LUKE MARSHALL’S 2019 RADON SWOOP 170 9.0

2,999 (+ shipping) Racer Luke reckons the Swoop’s hard to beat

When the invitation came through to compete in the world’s hardest oneday enduro race, I didn’t have to say yes. However, some small spark in the back of my head seemed to think that trying to complete something that daunting was worth an attempt. The Epic Enduro is a 117km one-day race with an exhausting 4,900m of climbing. Ten stages are split over three di erent loops, with a single loop representing a tough day in the Enduro World Series. There’s no denying this race is a monster. And if you’re going to challenge a monster, you need to make sure you’ve got the right equipment. Radon, who at the time were sponsoring the race, o ered to loan me a bike from their range. I selected the Swoop 170 without hesitation.

Quick confidence

The Swoop had received praise from the mag in the past for its sorted geometry and unflinching handling, winning the enduro category in our 2017 Bike of the Year test. It came well-specced too, making it a tough bike to beat. I rode the 29in-wheeled 9.0 model for the race, in the 19in size. Having previously tested the 10.0, I was familiar with how it’d ride and perform, and confident that I could jump on and not have to think twice – one of the best traits a bike can have.

For me, the Swoop’s geometry was on point. Its numbers may not have been revolutionary, but they were well-refined. A flip-chip let you set up the bike for ‘tour’, ‘trail’ or ‘park’ use. I opted for the bike park mode, which dropped the BB to a significant 40mm below the wheel axles and set the head angle at 64.8 degrees and the e ective seat angle at 75.8 degrees. The reach on the 19in frame was 462mm, and this matched well with the 445mm chainstays to provide a ride feel that was stable and surefooted in the rough yet not cumbersome through tight tech.

Getting epic

That steadfast, confident feel proved a great asset during the Epic Enduro. The race takes place in Olargues, France (set to host the EWS again in October), and I can tell you there’s some burly terrain there, with plenty of rocks, roots, loam and a whole load more rocks. The Swoop’s 170mm of travel provided me with a decent margin for error and helped fight o fatigue on the descents when the rough ground was hammering my hands and muscles, and was easy to set up too. While punctures unfortunately prevented me from completing the race, I clocked up 74.59km and 3,121m of climbing. I can confidently say that the Radon made plenty of those kilometres more fun and more relaxing than other bikes would have done. If the new Swoop is an improvement on the outgoing model, it should be an absolute riot of a bike.