3rd in our WHAT WE RIDE series, is Joel Rosenstrach, and his 2015 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon EVO 650B. In the 20+ years I have been riding mountain bikes, I’ve never before owned a Specialized. But when the Big S called to announce their first 650b trail bike, I had to have one. My criteria for bike choice is simple. It must descend like running water and climb like a flight of stairs. It must grease the landings and thread the needles. It must have cargo capacity for multi-day self-supported adventures whilst still being at home in the bike park. Moreover, it must be “Moab-Tough” – zero chance of mechanical failure. This here bicycle does all of the above, while somehow managing to weigh a mere 27 pounds. Compared to my co-workers bikes, my ride has some significant differences. Wheel size being the most obvious. Choices are good. All of the current offerings are quite good. To me, wheel size is a function of rider height. At 5’9” 150lbs I’ve always found 29ers disproportionate to my size. I am not a powerful climber and the large wheels are difficult for me to spin. I wear a medium shirt. I ride medium bikes. Medium wheels are a no-brainer. Pick the bike that fits your body! I also ride flat pedals. The first decade of my riding life I was clipped-in, but about 10 years ago I switched to platforms and never looked back. Clipless pedals certainly offer some advantages in terms of efficiency, but detract from the riding experience in terms of comfort, control, and outright fun. I think that a lot of people get on clipless pedals from the start, and immediately begin to ingrain bad habits, such as pulling up on the pedals to perform a sort of hack-kneed bunny hop. Flat pedals will teach you to ride a bike correctly, to pedal in perfect circles, to compress and rotate when you need to fly. And you won’t have to wear those stupid shoes. Regarding components, I use the SRAM XX1 drivetrain. No much to say here, it’s the best! I run a MRP Stage fork, the latest and greatest from our friends on 25 RD. I sold my Pike when this fork came out and have never regretted the decision. We all like to support local products, but I would run this fork if was made on Mars. It’s that good. Check it out. My co-workers all use a Specialized Command Post. I use a Kind Shock LEV. The Command Post is a reliable, serviceable piece of kit. At $275 it’s an outstanding value. The KS LEV costs almost twice as much. Why buy it then? Infinitely adjustable travel with variable return speed, stationary cable routing, a superior seat clamp, and bomb-proof all weather reliability - although reliability in dropper posts across the board leaves something to be desired. As for the rest of it, I use 775mm Race Face Atlas bars with a 60mm stem. 35mm wide Roval Traverse SL “fatties” wrapped in 2.3 Spec Butcher and Ground Control tires. Pedals and saddle are both Chromag – these are parts I break frequently and our Canadian neighbors deliver that bombproofedness I require. I use Lizard Skins Peaty grips because Steve Peat is the man. The dog is a Blue Heeler / Border Collie hybrid. It weighs 30 pounds, producing a remarkable power-to-weight ratio, with long legs providing ample roll-over for the square edged hits. Theres no carbon fiber, but it emits loud sounds which keep predators at bay. While it is a 2008 model, I feel that it is more than competitive with todays offerings. And yes, shes faster than you. Specs: Frame: Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Expert Carbon 650b Fork: MRP Stage, 160mm TravelHeadset: FSA Stem: Answer Rove 60mm Bar: RaceFace Atlas, 10mm rise, 775 width Shifter: SRAM XX1 Brakes: Shimano XT Derailleur: SRAM XX1 Crank: SRAM XX1 175mm w/ spiderless MRP Bling Ring, 32t Chain: XX1 Cassette: X01 Wheels: Roval Traverse SL “Fattie”, 54 point engagement Tires: Specialized Butcher, Ground Control. 2.3 Width, Control sidewalls Seatpost: Kind Shock LEV, 125mm travel Saddle: Chromag Lynx DT, Chro-Mo Rails Pedals: Chromag Scarab Grips: Lizard Skins Peaty Tubes: None Dog: Sally
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:21:57 +0000
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