10 Bikes From the 2015 Trans-Provence

Jun 22, 2015
by Irmo Keizer  
Six days, 8946 meters of climbing, 17,407 meters of descending. This is the seventh edition of the annual Trans-Provence. A race unlike any other, as riders enter a vast, remote territory deep in southern France. 270 kilometers filled with amazing singletrack, gruesome climbs and breathtaking descents. 80 riders, both pros and amateurs set off on the 2015 edition of the Trans-Provence. With regards to bike choice, 160mm prevails, with a majority of bikes running on 27.5" wheels. 1x drivetrains can be seen in abundance as well, with a mix of SRAM XX1, Shimano's new XTR, but also and number of 1x10 conversions.

Trans Provence bikes 2015

Trans Provence bikes 2015
Trans Provence bikes 2015
Rachael Walker's Santa Cruz is specced with loads of matching Hope components. Note the detail of the Trans-Provence logo on the brakes.


Trans Provence bikes 2015

Trans Provence bikes 2015
Trans Provence bikes 2015
Kerstin Kogler's BMC Trailfox, equipped with a mechanical XTR double chainring setup. Kerstin says the 29" wheels allow her to run lower profile tires without sacrificing grip.


Matti Lehikoinen s Nukeproof
Matti Lehikoinen's Nukeproof Mega.


Trans Provence bikes 2015
Rich Norgate's appropriately colored Orange.


Nico Lau s Cube Stero running a double chainring XTR Di2 setup.

Trans Provence bikes 2015
Trans Provence bikes 2015
Nico Lau's Cube Stereo is equipped with a double chainring Shimano XTR Di2 drivetrain, which he runs in Synchro mode with his shifter on the right hand side. The left side of the bars contains the controls for switching between the rear shock's three modes and controlling the Fox dropper post.


Trans Provence bikes 2015

Trans Provence bikes 2015
Trans Provence bikes 2015
Jamie Nicolls' Polygon, equipped with prototype Kenda tires, a KS Lev dropper post and the Box Components rear derailleur.


Trans Provence bikes 2015
Chris Whitehurst's Orbea Rallon, running a 2x10 setup.


Trans Provence bikes 2015
A Banshee Rune, ridden by John Fox. Running a 1x10 setup and Thomson dropper post.


Trans Provence bikes 2015
More Canadian goodness in the form of a Rocky Mountain Altitude as ridden by Brandon Firth.


Trans Provence bikes 2015
Trey Grayham's Ibis Mojo HD3.


Stay tuned all week for more coverage from the 2015 Trans-Provence.

www.trans-provence.com

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bike Checks


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159 Comments
  • 150 4
 Aesthetically, that Polygon is a mess... I'm sure it rides great though (?)
  • 77 14
 Without a doubt one of the ugliest bikes known to man. Looks out of place on that list for sure.
  • 126 94
 Not as ugly as the orange
  • 95 42
 I can't see how the orange can offend anyone's eyes. It's fairly clean, clutter free and basic.
  • 14 12
 How good would it have to ride over better looking bikes to make up for it looking like that though?
  • 90 6
 Here we go again.. at least the Polygon does not look like a Session.
  • 7 22
flag Bronco82 (Jun 22, 2015 at 23:22) (Below Threshold)
 That's true. But the session doesn't feel like you're riding with a noodle for a rear end. Or at least that's what I've heard in reviews of the polygon.
  • 12 6
 Funny how opinions always diverge on the Orange. If it had a proper function in the rear suspension, I would have bought one. I really adore the look of this, reminds me so much of beloved and behated ECS in the 90s.
  • 30 20
 time to move on orange, maybe
  • 15 2
 i like the polygon. I don't know. If it defies the conventional bike design, I usually end up liking it. Dunno how it rides but design wise, I like it. At least it's not like majority of the bikes out there that... let's face it look the same as the other bike from that other company. Bikes like the YT capra, Jekyll, Evil bikes, Scott's voltage even the Panzer DH bike looks good as they are different look wise.

hell i ride a moto carbon from cannondale and I like it tho people say its butt ugly.:P
  • 5 7
 Cmon everyone knows they all look like a session
  • 14 2
 That Polygon does look like it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. Poor Orange with it's hefty single pivot swingarm, still not ugly like the Polygon though.
  • 20 3
 How do you recognize an orange bike?


