It looks long, large and puts the rider in a very sporty position with its 90 mm stem. Zipping a marathon start number onto the handlebars? Why not! The requested frame size L looks like XL from other companies, the seat tube and standover height are huge. Long chainstays reinforce the impression that this is an old-school 29er - manoeuvrability is not its strong point. It prefers to keep both wheels on the ground instead of using small bumps as a launch pad. And its competitors also feel more nimble on singletrack. But a look at the measured values is surprising: a lightweight full carbon chassis, lightweight fork and lightweight wheels don't really speak in favour of inertia. And there is nothing to criticise about the equipment either. Complete Shimano XT, telescopic seat post, tyres suitable for the area of use. Only the 90 mm stem is not up to date. Our tip: If you are between two frame sizes, you should go for the smaller one.
Conclusion: Old-school long-distance tourer. The Contrail doesn't shy away from forest tracks or fast downhills.
The alternative: The poison green LTD version of the Contrail is available in the shop for a fair 2500 euros. Despite the lack of a dropper post, the 29er weighs 900 g more. However, there are no compromises in terms of suspension and drive.
