Commencal really brought things to life with the dynamic color range of their products. There was this unmistakable vivacity to their lineup. And that was true not only of their recent lineup. Commencal’s story started in 2000: a new century had brought with it new aspirations and new technologies. It was this liveliness that built the brand’s momentum. The META series came into being in 2005; a decade later, it was hailed as among the decade’s top 10 bikes by in the British Press. Commencal has since put life into the mountain biking scene. In Nepal too, Epic Mountain Bikes shouldered the responsibility of distributing Commencal mountain bikes in the country, and they did a pretty good job. Luckily, this was happening while the mountain biking craze was taking over the country. Pedal power garnered a massive appeal and mountain bikes began selling like hot cakes. A new culture began to spawn and did very well for over a decade.
Then, all of a sudden, the market dipped. The initial craze began to die. Air pollution levels skyrocketed. People who had taken up cycling to be healthy had to stop for the sake of their own health. Things looked bleak, and the industry suffered.
However, this is when the essence of mountain biking rises above and prevails. While the health benefits of cycling may have been a key reason for many commuters to get into cycling, there is a greater draw that spurs mountain bikers throughout the world, that of freedom. Whether you’re shredding single tracks, rambling down hills, or just exploring the landscape, few other activities give you the same sense of freedom.
We think, with the Meta AM New Zealand Series, Commencal hark back to these very basics: enjoying the joys of cycling, injecting life into the mundane.
Styling
Although Commencal have opted out of using their vibrant color lineup, there is as much life in the styling as ever. The silver paint scheme gets a Maori tribal prints, which brings a certain class and charisma to the Meta V4.2.
It must be said though, this particular bike that we had been decked out. The DVO Diamond front suspensions provide 160mm of travel and a wicked style element. Rockshox Super Deluxe takes care of the rear suspension duties. Instead of a carbon frame, the Meta AM has a gorgeous brushed-aluminum one and a 12-speed SRAM Eagle drivetrain.
Performance
As we said, Commencal have put a lot into the META v4.2. This is not one of those all-mountain bikes that will happily do double-duty as a trail bike. It demands speed, and then some more speed, and then some things to smash through with all that speed. Its head angle is perched at an aggressive 65.5 degrees, and its wheelbase stretches to 1,205 millimeters for an incredibly stable wingspan. This makes the ride closer to downhill than trail.
Verdict
The new Meta AM v4.2 breathes new life into mountain biking. While commuting duties are properly fulfilled, it also eggs you onto more adrenaline pumping trails. It gives you the courage and enthusiasm to give that daunting steep drop, which you might have been ignoring till now, another look. And when you finally gather up enough nerve to take it on, the Meta AM V4.2 will take up the challenge and leave you unscathed (unless you do something stupid). Then you’ll want to do it again.
You’re always pushed to take on harder and more difficult things with the Meta AM, because it’s always ready and willing to take anything on. There’s nothing that will hold you, or it, back. Now right there is the true expression of freedom.
Comments