Saracen Myst
Finally, but definitely by no means least is the new Myst DH bike which comes complete with 27.5″ wheels. This is the very same bike that the Madison Saracen team have had such great success on in 2014, and it’s the result of extensive feedback from Sam Dale in particular. Towards the end of the 2013 season Sam actually had no fewer than six different frames, all with slightly different geometry, and the end result of those findings is the bike that you see before you. Aside from geometry tweaks the suspension linkage has also been changed a little, with the result being that the 203mm of suspension is now a little less progressive than it was before.
Construction wise Saracen have made a new 27.5″ wheel specific carbon rear end rather than simply cram the larger wheel in the old swingarm. Last year the team were using the old swingarm with the bigger wheels as they do fit, but clearance wasn’t great so that is what has been improved. The chainstay length actually remains the same. At the front Saracen have stuck with aluminium rather than carbon, and this is for a couple of reasons. The first of which is of course economic reasons, but sticking to aluminium is also allowing Saracen to offer a wider range of sizes (right up to a true XL), and as was demonstrated last year it makes it far easier for the company to develop the bike and push it forwards.
Two complete models will be available, the Pro and the Team, which will sell for £2999.99 and £4899.99 respectively. Thanks to some sensible component choices the lower spec model is still more than capable of being raced out of the box, and then as the name suggests the Team model is a true team replica. If you fancy building your own bike up though then Saracen will be offering the Myst frame separately and this will set you back £1899.99, including a Fox DHX RC4 Kashima rear shock. That’s a very competitive price indeed, especially when you consider the World Cup pedigree that it now has.
We will hopefully be getting to do a head to head test sometime soon with Sam Dale’s World Cup race bike and an off the shelf build, firstly to see just how similar they are, and secondly to discover just how good it is. In the mean time though check out the gallery below for more photos of both models…
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Madison Saracen 2013 – UCI World Championships: Pietermaritzburg
