Whyte Top Ten Reviews - December 2013

LATEST WHYTE BIKE REVIEWS - REPRINTED JAN 2014

WHYTE WINS TEN EXCEPTIONAL REVIEWS IN TWELVE MONTHS

Whyte 905 in MBR "Simply Amazing" 10/10 pages 2-5 Whyte 901 in WMB "Addictively Agile" 4.5/5 pages 6-7 Whyte T-129 S in WMB "Trail Bike of the Year" 5/5 pages 8-9 Whyte M-109 S in WMB "The Clear Winner" 4.5/5 pages 10-14 Whyte 729 on bikemagic.com "I Loved it" pages 14-15 Whyte 29-C in Enduro "Absolutely Stunning" pages 16-17 Whyte Caledonian in Women's Cycling "Great To Ride" page 19 Whyte 806 in Women's Cycling "Impressive" page 19 Whyte Suffolk in Cycling Plus "Fantastic" 4.5/5 page 20-21 Whyte Stirling in Cycling Plus "Ideal For Urban Riding" 4.5/5 page 22-23

Whyte's UK designed bikes tested and scored by the top mags and websites

"The Whyte T-120s is the Trail Bike of the Year" 5/5

WHYTE 29-C

"The 29-C frame is absolutely stunning... remarkably comfortable"

Rides and Rates the 905

"The Perfect 650B Trail Hardtail" 10/10

"genuinely nippy, responsive and fun" Whyte Caledonian

Loving The Whyte 729's Progressive Geometry

"Perfect hardtail trail setup."

BIKES FOR ALL SEASONS

Suffolk takes top honours in Winter Group Test

Reprinted with kind permission of MBR Magazine - IPC Media.

From Jan 2014's grouptest of Whyte 905, Orange Clockwork Pro, Saracen Zen and Trek Stache 8

BIKE TEST

The 130mm-travel RockShox Revelation fork offers best-inclass performance

Whyte’s custom 650b rims are wide enough to amply support high-volume tyres

A short 60mm stem and wide 750mm riser bar makes a perfect cockpit layout

Shimano’s 2x10 transmission works seamlessly with the Race Face chainset

WHYTE 905 £1,599

SPECIFICATION Frame 6061 aluminium Fork RockShox Revelation RL 130mm Wheels Whyte/Hope Evo hubs, Whyte rims, Maxxis Ardent/ Crossmark tyres Drivetrain Race Face Ride chainset, Shimano SLX r-mech, Deore shifters and f-mech Brakes Shimano SLX 180/160mm Components Whyte Sizes S, M, L, XL Weight 12.48kg (27.5lb) Contact whytebikes.com

I

GEOMETRY

Size tested: M Head angle 65.7° Seat angle 72.6° BB height 303mm Chainstay 426mm Front centre 730mm Wheelbase 1,156mm Down tube 705mm

n recent years, Whyte has been pushing the boundaries with its full-suspension trail bike geometry, making its bikes longer, lower and slacker every season.

2014 sees it take the same concept and apply it to the 650b hardtail category. Enter the Whyte 905.

The new platform has all of the features you’d expect on a modern trail bike.

There’s a tapered head tube for steering precision, ISCG tabs on the BB and clean cable routing so as not to detract from the flowing lines of the manipulated tubing profiles. Yep, you’ve heard it all before. So, what sets the 905 apart from the crowd?

The answer is simple: geometry.

In particular, the key element is the ultra-low 303mm bottom bracket height.

With such a low BB you definitely need to time your pedal strokes carefully on off-camber trails or rocky terrain so as not to be constantly clipping your pedals, but in return, you’re rewarded with improved handling and much better standover clearance as the whole bike is lower. Also, because the seat tube on the size medium is relatively short, there’s plenty of exposed seatpost — offering flex to give a more comfortable ride when seated.

SUSPENSION

A fork can really make or break a bike but it’s even more critical on a hardtail as, along with the tyres, it’s the only suspension you’ve got. With 130mm of travel, the RockShox Revelation handled everything we could throw at it, and it still bobs up and down less than all of the other forks on the climbs. It is, without a shadow of doubt, the best performing fork in this test, and that’s mostly due to the more sophisticated

2

130 mbr JANUARY 2014

damper housed inside the right-hand leg of the fork. The badass black stanchions add very little to the performance, but they do add heaps of cool.

COMPONENTS

Whyte has spent its component budget wisely. The 750mm wide handlebar has a good profile and the 60mm stem is a perfect match for the rangy front end on the 905. In fact, it’s one of the very few bikes we’ve tested in recent years that didn’t need a cockpit change straight off the bat. Even Whyte’s slender lock-on grips turned out to be blinding.

With a Hope Evo rear hub you won’t be losing sleep over freehub reliability.

The stock Maxxis tyres are also a bonus, but you’ll need bigger knobs than the Ardent/ Crossmark combo if you intend to hammer the 905 down anything other than bone-dry trails or armoured trail-centre tracks.

PERFORMANCE

With a super-slack head angle and one of the longest front ends we’ve seen on a size medium bike, the front wheel of the 905 feels like it’s in a different time zone — and it feels amazing. The extra length gives you more time to react and more room to manoeuvre and, combined with the ultra-low BB, the extreme geometry feels… normal.

The bike is super-stable at speed and on steep, bum-buzzing-the-rear-tyre descents it’s a blast. Sizing, cockpit layout and riding position all align perfectly. As a result, you always feel like your weight is in the right place on the bike, be it to get the power down out of a corner, lift the front end or to absorb the harshest impacts with your legs.

But don’t let the extreme geometry fool

you into thinking this is some sort of DH hardtail. It’s not. It’s the second lightest bike on test and the front wheel doesn’t flop from side to side on the climbs either. Yes, the BB is pedal-clippingly low, but because this means you never feel perched on top of the bike, balancing on techy sections is incredibly easy.

After weeks of testing we’ve yet to find a situation where the Whyte comes unstuck.

OK, so it doesn’t roll over bumps as well as a 29er, but get it on loose, natural, technical terrain and geometry trumps wheel size every time. In fact, it was the only bike here that we felt confident enough to take down trails that we usually reserve for testing 160mm-travel suspension bikes.

VERDICT

We were a little sceptical when Whyte claimed that the 905 was an “genre-defining trail hardtail”. Could it really be that different to any other hardtail? Well, now that we’ve tested it we wholeheartedly agree.

It had us grinning from ear to ear from the very first ride and has never put a wheel wrong the whole time we’ve had it. Thanks to the finely tuned geometry, the riding position is first-rate and the exemplary handling is backed up by an amazing parts package.

With the 905, Whyte really has built the perfect 650b trail hardtail.

TEST WINNER!

WE LOVE

The new-school geometry — this bike is simply amazing

WE HATE

Right fork leg holds the secret of the Revelation’s prowess

That it’s taken so long to get here

Hope Evo hub at the rear is coupled with Shimano XT disc brake

Whyte stuff: ownbrand stem and bars offer perfect control

JANUARY 2014

mbr 131

3

Reprinted with kind permission of MBR Magazine - IPC Media.

From Jan 2014's grouptest of Whyte 905, Orange Clockwork Pro, Saracen Zen and Trek Stache 8

BIKE TEST

TEST WINNER!

Conclusion

S

ometimes it takes ages to find a test winner. We spend days bedding-in the bikes and getting the suspension dialled. Then we swap out the tyres and any suspect components such as super-long stems or crazy-narrow bars, just so we don’t overlook a potentially great bike that’s been handicapped by odd component choices.

Once we get the bikes set up as well as possible, we start doing back-to-back runs as fast as we dare on a variety of trails to highlight subtle differences in their performance. Even then, it’s not always immediately obvious which one is the best.

We nit-pick every aspect of the spec to make sure that the bikes deliver the best possible value to run alongside best-in-class performance. Then, and only then, do we finally pick the winner.

