As much as many manufacturers will try to tell us, great bikes unfortunately don’t grow on trees, they don’t even sit on shelves. Great bikes are great for many reasons. For starters they are lovingly built rather than assembled by the hour, they feature fine componentry that lasts and works with precision and balance, they are light both in weight and in operation. Before even going into the heart of this bike I can list some of the key pieces that enable it to breathe:

• Easton Haven Carbon wheels. These complement and provide a great foil to the aluminium chassis. I believe it gives a better feel than a carbon frame/ali wheels combination.
• Shimano XTR brakes. No, not the trail versions with the sometimes rattly servo wave levers and radiator fin calipers, these boys are so wispy and majestically light of touch the only real way to describe them is ‘the best brake I have ever used’.
• XTR Derailleur. Clutch variety, providing your rhythm and equally as important, silence.
• Fox Float Kashima Float RP23 rear shock. Medium rebound/low velocity tune. It’s the right one for the bike, gives great support. Manufacturer’s everywhere take note.
• Fox 32 Float 29 fork. Great size, sensitivity and once again support. Not yet ridden any better on a 29.
• Easton Havoc bar.
• FSA Gravity Light 45mm stem used upside down to lower bar height.
• XTR cranks…and?

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