Quick spin review: Bombtrack Cale 2020

 

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A brand new model for 2020 the Bombtrack Cale takes the essence of the existing Beyond+ and Beyond ADV models and then distils it into nitro fuel! Fun is clearly high on the agenda, but not at the expense of practicality. The Cale is an adventure bike to get you up and over anything and then rip down the other side!

All new design

While it’s made from tough 4130 CrMo and runs 27.5+ tyres like the Beyond+,  Bombtrack haven’t just plugged a suspension fork and a dropper post and conjured up a new model. The Cale is an all-new design with 73.5°seat tube and a 67.5° headtube angles (Steeper and slacker respectively, compared to the Beyond+) and an extra 10mm reach, depending on frame size. The Cale also a gets a higher spec drivetrain coming with GX Eagle as opposed to the NX variant on its little brother.

Built for Adventure

One look and there’s no mistaking what the Cale is designed for!

While the compact frame design only allows one bottle cage inside the front triangle, the Cale comes equipped for long distance travel. There is an additional cage mount under the down-tube and rack mounts on the rear. While racks are heavier than a seatpack they have the advantage of not interfering with the dropper post operation.

MRP Ribbon SL

The MRP Ribbon SL is not a fork you see often, but in custom matched decals it suits the style and the intent of the Cale perfectly. The reverse cast arch is a great feature for mud-plugging riders!

Magura Trail Sport Brakes

With a four-piston caliper up front and two-piston at the rear, bringing the Cale to a halt is a piece of cake. Even loaded up, stopping will be no issue. Top marks for Magura for their reversible levers. Switching from UK to Euro brake setups was a doddle.

Big wheels keep on rolling

Bombtrack have chosen the wheelset with one thing in mind. Grip! With 27.5 x 2.8″ WTB Vigilantes front and rear, traction isn’t going to be an issue for the majority of riders. The front tyre is the Tough/Hi-Grip version mounted on an WTB ST i45 TCS rim. There is a minor concession to rolling resistance out back where the tyre is a Tough/Fast-rolling version on a slightly narrower ST i40 TCS rim. It’s safe to say smooth tarmac is not their forte!

Quick ride review

I took the Cale on one of the organised cross-country rides at the recent Bombtrack Groundwork event. No surprise, the brief road sections were hard going when the rest of the group were on gravel bikes! Once in the woods however the Cale came alive. The 800mm wide, 35mm diameter bars and stiff forks going wherever they’re pointed. The WTB Vigilante tyres brushed aside roots and sought out grip in the loose loamy soil. Fellow Cale pilots Get Wild Matty and Bombtrack designer Marko and I decided instead to play to the Cale’s strengths. Firing up the Trailforks app, we found a network of black graded singletrack not far from the planned route. I’m no regular trail centre rider but the Cale instils confidence no matter how steep or rough the trail gets.

With the ability to both haul kit and smash trails, the Cale makes for a very interesting proposition. Anyone for a spot of Enduro-packing?

The Cale will be available as both a full-build and frameset only.

Quick spin review: Bombtrack Hook 2 and Hook WMN 2020

 

Bombtrack Hook 2, second best?

Having ridden the Hook ADV the day before, I did wonder if the more conventional Hook 2 might seem a little, err, pedestrian. While fitting pedals, Bombtrack’s Manuel Schuerholz came over to speak to me. He smiled and said, “I’m really pleased with how that model came out!”. Even before throwing a leg over the Hook 2 and riding it, you could see why. Bombtrack graphics and colour schemes always look accomplished, but for 2020 the detailing is spot on. Superbly deep paint finishes and subtle graphics that wrap seamlessly around the frame are the trademark here. A welcome change from some German brands that attempt to cover every square inch of the frame in acronyms and buzzwords. The Hook range also gains the Hook WMN (woman) this year. As the two models are similar I’ll cover both here.

Hook WMN

Teal and magenta. The ladies colours of the moment in Bike World.

2020 sees the debut of the Bombtrack Hook WMN, which as the name suggests is the female specific version, or is it? Marcellus Putschli, a designer at Bombtrack, hinted that naming this bike caused them some headaches as to whether having a women’s model was discriminatory. In the end they decided to run with it but added that the bike was designed for adult riders of a smaller stature. In practice, riders should choose the model that best suits their physical build.

