Speed is a fascinating thing! People have always been dreaming of going faster. Be it with a race car, a spaceship at the speed of light or even on our bikes. This issue is all about riding faster. But we also discuss why it might be worth letting off the gas from time to time

This article is from ENDURO issue #045

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The Highlights

  • Let’s go racing – 10 Enduro race bikes tested
  • Duel: Specialized Epic Evo vs. Cannondale Scalpel SE
  • Interview: Sam Hill talks about racing, family and much more.
  • Strava: a curse or a blessing?
  • Privateer 141, Yeti SB140 und YT JEFFSY Primus tested

All the bikes in this issue:
Canyon Strive CFR Jack Moir Edition | Commencal META AM 29 | GT Force Carbon Pro Martin Maes Edition | Lapierre Spicy Team Nico Vouilloz | Nukeproof Mega 290c RS Team Edition | Privateer 141 | RAAW Madonna V2 FOX Factory Custom | Specialized S-Works Enduro Team Edition | Trek SLASH 9.9 2021 | Yeti SB140 T2 | Yeti SB150 Team Edition | YT CAPRA Elite 29 | YT JEFFSY PRIMUS 24

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

Which is the fastest enduro bike of 2020? With most of the 2020 season cancelled, we decided to put on a race of our own to answer that very question. Besides crowning an undisputed winner, we also gained a lot of new and exciting insights.


Can you rip the trails with a beefed-up XC bike like the Specialized Epic EVO Expert and Cannondale Scalpel SE 1? That’s the question we’ve tried to answer with this test, all without chasing KOMs, signing up for Eliminator races or wearing tight jerseys. And there’s one thing we can tell you straight away: we had even more fun than we have had with some trail or enduro rigs!


Sam Hill is undoubtedly a legend in the racing world. The man from down under has stood at the top of world-level podiums in a multitude of disciplines and has been THE dominating force in enduro for the last three years. We sat down with ‘Mr Inside Line’ and found out what he’s all about, from racing to family, technique and more! Sam likes to keep his answers short and snappy, so grab a coffee and enjoy a quick-fire read!


We’ve all been there: you’re pinning it down your favourite descent, feeling good and riding with intent. Two minutes later your forearms and hands start to burn, getting worse and worse until, three minutes into the trail, you can barely hold on to the bars. But what exactly is this ride-ruining pain and how can you avoid it? We took it upon ourselves to find out everything there is to know about the dreaded arm pump.


The YETI SB140 doesn’t like labels. Is it a powerful trail bike or a fast, nimble mini-enduro rig? And are 27.5” wheels still a thing? While it’s perfectly normal to ask yourself all these questions, you don’t have to! Instead, you could just ride the bike and see how it feels – our ENDURO tester Antonia did just that.


At what point does a training tool become a catalyst for ignorant riding and lazy cheat-lines? Why do we turn into second-shaving KOM hunters as soon as the clock is ticking? It’s simply not good for our sport, its image or our trails. That’s right, we are talking about Strava and why you should leave it behind on your next ride!


“Come on kids, get ready and pack your stuff, today we’re heading to the mountains! We’ll hike all day and drink a big glass of fresh buttermilk at the top!” Sound familiar? Yeah, great memories, but times have changed and modern kids have a totally different idea of fun. The YT JEFFSY PRIMUS JP 24 delivered tons of it on our last family outing.


As a professional racer, Innes Graham’s life was dedicated to one thing only: going as fast as possible. On the rise through the Downhill World Cup rankings, his path seemed set in stone. However, one fateful practice run at the Lenzerheide World Cup in 2016 changed his life forever. This is the story of a racer who had to slow down, not just to go faster, but ultimately to find himself.

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