Pole Bicycles is a young brand from Finland taking an arguably modern, or even futuristic approach to mountain bikes. The
Nicolai Mojo GeoMetron was the first bike to really push angled boundaries and is available to order, but still has a niche and custom feel to it. Pole bring a range of production bikes to the table sporting similar geometric properties built into a range of bikes from an XC centric 110mm travel 29er to a 176mm travel downhill rig.
This Evolink 176mm makes
Greg Minnaar's XXL Santa Cruz V10 look like a toy; the Pole in question trumps Greg's length with a 510mm reach, 1345mm wheelbase, 62º head angle and a 455mm chainstay, and that's only the frame with an 'L' tag. Marketing managers take note, your bikes are no longer
long, low, and/or slack. Pole Evolink Details:• Alloy framesets
• Progressive geometry
• Evolink Suspension Design
• 27.5" / 27.5"+ / 29" wheels
• 110mm / 130mm/ 140mm / 150mm 176mm travel bikes
• Internal or external cable routing
• Threaded bottom brackets
• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
• MSRP Framesets: €2250 - €2450
• MSRP Complete bikes: from €3800
•
www.polebicycles.com This DVO equipped Evolink 176mm is priced at €6600 with a solid build including DT Swiss, Easton, Avid Code brakes and an X01 DH drivetrain. Expensive, perhaps, especially compared to German direct sale counterparts, but you won't find anything close to these bikes on any other website.
Along with its ginormous geometry, the suspension kinematic differs from many other bikes. A dual link design is nothing new but instead of using this system to create funky curves or squat ratios, the instant center rotates almost perfectly around the bottom bracket creating a low anti-squat figure that falls through the travel with little pedal kickback. On paper, this will deliver suspension action which is uninhibited by chain growth and tension, giving more sensitivity when traveling through tumult. The downside to this is you might have to learn to pedal properly, especially if you're not friends with bob on the flat.
Pole's range of bikes includes 110mm, 130mm, 140mm, 150mm and 176mm travel options as well as 27.5", 27.5"+ and 29" wheel sizes. Each frame may look almost identical as many of the tubes and components are shared throughout the range, but there are a number of slight geometry differences and tweaks. The principles of the design stay the same, though, even the 12kg XC racer below has a 66º head angle and a whopping 535mm reach in XL.
It's not all about slack, though, seat tube angles on all bikes hover around the 77.5º range. Long 455mm chainstays are found on all bikes, which in a time where everybody is going for shorter stays, Pole have gone longer to try and keep fore/aft balance in check.
Futuristic or foolish? Let us know what you think in the comments...
MENTIONS:
@polebicycles / @paulaston
"Want a ride on my pole"
"I got an extra large pole"
This could get awkward
"Clean your pole before you come in"
"Your Pole smells like shit"
If i had $1 for every time I heard that.
"What size is your pole?"
"Check out my pink pole"
I'll let myself out...
or the Warner of old (before he went G rated) - "Go on son, ride that Pole"
Great name, you can't go wrong with a little innuendo. They look like awesome bikes too.
Pole is Finnish dialogue and it means "Pedal!" You can shout that as many times as you can. You can also refer Pole on the other meaning that we have been "referred" at this topic ????
Example: www.instagram.com/p/BFZdOy6unZ-
brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Pole_evolink-folded.jpg
Here's a video of slapping the 62° angle properly
youtu.be/yvDKAPfb8aE
I guess we have to blame Fox for too much flex.
We haven't experienced any problems. I think that SC has just their own insights to their setup.
Looks like I gotta start saving up for one! Excited for some reviews of this bike
All modern bikes out there have long reach, but then for some reason the ST is 74 or even 73. Being 194 cm tall and extending the seat post to max. makes me hanging almost behind rear axle on steep climbs. Especially with 425 mm chain stays. Would love to ride one...
Fair play to them for committing and Chris for being open about the goals of the source project(s)
BTR made the first steel protos before we had any contacts with our current manufacturers. Tam has good insights on bicycle design as well. The first bike had a lot of BTR:s insights because they know a lot about steel. The first prototypes are still running so BTR really knows how to make good frames.
I think it's important to share knowledge. There is still a lot to do
It's good to see wider adoption and gradually we have less people calling this geometry 'Deviant' as it was by a Pinkbike journalist.
They still make banana seats with carbon rails... don't they?
BUT, they didn't last very long
I think it was the horrible brand name that killed em
perhaps if my legs were shorter and I had ape like long arms.....then these may fit me better?
For what it's worth, the bike that made me giggle the most was riding a small 1990 rigid GT with cantilever brakes near Grand Junction...it just felt like so quick and stupid and like it was about to kill you at any moment, like riding a crazy horse...I just wonder if these ones are just a bit serious yaknow.
The bike size is determined by rider's height so that the seated position is optimal for pedalling. Also longer reach is essential for loading the front end when the bike is slacker.
The chainstay length is longer to balance the weight distribution on the axles.
Did I answer your question
Is it possible to order an evolink 150 frame with vivid air shock?
thnx
www.reactiongifs.com/r/anbs.gif