So, imagine our surprise when, on the very first outing on the Whyte 905, we knew that it was going to win this test. How could we be so certain after only one ride?

The answer is simple — we’d never ridden a hardtail quite like it. Blasting down our local trails on a muddy Sunday afternoon, the 905 didn’t put a foot wrong.

We instantly felt so comfortable and confident, it was almost as though we’d been riding it for years, not just a couple of hours. It’s incredibly rare that a bike feels so sorted straight out of the box, so we knew that the odds of there being another bike equally as good in the same test were about as high as winning the lottery.

How did Whyte build such an amazing bike? It took everything that it learnt from developing geometry and sizing for its fullsuspension bikes and applied it to its new 650b hardtail. Simple! Actually, it probably wasn’t particularly straightforward at all, but the Whyte 905 is certainly beautiful in its simplicity. It was love at first sight. We think you might feel the same way too…

Killer ride quality comes as standard on the Whyte 905

RANGE FINDER

Our test winner’s stablemates WHYTE 901

4

WHYTE 909

£1,199

£2,299

The entry-level 901 looks like an amazing package.

You still get the 750mm bar and 60mm stem, Maxxis rubber, a 2x10 drivetrain and a 130mmtravel RockShox fork — all built onto the same frame as the 905. We have no idea how Whyte managed to deliver such an affordable version of the test-winning 905 without eroding its potential. But we like it.

With the same cutting-edge angles and attitude as the 905, the extra budget for the flagship 909 buys the latest SRAM X01 drivetrain and adjustable dropouts.

The Fox 32 fork may not be as good as the Revelation, though, so the 905 is probably a better option, as it also leaves change for a dropper post.

132 mbr JANUARY 2014

NOTES ON THE NUMBERS

A

Familiar measurements

B

G

When we get similar-style bikes in for a group test, there’s normally only a couple of millimetres or half a degree separating their geometry. Well, that certainly isn’t the case this month. With a mix of 650b bikes and 29ers, the numbers are all over the shop, even though all of the bikes here are billed as trail hardtails. Still, the Whyte 905 is the standout bike, as its front-end is longer, its head angle slacker and its BB considerably lower. In fact, at 303mm, the BB height is one of the lowest we’ve ever ridden.

D

E C F

Orange Clockwork Pro

Saracen Zen

Trek Stache 8

A Head angle

68.2°

66.2°

69.5°

Whyte 905 65.7°

B Seat angle

71.9°

71.8°

71.9°

72.6°

C BB height

332mm

334mm

332mm

303mm

D Chainstay

452mm

425mm

442mm

426mm

E Front centre

702mm

715mm

690mm

730mm

F Wheelbase

1,154mm

1,140mm

1,132mm

1,156mm

G Down tube

710mm

680mm

695mm

705mm

S P E C I F I CAT I O N

This month’s bikes at a glance Make/model

Orange Clockwork Pro

Saracen Zen

Trek Stache 8

£1,699.99

£1,499.99

£1,800

£1,599

Weight

12.59kg (27.8lb)

13.59kg (30lb)

12.15kg (26.8lb)

12.48kg (27.5lb)

Contact

orangebikes.co.uk

saracen.co.uk

trekbikes.com

whytebikes.com

S, M, L, XL

S, M, L

15.5, 17.5, 19, 21, 23in

S, M, L, XL

L

M

19in

M

Frame material

6061 aluminium

6061 aluminium

Alpha Platinum aluminium

6061 aluminium

Suspension fork

RockShox Recon Gold TK

RockShox Sektor Gold TK

Fox 32 Float Evo G2

RockShox Revelation RL

120mm

140mm

120mm

130mm

Hubs

Hope Pro II

Formula/Shimano Deore

Bontrager

Whyte/Hope Evo

Rims

Mavic XM319 29

Sun Inferno 27

Bontrager Duster

Whyte Trail 27.5

Stainless

Stainless

Stainless

DT Swiss

Continental Mountain King 2.2in

Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.35in/ Racing Ralph 2.2in

Bontrager XR3 Expert 2.3in

Maxxis Ardent 2.25in/ Crossmark 2.1in Shimano Deore 2x10

Price

Whyte 905

FRAME Sizes Size tested

Front travel WHEELS

Spokes Tyres GROUPSET Shifters

Shimano SLX 3x10

Shimano Deore 2x10

Shimano SLX 2x10

Front mech

Shimano SLX

Shimano Deore

SRAM X7

Shimano Deore

Rear mech

Shimano XT Shadow Plus

Shimano SLX Shadow Plus

Shimano XT Shadow Plus

Shimano SLX Shadow Plus

Crank

Race Face Evolve

FSA Comet

Race Face Turbine

Race Face Ride

Bottom bracket

Race Face X-type

FSA

Press-fit

Race Face

Brakes

Shimano SLX

Shimano Deore

Shimano SLX

Shimano SLX

Rotor sizes

180/160mm

180/180mm

180/160mm

180/160mm

COMPONENTS Saddle Seatpost Handlebar Stem

SDG Falcon

Kore Fazer EX

Bonty Evoke 3

Whyte

Race Face Ride

KS Dropzone 125mm

Bonty Rhythm Elite

Whyte 30.9mm

Orange Hot Rod 700mm

Kore Durox 740mm

Bonty Race Lite 720mm

Whyte 750mm

Race Face Ride 70mm

Saracen 318 60mm

Bonty Rhythm Pro 90mm

Whyte Gravity 60mm

Rating

JANUARY 2014

mbr 133

5

WHYTE 901

T

he last time we rode a hardtail with a head angle this slack the designer admitted it had been a mistake during prototyping.

Even we mistakenly thought it said 68.5 degrees on the website, because 66.5 degrees is full-on full suss downhill territory. But no, there’s no mistake here.

Whyte fully intends to kick the front wheel way out front on an already generously long frame, then let you steer it with a super-fat 70mm stem and ape-hanger 750mm bars.

There’s no doubt it’ll feel weird at first if you haven’t ridden a big travel all-mountain bike recently, and some traditional hardtail fans just aren’t going to be able to get their heads around it.

And even once you do, the mix of the super-capable front end but rigid – rather than squishy 6in travel – rear end is a potential head twister. The fact you can’t help carving and scything down the road or round the car park with tyres growling as soon as you get aboard this bike is a sign of very good things to come.

Hard as nails

This addictive swoop and swagger from the long front end, short rear and ‘won’t be bullied by anything’ bar width is immediately obvious on the trail. The big-volume Maxxis Ardent front tyre and surprisingly smooth RockShox Sektor fork mean the front wheel can hold super-aggressive lines accurately even when the back end is all over the place.

Leading with the suspension (and your shoulders) and letting the rest of the bike fend for itself is the default method on techy trails. Once you crack it, the 901 squares up to almost anything.

While the Sektor can feel harsh on bigger slapdowns, the balance of the bike makes getting off the back and popping the front up easy. The rearward weight distribution means you can properly haul on the anchors on steep descents without worrying about tucking the front or going over the bars. You do have to work your weight forward more obviously than the Saracen and Orange on slippery, fallaway corners, loose drifts or particularly steep climbs, of course, and it takes a longer front wheel track around really tight corners too.

However, it never flops or falls off line awkwardly, and it self-corrects neatly every time you tuck it a bit too far. With plenty of room to move around, it responds superbly to the dynamic body shifts that are essential to riding a hardcore hardtail really well.

Take the edge off

Like any hardtail it will punish you if you get caught in the saddle by a sudden slam, but there’s enough subtlety in those curved and heavily butted rear

6

December 2013

FOCUS: HARDCORE HARDTAILS

slacker

The

achieves that over

Enduro downhill handling meets cross-country speed in Whyte's radically evolved trail hardtail

Words: Guy Kesteven Photos: Russell Burton and Neil Oakman­

stays to take the worst edges off the rocks, roots and lips despite a relatively small volume tyre. The pressure-shaped main tubes also play a big part of the low weight of the Whyte – and stopping your wrists and knees crumbling to powder if things get super-rocky or step infested.

