LONG TERM RIDES

The latest on our team bikes – where we’ve ridden, what we’ve changed on them and what we’ve broken this month!

Steep, sketchy trails have reignited Tom’s EVO love

Reading between the lines, you may have surmised that I’ve had mixed feelings towards the Stumpy EVO. While I’ve had some good rides on the bike, it’s rare that I’ve come away absolutely buzzing off it. That changed last weekend. I’ve been riding a lot of XC bikes recently in preparation for a three-day marathon (story in an upcoming issue), so instead of hitting the steeps, it’s been miles over smiles to make sure I had the legs to get round. With the race out of the way, I jumped at the opportunity to ride with mates on some slightly cheeky off-piste trails in South Wales.

The first trail we hit was as steep as they come, with only catchberms to slow you down before a final chute straight on to the almost perpendicular fireroad below. Thank God for the Stumpy EVO’s raked-out front end and slammed bottom bracket, and the Maxxis Shorty tyre I’d wrapped the new DT Swiss EXC 1200 front wheel in. A bit of fishtailing from the rear wheel kept me on my toes, but I was able to push the Shorty’s tread into the damp loam and steer the rear through my hips with at least some degree of confidence. While grip was at a premium, the super-long shape of the bike, which I’ve felt has held it back at times, was spot-on for a bit

of dark, dank slip’n’slide through the trees and over the roots.

After the first run of the day I added a touch more air to the fork to keep it propped up, while I let the rear stay fairly soft. This meant the EVO squatted nicely into its travel, giving it an even better shape on the descents and helping the rear wheel to mould itself over the slippery roots, boosting traction. With the climbs largely consisting of tarmac and fireroad bashing, I was pretty happy to have the option to lock the fork and shock out – the bike is noticeably more efficient when you do so, although it’s also noticeable when you forget to unlock at the top of the climb… Maybe transplanting the Brain from an Epic’s rear end would be a fun experiment, Spesh?

My time with the Stumpy EVO is coming towards its end, with next year’s long-termer already in the works, so my plan for the next month is to make the most of having such a capable bike beneath me. I’ve got a big day planned in the Brecon Beacons, with a bit of guiding from Wye MTB, and then it’s my annual weekend in the Lakes with old mates from uni. Last year that trip was the first outing for the EVO, so it’s rather fitting that it’ll likely also be the last. www.specialized.com