The dream of the ultimate bike drives many developers and bikers. What happens when an industrial designer with a construction background and a graphic designer sit down together and build the ultimate bike themselves? The result is a fully that has never existed in this form before. A bike that combines chic design with innovative, constructive solutions. A bike that is more than that - actually two bikes.
Welcome to the world of Vincenz Droux and Oliver Kreuter. A few weeks ago, the two Swiss from Lengnau near Bern lifted the curtain on their Bold brand and presented the Linkin Trail model. Vincenz Droux travelled to Munich with the first production-ready model. He seems a little nervous, but after the first compliments for the idea, design and technical realisation, his tension disappears and he proudly tells us that he has already received recognition for the bike from developers at major bike companies.
So what's so special about the Bold Linkin Trail? We asked some colleagues in the office this question and not everyone recognised it straight away: a fully without suspension? Exactly. Bold hides the shock in the carbon frame. A great visual solution and technically clever. The internal rear shock enables ultra-short levers because they don't have to be looped around the seat tube. This results in an enormously high frame stiffness, and the suspension also decouples the DT Swiss shock from lateral loads. "We have exhausted everything," promises Droux. By this he means the Boost 148 standard at the rear, wide axle support, a 30 millimetre thick axle in the main pivot point, which is friction-locked. There is a large service flap for damper tuning and a small one for measuring the sag. Droux explains that the drive influences have been minimised and the braking torque reduced. Although the test bike rolls into our laboratory with eleven gears, the frame can also take double cranks including front derailleur. The absence of a layer of paint saves weight and the production technology of the carbon fibre frame is state of the art. There are even small openings in the head tube to allow at least some cooling air to flow into the frame and to the shock. Droux brushes aside concerns about the heat generated by the rear shock on long descents.
Another highlight of the bike, however, is its wheel compatibility. Bold ships the Linkin Trail with 29er wheels from the factory, and the Swiss company sells an optional set of matching 2.8-inch-wide 27.5 WTB tyres. The idea is called the Oneplus platform: you can customise the wheels to suit your riding style, the terrain and the season.
The values in the test letter refer to the bike with 29er wheels. If you put the 27.5 wheels in the thicker Plus format in the frame, the bike changes as follows: The weight increases by 450 grams, the standover height and bottom bracket are about one centimetre lower. There are no changes to the angles and suspension travel. Our test laboratory confirms a high level of stiffness (70.2 Nm/degree), the frame weight is 2493 grams plus shock (351 grams). And the stiffness in the terrain is even higher than the test bench value. The frame, especially the rear linkage, feels very firm. Despite 30 per cent sag, the rear end is sporty and firm, provides feedback from the ground and offers sufficient reserves when the going gets tough. There are definitely more comfortable suspensions, but you never bog down in the travel, can actively jump off and move the bike very agilely. Another positive aspect on the trail is that the bike makes absolutely no noise. No rattling, no banging, just pleasant silence. In combination with the 29er wheels, the bottom bracket is relatively high, which is due to the compromise of the 27.5+ wheels. On the other hand, however, you can pedal well over obstacles in rough terrain. Uphill, the bike accelerates well and stays firmly on the throttle, which would be even more pronounced with faster/lighter tyres than the Onzas fitted. The test bike came in the Sick Day configuration, which represents the all-mountain setup. If you like it sportier, choose the Race Day version with 29x2.25 tyres and a 32 mm DT Swiss fork with 130 mm travel. And that's exactly why we like the Bold concept - because it opens up so many possibilities. You could upgrade to a 150 mm fork, run a plus-size wheel at the front for more grip and a fast-rolling 29er at the rear. The geometry and concept make it possible. We will try it out ...
PLUS Innovative, very well thought-out concept, very rigid frame, clever details
MINUS 29er tyres heavy, seat angle flattens out with long dropper post extension
