BikeMagic ride the Vitus Escarpe 1 and Blitz 1

Vitus bikes are designed, created and delivered exclusively by Chain Reaction Cycles, and we're extremely proud of the newly-launched 2012 range that we've developed over the last year.

Review samples of the new bikes have already gone out to be independently tested by the cycling media, and we look forward to the results ñ but more recently BikeMagic's editor Dave Arthur made the trip to Belfast to ride the Blitz 1 and Escarpe 1 full suspension bikes on our local trails.

Here are some highlights of Dave's First Ride Review, or you can click here to read the full BikeMagic review yourself.

Blitz 1
"Out of the car park, situated within sight of the grand Belfast Castle, we hit the first of the long steep gravel climbs that tangle around Cavehill. Here we're duly obliged to exceed the capacity of our lungs as the trail kicks sharply up.
Underneath us the Blitz delivers 100mm of silky smooth suspension and nicely controlled thanks to the RockShox Monarch RT shock. There's little rider induced bob detectable, even out of the saddle efforts reveal a pleasant pedalling experience.

The 67.5 degree head angle, slack for this sort of bike, felt just right.

Escarpe 1
"What goes up must come down, and it was time for payback after all that climbing. Here we jumped at the chance to ride the 140mm Escarpe 1 (£1750), a bike based on the same four bar design as the Blitz. It's an elegant looking bike, a nicely curved downtube, a dropped top tube and short strut bracing at the seat tube junction and a flared head tube finishing off the smart frame.  

The Escarpe is a real hoot to ride. The moment the speed picked up and the gradient steepened, the bike settled into its suspension and propelled through the bumpy stuff with an impressive control. It's got a nice balance, feels stable and planted at speed and the suspension has a real 'pop' to it, you can use it to get air over lips and bumps with real ease. The frame gets a half degree slacker head angle than the Blitz, at 67 degrees, and this felt just right.

The suspension is well managed, a mid compression tune on the shock gives a nice progressive action. It didn't get flustered when pushed into tricky situations. It sits nicely up in its stroke. Staying taut mid corner and allows you to place the tyres just where you want them.

Is there anything I would change on this bike? Probably not is the honest answer. It's ready to ride from the box.
So there we have it. Two very impressive full suspension mountain bikes that hit the mark, impressing with good handling, composed and balanced suspension and all the while hitting some good price points."

Vitus bikes are available exclusively from Chain Reaction Cycles, ready to ride – so order yours now.