It’s telling that the CrossMark rear tyre survives remarkably well over rocky ground without excessive pressures.

The comparatively low weight and fast rolling tyres mean it makes the most of any pedal strokes you can get in between turns or techy bits. It’s also long enough to let your lungs sustain race-pace efforts as long as your legs can manage – the longer we rode the 901 against the Crush and Zen (see following pages), the more Post mount rear brake makes for simple setup

AT A GLANCE WHYTE 901 PRICE £1199

Whyte's cockpit kit works well no complaints

TOPTUBE LENGTH 24.8in SEAT TUBE LENGTH 17.9in HEAD ANGLE 66.5° SEAT ANGLE 73° BB HEIGHT 12in CHAINSTAY LENGTH 16.7in WHEELBASE 44.8in SIZES S, M (tested), L, XL WEIGHT 12.3kg (27.2lb) FRAME 6061 T6 hydroformed aluminium FORK RockShox Sektor Gold, 130mm WHEELS Whyte Trail 21 rims, sealed disc hubs TYRES Maxxis Ardent 650bx2.25in (F), CrossMark 650bx2.1in (R) CRANKS SRAM S1000, 38/24T GEARS SRAM X7 mech (R), X5 mech (F), X5 shifters BRAKES Avid Elixir 3, 180/160mm rotors OTHER STUFF Whyte Custom 750mm bars, 70mm stem, seatpost and saddle CONTACT www.whytebikes.com

this advantage became clear in terms of fatigue and enthusiasm. While the Saracen and Orange are very clearly bikes for playing down the woods, the Whyte will genuinely turn its hand to anything you fancy, from black runs to day-long singletrack sessions, or even a pure cross-country race.

As the cheapest bike here by £100 it’s no surprise that Whyte has had to choose the componentry with care. It’s to the absolute credit of brand manager Andy Jeffries that it’s only the transmission components that are likely to need upgrading. The chain control of the Type 2 SRAM X7 mech is a big help in quietening chain slap across rough ground, but the X5 shifters are likely to need more maintenance and ultimately die sooner than the Shimano shifters on the Orange and the Saracen. You can get a Deore reach mech and shifters for £110

WHYTE 901 "The Whyte will genuinely turn its hand to anything you fancy"

DESIGNER SAYS...

We spoke to Ian Alexander about wheel size, suspension and more.

WMB: How much did you have to alter your hardtail template

for 650b?

IA: "We were lucky to be in a meeting at a RockShox ride camp about two years ago, on the day it decided to launch most of its forks with a 650b option. It had decided to support the wheel size and at that point we realized that something was happening, and got thinking about what we could do. After that all the component manufacturers jumped in and by the following summer, we were riding our same control tyres, forks and wheels in 650b, which made proper comparison and extended testing a lot more transparent. We did do a lot of work on geometry to work out what the critical changes are by fitting bigger wheels, and I think that research has paid off."

TESTER SAYS...

Coming into this test I genuinely thought that hardcore hardtails above £1000 were an extinct category. Shop around and you can get a surprisingly sorted full suspension bike for a similar price, and let the shock do all the hard work for you. However, the infectious responsiveness, outrageous front-end confidence and addictive interaction of the Whyte totally reinvigorated our love for this somehow very British breed. Guy or SLX for £140 without even looking for deals though, so it’s hardly a dealbreaker. Alternatively, the £1600 Whyte 905 comes with Deore and SLX as standard, as well as a lighter, smoother RockShox Revelation RL fork. Don’t be put off by the Sektor, though – you may be surprised at how well it behaves, as the occasional split-second choke on big hits is its only major vice.

We’ve no complaints about Whyte’s own-brand finishing kit, which is all templated on established favourites. We didn’t have any trouble from Whyte’s own wheels either, despite thrashing several sets through most of last year’s wretched weather. A neat front-closing seat collar, Crud Catcher mounts and generous tyre space mean you and the bike are similarly well-proofed from the worst weather.

Summary

Whichever option you pick from Whyte’s new 650b Trail hardtail range, you’re onto a winner. Radical handling means none of them are for sit-and-spin-

Plenty of room for mud around the tyres makes it great for winter trails

WMB: Have you had to rethink equipment to include the new wheel size?

IA: "There have been opportunities to explore better components and develop a better bike as a result. Rim manufacturers have had to open rim moulds with a new wheel size, so the latest R&D has gone into them. While modern rims are now wider the weight has been managed to keep it under control, so some of the new 650b parts are quite specific."

everywhere riders, but the 901’s mix of a proven tubeset, a great choice of wheel size and sorted componentry is fantastic.

It’s a blend of responsiveness and confidence that makes any sort of mountain biking a whole ton of fun.

★★★★★

Above: Cheaper Sektor fork behaves impressively well Light, swooping tubes handle groundshocks as well as possible

"Radical handling confidence and race-style power response - this is an addictively agile ride."

Reprinted with kind permission of What Mountain Bike Magazine - Future Publishing

WMB: Are you seeing a decline in hardtail sales as decent full sussers get cheaper?

IA: "No, for us quite the reverse, the performance and value in our new 650b hardtails has seen our range expand and sales into the Whyte IBDs are really strong."

WMB: Do you think the current head angle is the limit of hardtail slackness?

IA: "Thanks to the invention of the Angleset headset we can tinker about with angles, but I think it's one important parameter that's part of a host of others that need to all combine together. If one is out, then the bike and the set up won't work as well. It's a complex thing to get right and I felt we had to be brave with a few of the numbers we put in."

December 2013

7

WINNER Trail Bike Of The Year 2013

1

“Testers who hadn’t ridden a 29er felt instantly at home on technical trails”

st

Whyte T-129S £1999

W

e first met Whyte’s all-new 120mm 29er at a washed out launch at Cannock. If we’re honest it was eclipsed on the tighter, stop/ start trails by the 100mm travel M-109S, which has since won our Marathon bikes test (WMB145).

But as soon as we hit the more testing trails of Wales it was obvious that this was the bike the other 24 had to beat.

The Monarch shock and Reba fork of the 129 felt a lot stickier and more reluctant than the plush Fox dampers of the 109 on their first day, but after a couple of months of testing the seals had bedded in and there was no sign of

8

May

hesitation from the RockShox pairing as we peeled off the fire road at Coed y Brenin and hit the Beast trail proper.

We weren’t paying much attention to the suspension at all, because the handling balance had us hypnotised. The 68-degree head angle pushes the big Maxxis Ardent tyre a fair way out front, but the balance in your hands via the 80mm stem and 710mm bars is spot on. Whether we were hooking tyre-carved berms on cheeky trails in steep, wet woods or clawing our way round switchbacks and loose cobbled corners at stalling speed, it never strayed wide or flopped over – just dropped perfectly into place.

RockShox suspension performed well on Coed y Brenin's technical trails

The short back end enabled by the switch to a new four-bar-style linkage means the front wheel pops and pivots like a 26er when you need it to. Even testers who hadn’t ridden a 29er before felt instantly at home on technical trails, with no need to remap their riding style or line choices. Okay, that’s not strictly true… We did need to adjust to significantly faster speeds every time we jumped from almost any of the other test bikes and onto the Whyte. With the spot-on geometry giving no reason to brake, Maxxis tyres gripping extremely well (despite very shallow fast-rolling tread) and the Reverb dropper post allowing unrestricted weight

Trail Bike Of The Year

WINNER Trail Bike Of The Year 2013

NEED TO KNOW WEIGHT 13.3kg (29.3lb) CONTACT www.atb-sales.co.uk HIGHS Superb handling balance in its short back end/long slack front supports aggressive and easy riding.

