I just returned from a fantastic visit to Alicante Spain 🇪🇸 to visit Mondraker. This brand may be unfamiliar to many in the USA, but in europe they have been marching forward since 2001 with designs that have been out front for many years. They have the most impressive assembly facility I have witnessed in person. The people are kind, generous and inviting. We rode some amazing trails right out of their door and ate food at each meal was nothing short of amazing.
We have sold Mondraker on and off for ten years, but the prior distribution was frankly somewhat tough to deal with. They have recently setup up their own office in boulder. This is extremely helpful when dealing with a brand who is based 1/2 a world away.
I had a wonderful exchange with Miguel Pina (CEO) for 3-4 meals and we discussed the rich history of the brand. He is a wonderful human and we had a few very interesting conversations. His history with racing DH and a drive to make the best bike in the world in evident. This is a MTB brand to the core. They just came out with their first gravel bike and we had a wonderful ride down to the sea on very beautiful gravel roads through ancient buildings and impressive terrain. I had to jump in the sea to at least say I had been in another body of water I had never seen before.
Mondraker is an innovator who makes world class bikes. They are not shy to say they test all the other major player's bikes in the market and they strive to make the most cutting edge product possible. Their design and assembly is done in spain but the frame production s done in asia. They are quick to point out that not all frames made in asia are built to the same standards and they keep their own staff in asia to oversee production and oversee quality control.
A little history here:
20 YEARS OF WINNING
mondraker.com
As common in europe, the E-bike market is their strongest segment. I rode both the Crafty and the Dune and I was impressed with both. They are a strong partner with Sram, Bosch, Maxxis,E-13, Ergon, Race Face, Ohlins, and Fox. Initially, I found it unusual that they were primarily running MAVIC wheels. Mavic disappeared from the US market a while ago but has since returned recently. The wheels we rode were in fact fantastic and I was happy to see that they seem to have improved significantly since I last rode them. The DUNE that we rode had Ohlins suspension front and rear. I was VERY impressed with how their newest suspension systems rode.
The last day, 3 of us were treated to a special ride on some new, private trails that were built in the last two months. We self shuttled on E-bikes to the highest peak in the area and rode some steep descents with amazing view and very technical terrain. We all walked at least a few sections as some of this was a techy as anything i've seen in a DH park.
We already have the Crafty, SLY, Raze, Arid, Summon, and the F-Podium on the floor. We have committed to the brand in a big way for this season and I recommend stopping by to see these bike in person. They do a great job of complimenting the solid brands we already sell. You will see a LOT of Mondraker in the coming years in the USA. Take a second to watch some review on youtube and check out how these bikes compare to those you have tried in the past. I am really inspired by the love these people have for the sport and their passion to make the best bikes known to man.
This was one of the most memorable trips I have been on and I can't recommend enough a visit to Spain.
Yes,it was cold. For some reason I was the only one swimming at the beach this day.
Shepard inspects for precise assembly!
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