The Pinkbike Podcast: Episode 98 - Field Test Trail Bike Debrief

Dec 23, 2021
by Mike Levy  
Pinkbike Podcast
Art by Taj Mihelich


That's another Field Test wrapped, which means it's time for a sit-down with Mike Kazimer and Alicia Leggett to talk trail bikes. The fleet included a Raaw Jibb, Propain Hugene, Starling Murmur, Scor 40/60 ST, Ghost's Riot Trail Full Party, and the Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Alloy, and travel from 135mm to 150mm. Aluminum, carbon, and even steel frames are on that list, a bunch of suspension layouts, a wide interpretation of geometry, and liberal use of purple and toothpaste. Plenty to talk about, including a bunch of your questions from each review. And if you missed our downcountry bike debrief, you can listen to that one right here.

Which of those six trail bikes would you be most interested in trying?




THE PINKBIKE PODCAST // EPISODE 98 - FIELD TEST TRAIL BIKE DEBRIEF
Dec 23rd, 2021

Still no fat bikes.


Fall Field Test Photo by Tom Richards
Raaw Jibb
• Travel: 135mm rear, 150mm front
• 29" wheels
• 65.1° head-tube angle
• 77.5° seat-tube angle
• Reach: 470mm (large)
• Weight: 34.0 lb / 15.42 kg
• $2,695.20 (frame only w/ Float X2)
• FULL REVIEW
Fall Field Test Photo by Tom Richards
Propain Hugene
• Travel: 140mm rear, 150mm front
• 29" wheels
• 65.1° head-tube angle
• 76.1° seat-tube angle
• Reach: 476mm (large)
• Weight: 31.25lb / 14.17 kg
• $6,737 USD
• FULL REVIEW

Fall Field Test Photo by Tom Richards
Scor 4060 ST
• Travel: 140mm rear, 150mm front
• 29" wheels
• 65.5° head-tube angle
• 78° seat-tube angle
• Reach: 485mm (large)
• Weight: 32.12 lb / 14.56 kg
• $6,599 USD
• FULL REVIEW
Fall Field Test Photo by Tom Richards
Starling Murmur
• Travel: 140mm rear, 160mm front
• 29" wheels
• 64.2° head-tube angle
• 76.6° seat-tube angle
• Reach: 485mm (large)
• Weight: 34.06 lb / 15.44 kg
• £2,087.50 (frame only w/ Ohlins TTX coil)
• FULL REVIEW

Fall Field Test Photo by Tom Richards
Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Alloy
• Travel: 150mm rear, 160mm front
• 29" wheels
• 63 - 65.5° head-tube angle
• 76.6° seat-tube angle
• Reach: 468 - 473mm (S4)
• Weight: 34.37 lb / 15.58 kg
• $5,600 USD
• FULL REVIEW
Fall Field Test Photo by Tom Richards
Ghost Riot Trail Full Party
• Travel: 140mm rear, 140mm front
• 29" wheels
• 66° head-tube angle
• 77° seat-tube angle
• Reach: 467mm (medium)
• Weight: 36.0 lb / 16.32 kg
• €3,699.00
• FULL REVIEW

Featuring a rotating cast of the editorial team and other guests, the Pinkbike podcast is a weekly update on all the latest stories from around the world of mountain biking, as well as some frank discussion about tech, racing, and everything in between.