Balanced cockpit and dropper post set up an ideal rider position.

Excellent wheel and tyre spec offsets relatively high complete weight.

Set-and-forget suspension gets better the more you ride it.

UK-proof design includes lifetime warrantied bearings.

LOWS The Fox and Shimanoequipped M-109S is smoother and faster on less challenging trails.

shifts and pedalling support, the 129 simply flew in every situation.

Easy roller The low mass, tubeless-ready

wheels light up impressively well under power and, once rolling, the speed sustain of the bigger diameter is excellent, particularly on the rough, rock-studded trails that made up a lot of our riding. We never got tired of hustling the Whyte up hill for another shot – or even just for the hell of it – even after four long days of riding.

The suspension remained trouble-free throughout testing. It’s not as plush or floated as the best

Fox dampers on certain other bikes here, but it never undermined the control of the stiff through-axle rear end or noticeably hung up or bounced around, however hard we tried, and however hard we hammered the T-129S along the trail. And as well-balanced as the spec is, the Whyte’s low cost also means easy access to its excellent upgrade potential.

The T-129S had it all wrapped up from early on

★★★★★ "Fuss-free suspension and top value kit produce fantastic flow, and make the Whyte our clear winner."

Reprinted with kind permission of What Mountain Bike Magazine - Future Publishing

TESTER SAYS "Fast enough up short climbs to make me drop the seat for cornering, poised through corners and neutral through the bars to snatch back traction, well equipped yet very upgradeable - Whyte's T-129S was the clear winner from the Coed y Brenin boulders to the last roost shower of the natural loam in Gwydyr."

Guy

May

9

WHYTE M-109 S £3000

Copyright: Russ Burton

Other options If you're on a tighter budget or unsure about carbon wheels, Whyte has an SLX/Deore-based M-109 for just £2000. There are two slacker angled, 120mm RockShox-forked models too: the £1750 T-129, and the £2000 T-129S - which gets a Reverb dropper post as standard.

Top attention to detail The spoon-levered seat clamp uses an internal wedge rather than a grit swallowing rear slot, and the toptube has clips waiting for a dropper post cable. Replaceable bolt receivers proof the post mount rear brake against heavy handed tightening. Tidy.

AT A GLANCE

A new suspension style Whyte's switched from its old twin linkage, extended one-piece swingarm suspension to a conventional four-bar setup. This allows the back end to be kept super short without compromising tyre space. It's much less pedal influenced than the older system, and the cartridge bearings are lifetime warrantied.

Whyte's marathon bike isn't just fast - it's brilliant fun too

W

hyte’s transferred its thirst for laugh-inducing, playride geometry onto its new 29er lineup, so even its 100mm mile eater is a blast on techy descents.

The facts

Whyte has made a decision to create a fun bike rather than just a fast one, and while it’s not a light frame it’s trail tough. The hydroformed alloy tubes include a big, sloped toptube and chunky stays ending in deep U-beam dropouts and a 142x12mm axle. The chainstays are super short despite decent tyre space, the bearings are lifetime warrantied and it’s dropper post-ready.

The Fox CTD shock and fork prove why they’re the benchmark dampers in the rough, and the single-finger XT brakes keep a firm grasp on your speed. It’s the same story with the light but accurate, clutch mech-stabilised shift of the XT transmission.

The Whyte finishing kit is decent stuff, with a well-swept flat bar keeping hands low over the inevitably tall front end.

Remarkably, Whyte’s managed to include its own carbon-rimmed wheels in the £3000 price too, and they’re shod with our favourite fast-rolling Maxxis Ikon tyres.

10

TRAVEL 100mm (F & R) HIGHS Inspiringly agile and stiff 29er frame with excellent suspension setup.

Outstanding value spec includes impressively light and tight own brand carbon wheels.

LOWS Alloy frame means weight is slightly high for a 100mm/£3000 bike.

Foam grips don't last long with heavyhanded riders.

BUY IF... You want a naturally fast bike that's also an absolute blast on technical singletrack or the toughest trail centres.

The feel

With the back end tucked in tight, the front lifts easily for drops or hauling round rising hairpins – and you can really ride it dynamically on lipped, hipped, pumping and jumping trails. The carbon wheels are impressively tight, boosting the accuracy of the solid frame for a surefooted feel that begs you to abandon the brakes and let it rip at every opportunity. The excellent balance and tight tracking lets you pick fights with roots or off camber sections in a most un-29er like way, and you can drift the tyres at will.

The Fox shock is perfectly tuned for the new Whyte suspension, with the ‘Trail’ setting screening out chatter and rubble far better than its efficiently firm pedalling feel suggests it will. That lets you stay on the power hard whatever’s happening under the wheel, and there’s none of the jack up or wheelspin of previous Whyte designs if you wind up the wattage.

Summary

The overall weight’s high for a race bike, but the lightweight wheels offset a lot of mass during acceleration and direction change.

There’s no flex when you stamp the power down, so while the Specialized and Lapierre leave it behind on long climbs, it holds its own with the rest when gaining speed or altitude. Even the low-slung medium gets a generous toptube for plenty of breathing space even with the short stem.

Having the middle setting so sorted means you can use the Climb and Descend settings as intended, and when the Whyte points down and the shock flicks to fully active it revealed its true talents.

The combination of smooth suspension, an ultra-short back end and long, relatively slack front give it a fantastically agile and fun feel.

Whyte’s marathon bike is relatively heavy compared to the others here, but it’s light where it matters. Most importantly it’s more controlled, capable and flat-out fun than much heavier, longer travel bikes. And to top it off, the excellently judged kit list makes it an absolute bargain.

★★★★★ "The Whyte is seriously fast, trail tough and an absolute blast. That price is a bargain."

£2799-£3500 MARATHON BIKES

Whyte M-109 S - BEST IN TEST vs Cube AMS 100 Super HPC Race 29er Lapierre XR 729 Specialized Epic Comp Scott Spark 930 Focus Super Bud 29R 1.0

UNWRAPPED LIGHT & TIGHT WHEELS

Whyte told us it realised how important light but stiff wheels were early in the development of its 29er range - which is why it decided to develop its own. The carbon-rimmed set on the 109 S is very impressive. By keeping 28 spokes up front and 32 at the rear, stiffness is good between rim and hub. We've been hammering a set across rocky trails and up to eight foot drops for four months without any hint of wobble or flex. The carbon rims are totally unscathed so far too, and for a £3000 bike they're an absolutely stunning piece of equipment.

"There's no flex when you stamp the power down" Copyright: Russ Burton

Reprinted with kind permission of What Mountain Bike Magazine - Future Publishing

March

11

"The Whyte is seriously fast, trail tough and an absolute blast. That price is a bargain."

THE espite VERDICT some properly challenging

D

weather, this test was brilliant to do. We expected the bikes to be quick on climbs but underestimated how fast and fun they’d be on descents. Even with narrow bars and light, semi-slick tyres we blasted big off-piste plummets far faster than we would on most 26in-wheeled trail bikes; proof that 29ers do dominate the high velocity high ground.

WINNER

Not all bikes are created equal though, and in this case Focus’s mismatched kit and heavy frame bury its potential too deep to dig out easily. Apart from that, the remaining five are all genuinely fantastic fast bikes. The Epic is an absolute classic racer, the fastest smooth ground machine here and very enjoyable singletracker. Despite a slightly disappointing shock feel, Scott’s Spark is still a proper ripper on descents with unique suspension-switching advantages.

Lapierre’s XR 729 is a stunning new bike; ultra-light yet controlled, and the obvious winner for race heads. Cube’s new full-carbon 29er is a versatile and friendly racer or trail rider, as well as a total bargain in equipment terms.

