We won’t focus on Covid-19 in this issue, but if there’s one thing we have learned from the crisis, it’s the extent to which friendship makes a bike ride that much more fun and that much more memorable. So, in this issue, the topic of friendship is right at the centre. We don’t just laugh a hell of a lot more when together, but we ride further, shred more and are ultimately better people, right?
This article is from ENDURO issue #043
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What is Bromance?
The Cambridge Dictionary defines a bromance as “a close, friendly, but not sexual relationship between two men.” This sort of covers it, but, in our opinion, it’s much more than that. Bros are good mates, that’s a given, and people you choose to spend your time with (that’s even more obvious), but gender is irrelevant. Finally, and most crucially, the romance part, mountain biking, is what connects us all. It’s hard to define exactly what bromance is, but we all know it when we see it: it’s the moment when you and your mates reach the top of a tough climb with legs burning. It’s the sense of reward as you look out over the mountain peaks around you. It’s the quick high five before dropping into a party train down to the valley floor. While there’s no one definition of friendship between mountain bikers, we’re united by our shared lust for life and that’s what this issue is all about!
The Highlights
- The best enduro bike up to € 3,500 – 9 models on test
- Buyers’ guide: Should I buy an eMTB?
- A day with the Cannondale Waves Crew
- Inside Out – Who are the guys behind ENDURO?
- SCOTT, Specialized and Santa Cruz put to the test
All the bikes in this issue:
Canyon Torque AL 6.0 | Giant Reign SX 29 | Ibis Ripmo AF Coil | MERIDA ONE-SIXTY 700 | Nukeproof Mega 290 Expert | Privateer 161 | Propain Tyee CF | Santa Cruz Tallboy CC X01 Reserve | SCOTT Ransom Contessa 910 Specialized Stumpjumper Pemberton Edition| Trek Slash 8 | YT CAPRA Comp 29
Our free, digital magazine is the centrepiece of our work and definitely the best way to experience our content, with interactive features as well as beautiful photography and videos all packed into a unique design. If you like our website, we’re sure you’ll love our magazine app. By the way: the app even gives you access to all of our back issues – hours upon hours of first-class content!
What to expect in this issue
Just how much do you have to spend to get an affordable enduro bike that is ready to go, out of the box, with no extra costs? We review 9 of the best, affordable enduro bikes in this group-test to find out.
Who are the people behind ENDURO Magazine? What does it take to create one of the world’s most popular bike magazines? How and where do you find the right colleagues and what makes the ENDURO team so special? This is a story about € 6,000 from grandma Schmitt, racing DNA and a pioneering spirit.
Racing is a massive part of mountain biking and sometimes seems like the only path to a professional career in our sport. However, there’s one team that defies the norm! Led by ex-World Cup racer Josh Bryceland, the Cannondale Waves team lives and breathes one thing only – fun on two wheels! But how can a team with no racing ambitions thrive in such a performance-dominated sport?
Buying a new bike involves many decisions. 27.5” or 29”? Shimano or SRAM? RockShox or FOX? Trail or Enduro? However, if you’re thinking of buying a new bike this year, then there’s a bigger question you need to ask yourself. Should my next bike be an eMTB?
Enduro bikes with 29” wheels are right on trend and, on paper, the SCOTT Contessa Ransom 910 ticks all the right boxes. However, our 160 cm tall test rider, Antonia, tested the bike extensively and had to dig deep to unlock its full potential.
Large brake rotor up front, small at the rear: that’s the setup we’ve been riding on our mountain bikes for years. At best, you’ll have the same size rotor front and rear. However, we’re of the opinion that a large rotor up front and an even bigger one at the rear would be better still. Why is that?
The Specialized Stumpjumper is an evergreen among trail bikes and has always known how to impress with its intuitive handling and outstanding all-round characteristics. For the Pemberton LTD Edition, Specialized have gifted their timeless classic with a potent downhill spec and have even thrown in a coil shock for good measure. But can that turn the Stumpy into a thoroughbred downhill machine?
The Santa Cruz Tallboy isn’t perfect at any single discipline but it’s a great bike nonetheless. Having ridden all of the trail and enduro bikes in the American brand’s portfolio, it turns out their diminutive 120 mm travel 29er is our favourite. How come?
Can rivals be friends? Can competitors be comrades? Whether on the race track or your home trails, is it right to share your training sessions or will you lose your edge? We sat down with Ines Thoma from the Canyon Factory Enduro Team to talk about friendship, a competitive mindset and the evolution of the Enduro World Series.
Excited? These (and many more) stories are just a few clicks away. If you’ve already installed our free app, simply open it and download the latest issue right now. If not, first download the free app from the App Store (iPhone / iPad) or the Play Store (Android smartphones & tablets) and then download the latest issue in the app. All you’ve got to do then is sit back and enjoy (ideally with a cold beer or a delicious cup of coffee)! #qualitytime
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