IDLE FANCIES

High-pivot bikes have finally hit the mainstream, with two new trail models from Norco and Cannondale

CANNONDALE JEKYLL 1 £6,500

High-pivot idler bikes have long been the outliers of the Mtb world; engineering curios that sparked debates but never gained a foothold in the mainstream market. Lauded for their supposedly superior square-edge performance – thanks to mostly rearward axle paths – but hamstrung by extra complexity, these designs have been a rare sight outside of World Cup downhill racing.

In recent years we’ve seen the emergence of more versatile trail bikes, such as the Forbidden Druid and Deviate Highlander (both tested on p92), but these are still low-volume models from super-small brands. Until now, no household names have put their weight behind a high-pivot trail bike. All that has changed with the introduction (on two consecutive days, no less) of two new high-pivot trail bikes from genuine High Street marques: the Cannondale Jekyll and the Norco Range.