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What I’m Riding Summer 2023 – MTB Edition

  • Ron 

The trails at Bike World News World HQ have finally dried out and I’ve been riding as much as I can between family and shop responsibilities at Ron’s Bike Garage. There have been a lot of cool items come through the door, so I wanted to drop some spot reviews to highlight some of them.

Commencal T.E.M.PO.

Let’s kick it off with my new rig! I’ve been thinking about an updated full-suspension mountain bike for some time now as my old Salsa Horsethief was getting a little long in the tooth as a test bike. I did a lot of looking around and reading reviews and ended up opting for the new Commencal TEMPO.

If you’re not familiar with Commencal, the Andorra-based company has been one of the most successful brands in the DH and Enduro categories since they were founded in the year 2000. They build mountain bikes only from aluminum and they do it very well. They’re not just about the extreme ends of the sport, however, and the T.E.M.P.O. represents a new direction for them with an all-new “virtual pivot system” that virtually eliminates pedaling bob, yet still provides a dynamic ride when the trail turns downhill.

The Tempo is designed around 140mm travel in the front with 125mm of travel in the year and I felt it was well-suited for our rooty and rocky trails without dipping into a longer travel bike.

I’ve built the Tempo up with a 140mm Rockshox Pike Fork, a Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate RCT2 shock, a SRAM AXS drivetrain (no SRAM Transmission yet – maybe later in the summer) as well some other parts you’ll read about below.

Syncros Revelstoke Wheelset

Syncros set out to create an overall lighter weight package for trail and enduro riding with this carbon wheelset. The Revelstoke 1.0 wheels sport a shallower design that aims to reduce weight, increase compliance, and add comfort, and the now feature DT Swiss internals. Syncros engineers were able to reduce weight over the previous generation, resulting in a 1500g wheelset.

These sweet wheels have been waiting all spring for our trails to dry out, so I’m only a few rides in on them, but they definitely have a more ‘buttery’ and compliant feel over the Atomik wheelset that I’ve been running the past couple of seasons.

Continental Kryptotal tires

Continental released a whole new line of gravity-focused tires back in late 2022. Part of that new line were the Kryptotal front and rear tires which were released in both 27.5 and 29-inch sizes with trail, enduro, and DH casings available. I went with the trail casing for my review and these have served me well for our mixed conditions and terrain.

Continental Gravity Range

The Kryptotal front tire features medium-height, balanced center tread with steep and shallow ramped tread and large and steep shoulder lugs. The rear-specific tire has steep and shallow ramped tread and specializes in braking and self-cleaning properties. After a very wet spring that kept the trails closed, we are now dealing with a lot of dusty corners, but these tires have yet to let me down.

Outdoor Research Ferrosi Overshort and Argon Tee

Known for their hiking, skiing, and outdoor gear, Outdoor Research has recently been releasing more mountain bike-oriented pieces.

The Ferrosi overshorts have a longer hem built for versatility, from layering over bike chamois to hiking and trekking as a standalone piece. Built with OR’s all-time best-selling Ferrosi fabric, these shorts have the same trusted abrasion resistance, breathability, weather protection, and stretch that now comes in a 46% recycled material. Be sure to check the size charts on these because, unlike many MTB shorts, these do not have any adjustment in the waist.

The Argon tee, while not a ‘dedicated’ MTB jersey, certainly ticks off many of the boxes. This technical layer keeps you cool, dry, and odor-free throughout all four seasons with Outdoor Research’s proprietary AirVent™ moisture management technology, UPF 30 sun protection, and ActiveFresh™ odor control. A full 83% of this top is made from recycled materials that perform just as well as those brand new while placing a little less strain on the planet.

Smith Mainline Helmet

I’ve spent a lot of time this winter riding my Commencal Absolut pump track/DJ bike at the local track as well as making trips to Mike’s Bike Park in Dayton and Ray’s Indoor MTB Park in Cleveland. Riding paved and wooden features at high speed, as well as taking on jumps and drops I wouldn’t normally do on the trail has made me think a lot more about safety.

The Smith Mainline helmet is marketed as being for those that “go big, go fast, or both”. At my age, I really don’t do either, but I do recognize that more protection is sometimes warranted.

The Smith Mainline is the company’s pinnacle, downhill-certified enduro bike helmet incorporating their safety innovations like Koroyd™ and MIPS®. While providing plenty of protection, I found it to be plenty breathable and lightweight even for laps at the track. It pairs well with goggles and fits like a glove without feeling too heavy.

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