Previous Pinkbike Podcasts
Episode 1 - Why Are Bikes So Expensive?
Episode 2 - Where the Hell is the Grim Donut?
Episode 3 - Pond Beaver Tech
Episode 4 - Why is Every Bike a Trail Bike?
Episode 5 - Can You Trust Bike Reviews?
Episode 6 - Over Biked Or Under Biked?
Episode 7 - Wild Project Bikes
Episode 8 - Do We Need an Even Larger Wheel Size?
Episode 9 - Why Are We Doing a Cross-Country Field Test?
Episode 10 - Getting Nerdy About Bike Setup
Episode 11 - Are We Going Racing This Year?
Episode 12 - What's the Future of Bike Shops?
Episode 13 - Are Bikes Too Regular Now?
Episode 14 - What Bikes Would Pinkbike Editors Buy?
Episode 15 - What's Holding Mountain Biking Back?
Episode 16 - Who's Your Mountain Biking Hero?
Episode 17 - XC Field Test Insider
Episode 18 - Electronics on your Mountain Bike: Good or Bad?
Episode 19 - The Hardtail Episode
Episode 20 - MTB Conspiracy Theories
Episode 21 - Stuff We Were Wrong About
Episode 22 - Does Your Riding Style Match Your Personality?
Episode 23 - Grim Donut 2 is Live!
Episode 24 - Why Even Buy a DH Bike?
Episode 25 - Fall Field Test Preview
Episode 26 - The Three Most Important Mountain Bikes
Episode 27 - The World Champs Special
Episode 28 - All About Women's Bikes
Episode 29 - Freeride or Die
Episode 30 - Would You Rather?
Episode 31 - Wet Weather Riding Tips & Tricks
Episode 32 - What Needs to Change in the Bike Industry?
Episode 33 - Behind the Scenes at Pinkbike Academy
Episode 34 - Grilling Levy About Field Test Trail Bikes (and His Bonspiel)
Episode 35 - Story Time - Stranger Than Fiction
Episode 36 - Grilling Kazimer about Field Test Enduro Bikes
Episode 37 - The 2020 Privateer Season with Ben Cathro
Episode 38 - Editors Defend Their 2020 Best-Of Picks
Episode 39 - Predicting the Future of Mountain Biking
Episode 40 - The Pinkbike Awards!
Episode 41 - Racing Rumours and Team Changes
Episode 42 - Mountain Biking's Guilty Pleasures
Episode 43 - Dangerholm's Wildest Custom Mountain Bikes
Episode 44 - Mountain Bike Suspension Decoded
Episode 45 - What Makes a Good Riding Buddy
Episode 46 - The RockShox Zeb vs Fox 38 Deep Dive
Episode 47 - High Pivot Bikes: The Good, The Bad, and The Why?
Episode 48 - Rides That Went Horribly Wrong... & Why That Made Them So Good
Episode 49 - What's the Best DH Bike?
Episode 50 - Are Bikes Actually Getting Less Expensive? (Value Bike Field Test Preview)
Episode 51 - Should MTB Media Post Spy Shots?
Episode 52 - Our Most Embarrassing MTB Moments
Episode 53 - Should Climbers Still Have the Right of Way?
Episode 54 - Best and Worst MTB Product Marketing
Episode 55 - Big Dumb Rides & Staying Motivated
Episode 56 - What Were the Most Important Inventions in Mountain Biking?
Episode 57 - What Were the Best (and Worst) Trends in Mountain Biking?
Episode 58 - Debunking Mountain Biking's Biggest Myths
Episode 59 - Value Bike Field Trip Surprises & Spoilers
Episode 60 - What Kind of Mountain Biker Do You Want to Be?
Episode 61 - Athlete Pay, Lycra, Equality and More from the State of the Sport Survey
Episode 62 - Editor Preferences and Why They Matter
Episode 63 - Our Best (And Worst) Bike Buying Advice
Episode 64 - Who's On Your MTB Mount Rushmore?
Episode 65 - The Hardtail Episode
Episode 66 - The Best and Worst of Repairing Bikes
Episode 67 - The Story of Mountain Biking's Most Interesting Man: Richard Cunningham
Episode 68 - Who Are Mountain Biking's Unsung Heroes?
Episode 69 - The Good, Bad, and Strange Bikes We've Owned - Part 1
Episode 70 - The Good, Bad, and Strange Bikes We've Owned - Part 2
Episode 71 - The Story of Mountain Biking's Most Interesting Man: Richard Cunningham - A Pinkbike Podcast Special, Part 2
Episode 72 - Hey Outers!
Episode 73 - The Details That Matter... and Some That Shouldn't
Episode 74 - The Best Trails We've Ridden and What Makes Them So Special
Episode 75 - Things MTB Brands Waste Money On
Episode 76 - MTB Originals and Copycats
Episode 77 - Interview with Outside CEO, Robin Thurston
Episode 78 - Modern Geometry Explained
Episode 79 - What's the Future of eMTBs?
Episode 80 - The Best Vehicles for Mountain Bikers
Episode 81 - You've Got Questions, We've (Maybe) Got Answers
Episode 82 - Behind the Scenes at Field Test
Episode 83 - Does Carbon Fiber Belong On Your Mountain Bike?
Episode 84 - Explaining RockShox's Computer Controlled Suspension
Episode 85 - Is the Red Bull Rampage Too Slopestyle?
Episode 86 - Greg Minnaar on the Honda DH Bike, World Cup Racing, and Staying Fast Forever
Episode 87 - How to Love Riding When it's Cold and Wet
Episode 88 - Mountain Biking on a Budget
Episode 89 - The Derailleur Pickle
Episode 90 - Is Supre the Future of Trouble-Free Drivetrains? (with Cedric Eveleigh of Lal Bikes)
Episode 91 - Riding Every Double Black in the Whistler Bike Park with Christina Chappetta
Episode 92 - Does Bike Weight Really Matter?
Episode 93 - Staying Motivated and Overcoming Burnout
Episode 94 - PBA Contestant Tori Wood on Her First Race and Finding the Right Mindset
Episode 95 - Field Test Down-Country Bike Debrief
Episode 96 - PBA Contestant Israel Carrillo on Riding in Mexico and Why It's Not Always About Speed
Episode 97 - Can We Predict the Future of Mountain Biking?

