2025 came and went in a flash! Of all the years in (more) recent memory, this year has gone by the fastest. This year was filled with amazing trips, excellent bikes, and phenomenal products I had the opportunity to test.
Calling something the “best” can be tricky. We live in a time where cycling (be it road, gravel, or mountain) has advanced so dramatically that many products are truly stellar. So, are these the “best?” Well, I’m titling them as such. The reality is, given the prompt, these are the picks that first came to mind and that I just couldn’t get away from. They are products and experiences that have brought me many smiles, and I would certainly recommend them.
Best Work Trip/MTB Destination: Richfield, Utah
Utah, as a mountain bike destination, typically attracts people to places like Park City in the north or St. George in the south. And, clearly, Moab has to be on that list, far away on the eastern side of the state.
However, a new mountain bike destination is being established in central Utah. Richfield is a hotspot for outdoorsmen — namely hunting, fishing, and off-roading (OHV trails). Now mountain biking is being added to that list thanks to a trail called Spinal Tap. 20 miles and 5,000 feet of descending, transitioning from high alpine aspen groves at the top to red rock tech with big moves near the bottom.
One word of advice: bring a bike. Richfield is growing as a mountain bike community, and rentals are few and far between. The available rentals can be a bit, how do I put it — clapped out. I don’t think this is a huge problem, as most people will hit Richfield as they travel through.
But “traveling through” shouldn’t be limited to a day. There is enough riding (Spinal Tap is part of the Pahvant Trail System) for two or three days, good food, and other activities to check out. Honestly, if I were to go again (and hopefully I can), I’d shuttle Spinal Tap as many times as I possibly could.
Best Mountain Bike
Specialized Stumpjumper 15
This is one of those situations where “best” is tough to quantify. Months before my trip to Richfield, Utah, I was on a different media trip in Park City. And, the bike provided to me on that trip was none other than the Specialized Stumpjumper 15.
Now, I really wish I had something more boutique to offer. Some cool, unique brand with this or that quality. Maybe a high-pivot…something more than just a “basic” horst-link bike, right? And, to boot, it wasn’t even released in 2025!
I rode the Expert build and was thoroughly impressed. Fox Performance Elite suspension (the Fox Genie shock felt phenomenal!), SRAM Maven brakes, a GX Transmission, and good geo. All around, it is an easy bike to get along with.
Truth be told, I had an absolute blast on that Stumpy 15. From bigger trail rides to a couple of days at the bike parks, the Stumpy took everything I threw at it in stride. It was the perfect bike for what I needed in Park City and, likely, most of the trails we ride.
Best E-bike
Transition Regulator CX
The Transition Regulator is essentially the electrified version of the Sentinel. For me, the Transition Sentinel might be the perfect bike — a four-bar platform, 150/160 travel, solid geometry, and rowdy DNA.
So, of course, when the brand released the Regulator, I was stoked. A bike I love with a bit of extra assistance on the way up is nothing to complain about. And, the Regulator has proven to be a solid all-around eMTB. It isn’t too big and remains playful for mellower blue trails while punching above its travel numbers when the trail gets chunky.
Transition offers the Regulator in full- and mid-power with Bosch’s CX and SX options. I opted for the full-powered CX, which delivered plenty of pep with 85Nm of torque. Paired with a 600Wh battery, the Regulator CX was down for laps on laps.
Perhaps what stood out most was the bike’s geo. A tall stack, tall bars, and a steep seat tube angle put me in a comfortable climbing position. Alternatively, long chainstays provide confidence and stability while descending, while a smaller 27.5-inch wheel keeps the bike feeling snappy and playful. The smaller wheel also allowed for a bit more butt clearance in steeper sections.
Ultimately, I will use buzzwords we’ve all heard too much. The bike was stable, yet playful, planted, and confidence-inspiring (ah, I didn’t say poppy!). They might be cliched descriptions, but they are solid descriptions.
Best Components
Brakes/Drivetrain
After years of waiting, we finally get a Shimano update. At the beginning of June, Shimano released its new XTR groupset, followed by XT’s release a few weeks later. And, as someone who prefers a Shimano groupset, I couldn’t have been more pleased.
