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

READ MORE >>

All Arround MTB

Search This Blog