The handlebar is on the right side.
  • 7 13
flag mickwander (Jun 23, 2015 at 3:02) (Below Threshold)
 I do like this Polygon, it's not ugly at all, really nice shapes.

and @faul that's a good one, LOL
  • 10 13
 Face it. It looks shit
  • 2 2
 There is a Buglarian bike brand called RAM and they used to have the Orange inspired bicycles back in the day. In 2007 they added this little rocker to the frame, to keep shocks from exploding in dire situations. Why don't Orange do the same as well, it actually made the bike a bit more comfortable Smile

This is the updated version with the rocker:
ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb1636128/p4pb1636128.jpg
  • 7 3
 Yes the Orange is hideous, but as far as function and reliability, probably on par.
  • 16 2
 Lets play a game. spot the angry orange owner.
  • 4 3
 That Polygon is so ugly I cannot look at it without feeling badly about the world a little.
  • 6 0
 The Polygon kind of reminds me of the RAM bike at Sea Otter, without the weird fork though.

www.pinkbike.com/news/did-you-see-that-ram-bikes-urt-chassis-and-quadrilateral-fork-sea-otter-2015.html
  • 1 0
 i have to agree with @Dude1005 that orange has never been aesthetically appealing to me, and certainly that polygon looks too busy and just plain fugly, although it may ride brilliantly. I will stick with my SC nomad 3
  • 3 0
 I'm sure the orange feels great in terms of riding, but it just looks like a bike from 2005 painted bright orange
  • 4 1
 am i the only one who think the cube is the ugliest of them all? i think its something to do with the proportions.
  • 3 1
 @jonobarnett The Cube is very "Ellsworthesque" (shiver). But hey, in 5 years we'll probably consider all of these bikes to be ugly on account of the awkward wheelsize.
  • 2 1
 Th cube just looks straight outta the 90s. The polygon is for sure the runt of the litter
  • 113 8
 Let's all have a moment of silence for the guy who will be climbing 9000m on an Orange.
  • 4 19
flag getschwiftyclub (Jun 23, 2015 at 2:14) (Below Threshold)
 Every other bike in this bike check has 2+ pivots in its suspension kinematics. Coincidence, I think not. I'll pause now for that moment of silence...
  • 33 0
 God bless him with strength and unlimited stamina
  • 19 28
flag russthedog FL (Jun 23, 2015 at 3:11) (Below Threshold)
 Nukeproof, rocky mountain and orbea are also single pivot as far as I can tell. Riding the orange up all that vertical wont be any worse than the others based on rear suspension design alone. Thanks for your opinion though expert
  • 5 1
 The RMB altitude is a four bar horst link variant called smooth link.
  • 2 6
flag russthedog FL (Jun 23, 2015 at 4:19) (Below Threshold)
 its not Horst, I think you meant Four Bar only. Horst has the pivot below the axle.
  • 17 1
 And t hen there is the guy who takes that awesome comment serious!
  • 28 0
 Orange bikes are for sure ugly as hell, but that Polygon straight up looks like Homer Simpson designed it.
  • 2 0
 "powerful like a gorilla, yet soft and yielding like a Nerf ball"
  • 4 0
 @russthedog I will agree with you that the Nukeproof, RMB, and Orbea have single BB pivots but they also have pivots at the rear axle and a rocker that actuates the shock. Those extra pivots may impact how the suspension reacts but hey I'm no expert. Wink
  • 5 0
 am i the only one who think the cube is the ugliest of them all? i think its something to do with the proportions.
  • 2 0
 That is because it looks like an Ellsworth!
  • 39 2
 I'm diggin the banshee
  • 3 2
 meant to ride boss as fuck too
  • 5 1
