I got hold of this bike after a Sunday morning ride and snapped up the opportunity of taking it for a spin, my legs were already tired from the mornings ride and a fairly long ride on the Saturday so I only planned to take it for a shortly just to see what all the fuss about the Maverick design was all about, I was also interested as to how well the SRAM X-9 shifters (apparently then only ones in the uk) performed. The Maverick Reposado is billed as the XC race bike in Maverick's line up (two bikes at the moment) with 80 mm of travel via the unique Monolink™ rear suspension: "a unique wheel movement that eliminates pedal kickback and suspension bob, and a structural shock that reduces weight and increases frame rigidity" all sound good so far

As if one pivot wasn't enough, look at the scuffs on that XTR

My initial response as I rode out of Brandon Country Park car park, was hello old friend, just seemed like your favorite chair .. or something very familiar. The initial bit of single track is a little technical and the low (11.5 inch) bottom bracket compared to the Titus caught me out a few times, but this is something that you get used to (I think).

I think the best way to describe the bike on single track is dependable, it didn't give you any nasty surprises, neither did it beg you to ride it faster, it just took the corners and went into the next one, no fuss, no fun. What the bike did ask you to do was keep pedaling, I was already tired when I went out and the bike just wanted to keep going, no matter what the conditions you just kept pedaling, climbs descents burly single track you just kept a going. I probably did the loop that I did in record time, but it just didn't feel like it.

Pedaling out the saddle on this bike was just outstanding .Climbs are this bike natural territory, something to do with the light weight and the bikes desire for you to keep pedaling at all times.

I did have a lot of problems with the front mech and shifter and considering how well the SRAM X.9 shifter and XO mech worked on the rear (see separate review), the blame for the none shifting and rubbing at the front can only be put down to the XTR mech or the frame, didn't have time to work this out, but searching the web indicates that other Monolink riders have had a similar problem

In conclusion,if somebody said to me 'you have to do a 24 hour solo bike ride next weekend you can have any bike you want' I would without doubt chose this .. would I buy one, not a chance in hell, riding is about having fun and this just made me want to pedal and pedal, and keep pedaling.