My new short travel "Downcountry", "BC-XC", "Marathon" (god I hate marketing terms!), short travel XC/Trail bike... Finished building it last night, then out for a 40km spin on it today! First impressions are very favourable, and though I won't be selling my Evil Offering any time soon, I will reserve it for rides more deserving of its travel and attitude going forward... (And yes, I know about the weeds on my driveway, I not only haven't been furloughed, but have been very busy working, and it has taken me two weeks to build this bike where normally I'd just smash it out in 3-4hrs of an evening the moment I had it all ready!)
Yes... I really do live at number 29, and have exclusively ridden 29ers since 2013! 😂
Anyway... So far, so good... Really impressed with it! I was expecting the 69deg HA to feel like a massive step backwards, but au contraire, it didn't really pose a problem at all. I may still pop an angleset in at some point, but the bike is a more capable descender than its geometry and travel suggests it would seem! What a climber though... Stood up or seated, it just surges forward and finds traction.
Looking forward to logging some more miles on it, and experimenting with the geometry and setup a little more. 👍🏻
Tyres = excellent
Weeding = required
Nice!
Lovely
Yass. Always had a soft spot for RM.
Yass. Always had a soft spot for RM.
Same... And in a post I started recently I realised it might be time to do something about it too... 👍🏻
Maple leaves 👌
Maple leaves
Yeah their paint jobs have always been something to behold...
That does look lovely. 👍👌
Were fork graphics standard, or did you get some to match?
That is lush. Top choice.
Not sure about that fork offset... 😉
I don’t get the tyre thing
Yes... I'd want a go on that.
I don’t get the tyre thing
They remind me of farmer John's I had back in the 90s. I don't get them either. Tyres should be black!
Apart from that it looks good.
Looks great, i missed out on getting Element C90 XCO for nearly half the price but hesitated and it went in my size, gutted as they nice bikes.
Maple leaves
Just behind the front caliper?
Yes, I thought so too!
Everything that is wrong about tan wall tyres is illustrated on that bike. They work on some, but that is not one of them....IMHO of course.
Other than that it looks awesome. I do like RM bikes.
Looks very nice! I love these sort of bikes too. My Scott Spark RC was so capable for 100mm of travel and very quick too.
Rode all sorts from trail centres, Hope Pre Peaks and stuff like Jacobs Ladder without a dropper post!
I'd be lying if I said I won't consider something like this again in the future 🙂
Like that, what model is it?
Looks really good 👍
I've just acquired an epic, my first fS XC bike and looking forward to getting out on it more.
Bike looks amazing, tyres; not so much
As much as I want to love that, could they not have designed the suspension without that awkward shock position?
Regarding the tan walls I think a set of Vittorias in anthracite / black would work better with the white / black colour scheme.
😍
Proper MTB that is, it’s the first bike posted here in a long time that I’ve though “I want one of those”.
And those tyres are bang on too.
Beaut of a frame/bike, ruined by the tyres! IMHO 😀
I don’t get the tyre thing
They're like marmite, they get people talking... You either love them, or you hate them. Either way, as long as people are talking about them, there's no such thing as bad publicity! 😉
They remind me of farmer John’s I had back in the 90s. I don’t get them either. Tyres should be black!
Back when the Farmer Johns were relevant, there was no choice about tyre colour... It was tan wall or nothing up until about the late 90's! Didn't matter whether you thought they suited your colour scheme or not...
Regarding the tan walls I think a set of Vittorias in anthracite / black would work better with the white / black colour scheme.
No blaspheming on this thread please! 😉
Like that, what model is it?
Was a 2019 Rocky Mountain Element A50. I bought the complete bike, stripped everything off it bar the fork and shock, and rebuilt with a custom spec mostly from bits I already had. So X01/GX now instead of NX, Guide RS brakes instead of SLX, Mavic XA Elites instead of Deore on Sun Ringle rims, shorter stem, wider carbon bar, 150mm Fox Transfer etc.
Were fork graphics standard, or did you get some to match?
Came like that as the fork came on the bike. 👍🏻
Proper MTB that is, it’s the first bike posted here in a long time that I’ve though “I want one of those”.
And those tyres are bang on too.
I'm chuffed too to be fair. First ride today, and ironically enough, saw someone else out on a Giant Trance 29, the other option I'd been considering, and there was no buyers remorse thankfully!
