First Ride

Primarily made for use on the rear wheel, semi-slick tires have long been a favorite among mountain bikers in certain types of terrain. People often enjoy them for how quickly they roll, which is attributed to the countless miniaturized knobs running tight together down the center tread. For m...

Posted by bturman on 10/31/2018 3:17 PM

Within the industry, there have been countless products which have altered the way we perceive mountain biking. Well before Boost spacing, dropper posts, and even mountain bike specific 10-speed drivetrains, a motorcycle suspension company dabbling in mountain bikes pioneered suspension as we kn...

Posted by dirtworks911 on 10/14/2018 7:46 PM

Marzocchi Bomber Z1 Fork (product)

Ask anyone with lots of carbon wheel experience and they'll express a preference for stiffness or compliance. It's a surprisingly polarizing topic. What happens when you combine those two worlds into one wheelset, with a stiff rear and compliant front? Agreement across the board during bl...

Posted by bturman on 10/1/2018 10:18 AM

The Good:

Pretty comfortable (can easily be pedalled in all day, IMO).
Extra long for some shin protection.
Breathable aka not /too/ hot.
Stay in place quite well.
Sizing seems pretty spot on.

The Bad:

Warmer than a knee warmer.
Some bunching behind the knee.
RIDICULOUSLY expensive for what they are (but hey I'm the sucker who bought 'em).
Concerns about level of protection with EN level 1.

Overall Review: I took the plunge on these (a very spendy, especially for me, 90€ plunge) after trying a couple of contenders to start with; I started with a pair of Alpinestars Paragon knees as they were the cheapest. I really liked them as they were really breathable, as well as being pretty damn comfy. So ...

Posted by stepot on 9/13/2018 8:37 AM

FOX Live Valve Suspension: Robots, MTB and the Rise of the Machines (feature story)

Posted by dstucki on 8/28/2018 8:00 AM

SB150 Highlights 29-inch wheels High-modulus carbon fiber frame and swing arm with C-Series and TURQ material options 150mm (5.9-inches) rear travel // 170mm (6.7-inch) travel fork with shorter 44mm offset Switch Infinity suspension system with two-piece wishbone-style shock ext...

Posted by bturman on 8/27/2018 3:30 AM

The Good:

Fast, corner slayer, does not feel like a big bike at all

The Bad:

brand name

Overall Review: I had a chance to ride this bike in Crested Butte last weekend. The bike is amazing, corners like a bmx, I was laying this puppy side ways on the berms and the rear just railed. Very impressed by the new design, chatted with Tyler for a while. A very passionate and knowledgeable individual. Bike...

Posted by Alta_Racks on 8/26/2018 11:27 AM

There is something good going on in the Salt Lake and Park City region. It seems that when a bike company wants to have a good time, these sprawling mountains offer plenty of opportunity. Fezzari very recently invited us to the area to ride their latest bike, a big 150/160mm travel 29er. Free of...

Posted by BHowell on 8/24/2018 4:03 PM

Kona Wah Wah 2 Plastic Flat Pedal (product)

2018 Canyon Torque CF 9.0 Pro (product)

Giant’s trail focused Trance platform has seen its fair share of changes over the years, adhering to both emerging standards and bouncing between wheel sizes. Yet for the 2019 Trance, Giant has potentially made its most significant leap forward to date. Taking cues from their enduro smashing ...

Posted by ollyforster on 8/6/2018 8:46 AM

2019 Giant Trance Advanced Pro 29 0 (product)

The Good:

Fits well, looks good

The Bad:

Poor sweat management, goggles can't lift under visor

Overall Review: I have been using the A2 for a few months now. I find the fit very comfortable, and it doesn't move around much. However, I have had real issues with sweat. The thick forehead pads on the liner soak up lots of sweat and then dispense it down my face and into my eyes at inopportune times. If you ...

Posted by D(C) on 8/4/2018 8:54 AM

A Better XTR? Vital Rides the New Shimano M9100 Group in Crested Butte (feature story)

Posted by kafin8ed on 7/26/2018 7:31 AM

14mph Uphill! Vital's First Ride on the New 2019 Trek Powerfly LT (feature story)

Posted by BHowell on 7/20/2018 2:00 AM

The phrase “Made for Fun” is written somewhere on all of Marin’s bikes, their steadfast mantra. It is an ideology emphasized in the brand’s catalog, as there are no “filler” bikes or wonky in-betweeners, just fun shred-ready bikes that stack the ratio of smiles per mile. The ethos of the re-birt...

Posted by sideshow on 7/5/2018 10:06 AM

Vital Rides the All-New 2019 Santa Cruz Bronson and 5010 (feature story)

Posted by BHowell on 7/3/2018 1:28 AM

e*thirteen TRS Race SL Carbon Wheelset (product)

Troy Lee Designs A2 MIPS Helmet (product)

Vital Rides the All-New YT TUES on the Losinj World Cup Track (feature story)

Posted by iceman2058 on 4/27/2018 2:55 AM

The Good:

Outstanding grip in all conditions. Better puncture resistance and sidewall support than the original

The Bad:

Slightly heavier than the original

Overall Review: I was a big fan of the original TRS tires for where I ride in North Vancouver and Squamish. The grip the original tires provided in the wet was better than anything else I've tried. The grip on this updated version is the same, but I can run a few lower PSI due the the improved casing. I run the...

Posted by covekid on 4/17/2018 11:16 AM

Vital Rides the All-New 2018 Specialized Stumpjumper (feature story)

Posted by iceman2058 on 4/16/2018 9:00 PM

If you’ve been riding bikes for over a two decades or ask your seasoned shop guy (you know, the only mechanic who can setup cantilever brakes within a reasonable amount of time) which fork changed suspension as we know it, one product will come to mind: Z1. Well before the year 2000 and the fran...

Posted by dirtworks911 on 4/10/2018 2:03 AM

Goodyear Tires Goes All In and Launches Complete Mountain Bike Line (feature story)

Posted by sspomer on 4/8/2018 9:01 PM

After years in the cycling industry, Jeff Soncrant and Kevin Sigismondo put their heads together to create a ground up mountain bike brand of their own. It wasn’t that they hadn’t been working with great folks, but they wanted the opportunity to create products without restraints and in their ow...

Posted by hurricanejoel on 3/28/2018 7:04 PM

2018 Eminent Haste Pro (product)

2018 Santa Cruz Blur CC XX1 Reserve 29 (product)

Introducing the Updated 2019 RockShox Lyrik and Super Deluxe (feature story)

Posted by sideshow on 3/20/2018 1:26 AM

"What the hell do I pack for XC camp?" I wondered to myself the night before my flight to Santa Cruz, California, to check out the all-new Blur. "It's all perhaps a little shorter travel than the typical Vital faire," hinted Santa Cruz's Don Palermini in an email leading up to the event, "but ...

Posted by bturman on 3/16/2018 1:33 AM