Self-Indulgence and How to Live With It

Yeh, yeh, I know what you are thinking -how come this guy gets to ride such exotica, and I'm stuck with an old clunker? I would say to you  reflect on how much hard work you put into riding any bike - for such effort, you deserve the best that money can buy!  (try that on your wife/parent/sponsor - but don't give them my name). 

Another convincing punch line for the sceptics, is to point out the reason for money's existence - it was invented for spending. What else can you do with it? Ha, ha, just be brave and splash the cash. 

After cheering you up with that bit of dodgy rationalism, let's get down to the facts - just what is this bike like?

What a Difference

Well it is decidedly different from every other Epic I have owned. I am more of a cross-country rider than anything else and consequently look for lightweight and finesse in a bike. This one is a large model at 11.17kg  (depends on pedals, seat, tubes/tubeless, and size you opt for). 

Handlebars and Stem

The change in riding feel is due to a number of factors. The major difference is in the handlebar/stem combination. It is the first time I have had riser bars (I am an old retro rider) these wider bars, combined with a shorter 110mm stem, vastly improve the comfort and handling. 

Suspension The next thing that impresses is the suspension, particularly the new, Specialized- developed, rear brain shock. With the new range of adjustments available on both the brain and the Fox 100mm RLC fork you can turn the bike into a very squishy trail bike (if you like that sort of thing) or a stiff responsive full-on racer.  Furthermore, all those adjustments have infinite control. Broadly, there are about 9 to 12 clicks on all controls (compression, rebound, brain fade, lock-out) and all clicks make noticeable change in the action of fork and shock.

The Beauty of Carbon

Next comes the carbon fibre frame. I have had parking-lot demos on a number of carbon frames and the shock absorbency of carbon always impresses. Small chatter bumps are easily masked within the resilience of the frame. Similarly, larger bumps are equally absorbed. The carbon Epic is no different; it has that unique carbon feel. 

With such resilience you would expect flexing of the frame under extreme load (like standing up and stomping the pedals on an extreme off-road climb). In fact the opposite occurs, the frame is rock solid with all effort translated into forward motion. Stamp the cranks and it takes off. 

A look at the amount of material around the bottom bracket and suspension and frame connections provides some of the answer to this stiffness. The bottom bracket alone is at least 50% greater in diameter than most bikes. Big strong sections abound on this bike frame. Despite all the heft, it is lighter than the previous models. 

2007 Shimano XTR

This is a story in itself that Shimano will no doubt take up, so I will only mention highlights and how they relate to this bike. 

It comes with the complete, lightest ever XTR group-set, including Shimano disc brakes (160mm front, 140mm rear rotors) and rapidfire changers. There are separate brake and change levers and the placing of these can be either inboard or outboard on the handlebars. The changers themselves have about 25mm sideways adjustment to personalize the trigger positions. 

The changer triggers are short throw (like Sram) with positive clicks. On the right side, pressing the silver thumb lever changes the bike to an easier gear. The black index finger lever, which can also be actioned by the thumb, changes the bike to a harder gear. Both levers can shift two gears at a time if you wish. At first I easily adapted to this new, and better than all previous systems. Of late I have a slight reservation on the need for both thumb and forefinger action on the black lever. I sometimes get confused with this - maybe I need two thumbs on the right hand. 

The really significant advance is in the front changer. The change to big-ring is so smooth that you repeatedly look down to check that it has climbed up.

There is none of the ratchetty clunkiness that often marks this move. Press the left hand silver lever and the chain just silently appears on top - no noise, no hesitation, its just there. Surprisingly Shimano does not appear to have had much to say about this. I believe that it is bound up with the new lifting profiles on the composite titanium/carbon-reinforced middle chain-ring.

The Ride 

They say that every new bike goes faster than its predecessor. After three months I am starting to believe in this myth. 

It has slowly dawned on me that the bike rolls so easily that I am riding in big-ring more than the usual mid-ring. This was so pointed that I even got off and counted the teeth on the big-ring to check if it was smaller than before (44 teeth as usual). 

The high level (127 tpi) low rolling resistance Fast Trak tyres may have something to do with this, coupled with the stiff carbon frame.  Maybe I am just kidding myself and over-stimulated by the bling of the bike. Time will tell.

Immediately prior to this bike, I had been riding on Specialized Roll X Pro tyres - the perfect tyre for hard core MTB. In loose gravel I did not feel as confident on the Fast Traks with their smaller, closely spaced lugs. 

Despite this minor tyre reservation, overall this bike is far and away the best I have ever ridden. (as expected given the price). 

Oh! Those Wheels

I cannot resist mentioning them. They were what led me to the bike. Mavic Crossmax are my all time favourites - strong, reliable and always true .The 2007 Crossmax SLRs fitted to the Epic are black with flashy red hubs and a single red spoke amongst the black remainder. They are lighter than any of the previous Crossmax wheels (even in disc form) and they do look cool.

Addendum

Specialized has produced a real breakthrough in derailleur (D/R) protection. A new (60gram, $44.95) part is available that links the rear quick release with the rear D/R forming a solid metal connection between the replaceable tip and the quick release. It reinforces and protects the whole tip/D/R area of the frame in the event of a fall. Replacing tips will be a thing of the past with this after-market device fitted. 

It fits a number of Specialized bikes - speak to the boys at Pro-Am.  

Dale -old clunker on new bike- Garvey