JULIA’S SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER EVO PRO £7,250
Our design lead’s longtermer has proven to be a difficult act to follow
What a privilege to have called this iconic ride mine for a year! There’s no doubt I’d prolong 2023 if I could, just to extend my journey with the Stumpjumper EVO Pro.
The 160mm front/150mm rear travel ratio hit the sweet spot for my riding, giving a plush, forgiving yet supportive feel on the descents, without leaving me with a full-on enduro machine to drag up the hill. It was a great decision to get the fork professionally tuned, too – a move that seems essential if you’re a lighter rider in a world of heavy stock damping tunes.
I was interested to discover whether the pricey SRAM Eagle AXS wireless gearing would live up to the hype, and surprised that I reliably remembered to charge the batteries throughout the year and refit them afterwards – which, along with the price, appears to be the biggest downside of the tech. AXS wouldn’t be my priority when it comes to component upgrades – good brakes and tyres being more crucial, and not swapping the saddle being my biggest regret – but it’s made the feeling of brand-new gear last for 12 months. The dream!
Part of the bike’s original appeal was that I could easily convert to a ‘mullet’ wheel set-up, and that didn’t disappoint. For someone my size, a full 29er is a lot of bike to move around, and while the big wheels inspire confidence at speed and over rough terrain, it can be a struggle to get the nimble, playful feel I enjoy. Throw a smaller back wheel into the mix, and you get the best of both worlds. It’s going to be some time before you see me off a mullet bike – I’m converted!
Overall, the Spesh has left me speechless – sometimes literally. It’s given me maximum fun on the trails, but a conundrum about what to write about it, because it’s just bloody good and has held together brilliantly. If there are any flaws, I haven’t been able to brutalise it enough to reveal them. That leaves the price as the only bugbear, although it has dropped significantly from the original RRP of £8,500. I won’t forget this dream-maker.