Topic starter
Following on from my other thread about "where the heck is my bike..), it finally arrived (long story short - Bought from Bikeinn at a decent price - then no idea where in Europe/UK it was for a few weeks!).
I popped up a few pictures, but wanted to 'finish it' before taking it out for a ride -
Specialized Epic Evo - stock weight 12.45kg
Added/swapped - SRAM GX AXS, Hunt/Proven race XC carbon wheels, Nukeproof carbon bars, and swapped the SRAM G2 for G2 ultimate..
Oh, also set up tyres tubeless.
Now coming in at 11.5kg.
Thinking (tentatively) about the Fox transfer SL..hmm...
Not yet ridden in anger - taken it fora spin up and down the road.. BUt having the kids for 2 weeks now is going to scupper plans to go for a decent ride any time soon!
The T-type AXS really does seem to shife even better than the gen1 AXS! The hangerless system is too cool!
I've a few things planned for this baby - SDW later in the year, would love to have a go at the King Alfred Way and other long all dayers, and ...tentatively would LOVE to do an off-road Everest attempt too!
I appreciate the DYEDBRO frame protection won't appeal to all, but I think it's ruddy cool!
DrP
Posted : 21/08/2023 5:44 pm
Electric sockets are at different heights 😱
Oh, nice bike too 😁
Posted : 21/08/2023 5:58 pm
fatmax reacted
I'm also liking the unicorns, really nice looking bike.
That floor is too shiny though...
Posted : 21/08/2023 6:11 pm
Valve v tyre logos, both wheels different and both wrong 😱
Posted : 21/08/2023 6:11 pm
tentatively would LOVE to do an off-road Everest attempt too!
Having done one, I would spend some time to really investigate just how bloody hard it is (19+ hours of ride time...)
Posted : 21/08/2023 6:17 pm
Giz a go on yer bike mate
Posted : 21/08/2023 6:25 pm
Ruddy delightful!
interested to hear further feedback on the Transmission, as I am on the verge of buying either GX or X0 to replace my current AXS (which will move to my chisel).
I notice with the bash guards that it looks like it limits running a chain device… I am assuming sram are saying you don’t need a top guide as chain retention is so good…. Maybe 🤔
Posted : 21/08/2023 6:36 pm
Topic starter
In the bike stand it does feel like it shifts through the cassette a bit slower than the old axs... And this is reported on YouTube too... But it seems in 'real life's it's a better shift.
Will feedback when I get to ride it!
I'm actually taking my lad to BPW next Wednesday... Probably take this bike to
A - ride it!
B - limit how hard I go.. he'll be on his HT and has never ridden there!
DrP
Posted : 21/08/2023 6:39 pm
Having done one, I would spend some time to really investigate just how bloody hard it is (19+ hours of ride time…)
Tell us more. Where did you do it?
Was it just " off road" or proper MTB?
Posted : 21/08/2023 6:41 pm
Topic starter
I REALLY want to do one at BPW.... It's 30 climbs on "beast of burden"..
I did 12 climbs (within opening hours) on a stumpjumper with beefy tyres and 160/150 travel.. so with pacing and enough time I think committing to 30 would be doable.. probably!
Tissue is getting the park to stay open!
DrP
Posted : 21/08/2023 6:48 pm
Apart from the chainring offering some relative dimensions, the whole thing looks like a 20 yr old 26" girls bike to me. Cassette is about right with it's 36T largest sprocket against the 26" wheels.
Geometry even looks nice for the 100mm of travel.
Saddle might be a bit high, but some girls are 5 foot 10, so it should be ok.
😀
Posted : 21/08/2023 8:57 pm
mark88 reacted
Tell us more. Where did you do it?
Was it just ” off road” or proper MTB?
https://www.strava.com/activities/7628483617
It was on a bridleway - 106 repeats of Beacon Hill. I wouldn't necessarily call it "proper MTB" but I don't think I'd have managed it on a gravel bike.
I was very glad of my XC full sus by the end.
Posted : 21/08/2023 8:58 pm
Sarcin 🤪
Posted : 21/08/2023 9:06 pm
That’s lovely Dr P, will we be seeing it at the Gorrick Halloween? (Assuming I have the right Dr…)
Posted : 21/08/2023 9:21 pm
I'm sorry but the dyedbro kit is gopping! Each to their own and all, but...
Levers angled too low
BIG +1 on this... Unless the bike is 4 sizes too small for you and you ride it like a BMX, then they're pointing waaaaaaay too low.
Otherwise, pretty sweet... Nice to see people coming back round to short travel XC bikes again for riding rather than just racing...
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:01 pm
The DYEDBRO has me confused, maybe add your pronouns etc to your profile. 😀
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:04 pm
Very nice. Another vote in favour of the unicorns. I thought you'd got some limited edition Spesh paint job....hadnt seen those Dyedbro protection sets before!
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:07 pm
Nice to see people coming back round to short travel XC bikes again now they are starting to realise they are better than gravel bikes
😉
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:08 pm
The unicorns are fabulous!!
LOVE new bike day.
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:09 pm
Bike looks ace 👌
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:11 pm
The AXS stuff looks really cool. What wheels and groupset did it have before?
Also be interested in your thoughts on that Sid select, I can't get on with the one on my Spur.
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:12 pm
Looks good to me too... Honest I have really looked at it... The levers anyway, angled down like jack Carthy's trials bike, you gonna get some rear wheel hopping action on it yeah?
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:19 pm
That is looking very tasty! I'm a less is more person, so the frame protection feels a bit loud🙉
Worth putting a Fastrack on the back for the SDW. Depending on your plans could ride some of the Ditchling ridge with you.
Enjoy BPW.
