To say that I’m not a huge fan of climbing would be quite the understatement so when I hit the ‘confirm’ button on the registration page for multi-stage MTB race the Breck Epic, I had instant second thoughts. Why on earth was I doing a six-day mountain bike stage race across Colorado with nearly 10,000m (32,600ft) of vertical?
Whatever reservations I had, however, were quickly erased when I suddenly remembered that all climbing comes with a lot of descending, and I quickly set to the task of laying out a bike to suit. This was going to be big-time fun.
- The course: The Breck Epic, a six-day mountain bike stage race in the Colorado high country covering more than 400km (250mi) of distance and 10,000m (32,600ft) of climbing, all above 3,000m (10,000ft) of elevation.
- The equipment goal: A full-suspension 29er that was suitable for hours of climbing but still tough (and fun) enough for lots of demanding, high-speed descending.
- The horse: A custom-built Pivot Mach 429SL trail bike with Fox iCTD electronic suspension, a Shimano XTR Di2 2x11 transmission, wide-but-light wheels and tyres, and a KS carbon fibre dropper post
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This was going to hurt - but it was also going to be extremely fun
It’s not just about going uphill
Long mountain bike races are invariably won on the climbs. They occupy the biggest percentage of the total time, they quickly separate the fit from the unfit, and they require the most preparation beforehand to do well.
That said, I knew that I wasn’t exactly going to be gunning for a podium spot. While normal logic would dictate maximising my vertical rate of ascent with ultralight gear, I instead started thinking about the grin on my face for all that descending. Breck Epic would serve up a whole lot of it, too, and in massively big, fat chunks. As long as I could get myself up there with enough left in the tank to enjoy the ride down, I’d be in good shape.
Ready, set… suffer!
The benefit of hindsight
One for your bucket list
Complete bike specifications:
- Frame: Pivot Cycles Mach 429SL, 100mm-travel
- Rear shock: Fox Float iCTD
- Fork: Fox 32 Float 29 120 iCTD FIT, 120mm-travel
- Headset: 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in tapered, integrated
- Stem: Easton EC90 SL, 70mm
- Handlebar: Easton EC70, 720mm
- Grips: Specialized Enduro XL
- Front brake: Shimano XTR Trail BR-M9020 with 160mm Ice Tech rotor
- Rear brake: Shimano XTR Trail BR-M9020 with 160mm Ice Tech rotor
- Brake levers: Shimano XTR Trail BL-M9020
- Front derailleur: Shimano XTR Di2 FD-M9050
- Rear derailleur: Shimano XTR Di2 RD-M9050
- Shift levers: Shimano XTR Di2 SW-M9050 in Synchro Shift mode
- Cassette: Shimano XTR CS-M9000, 11-40T
- Chain: Shimano CH-HG900-11
- Crankset: Shimano XTR Trail FC-M9020-2, 175mm, 36/26T
- Bottom bracket: Shimano press-fit SM-BB94-41A
- Pedals: Shimano XTR Trail PD-M9020
- Wheelset: Shimano XTR Trail WH-M9020-TL
- Front tyre: Specialized Ground Control Control, 29x2.3in
- Rear tyre: Specialized Fast Trak Control, 29x2.2in
- Saddle: WTB Silverado Team
- Seatpost: KS LEV Integra C
- Accessories: Garmin Edge 520, K-Edge computer mount, Incredibell Brass bell, Arundel Sideloader bottle cage
- Total weight: 12.47kg (27.49lb, complete, as raced)
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