Norco announces Optic 27.5 and 29 Trail bikes

Canadian bike-meisters Norco have announced a new offering in the ‘trail’ category – the Optic. It’s available either with 27.5in or with 29in wheels, and made out of either aluminium or carbon. The idea is they’ve used their all-mountain nous to design a frame that’s playful and lively, that can climb as well as being able to kick back and shred on the descents.

It’s Boost, of course – and there’s a clever removable ISCG mount which can also incorporate a front mech hanger for all teh versatiles.

Reach looks pretty good, and the angles are in the ballpark for a trail bike. All the 27.5 bikes run a 60mm stem, and all the 27.5in bikes come with a 60mm. In keeping with Norco’s philosophy, each size of bike from XS to XL has a different length of chainstay, as well as front centre.

Prices range from €7,299 for the top-whack carbon job, all the way down to €2,499 for the most reasonable aluminium one.

They look pretty sweet! Hopefully we’re getting one in to test, STAT. For more details, see Norco’s website.

Barney Marsh

Barney Marsh takes the word ‘career’ literally, veering wildly across the road of his life, as thoroughly in control as a goldfish on the dashboard of a motorhome. He’s been, with varying degrees of success, a scientist, teacher, shop assistant, binman and, for one memorable day, a hospital laundry worker. These days, he’s a dad, husband, guitarist, and writer, also with varying degrees of success. He sometimes takes photographs. Some of them are acceptable. Occasionally he rides bikes to cast the rest of his life into sharp relief. Or just to ride through puddles. Sometimes he writes about them. Bikes, not puddles. He is a writer of rongs, a stealer of souls and a polisher of turds. He isn’t nearly as clever or as funny as he thinks he is.