The winter frost is beginning to thaw, and bike brands are taking notice. Loads of new gear is appearing in seemingly all sectors, primed to tackle everything from paved roads to rocky mountains.
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Need more proof that bikes are on the brain? No less prestigious an automaker than Porsche is now making e-bikes.
To help you sort everything out, we’re spotlighting a dozen of the most progressive and interesting recent bike and bike-related launches. Check them out below and get stoked to put in more miles than ever this spring.
Bikes
Alchemy Arktos 29 170F/150R
CourtesyAlchemy just released a bunch of new Arktos mountain bikes, and this particular carbon-framed beast is a downhiller’s delight. Those numbers in the name indicate wheel size (29 inches), plus millimeters of front and rear travel. Translation: nearly 7 inches up front and six in back, courtesy of Sine Suspension, a unique dual short-link system that regulates the give of the shocks to optimize responsiveness on everything from small bumps to big hits.
Price: $5,999+
Salsa Timberjack 27.5+ Single Speed
CourtesyOn the opposite end of the MTB spectrum is this aluminum-framed, wallet-friendly edition of the trail-crushing hardtail Timberjack, stripped down to an old-school single speed. The bike features 27.5-inch wheels, just over five inches of front suspension and several mounting points for extra supplies, plus Alternator 2.0 dropouts that allow you to add gears later if you so desire.
Price: $1,699
Porsche eBike Cross
CourtesyBased on the brand’s proverbial track record, you would think its $10,700 eBike Sport would be the more compelling of its two new e-bike releases. But we’re actually more excited about the dirt-hungry eBike Cross, which boasts a full-suspension carbon frame, Crankbrothers dropper post and wheels and a Shimano drive unit offering pedal assistance up to 15.5 miles per hour.
Price: $8,550
Pivot E-Vault
CourtesyPivot’s new, carbon-framed e-bike is so progressive it’s hard to encapsulate, but a couple of features really stand out. First, the lightweight Fazua Drive System decouples from the bottom bracket when not engaged, enabling you to ride it very much like a regular bike when you like. Second, you can integrate your own fitness data and customize the wireless shifting and power output, getting just what you need out of three levels of pedal assistance.
Price: $9,999+
Cannondale CAAD Optimo 1
CourtesyWe are hard-pressed to outdo Cannonale’s own description here: “a true performance road bike with race-winning DNA – delivering champagne experience for lemonade money.” Streamlined geometry, an alloy frame with a full-carbon fork and Shimano 105 11-speed shifting bode well for follow-through on that promise.
Price: $1,500
Quintana Roo SRSIX
CourtesyThis wind tunnel-tested aero bike truly feels the need for speed. Quintana Roo employed the lightest, stiffest carbon available to shave more than 5 ounces off the SRfive frame, resulting in a frame weighing less than 2.2 pounds. A slightly lighter fork, invisible cable routing and fit capability round out a ride that climbs, corners and accelerates with equal alacrity.
Price: $5,084
Accessories
POC Kortal and Devour
CourtesyThe best snow helmets and goggles are those designed to work together. Now POC is bringing that logic to mountain biking via two lightweight, max ventilated Kortal helmets (one with MIPS, one without) that pair perfectly with the goggle-sized Devour sunglasses. The full-coverage specs come with a spare clear lens, providing optimal optics in a range of conditions.