But after months of riding, cross checking and deliberation there’s one bike that really stands out. Whyte’s M-109 S isn’t the lightest or fastest in purist cross-country terms, but it more than holds its own on technical climbs and when blitzing techy trails – and for plain, piss-about fun it’s superb. The fact it’s a UK-proofed bargain does its test winning tick list no harm either.

WHYTE M-109 S £3000 ★★★★★

"It more than holds its own on technical climbs and when blitzing techy trails"

Whyte 729 100mm XC 29er Hardtail review Riding the Whyte 729 for a few weeks around the local singletrack of the Isle of Purbeck felt a little like coming home, not in a location sense, but by the quality of the bike ride. The 729 was such an easy bike to get on with in any given situation; it's a stripped down, no nonsense hardtail that's built with the changeable British climate in mind. With its slightly longer wheelbase and excellent bar width combination it all helped keep the riding slot-car secure as I railed the corners faster and faster with each run.

Whyte 729 100mm XC hardtail 29er.

But there's more to the Whyte 729er than an easy ride because along with the latest generation of 29inch bikes, and I know that I'm not alone in thinking this, but it's not quite as easy to identify the difference between a 29er from a 26inch bike, which is good - and it's a proportional thing. Now, frame and forks, combined with the right geometry come together for a more aesthetic look. Gone are the awkward looking steerer tube and stem combinations. And let's face it, looks are important, and the Whyte 729 looks as good on paper, as it does in the flesh.

But it's not a case of form over function here; the Whyte 729 is a bike handling dream: lightweight and steady underfoot the 729 simply flows through the trails and will keep any trail hungry novice, or experienced rider grinning from ear to ear.

A British box of tricks 'Progressive geometry' is how Whyte describe their design ethos with the 729 and it is part of their X-29 performance hardtail series. Whyte have always done things their way, as a bike company they have a history of innovation, they are stylishly British, and they are not afraid to fly the flag for Britain - albeit, a green version.

Following on from this ethos Whyte have based the design of the 729 around their carbon 29C hardtail frame, which although the 729 doesn't mimic the 29C geometry to the full, the formula works extremely well.

Take a proven XC race bike, soften the angles a little, throw in a little more wheelbase stability and away you go - the perfect hardtail trail setup.

14

Copyright: Russ Burton

bikemagic.com Frame Whyte use the same frame on all their alloy X-29 frames for 2013 and the triple butted 6061 hydro-formed frame is clearly a highly effective heart of the 729er. Extra clearance for mud-shedding, Crud Catcher ready bolts, and a forward facing seat slot are all trademark features for Whyte and denote their commitment to British riding conditions.

Graphics on the 729 are neatly understated, stylish and proved to be durable. Even after riding the rain soaked abrasive sandy trails of the Isle Purbeck Jurassic coast, a gentle wash down revealed unscathed decals and resilient paintwork - much to my relief.

Finishing kit and components The all-Whyte finishing kit of saddle, stem, bars, lock-on grips, and seat post are a nice touch and in keeping with the overall look of the bike. The lime green decals and lettering are easy on the eye and don't detract from the overall appeal of the bike either.

The padding and support on the saddle was firm and friendly (so to speak) even after a good soaking day after day, although the saddle looked a little duller after a permanent layer of abrasive wet sand between saddle and rider had set in each day; but then I think any saddle would have. No problems either from the mix of SRAM X9 and X7 shifters, chainset, chain, and derailleurs, which again, when sourced from the same manufacturer, makes a bike seem more complete, rather than looking like a basket of fruit. The 2 x 10 setup shifted well throughout the course of my loan, aided of course by lashings of chain lube demanded from the continual effects of it persisting down in biblical proportions for days on-end.

Avid Elixir 5 Matchmaker's take care of the braking department. A 160mm rotor brings up the rear with a 170mm up-front. The ergonomics of the levers are fine with plenty of reach adjustment for my smallish

hands. Ok, there was a little squealing to be heard in the rain, but I'm not sure if that was me or the brakes as I pushed myself and the 729 even harder on the descents.

At an SRP of ÂŁ1,499 the 729 is a bargain, made even better with the inclusion of the REBAs. Whyte are getting the spec' right at the areas that matter most - frame, forks, and their own XC 209 double sealed wheelset which continued to run smoothly and tracked incredibly well throughout. The oversized QR on the front wheel helped keep flex to a minimum here and, as previously mentioned, front wheel tracking and steering was spot on. The sum of all the main parts of the 729er make this bike so easy to get on with.

Whyte’s own parts are on the spec list, but that isn’t a bad thing.

The ride I loved it. The more I rode the 729 the more I realised what Whyte are about - they put a great deal of thought into their design work and after all, aesthetics aside, isn't it the ride that counts? In a straight line I felt the bike could almost ride itself, and the front end came up easily with a slight tug on the bars and a push with the pedals; even with the 70mm stem fitted upside down, the effect was the same, just the slightly racier position pushing my weight forward; but that only helped the front wheel grip to aid the rock-steady steering even further.

The long, rocky descent of Godlingston Hill (a perennial Purbeck favourite) can be sketchy at the best of times, but in the wet it can be a little scary at speed if you take your eye off the line. The 729er paid no attention to my worries and carried me down with ease. The combination of big wheels, Maxxis Icon 2.2in tyres paired with the 729's long wheelbase, simply ignored the smaller rocks and steps to let me carry the speed over the bigger stuff without hesitation.

At the bottom, I simply turned around and rode the bike back to the gate to start again - I'd never been inclined to do that before; especially in the rain. The climb back up over the loose rocks was as sure-footed as the descent, nothing skittish, and even the tall front end (a 29er trait) behaved well. I must make a point here that the stem was in its racier, inverted position for this little exercise; reassuring to know that I had this much control on the descent, and nicely positioned with a weight bias to the front on the climb.

The 100mm RockShox REBA RLs performed faultlessly during the test, and were nicely bedded in by the time I'd got my hands on the bike.

The frame is good looking and well balanced making the bike fast and fun to ride.

Verdict The 729er is low-maintenance in the sense of getting on with, and it's certainly fun to be with - even when pushed. Easy on the eye and reliable, the Whyte 729 makes for an altogether easy relationship and incredible value for money. A marriage made in heaven, maybe?!

Reprinted with kind permission of bikemagic.com - MPORA

bikemagic.com

15

ENDURO 24

88

ENDURO 24

WoRds By WIL BaRRETT phoTos : aDam maCLEOD

88

Whyte 29-C

W

hyte is a smallish company hailing from the UK and named after the founder and ex-Formula 1 engineer Jon Whyte. Having danced to its own tune in terms of design and fabrication for nearly a decade now, Whyte has demonstrated that they are not a company that follows the pack.

And how could they not? The brand was founded on the positively hideous, yet indisputably unique, PRST-1 dual suspension bike (the bike was originally nicknamed ‘Preston’ after the mechanical dog in the Wallace & Gromit kids TV show). As far back as 1998, the PRST led the way with the unusual linkage-activated fork, the ‘Big Gripper’ dropouts that are not unlike today’s modern thru-axles and forward-thinking geometry that, while controversial at the time, is now commonplace on current trail bikes. In hindsight, the bike presented too much of a challenge to convention at the time, and it wasn’t until the radically lightweight 150mm travel ‘46’ model was produced by Whyte that the brand really began to make waves internationally.

While not as radical, aesthetically speaking, as the progressive Whyte bikes that have gone before them, the new line of 29er Carbon hardtails from the British company certainly retain the distinct Whyte personality that is characteristic of head designer Ian Alexander’s obsessive attention to detail. And while Jon Whyte may have left the company several years ago, in every one of their cyclocross, off-road or urban bikes, his legacy clearly lives on.