 Got one, awesome bike, get one
  • 1 0
 That saddle! I need it, I want it! anyone knows the brand?
  • 5 0
 @fercho25 it looks like a Chromag Trailmaster Ltd.
  • 10 1
 Built a new Spitfire a few months ago. My Review: Its a bit like that girl you dated back when, you know she was a little on the heavy side but still sexy as hell and HOT DAMN did she know how to party!
  • 3 0
 LOVE my Rune!
  • 1 0
 Runeage!!!
  • 12 0
 I actually do the major mechanical work for that Banshee at my shop. Just went through everything a few weeks before he left for France. Running 26" with a standard 1x10, no big wheels or extended range cassettes on this one. John truly earns his turns on this bike. Hopefully he has a trouble-free week of racing, should be quite an experience.
  • 27 2
 On the Orbea photo, on the far left you can see some fingers!
  • 3 0
 Ghosts!
  • 4 0
 Ohhhh. So that's how they get the bikes to stay up! Let go of it really quick then take the photo. It all makes sense now
  • 3 0
 The Polygon photo looks like they got it a little late, bike is already starting to fall over
  • 2 0
 The magic is revealed Wink
  • 27 3
 That purple Hope equipped Nomad is one good looking bike
  • 5 1
 It needs a purple fork to match the rest. Hope should get into the suspension buisness.
  • 2 3
 It does look great overall, but the ugly arse fender killed it for me.
  • 5 7
 Seriously? That's the worst Nomad I've ever seen. Besides the tires, frame, and dropper I would change EVERYTHING if it were mine. And even the frame I'd remove the custom graphics.
  • 3 4
 All that purple anno is barf inducing. The 80s called, they want their ugly shit back.
  • 2 1
 Looks very nice
  • 24 2
 if you were a polygon enduro rider when they released those youd just be like..... Fuck
  • 30 2
 It's like 5-some swinger party in a small closet, you quickly lose track of what goes where.
  • 21 1
 ^the voice of experience
  • 6 7
 However if participants are multicultural then things get much more clear...
  • 2 1
 haha, nice one waki
  • 29 10
 Am I the only one that likes the Orange??
  • 46 10
 Yes...yes you are
  • 8 3
 Nah, I like it, purely because everyone else hates it. Only joking, I actually like it. As for people who want dynamic change... Get the polygon... Looks like a scrapyard puked.
  • 1 0
 Hate it, cause it's a single pivot. What is this? 1992??

Most suspension designs are this old.

Marketing is new every year though.
  • 3 0
 Different strokes for different folks eh? Personnaly I like the Orange, clean, simple, uncluttered. I like the way they ride too.. design has limitations but so do many others, if you get a good and well set up rear shock on a single pivot bike and get off the brakes I think they are a huge amount of fun.
  • 1 0
 I agree..for dh
  • 20 2
 cube is ugly
  • 2 11
flag mickwander (Jun 23, 2015 at 3:07) (Below Threshold)
 definitely looks like session
  • 8 0
 I agree, looks far too like an ellsworth - the old school definition of ugly before polygon designers began hitting the bong
  • 2 0
 That's it!! Secretly the Polygon is a complex bong!! Why didn't I see it before?!
  • 18 3
 santa cruz is Apple of MTB, I prefer Android.
  • 1 2
 Funny thing is... I ride SC and use an android phone lol! Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Boutique brands are hip and cool, but when you mail your frame back for warranty, Santa Cruz isnt going to put you on a 3 month wait list while more frames take the long boat ride over.
  • 2 0
 oh, Android here
  • 10 0
 What's this front mech that some people are running?

