Bird Zero AM – medium
Works -2 deg headset
130mm Pike RCT3
750mm wide 40mm rise bar and 50mm Hope AM/FR stem
Flow EX rims / Pro 2 Evo
Minion DHR2 2.3 3C Exo
Hope Race Evo M4 / 183mm
Reverb Stealth 150mm
SLX cranks, Hope BB, Works 34t N/W, XT 11-36, Saint shifter, Zee mech, KMC X10L chain, PI Catalyst pedals (huge!)
Angles are: HA = 64.3 & SA = 75.4 😀
Just need to swap on the 32t oval Works ring that arrived and put my fresh set of identical wheels (these are from my Spitfire) with Shortys on once they’re built up. The -2 deg headset and 20mm shorter fork makes it a complete speed freak, I’ve never ridden something that feels so impatient both up and down before!
I’d actually spent quite a lot of time designing a custom frame (based around a 120mm Pike) and when the Zero AM came out I realised that with the -2 deg headset and 130mm Pike the geometry was within a fraction of a degree and a few mm in most places, so it made sense to order one of those instead. I have a 160/140mm Spitfire for rock-munching on away trips and for anything other than that I feel a shorter fork works better on a hardtail.
75.4 SA – does it feel like you’re pedaling a unicycle?
It’s not something for doing the South Downs Double on but it is bloody effective at going uphill – I’d rather ride the Spitfire for any epic XC. I’ll apologise now for using the e-word but that’s basically what it’s for, whether officially enduro racing or messing about in a similar way in the woods.