Bike Check: 7.8kg Specialized S-Works Epic Hardtail

While its official launch is set for next week at the Sea Otter event in Laguna Seca, California, there has been something of a ‘soft launch’ of the new Epic hardtail frame from Specialized. The bike has quietly shown up on the Specialized US website, though up until now there haven’t been many (that we’re aware of) spotted in the flesh.

Thanks to Wil’s connections Down Under though, we’ve got some photos of a REAL bike alongside it’s REAL owner: Andy Blair. Andy is an Australian XCO and XCM champion, who’s been sponsored by Specialized since 2013. Andy recently got hooked up with the brand new S-Works Epic Hardtail, (dare we say, the “2018 model”??), which has a claimed frame weight of just 800 grams, making it 12% lighter than the current 2017 frame.

Thanks to Andy, we’ve got some photos of his new race whip, along with some details about how he’s got it set up.

Andy is rocking the new 2018 Specialized S-Works Epic Hardtail World Cup model, with a few tweaks (more on that below). The frame itself is very similar to the 2017 model, but subs in a higher-grade FACT 12m carbon fibre (compared to the FACT 10m carbon of the 2017 frame), which is partly where the weight drop comes from. A move to a straight down tube has also helped, and integrated bumpers just behind the head tube help to protect it from the fork crown during over-rotation.

Andy’s race bike is rocking a 12-speed SRAM Eagle groupset, including a Gripshift shifter. He also has the new wider and lighter Roval Control SL carbon wheels, along with some very fast looking Renegade tyres that definitely look more friendly to Aussie trail conditions.

All up, Andy’s tweaked S-Works Epic HT weighs just 7.8kg. Yes, you read that right; 7.8 kilograms, or in old money, 17.16 lbs. HOLY TOLEDO!

But first, a wee bit of background on Mr Blair. Andy has been riding bikes for a looong time. Well, at least since the mountain biking glory days of the nineties. He’s a former National XCM champion (2012 and 2014), National XCO and XCM series winner (2012 and 2015), a frequent Australian representative at World Championships, and he also competed in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. To say he’s one of the most consistent fastmen of the Aussie XC race scene would be an understatement.

ST: Tell us about your sponsorship with Specialized.

AB: I’ve been riding for Specialized since 2013. It has been truly amazing to receive such a high level of support which has allowed me to continue racing so long, I’m now (*ahem*) 37! Obviously sponsored riders are never going to say there equipment is poor, but I am honestly stoked to ride these bikes and I am constantly amazed by their new products. The same goes for SRAM, who I have been with for even longer. Both companies seem to share the same drive to keep doing things better through innovation, which aligns with how I like to think.

ST: What are your racing plans for this year?

AB: I do have some big plans for 2017, but at the moment I am just working on rehabilitation of my shoulder. I underwent surgery last November to reconstruct my shoulder that had been causing me some grief for a while. 2016 was a below average year which was heavily affected by 3 shoulder dislocations in quick succession and my shoulder never seemed to get back to a state where I could have confidence in it, so I had no choice but to get it sorted. That had a big impact and required 3 months off the bike. So my immediate goal is to build back strength in my shoulder. I’m going to Lasseter’s Easter in the Alice next week and the XCM national championships this month but it’s looking like they will be just training rides as I’m still quite limited.

ST: You’ve got the choice of the Epic HT and FSR models. Which do you think you’ll ride more?

AB: I used to ride my hardtail and dually about 50-50, but these days I find that I’m on the dually more because courses are getting more technical in XCO and more and there’s more singletrack in marathons. I still love the hardtail though, there is something about the sheer lightweight of it, and this new bike is F-A-S-T!

ST: How tall are you, and what frame size are you running?

AB: 183cm and I’m riding a Large frame size.

ST: What kind of bar width and stem length are you running?

AB: I’m trying out a 680mm wide bar on my bikes this year to see if I like it. If not I’ll go back to the trusty 660mm! As for the stem, I’m rocking a 90mm stem with a 17° drop to get nice and low.

ST: And what about your saddle choice and saddle height?

AB: The saddle is a Specialized S-works Phenom in a 143mm width. It’s actually stock on the bike but coincidentally is exactly what I like. Saddle height is about 800mm from the crank axle, and that’s all setup by Jim at The Cyclery Canberra in the Body Geometry studio. I’ve been working with him since I first signed with Specialized five years ago, with Jim we set up all my bikes to have identical seat position relative to the pedals.

ST: Crank length and Chainring size?

AB: 175mm crank arms. The bike came stock with a 34t chain ring but I will race on a 38t. That’s the beauty of the huge range of SRAM Eagle, a 38 will give me a smaller gear than using a 32 on XX1 (which was as small as I ever rode) but a taller gear at the other end that can be nice on fireroad sections on marathons, especially if there is a tailwind and you need to put someone under pressure.

