I’ve done the Laramie Enduro endurance mountain bike race several times now and the event never disappoints with a surprisingly entertaining mix of singletrack and dirt roads, fantastic views of the Wyoming high desert, and more than 7,000ft of climbing – all at least 7,500ft above sea level. I’ve historically opted for some sort of trail bike on race day but this time around, I decided to try a slightly different tack: less suspension but more wheel-and-tyre, all centred around a custom-built Specialized S-Works Epic 29 World Cup.
- The course: The Laramie Enduro, a mountain bike endurance race near Laramie, Wyoming. 111km/69mi in length with more than 7,000ft of climbing, held over a mix of dirt roads and modestly technical singletrack
- The equipment goal: A hyper-efficient XC full-suspension 29er with high-volume tyres, a lightweight dropper post, and enough storage capacity that I could leave my jersey pockets empty
- The horse: A custom-built Specialized S-Works Epic 29 World Cup
My bike choices for Laramie have always been quite similar: something fast, light, and efficient but still reasonably comfortable and capable of some rowdiness. But whereas I went into last year’s event as a bleary-eyed new father short on saddle time and heavy on the scale, this time around I was actively training for the six-day Breck Epic mountain bike stage race (which would follow just a week later). I didn’t just want to make it to the finish line; I wanted to get there quickly.
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When it comes to getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible on a cross-country trail, there are few better choices than an S-Works Epic
As such, efficiency took on a higher priority but I still wasn’t willing to go with a hardtail (I am old, after all). Instead, I opted for the next best thing: a Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup, custom outfitted through the company’s recently introduced ‘S-Build’ program.
The SRAM XX1 1x11 drivetrain and Guide RSC brakes, Specialized carbon fibre flat bar and S-Works Phenom saddle, and my trusty Shimano XTR Race pedals were fairly straightforward choices but I went distinctly off-script for the wheels and tyres.
Time to go racing!
Best ride ever
Complete specifications:
- Frame: Specialized S-Works Epic 29 World Cup, 95mm travel
- Rear shock: Fox/Specialized remote Mini-Brain
- Fork: RockShox SID World Cup Brain 29, 100mm travel
- Headset: 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in tapered, integrated
- Stem: Ritchey WCS 4-Axis, 70mm
- Handlebar: Specialized FACT Carbon flat with SpirGrips
- Grips: Specialized XC Race XL (glued on)
- Front brake: SRAM Guide RSC hydraulic disc with 160mm Centerline rotor
- Rear brake: SRAM Guide RSC hydraulic disc with 160mm Centerline rotor
- Brake levers: SRAM Guide RSC
- Front derailleur: n/a
- Rear derailleur: SRAM XX1
- Shift levers: SRAM XX1 trigger
- Cassette: SRAM XX1, 10-42T
- Chain: SRAM PC-XX1
- Crankset: Rotor InPower power meter, 175mm, 30T Q-Ring
- Bottom bracket: Enduro TorqTite XD-15 PF30
- Pedals: Shimano XTR Race PD-M9000
- Wheelset: Roval Traverse SL Fattie 29
- Front tyre: Specialized Fast Trak Control, 29x2.2in
- Rear tyre: Specialized Fast Trak Control, 29x2.2in
- Saddle: Specialized S-Works Phenom
- Seatpost: Specialized Command Post XCP
- Accessories: Specialized SWAT top cap chain tool, Specialied integrated mini-tool, Specialized SWAT storage box, Specialized Zee Cage II (2), Bar Fly 3.0 Garmin computer mount, Incredibell
- Total weight: 11.69kg (25.77lb, complete, as raced)
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