As much as I want to love that, could they not have designed the suspension without that awkward shock position?
Making room for 2 bottle cages was a very important consideration when designing it apparently. Also the family similarity with other Rocky Mountains I guess, albeit the shorter shock on this does mean it sits at more of an angle. It does mean the suspension has a decent amount of progression to it though.
Looks very nice! I love these sort of bikes too. My Scott Spark RC was so capable for 100mm of travel and very quick too.
Rode all sorts from trail centres, Hope Pre Peaks and stuff like Jacobs Ladder without a dropper post!
Have you seen the recent video of Nino Schurter on his, dropping Claudio Calouri on an Enduro eBike (and Calouri can ride!) on some of his local descents? OK, so they're a bit more groomed than some, and he's running a decent length dropper post (no plus points for not running a dropper in my book, it's such an integral part of an MTB these days I wouldn't consider not running one even on the most XC of XC bikes). But shows what the bike is capable of, albeit under a world class rider.
Not sure about that fork offset…
I do have a 44mm offset 34 on my Hardtail that I could swap over to try out, but I also think there's a time and a place for both. Shorter and steeper XC geometry seems to suit the 51mm offset more, and the longer and slacker bikes do seem to suit a short offset fork more IMO.
Looks class. RM make some fine looking (and riding) bikes
It's very nice - I don't see that all that many RMs about in the UK.
Maybe you'd like to consider sharing the new bike day joy here: https://worldbicyclereliefuk.charitycheckout.co.uk/cf/singletrack-supporting-world-bicycle-relief
I can't unsee those tyres, sorry mboy!
I miss my RM element....did a Fred Whitton on it, plus all the training, rode over fell and moor, down some stuff that was way above its supposed geometry.
Lovely suspension, great bike. Sold it as I felt it was a bit short and wanted something else, mistake!
Bike? Yes please, lovely looking.
Tyres, no.
Needs bar ends!
Mmmm, part of me definitely wants a fast XC bike to ride as fast as I can everywhere, as an antidote to the winch/plummet riding I always do. If I could afford a second MTB that’s the sort of thing I’d buy.
I like it 🙂
Like that a lot! Couldn't see any mention of weight - how much guv'nor?
Looks fast and capable. Love the paint job and skinwalls. Weed's aren't a problem.
Handsome bike...👍
Nice. I do like a XC flying machine!
Lovely suspension, great bike. Sold it as I felt it was a bit short and wanted something else, mistake
Size up... Fit shorter stem, wider bars. That’s what I’ve done. They do come up a little small anyway so I haven’t found it a problem, I can still just about fit a 150mm dropper on the Large so all good.
The suspension feels superb for “only” 100mm, and must say the 120mm SC34’s feel better than the regular 34’s I have on my hardtail weirdly enough!
That said, for when I need more travel and/or burlier geometry, I will still have my Evil Offering.
Mmmm, part of me definitely wants a fast XC bike to ride as fast as I can everywhere, as an antidote to the winch/plummet riding I always do. If I could afford a second MTB that’s the sort of thing I’d buy.
That was kinda where I was coming from. 2 years ago, almost all my riding was going somewhere like Staunton/Mallards Pike and as you say... “Winch and Plummet”. I’ve started riding a bit more XC again, have used my Hardtail a bit but got beaten up on it at times so felt like wanting a bit of give at least. Had decided a while ago that in 2020 I wanted to do a few bike marathons (shame they’ve all been cancelled!) so just decided to buy the bike anyway... Planning on doing a few longer rides with mates at least, and am now turning the typical 25km Sunday rides into 35-40km now too.
Like that a lot! Couldn’t see any mention of weight – how much guv’nor?
Can’t find my scales at the mo annoyingly, but probably not as light as you might think. I’m guessing 12-12.5kg inc pedals going on that my Evil is 14.5kg. It’s full alloy frame rather than carbon so that’s probably 1lb penalty, and the components could be lighter if I threw money at it or didn’t mind breaking them (I’m 90kg still and not the fleetest of foot). There’s 1kg to be lost with lighter wheels, lighter cassette, lighter cranks, lighter saddle, lighter brakes etc... But that’s spendy and would in many cases, detract from the ride.
Ohh I like that, love a good XC flying machine.
I've just acquired an older Lefty so I'm thinking of converting it to 29" and building a new XC/trail bike around it. Struggling to think of a frame that fits my wish list though. Long, low, slack (by XC standards) and cheap secondhand?