ST: Tell us how you’re getting on with the new SID fork?

AB: I’m still playing with the setup on the new SID fork having ridden the RockShox RS-1 for the past 3 years. I’m running 4 bottomless tokens and 85psi at the moment and I thinks that’s getting close. The Specialized Brain cartridge in the SID does that job for me. I’m a big fan of it as you just don’t need to think about anything, you just ride and know that once it is set up the fork does it for you. It also minimises hoses and cables to keep the bike looking clean and simple.

ST: Tyre choice?

AB: I use Specialized Renegade and Fastrack tyres in various widths for 95% of races with the other 5% being Storm or Ground Control for the muddy days. I absolutely love the speed of the Renegades and will run them if I think I can get away with the lack of tread. In particular, the big 2.3in wide ones are perfect for sandy races. If I go to a race without knowing the terrain I normally play it safe with Fastracks though as they are a good all-rounder. There is a new Gripton compound for Specialized MTB tyres this year and a protection sidewall version called Grid. I’ve got some 2.1 Fastrack Grids mounted up for Alice Springs next week as it is super rough out there and well known for eating tyres.

ST: We spotted you’re running Gripshift. Is that a personal preference?

AB: Gripshift all the way. I prefer it over triggers because it’s just like the throttle on a moto! Nah, I just think it is better ergonomically and it looks cleaner. There is also less chance of destroying your top tube if you crash, although this Epic HT has a little rubber bumper on the down tube to stop that happening anyway. I’m so stoked that SRAM still make them even though they aren’t super popular, it’s pretty much myself and Rob Eva that ride them but I predict a bit of a resurgence in the future.

ST: Any other changes to the stock build kit on your S-Works Epic HT?

AB: Gripshift (as above), a Ritchey stem, and the grips are Ozriders foam grips. I have a 50mm dropper post (XCP Command Post) that I will put in when needed. They are super light and neat with internal cable routing. I find that 50mm is enough to give considerable extra confidence, especially nursing a clipped wing.

I also swapped out the 180mm rotor on the front for a 160mm. Within the team we always ride the same configuration so that we can swap parts when we are away or within a race. With Cam Ivory around, I’m more likely to be the donor rather than the recipient these days!

AB: I use side mount Specialized Carbon “Zee Cages” because the bidons never fall out.

I’ll also install a SWAT box and chain breaker top cap pretty soon. I really like always having my spares and tools ready to go so there is less to think about when I go training. I carry a tube, gas, mini pump, glue-less patches, spare derailleur hanger, chain link, Nurofen, multi-tool and chain breaker, but for longer and more remote rides, I’ll throw a 2^nd tube in my pocket.

ST: What are you most excited about with the new Epic HT?

AB: I think this bike represents the general evolution in hardtails as they are being made to be able to charge harder and harder on technical terrain, yet they are still getting lighter. I can’t wait to log a few hours on this bike on some technical trails and see what is possible to get away with on a bike that is only 8 kilograms. I’m also very keen to see how the new Roval Control SL wheels go. Their predecessors were awesome but the new ones feature boost axle spacing and a super wide rim that should be very stable.

Andy Blair’s Specialized S-Works Epic HT Specifications

• Frame // FACT 12m Carbon Fibre
• Fork // RockShox SID World Cup w/Brain Damper, 100mm Travel, 51mm Offset
• Hubs // Roval Control SL, 110x15mm Front & 148x12mm Rear
• Rims // Roval Control SL Carbon, Hookless, 25mm Internal Width
• Tyres // Specialized Renegade GRIPTON 2Bliss 29×2.1in Front & Rear
• Chainset // SRAM XX-1 Eagle Carbon, 34t X-Sync Chainring
• Front Mech // N/A
• Rear Mech // SRAM XX-1 Eagle, 12-Speed
• Shifters // SRAM XX-1 Eagle Gripshift, 12-Speed
• Cassette // SRAM XG-1299, 10-50t, 12-Speed
• Brakes // SRAM Level Ultimate, 160mm Front & Rear
• Stem // Ritchey WCS Alloy, 90mm Length, 17° Drop
• Bars // Specialized S-Works Carbon, 680mm Wide
• Grips // Ozriders Foam
• Seatpost // Specialized S-Works FACT carbon, 0mm setback, 27.2mm Diameter
• Saddle // Specialized Body Geometry S-Works Phenom, Carbon Rails, 143mm Width
• Size // Large
• Sizes available // Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
• Weight // 7.8kg / 17.16lbs

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