273 km/h on an MTB
What this year's athletes have achieved on mountain bikes is always sensational. Whether at the World Championships in Les Getsthe European Championship in Munich or all the other races in 2022, but one of them has even set a Guinness World Record! Austrian extreme athlete Elias Schwärzler is best known for his bike stunt videos on YouTube, of which "My Dreamgirl" has already been clicked 35 million times (!). But the time had come in June: Elias Schwärzler sets a new world record. He let himself be pulled by a motorbike and accelerated his Scott Gambler to an incredible speed of almost 273 kilometres per hour. The speed record is your most visited article on the BIKE website.
Increased prices for MTB in 2022
In the middle of the Covid pandemic, everyone wanted bikes - there was a lack of parts, workers in the factories and, in the end, a ship got stuck in the Suez Canal. You would have thought that normality had returned to the bike industry this year. But by the start of 2022, it was already clear that prices would rise, in some cases drastically. A hot topic: Bikes 2022 - The price is hot - which you were naturally very interested in.
You can find more top MTB topics from this year in this article:
How much air pressure do MTB tyres need?
This is actually a timeless question: What is the optimum tyre pressure for MTB tyres? But it's a question that always arises when you have to inflate or change the tyres on your bike. In our article - as in all our tests - we take a purely physical approach and have tested many, many tyres in the past. The result is clear: The correct air pressure in the tyres depends on the surface and the inner rim width. You can print out our graphics in the report or save them as a bookmark on your workshop smartphone.
What exactly is the stride length?
Another classic question typically asked by mountain bikers is: What size frame do you ride? But why does the L-frame fit my equally tall colleague, while I can barely reach the pedals? Different stride lengths, also known as inside leg length, are the reason. In our article How to determine the right frame size for your mountain bike we explain how it is measured and show what the value means for the MTB frame size.
27.5 inch vs. 29 inch - which is better?
The last few years have shown that 29-inch wheels have prevailed over 27.5-inch wheels on a broad front. 29-inch wheels have better rollover behaviour, more traction and a smoother ride - they have established themselves across all mountain bike categories. And not everyone is equally well served by them. MTB wheels: The optimum wheel size in inches - This is where we finally settle the question of which is better, and you were also very interested in this in 2022.
Shimano vs. Sram: a question of faith?
To a certain extent, it is certainly a real question of faith, because convince a Sram fan to install a Shimano groupset on their beloved MTB! But far fewer can make the cross-manufacturer comparison between the individual groupsets: Are Shimano XT and Sram X01 now on a par? We show the complete range in Sram or Shimano: 12-speed drivetrains in comparison. (Note: This article is not up to date with the latest product portfolio)
Very interesting: the E-MTB Cube Stereo Hybrid
No other mountain bike has interested you as much as the Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 and our test of this e-bike. Together with five other e-touring bikes, we put the Cube to the test in the summer. The conclusion of our testers: Comfortable and suitable for beginners. Even if it lacks a little confidence on rough terrain, the Cube is a well-balanced and well-equipped E-touring bike at a fair price. Runs small. And because you find the Cube Hybrid so exciting, it also has the EMTB test from the previous year into the top news.
Stop! 10 MTB disc brakes in comparison
Mountain bikers are naturally always on the hunt for hot parts or equal replacements for retired MTB components. That's why our big disc brake test made it into the top articles of the year. Which MTB disc brake is the best? Formula, Shimano, Hope... our Test report provides information on which disc brakes show weaknesses and when.
MTB tyre test for trail bikes
This could not, could not and should not be missing from a list of the top MTB topics for 2022: one of our various tyre tests. You were particularly interested in the question: What are the best models for trail bikes? As always, we scrutinised the tyres in laboratory and practical tests. The conclusion of our test manager: "Schwalbe and Specialized stand out in this MTB tyre test and deliver the best compromise between grip and rolling resistance. The new Kenda Karma 2 also impressed with its balanced riding characteristics in the practical test."
Marc Strucken
Editor
