20mm on from the Remedy is the Slash; Trek’s 160mm aluminium aggressive trail bike, which has also seen the jump up to 27.5” wheels for this year. This top of the range 9 model goes for a 1×11 SRAM set–up, Reverb Stealth adjustable post, and Fox suspension with the adjustable 130–160mm Talas 34 up front, and like the Remedy it uses a Float DRCV rear shock.

Another entry into the 27.5” 140mm trail bike market is the Remedy 9.8 featuring an OCLV carbon front end and seatstay (the chainstays are alloy), Reverb Stealth, and a Shimano XT/Fox build opting for a double chainring on this 9.8 model but with an MRP chain device. The Remedy has always been a popular bike since its introduction in 2006 and with no 26” Remedy this version will no doubt be a contender once again in this area.

Rocky’s top end carbon Altitude is yet another amazing looking trail bike, but opting for the less crowded 150mm travel segment with Fox suspension front and rear, and making use of Rocky Mountain’s Ride–9 adjustable geometry to tweak the angles and suspension. Gearing is SRAM’s proven XX1 and there is the obligatory Reverb Stealth.

Devinci’s first 27.5” bike created a bit of a buzz around Crankworx Whistler, no doubt aided by Stevie Smiths win at the Air DH race on board one. It’s another 140mm offering although the RR version comes with a 150mm Fox 34 up front rather than the SL’s 140mm Fox 34. Seatpost is a Reverb Stealth again and drivetrain is mostly SRAM X0 2×10, but with no kind of chain device.

New bikes and products are always appearing during the Crankworx week and this year was no exception. With 27.5” bikes starting to flood the market there have been many questions over the bigger wheel size and downhill bikes. One of the few on show was Bernard Kerr’s 27.5” Pivot, box fresh for Crankworx with paint barely dry from the factory, and the brand new X–Fusion RV1 DH fork.

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