Finland’s Pole Bicycles launched their head-turning 29″ Evolink 140 bike back in 2016, and it’s due for an update. The V1.4 alloy frame will keep its 64.5° headtube angle, while the seat tube slides to a drastically steeper effective 79.9° angle to help the stretched reach feel cozier on the climb. Behind the 80° STA on a Privateer 161 frame, this is one of the steepest sitter-tubes in the business. Sizing across the range has lengthened, with the K2 (medium) measuring 497mm compared to its previous 480mm, pulling the wheelbase from 1287mm to 1301mm.
In a break with current trends, the Evolink 140 sees the bottom bracket rise from -20mm to -3mm. Pole reports that “Increasing the BB height has made the bike more maneuverable, fast and versatile, whilst making cornering easier. This is done by allowing more room for the rider’s knees to bend and letting the bike lean into the curve without a need to shift balance to either side as much. During testing, the lower the bottom bracket height, the more likely a bike tends to push up whilst cornering. A higher BB makes the bike easier to handle without taking away the straight line abilities – it’s easier to bunnyhop and manual.”
On the kinematics graphs, the Evolink 140 receives 9% of additional progressivity for a livelier ride, and a 19% increase in anti squat for improved pedaling efficiency.
Frame pricing on the updated model will start at €1,690 with one of three shocks and a Cane Creek headset. There will also be a limited number of complete builds with a RockShox Lyric fork and SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain retailing for €4,450. Pole will offer an upgrade kit for current Evolink 140 V1.3 owners, including replacement headset cups, a shock with the 55mm stroke, and the requisite shock hardware.
Learn more at Pole Bicycles.
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