Can a Cross-Country Bike Double as a Downhiller? This One Sure as Hell Sends It

The new Specialized Epic EVO is longer, slacker and has more travel, putting it in the nascent down-country hybrid category. Is that enough to tackle all kinds of trails? We put it to the test.

Over the past few years, bikes have been growing more, ahem, specialized at an exponential rate. From tire size and tread, to front and rear suspension, to droppers and geometry, many are designed to do just one thing well– and if you’re lucky, be passable at the rest.
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