Meet The £12,799 Mondraker F-Podium Carbon RR SL

Possibly one of the most head-turning bikes of the 2018 Cycle Show was this, the Mondraker F-Podium Carbon RR SL 2019, it also won our award for the least sexy name of the show, possibly of all time.

It goes without saying that the F-Podium Carbon RR SL is aimed at top level XC racing. Everything about the bike from the £229 Fizik Antares 00 carbon saddle, to the €3,299 BikeAhead Composites biturboRS carbon wheels, screams lightweight, cutting-edge, race winning!

The frame itself is unmistakably “Mondraker” featuring the Spanish brand’s industry-leading Forward Geometry albeit in XC guise and Zero Suspension System though manufacture of the chassis is handled by German composite company 3C rather than a Taiwanese frame maker.

Mondraker has also included it’s Integrated Stem Technology or IST EVO, which pushes the stem down into the mainframe for a super low stack and to force riders into an attack position.

The flagship racer sports 100mm of travel front and rear via a Fox Float DPS LV EVOL shock with Kashima coating and remote lockout and a Fox 32 29 Float Fit4 EVOL Step Cast fork up front with the same slick gold finish.

The carbon theme of the frame and 6 spoke German made wheels continues with a BikeAhead Flatbar Carbon handlebar, carbon 31.8mm stem and 400mm long BikeAhead Seatpost.

Mondraker has gone for an almost full SRAM groupset for this race winner. SRAM Level Ultimate brakes with monoblock callipers bring plenty of stopping power to this lightweight racer, while SRAM XX1 gives the rider 11 gears to choose from, yup 11 not 12! Raceface is left to handle chainset and BB duties with a Next SL G4 carbon crankset.

It’s not clear when the Mondraker F-Podium Carbon RR SL will go on sale, but we do know that the bike will be available in sizes S-XL and will come with generous reach figures, 475mm on an L, and race ready angles, 75º seat angle, 69º head angle.

3 variants of the bike will be available with prices starting at £4,499 for the F-Podium Carbon R, moving up to £8,999 for the F-Podium Carbon RR and topping out at the £12,799 F-Podium Carbon RR SL shown here. Official weights haven’t been revealed but this range-topper is said to weigh less than 9kg.

While the F-Podium RR SL is a stunner, we’re going to hold out for the credit card busting Fox Live Valve option to appear before handing over a blank cheque, how about you?