Component Reviews

Review: 9point8 Fall Line R dropper seatpost makes XC bikes more capable…and lighter!

My love-hate relationship with dropper seatposts started long ago, and when I say “long ago” I’m talking about Joplins for those who still remember. The…

Written by Marc Gasch June 28, 2019

Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2×12 road group

It’s been an exciting year for new 12 speed groups – for both road and mountain. On the road side, one of the biggest introductions…

Written by Zach Overholt June 10, 2019

Shimano XT M8100 first ride review – shredding Bellingham’s loamy mountains!

Surrounding the official presentation, we spent two days ripping around the Bellingham, WA, trails on the all-new Shimano XT M8100 group. Check out our complete…

Written by Tyler Benedict May 30, 2019

Tannus Armour tyre insert runs WITH a tube and offers near 360° puncture protection

The best protection against punctures is to just get rid of the inner tube altogether, and run your tyres tubeless, right? Maybe. Sure, you’ll have…

Written by Jessie-May Morgan May 13, 2019

Review: Whisky No.7 RD+ QR Road Fork upgrades your fat tire rim brake ride

Whisky Parts Co. might not be the brand name with the most cachet, but they’re busy making great components that support a wide range of…

Written by Greg Kopecky May 10, 2019

First Ride: Testing SRAM Force eTap AXS on Girona’s best roads and gravel

Rolling into the Road Bike Connection event in Spain, small talk about the event quickly turned to product. “What do you think SRAM will be…

Written by Zach Overholt April 03, 2019

SRAM Force eTap AXS unlocks 12 speed, Red-like performance for less

SRAM has clearly been busy. Less than two months after launching the new RED eTap AXS group to the world, they’re already onto the next.…

Written by Zach Overholt April 03, 2019

Review: Dominion A4 feels like completely new chapter in Hayes disc brakes

Have you ridden a Hayes hydraulic disc brake recently? We can’t really blame you if the answer is no. It’s not that the Radar wasn’t…

Written by Zach Overholt March 11, 2019

Ergon reworks men’s saddle line with updated road, mountain & eMTB seats

Last year, the big news from Ergon came in the form of their SR & SM Women saddles which were, well, specifically designed for women.…

Written by Zach Overholt March 08, 2019

First Ride: Pirelli Scorpion Mountain Bike tires descend on Sicily

Sometimes in spite of perfectly laid plans, the weather has other ideas for your ride. That was to be the case during the launch of…

Written by Zach Overholt March 01, 2019

Ride Review & Actual Weights – MicroSHIFT’s radically affordable Advent 1×9 group

The new MicroSHIFT Advent group is fully modern and ready for today’s trail and enduro rider. It offers a wide range cassette, clutched rear derailleur…

Written by Tyler Benedict February 27, 2019

Review: Industry Nine Hydra equipped Enduro310 Carbon 29″ MTB wheels

Recently, I had the chance to head down to Asheville to check out Industry Nine’s new A35 stems. OK, I didn’t drive down to Asheville…

Written by Zach Overholt February 12, 2019

Hands on: Shimano XTR 9100 clips into three new pedal options

We may still be waiting for the release of the full XTR 9100 groupset from Shimano, but the first bit of kit is ready for…

Written by Zach Overholt February 04, 2019

Review: Taking Silca’s Pista Plus floor pump & Sicuro Ti bottle cage to the trails

Silca is generally known for their premium-grade products, so I was pleased to get a chance to test out their latest Pista Plus floor pump…

Written by Steve Fisher February 01, 2019

First Look: Brooks Cambium C13 tops All-Weather waterproof saddle on carbon rails

Brooks’ fabric & rubber Cambium saddles are a popular choice for cyclists blending classic looks & modern tech, but still don’t like wet weather. Now…

Written by Cory Benson January 23, 2019

Review: DT ERC 1100 aero+ carbon wheels crushing asphalt, gravel & mud

It has actually been a little over two years since we first rolled on DT Swiss’ flagship aero-optimized, endurance road wheel. It was the first…

Written by Cory Benson January 10, 2019

Review: Manitou Mastodon Pro EXT could be the fat bike fork you’ve waited for

To this day, fat bikers still argue about front suspension. While one crowd argues that it’s unnecessary, others (like myself) prefer the additional control suspension…

Written by Zach Overholt January 09, 2019

Project XC Race Bike: SRAM drivetrain, Formula brakes & Crank Bros pedals review

For my final installment in the 2018 Project XC Race Bike build review, I cover the complete drivetrain and brake setup. Consisting of a SRAM…

Written by Tyler Benedict January 04, 2019

Project XC Race Bike: ENVE M525 wheels & Schwalbe Addix race tires review

Choosing the right wheels and tires can make one of the biggest impacts on your overall bike performance. And, when conditions are known to be…

Written by Tyler Benedict January 01, 2019

Review: Novatec Jetfly Disc are tough, cyclocross-worthy alloy training wheels

Maybe you’re hard on wheels. Or you just can’t see spending a lot for something that’s going to see a lot of abuse and dirty…

Written by Bikerumor Staff December 31, 2018

Project XC Race Bike: Cockpit review – Ritchey, KS Suspension, ESI Grips & Syncros

Now that I’ve reviewed the frame and fork, it’s time to dig into the parts that made our 2018 Project XC Race Bike rideable. The…

Written by Tyler Benedict December 28, 2018

Bikerumor Editor’s Choice Awards 2018 – Zach’s Best Bikes & Gear Picks

Another year has absolutely blown by, and we’re already starting to plan for 2019. But before we pop the champagne and start making ride plans…

Written by Zach Overholt December 20, 2018

Bikerumor Editor’s Choice Awards 2018 – Tyler’s Best Bikes & Gear Picks

Each year, we test, try and see a lot of new bikes, components, gear, tools and tech. Each of us has different riding styles, preferences…

Written by Tyler Benedict December 13, 2018

Long Term Review: Boyd Jocassee wheels are a stout option for Road+ / Gravel

There are more drop bar bikes than ever rolling on 27.5″ or 650b tires. Naturally, that has meant an increase in the number of drop…

Written by Zach Overholt November 30, 2018

Review: DiscoBrakes Copper-Free replacement disk brake pads stop cheap

We don’t often devote much time to reviewing something as small as aftermarket brake pads. But last winter we read about a set of Copper-Free…

Written by Cory Benson November 29, 2018

First Impressions: Setting up, riding new Continental GP 5000 TL tubeless road tires

Two weeks ago we saw Continental finally overcome their own resistance with the introduction of a tubeless version of their Grand Prix all-rounder road tire.…

Written by Cory Benson November 21, 2018