Neil Sutton, the designer of the Sonder bike range, shows off his newly built 2021 Sonder Evol boasting electronic shifting and kitchen tune suspension.
For 2021 Sonder has updated the Evol to run on larger 29in wheels while also stretching the frameset out to give the bikes more reach across the range. The bike shown in the photos is Neil Sutton’s personal bike, a build so new that this was his first ride on it.
The Sonder bike designer has spared no expense building up his dream Sonder Evol. Shifting is by SRAM and the wireless AXS drivetrain, the dropper is another AXS unit, chainset a flashy Ti model and even the suspension is the latest kit from Cane Creek.
Neil’s Sonder Evol is a size medium frame and has been put together with a really nice selection of components. The 2021 bike runs on larger 29in wheels and according to Sonder there is room in there for 2.6in tyres. Rear travel is 140mm and the frame is designed around a 150mm fork.The rear shock on Neil’s bike is the latest Cane Creek DB Kitsuma Air shock. If you like fiddling and fettling this could be the shock for you as it features a huge amount of external adjustment to set it just how you like. As Neil hadn’t ridden his bike until the day we shot the photos, his rear shock sported a ‘Kitchen tune’, one that Neil seemed pretty happy with.This new Cane Creek Helm fork in gloss black matches the stealthy looks of Neil’s build. Riders of the original Helm fork tended to remove the volume spacer to improve handling, the new Helm now ships with the volume spacer already out of the fork.Carbon Burgtec bars are some of the best you can buy. Not too stiff and a great sweep for comfort on the trail.The Titanium chainset fitted to Neil’s bike is another Cane Creek item. The EEWings chainset retails ant £999.99 which is actually £0.99 more than the Evol frameset and shock!Burgtec Penthouse MK4 composite pedals are lighter than the alloy versions and a little easier to service.The Evol is set up for internal gear cable and brake hose routing, but as Neil has opted for AXS he doesn’t need to worry about cables. SRAM AXS wireless reverb dropper post with camo Charge saddle.Uberbikes Ti bolts add a little extra flash to the stealthy build.Powerful Hayes Dominion A4 brakes get 4 piston callipers front and rear. The brake levers have a really nice smooth action thanks to sealed cartridge bearings as standard.Neil knows what UK riders want to see on their bikes so it’s hardly surprising the Evol runs a threaded BB shell. The welds on this alloy frame look really nice and clean too.With AXS fears, Cane Creek suspension and Ti cranks, Neil might have been tempted to put a set of carbon wheels on this bike, but instead it’s fitted with WTB wheels. Are they good? Well Neil thinks they’re the best alloy rim on the market.Does this Sonder Evol have enough bling? Let us know your thoughts on this custom build in the comments section below.
Andi is a gadget guru and mountain biker who has lived and ridden bikes in China and Spain before settling down in the Peak District to become Singletrack's social media expert. He is definitely more big travel fun than XC sufferer but his bike collection does include some rare hardtails - He's a collector and curator as well as a rider. Theory and practice in perfect balance with his inner chi, or something. As well as living life based on what he last read in a fortune cookie Andi likes nothing better than riding big travel bikes.
“With AXS fears, Cane Creek suspension and Ti cranks”
I’d be scared of such an expensive rear mech too.
That axs mech is a tank. I have the xx1 version on my capra and beat the hell out of it.