Riding the Hook 2

I started this article wondering if the Hook 2 might leave me feeling a bit underwhelmed after riding the all guns blazing  Hook ADV. The reality was quite the opposite. So much fun was had, I forgot to take many photos! On all but the roughest terrain the Bombtrack Hook 2 gave up nothing to its suspended stablemate. Most impressive was how the Columbus steel frame and Carbon fork worked in tandem to smooth the bumps while still responding rapidly to pedal inputs. the example I rode was a pre-production model. The spec was essentially the finished article but fitted with Schwalbe G-Ones. Production bikes will sport WTB Riddlers in a tan wall TCS LIGHT flavour. Considering how predictable the Hook 2 felt on trails with the G-Ones I can only see the Riddlers improving on this.

Natty threads. T47 Threaded Bottom Brackets are now standard on many Bombtrack bikes.

Ease of use

It’s worth mentioning the details that Bombtrack have included in their 2020 range that are designed to make the rider’s life easier. All 2020 Bombtrack bikes will come with a threaded bottom bracket, be they alloy, steel or carbon. The Hook models are no exception and will be fitted with T47 BB shells and utilise Bombtrack’s own 30mm spindle chainsets. The majority of the range will come with tubeless compatible rims and tyres too.

Well, the colour has us ‘Hooked’.

WNM Drivetrain Variations

The Hook 2 and Hook WMN frames are essentially identical, bar colours and geometry. Those aside the biggest difference between the two models is the choice of drive train. The Hook 2 using a SRAM Rival 1×11 system and the WMN comes with a Tiagra 2×10. However, by using their own direct-mount chainset, Bombtrack are able to equip the WMN with 46/30t chainrings and an 11-34 cassette. A set-up far better suited to gravel and adventure riding than the stock road compact gearing. Another difference is that the XS and S sized Hook WMN bikes come with 650b x 40 wheelsets. This allows Bombtrack to deliver the same handling characteristics across all sizes and keep standover and toe-overlap consistent. Both models are fitted with Spyre-C flat mount cable discs.

650 x 40 Byways keep the smaller Bombtrack Hook WMN bikes handling as well as the 700c models

For me at least, the Hook 2 proved the old adage less is more. As much as I enjoyed the Hook ADV, it really is better suited for riders who regularly hit rough trails. The Bombtrack Hook 2 felt sharper and more efficient and, for what it’s worth, the cleaner lines are more appealing. A production model with Riddlers would probably help close the gap on singletrack too.

More details are available at Bombtrack.com

Quick spin review: Bombtrack Hook ADV 2020

 

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Divide & Conquer?

Released last year as a 2019 model the Bombtrack Hook ADV divided opinion like few other bikes. Bombtrack labelled it Hyper-Gravel and proudly stated that John Tomac inspired them. So is this a mountain bike held-back by drop-bars, or a gravel bike lumbered with unnecessary tech?

What’s Hyper-Gravel  anyway?

At its heart the Bombtrack Hook ADV has a steel frame bristling with all the cage, rack and fender mounts you’d expect from the ADV suffix. These features combined with flared drop bars and 1×11 gears are the new norm. Where the Hook differs from the crowd is its the air-sprung fork, stealth dropper and clearances for 2.0″/2.25″ MTB tyres. These upgrades give the Hook ADV the ability to hustled faster down rougher and twistier trails. Of course, this isn’t without downsides. Airsprung forks have an inherent weight and complexity disadvantage compared to rigid forks, and few saddle packs will play nicely with the dropper post.

This is the 2019 Bombtrack Hook ADV model. The revisions for 2020 are covered in the text

How does it ride?

There’s no getting away from it. With all else being equal, adding MTB tyres, a heavier fork and a dropper is going to make for a less sprightly and agile ride compared to a conventional gravel bike. Interestingly the difference isn’t as great as you might think. Sure, you feel it on draggy climbs with a slightly dulled pace and bit of fork-bobbing but it’s never spirit-sapping. Level gravel roads see it fly along nicely, the forks and venture-max bars make holding a line easier on degraded surfaces. Leaving the gravel behind, the ADV shows its worth in the woods where off-camber singletrack and sneaky roots could otherwise conspire to knock you off course.  By trail bike standards the KS post has a meagre 100m drop, all of which I used on the steepest trails. For the most part though I used perhaps half the travel. Dropping the saddle just enough to enable weight-shifts and hopping over fallen branches.

Even hanging in the rack with the rest of the range, the 2020 ADV stands out as a real Bobby Dazzler.

So is it a 90’s MTB?

