Parts in danger: Tyres, shoes, clothes & a children's bike put to the test
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Giant Faith 24 - Kids' bike for little shredders
12.53 kilos (without pedals) / 2399 euros
"Dream Big" is the slogan with which Giant advertises its latest trail bike for children. In order to fulfil the high expectations, a lot of time and commitment went into the development of the child-friendly fullys. And so it is hardly surprising that the result is absolutely impressive. As the industry giant has a broad vertical range of manufacture, many of the add-on parts are made in-house. As with the bikes for adults, the grips, handlebars, stem, dropper post, rims and even the suspension elements bear the Giant logo, but have been specially designed for small, lightweight people.
Cream chassis for lightweights
Even with a rider weight of just 25 kilos, the Crest suspension fork and damper can be adjusted to suit and the rebound damping can also be adjusted accordingly. There is no question of over-damping or sluggish suspension elements. With a generous 140 millimetres of travel at the front and 130 millimetres at the rear, the Faith 24 offers a considerable amount of traction, even on rough bike park trails. Nothing can upset the smooth geometry and the rider, who is deeply integrated into the bike. The suspension also responds sensitively to subtleties and spoils you with comfort and traction.
Vario seatpost already in the standard spec
For trail use, Giant has given the Faith 24 a dropper post with 100 millimetre travel. Despite the 32 centimetre short seat tube, this requires a certain leg length or height. At a height of 1.25 metres, the minimum saddle height can still be a little high, which is why we fitted a slightly flatter saddle for the test rider. Weighing in at 12.53 kilos without pedals, the Faith is a good weight for a full-suspension 24-inch full-suspension bike. absolutely competitive in comparisonespecially as the add-on parts, including the chain guide and bashguard, are very solid. The 30 millimetre wide aluminium rims with their wide rim flange are also on the stable side, but add a lot of weight, which is noticeable when accelerating and pedalling on flat terrain. An ideal bike for kids who like to ride downhill.
+ sensitive chassis
+ smooth running geometry
- quite heavy wheels
Fizik Terra Artica GTX - racy MTB winter shoe
773 grams (46) / 259 euros >> available here
In my search for a sporty, comfortable shoe for winter training, I chose the fluffily lined Fizik Terra Artica GTX with Gore-Tex membrane. Slim feet will always find the right size thanks to the half-size and the clean-running Boa fastening provides a good fit. In combination with the stiff sole, the Fizik transfers power well to the pedals, and you're off through the winter forest in no time.
This MTB winter shoe is less warm than expected - at just above zero degrees, the toes were cold. An insulating layer in the sole would provide more heat retention. The Fizik is not really made for wet days. It ends just above the ankles. This quickly creates a gap between the trousers and the shoe, allowing water to penetrate from above. Even off the pedals, the Terra Artica GTX with its narrow-profile sole feels rather uncomfortable. Instead, it is a comfortable racer for dry winter days with temperatures in the plus range.
The Fizik is warm, comfortable and quite stiff. However, its short shaft is a misconstruction in my eyes. The shoe is hardly usable in bad weather. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE test editor
Want to know more about the Fizik Terra Artica GTX winter shoe? Then read our detailed test. You can find even more winter shoes and lots of tips on biking in winter in our latest comparison test, this way.
Schwalbe Albert Trail - radial tyres with extra grip
1080 gram (29x2,50) / 73,90 Euro >> available here
Schwalbe's radial tyres are currently all the rage. In these tyres, the threads of the carcass are arranged at a 90-degree angle to the direction of travel. This alignment gives the tyres a larger contact area and allows them to adapt better to the ground. In other words, they offer more grip. This was also confirmed in the long-term test. Schwalbe's all-round tyre Albert outshines the traction level of full-grown enduro tyres, even in the soft rubber compound. Aha effect? Definitely! Nevertheless, the test candidate was not able to fully convince us. At high speeds and low tyre pressure (1.3 bar front and rear), the flexible trail casing provides comparatively little stability and quickly feels spongy in corners. The only thing that helps here is more air pressure, which reduces the traction bonus of the radial construction. The durability is also criticised. After three days in alpine terrain, the rear tyre (pictured) shows extreme signs of wear: missing edges and gnawed centre and outer lugs - no way!
Traction miracle or not - a tyre that wears out like this after just a few uses is a waste for the average consumer. - Max Fuchs (70 kg), BIKE test editor
ION Shelter 2L - Softshell suit for winter rides
Jacket: 199,95 >> available here
Trousers: 179,95 Euro >> available here
My legs aren't exactly top model length and yet with the Ion softshell trousers there's a ten-centimetre gap at the ankles - it's a real draught in winter. In addition, the robust trimmings on the knees and seat are not very stretchy. As a result, the waistband slips down when pedalling and the trouser legs ride up. The stretch waistband does little to counteract this effect. The side pockets, which also ventilate the thighs, and the zip-on cuffs for easier access are good. The Ion jacket scores particularly well with its successful cuffs with flap and stretch band.
Trouser legs that are too short - there's a gap here
The hood fits well under the helmet, but is short. Otherwise, the cut is not very MTB-specific and is too short, especially at the rear. This creates an uncomfortable cold bridge between the jacket and trousers at the back when in a cycling position. Mud also splashes unhindered onto the lower layer. In terms of warmth, the Shelter 2L jacket is more suitable for autumn. The trousers also provide sufficient warmth in winter.
Cyclowax Clean Chain Starter Kit - Wax Foundry
219,95 Euro
No more dirty fingers and no more soiled drivetrains. Enticed by this promise, I waxed my first chain with the Cyclowax starter kit. In addition to alcohol and degreaser, it also contains various cleaning utensils that make it easy to polish the drivetrain to a high shine - the basic requirement for chain waxing. The enclosed wax tablet is then melted in the heater. The advantage: the wax is liquid in just over ten minutes. The pot reliably maintains the right temperature and there is no mess with the family cooking pots - which also reduces the potential for conflict. After the chain has been thoroughly bathed in wax, it is hung over the heater to drip dry and harden. After a short run-in, the chain has now been running quietly, smoothly and sparkling clean for a good 200 kilometres. If you don't need a pre-waxed chain, you can get the set consisting of heater, wax tablet and suspension for just 150 euros - a great deal.
Even if the initial cleaning orgy on the drivetrain is annoying, the starter kit from Cyclowax makes the switch to wax much easier. I am absolutely delighted with the clinically clean drivetrain and the smooth running of the chain. Stefan Frey, BIKE test editor
Stefan Frey
Editor
