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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.
That looks like a bit of a riot. Really like the idea of a capable climber that can get a bit rowdy.
...and the tan-walls are spot on.
Looks good. Tan walls are nice but tyres are so dour these days. Tioga Psycho IIs in grey or butterscotch were the bomb