The Twentyniner also feels a little high when you sit on it. However, the first few turns of the pedals feel good and the feeling of sitting high quickly dissipates during the ride. The massive Lane Rock rides inconspicuously at first, almost a little sedately. After the terrain changes from asphalt to gravel, the slightly cumbersome feeling disappears and you make good progress. It feels even better uphill. There, the all-mountain bike, which weighs just under 13 kilograms, climbs relatively easily. This is also where the lateral stiffness of the frame comes into play. Getting out of the saddle briefly and kicking up a ramp in a pedal stroke is no problem for the Lane. It responds to the acceleration with powerful propulsion. Over roots and stones and even in steeper sections, the Lane is impressive and keeps its grip - even without activating the fork's lowering mode. On longer climbs, the lowering mode of the Pike Dual Position suspension fork is a nice bit of luxury - not necessary, but more pleasant than without it. This means that the Lane can be used to climb for longer periods of time with less effort.

The Monarch RT3 shock from Rock Shox rides best uphill in "pedal" mode. This slows down the pedal impact and still absorbs enough shocks. On flat trails, it is better to leave it open for comfort. Then it unfolds its full sensitivity and responds to even the smallest bump. Downhill, the suspension really comes into its own. It continues to react very sensitively and also copes very well with fast bumps. The suspension is also excellent at changing from small, fast bumps to big hits. The 140 millimetres of travel are used well and there is still enough end progression to push the bike powerfully out of corners.

The Lane is also characterized by a very smooth ride. This comes into its own on fast, but also rough and twisty descents. Steep downhill sections can be mastered safely with the Lane, even if there are a few "stumbling blocks". Here, the 29-inch wheels clearly provide the decisive reserves.
What the Lane lacks a little is agility. While the handling is still nimble on flowing terrain, it needs a little more steering feel in tight hairpin bends. Fast successive turns, slalom-style, are also a little more challenging for the rider. However, with a little practice, this slight sluggishness can soon be compensated for, so that it does not detract from the driving pleasure in any way.

Conclusion: The Lane Rock from BiXS is what we mean by an all-mountain bike - strong everywhere with an extra bit of downhill fun. The bike offers plenty of reserves and provides a safe riding experience, which is why you can overlook the lack of agility. It's a bit of a shame that this top-spec bike goes for the cheaper DT Swiss Spline wheels of all things. The higher-quality 1501 Spline wheelset would have been more appropriate for this top equipment.

Specifications

Manufacturer: www.bixs.com