Bic Techno E Classic (Medium) Windsurf (UK) 4/06
"At a Glance
The Techno Evolution range dates back to 2001, with this 112L version being the middle design of a three-board line-up. Re-marketed with its “Classic” tag, this thermoform-constructed board has been stripped down to the bare essentials, with a clean minimalist graphic appearance, thin deckpads and easy adjustable straps. It is also one of the last boards available on the market to use a Trim-Box fin. At 265cm in length and just 63cm wide, it is quite retro in outline by today’s standards, but at a price of just £429 it is almost £200 cheaper than any of its rivals. So how would it compete against them on the water?
Ride and Handling
Feeling noticeable smaller and narrower than most here, the Evolution is quite thin in its tail and struggles with sails much bigger than 7.5m. Accelerating onto the plane steadily as power is supplied, it has a very easy and conventional nature, rising gradually onto the surface of the water rather than releasing rapidly. Once going, it reaches a respectable cruising speed, the shoulders sitting high, well clear of any danger from chop. It certainly feels its age with the long elongated nose in front, which does tend to bounce and flex appreciably going over chop, although in no way affecting control. With their feet placed in an ideal position against the dome of the board, the rider is persuaded into a comfortable secure stance where they can drive effortlessly against the fin. Pointing well upwind once powered, the Evolution retains a good water-line length, keeping control and requiring minimal technical input. Smooth and easy to handle, it has very much a “plug and play” character, leaving the sailor to enjoy the fn, lively ride and concentrate on their own performance. Partnered with an efficient sail in overpowered conditions however, it does reach its maximum speed quite quickly, which in turn presents some control issues.
Manoeuvres
The gibing style of the Evolution is ideal for most recreational sailors, preferring pressure through the back-foot to initiate and carve through the turn. Biting into the water smoothly, it holds its path well through chop, the nose flexing to absorb any impact. If you enter with a more aggressive style and get well forward onto your front foot however, the board tends to tramline and slide on the rail rather than gripping confidently.
Verdict
Although undoubtedly from a previous era in board design, we were surprised and impressed with the ease and performance the Evolution offered, making it a high value option worth considering."
Bic Techno E Classic (Medium) Boards (UK) 3/06
"The Bic range can look confusing at first glance, with almost everything called a Techno something-or-other. This board, the Evolution M Classic, is actually an older shape in a budget construction which explains the 263cm length (a massive amount by modern standards). It’s aimed at the freeride market, as Bic put it: “medium skill level funboarders looking for a board that’s manoeuvrable, has good downwind performance and a great ride”.
We were very pleasantly surprised with this board. Yes, the nose does feel long compared to everything else these days, giving it a traditional feel, but otherwise it’s an easy-to-sail board that seems to match anything else here in the freeride class for speed, control and fun. It has good deck comfort (despite rather flimsy footstraps) and a very alive, responsive feel, seemingly ready to carve at any moment off its vee and onto its thin rails. We found it an exciting board to gybe, less stable and predictable in the turn than more modern counterparts, with a slight tendency to head up and sink the tail at the end if you’re not skilled at keeping the carving pressure constant, but undoubtedly very grippy in the turn.
Guesters’ View: One heavy-weight sailor found it lacked volume in the tail and didn’t like the long, high nose. The other sailors liked the easy planning, tacking, gibing and upwind performance. Generally appreciated as “different”, yet still competitive due to its excellent price.
Fittings:: The fin is a good size and quality, although its Trimbox fitting is almost extinct these days, meaning there aren’t many replacement fins around. The flimsy straps would be worth replacing. Although slightly heavier, the construction appears more durable than most modern boards.
Overall: This board stands out from the crowd in two respects – it’s 20cm longer than anything else here, and £200 cheaper! While undoubtedly from a previous era in terms of design it’s still clearly a good board, covering all the performance basics as well or nearly as well as modern freerides. And while it does feel long, it also feels unusually manoeuvrable for so voluminous a design. For 5.5 – 7.5m sails it’s an alive-feeling and agile freeride board that represents a truly good value option for buyers on a budget".