- No wonder, given the demanding test lap with technical descents and steep climbs. Despite the bargain price of 1499 euros, the Btwin was still able to set positive accents. The seat angle is just 71.7 degrees and the seat post is offset by 35 millimetres, shifting the riding position far behind the bottom bracket, which makes pedalling more difficult. On the other hand, the Hutchinson tyres roll well on gravel climbs. The suspension is completely smooth in open shock mode, but offers hardly any comfort on smaller bumps. Uphill, the Btwin experiences its personal finest hour, the high weight is hardly noticeable here. On downhill trails, however, the Rockrider reaches its limits. The Hayes Prime brakes have a hard-hitting pressure point, but little deceleration, despite the 180 mm brake disc on the front wheel. The suspension is insensitive. Once the high breakaway torque has been overcome, the damper rushes through the suspension travel. The cockpit with its long stem and narrow handlebars makes handling on the trail even more difficult. The cable routing and geometry are more reminiscent of times gone by than of a modern bike. In moderate touring use, the inexpensive bike is nevertheless convincing. However, technical downhill trails show its limits.