I’ve been able to spend some time on a few different bikes that have the new XT Di2 drivetrain and XT brakes. While I haven’t spent “long-term review” time on either product, my initial impression is nothing but positive.
First, the XT Di2 drivetrain shifts very well and much faster than SRAM’s Transmission. Now, I don’t have much to say against SRAM Transmission, other than slow shifting, and the controller pod is terrible. Those gripes, however, aren’t enough for me not to use a T-Type drivetrain on my trail bike. That said, Shimano’s shifter provides a more “natural,” mechanical-type “click” that I prefer.
For performance and value, it was tough to beat Shimano XT 4-piston brakes. I currently have them (older gen) on my trail bike, and I absolutely love them. However, they, like all other XT’s, have the same issues everyone else speaks of — a wandering bite point and pad rattle.
Keeping them well-bled typically takes care of a good amount of the wandering bite point — that is to say, mine doesn’t wander as much. But, aside from trying different pads, there isn’t much you can do for the obnoxious rattle. (Regardless, I’ll still take them over Mavens) Shimano has done a good job addressing these issues on the new XT brakes.
Tires
It is hard to break away from a preferred tire setup. Many of us live by the motto: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This certainly applies to tires, especially considering the price. Roughly $200 is a pretty significant amount of money to give something a try.
And, like many, my go-to tire brand is Maxxis. Assegai up front, DHR in the back. I typically run the EXO+ casing because I can get away with it, but I will also venture into Double Down. However, I’ve been riding Schwalbe radials lately, and I’m getting along with them just fine.
My go-to for Schwalbe is a Magic Mary up front with an Albert out back. Both Gravity casing. They roll differently. They sound different. And they just hook up with the terrain differently. I typically run them at higher pressures, and they provide just as good, if not better, traction than their non-radial counterparts.
So, will I be switching from my Maxxis go-to tires to my Schwalbe go-tos? Not necessarily, but if I already have a bike with Schwalbes already on it, I also won’t switch to Maxxis.
Bars
I was fortunate to ride many different handlebars on many different bikes this year. However, once I tried the PNW Loam Carbon bars, I knew I had found the bars for me.
There are a few things that we all hope a quality set of carbon bars will do. We want them to absorb vibrations and trail chatter, have good vertical compliance, and remain laterally stiff. Here, the PNW Loam bars check all the appropriate boxes.
It was the bar geometry that put the Loam bars at the top of my list. These bars have 10° of backsweep — 2° more than other bars I was used to riding. While 2° doesn’t seem like a lot, it was a significant (and noticeable) difference. It took a few rides to get used to the added backsweep, but once I did, I found them much more comfortable. The extra 2° put my hands in a more comfortable position, relieving hand and arm fatigue.
Dropper
Again, PNW Components has impressed me. This year, they released their Loam Dropper V2. No fuss or complications — the dropper just works and keeps working. And I struggle to find a better dropper post for the price. If I were building a bike, the Loam Dropper V2 would be an easy choice.
Apparel/Shoes/Protection
Shirts
I’m not a big fan of jerseys. I don’t come from motocross, so I don’t like looking like I do. My preference for riding tops has always been something that looks more or less like a shirt I would wear every day.
I was first introduced to Merino wool shirts a few years ago. They fit well, wick moisture away, dry quickly, and essentially look like any other shirt I’d wear. This year, I’ve spent quite a bit of time in two Patagonia Merino wool shirts and a Fjallraven. And by “quite a bit of time,” what I mean to say is that I’ve only ridden in those three shirts.
On hot, summer rides, the Merino wool shirts wicked moisture away and dried quickly. On cold days, I wear them as a base layer of sorts. After soaking up a good amount of sweat, the shirts don’t make me feel chilly when I take a snack or water break on the climb.
Plus, they don’t get stinky!
Pants/Shorts
There are tons of different brands that make mountain biking pants and shorts that are, well, great. Yes, some might have this or that feature which you prefer. Some might have a fit that doesn’t work for you, but is absolutely fine for others. The point I’m trying to make is that there are a ton of great options that work perfectly well and are roughly the same price.
So, I like to find brands with cool stories, which is precisely what I saw in Curious Creatures. Natasha Woodworth, former US Ski Team racer-turned-fashion designer, worked across every aspect of design, from New York Fashion Week to Patagonia’s MTB apparel line.
