All Arround MTB

The semi-carbon Sommet frame isn’t new, but Vitus have got it sticky and rolled it through their selection of shiny bits to produce a killer-value all-rounder with parts to die for. The frame In common with a lot of costeffective composite frames (see this month’s Biketest, page 96), the Sommet pairs a carbon fibre front end with an aluminium rear. Vitus have opted for a four-bar Horst Link suspension layout, but placed the rear pivots further forward on the relatively skinny chainstays than on most similar designs. The shock drives downwards through a hole in the base of the kinked and flared seat tube, and a 15mm collet main pivot increases stiffness. Internal mainframe cable routing keeps things looking neat, and the MRP chain guide and sump bumper sit on built-in ISCG mounts. Vitus bikes we’ve had on long-term test haven’t suffered unduly from the use of a press-fit bottom bracket, though a screw-in unit would make maintenance easier. The frame is slightly dated in terms

Cast an eye over the Vitus and you’d be fooled into thinking you’re looking at a far more expensive bike. The Sommet CR is the only carbon fibre machine on test (the front triangle, at least) and still a couple of hundred quid below our upper price limit. It comes with a RockShox Reverb dropper post too, and a lighter Pike fork rather than the burlier but slightly more refined Lyrik. Getting the suspension balanced took a little fiddling and we found ourselves creeping up the spring pressure chart on the rear shock and adding volume bands to stop it bottoming out too easily. Once set up, the Sommet feels very natural and easy to get along with, although it doesn’t flatten out the trail like some of the bikes on test. There’s a tautness to the frame that lets you zip the Vitus up, around or over obstacles with relative ease and a sense of playfulness that some of these big-hitters can lack at times. It covers ground quickly on mellower trails and, at 13.9kg, climbing is more athlet

The most obvious part of the Vitus’s punchy package is the Manitou Minute Expert fork with 140mm stroke paired to slack, extended front end geometry. It’s got a smoothly controlled start and is usefully progressive, though there’s some flex under severe braking and cornering loads. There’s a definite ‘knack’ to using the Hexlock bayonet axle too. The TPC Absolute + damping makes fine adjustment of initial sensitivity or return speed easy and they’re an impressive overall performer for the bike price.

THE SOMMET PRO is a head turner with its matt black finish, matching blacked-out SRAM and RockShox components and bright yellow Mavic hoops.

T he Vitus brand is owned by mail order giants Chain Reaction Cycles, with the range – which covers mountain and road bikes – available exclusively from them. The buying process is therefore straightforward – go to the website, choose a bike, add it to your basket, pay, then wait a day or two until a huge box arrives on your doorstep. Bikes come mostly assembled – you just need to straighten the bars.