Posted In:
Podcasts Reviews and Tech Field Test The Pinkbike Podcast Trail Bikes Ghost Propain Raaw Scor Specialized Starling Alicia Leggett Henry Quinney Mike Kazimer Mike Levy


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40 Comments
  • 24 0
 Still no new episodes on Apple since #94

It’s getting painful using Spotify.. anyone have alternate recommendations for working apps on iPhone?
  • 3 2
 Seriously @brianpark can't be that difficult to fix...
  • 2 0
 Not sure, but I'm on Androiid using PocketCasts and having the same problem with new episodes not coming up
  • 4 0
 It's a general problem with the podcast feed. Have you tried turning it off and on again Pinkbike?
  • 1 0
 I like The Podcast App and they are always up quickly.
  • 3 0
 Thank you for confirming it’s not just my feed. I thought I was going crazy.
  • 2 0
 @chakaping: I’ve unfollowed and followed, deleted the app and reinstalled, no dice. They’re all up on Spotify though, but I hate using them for podcasts, always says I’m offline and can’t play even though I’ve downloaded it to phone, next in queue is a pain in the ass to edit..
  • 2 1
 Let's fix this already. It's a pain for the majority of the listeners out there.
  • 1 0
 @DizzyNinja: I don't even have Spotify. Don't make me listen to them by playing the embed on the website Pinkbike, I might go out of range on my dog walk.
  • 1 0
 I have the same problem using pocket casts. Last pod at 94
  • 2 3
 Works fine with Google podcasts. Probably time to ditch your Apple products...
  • 1 0
 @reckhard: www.pandasecurity.com/en/mediacenter/mobile-security/android-more-infected-than-ios/amp

No thanks
  • 1 0
 Yep - thought was just me - I have subscribed / unsubscribed - deleted app / reinstalled podcast app - still no joy.

