BEN’S VITUS ESCARPE 29 CRS
MONTH 13: Ben’s found his goldilocks machine in longtermer number three
£2,699.99 / 29in / vitusbikes.com
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What attracted you to the Vitus?
Having previously ridden a downcountry bike and an enduro bike as longtermers, I wanted to split the difference with a no-nonsense trail bike. I figured the 150mm-travel Escarpe would be ideal for the type of riding that I mostly enjoy. It also helped that you get a hell of a lot of bike for your money.
Did you change anything straightaway? Nope, nothing in terms of components. I was happy with stem length, bar width etc. I messed around with the suspension a fair bit and because we had such a wet year, I changed the tyres from dry to wet a number of times. I also switched from clips and flat pedals to stop my legs rubbing the rear stays.
Was the bike easy to set up? Yes, very straightforward. And while I did play around with some Bottomless tokens in the fork, I reverted to the original suspension setup as it seemed to work better for my riding style.
Also, with all the contact points sorted, the riding position felt pretty much perfect from the off.
How did it ride?
Before I answer that question I should tell you that I rode the Vitus in as many different situations as possible. From flow-lines in bike parks to old-school XC epics in Snowdonia and on my rather dull local XC loops. And in every situation the Escarpe excelled, but it felt most at home on trails with a gravity focus. The suspension is very reactive to small bumps but at the same time never gets out of shape even when you are approaching the limits of the travel. Nothing seems to upset the balance of this bike, which just encourages you to push harder and ride faster. Yes, on the climbs it’s no XC racehorse, but you can settle into a rhythm on a climb with very little bobbing and no need to reach for any compression levers. On tighter, more technical climbs, you also feel very much in control, with none of the vagueness in steering that slacker bikes can sometimes suffer from. Up or down, it feels responsive to rider input and allows you to change lines quickly without fuss.
Did anything break or wear out?
Well, the Brand-x Ascend dropper needed a service as the lever action was heavy and the post itself was getting a bit notchy. Pretty routine stuff, though, considering 13 months of abuse. Recently I noticed some play in the hub bearings of the DT Swiss M1900 front wheel but again nothing alarming with so much use.
If you could change one thing about your longtermer what would it be?
The grips are a bit meh, but that’s about it. Actually, a narrower rear triangle would be nice too, just to provide more
WHY IT’S HERE Ben tried going big, then going fast, now he just wants a trail bike
■ Do-it-all 150mm-travel bike that can handle anything
■ Great frame finish that comes pre-wrapped with a protective cover to guarantee it stays that way
■ No faults with the specification – even the tyres are first-rate
LOWS
■ Wide seatstays rubbed my bulging calf muscles when riding clipped in – switching to flat pedals fixed that though
■ DT Swiss rear wheel needed truing after I cased a jump and the bearing in the front hub recently developed some play
■ Brand-x Ascend dropper needs a better cable and occasional maintenance
Pete likes it wild – his facial hair, his adventures, and best of all, his riding. Happiest when riding bikes in proper mountains, and ideally at sunrise or sunset when he can bag one of his trademark shots.
Ahouse move in 2019 meant my previous mountain, Ben Lomond, was no longer the closest summit for the obligatory monthly dawn raid, and weekly sunset gallop. Ben Ledi, around 100 metres shorter and with more options for ascent and descent, would keep giving, with the bonus of not having to navigate the singletrack road battling the oncoming stream of tourists unaware of the extremities of their vehicles.
I always rode Ben Ledi a fair amount, but that counter just keeps rising as it’s the easiest way to access some seriously large mountain riding without having to drive or ride for hours. The now classic loop is up the beautifully named Stank Glen, allowing a fire-road ascent above the treeline before the walkers’ path fizzles out into the classic open hill path.
A series of steep kicks lead you to the summit ridge that gradually firms up before you reach the trig at 879m. Just 35m short of achieving Munro status, this is about as big a Corbett as you can climb.
Year-round, the summit trig point offers a rising sun at the eastern end of the River Forth, with little in its way bar the three bridges that span it at its firth. At the opposite ends of the day, depending on the time of year, the sun will either set between Ben Lomond and the distant Isle of Arran, or well north of the Arrochar Alps. You’ve more lochs to catch the dying rays of the sun than you can count, too.
Off the top, you’re straight into a multi-line rocky delight. Repairs to the path hem the trail in before it opens out again into a series of short, stiff climbs, followed by steep plunges, each with their own character. Some are steep, loose chutes, the others flagged staircases. By the time you pick up the ridge-top, your hands are starting to burn and it’s highly likely that you’ve warded off more than a few punctures by this point.
As the path swings north away from the ridge, it becomes steeper and slower, with far more rock built into it compared to the upper slopes. Only the best brakes won’t be fading here as you’re spat out onto the lower fire road. You can then opt to take the straight, steep plunge to the car park, or gain some more height and ride the lower Stank path.
AS CHOSEN BY...
Ben Ledi is the easiest way to access some seriously large mountain riding without having to drive or ride for hours