Insights 2024: Behind the Scenes - a look back at the year behind the scenes
BIKE Magazin
· 30.12.2024
Major order
BIKE editor Jan Timmermann measures 1.90 metres and has a shoe size 48, which makes him taller than the German average, but he still has no problem finding bikes that fit. Just ten centimetres more and the choice would be very limited. It is similarly problematic with a height of 1.60 metres or less. In order to show which bikes and parts are also suitable for particularly tall, short, heavy or light riders, our editor has put together a buying guide for the BIKE 02/2024 issue. As is often the case in life, it's not just about size, but also about technology.
Let go of the pain!
That's exactly what shouldn't happen: After the extensive test of comfort products for the cockpit (for BIKE 03/2024), editor Jan Timmermann struggled for days with aching hands. Suspension stems, damping grips and flexing handlebars were unable to compensate for the physical strain of the test week. As the special parts only reveal their comfort advantage after a while, Jan's wrists had to endure long laps full of vibrations. To ensure that other comfort factors didn't distort the results, our tester repeatedly used a stiff rigid fork hardtail. We were constantly switching back and forth to feel the minimal advantages of the expensive add-on parts. Jan felt the disadvantages of the constant vibrations in his forearms for a long time afterwards.
On the wrong track
Whether the wooden beams in this reservoir near Kirchberg were really intended as a skinny remains questionable. Our editor Max Fuchs can most probably boast that he was the first person to ride it. In addition to the technical challenge with a swim, the lake was also a fantastic photo spot for our Hardtail-Test in BIKE 04/2024.
Quiet places
When female bikers have to pee during a tour, they have a problem: the straps of their trousers make it difficult to relieve themselves. We were also faced with a dilemma: how do you illustrate a story that is largely about women relieving themselves? The female biker peeing from behind a tree was too flat for us. The lone MTB in the light forest had completely different associations for some of our female colleagues. The brilliant idea finally came from a report in the SZ magazine about the most unusual "quiet places" in the mountains, which BIKE Art Director Dagmar Dörpholz had already been amused by years ago. Want to know how we solved our problem? Then turn to page 86 of BIKE 05/2024, where you will also find our test of pee-friendly cycling shorts, which female bikers can use to relieve themselves in a relaxed manner.
Stephan, ...
... our model for the fitness story in this issue, arrived a little late for the photo shoot because he had to see a cardiologist urgently. A twinge in his chest had caused him concern. The findings gave the all-clear, but physiotherapist Lara Westner took the opportunity to take a closer look at Stephan. It was clear to our expert at first glance that it wasn't the heart that was causing problems. Instead, it seemed to her that muscle tension was the cause of the heartache. She put our model through the wringer for half an hour, using skilful techniques to release the blockages. Afterwards, Stephan was able to perform the most important strengthening exercises for mountain bikers in a deeply relaxed manner, which can be seen in BIKE 06/2024 from page 88.
With the kids in the Dolomites
His wife flipped him the bird and his two daughters easily nodded off dad's holiday suggestion. Perhaps tour author Andreas Kern took advantage of his offspring's geographical gaps a little. The fact is: Magdalena (14) and Sophie (12) had no idea that by shrugging their shoulders, they had bought a ticket to one of the steepest ramp areas in the Alps. But they also knew that dad would do everything he could to make up for this drudgery with something. And of course he did. In our Sesto area guide the Kern family reveals the three trail laps that ended up giving everyone an unforgettable holiday. Published in BIKE issue 07/2024.
Flood
The heavy rain at the beginning of June not only flooded our home trails, but also the cellar of our test editor Stefan Frey. However, the accessories expert was prepared for an emergency: Firstly, a test of waterproof trail shoes was on the agenda for the current issue. Secondly, his Lowara submersible pump was pumping 250 litres of dirty water per minute out of the basement, which was bobbing knee-high in groundwater. So, pump on and out into the rain. When our editor returned home hours later, the cellar was almost dry. Instead, his feet were now ankle-deep in water. Why was that? You can find out in our Shoe test here.
Colourless
Not only did the Sahara dust put a monochrome filter over the Dachstein mountains, but BIKE test editor Jan Timmermann also had little colour left in his face on the first mountain time trial of his life. After three days of marathon racing at the Alpentour Trophy in Schladming, all his energy reserves were used up. The final sprint over 1100 metres of altitude gave him the rest. When the Miss Dachstein Highness wanted to hang the finisher's medal around our editor's neck, he almost threw up on her shoes from exhaustion. More effort for the test of three marathon fullys under real conditions would not have been possible. Read the colourful test report from BIKE 09/2024 here:
The mud puddle ...
... on the Munich Isar trails is an institution. It has been lurking in the floodplains for many, many years, soaking your bike and clothes on every after-work ride. Even if it hasn't rained for weeks: it's there. Only on this one day, when BIKE author Jörg Spaniol went there with our test rider Nick Dörpholz for the mudguard test in BIKE 10/2024 - it was gone. Despite a particularly rainy spring with nationwide flooding and a thundery summer. So that Nick could still get really soaked in his spotless white test overalls, Jörg had to fill up his waterproof rucksack several times at the river to properly water our laboratory puddle. But then we were ready to go: The measurement results of the subsequent spray tours can be found in the mudguard test here.
The perfect backdrop
Rugged rocky landscapes, sweeping Alpine panoramas and the finest trails: for the photo shoot for the new issue of BIKE (01/2025), our team travelled to the Bike Republic Sölden once again after years. The pictures for the big trail bike test created on the notorious Fernar Trail. At a depth of almost 900 metres, one key section follows the next.
Experienced riders can test their limits here. For everyone else, the ride is worth it for the view alone. Our Freeride duel we photographed on the black Olm Volle Line.
By hook or by crook I
In order to separate the wheat from the chaff in our component tests, we often push the limits of the material. This was also the case in our cross-country wheel test for BIKE 12/2024. As the super-light and usually super-expensive wheels are not just about acceleration and ride feel, but also durability, all the rims had to perform under the axe. In a fraction of a second, over 11,000 euros worth of goods were gone. All the results of the carbon wheels can be found in the Test the ultra-light carbon wheels here.
Great cinema
If you want to see the latest bikes in action, you should visit the BIKE YouTube channel surf past. For the test videos on the current E-Enduro from Pivot (for BIKE 01/2025) and to the Gravel bike from the MTB specialists at Mondraker no effort was spared. Film professional Vinzenz Gudden specially designed a waistcoat to capture exciting gimbal shots. A good eight kilos hang from the support arm. While Vinz rides ahead of the BIKE editors, his colleague Felix controls the technology externally. Of course, drone shots and Insta360 clips are also a must.
So what belongs together grows together
Bikers, with e-motor support or without, with a lot of suspension travel or little, the MTB community is becoming increasingly colourful and diverse - and we are responding to this: we are forming a new MTB community from EMTB, BIKE and FREERIDE. Mega magazine for all mountain bikers. The new print edition of BIKE is now being published in an extra-large magazine format and with a huge amount of content - the first of twelve issues per year hit newsstands on 1 October. With more pages than ever before, BIKE now contains everything that is important for mountain bikers - with or without an "E".