16

The Bike The stunning machine on test is the base model of Whyte’s 29er Carbon hardtail range, dubbed the 29 C. There are two models that sit above this bike both in price and parts spec, but they all share the same frameset.

It’s no secret that every brand on the market is honing in on this category (or at least putting a bet each way on it), but to assume the Whyte 29 C is ‘just another carbon hardtail’ would be a big mistake.

In terms of development, the carbon frameset is based upon an alloy prototype that Whyte began testing back in 2010.

The prototype featured radically different geometry to the sea of American 29er bikes on the market at the time, which mostly relied on short top tubes and steep head angles in order to ‘feel’ like a 26” bike. Despite the 29 C being labelled as a race bike like many of its 29er hardtail competitors, that’s about where the similarities end. The 29 C gets a laid back 69.3-degree head angle, and on our medium (18.5”) test bike, an enormous effective top tube of 62.7cm. The concept with fit on the 29 C is to run a much shorter stem than you might be used to (70mm in our case), in order to achieve the same overall reach that you would find on a ‘traditional’ race bike.

The other number that sticks out like a sore thumb on the Whyte spec sheet is the very long 113cm wheelbase. To put that in perspective, that’s a full 2 inches longer than the 140mm travel Ibis Mojo we also have on test in this issue.

With the 29 C supposedly being billed as a nimble race bike, we were intrigued to find out

how this unique geometry would influence the Whyte’s personality.

Numbers aside, the 29 C frame is absolutely stunning. A hugely oversized headtube, downtube, bottom bracket junction and chunky chainstays are employed to maximise chassis stiffness in the lower portion of the frame. The matte carbon finish is all class, and while the logo on the downtube is a bit loud, the rest of the lines on the frame are subtle and refined.

The mounting for the rear brake can make adjustments a little more challenging, but locating the calliper inside the rear triangle means that braking forces are transferred into the chain stay as oppose to the seat stay. This allows Whyte to design the frame with thinner and more compliant seat stays in order to better filter out vibration and deaden impacts for a smoother ride. The shapely chain and seat stays bow outwards around the generously sized 2.20” Ikon tyres to maximise frame clearance and the seat tube gently bends forward at the bottle cage bosses to help tuck the rear wheel in under the rider.

According to Whyte, the 29 C frame actually comes in lighter than the 26” version, and that’s down to a reduction of alloy components with full carbon dropouts, a Pressfit BB30 and a full carbon headtube.

Parts-wise the 29 C is unapologetically entry-level, with minimal bling on show from the SRAM X7/X9 driveline, Avid Elixir 3 brakes and a largely Whyte-branded cockpit. Given the pricepoint, it’s hardly a display of incredible value for money when you line up the specs on paper, but the emphasis with this machine is squarely on the frame..

89

ENDURO 24

The Ride Despite the geometry hinting towards a more relaxed ride, as soon as you step on the pedals, the 29 C rewards you with near-instant acceleration. It’s not quite the stiffest hardtail we’ve ridden, but it sure does come close. The large bottom bracket area and BB30 cranks provide great power transfer and leave the rider in no doubt that this is in fact a race bike.

The RockShox Reba RL fork utilises the excellent PushLoc remote lockout that immediately firms up the front suspension for out-of-the-saddle efforts or fire road sections. Setting up the Solo Air spring is thankfully much easier than previous Dual Air models, though the linear action of the suspension means you can readily access all 100mm of travel, so you’ll have to bump up the pressure 5-10psi if you encounter jumps and drops regularly.

From the very first ride we felt comfortable on the Whyte, and although we were pedalling around an 11kg hardtail, the 29 C oozed confidence and stability. This confidence and stability translated on the trail to us being able to brake a touch later and hit the dodgy lines with a bit more speed than we otherwise would have. This was particularly so on the Otway Shorty course, where the 29 C shined.

Whilst in the latter stages of the race my back would have gladly accepted a dual suspension bike, the 29 C, with its minimalist and compliant seat stays, was remarkably comfortable for a hardtail.

The 710mm-wide flatbar provides the feel of an open cockpit on the 29 C. At first we expected to feel stretched out with the long top tube and wide bars, but when matched with the short stem, the set up felt quite natural. The riding position is biased towards the back of the bike, though the relatively low bottom bracket places your weight low down between the big 29er wheels for that ‘in the bike’ sensation. Steep roll-overs are dealt with confidence as the bikes geometry naturally pushes the front wheel out in front of you. Due to the slackish head angle and long wheelbase, the Whyte corners like a bigger travel bike at high speeds, with the front wheel following the short stem quickly and with minimal understeer. However, most of that wheelbase length is in the front-centre, and so at slower speeds the short chainstays help you to pivot off the rear wheel through tight corners.

The Whyte XC-209 wheels are not exactly light, tipping the scales at a touch over 2kg, but they do feature a full complement of spokes and wide, eyeleted rims for a very stiff and durable package. Despite only coming with standard quick release axles, lateral rigidity was excellent and the wheels allowed us to make the most of the agile carbon frame.

Whilst better suited to dry conditions, the Maxxis Ikon tyres were a great complement to the 29 C. The combination, other than making the bike feel like it rolled effortlessly on the open trail/road, also meant that technical climbs were cleared with surprising ease as the supple casing smoothed out the rocky edges.

We liked the quick-shifting SRAM drivetrain, which came in a 38/24t chainring combo, though we had to replace both gear cables to reduce the heavy feel at the shifters and the rear cassette wasn’t quite as slick as a Shimano equivalent. The Avid Elixir 3’s are a simple brake with only lever reach being adjustable, but they have good power and modulation. Unfortunately we

experienced excessive pad noise that was likely down to poor bedding-in (keep an eye out on our website for an update on how to deal with that issue).

The Verdict Whyte may be a small fish compared to the likes of Trek, Giant and Specialized, but it is a brand that is a shining example of the importance of having the right people invested in the R&D and design processes. Their design philosophy is a direct response to the type of trails that they ride, and while it sounds clichéd, the 29 C really does feel like a bike that’s been built by riders.

Some will be tempted to compare the Whyte on paper with carbon hardtails from the other big brands and, on paper, we guarantee the 29 C won’t come out on top. The bike certainly could have better parts for the money, but if you get the chance to ride one, you’ll appreciate what doesn’t translate to a spec-sheet and how much value there is in the ride quality of a well-built frameset. This value, we would argue, justifies a large portion of the asking price, as you’re provided with a quality platform to up-spec over time as you see fit. Regardless, the 29 C just plain rips.

Frame Suspension

RockShox Reba RL Fork w/100mm Travel & PushLoc Remote

Wheelset

Whyte XC-209 Wheels w/Double Sealed Cartridge Bearings. Maxxis Ikon 2.20” 60tpi Folding Tyres

Drivetrain

SRAM X9 2x10 Shifters & Type 2 Rear Derailleur. SRAM X7 Front Derailleur, S1000 38/24t BB30 Crankset & SRAM PG-1030 11-36t Cassette

Brakes

Avid Elixir 3 with 170mm Front rotor & 160mm Rear Rotor

Cockpit

Whyte Alloy Stem, Seatpost, and 700mm Flatbar. Whyte Custom Dual Density Saddle

RRP Contact

Reprinted with kind permission of Enduro Mag Australia

Uni-Directional Carbon Fiber Multi Monocoque Frame, Tapered Head Tube, PressFit BB30, Direct Mount Front Derailleur, Full Carbon Dropouts & Post Mount Disc Tabs

$3,950.00 Carbuta, Ph: 0439 902 770

www.whytebikes.com

17

18

Ride on

LARA DUNN TESTS SOME OF THE LATEST WOMEN-SPECIFIC BIKES

WHYTE CALEDONIAN WOMEN’S This is a great-looking bike, with clean lines and an unfussy style that should appeal to most women. It’s intended to be an all-terrain bike, useful for everything from muddy parks and canal towpaths, to forest trails, commuting or just mooching about town.

