Wiggle’s own brands, dhb, Vitus, Nukeproof, LifeLine, and Prime Wheels, ideally represent Wiggle’s passion for sport and offering the best. Wiggle employees design, research, and produce these items in-house. In terms of quality and price, each brand remains the market leader.
Vitus is one such Wiggle-owned name, a French cycle and cycling goods manufacturer well known for being Sean Kelly’s favourite bike manufacturer and for its steel cycle frame tubing and frames constructed with aluminium tubes bonded to aluminium lugs a design process the company pioneered in the late 1970s.
Vitus wears this as a badge of honour to date. Given Kelly became synonymous with the Vitus brand through his domination of the classics and Grand Tour win at the Vuelta Espania on board the 979, becoming the world’s No. 1 ranked cyclist of the era.
Vitus bikes are sold exclusively at Chain Reaction Cycles and Wiggle, which allows them to have the best value possible. Since the 1970s, the company has been at the forefront of new advances in bike construction, and it now provides a wide variety of bikes for all disciplines.
Mountain bikes
Mountain bikes give you good leg exercise in addition to the regular cycling spiel, and they are also a little slower on paved roads. They’re usually built for rough, rocky terrain. On the plus side, they offer a much more relaxed ride than their road equivalent, an upright riding stance (thanks to the much heavier suspension system), and can drive comfortably on several surfaces.
They have better suspension and thicker tyres as compared to road and hybrid bikes.
What to Look for in a Mountain Bike
The heart of a good bike is its frame. With dozens of brands to choose from, each with lots of models in different styles, knowing where to start can be a quandary. The good news: All that competition makes for a lot of great bikes.
Moreover, there are four broad categories in which mountain bikes come; namely, cross-country (XC) bikes which are designed for cycling and travelling high, trail bikes which are designed for general use and all-around mountain biking, all-mountain or enduro bikes which are designed for more challenging trails, and downhill (DH) bikes which are designed for flat-out descending.
Don’t get hung up on labels; everybody has their own interpretations. What’s important to remember is that all bikes fall somewhere in this spectrum, and finding the right style requires matching a number of factors, including frame geometry, suspension design and volume, and weight.
As for wheels, bike nerds love to argue over wheel sizes, but the fact is that no matter what size you buy, it will fit well and you will have a wonderful time. Don’t get worked up over it. Don’t get too caught up in the wheel size discussion.
Mountain bikes nowadays are designed on one of the two-wheel sizes: 27.5 inch (still known as 650B) or 29 inch. These have largely replaced the 26-inch wheel, which was the industry standard for years and is still available, especially on budget bikes. We recommend avoiding 26 not because we hate it, but because the market has largely moved on, making parts and tyres for the size tough to come by.
The distinction between 27.5 and 29 is quite subtle. Because of its larger diameter, the 29er needs more energy to accelerate, but it maintains momentum faster and bounces over obstacles more easily. The larger size usually means a larger rubber contact patch, which means more traction. 27.5ers, on the other hand, are a little more nimble since there is less rotating mass to shift about.
Only a few brands manufacture their own suspension structures, and each brand’s designs and specifications differ. Though everybody will tell you why their version is the best—and there are subtle differences—the fact is that most prototypes from reputable brands (the ones you will see at your local shop) work pretty good. So, if you’re a novice, we suggest concentrating on the category of bike that’s perfect for you rather than the suspension.
You can also choose from a variety of frame materials. The least expensive frames are usually made of aluminium or alloy. Iron, titanium, and carbon fibre are thinner and more damping, which helps to minimise vibration, but they are more costly. Many of the latter materials have the potential to be outstanding. They’re worth considering if you can afford them, particularly for the weight savings.
However, aluminium engineering and forming have come a long way, and if cost is a factor, alloy is the way to go.
These dirt bikes however aren’t made with inferior materials. The frame, tyres and engine certainly adds up to the cost. However, it’s the marketing of these bikes including rider sponsorships, dealership branding and constant Research and Development that adds up massively. This means that they certainly don’t come cheap; at least not with a significant compromise in quality they don’t.
How much should I pay for a mountain bike?