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:35 pm
Great looking bike that, but I couldn't live with that tyre/wheel logo alignment.
For the love of dog, centre the bold white rim lettering to the bold white tyre lettering.
Quarter-alignment can also be acceptable sometimes if otherwise it makes one area too busy.
Liking the Dyedbro kit. 👍
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:41 pm
dc1988 reacted
Posted : 21/08/2023 10:42 pm
that is a lovely looking bike.
Posted : 22/08/2023 2:47 am
I appreciate the DYEDBRO frame protection won’t appeal to all, but I think it’s ruddy cool!
i like it. i like the blast of colour.
Posted : 22/08/2023 4:37 am
Topic starter
Cheers all!
RE the brake levers - I just popped into the garage and I guess through a process of ‘what works’, ALL my bikes have the levers pointing fairly low..prob about 60 degrees from horizontal..
It just works for me..I appreciate if you go for a bike fit they’ll want me to raise them, but
a - I do alright, TBH.. 😉
b - i get a tendinitis/rubbing tendons if the levers are even a few degrees higher. Really!
c - I’m not of the old school ‘hang off the back’ kinda rider - there’s benefit from keeping weight forward. See A and B RE this!
And I can’t condone the tyre/logo situation! I wanted them both to be lined with the T on CONTROL.. to centralise ALL the text..
Sorry!
DrP
And Kryton…yep, right Dr - normally race the Brass Monkeys on the singlespeed..may have a bash at it on this for a bit!
Posted : 22/08/2023 7:07 am
That's very nice. I like a nice XC full suspension, they look very purposeful. I also like the dyedbro kit (never heard of them until today) as, like Hannah's husband - my favourite colour is ALL of them!
Posted : 22/08/2023 9:28 am
Topic starter
The AXS stuff looks really cool. What wheels and groupset did it have before
Had standard specialized alu wheels and GX groupset... Sold that to a mate for a few hundred quid...still got the wheels I need to shift on!
DrP
Posted : 22/08/2023 9:31 am
The stickers are awesome.
Bold choice on a bike that simple and handsome anyway, but I'm fully behind you.
Posted : 22/08/2023 9:39 am
I like it. How long before you go full weight weenie....?
Posted : 22/08/2023 9:42 am
Really dislike the massive "Proven" logo on the Hunts, their simple and fairly subtle branding was always a plus point of theirs.
Nice bike, though.
Posted : 22/08/2023 9:49 am
Topic starter
I like it. How long before you go full weight weenie….?
Good question... My one thought is to see if the Charger damper is ok... Or if the 35mm race day damper is better. It's lighter for sure...
Any opinions on either?
DrP
Posted : 22/08/2023 10:30 am
That's a really good looking bike.
The Dyedbro kit suits it. It's interesting to hear your thoughts on the T-Type as I'm thinking about upgrading my current AXS kit to the T-Type and shifting the old stuff on to my other half's bike.
I also like the look of the Hunt Proven wheels but I missed the boat on the 20% discount they had a while back so I might just wait until they're on offer again and grab a set.
Posted : 22/08/2023 10:43 am
I think that looks amazing. It might be just the influence of my 4 year old daughter but I am a huge fan of the unicorns.
Posted : 22/08/2023 10:52 am
kelvin reacted
If Mabel from Gravity Falls rode MTB
Posted : 22/08/2023 10:59 am
Topic starter
😂😂😂
It might be just the influence of my 4 year old daughter but I am a huge fan of the unicorns.
I've an 8 year old... Similar vibes... My OH asked if I'm building it for her !
DrP
Posted : 22/08/2023 11:22 am
Love the Unicorns. Fantastic looking bike. Basically a full on win. 👍🏻
Posted : 22/08/2023 9:22 pm
Nice bike. I came close to getting one but fancied something burlier and went for a Spur.
Wheels are something I’ll be upgrading in due course, so I’m interested to hear how the Hunt Provens fare.
Posted : 22/08/2023 9:32 pm
Not a fan of the protection kit personally, and the logos on the hunt wheels are gopping, but other than that - it's a lovely looking bike! Like others have said, it's kind of nice/funny to see things coming full circle and people ending up back on decent short travel bikes to do 'mountain biking' after this last decade or so of niches and sub niches... I think most of us still ride the same stuff we always have, and the type of bikes we had were OK, but now with modern geometry, materials, dropper posts etc that same type of bike can do just about anything well.
Posted : 23/08/2023 9:28 am
Topic starter
I think the geometry is the main difference between this and older XC 29ers...
120/110mm travel is nothing special...but with modern geo and fork offset, and wider bars...and BOOM!
He says. Still not ridden yet!
DrP
Posted : 23/08/2023 1:54 pm
You’re right! This genre/niche of bikes are so much fun and so capable.
Posted : 23/08/2023 2:23 pm
Other than the Epic Evo and the Transition Spur, are there really any other 'downcountry' bikes out there? I searched yesterday and most of the bikes other firms are comparing to these have 130-140mm travel both ends - suddenly that's short travel?
Posted : 24/08/2023 10:42 am
I have an Orbea Oiz which is 120/120 - use it for local XC and also Peak District, Y. Dales, Afan, Glentress
Posted : 24/08/2023 11:59 am
davros reacted
Other than the Epic Evo and the Transition Spur, are there really any other ‘downcountry’ bikes out there?
Rocky Mountain do a 120mm bike and Trek Top Fuel is very DC now.
A lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon though. I mean I like Cotic as a brand but claiming their FlareMax is downcountry is a bit of a stretch for my interpretation of the genre.
PS. my interpretation is a full-sus bike that you wouldn't mind doing an XC race on, but could also do some enduro trails on
Posted : 24/08/2023 1:30 pm
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