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Outdoor Tips, Tricks, Inspiration and Activities | MEC Blog

I had the chance to take Ghost Bikes’ latest all-mountain machine out for a test ride. After a successful year on the most playful and fun bike I’ve owned – the Ghost Riot 7 LC – I was excited to try the new model, the 2015 Ghost Riot LT 8 LC. It has some distinct differences from the Riot 7 LC I rode in 2014, and here are my thoughts on the changes that created the new LT series.



The “LT” stands for “long-travel,” and it reflects the adjustable 150/120mm Fox 34 Talas fork that’s spec’d on the bike. Using the same 130mm Riot-link suspension as the Riot 7 LC, the LT 8 has a taller stack height and a slacker geometry compared to its predecessor. It has a 67° head tube angle for better control while descending aggressive terrain, without compromising climbing or maneuverability.



The carbon fibre Riot LT 8 LC is the mid-level model to the Riot LT series. Spec’d with a full Shimano XT drivetrain, it includes a clutch-style, medium-caged rear derailleur and a 38-24 tooth 2×10 crankset. The brake system is also Shimano XT, which is recognized as one of the leaders in 2-piston hydraulic brakes.



Adjustable seat posts have become a favourite with mountain bikers, and the KS LEV post that comes with the bike is a solid and reliable example of why they’re so popular. With 125mm of cable-actuated adjustable travel, this post lets you position your seat in the right place for any trail situation. All cables are routed internally, which offers more than just aesthetic value. It also protects cables from prematurely wearing out and keeps them running smooth and clean.



One of the most notable features of the new Riot LT is the Cane Creek’s Double Barrel Inline. The stability and responsiveness of the Riot’s carbon frame is nicely complemented by the precise tuning capabilities of the shock. The ability to fine-tune your suspension with the Riot’s suspension design has brought this bike to another level of excellence.

The suspension curve follows a digressive trend in the first 20% of travel to help you settle into an efficient pedalling platform. From there, the curve takes a more linear path as you move through the 20-80% range of your travel. When the Riot Link engages in the last 20% of travel, the rate shifts to a more progressive curve for bottom-out control.

The result is a bike that pedals fast, is comfortable through its different ranges of travel, and ramps up for big hits.



I highly recommend this bike to anyone looking for a nimble trail bike with the angles to make climbing a breeze, but still allows for aggressive descending. With 20mm more fork travel, a higher stack height, and slacker head tube angle than the LC, the LT model is a confidence booster when you tackle technical trails. The Riot LT is a highly capable bike that builds off the success of the award-winning suspension design used throughout the Riot series.



Review of the 2015 Ghost bikes Riot LT | MEC Blog

Review of the 2015 Ghost bikes Riot LT

Most people think about tents when they think about camping, only a few hardcore minimalists picture a tarp hung over a bivy sack. But a tent combined with a tarp can revolutionize your camping experience

## Kitchen and assembly zone
At the end of a long hiking or paddling day, you might find yourself in heavy rain, wet and chilled. In this case, the first thing to do is set up a tarp. Once up, you change into your dry clothes and pitch the tent underneath it while you stay dry. Once the tent is set up, you can move it to another spot if you don’t plan to sleep under the tarp.

While you’re dry and warm (and assured of staying that way), you can contemplate supper or start getting warmed with a mug of hot soup. Rain isn’t the only reason to put up the tarp. If you rig end one low to the ground or a windbreak, it can block gusts and make it much easier to cook and more pleasant to hang out.



## Living room and porch
If you wake to bad weather or you’re taking a day off, you have a spacious refuge where you can hang out, sip coffee and observe changing weather, light and tides. You can even bask in the warmth of a wood stove or a small fire. Just try that in a tent.



## Which tarp?
A light, practical option is a lightweight nylon tarp impregnated with silicone. Water beads and runs off and they can be rigged in a variety of ways. An excellent option is the [MEC Silicone Guides Tarp](/en/product/5027-716/Silicone-Guides-Tarp). It fits into a small stuff sack that’s hardly bigger than a 1L water bottle will provide a 4 x 3-meter space, big enough for two people to sit and relax.

Once you get used to adding a tarp to your camp setup, it will become as essential as hot soup or fine chocolate to your camping weekends and multi-day adventures.



Tarp + tent = the ultimate camp set-up | MEC Blog

Tarp + tent = the ultimate camp set-up

I’ve had a fantastic season on my Cagua series Ghost Bike, riding quite aggressively in multiple disciplines. It’s been incredibly capable of handling whatever I’ve asked of it – everything from all-day XC epics to steep and gnarly North Shore descents.

Using four bar linkage suspension, the Cagua is made to be an efficient pedaling machine. I found it had limited pedal bob on climbs, but that didn’t take away from how it handled downhill. It maintained a supple and active rear end on descents, and geometry wise, the 67° head tube angle boosted confidence on steep, technical lines.



The aluminum Cagua 6540 is the entry-level model to the Ghost Bikes enduro category of bikes, and uses 155mm of travel for an all-encompassing ride. The 6540 is spec’d with a Shimano drivetrain, mostly consisting of XT and SLX level components. Ghost has subbed in XT components for more important shifting pieces to keep the drivetrain as solid as possible at the price point. The brake system is Shimano SLX, which has become a benchmark for what should be expected from 2-piston brakes. To keep braking power optimal without adding extra weight, it uses a 203mm front rotor and a 180mm rear instead of stocking dual 203mm rotors.

Perhaps one of the greatest inventions for the modern mountain bike, dropper posts have become almost a necessity for aggressive riding. The Cagua 6540 comes stock with the [X-fusion Hilo post](/en/product/5032-950/Hilo-125-Seat-Post), which gives you 125mm of adjustability, and is another confidence-inspiring component that doesn’t require aftermarket purchase.



Wheel size is a much debated concept, but what really matters is what is going to work for you and your riding style. The Cagua series uses 650B wheels, and has developed the frame geometry to accurately complement the wheel size. 650B has recently grown in popularity due to some of its advantages including lower rolling resistance, better traction, and an overall smoother feeling ride.

Over the past season, my Cagua series bike performed solidly with all I’ve thrown at it. For the price-point, the 6540 gets you into the Cagua line-up with a mid- to high-end component spec, and is an awesome way to get hooked on mountain biking.



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MEC Blog

Review of the 2015 Ghost bikes Riot LT

Tarp + tent = the ultimate camp set-up

Full season: Ghost Cagua bike review