Saracen put on a whole day of uplifts for us, which while nice, and allowed for maximum downtime, it means commenting on the Ariel’s climbing prowess is slightly hard. The little I did point it uphill showed that it was comparable to other brands, the seat angle could be steeper and would help it steam upwards but the compliant suspension means grip was never an issue.

Point it down though, and it the Ariel comes into its own, the Float X2 on the carbon model sits nice and deep into its travel and offers good ramp up on big hits, which Rev’s has by the bucket load. Small chunder bumps are dispatched with an uninterrupted desire to go faster! So much so, it didn’t take long to nearly ride the tyres off, literally. The 25.5mm internal width DT Swiss rims and always smaller than stated Maxxis 2.3 minion tyres look skinny underneath such a capable bike and means pressures have to be higher than liked when riding hard. That said, approach and wind content adjusted, the Ariel began to rip – slap any square edges, huck any lip in sight, gas to flats and all out belligerent line choices were all awarded with applause. Those slightly skinny DT rims offering a nice amount flex and subsequent grip to complement the stiff-as-fook frame construction. After about seven or eight runs, things were getting nicely dialled in, steep and loose chutes could be attacked rather than survived and it became obvious this is where the Ariel thrives. Its stiff and burly build could be accused of numbing the riding experience, but, push hard and it comes alive, square off corners and dig your heels in hard under braking, its a riot of a ride yet saved my regular clumsy inputs on several occasions. If you do choose the top end frame and build option rather than the alloy alternative, be prepared, as Saracen suggested, to ride its bloody tyres off! Chapeau lads, Chapeau.

Saracen Myst 2018

Saracen’s Myst DH rig has been a regular on the scene for a while now, helped hugely by their Factory World Cup Team. They were keen to express exactly how much of an impact their team racers have had on its development. Yes, it is a bike for amateurs and weekend warriors alike to hammer their local uplifts every weekend, but the input from their World Cup team means they also want their bikes to be raced, and they’re specced to do just that.

With the relatively recent introduction of the full carbon Myst frame, angles and build materials remain the same for 2018 but with the intro of the newest Fox, Rockshox and Shimano incarnations and minor spec changes. Of course, colours too, and for the better in my opinion – the white and orange colourway on the team edition is super clean and fresh.

Being a Shimano fanboy and with Saracen being built by the UK’s Shimano distributor, Madison, its no surprise that all Saracen’s be bathed in Shimano products. In the case of the Myst, that’s definitely no disappointment with both models slathered in Zee and Saint componentry. Both the Pro and Team builds also come with Saracen’s integrated reach adjust headset meaning incremental change of +/- 5mm can be made for your preference.

With a refreshed approach and significantly more confidence, the Myst and I dropped in and became immediately acquainted. The additional pop from removing several clicks of rebound damping meant the bike felt alive again, the additional air in the forks allowing me to dig my heels in and keep the front end stood up in big compressions – essential with the shortish front centre. The Myst is a fast bike when pushed, a common theme here with Saracen’s new bikes! Sure, the head angle could be a bit slacker and the front centre longer allowing me to get more balanced between the axles, and a longer chainstay would ensure even greater stability when the going gets rough and fast but, and its a big BUT, there’s a significant feeling of balance in the MYST. It’s stiff yet delivers immense traction, likely helped in no small part by the Fox bouncers, it takes to the air with absolute aplomb and held flat corners convincingly well despite my skepticism.

With ‘one last run’ uttered at least four times, I’d made friends with the spaniel, the Myst and I were also now friends and the last run down another one of Rev’s roughest tracks was an absolute ripper. I didn’t hold back, the Myst took an absolute pummelling, in some part due to my clumsy inputs, but mainly as I learnt to just let go and let the bike do the work, which it took entirely in its stride.

With the intro of 29 inch wheels to DH and further advancements in geometry, Saracen will be a brand to watch in the future. In the meantime though, if you like the idea of a solidly built bike, founded on a well developed Factory Race Team, the 2018 Myst would be a solid choice. One last run?

READ DIRT’S REVIEW OF THE 2018 SARACEN MYST TEAM HERE