This makes many people worry about the high cost of commuting these days, and they have a case, with quality bikes running at £10,000 or more. But keep in mind that, while those top-of-the-line bikes are amazing feats of engineering and technology, they aren’t needed to enjoy the sport. In reality, the R&D that goes into those halo bikes helps the average customer because it filters down to the daily machines. So, while a top-of-the-line bike 30 years ago would have cost £500—which is now where entry-level bikes compete (hardly). The parts, brakes, tyres, and overall kit you get today greatly outperforms its 1991 equivalent.
We suggest hardtails for no less than a thousand quid and full suspension for anywhere between £1500 to £2000 at the very least. You can get a bike for a lot less money if you avoid the name labels and are able to accept lower-quality components. However, you’ll almost definitely end up paying more in the long run because those bikes will break down faster, need new parts sooner, or just be so uncomfortable to ride that you’ll upgrade instead.
In the other end of the spectrum, the question should be asked: Too much is too much? Clearly, the solution is dictated by your financial condition as well as how much you cycle and value cycling. If you spend a lot of time riding your cycle, the refinement and luxury you get for about 7,000 pounds can not sound so expensive. Even so, if you don’t need the very finest, you will find incredible bicycles for between £3,000 and £4,000 that are either slightly heavier or outperformed by the stratospheric top end.
Is Vitus a good brand?
Wiggle’s own-brands, dhb, Vitus, Nukeproof, LifeLine, and Prime Wheels, ideally represent the company’s passion for sport and offering the best. Wiggle employees design, research, and produce these items in-house. In terms of quality and price, each brand remains the market leader.
Vitus is a French bicycle manufacturer best known for its steel cycle frame tubing and frames constructed with aluminium tubes bonded to aluminium lugs a design process the company pioneered in the late 1970s.
They are a direct-to-consumer brand sold exclusively at Chain Reaction Cycles and Wiggle, which allows them to have the best value possible. Since the 1970s, the company has been at the forefront of new advances in bike construction, and it now provides a wide variety of bikes for all disciplines.
Fun fact: This was Sean Kelly’s favourite bike manufacturer and Vitus wears this as a badge of honour to date. Given he became synonymous with the Vitus brand through his domination of the classics and Grand Tour win at the Vuelta Espania on board the 979, becoming the world’s No. 1 ranked cyclist of the era.
Sentier VR Review
MSRP: £1199.99
This bike climbs well, descends quickly, and ploughs through rock gardens. This bike works admirably in all fields. Anything on this bike is in perfect working order. The bike is exceptionally well-designed. Is there some way to make things better? For this amount, no way. The grips and pedals are the only things you might want to be modified on this bike. In terms of price and parts, this bike is unrivalled.
If you’re new to mountain biking, you’ll enjoy the Sentier. From the hubs to the spokes to the stem to the frame…everything on this bike is more robust, more substantial, and of higher quality than even the best department store bike.
The front wheel, pedals, and handlebar must be bolted on to the bike. That’s it! Vitus has already made all of the required adjustments. Tires are incredible, even with tubes. They’re grippy and fast. The stems for tubeless valves are included in the package. The Deore derailleur has a clutch mechanism that works flawlessly. It shifts perfectly every time and the brakes work properly.
This multi-award winning hardtail is built to withstand the rigours of rougher XC, trail, and AM riding. As a consequence, you’ll have a sense of complete control and trust, as it can target anything in its path. Though capable of climbing the mountain ahead, it comes to life when guided down a trail. This rugged model, which comes with a rock-solid aluminium frameset, is more than capable of handling all of the strength associated with long days in the mountains.
The 140mm travel Marzocchi Bomber Z2 with RAIL damper on the Sentier 27 VR eats up any rough terrain you ride over, while the Shimano MT410 brakes provide sufficient stopping power.
The dependable Shimano 1×11 speed broad range Deore drivetrain provides enough gears for an all-day adventure on the trails.
With WTB ST wheels and a Schwalbe Magic Mary / Hans Dampf tubeless ready tyre pair, as well as Nukeproof and Vitus components and a Brand-X Ascend dropper post, you’ll still feel confident pushing the Vitus Sentier 27 VR Mountain Bike (2021) to its limits!
Now, let’s look at the bike’s two key advantages:
The fork.