As such, the combination of the 700c wheels with knobbly tyres rather than smaller 26” mountain bike wheels, a partially dropped tube, front suspension and hydraulic disc brakes means it handles all but the most hardcore trails, but it’s no slouch on the road. The use of the partially dropped tube rather than full tube means it has retained its rigidity, giving it plenty of power if you want to put your foot down in traffic, and it also makes it very easy to get on and off.

The fairly limited nature of the suspension at the front (63mm) means there’s little problem with bounce on hard packed trails and tarmac. Rather than being a ‘jack of all trades master of none’, the Caledonian seems to be quite the opposite. This is what makes this a great bike to ride: it’s genuinely nippy, responsive and fun on pretty

9/10 • £799

WWW.WHYTEBIKES.COM

much any surface you decide to throw at it. Along with being rugged, very practical and easy to ride, it gives a healthy dose of the grin factor and the ability to bring back those childhood memories – staying out past curfew, tearing around the countryside as the light starts to fade.

Ride on

LARA DUNN TESTS SOME OF THE LATEST FEMALE FRIENDLY BIKES

CHARGE HOB806 3 WHYTE At first glance the Hob 3, resplendent in a marvellous With a nod towards the theory that smaller framed bikes metallic purple paintjob, appears to be a classic women’s work better with smaller wheels rather than the 29" step-through bike. Finding out it has three gears on a wheels that are becoming the norm, this front-suspension Sturmey Archer internal hub gear doesn’t really change hardtail from Whyte has what are known as 650b wheels this. It’s only once you actually get onto the bike and ride – smaller than 29" but bigger than 26" (about 27.5"). that you realise the significance of the frame geometry The hydro-formed aluminium frame which is based on a traditional Mixte style frame, is tuned for female riders, with a shorter top tube and a touch more standover height, and it also has shorter cranks and a women’s saddle.

Low maintenance tubeless-ready tyres are a nice touch. It’s an goodlooking bike, in a colour way that no-one could find offensive, and it’s a good price for a trail-ready hardtail.

The ride quality was impressive, with lively handling and no problems on tight switchback turns. It was as sprightly climbing as descending, with just a little unruly handling from the back end, which may have been down to the only test bike available (size M – I’m 5'5") being slightly too large. The Tektro disc brakes had all the stopping power I needed and I was informed that I was much faster than usual on the downhills, even on familiar trails. The 100mm RockShox

8/10 • £568.99 9/10 . £999

WWW.CHARGEBIKES.COM WWW.WHYTEBIKES.COM

traditionally much racierforks than responded a standard effectively, step-through XC 30 front-suspension ladies frame. making for a comfortable but responsive ride and had an This is lock-out not a bike for hilly terrain you is have optional for the climbs.

Allunless in all this a fun-tothe power output of Laura Trott. The gearing quitefor all ride, well-proportioned front-suspension bike,isideal high, meaning inAvailable bottom gear it still levels of femalethat traileven rider. in XS, S, M.takes some serious pedalling. What this means on the flat, however, is a truly quick bike, with more than its share of acceleration, given its girly looks.

The slightly swept back bars and relatively stretched forward riding position are fine for speed, but don’t make for a very stable steering experience.

Although it’s designed as an urban bike, I didn’t feel particularly confident moving through traffic due to the twitchy steering, which was a shame.

On country lanes, however, it was a fun bike to ride, with plenty of scope for whizzing along at speed. It’s a fantasticlooking machine, the hub gear contributing to the clean lines, and it is well equipped with hammered effect mudguards. A fun ride for the flat, but not as well suited to commuting as it’s intended to be.

Reprinted with kind permission of Women's Cycling Magazine - Wild Bunch Media 48 www.womenscyclinguk.co.uk

19

ROAD

Reprinted with kind permission of Cycling Plus Magazine - Future Publishing

TESTED

R I D D E N & R AT E D

Our test suggests not all winter bikes should be confined to the cold and rainy season...

Four machines that could all make winter bikes, but can they escape the ghetto to become great year-round machines?

T

here is, so they say, more than one way to denude a feline of its fur. There are, equally, numerous interpretations of what can be considered a "winter bike". Back in the day these were steel bikes based around handme-down frames, with the ability

20

December 2013 | CYCLING PLUS

to stick on a pair of mudguards to prevent you and your weekend chaingang getting splattered.

And having ridden one of these four with 'guards on a near-100mile ride on a day the Met Office described as "foul", we can confirm that mudguards really do make a huge difference.

While initially this was going to

be a test of four old-school winter steeds - nothing glamorous, just tough and unsentimental - we discovered that without exception these aren't bikes that can be pigeon-holed merely for the offseason. Each of the quartet makes a suitable bike for the cyclist looking for a year-round do-anything, go-anywhere

WINTER TRAINING BIKES WE SAY...

Fantastic allround road bike with superb hydraulic brakes

machine. Provided you're not looking to achieve personal bests in a road race or climb Alpe d'Huez in record time, each of these will take in commuting and day-to-day riding, long-distance touring, leisure, sportive and distance cycling and - yes - winter training in various combinations. They're all from well-established British companies, too, so they should be designed to be tough enough for the sort of weather and road conditions that a northern European winter can bring. And that autumn has already brought...

Whyte's Suffolk has even bigger claims than the rest: "The ultimate cross-over road bike.

Longer commutes? Grand-touring? Winter road training? It's all covered." It falls somewhere between the racier Dolan and the more rugged Ridgeback and Orange on the road bike Venn diagram. Its geometry is classic 73-degree parallel, but its wheelbase is just over a metre, slightly tempering its racier ambitions. The 105 groupset is typical of road bikes at this price, kit is decent quality aluminium throughout, and like the other three it has a narrow 27.2mm seatpost for extra comfort. The wheels are the second lightest here, but not surprisingly a fair bit weightier - half a kilo - than the much flashier Mavics on the Dolan, though some of that mass is, of course, in the rotors. The standout piece of kit is the TRP HyRd braking system, which marries cables to hydraulic disc brakes.

Whyte's Suffolk has 105, wheels that split the difference weight-wise between the Dolan and the other two, and some neat design touches. The rear cabling is routed internally, the wing bar is supremely comfortable and the wheels have locking skewers, which may make wheel changes slower but adds to security. The 28mm tyres offer a good balance of grip, speed and toughness, while the semi-deep rims allow Whyte to fit 3M reflective decals. A great idea in winter for rims with no braking track.

ALL SYSTEMS STOP

There was a time when road bikes meant calliper brakes. Not any more, with three of our test bikes having discs. Dolan has still gone with the tried-and-trusted Shimano 105 callipers. They work well enough, but while riding we could see why both mechanical and, more recently, hydraulic disc brakes have made major inroads. There were a few occasions in heavy rain where it took noticeably longer for the brake blocks to achieve a grip on the rims, presumably water having to disperse first before the rubber successfully gripped. Combined with the Dolan's deeper section rims, which caught a few strong gusts, and you have to take that much more care, particularly in variable conditions.

As mentioned already, both the Ridgeback and Orange have gone for Avid BB5 mechanical disc brakes, while Whyte has pushed the boat out with TRP's new HyRd system - cable actuated hydraulic discs. The Avids are quicker to work in the wet than callipers and have better modulation. Disc brakes also mean greatly extended rim life, without the rim being ground down continually by braking in wet conditions.

