The Dentist's XC Secret: Testing the Year's Hottest Bikes

Robert Wilson · 2026-09-28

Ever feel like your weekdays are all about the drill and fill, but your weekends are pure trail thrill? You know the drill: Monday through Friday, it's all about surgery lights and patient charts. But come Saturday? It's carbon frames, winding single-track, and a heart rate pushing 180. If that sounds familiar, you're exactly who we're looking for. We're opening up our test garage for a special 2026 cross-country group test. And we need two dentists who are ready to trade the dental chair for a half-day of serious riding. Think rough trails, root carpets, and the absolute hottest XC machines this season has to offer. This is your chance to escape the ordinary. ### Get Your Hands on the Season's Top Performers We're lining up the most exciting bikes of the year. The SCOTT Spark, Santa Cruz Blur, Specialized S-Works Epic, and Canyon Lux World Cup are just a few of the contenders. For this group test, we're putting these fast, precision machines through their paces on real trails. You'll get the unique opportunity to ride them back-to-back and give us your unvarnished take. This isn't about chasing leaderboard times or setting personal records. It's about something much more valuable: real-world impressions. We want to hear what you think about the tech, the feel, and the ride quality. Which bike concept actually works when the rubber meets the dirt, not just in the marketing brochure? More importantly, which one would you want to roll straight out of the woods and take home? ### Who We're Looking For Let's be clear: we're not searching for pro racers. We're looking for two passionate riders who live for the trail and love a good time. The only hard requirement? You have to work in dentistry. That's the whole point of our first-ever Dentist Bike Test. We're leaning into that classic cliché with a smile. - You must be a practicing dentist or a dental student. - You need to provide proof—a license or enrollment documentation. - You should bring your passion for mountain biking and a willingness to share honest feedback. Our own resident dentist, Kilian, will be joining the session too. It's going to be a great mix of professional insight and pure riding fun. ### The Details You Need to Know Mark your calendar. The benchmarking session is set for **October 6th, starting at 1:00 PM**. We'll be meeting up to hit the trails together. The application window is tight but straightforward. You have until **Wednesday, September 30th at 1:00 PM** to throw your hat in the ring. We'll notify our two chosen riders later that same day. Yeah, it's a quick turnaround, but sometimes you just have to commit and send it. Ready to apply? Here's how: Send us a recent photo and a few lines about yourself. Tell us about your passion for riding and, of course, include proof that you work in dentistry. That's it. We'll review everything and let the two selected dentists know by the end of the day on September 30th, 2026. Don't overthink it. If the thought of testing next-level bikes on a perfect fall afternoon gets your heart racing, you should apply. This is a rare chance to be among the very first to compare these bikes head-to-head, in an environment built for genuine feedback among peers who get the unique balance of your professional and personal life. Your expertise, both in dentistry and on the bike, is what makes this test special. **Apply now and let's find out which bike deserves the crown.**