Are your bikes getting a bit too old? Mine certainly are. With a new year upon us, one of my many resolutions is to freshen up my bike quiver, because nothing motivates me to stick to my riding resolutions like a shiny new rig.
To build the perfect quiver, I’ve been keeping an eye on the latest crop of 2022 bikes to show up in The Pro’s Closet’s inventory. These bikes all have the newest tech and low mileage, so you’ll be able to ride them hard for years to come. Here are the top picks for my modern dream quiver.
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Road bike
Orbea Orca M21e Team - $4,199.99
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Way back in 2008, my favorite team was Euskaltel-Euskadi, a small Basque team riding Orbea bikes, and its star rider, Samuel Sánchez, had just won Olympic gold aboard the Orca. This inspired me to buy an Orca as my first carbon road bike. My bikes and preferences have changed a lot since then, but I still love the original Orca. Now I can relive my glory years with the latest version, which has a frame that is more comfortable and aerodynamic. Plus it has a wireless SRAM Force AXS drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and tubeless-ready wheels, you know, (let me put my flame suit on) all the good stuff roadies should want.
Gravel bike
OPEN U.P. - $7,299.00
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Okay, I’m cheating a little bit here. OPEN is one of those progressive bike brands that abstains from using model years, so even though this U.P. frame could technically be from any year, I’m going to use the no model year argument to include it in my 2022 dream quiver. That’s how bad I want one. Compared to OPEN’s other models, the U.P. has racier geometry (i.e., lower stack and steeper angles), so it will feel fast and agile on hard-packed gravel and pavement. With clearance for big 40mm tires, it can still handle the rough stuff. To me, this combo makes the U.P. the ultimate gravel race rig. The best part is the snot-green color, which disgusts my wife, but reminds me of my late beloved Ibis Hakkalügi.
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Trail MTB
Specialized Stumpjumper Pro - $7,699.99
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The latest Stumpjumper does away with the 4-bar FSR suspension system that has been in use since the dawn of time and replaces it with a linkage-driven single-pivot with flex stays. This means the new Stumpy is simpler, lighter, and more efficient than its predecessor. That’s perfect for me because my ideal trail bike is a quiver-killer that can shred hard but also take on the occasional all-day epic or marathon XC race. Coming in at 28 pounds with 130mm of travel, this Stumpy is the ideal compromise between raciness and sendy-ness, the perfect do-it-all solution for trails that require a lot of pedaling to access those tasty downhills.
Enduro MTB
Cannondale Jekyll - $6,999.99
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As versatile as the Stumpjumper is, there are some trails where you just need something burlier. That’s where the new Cannondale Jekyll comes in. With 165mm of travel and a 170mm fork, it’ll let me push my limits on the toughest downhill tracks. The Jekyll’s main attraction is its new high-pivot suspension system (check out the idler above the chainring). If you don’t know, high-pivots are hot right now because they increase plushness and traction in rough terrain. I’ve been dying to try out a high-pivot enduro bike, and ever since it was announced last year, the Jekyll has been at the top of my list. With such an advanced bike, I’m guaranteed to get a few Big Mountain Enduro podiums, right? Right?
Total Cost: $26,198.97
This is a dream quiver where, if I could only pick one bike, I’d probably die of indecision. The Orbea Orca is the best looking (to me). The Cannondale Jekyll is unique and novel. But the bikes I’d actually ride the most are probably the OPEN U.P. or the Specialized Stumpjumper. My waffling might get even worse because 2022 bikes are going to keep showing up on our site. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a 2022 Scott Spark, or Santa Cruz Blur XC bike, and maybe a fresh new aero bike so I can make this dream quiver even dreamier.
What 2022 bikes are you most excited about? Or do you have no interest in fancy-schmancy new bikes? Let me know in the comments!