Her most recent adventure, Curious Creatures, feels homegrown, small, and unique. The brand, based in Bozeman, Montana, makes awesome MTB pants and shorts. The Sun Dog shorts and pants feature zipper pockets at the thighs and one rear pocket. They also have a drawstring tie at the waist, which I was hesitant about at first, but really grew to like.
They also have casual clothing, like hats and shirts, featuring artwork from local artists. It is this local touch that makes me want to support a brand like Curious Creatures. It feels smaller, like my money is actually going to real people.
Protection
The Sweet Protection Bushwacker 2VI MIPS helmet checked all the boxes for me. It fit well, had solid ventilation, and is (currently) #22 on Virginia Tech’s helmet ratings. Most of all, it is comfortable. It is excellent when helmets have all the safety technology and are rated very safe. But if they don’t provide all-day comfort, you’ll likely move on to the next helmet. Sweet Protection covered all the bases with the Bushwacker.
I’ve also been very impressed with the Dakine Slayer Knee Sleeve. I originally got these knee pads for lighter trail rides, but because they are so comfortable, I’ve been wearing them on ALL my rides. The first fit is a bit snug, but not too tight. They stay put, breathe fairly well, and offer good protection. But, most of all, they basically disappear after I put them on — like, I wore them for a solid 12 hours in Richfield, Utah, even through lunch. When a product that I am testing is so comfortable that I forget I’m wearing it, that’s almost always a good sign.
Shoes
I should probably just switch to riding clips. I use flat pedals, but want the most locked-in experience I can have. Much of that experience comes down to the pedal and shoe combination. However, with the Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA shoes (and Five Ten’s Stealth rubber in general), I don’t need to worry about the pedals I use.
These shoes stick to them all, almost to a fault.
Super soft, sticky rubber also means they will wear out a bit quicker, but I’ll take that tradeoff for the grip they provide. Plus, I’m a sucker for the BOA system, and the ability to quickly switch in and out of my MTB shoes, and make adjustments on the fly.
Tools
I’ve been stoked on the Granite Design RocknRoll torque wrench. The set covers every bolt size on my bike, and the different bits are high-quality. While torquing bolts to spec isn’t exactly “necessary” for on-trail fixes, it is nice to have that peace of mind when you can, especially on longer rides. The RocknRoll is relatively compact and doesn’t weigh more than most other multitools — an easy decision to throw it in a hip pack!
Non Cycling
A Post-Ride Beverage
When you get to the end of your fitness, when the ride has turned from enjoyable to just enduring, there is only one thing keeping your legs spinning: that post-ride beer. And, as someone who lives in Bend, Oregon, I have many options.
That’s why I love trying breweries from other cities and states. Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of sampling a variety of offerings, including N/A brews. This time, everything was Colorado-based.
Two Dever breweries sent me IPAs to try. Dever Beer Co. sent its Incredible Pedal West Coast IPA, while Great Divide sent its Titan IPA. Both incredible. Howdy Beer Co. out of Northglenn shared an American Lager that I liked very much.
On the N/A side, Boulder-based Upslope Brewing Co. sent its Craft Light, a N/A lager that is quite tasty. (Dare I say the best N/A Lager I’ve tried?) If you’re into ciders, Stem Ciders provided two samples: Blueberry Lime and Appricot Haze. Both tasty, both refreshing, and both alcohol-free.
Needless to say, I’ve enjoyed every sip.
Stay Comfy Under-there (made you say “underwear”)
I’m a chamois guy (bibs, to be exact). Every ride, no matter how short. However, after my ride, I’ve found SAXX underwear to be perfectly comfortable.
I’m currently going between four different pairs — from DropTemp Cooling Cotton to Multi-Sport Mesh. SAXX keeps everything dry, cool, and they don’t ride up or bunch. For me, nothing is worse than boxers that ride up my legs. They also have a special pouch to — um, well, SAXX calls it their Ballpark Pouch.
In other words, these are incredibly comfortable boxers, and I highly recommend them.
Looking Forward to 2026
2025 was an awesome year. I’m stoked to be part of the Bike Rumor team and look forward to what 2026 has to offer! Bring on the bikes!
