ROB’S SPECIALIZED ENDURO COMP£4,499
Restrictions are lifting just in time for launch season
With certain distancing measures beginning to ease a little, we’re slowly being allowed to get back out onto the trails (safely and without pushing things too much), and it’s been nice to throw a leg over the Enduro and get out for a pedal around my local loop. It’s arguably one of the most inappropriate bikes I could have chosen to ride around here, because the trails don’t really warrant a long-travel heavy-hitter (and it’s not exactly fun on the hellishly steep road climbs either), but it’s been fun to get out on Big Blue nonetheless.
Last time around I mentioned swapping the original tyres for some WTB rubber. On my brief foray onto the dirt, I have to say that, so far, I’m impressed with the
Verdict up front. OK, the trails have been bone-dry, which is going to help, but I’m liking it a lot. What I didn’t mention previously was that I’d changed my wheels too. Before you all run to your sheds and ready your pitchforks (or anything pointy), I want to stress here that I haven’t just slapped a set of threegrand carbon wheels on an already pricey machine. In fact, what I’ve bolted on are exactly the sort of wheels I’d go out and spend my own money on.
When I got in touch with WTB about getting some new tyres, I got chatting to James, their marketing manager, about the KOM Tough i29 rims (£79.99 each). Having previously used a set for close to two years without issue, I was keen to stick some on the Enduro, ready for a summer of abuse. The KOM rims are built onto ever-dependable Hope Pro 4 hubs, which offer a nice positive engagement through the freehub and a quicker pick-up than the Specialized hubs they replace.
I’ve also been playing around with RockShox’s latest DebonAir fork spring. Converting a 2020 spring (as found in the Enduro’s Lyrik Select fork) to the 2021 spec costs around £25, for the new seal head and extended foot nut, providing you’re happy to do the job yourself. The difference is subtle, but the fork definitely rides higher in its travel.
After all this time being limited to local rides, I’m chomping at the bit to ride a little further afield now and I can’t wait to get the chance to push the Enduro a little harder. www.specialized.com