Details of 2019 bikes are pouring in thick and fast with most brands upping reach numbers while dropping standover height, and Pace is no exception. Well, actually we suppose they are because the geometry changes that the UK brand is making to its classic RC627 hardtail are pretty radical!
The Pace RC627 is a UK designed, full steel, hardtail, and like most UK hardtails it has been built to be a bit of a trail hooligan that will happily potter about the hills all day too.
For 2019 the RC627 really plans to hit home and make a mark in the hardcore hardtail market with a slacker head angle, lower standover and longer reach, we’re talking radical changes here not just a few mm here and there.
For example, the 2018 Pace RC627 in size large has a reach of just 429mm, pretty short compared to the figures other brands boast. The 2019 RC627 grows to 475mm, an increase in reach of 46mm that’s the height of a Lego Minifigure plus 6mm!
It’s a similar story with the seat post length too. With riders running longer dropper posts these days, Pace has been able to reduce the seat post length of the size L frame from 482mm to just 450mm, which in turn drops the standover height of the bike too.
While chopping and changing the lengths of the various frame tubes here and there, Pace also lopped off 2º from the head angle for a slacker 65º measurement with 140mm fork fitted while the seat tube steepens from 73º to 74.5º!
While all these changes have taken place, Pace has been smart about the other details which all add up to make a decent frame. Tyre clearance is good for up to 2.8in tyres, it has been designed for a 31.6mm seat post and gets’a Boost backend.
External cabling for brakes and gears makes for simple maintenance, but you do still have the option of running a Stealth dropper if you fancy.
It’s also rather wonderful to see a threaded 73mm BB shell, rack and mudguard eyelets, sliding dropouts, and it also looks like there are water bottle bosses on the down tube too.
Pace has already started pre-orders for the 2019 RC627 with sizes M, L, XL dropping by the end of October and small frames in early 2019. Two colours, Primer grey and Lagoon Blue, will be offered and each frame ships with a Pace CNC alloy black seat post clamp and DT Swiss RWS rear axle.
Pricing is really good too at just £575! We currently only have confirmed details for the 27.5in bike, but a 29er is expected to go on sale with similar geometry updates soon also. You can learn more about the 2019 Pace RC627 over on the Pace website.
Want more? Well, here’s Adrian from Pace unboxing and talking us through his updated hardtail;
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For a UK designed hardtail that looks like a blinding price.
Nice, ticking all the boxes. If that was out in 2018, I’d have chosen it over the Whyte 909. Hardtails like these, with modern geo and tyre clearance are starting to make them the year-round choice (over longer travel FS) for most UK trail riding.
Any idea of tubes used (has a Reynolds sticker) & weight?
It’s a Reynolds 853 sticker so assume they use that for the mainframe.
It’s a mirror copy of the ragley piglet.
The sliding drop-outs are a nice touch.
*I retract the piglet comment – the angles are the same, but the pace is even more progressive.
(eTT, ST length etc.). Still, the piglet is a fair bit cheaper.
Not really south east singletrack friendly then. Pity.
29er pls. Doesn’t really seem outrageous tbh
Just like every other frame only option those of us who don’t have boost wheels are screwed unless we can afford new wheels too. With the rear dropouts as they are I’m sure there could be a non boost version available?? Shame as it’d be something I’d consider buying otherwise.