Not unusual every single pre-season to start seeing prototype, or even fully ready new bikes. Often it’s the year previous to an Olympic year that things really get ramped up. But for 2026, there will certainly be at least 3 new frames/bikes out there.
I was just about to lament how XC frames really have all settled on the “shock on the top tube” design, along comes Lapierre under Anne Terpstra. While Ghost is no longer on the World Cup circuit, Lapierre certainly is and already has one win against a very solid field in Chelva this past weekend. Then I see this new Lapierre frame, and it’s a complete “old” design, with the shock vertical in front of the seat tube. Giant and Trek both spent tons of development to get RID of this exact style XC frame. I myself switched from a 2016 Trek Top fuel bike just a year ago to get my 2 water bottles back. The Santa Cruz Blur of course is one of these top tube shock frame designs.
So, aside from Scott, Mondraker and maybe one more smaller player, add Lapierre to the mix. Remove Trek and Giant. One thing is for sure, the new Lapierre frame seems to have a nightmare bottom bracket/down tube shock mount junction. The Flight Attendant battery is sitting in what seems like an actual bowl, ready for water, mud and whatever else, to fill up. Without a cover of some kind, that looks terrible. One nice thing about the Blur is the shock is way up away from the muck.
Then Canyon starts showing it’s new frame. It looks like the Trail version of the Lux. Really sloping top tube, now 120mm at least front and rear, slacker, but without the downtube storage.
Actually, The Epic 8 and Blur both seem like they are due for an update. The Blur was released in 2021, so at least 5 model years with nothing but paint changes.
I wonder what else will be new this year? As long as I don’t have to look at 32” bikes, I’ll be fine.
I was just about to lament how XC frames really have all settled on the “shock on the top tube” design, along comes Lapierre under Anne Terpstra. While Ghost is no longer on the World Cup circuit, Lapierre certainly is and already has one win against a very solid field in Chelva this past weekend. Then I see this new Lapierre frame, and it’s a complete “old” design, with the shock vertical in front of the seat tube. Giant and Trek both spent tons of development to get RID of this exact style XC frame. I myself switched from a 2016 Trek Top fuel bike just a year ago to get my 2 water bottles back. The Santa Cruz Blur of course is one of these top tube shock frame designs.
So, aside from Scott, Mondraker and maybe one more smaller player, add Lapierre to the mix. Remove Trek and Giant. One thing is for sure, the new Lapierre frame seems to have a nightmare bottom bracket/down tube shock mount junction. The Flight Attendant battery is sitting in what seems like an actual bowl, ready for water, mud and whatever else, to fill up. Without a cover of some kind, that looks terrible. One nice thing about the Blur is the shock is way up away from the muck.
Then Canyon starts showing it’s new frame. It looks like the Trail version of the Lux. Really sloping top tube, now 120mm at least front and rear, slacker, but without the downtube storage.
Actually, The Epic 8 and Blur both seem like they are due for an update. The Blur was released in 2021, so at least 5 model years with nothing but paint changes.
I wonder what else will be new this year? As long as I don’t have to look at 32” bikes, I’ll be fine.