Nice, I had the previous version in carbon, also bought a complete bike, swapped wheels and drivetrain and removed the remote lockouts. They have a short reach so if I was doing it again I would size up.
Took it on a holiday which involved a 4 day bike packing trip, followed be a 75km marathon race and an Enduro race, it handled it all brilliantly.
Big thumbs-up from 90’s Man here 👍🏼👍🏼
Tyres look ace.
Trim the steerer-tube and get some bar-ends on it for my perfect 10 😎
Looks lovely! I wondered what you'd end up with.
I love RockyMountain too.
There was a good video of one of these a couple years ago where the rider was taking it down some Whistler trails and making it look easy. It just looks fast and composed.
I find it strange how so many trail riders think that XC bikes are all nervous rubbish affairs that can't handle anything. Take a look at a modern XC race course you'll find it's similar to most of your local singletrack, and these bikes are designed to be ridden flat out all the time.
My joint main bike is an XC bike with 100mm and a 70.5 HA. It's fast as f on most descents, and on the steep gnar then I do slow down a bit. But with a dropper the HA is not a disadvantage any more.
In my defence, the lack of dropper was because it hadn't been delivered at the time 🙂
But I agree, even my wife's Pro Caliber has a dropper now!
Nice. I’m thinking more and more about this style of bike, the amount I use my bigger full suspension bike it’d more more sense just to hire for bikepark days.
Brendan Fairclough put out a video on the Scott Spark, not surprising it’ll put up with a lot given what modern XC race courses look like.
Yes… I really do live at number 29, and have exclusively ridden 29ers since 2013! 😂
I used to live at number 1334. Terrible problems finding the right tyres, tan-wall or not.
I find it strange how so many trail riders think that XC bikes are all nervous rubbish affairs that can’t handle anything.
Ditto folk that think you need 29 inch wheels to make any progress, it's quite bizarre. I'm interested in how a dropper post changes head angle though?.
He's obviously being paid but there are some good points there. The bike is a bit more fragile, a bit more skittish than a trail bike, but with a bit of adapting of your riding style and/or the kit you can still go very fast. And when the trail goes up again you can properly dig in and climb fast. And they handle very fast on really tight twisty stuff too. I know there are plenty of descents near me that are just as fast on my XC bike as my long travel, and I'm fairly confident that there are some where the XC bike is faster. But no trail is all descent, and when it's flat or undulating the XC is clearly much quicker. My XC bike is also pure XC with 2.1 tyres and SPDs.
I’m interested in how a dropper post changes head angle though?
It doesn't, obviously, but it makes it easier to ride with a steep one. Slack HAs help get your weight back amongst other things, and having a dropper means you can get your weight low and back even with a steep HA. It makes an XC bike much more thrashable. I've had 20+ years of attempting to thrash XC bikes without droppers, I was convinced I didn't want one on my XC bike, and then I finally buying one on a whim and changed my mind. It's not even a long drop, I think 120mm, but it's enough to make a big difference.
It's still not as good as a trail bike on steep stuff of course. Front is still twitchy in certain situations especially riding over lips where the lip grabs the wheel. But it's manageable.
Slack HAs help get your weight back amongst other things
I've never thought of it like that, the last thing I want is to be further back. A slack HA allows me to keep my weight central, so in effect further forward, giving far more grip on the front (where I really need it riding steep corners) than hanging off the back.
I find it strange how so many trail riders think that XC bikes are all nervous rubbish affairs that can’t handle anything.
That's the thing though... Many are, some aren't. I've ridden a fair few XC bikes that whilst they would give you an advantage on the climbs, would make you back off enough on the descents as to be annoying.
Take a look at a modern XC race course you’ll find it’s similar to most of your local singletrack, and these bikes are designed to be ridden flat out all the time.
Depends on your local singletrack, but you have a point for sure. Most of my local riding errs towards the more technical end of XC for sure, so I've gravitated towards mid travel trail bikes for sure.
Brendan Fairclough put out a video on the Scott Spark, not surprising it’ll put up with a lot given what modern XC race courses look like.
Scott Spark is, to be fair, longer and slacker than many "trail" bikes of even only 2-3 years ago... It's a weapon of a bike!
I know there are plenty of descents near me that are just as fast on my XC bike as my long travel, and I’m fairly confident that there are some where the XC bike is faster.
