Vitus Escarpe 290 CRS Mountain Bike - £3,399.99

Whether lapping your favourite trail centre loops or finding your way on unmarked tracks, the Vitus Escarpe 290 CRS Mountain Bike brings reassuring control and trust that will inspire confidence no matter where your front wheel points.

It loves kicking up dust on fast summer rides and when you reach the edge of that wet, rooted descent or techy rock garden, the sections that can make you doubt, it’s the voice that says, “You’ve got this!” You want a full-carbon trail bike that feels planted and finds the effortless flow that keeps you grinning for more, not gritting your teeth. You want a bike that brings traction and holds speed on the climbs, keeping your legs fresh for one more run. This is it.

Whether braking hard, pushing more power or negotiating a twisty descent, your centre of gravity is rarely constant, so key to the whole system is efficiency. To deal with the dynamic nature of trail riding, the Escarpe stays predictable and consistent so that you can stay loose. No white knuckles here. The suspension kinematics have been enhanced compared to the previous platform, further countering the effects of pedal-bob and reducing the harshness of small bumps and trail vibrations that drain your energy and kill speed. Smoother is faster for longer. With an adjustable flip-chip, that can raise the bottom bracket by 6mm and increase the head angle, you can also customise the setup to best suit how and where you ride. Whatsmore, geometry and performance are optimised throughout the size range, so whether you are S or XL, there’s no compromise on how this bike feels.

When riding trails there’s enough to think about without having to consider how the bike is going to respond to the next turn or obstacle. You should just know. It should do what you need it to. No back-chat and no fight. On the Escarpe you don’t have to compensate or compromise. You don’t have to adjust your style. Just ride. Just concentrate on having fun.

• Full T800 frame sheds weight for a truly responsive ride
• RockShox Lyrik Select & Deluxe Select+ RT suspension
• SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 speed drivetrain
• Powerful SRAM DB8 hydraulic disc brakes
• Nukeproof Neutron V2 tubeless ready wheelset with tape applied
• Confidence inspiring Maxxis Assegai & Dissector tyres