For someone who hasn’t ever used an air fork before, nor a true damper. This is game-changing! If you’re reading this and are debating whether or not to buy a bike with an air fork, I say go for it! I bought a small air pump with the purpose of adjusting the air pressure on the trail.
On the mellow trails, the air shock carries your weight and makes one nearly complete ride without bottoming out. While riding to the greenway trails, set the top cap to “firm,” which is a lockout that makes the front fork rigid and easy to pedal on flat land.
When you get to the trail, change the top cap to “soft,” which gives yet again one full ride and allows adjustment as required while riding. You might want to balance the rebound with the round adjuster on the fork’s rim or set it halfway, which appears to be adequate.
The argument is that you can change spring tension, rebound pace, firmness, and path with an air fork.
A dropper post for the seat.
This should be standard equipment on all mountain bikes. You can’t really manage without it. Even when riding on the road or on longer journeys, It allows you to quickly change seat height for comfort. When approaching curves, bumps, or other tricky areas, simply lower the seat
The bike has 27.5″ wheels and XL frame for comparison.
Technical Specifications:
- Frame: Sentier Aluminium 6061-T6 Double Butted, IS disc brake mounts, BSA threaded BB, Boost hub spacing – 148mm x 12mm thru axle
- Fork: Marzocchi Bomber Z2 27.5”, Rail damper, Float air spring, 34mm stanchions, 140mm travel, , tapered alloy steerer, Boost hub spacing – 110mm x 15mm QR axle
- Headset: ACROS AZX-212-CO, AZX-212-CO, sealed bearings, ZS44/28.6 – ZS56/40
- Handlebar: Nukeproof Neutron V2 riser, 6061 alloy, 25mm rise, 9° back sweep, 760mm wide S/M, 780mm wide L/XL
- Stem: Vitus 50mm, Alloy, 50mm reach, 3° rise
- Grip(Tape): Vitus lock on
- Front Rim: WTB ST i30, TCS 2.0, 27.5”, 32h TCS tubeless tape fitted
- Rear Rim: WTB ST i30, TCS 2.0, 27.5”, 32h TCS tubeless tape fitted
- Front Hub: Vitus KT DHF112, Double sealed bearings, 32h, 6 bolt, 110mm x 15mm thru axle
- Rear Hub: Vitus KT H5ER-SH, Double sealed bearings, 32h, 6 bolt, 148mm x 12mm thru axle
- Front Tyre: Schwalbe Magic Mary, Snakeskin, TL Easy, E-25, Addix soft, 27.5” x 2.60”
- Rear Tyre: Schwalbe Hans Dampf, Snakeskin, TL Easy, Addix speedgrip, E-25, 27.5” x 2.60”
- Spokes: Vitus
- Chain: KMC X11, 11 speed 114 links
- Crankset: Shimano Deore M5100, 32t, 170mm
- Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB52 68/73mm
- Front Brake: Shimano MT410, F180P/P2, RESIN PAD(W/O FIN)
- Rear Brake: Shimano MT410, W/O ADAPTER, RESIN PAD(W/O FIN)
- Rotors: Shimano RT56, 180mm/180mm 6 Bolt
- Front Derailleur: N/A
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore M5100, Shadow plus, long cage, 11 speed
- Left Shifter: N/A
- Right Shifter: Shimano Deore M5100, Rapidfire plus, 11 speed
- Freewheel: Sunrace CSMS7, 11t-51t, 11 speed
- Saddle: Nukeproof Neutron
- Seat Post: Brand-X Ascend dropper, Remote lever, 31.6mm, S 100mm drop/M 125mm drop/L,XL 150mm drop
- Seat Screw: Vitus bolt, 34.9mm
- Weight: TBC
- Colour: Nardo Grey
- Frame Size: L, S, M, XL
- Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650b)
- Gender: Unisex
- Speed: 11 Speed
- Material: Aluminium
- Fork Travel: 140mm
Verdict:
Pros: specs are well, nardo grey colour is impressive & comes with touch up paint, tires are super grippy
Cons: doesn’t have inner cable routing, better XT shifter would not have cost much, crank set heavier than similarly priced SLX, and some lighter options.