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2016’s Top Ten: Short travel XC bikes rule, Year of the Eagle, Rumors, and Full suspension fat

2017 Cannondale Scalpel Si full suspension XC mountain bike
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2016 is quickly on its way out. With everything over but the end of the year rides, as we look forward to the new year many of us also like to take a look back. It was a great year for Bikerumor both from a coverage stand point and the riding perspective, which is what it’s all about right? When it came to the coverage though, some stories were more read than others. Some, a lot more. There wasn’t a single story that could touch the announcement by Cannondale that XC is dead. Dead, dead, dead. But XXC, is very much alive as proven by the top three stories for the year…

1.

https://bikerumor.com/2016/04/20/cannondale-says-xc-dead-teases-new-xxc-mountain-bike/

2.

Cannondale may have secured the top spot by declaring XC dead, but Scott was close behind with the launch of their redesigned Spark XC machine as well as the new Scale hard tail.

https://bikerumor.com/2016/06/25/new-scott-spark-scale-redefine-lightweight-mountain-bikes/

3.

Number three comes from the launch of the new Giant Anthem for 2017. Like the other two, the Anthem got slacker geometry with a bit of extra travel but also went from 29 to 27.5″ wheels for an attractive take on XC XXC.

https://bikerumor.com/2016/06/30/2017-giant-anthem-gains-travel-shrinks-wheels-updated-trance-xtc-and-fathom-mountain-bikes/

4. & 6.

It’s probably safe to say that 2016 was the year of the Eagle. Or at least the year of 1x. The selection of 1x drivetrains has never been better, and groups like SRAM Eagle XX1 and X01 have taken it to the next level with 10-50 gearing and 12 speeds. Posts on the SRAM Eagle drivetrain took the #4 and #6 spots for this year’s top 10.

https://bikerumor.com/2016/03/24/sram-eagle-12-speed-mountain-bike-groups-let-you-soar-far-and-wide-complete-tech-overview/

https://bikerumor.com/2016/03/24/sram-xx1-x01-eagle-specs-actual-weights/

5.

The #5 spot featured Tyler showing off the results of his American Ninja Warrior training and the actual weights of the 2016 Cannondale SuperSix EVO and CAAD 12 line up.

https://bikerumor.com/2015/07/09/2016-cannondale-supersix-evo-caad12-road-bike-lineup-actual-weights/

7.

Post number seven is a simple comparison between the gear ratios of 1x and 2×10 drivetrains. Obviously, there are quite a few new gearing set ups to consider, but the popularity of the post just serves to highlight how many people are interested in 1x drivetrains – or at least how they compare to 2x.

https://bikerumor.com/2014/03/28/gear-ratios-comparing-2×10-versus-1×11-mountain-bike-drivetrains/

8.

Want to live that #vanlife? You’re not alone. The eighth most popular post is actually a story from 2015 which highlights a few custom Sprinter 4×4 creations from Outside Van. You’ll need some serious cash for any of these builds, but it’s a great place to start for some inspiration…

https://bikerumor.com/2015/05/31/new-2015-mercedes-sprinter-diesel-4×4-is-the-dream-vehicle-outside-van-makes-it-real/

9.

Not surprisingly, one of the most read stories of the year came from some patent digging. This led to some speculation for the newest version of Shimano’s Dura Ace which was unveiled later in the year.

https://bikerumor.com/2016/01/26/shimano-patent-shows-silent-ring-drive-hub-internals-that-could-be-the-next-dura-ace/

10.

And coming in at number ten? That would be Trek’s entry into the world of full suspension fat bikes. This time though, Trek did it their own way with 27.5″ fat bike wheels which apparently drew a lot of eyeballs.

https://bikerumor.com/2016/04/15/soc16-trek-farley-ex-full-suspension-27-5-fat-bike-crushes-seasons-hardtails-get-lighter/

That’s it for the top 10. What were some of your favorites for the year? Anything you would like to see more of for 2017? Tell us in the comments below.

Happy New Year!

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bearcol
bearcol
7 years ago

Pretty weak. The industry has been pretty flat since around 2012 when we got NW rings and the clutch. Honestly can’t think of anything that’s been real progress since then?

Fred
Fred
7 years ago
Reply to  bearcol

To name just two:
– Schwalbe Procore is a game changer (even if it is a tad expensive).
– New School geometry (geometron/Pole bikes) are game changers which will only be copied by everyone else in the next few years.

bearcol
bearcol
7 years ago
Reply to  Fred

procore might be a game changer for you, but I find the progressive feel to the tire unappealing. I also find my spokes lose too much tension when I pump it up firm enough to actually protect the rim. That and most rims aren’t rated for the psi procore needs. For the weight penalty I can run DH casings tubeless which is just as, or more durable with no funny feel to the casing. For those reasons I’m back to tubeless.

I’ll give you new school geo, but low long and slack has been with us for a long time now. Going super long is hardly revolutionary and I’ll wager super long will never be mainstream. Stems shorter than 35mm start to compromise handling too much. The point of diminishing returns with TT length is being played with. There’s a balance between stem length, bar width, and reach. There’s a reason sit on top stems have never caught on. Don’t be surprised when you see TT’s shorten a bit overall to maintain the stem sweet spot of 40/50mm.

Heffe
Heffe
7 years ago

Great article. Lots of exciting developments this last year!

packfill
packfill
7 years ago

Cannondale’s marketing campaign was, in a word, bad. the whole X thing was already tired when ESPN gave us the X-games. For some reason, Cannondale thought it’d be a good idea to try to revive it, then fail to deliver anything revolutionary with the bike. The Spark is a full degree slacker. I guess that makes it XXXC.

sxm235
sxm235
7 years ago

Can we get some recognition of the 2011 Spearfish, and what it has grown into?

http://salsacycles.com/bikes/archive/spearfish_2011

80mm travel rear, 100mm front.

https://bikerumor.com/2010/10/28/interbike-2010-salsa-spearfish-29r-full-suspension-frame/

Ryan
Ryan
7 years ago

Horst Link (and VPP) patent expiring brought on loads of great bikes.

bearcol
bearcol
7 years ago
Reply to  Ryan

So true. I’m surprised there are still single pivots on the market.

Desperate Dyno
Desperate Dyno
7 years ago

I want to see Shimano release a thru-axle dynamo hub that has user replaceable bearings and a rectifier/regulator unit that can be located within the steerer tube that can be wired into their Di2 e-wiring systems to charge not only their Di2 batteries but any other gadgets we mount on our bicycles.

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