But the Whyte has the most interesting brakes and, frankly, the most impressive by a notch or two. It has standard 105 STI levers pulling a cable, but rather than actuating calliper brakes or mechanical discs, these control hydraulic master cylinders on the fork and frame that work with 160mm rotors. The frame's rear triangle is specifically designed for the brakes, Whyte designer Ian Alexander tells us. The result is a braking system that offers more power than calliper or mechanical disc systems, with a very light

WHYTE SUFFOLK £1199 ★★★★★ SPECIFICATION WEIGHT 10.08kg (56cm) FRAME 6061 hydroformed aluminium FORK Carbon blades, tapered steerer GEARS Shimano 105 BRAKES TRP HyRd cable-pull hydraulic disc WHEELS Alex Black Dragon rims, sealed alloy hubs FINISHING KIT Whyte Road stem, bar and 27.2mm offset seatpost, Whyte Custom saddle, 28mm Maxxis Detonator tyres whytebikes.com

action and excellent modulation. The pads also self-adjust. This makes little difference for commuting and general riding, but would be significant for the more brakeintensive world of cyclo-cross. The combination of superb braking and kneefriendly cassette makes the Suffolk ideal for those living in hilly areas, ironic considering it's named after one of Britain's flattest counties.

VERDICT All four bikes are worthy of recommendation not just for the winter, but as your one single bike.

The Dolan is the most old-school, but it was obviously a pretty good school.

It'll never be plush, but it's comfortable enough for a century ride, light enough for sportives, you can gear the kit to your needs and budget, and as a yearround all-rounder it's near the top of the tree.

The Ridgeback is great value and lives up to its "agile commuter or comfortable training bike" tag.

It has confident handling,

good kit and Ridgeback isn't afraid to spec a triple.

It may lose marks on coolness, but the gear range is massive; who needs cool when you're climbing comfortably? It is quite weighty, but comfort, versatility and value score in its favour.

The Orange is similar, but we'd have liked a carbon fork for the price, and for the sort of riding it's most likely to be used for we'd swap tyres, but it's an impressive do-prettymuch-anything ride.

But Whyte's Suffolk stands atop the podium.

Its combination of quite racy geometry, high levels of comfort, good quality kit and excellent hydraulic disc brakes means it's much too good to be kept only for winter.

21

Reprinted with kind permission of Cycling Plus Magazine - Future Publishing

Flat-bar bikes come into their own when you're navigating busy city roads, letting you keep your head up and get through the traffic safely. We test the commuting credentials of four, with a variety of frames, gears and brakes on offer...

J

ust as there is more than one way to separate a feline from its fur, so there are different ways to design a commuter bike.

You could use a touring bike or folder, or even a drop-bar road bike for fast commutes. But many commuters prefer flat bars, and here we put four very different flat-barred urban runarounds to the test. All four qualify for the Cycle to Work scheme.

While drop bars offer a wider range of riding positions, flat bars give a more upright riding position. With your face higher up you're better placed to observe

traffic, stray pedestrians who prefer texting to looking before they cross roads, and the other regular and unexpected happenings that befall the city cyclist.

Flat-barred bikes also lend themselves better to disc brakes. These offer powerful, controlled braking, prolong the life of your rims - there are no pads to grind grit and road-borne detritus into them - and should your wheels go out of true, you can ride them a while longer too. Two of our quartet have discs, while the others both have V-brakes, which proved impressive stoppers in their own right.

HOW WE TESTED THEM

Copyright: Joby Sessions

22

February 2013 | CYCLING PLUS

We spent most of our time on these bikes putting them through a variety of rides in their natural environment city streets. At this time of year that means increasingly rutted, potholed and frost damaged roads. We did our daily commutes - which take in some pretty decent climbs and fast, busy descents - and

swapped bikes on a regular basis to see which ones coped best.

But in addition we put them through their paces on longer rides at the weekend to see how comfortable they are when the miles mount up. And while there are setup issues that might affect their suitability for long-distance

riding comfort - notably bar height in one case - there's no reason why any of these have to live their lives purely in the commuter bike ghetto.

Weekend rides, rough-stuff rides, leisure riding and even training are within the compass of these machines as they stand or with the merest component tweaks.

GROUP TEST VERDICT The Whyte's more compact geometry and slimmer seatpost means it just takes the comfort honours.

Overall the Whyte just takes the winner's spot. Its compact frame results in a comfortable ride; it's fast, tough, the geometry is ideal for urban riding, and Whyte has absolutely nailed the brakes and gearing.

The stability is balanced by a shorter stem, which offers the sort of nifty handling you need in city traffic STIRLING SERVICE

The term 'hybrid' can mean many things in the cycling world. It can take in anything from a super-heavyweight bike-shaped object bought from your local supermarket, to more modest, reasonably

WHYTE STIRLING £999.99 ★★★★★ SPECIFICATION WEIGHT 9.65kg (M) FRAME 6061 hydroformed aluminium FORK Carbon, alloy steerer GEARS SRAM Via 2x10-speed BRAKES Avid Elixir 1 WHEELS Alex Black Dragon rims FINISHING KIT Whyte bar, stem, seatpost and saddle, 28mm Maxxis Detonator tyres www.whytebikes.com

Copyright: Joby Sessions

a very long wheelbase: 107cm on our medium model, about 5cm longer than on a similar size road bike. The result is a very stable ride when you get up to speed, and thanks to the reasonable overall weight that's quite easy to do. The stability is balanced by a shorter stem, which offers the sort of nifty handling you need in city traffic. The Stirling also has a narrower handlebar than the Charge - 58cm - with Ergon's excellent rubber grips.

Whereas the Charge is ideal for faster, flatter riding, the Whyte has more versatility. It's no slouch when required, but it has both a higher number of gears and a significantly lower bottom gear. If steep climbs are part of your daily grind, the 32x32 (small chainring/large sprocket) bottom gear offers a real bailout option, while the 48x11 top gear is higher than 52x12, let alone a compact's WE SAY... usual 50x12 - so you're not going High quality kit to run out of top end gears. on a mountain Nominally a city bike, the bike- style frame Stirling is actually light and creates a great comfortable enough and has urban bike the versatility to be pressed into longer rides too. It has a full complement of rack and mudguard fittings, and it'll do sterling service whatever you use it for. We even fitted it with mini tri-bars for some fast fitness riding and it performed perfectly. In spite of its stealth looks - or possibly because of them - this is one that thieves might have their eye on, so if you do leave it locked up, make sure you've got decent security.

specced machines from your local bike shop and even a very well considered machine like Whyte's Stirling, which is probably why Whyte prefers to use the term 'fast urban' rather than hybrid. Fast urban certainly sums it up nicely.

At first glance and ignoring the colour, it might look a little like the Charge, so you might wonder what you get for your extra £600. Well, it has higher-spec kit than the Charge, most notably in the shape of a carbon fork, Avid's excellent hydraulic disc brakes and 2x10-speed SRAM Via gearing.

The hydroformed 6061 aluminium frame is pretty similar to what you'd get on a £1000 road bike, and very well finished too, but the geometry is different.

It's based around mountain bike geometry, with a relaxed head angle and

Copyright: Joby Sessions

CYCLING PLUS | February 2013

23

A FEW SELECT WHYTE REVIEWS SINCE 1999...

We’ve had our fair share of positive press since the first UK designed Whyte bike hit the trails late in 1999. At the time the PRST-1 challenged convention with its innovative design, unique appearance and game changing performance. Since those early days we’ve never been afraid to turn convention on its head and push a few accepted limits if we believe it’s going to result in a better ride.

Our unique approach has helped us win bike test awards and rave reviews on an annual basis. It’s something we’re very proud of here at Whyte and inside this reprint you’ll find some of the highlight reviews we’ve received so far on our latest products from the UK press and on this back cover, some from years gone by.

“Best Bike Ever?”

PRST-1 Maximum MTB Mag 2000 “The first flawless complete bike we’ve come across” Whyte 46 What MTB May 2004 “In a class of its own” PRST-4 Cycle Magazine April 2004 “Our new ‘Best Trail Bike’ Benchmark” E-120 MBUK 2007

For more information about Whyte Bikes please visit www.whytebikes.co.uk