For the second time in its history,
our Trail 8 has been recognized as the best E-MTB of the year by readers of Vélo Vert magazine!
Created in 1993 by the French magazine Vélo Vert, the Mountain Bike of the Year election has become THE benchmark. The electric version, meanwhile, has existed since 2017.
The election takes place in two phases, first a vote by Vélo Vert readers to designate the 5 brands they wish to see in the final, then a full-scale field test by a panel of randomly selected readers and members of the magazine's editorial staff. During two days of intensive riding, the bikes are pushed to their limits and tested in all situations.
This award therefore has a very special value since it is the public who designates the best electric bike of the year in a completely independent manner.
For the 4 years that the E-MTB election has existed, Moustache has always been on the podium. Our Trail, which is the versatile MTB par excellence, has already shone in all previous editions (3rd in 2017, 1st in 2018 and 2nd in 2019, 2020 edition cancelled). The Trail family perfectly embodies the Moustache philosophy in terms of accessibility, performance, design, and riding pleasure.
Our pride and gratitude are immense! Thank you all for this wonderful award :-{D
Behind the scenes of the 2021 election
How Yann, a trainer at Moustache, experienced this edition from the inside
It was in 1996 that I bought my first MTB magazine and discovered the Mountain Bike of the Year election.
The winning model of the time (the Sunn Revolt, but shhh) made me dream, and I was in awe every time I went to my local dealer in Digne-les-Bains. The event also made me dream: being drawn among the readers, meeting my favorite brands in superb spots, and being able to try out the best bikes of the era!
25 years later, I finally achieved one of my dreams by working for a bike brand, as Head of Training at Moustache Bikes. So when my colleague Clément, media manager and accustomed to presentations at the Mountain Bike of the Year election, announced that we were once again in the final and told me: « Hey, the Mountain Bike of the Year election is happening in Digne this year, that's your home, right? Would you like to go there with Quentin to present the Trail 8? ». I didn't have to be asked twice!
The next few days will be dedicated to preparing our Trail 8s for the testing phase. Quentin, Moustache's event manager, has participated in all the E-MTB of the Year elections, so he is perfectly seasoned. He knows the suspension settings and all the small details to pay attention to inside out. On my side, I'm preparing the presentation speech for the testers: the goal is to successfully explain that a Moustache is not just a bike with innovations and technical qualities. It's also, and above all, 160 people behind the brand, working hard and with passion, each in their area of expertise, so that this bike ends up here on this cool April morning.
Finally, it's my turn to speak, encouraged by Quentin. I enter the yurt set up for the occasion by the Vélo Vert team, and I'll let you discover the rest in the replay broadcast by Vélo Vert.
Once the presentation is over, it's nothing but pleasure!
Exchanging, adjusting, riding, and explaining to today's readers all the passion and attention to detail we put into our Trail 8.
As every year, testers come from all walks of life; some are virtually discovering E-MTB, while others practice it in competition. But all display a child's smile opening presents at Christmas.
The Terres Noires are a geological curiosity (we are right in the heart of the Haute Provence geological reserve, famous for its fossils) but above all an incredible, lunar terrain conducive to mountain biking. These landscapes have made generations of mountain bikers dream, so readers are eager to know if the terrain lives up to its reputation!
After a short shuttle to the village of Archail, we finally get to the heart of the matter with steep and technical climbs! All the better for us, this is where the Magic Grip suspension Control of the Trail 8 excels. At the bottom of a stream, wheels in the water, we attack a steep climb that chains roots, steps, and tight turns. Everyone tries to climb with varying degrees of success under encouragement. After an unsuccessful attempt, I tell one of the Trail 8 testers: “Switch to Magic Tour mode” and then… it works! Indeed, the assistance provided allows maintaining control and grip.
After a short loop where everyone gets an eyeful, we return to the bivouac. We quickly have to swap bikes between testers, change pedals, but most importantly, fine-tune the suspension settings to adjust them to each tester's weight and preferences. At Moustache, we are extremely rigorous on this subject, because suspension settings are crucial to guarantee an optimal riding experience!
Meal break. Back to Archail. Fantastic local products, and that cheese... hard to resist!
In the afternoon, we link rotations, moving from one bike to another, and the day ends with the light of a sunset over the Terres Noires…
The next day, another playground in the Brusquet forest park, a small village where I spent my entire adolescence and which I rediscover with emotion. The loops are shorter and X-country oriented, which allows other technical qualities of the bike to be highlighted.
We link the loops, and Quentin meticulously notes each reader's settings to fine-tune them throughout the day. Every “click” counts in the suspension's behavior. The end of the day is approaching, and no one seems to want to go home!
Back at the campsite, the testers withdraw to note their impressions for the final election, then we carry out the traditional weighing of the bikes, and it's already time to say goodbye.
