The time has come for the GT Force Carbon to get a bit of a refresh, and that it certainly has for 2022. The bike gets a refined frame with more progressive geometry, an adjustable chainstay, integrated storage, and of course, that idler pulley. Oh, and for 2022, it's a 29er.​

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Let's start off with that interesting looking idler pulley. It was first found on GT's Fury downhill bike and the design was so successful that it's found its way onto the brand's enduro bike.

The brand found that the idler enhanced the four-bar linkage and creates an optimised rear-wheel axle path which results in greater bump absorption while allowing the designers to dial in the bike's efficient pedaling and controlled braking, says GT.

It's also compatible with either air or coil shocks. Then, as mentioned before, the new bike only runs 29" wheels and gets 160mm of travel out the back with 170mm up front.

As for the frame, it's been updated with a collection of neat details, such as the integrated chain guide, custom chainstay, and seatstay protection as well as tube-in-tube cable routing. There's also a dedicated spot for strapped spares storage.

Then, GT has given the Force Carbon's geometry an update, gracing it with a 63.5° head tube angle, a 78° seat tube angle and a large frame gets a 480mm reach. There's also a lower standover and a taller head tube, which should offer more control, says the brand.

2022 GT force carbon adjustable chainstay.jpg, by Liam Mercer

What's special about the geometry though, is that the bike is kitted with a flip-chip in the chainstay, which allows for 10mm of forward are rearward adjustment, essentially lengthening and shortening the bike. In the short setting, the bike adopts a 435mm chainstay, in the long setting it stretches to 445m.

The GT Force Carbon is available in three build options. Each of the bikes gets its suspension from RockShox with the spendier models being graced with a ZEB fork, while the most affordable bike gets a Yari. A RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ handles the rear suspension on each of the bikes apart from the base model, which gets a Super Deluxe Select unit.

Then, you'll find SRAM Eagle shifting and SRAM Code brakes, whereas the base model gets TRP Slate T4 brakes.

Each of the bikes is available in sizes small up to extra-large.

Prices for the new GT Force Carbon start at £4,600 for the Pro model and go up to £5,400 for the Pro LE.

• www.gtbicycles.com

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