Come on PB, lets get this sorted !
  • 2 0
 @DizzyNinja: yep, Apple has fixed the malware problem by not having that or much else work properly on IOS.
  • 1 0
 @reckhard: HA HA HAAaaaaa… lame
  • 8 0
 I'm not even looking for a new bike and I'm still considering signing up for a Hugene, it's that pretty.
  • 5 0
 Please stop talking about the Propain. I have two college funds I need to save for. And that bike is the equivalent of a text book.
  • 2 0
 I keep getting an error when trying to load a podcast on Apple. I spoke with Apple and they said it was due to PB not updating their podcasts to work with iOS 15 Don't know if that's true but you guys must have lost loads of listeners due to this.
  • 7 1
 But the Murmur is still the sexiest.
  • 2 0
 Noooo….. the Scor wins on looks. But Kazimer has mentioned the mud trapping enough times to take it off my wish list sadly.
  • 2 0
 @AyJayDoubleyou: I keep wondering if it's something that could be resolved with the addition of a little fender. Homemade, or as a running change on Scor's part?
  • 5 0
 Why is this not on Apple again?
  • 1 0
 For the QA episode. When is the mike vs mike race? If it is a Trans Cascadia style: can we get a bonus enduro stage of both mikes on the grim Donut?
Finally, since Henry consistently disagrees with Levy doesn’t that also always make him correct?
Love the show, and keep up the great work!
  • 1 0
 You talked about the kinematics of the Ghost. Would it be possible to add kinematic charts to the Field test articles of the bikes in the future? maybe not the video but you could add the charts to the picutres on an article.
It would be great imo since those informations arent easy to get sometimes.
Sure not everyone wants to nerd this deep into a bike but some of us would like to.
  • 1 1
 Hi Pinkbike! Just wanted to say what a great job you guys all do and how appreciated all the bike reviews are!

Question for you guys: I thought the We Are One Arrival would be a shoe in for a bike of the year nominee after hearing the ride impressions from the field test it was in. Also watched the glowing review that Outside gave it in the Beta tests. Just wondering why it didn’t make the cut this year? I know you can only include so many bikes - I am just surprised this wasn’t one of them. Thank you!

Keep up the great work!
  • 1 1
 16kg "trail bikes" with 160mm travel,who are we kidding anyways?
Is enduro falling out of fashion on the market and the industry is in need to (re)invent the categories?
Some could say I'm just bitter because I don't have the trails to justify bikes like these,but I'm guessing that's the case of the majority.
  • 1 0
 160mm forks you mean? I have a 170mm fork on my "trail bike" (with 150mm rear). Though it's more of an all-mountain bike really (as in it's usually the bike I take up mountains).
I kind of agree with you though, I think it'd be useful to separate trail and all-mountain bikes into different tests - just using a bit of common sense. Most of these would be the latter.
Broadly speaking, trail bikes are 120mm to 140mm travel and closer to 32lbs, in my mind.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer you mentioned how well the Starling jumps.
My experience with my Starling Twist agrees with this sentiment. I think it is the coil and linear rate. Nice predictable pop!
  • 1 0
 And…I really enjoy your podcast. Not nearly as into bikes these days due to work/life/etc but this allows me to keep a toe in. Thanks for the good listens.
  • 2 0
 Haven’t listened to a podcast since episode 94 because they aren’t on apple anymore,
  • 2 0
 Woo! Got a shout out on the podcast! I'm famous!

I gotta make a phone call. Who's 'wasting their potential' now, mother?!
  • 1 0
 Does Propain sell the Hugene frame only? Not too keen on any of the builds, but that frame looks AWESOME
  • 1 0
 In Europe, yes. I’ve just checked and there’s a 20 week lead time.
  • 1 0
 20 weeks will be over at the beginning of May, so not missing a lot of riding days. And the price is really good for full carbon frame and a shock to choose.
  • 2 0
 You need to fix your podcast feed. The last show I see is Ep 94.
  • 1 0
 Next field test - Fat Bikes in Edmonton. Looking forward to it. Trails are great now.
  • 1 0
 I would have loved to see how the Last Glen does in this comparison.
  • 1 0
 Hey gang, it’s also not working on the pocket cast app
  • 1 0
 Still not appearing in Apple podcast feeds, nor is the previous episode
  • 1 0
 The Raaw formerly known as Jibb.







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