I surprised myself a few times on my old Whyte 29C just how quick it was on some descents. Obviously when it was rockier, or super steep/tech, I was faster on my long/slack full sus trail bike, but on some more pedally and undulating descents, I was frequently as quick if not quicker on a 24lb carbon hardtail, albeit a pretty sorted one! However, that bike did tend to beat me up pretty quickly... It did start me looking at options with similar geometry and attitude, but with roughly 100mm of squish in the back end too. So here we are... It's certainly a nice antidote to the eBike crew I know, who almost universally have sold any non-assisted bikes they own already!
Ditto folk that think you need 29 inch wheels to make any progress, it’s quite bizarre.
You can run what you want, but you can prize my 29er wheels out of my cold, dead hands! They just suit me and my riding style, and I note on the trails that seems to be more often the case than not with others now too...
That mud looks a lot like my local Cannimore mud!
Also, nice bike. 🙂
Really nice Mark
Not much of a FS fan (since my big bike theft I’m much of a suspension user/owner either) but that looks pretty good to me😎
Hope you and yours are doing well 👍
I’ve never thought of it like that, the last thing I want is to be further back.
Depends on how steep it is. I want my weight centred on the bike, yes, but if it's going steeply downhill then my CoG moves towards the front wheel, so I have to move back. If the saddle is up that means I have to move my weight high and back which makes me much taller.
My only Strava DH achievement of any merit is being 11th (at the time, now 14th) on one of the best local descents, and I was on my XC bike. I think that is the main reason why I got a good time - the bottom half is pedally and fast, and you can avoid braking by taking very tight lines between trees which is much easier on a razor sharp XC bike - and the narrow bars help too!
I’ve ridden a fair few XC bikes that whilst they would give you an advantage on the climbs, would make you back off enough on the descents as to be annoying.
When though? My older XC bikes were like that, but then most bikes were 20 years ago!
XC is not dead 😀
Lovely suspension, great bike. Sold it as I felt it was a bit short and wanted something else, mistake!
If I remember rightly Vondally, it was me that bought it!
I love it, best climbing full-suss I've ever ridden. Currently has a 120mm Fox Float 32 and a 60mm stem on it to set it up like the older 'BC Edition' they used to produce. Has just been treated to a full replacement set of bushings and some new wheels and is still being very merrily hammered around. Pic below, ignore the mate-who-looks-slightly-like-Ed-Sheeran in the background.
Looks lovely and it's not carbon so you do not need to worry about it.
That looks ace!
That’s the thing though… Many are, some aren’t. I’ve ridden a fair few XC bikes that whilst they would give you an advantage on the climbs, would make you back off enough on the descents as to be annoying.
Yup.
Trek Top Fuel? Great going up - definitely not so great in a it’s trying to kill me way when descending.
Intense Sniper XC? Absolute riot up & down. Not as sturdy as bigger bikes obviously but perfect for XC style hooning.
Very nice.
Trek Top Fuel? Great going up – definitely not so great in a it’s trying to kill me way when descending.
Intense Sniper XC? Absolute riot up & down. Not as sturdy as bigger bikes obviously but perfect for XC style hooning.
That could easily be down to setup as much as anything else.
That could easily be down to setup as much as anything else.
Intense is 2 degrees slacker at the head: 69.5 - 67.5.
High end bike rides really well shocker!!!
Intense is 2 degrees slacker at the head: 69.5 – 67.5.
That'll do it. However mine is 70.5 HA and whilst yes it is different, it can be made to work once you get your head round it.
XC bikes are only fast if they have a big engine 😉
That’ll do it. However mine is 70.5 HA and whilst yes it is different, it can be made to work once you get your head round it.
It was only on occasion but it was so predictable when it would happen - steep, downhill turn in under heavy braking. Felt like it was going to tuck in underneath me every time & I never got used to it. Became a real pain particularly towards the end of races when tired. Shame as the rear suspension was so supple..
Felt like it was going to tuck in underneath me every time & I never got used to it.
Hmm yes, my Trek would want to tuck under a lot before I fitted forks with the offset around which it was designed. It's fantastic in cornering now, carves them up and drifts perfectly.
