With Eurobike underway as we speak, the off-road cycling industry has come alive with new releases, some of which we’ve got in ready for testing. That includes Manitou’s updated enduro fork and Shimano’s refreshed Deore lineup. But that’s not all, of course, as we’ve got two gravel bikes, one from Cotic and another from Gloria, so let’s dive into this week’s Five Cool Things.
But before we get into the good stuff, let’s take a glance at what happened on off.road.cc over the last week. Once again, it’s been all about e-bikes this week, with Avinox stealing the show with its MG Concept motor. This thing combines the potent pedal assist that the brand’s known for with a CVT-style internal gear system. It can be run with a traditional chain, but it can be equipped with a belt drive if you’re after as little maintenance as possible.
Nukeproof then unveiled its first new e-MTB after Belgian Cycling Factory took over the company – the Kilowatt. Yep, it’s Avinox-driven, and with a starting price of £3,999, it looks rather kind to the wallet. Megamo then entered the fray with its new RYAL bike, one that’s designed to bring the Avinox M2S and M2 systems to a friendlier price point and a more accessible ride. Canyon then surprised us with its Lux Era concept, a bike that gives us a glimpse into the future of cross-country.
That’s not all, as Hope has revamped its iconic six-piston brake with the titanium-piston EVO V6Ti. It’s not cheap though, at £1,400.
As for features, we’ve been trying to beat the heat in our how to survive hot summer rides guide, and we’ve brought you our selection of the best sunglasses we’ve tested.
Manitou Mezzer Pro Gen 2
£1,199.99
Manitou has revamped its underdog Mezzer suspension fork, now offering two chassis for long and longer-travel mountain bikes. Here, we’ve got it in its Pro guise, which is built to balance stiffness and lightweight thanks to its 37mm stanchions.
Through chassis revisions and more, we’re told that Manitou has managed to reduce the breakaway stiction while additionally increasing bushing overlap to deliver a smoother and more controlled ride.
The fork benefits from a new MC2 Pro-X damper with an HBO sealed cartridge. There are then high and low speed compression adjustments, as well as high and low speed rebound settings to fettle with.
There’s a lot more going on with this fork, so head over to our news story to learn a little more, or wait for the full review coming soon.
Shimano Deore M7200/M6200 drivetrain
£354.97
Last week, Shimano revamped its beloved Deore lineup, and we’ve quickly gotten it in for review. At first, I wondered why Shimano updated its Deore lineup because for the money, it was pretty damn good, but this new mechanical drivetrain benefits from some of that lovely trickle-down tech, finding some bits of the newer Di2 kit included.
The mech itself adopts a very different look as it borrows the low-profile, wedge-shaped stabiliser design found on the wireless systems. This is said to help the derailleur deflect impacts, alongside its slimmer stature.
Interestingly, the clutch system we know of is gone. Instead, it uses the Shadow ES system that uses two springs to achieve higher tension and better chain retention.
We’ve got the new alloy crankset and the lighter-weight CS-M7200-12 cassette that uses mostly steel cogs, but a single alloy one to keep weight low. The shifter then benefits from a bit of a redesign, while benefiting from Rapidfire Plus tech and a two-way release.
Shimano Deore M6200 four-pot brakes and RT-6B750 rotors
£149.99 and £49.99
But that’s not all from Shimano as the brand has finally released an updated Deore brake, and hopped on the thick rotor bandwagon. Now, the Deore brake lever follows a similar form to its pricier brethren, bringing the hose closer to the bar for a tidier look.
However, the changes are more than skin deep as the brake features upgraded seals, and it runs on Shimano’s new low-viscosity oil, so it should be more consistent. It also promises faster pad engagement thanks to a new Servo Wave Power curve.
The brand also unveiled thicker brake rotors. They’re 2.2mm in thickness, which helps the rotor cope with heat, thus offering better control and more predictable modulation. But importantly, with these, Shimano has gone for more regular 200mm and 220mm sizes, so you won’t have to faff about with spacers to get them to fit properly.
Cotic Escapade GRX827 Di2 12spd
£4,499
Cotic says that its latest Escapade is built for the road that sits between roads and trails… so gravel. But rather than sit at the seriously racy end of gravel, which is becoming increasingly popular, the Escapade is about enjoying the ride that its Reynolds 853 steel frame produces.
It uses the brand’s Sureshot geometry concept that graces the bike with a longer wheelbase, a lower bottom bracket, and a slacker head angle, which should result in a confidence-inspiring ride. And yes, this is all combined with a shorter stem in a bit to achieve the ‘perfect’ rider fit, and add a touch of agility to the otherwise lengthy machine.
The Escapade is available in sizes XS up to XL with the MD/56 frame we’ve got on test, benefiting from a 70-degree head angle, a 1,074mm wheelbase, a 74-degree seat tube angle, and a 435mm chainstay.
This is a modern bit of kit, too, as it offers mounts for racks and mudguards, room on the frame for three bottles, and the fork is sorted with Anything Cage bosses. That fork is Cotic’s own, too, and it’s built from steel, no less.
Again, there’s a lot going on here, so keep your eyes peeled for the review coming shortly.
Gloria All Gravel Titanium SRAM Force AXS 1x – Zipp 303s XPLR
£4,699
Bringing the value heat to the Cotic is Gloria’s simply named, All Gravel. This rocks a 3A1 – 2.5V Aerospace Grade titanium frame and can offer internal, external or fully integrated cable routing. You choose. Of course, this is sorted with mounts to accommodate racks, packs, and whatever you’d like to bolt onto the bike.
The spec is where things get interesting, as this model of the All Gravel is kitted to the nines with some rather nice kit. That includes the Zipp 303s XPLR wheelset, providing useful aero gains, as well as SRAM’s Force AXS T-Type groupset, providing 13 gears. But the fun bit is that those rims come sorted with chunky 29×2.1 Vittoria Mezcal tyres.
This bike is available in six sizes with the 56 size utilising a 71.5-degree head tube angle, a 74-degree seat tube angle, and a 435mm chainstay.