I have a 90s MTB in the garage with frame, tyre and fork specs that on paper resemble the Bombtrack. The advances in geometry, suspension, braking and gear-shifting technology however, make the Hook ADV a much more compelling ride. As MTB’s become ever more focussed Bombtrack offers you a bike capable of being fun around your local trails, and still being able to shine on the ride there and back too!

The Hook ADV takes the rough with the smooth

What’s changed for 2020?

As a small close-knit team Bombtrack can remain agile with their designs. Responding to feedback, the Hook ADV has a series of subtle improvements for the 2020 model year.

• The rear dropout had been upgraded to that as fitted on the Beyond +. This brings the benefit of being stronger and also reducing the spares burden for the owner and retailer
• Bombtrack have developed their own 30mm axle cranks for the T47 BB standard. Using Sram direct mount style rings, this again makes sourcing and replacement easier for the rider.
• The Hook ADV will come with the standard bar-mounted lever for the dropper as in 2019, however the 2020 model will also have a 2x front shifter so tinkerers can adapt the shifter to operate the lever!
• Perhaps realising that an out-there bike needed a more out-there colour, the sensible silver paint makes way for the stunning glossy orange teal fade.

New Hook ADV models should be landing with dealers this October. Find out more at Bombtrack Bikes.

Bombtrack Groundwork 2019

 

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While I  love the big glossy bike shows, meeting up with the industry’s movers and shakers and so, so, many shiny things to catch our magpie-like eyes! The fact remains though that the very thing that gets us really excited, i.e. riding bikes, rarely happens. Bombtrack realise this and choose to unveil their new bikes at an annual event called Groundwork. What could be better than living and breathing bikes in the environment in which they were designed and tested?

Groundwork HQ

Kürten is a village 30km East of Cologne, where Bombtrack are based. It’s home to the Landgut Breibach, a guest house nestled in a wooded valley and the basecamp for Groundwork. For a twenty year period between the 1930s and 50s it was also the Summer holiday destination for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Mother, Princess Alice. Beats a suburban Travelodge right?

View from Landgut Breibach

Arriving just as the sun began to set, I was greeted by Manuel Shuerholz, the head honcho at Bombtrack. I quickly dumped my bags, grabbed a beer and headed outside to join the other Groundworkers around the fire. Amongst the crowd were the Bombtrack design team, their family of riders, journos and bike shop owners.

Bike. Eat. Drink. Fire. Repeat.

The format of Groundwork is nice and simple. Take your pick from the Bombtrack range and join a no-drop ride around the forests and trails where the designs were conceived. Knowing that tarmac made up less than 10% of the routes I opted for Bombtrack’s most controversial model, the Hook ADV. Touted as a hyper-gravel bike, the Hook ADV fuses the spirit of a 90s Tomac-attack with contemporary tech. For 2020 the spec receives some clever updates and a fantastic Glossy orange teal fade paint finish. Check out our overview of the Bombtrack Hook ADV 2020 right here.

2020 Hook ADV: Confounding and delighting gravel riders in equal measure

The agony of choice, if Bombtrack make it, you can ride it!

With Cologne, one of Germany’s biggest cities only 30km away you could be forgiven for thinking the trails might be choked, but far from it. With a stiff road climb quickly dispatched to clear the valley, 40km of empty trails awaited an eager Hook and rider!

Rag, tag and bobtail assemble for the off

Did I mention the climb out of the valley was steep?

While overkill on the gravel tracks the Hook ADV came into its own own loose and rooty forest singletrack. With 2.0 x 27.5 WTB Ranger tyres, MRP Baxter suspension forks and a KS dropper, I could take liberties with my line choice and carry more speed along the trail. Half-way around, the trail popped us out on the shoreline of the beautiful Grosse Dhünntalsperre reservoir.

The ADV in its element

On the tree-lined banks of the reservoir (2019 colour scheme)

Let’s do it all over again!

After 40km I bumped down farm track and saw the landgut in the distance. With the descent back on smooth tarmac, I locked out the forks and engaged the aero-dropper and blasted my way back.  The routine was to stay the same, choose a bike and hit the trails, then trade your dusty bike in for a well earned beer when you return!

Smooth double-track climb from the Reservoir

Over the course of Groundwork I got to meet the small team behind the brand, many of the riders they support, and to sample the bikes in a great location. With so many great bikes in the range it’s hard to choose favourites, but keep an eye out for features about what I felt were the stand out models.

The weight penalty of the suspension & dropper didn’t unduly affect the Hook’s hike-a-bikeability!

Get on over to bombtrack.com and check out the full range!

For your nearest Bombtrack stockist, visit Lyon Cycle.