Is that a new invention? Bollox going to have to get one now for sure :-)
  • 7 0
 Rocky Mountain win in the looks department for me. Shame they don't seem to spec a stock bike with a 36 or a pike.
  • 2 0
 They are sharp looking. Wondering why this rider didn't opt for the 'Rally' version as its meant for events like this?
  • 2 0
 It is a Rally. 36 up front, Float-X on rear and it's yellow.
  • 2 0
 @rexluthor why yes it is, maybe I should look at the RM website first. thanks.
  • 2 0
 That Rocky Mtn. is straight from the box. I bought one slapped RF Next cranks and XTR Trail pedals pow sub 28lb AM machine. Looks like a a supermodel in a room full of fat girls!
  • 1 0
 Fat girls can be supermodels too, and probably ride better. Sorry, mixing up my metaphors. Sounds like a sick bike @Farrier-Dave
  • 10 4
 This is the first blue Nomad I see that doesn't look Hopeless. While we are at the fashion booth... didn't Specialized do this scheme on SX-Trail like 10 years ago?
  • 4 3
 Hopefully people find this punny.
  • 7 2
 Wonder if they purplesly equipped it that way.
  • 4 3
 color range pikes out badly at the front end
  • 2 1
 That two colored casette really grinds my gears.
  • 2 5
 Man, that sx trail was the shiz.
  • 1 1
 Yes, but Darren Berrecloth rode it in Roam dropping stuff that was until then reserved for bikes with 200mm travel, putting one of last nails to huck to flat coffin, so now get on your knees and bow to Spec and Bearclaw for speeding up popularity of 160-170mm bikes by at least a year if not more. Simply SXTrail and Nomad were ahead of their times. Remember that back in 2006 people raced Mega Avalanche on DH bikes...
  • 1 0
 My point exactly. I had one and hucked the hell out of it. Way ahead of its time for sure.
  • 8 0
 My god this 1994 anodized purple. Ringle is psyched.
  • 6 0
 Just a thought
Could the shock settings be matched to the position of a dropper post?

