Image of Trek X-Caliber Mountain Bike
The Trek X-Caliber is a hardtail mountain bike which offers riders a good platform on which they can improve their skills and tackle a variety of different off-road situations.
The X-Caliber is capable of cross country races and uphill climbs, to technically challenging single track events.
The Trek X-Caliber is based around an Alpha Gold Aluminium frame with butted and hydroformed tubing. This gives it a light, stiff and strong setup and there is a clear sense that the bike has been designed with a holistic approach to things.
Some 29ers like this can be a little sluggish in the handling department as a result of their larger wheels. However, the Trek X-Caliber has G2 geometry, developed in tandem with Gary Fisher, which basically optimises both the frame and the fork in order to give the rider a bike which feels responsive and willing to take on the twists and turns that might face them.
Since this is a hardtail bike you get a naturally stiff back end which is great for accelerating and ascending the slopes. However, impact absorption is handled at the front by the RockShox Reba RL 29 fork with Motion Control lockout and 100mm of travel. For the price of the bike this fork operates surprisingly smoothly and as previously mentioned has been geometrically aligned with the rest of the frame in the name of improved handling.
Components
The drivetrain is made up of SRAM X7 components and a crank from the same brand, giving you a 30 speed transmission which fits in with the versatility of the Trek X-Caliber as a whole. The Avid Elixir 1 disc brakes are light and durable, with the precision of the hydraulic operation giving you a far better feel and responsiveness when compared to cheaper mechanical alternatives.
You get Bontrager Mustang Disc 29 rims and 29-1 Expert tyres from this firm, giving you plenty of fast-rolling grip and momentum building potential. Many people opt for a 29er rather than a mountain bike with standard 26 inch wheels because they want added smoothness and speed to be part and parcel of their off-road experience, which are things that the wheelset of the Trek X-Caliber is able to deliver.
The Bontrager SSR seatpost is topped with the Evoke 1 saddle for a comfortable and customisable seating position which is sensitive to the needs of individual riders. A Bontrager Low Rider handlebar and Race Lite stem help to preserve the competitive credentials of this bike in a particularly busy end of the market. Meanwhile the Race Lite grips do a good job of staying glued to your hands while still managing to absorb that last important part of any impact so that you remain fresh and engaged.
There is little doubt that the Trek X-Caliber is designed to race and its heritage certainly allows it to live up to expectations in this respect. You get a bike which is built for speed, with the 29 inch wheels allowing for a better ability to tackle long distance slogs.
The surprising competency with which handling is delivered will certainly help to convince any 29er sceptics that this kind of mountain bike might be worth a look. Meanwhile the overall lightness of the alloy frame and associated components means that you will not get tired simply as a result of having to pull the bike along for the ride with you.
Unlike many 29ers you will not feel like you are being constantly urged to push forwards and attack the trail, so that added element of relaxedness will definitely count in its favour amongst riders who want a bike that is a bit more of an all-rounder.
