Over hills and mountains: TOP 5 cross-country bikes

The model of "two-wheeled horse" with Kharkiv roots in the pedigree will delight novice adherents of an active style of riding on rough terrain with worthy decoration, "seasoned" on top with a tidbit.

For the money, the Optima Gravity 27.5 2018 offers something that many higher-level bikes have not dreamed of. So, the model got a body kit, albeit an entry-level one, but based on elements of the notorious Shimano brand, whose name is widely known in cycling circles. Attachments are based on a 21-speed Tourney series transmission (7 cassette stars in combination with 3 system stars), which provides the ability to accurately dose the pedaling force in various driving conditions.

Taking into account that the bike belongs to the group of cross-country bicycles, it received a front spring-elastomer fork, compressed by 5 cm. Unfortunately, the depreciation system is non-deactivable, which is why it is not so easy to develop and maintain a high speed of movement when traveling on asphalt surfaces.

The 2018 Optima Gravity 27.5 comes factory-equipped with chainguards, a parking kickstand and mechanical disc brakes - an unusual solution for the kind of low-cost bikes. The more advantageous thanks to them, the model looks against the background of peers, almost none of which is ready to offer such a balanced bike with a universal character on all fronts, with an affordable price tag.

A driving domestic bike, which is displayed in the name of the model of 2018, confidently rides along the streets of a big city and allows you to cut the path along dirt paths.

Winner Drive 27.5 2018 belongs to the cross-country family, which is why an integral attribute of the instance in question is a shock-absorbing front fork with a lockout (a travel blocking mechanism to ensure rolling in highway conditions). The role of a shock absorber in the system is played by an elastic spring, and the role of a damper is played by a rod made of a highly compressible material (elastomer). Actually, hence the name of the type of depreciation - spring-elastomer.

The bike uses Shimano's entry-level 24-speed drivetrain, which combines elements of the Altus series with components from the Tourney line. In combination with them, the bike got reliable and unpretentious mechanical disc brakes in any operating conditions. For the sake of increasing the convenience of maintenance, the star systems of the model turned out to be removable, and the cartridge carriage does not need to be replaced for over 10 thousand kilometers.

The fanciful forms of the bicycle frame hide the cables connected to the transmission in the internal cavities. Their hidden padding eliminates the possibility of clothes getting caught on anything and makes service easier. Models would still have a body kit at a higher level and equal to it in this price category would not have been found at all, however, even with such equipment, Winner Drive 27.5 2018 deserves the closest attention. And for those who prefer to spend more time on public roads with occasional off-road forays, there is a related solution in the brand's lineup - Winner Drive 29 2018 on 29" wheels.

The domestic bike Cyclone LX-650B from the 2018 model range is a good offer for alternating classic cycling on asphalt roads and extreme cycling on dirt roads.

Omnivorous to many types of roadway, the bike is equipped with an air front fork with a travel reserve of 100 mm. Its key features are adjustable stiffness for the rider's weight and style of riding, as well as a locking mechanism for the shock absorption system for a better bike ride on a flat road. Fortunately, wheels with a diameter of 27.5 inches, “shod” in Kenda rubber, are undemanding to the coating underneath.

The model is based on a lightweight aluminium frame with an internal cable routing system, which reduces the risk of damage when the bike falls or clothes catch on the cables. Shimano 's Cyclone LX-650B 2018 2x9 transmission (18 gears in total) - the use of a two-ring system simplifies gear shifting and allows you to slightly reduce the overall weight of the bike. Also, under the sign of the Shimano brand, disc hydraulic brakes are available in the arsenal of the model.

The bike has taken such a strong position in the detachment of strong middle peasants that only a few competitors can push it out of there. Free from major flaws, the 2018 Cyclone LX-650B is the #1 contender to buy when it comes to a tech-savvy bike for a variety of riding scenarios.

With 25 years of experience in the bicycle industry, Bergamont's German mountain bike is equipped with 27.5-inch wheels and is a versatile solution for riding on various types of road surfaces.

In the manufacture of the aluminium frame of the bike, double butting technology is used, which allows you to make the pipes lighter without losing their strength characteristics. Straight into the cavities of the pipes, the cables of the 27-speed transmission are laid, represented by the mid-range body kit Shimano Deore. It, in turn, gives the rider more confidence when riding off-road and is not afraid of serious loads.

When traveling over rough terrain , the spring-oil front fork with a stroke of about 100 mm is completely occupied by the absorption of bumps and unevenness in the roadway. As unnecessary, it can be turned off by means of a hydraulic lockout, placed on the upper shock absorber support. The front fork travel lock mechanism is useful when riding on asphalt surfaces, as it increases the efficiency of power transfer from the pedals to the wheel.

One of the most important roles in the design of the Bergamont Roxter 5.0 2017 is performed by high-performance hydraulic disc brakes, which work equally well in all weather conditions and provide complete control of the bike's stopping, regardless of external factors. An additional trump card in the sleeve of the model is the abundance of frame sizes for any height of the “rider”. To be precise, on the shelves of the shops the bike is presented in sizes 15", 17", 19", 21" and 23".

The pedantic German from Haibike takes the first lines of the podium in the amateur cross-country bike segment. It will appeal to those who often travel long distances without worrying about the poor quality of the roadway under the wheels of the bike.

The model is assembled on a light and rigid aluminium frame, which, in turn, is mounted on 29-inch wheels that provide good rolling on asphalt. More dynamic acceleration of the bike is achieved due to the hydraulic mechanism of the front fork lockout, thanks to which the rider behind the wheel of the “two-wheeled horse” does not spend extra effort when moving on swinging the shock absorber spring. The cushioning system really shines through hills and mountains, with 100mm front fork travel that lets you ride over obstacles with confidence, and the stiffness level is flexibly adjustable.

The bike's 27-speed drivetrain is based on a Shimano Altus front derailleur and a Deore rear derailleur. They are complemented by ergonomic trigger shifters on the handlebars, which are accompanied by control knobs for hydraulic disc brakes with an enlarged front rotor - a guarantor of safe travel on steep slopes.

Wheels Haibike Seet HardNine 3.0 2018 are “shod” in tyres with a universal studded tread that does not impose requirements on the type of roadway. The model is completely tailored for daily trips on the most diverse routes and captivates the end user with the vaunted German build quality along with excellent driving qualities.