ROB’S SPECIALIZED ENDURO COMP £4,499

There’s a bit of work to be done on Rob’s Enduro

With Bike of the Year testing now done and dusted, I’ve got the freedom to make some changes to my Enduro Comp in a bid to properly make it my own. Those changes aren’t exactly big, but I’m hoping they’ll make a difference, no matter what sort of terrain I’m riding.

The first is converting to a tubeless set-up. In fact, while I’m at it, I may switch out the tyres too. They’re not bad, but I’m after something that feels super-predictable and consistent. I’ve got some Michelin Wild Enduros at home, so I’ll probably slap those on. Yes, they’re quite chunky and bestsuited to muddy conditions, but even though it’s almost spring (at the time of writing), the trails are wetter than they were in November, and I’m not overly confident that they’ll be drying out anytime soon.

The last time I swapped to the Michelins, they weren’t the quickest to get inflated without tubes, but I’m hoping things will be a little smoother this time around. Alternatively, I may try some WTB rubber again. Their tyres aren’t the lightest if you go for the Tough casing, but when it comes to peace of mind, they’re some of the most robust out there. That means ‘fit and forget’, which is always a plus in my eyes.

Other than that, I’m pretty happy with how the Enduro feels. I may put some slightly softer, fatter grips on because the standard ones aren’t the most forgiving, and I’m going to switch to an old PRO saddle too. That’s not because I don’t like the Specialized perch that the Comp comes with, but rather because my short legs aren’t quite long enough to cope with the X-Fusion Manic dropper post at full-extension. I only need to find a couple of millimetres and I’m hoping that this simple swap will rectify this. Otherwise, I’m going to be shopping for a shorter dropper in the very near future!

A small detail that I really love about the Enduro is the SWAT (storage, water, air, tools) compartment. This sits under the bottle cage and is accessed via a watertight hatch. There’s plenty of space to stow spares and tools inside, so I can ditch my pack for most rides. I must be careful not to leave a half-eaten burrito in there, as I did once in the past, though… that got properly stinking! www.specialized.com