2024 STAFF STANDOUTS
ROBERT’S TOP PICKS
2024 may have been my craziest yet. From good time spent with the team at TLW HQ; to my first trip to Whistler Bike Park, and the most different bikes I’ve ever ridden over 12 months, it’s been a good one. Not to forget all of the awesome people and trails I’ve encountered along the way – I’m seriously thankful for that. On the flip side though, as one of this small The Loam Wolf crew trying to do it all, it hasn’t been without its challenges.
I thought it would be worthwhile kicking off our team’s 2024 Highlights, with the items included in here sticking out above the rest for me this past year. On this list there are some incredible mountain bikes and eMTBs; some impressive new tire tech, and a couple of old faithful items that continue to provide stellar performance following their call-outs in my 2023 roundup.
Here’s to a 2025 filled with excellent mountain biking for all! – Robert
YETI SB165
The Yeti SB165 enduro mountain bike stood out for its well-rounded nature, combined with impressive top-end capabilities. A coil-sprung, mixed-wheel bike that you can ride full-tilt at Whistler shouldn’t pedal so well.
SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER 15
While the Yeti takes the cake for a bike that’ll hang with DH rigs but can still be pedaled okay, the Specialized Stumpjumper 15 is a true all-rounder that could likely serve as a single bike garage for a lot of riders. Whether you demand a particular setup for each ride and make use of the excellent adjustability, or want a set and forget all-rounder setup, the Stumpy 15 provides.
ORBEA WILD
Some small tweaks took the facelifted MY25 Orbea Wild from my favorite ebike to…my favorite ebike. I’ve had a couple of rides on a well-spec’d alloy version recently on my local trails, and it’s so far proving to be as excellent as the carbon frame. The new Bosch CX system delivers impressive control.
SCOR 6080 Z
The SCOR 6080 Z is a polarizing bike, but one that really spoke to me. Big travel and aggressive numbers, including an ultra-short rear end, make it a very fun bike in the right terrain. The value is reasonable and I think it looks pretty awesome too for what it’s worth.
YT DECOY SN
Another eBike, yes, but it wasn’t the “E” that really had me stoked. Instead, it was the descending character of the YT Decoy SN, with almost all the agility of a YT Capra, but the planted nature that the extra weight of an eBike delivers. This bike absolutely rips down, and the Fazua Ride 60 helps to take the sting off the way back up.
SCHWALBE SHREDDA RADIAL GRAVITY
Schwalbe’s new Radial tire tech was launched with two new trail patterns. The all-rounder Albert is a solid tire, but it’s the ultra-aggressive Shredda that has really excited me. It’s not a fast rolling tire, so should be reserved exclusively for eMTBs and perhaps uplift. However, the grip in all but the hardest pack conditions is mind blowing, and my descending confidence with these tires is the highest I’ve ever experienced.
RIDE CONCEPTS TALLAC BOA
I didn’t test many new shoes this year, but I wasn’t mad about that. The Ride Concepts Tallac BOA clipless shoes continue to be my go-to for just about all of my mountain bike riding. They’re simply excellent.
HOPE UNION GC PEDALS
The perfect accompaniment to the Ride Concepts Tallac BOA shoes, the Hope Union GC clipless pedals are still trucking on after another year. They continue to provide the best all around feeling for a clipless pedal, and the build quality is awesome.
FOX FLEXAIR LIMITED 50TH EDITION GLOVES
These limited edition Fox Flexair 50th anniversary gloves stood out for their incredible “second skin” feeling. An ultra-thin and grippy leather palm mated to a super stretchy backing made my hands very happy any time I was wearing them.
SANTA COLOMA DE FARNERS, SPAIN
I got another couple of days at this relatively unknown riding location in northern Spain, and it confirmed it to be some of the best riding I’ve ever enjoyed. These guys know how to build a track, and the natural landscape makes for some awesome rock features.
FOR 2025:
NEW ZEALAND
From mid-January, the European Loam Wolf office will be relocating to the land of the kiwis. I’m so excited to check out this place and escape the miserable Scottish winter conditions – you can expect to see plenty of content from this trip!
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