No surprises, just great bikes that you can pay off with as low as 0% APR financing from Affirm on select bikes. Private sellers can now sell their bikes directly on the Bicycle Blue Book marketplace. Well thought out geometry, good looks and great handling make the Genesis Core 26.4 stand out as a great bike at a good price. An impressive fork at this price point and sensible kit are great and the wheels finish the package off nicely but the main attraction here is the geometry. Genesis supply the 27.2mm seat post, 75mm stem and 685mm medium rise bars, the Flux saddle is practical but may not suit everyone.
Although we couldn’t test the aerodynamic qualities of this against other helmets, it did feel fast when putting our head down and throughout the test loops we did. Kask designed the Sintesi to be a single, mid-priced helmet that worked as well for recreational road cyclists, commuters and gravel riders. Fit adjustment is via a 360° nylon string retention, operated by a rear dial which is easy to adjust and very effective. To keep the weight to a minimum, there’s only a little adjustment on the straps, with a single slide adjuster on the chin buckle. We did find this a bit restrictive but appreciated that the helmet is offered in two widths, which helped us dial in the fit a little more. Despite its undeniable aero aesthetic, the Ballista can still be used as an everyday road helmet thanks to good ventilation and easy BOA adjustment.
The next big question is “what’s your budget?” As we go deeper into the specifications such as frame material and size, wheel size, and brakes, it’s important to have your price range in the back of your mind. Hardtails have a rigid frame and a single suspension fork in the front, which creates a few inches of travel. These can come with 26”, 27.5” or 29” wheel size and are available with any frame material. It’s for this ‘EPS volume loss’ reason that most helmet manufacturers will also recommend replacing a road bike helmet every three to five years. If a helmet doesn’t fit properly then it will not do the job it is designed for. Helmets are often available in different sizes relating to the circumference of your head.
“Intermediate jump trails are some of the most popular trails no matter where you go, so we really want to grow that out. And then obviously looking at some of that technical genesis mountain bike classic singletrack that Maydena is known for,” he says. French says they also plan to go in after the trees are harvested to build new trails in the Mystic Bowl area.
It’s got a rather large price tag, but it’s well in keeping with the likes of the Giro Aerohead MIPS helmet, so seems about right. On test, we found that the Sintesi provided good airflow and kept our head cool, although the 13 vents don’t offer anywhere to perch a pair of glasses. Outride provides evidence-based cycling interventions to improve social, emotional, and cognitive health.