Forbidden Introduces Mixed-Wheel Druid Ziggy Edition

We normally don’t bring news of new bikes if the “new” part only means an updated spec. But the Forbidden Druid Ziggy Edition is different, and it is further evidence that the industry is finally embracing mixed-wheel bikes. Forbidden Bikes introduced the Ziggy Link a little over a year ago, which can modify both the Druid’s and, later, the Dreadnought’s geometry to work with a 27.5-inch rear wheel. But it was only an aftermarket component until now. The 130mm rear-travel, 150 front Druid GX Ziggy is the brand’s first mixed-wheel-out-of-the-box build, and it benefits from the Ziggy Link’s slightly more aggressive geometry. It drops the bottom bracket by 4mm and slackens the head angle by 0.5 degrees, though that means it also slackens the seat tube angle to 75.1 degrees. Still featured is Forbidden’s “One Ride” approach to rear-center length, which lengthens the chainstays as frame size increases. Other brands do the same, but nobody does it like Forbidden. Instead of adding just 5mm per size, or making one 10mm jump somewhere mid-range, Forbidden increases rear-center by a full 12mm for each increase in size, ending in 451mm on the XL frame, while starting at a super tight 425mm for the small.

Now, while we’re here, we might as well talk about the spec. On top of the GX drivetrain and Ziggy Link given away in the name, the Forbidden Druid GX Ziggy Edition gets a Performance Elite 36 Grip2 fork and Float X2 shock, G2 RSC brakes and a Race Face cockpit. But probably most notable is the Crankbrothers Synthesis Alloy wheelset. The Synthesis Alloy front-and-rear-specific construction further highlights the new way of thinking around wheels, a lot like the Druid Ziggy Edition itself does.

The Druid Ziggy Edition goes for $6,600 U.S., and there will be a batch available in North America this month, with another re-supply happening in August and another in November. Head to forbiddenbike.com for more info.