In a slower gear year for the bike industry, Singletracks editors Jeff and Matt discuss their favorite bikes and gear tested in 2023. Some notable bikes include the Canyon Spectral CF 8 with its mixed wheel build and coil shock, the Evil the Following, the Pivot Mach 4 SL, the Jamis Renegade gravel bike, and the Canfield Lithium. They also mention the Transition TransAm and the Diamondback Yowie as interesting bikes they didn't get to test. Overall, they highlight the fun and versatility of downcountry and short-travel trail bikes.
Dave Friedman, Eddie Van Halen's former rig builder, revealed that the guitar legend would torture test his gear by leaving his studio with the amp cranked and the guitar strings vibrating on the floor for days, and even up to a month. Van Halen wanted to push his equipment to its breaking point to ensure its reliability and longevity. He would also test the gear with a bass to assess its performance with lower frequencies. Fender, the producer of EVH gear, even witnessed the intense feedback when visiting Van Halen's studio during one of these experiments. The gear held up, providing a sense of relief to Fender.