One less lever on messy handlebars
  • 16 0
 I've had the same thought - what if the three positions on a post were matched with the three shock settings? Fully extended = more compression, and fully dropped = less. I'd love to see this become a reality some day.
  • 7 0
 There will always be a time where you want the opposite though, like a rough fire road climb you might want a middle compression but full extension, etc. if they combine it with a manual override then it could work. You can send the money when you're done fox and rockshox
  • 1 0
 Could see it being tied in to d12 and a power meter, what gear you're in an how much power you're putting down with pre programed settings........
  • 1 7
flag bonkywonky (Jun 23, 2015 at 2:38) (Below Threshold)
 Would be a bit problematic for smooth jumpy trails where you'd like a low seat but with firmer compression settings. Then again, enduro riders aren't exactly known for their jumping skills so I doubt they would actually benefit such a combination..
  • 2 0
 If you recall, that's how CTD was born.
  • 2 0
 Do many pros use the ctd srttings? I find D underdamped for descending and C too firm for good climbing traction, so its T all the time.
  • 1 0
 On steep and/or ledgy/rocky climbs I need seat up and shock open. So override needed.
  • 8 1
 put that polygon in a big fire
  • 2 1
 Then gather the ashes, seal them in a concrete vessel, and then sink them in the deepest trench in the ocean.
  • 5 2
 The Orbea looks great...and maybe I am just old, but I don't think that the Orange is that ugly...maybe just got used to its looks over the past 20 years-the Polygon on the other hand...
  • 9 3
 that Santa Cruz nomad is the manliest bike ever. I want one!
  • 2 0
 me too... so much $$$
  • 5 1
 Yep! Especially in that baby blue / fuchsia color. I can tottaly see Jason Statham on one.
  • 6 0
 Ha, I heard Schwarzenegger rides one in the new Terminator movie.
  • 7 0
 I love bikes!
  • 7 2
 hehe the decals on the swingarm of the orange five are awesome
  • 3 1
 Steve: Oh no, our bike's got no patented gimmicks, we can't put any logos on the swing arm!
Lester: TO THE STICKER CUPBOARD!
  • 1 0
 The decals are the only appealing aspect of that bike.
  • 2 0
 careful, the five and the alpine 160 are potent machines, its like a baseball bat, its no 12 gauge, but it can still kill someone in 1, albeit well aimed shot, its just considered a bit old fashioned and barbaric by todays standards
  • 10 7
 That new shimano cranks don't look good. And the double ring is like going back in time.
  • 5 1
 It's not going back in time if you have it synchronized with the rear derailleur through di2
  • 1 0
 I spent two days on Nico's bike and I must say that it does feel like a single setup with synchro shift. The extra range is a welcome addition. That being said, if you do not need the extra range on a particular course, convert it to single and you're done.
  • 1 0
 so 2x on the front is back in fashion - are there any chain retention issues? 1x is almost infallible with a clutch mech, correct chain length and NW rings that aren't shark toothed or chipped
  • 1 0
 Look at Nico Lau's track record. Can't recall a dropped chain. It does however use a chain retainer device.
  • 3 0
 someones really good at balancing bikes! I don't see a single stick or kickstand
  • 1 0
 Purple is awesome, I'm liking it more now than in the nineties. The Santa Cruz does look girlish, though, probably as intended. The frame and fork would need to have a darker colour.
  • 5 2
 It is 2015 - Polygon can we find somewhere else to put that stupid tube!
  • 2 1
 The Ibis HD3 at the bottom was assembled by Phat Moose Cycles here in canada's capital (according to a fb post the shop put up this morning).
  • 3 1
 I thought that's kenda not Michelin on Jamie's bike
  • 5 0
 Yep, that's correct.
  • 3 1
 Why does that Mega turn me on?
  • 4 2
 That Polygon looks a little bit like a session....
  • 13 11
 That Orange is hurting really hard wtf, 1980 called roll another fatty.
  • 1 0
 I'd change the purple hope parts on the nomad to dark blue, if they come in dark blue that is.
  • 2 0
 I'd change everything but the tires! Hideous!
  • 2 0
 that santa cruz i need it.
  • 1 0
 Those 1x10 chainrings look smaller than 36t, any idea what they're running?
  • 2 0
 Why does BMC make a 29r look steezy as fuck.
  • 2 0
 The rocky and Santa Cruz are fire!!!
  • 1 0
 "You know what I like about the Horst link?
It keeps getting older, but I stay the same age."
  • 1 1
 All these bikes look ugly........ except the Banshee Rune and the Rocky Mountain Altitude............ canadian genius. That's all.
  • 1 0
 santa, nuke, rocky be locking goood
  • 1 0
 They colour of the bike does not effect your riding in any shape or form
  • 1 0
 I hope that Nico Lau evens up those brake levers before he sets off.
  • 1 1
 Woah! There's a 29er Baron on the front of the Trailfox......can I have one please??
  • 1 1
 I also want one (in 27,5), but since it reads "Projekt" I guess they are not yet available to mortals!
  • 2 0
 Mmm...Hope components.
  • 1 0
 that nomad is so sick
  • 1 0
 the Cube or the SC takes it, no doubt
  • 1 0
 Rachael Walker's Santa Cruz is beautiful
  • 2 0
 Ibis HD3 yummy! Me want!
  • 1 0
 What grips are on the cube? They look interesting
  • 1 2
 Is it just me, or does it seem like all of these bikes, with the exception of the wickedly cool Ibis Mojo, are a decade behind Specialized?
  • 1 0
 'They all just look like trek sessions'
  • 1 0
 Cube Stereo ♥
  • 2 2
 There is definitely a Öhlins equipped Specialized missing here...
  • 2 1
 Rumor has it that JonTV had problems with rights to media coverage...
  • 2 2
 why can't Orange not make beautiful bikes ??
  • 4 1
 Double negative, check it.
  • 3 4
 Wheres the Kona??
  • 3 1
 Kona doesn't pay enough for advertising
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