The most significant change for the newest Spartan is Devinci's move away from the previous version's high-pivot linkage. This shift aims to enhance pedaling efficiency and reduce weight, addressing key performance aspects for riders tackling rough terrain.
Batch aims to repeat the process, now in the gravel corner of the industry. Now, surely, these new gravel offerings won't completely knock your socks off, but that isn't Batch's intention. However, will they get new riders out on two wheels without the incredible cost barrier? Absolutely.
Developed for road, gravel, and MTB, Dark Energy is the outcome of four years of dedicated research and development both inside the unique Muc-Off R&D Lab and also working closely with pro-team riders and performance staff. Over that period, more than 90 formulations were created and tested through a structured loop of rigorous screening, consisting of over 8,500 hours of dynamometer and tribometer testing and over 100,000km of real-world testing.
Terra describes the Nera as a bike that can easily crossover from World Cup race tape to the freeride scene. They use high-strength chromoly steel to deliver their desired flex and ride characteristics. Terra also claims excellent vibration damping, and, well, steel is pretty strong, too.
The Era SL is Race Face's lighter, more XC-oriented version of the standard Era crankset, available for eMTB and gravity use, but it's heavier. To create the Era SL, Race Face has shaved weight through an integrated spindle design and stripped-down hardware. The result is a claimed 422 grams with a 32T chainring installed. That's a 78-gram reduction over the already-respectable standard Era.
The beauty of chainrings is that they wear out, generally after a few seasons depending on how you ride, which means they are a perfect opportunity to give your old bike some new bling. At $75 a pop, they aren't exactly cheap. But the precision of these machined-in-Colorado 7075 chainrings is on point, and Wheels Mfg has a long record of making solid, long-lasting components.
The new Mach 4 SL maintains a familiar silhouette, including the brand's signature DW-link suspension platform, but adds a touch more travel, in-frame storage, notable geometry changes, and several new complete builds to choose from.
For 2026, the Superior Peak ships in a mixed wheel configuration (29" front, 27.5" rear). This is what people have been asking for, and Ari has delivered. Riders who prefer a matched setup can still run a full 29" configuration front and rear. Paired with 200mm of travel and Ari's Tetra Link suspension platform.
With a laundry list of accolades and praise from across the industry, the Madrone Jab is one of the best cases against wireless shifting. With compatibility for all the major drivetrains found on drop bar and flat bar 1x bikes, the Jab is an elegant and robust solution to shifting problems for many riders, and it's now available in even more eye-catching color options.
The results are in, and although the sample size for this poll isn't as deep as we would have liked, it still shows that many riders still prefer mechanical MTB drivetrains over wireless and electronic ones. In October, we published an article in defense of the mechanical derailleur in the lead-up to the review of the industry-leading Madrone Cycles Jab. As it turns out, most riders are still dedicated to the familiarity and reliability of mechanical shifting, with over 80% of votes in favor of mechanical derailleurs. Results that we can fully understand.
Try as we might, it's not always easy to keep up with it all, and sometimes, it can be a challenge to give everything the attention it deserves. In our new Shifting Gear series (see what we did there?), we'll be highlighting products that have just arrived, we're excited to try out, or that we're particularly stoked to tell you about but haven't had a chance to review yet.
Last year, the young Canadian confirmed that notion with five World Cup Downhill wins, earning him the title of the World Cup Overall Champ. Of course, when you're the best in the world, brands like to put your name on things, as we saw with Fox Racing's Goldstone Signature Collection of apparel and accessories. Today, OneUp Components adds to that list with the launch of the brand-new Goldstone Grip.
Cascade Components has delivered what could be the best upgrade for the Amflow PL. For $257 USD, Amflow owners can now increase rear travel to 160mm and improve suspension performance, all without tweaking the geometry. With 10mm more rear wheel travel and a more supple rear end, the Amflow PL Link from Cascade Components could make one of the best e-mountain bikes on the market even better.
Today, Shimano introduces the latest dual-function pedal in its lineup, the PD-EH510. This versatile hybrid pedal combines Shimano's renowned SPD clip-in system on one side with a fairly large flat pedal platform on the other. This gives riders the choice between clipped-in efficiency or the freedom of flat pedals, with a versatile pedal that's ready to ride, no matter which shoes they choose.
Simply put, with the uppers and lowers flip-flopped, there is no supporting arch connecting the lowers on the Podium. Instead, the inverted fork uses a larger 20mm axle, which is most commonly used on DH bikes to achieve the required stiffness and support. But this lack of an arch also means there is no place to mount a fender. Also, due to the upper and lower flip-flop, the only place left to mount a fender was at the crown.
