Vitus Escarpe 290 CR Mountain Bike - £2,599.99

No two trails are created equal and even your favourite singletrack will ride differently from one week to the next, so when you can’t trust the surface you need absolute faith in the bike. Enter the Vitus Escarpe 290 CR Mountain Bike.

Whether new to riding trails or looking to upgrade your ride, the Escarpe CR has a reassuring stability that tames those intimidating obstacles - the off-camber turns, the wet roots and the rocky descents. You want a trail bike that inspires confidence, behaves predictably and leaves you grinning for more, not gritting your teeth. You want a bike that flows with total control and won’t feel like a grind on the climbs, keeping your legs fresh for one more run. You want a trustworthy sidekick out on the trails that keeps the fun turned up. This is it.

Performance is defined by how a bike responds to hard braking, puts power through the pedals, negotiates technical ground and handles quick changes to body position. The carbon front triangle and aluminium rear of the Escarpe CR ensure a balanced ride feel and complete efficiency. The suspension and frame function as a system, together countering the fatiguing effects of pedal-bob (the irritating bounce that can happen when you're pushing hard) and reducing the harshness of small bumps and trail vibrations that 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 bump. 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.

• T700 carbon front triangle with alloy rear for a balance of efficiency and playful handling
• Marzocchi Bomber Z2 & Deluxe Select R suspension
• SRAM NX Eagle 1x12 speed drivetrain
• Powerful SRAM DB8 hydraulic disc brakes
• WTB ST Light i30 tubeless ready rims with tape applied
• Confidence inspiring Maxxis Assegai & Dissector tyres