VOODOO BIZANGO
£600.00 www.halfords.com
You may associate the name with bloody sacrifices and occult rituals rather than bicycles, but thanks to the huge buying power of VooDoo’s owner Halfords, there’s some strong witchcraft going on with the Bizango.
THE BUILD
Much like Halford’s other house brand Boardman, the benefits of being owned by a giant are plain to see when it comes to the spec level offered for the money. The Bizango has some bits of kit that you’d be happy to see on a much higher-priced bike.
First, the big, bump-quelling 29in wheels are shod with high-quality 2.25in Maxxis Ardent tyres. They come up a bit bigger than their stated size, offering plenty of comfort, while the rubber compound and tread pattern provide impressive and predictable grip on almost every surface, save for deep mud. Up front there’s an easy-to-adjust air-sprung Suntour Raidon fork with a 15mm thru axle that improves stiffness and steering accuracy, while a fork-mounted lockout is present to tame the bounce on smoother terrain.
The aluminium frame has been revised to add more compliance, though the 31.6mm-diameter seatpost still passes on the odd wallop. Shimano provides the Acera M355 brakes, which do all that’s asked of them. Shimano also provides the drivetrain, save for a Suntour double chainset.
While having only two chainrings limits the overall range, the 11-36t cassette still offers plenty of gearing to get you up, over and down anything a multisport course may throw at you. The Deore shifters are also smooth, but the biggest advantage comes from a clutch-equipped rear mech that helps prevent the chain falling off.
THE RIDE
The Bizango has more stable handling than the Cube thanks to longer and slacker ‘trail’ geometry, something that you don’t often find on most bikes at this price. Along with a cockpit combo of wide bars and short stem, it really allows you to assert your authority when the trails get rougher. While that might seem counter-intuitive when using the bike in a race setting, when you’re tired it means that the bike doesn’t need constant attention in order to keep it on line. It also lets you press home a time advantage over rivals aboard more sketchy-handling bikes on tricky descents.
The VooDoo’s not accompanied by any weight penalty either, tipping the scales at 12.96kg, compared to the Cube’s 13.4kg bulk and extra £199 cost. The shorter stem means that even on steep sections, you’re put in a much less precarious position than you are when riding the Cube, which boosts confidence no end. It’s not a handful on the climbs either, as your weight is slung across the bike in a way that allows you to maintain front end grip as the gradient increases.
That clutch-equipped rear mech not only prevents the chain falling off, it also means there’s much less clattering and banging from the drivetrain as you ride over rough ground, which adds to the feeling of solidity and composure that the stiff and accurate fork gives. It’s also got decent damping that holds your head steady even when the trail should be rattling your eyeballs out.
Despite the occasionally bumpy ride from the back end – something that an upgrade to a carbon-fibre seatpost would sort – the Bizango runs rings around its rivals when it comes to handling, speed, confidence and fun. It’ll have you wanting to get out to ride longer and more frequently, as well as helping coax out more skill and speed by flattering your ability and fitness.
It’s hard to find fault with any element of the bike or the kit fitted to it – it even has super-secure lock-on grips – especially as it comes at a price that leaves plenty in the bank.