I run a RM Element as my only mtb
Pre -Chip carbon 950rsl , RS Sid World cup 120mm fork , Ritchy WCS wheelset
Its a stunning machine . The fork is better at dealing with bigger hits than stutter bumps on mine but that could be the tune. OPen up the rear and it changes characteur completely . Gos from near HT response to big travel bike plushness with superbly controlled damping
Its a Large , with a 50mm stem and fits me perfectly at 5ft 11.
Needs better brakes as the ones on it are crap , and some carbon bars as Rf Evolve isnt the lightest
Hello Pyro! Glad you like the bike, it is a great bike especially in BC mode, I had 120/90mm talas fork (that worked) on there and was brilliant!
Ha! You call them weeds!!!
So went for a little 1 1/2hr ride this evening on some trails I know well, and as if to prove molgrips (partially) right... I got a significant Strava PR on a trail I know well, that is a descent but is quite pedally and tight in places. I felt able not only to get on the gas earlier, but also able to carve tighter turns than on a slacker, longer travel bike. And unlike my HT, it didn't beat me up too badly either... Shaved a whole 5 seconds off my previous PR on a trail that's just under 2mins long, so not inconsiderable! 👌🏻
Brendan Fairclough put out a video on the Scott Spark, not surprising it’ll put up with a lot given what modern XC race courses look like.
That was really cool!
Shaved a whole 5 seconds off my previous PR on a trail that’s just under 2mins long, so not inconsiderable!
Nice, that will probably come down more as you get used to it.
Did you get PRs on any climbs?
Very nice, always something nice about Rocky Mountain bikes. Not a fan of the tyres.
Enjoy
Nice, that will probably come down more as you get used to it.
Probably not a lot more to come, and conditions were prime on a trail I know very well. But proves how capable it is.
Did you get PRs on any climbs?
A) I wasn't really trying on the climbs, it's not really my thing and B) I was 12kg lighter and riding a 24lb Whyte 29C on all the same trails 3 years ago... I'm not expecting to be quicker up the hills, just quicker than on the Evil.
Well blow me if I'm not still getting some fairly significant PR's on this bike on trails I know really very well, and on XC tyres too! 🤔
My next frame/bike build will probably be something in between this and my current Slash.
Still maintain that my Spark RC was the fastest bike I've ever owned overall. Probably the one I did the most miles on too. If I had the space and cash, I'd have another one of these bikes in a shot!
My missus still has her Top Fuel frame and she wasn't shy descending some Lakes tech on that! Currently needs a new linkage as I bent it trying to get seized main pivot bolt out 🙁
Wow, thats a beautiful bike. Eldest rides a Vertex, we've a soft spot for RM bikes round our way. I'd have another in a flash.
Can you put an angleset on that? Browsing recent RM bikes (as you do) and I think they're all IS. Personally, I wouldn't bother anyway.
Can you put an angleset on that?
Yeah, it's a ZS56 bottom and a ZS44 top, so there's a few options by the looks of it. Though currently still riding it stock, and though it's a bit flighty at speed compared to what I'm used to, it's not as bad as I was expecting, and what I've lost in stability I have gained in agility for sure...
Excellent 🙂
I've been absolutely thrashing my 100mm XC HT over lockdown but you're kidding yourself if you think you can ride roadgaps and 10'+ drops on one. It's loads of fun but its a LONG LONG way off my trail bike for what the bike (or wheels) will take.
I have a small jump on my local route, its only a 6' or so gap and only 1' at the deepest but I have no illusions of what would happen if I don't clear it, either chainstays or wheel would go or the fork fold in half.
I could and have just smashed right through it on my 160/140 trail bike...
Tables with a groomed landing are one thing...hitting or landing on loose rocks the size of loafs entirely another.
Brendan Fairclough put out a video on the Scott Spark, not surprising it’ll put up with a lot given what modern XC race courses look like.
Free bikes are way sturdier than ones you pay for.
I have a small jump on my local route, its only a 6′ or so gap and only 1′ at the deepest but I have no illusions of what would happen if I don’t clear it, either chainstays or wheel would go or the fork fold in half.
Don't worry, I have no illusions of grandeur. I'm not doing road gaps or big drops on my trailbike, I can and do push it pretty hard, but it's never getting that much in the way f hang time. I can take a lot more liberties on this Rocky Mountain than I could on my old Carbon XC HT though, whilst I have to be a bit more careful than on my Evil, it's surprisingly ready to both leave the ground and doesn't get too badly hung up in the rough stuff either.