Craig Kolesky and Rudolf Zuidema are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their Trek ProjectOne bikes, and for this issue they talk us through their bikes and specifications choices.
Choosing the right bike for stage racing is as important, if not more so, than choosing the right partner to do them with. The right bike will help you achieve your goals and add to the enjoyment of participating in stage races, whereas the wrong bike choice will leave you frustrated and disillusioned.
It goes without saying that your bike is your most important piece of equipment and also the most expensive, so choose wisely, you want a bike that will serve you well in races as well as on your Saturday morning sessions with mates.
When in doubt follow Keith Bontrager’s philosophy; strong, light or cheap? Pick two. This is always true and can be applied to bikes as well as bike components and accessories.
We’ve decided to go with the Trek Fuel EX 29 for our Epic campaign. It’s a bike we’re both familiar with and it’s super versatile. You can spec it to do just about anything from marathon races to Enduros. The extra travel and slightly more relaxed geometry, compared to the old Trek SuperFly FS or Trek TopFuel, will help us finish stronger and provide some extra security on the trail when fatigue eventually starts setting in.
If you’re not familiar with the Fuel EX, it’s a similar bike to the Santa Cruz 5010, Niner RIP 9 or the Specialized Camber.
Specs
Suspension: 120mm travel front and rear gives some extra confidence in the rough stuff without sacrificing climbing efficiency. The Fuel EX features Trek’s Active Braking Pivot (ABP) that eliminates brake jack from the suspension and RE:ACTIV regressive damper in the Float EVOL rear shock improves pedalling efficiency without sacrificing big hit compliance. We’ve specced a RockShox Pike RCT3 on our bikes; it’s light, plush, tracks like a laser guided bomb and offers Lockout, Pedal and Open modes.
Wheels: This is one area where you don’t want to skimp on your bike. The lighter your wheels the lighter the bike rides, so rather invest in better wheels before splurging on a lighter drivetrain, you will notice a bigger improvement in how your bike handles and climbs than with a new drivetrain. Odds are you’ll probably spend less as well!
We’ve chosen the new DT Swiss XMC1200 wheels which are billed as a lightweight Trail/Marathon wheel. There are lighter options, but for stage racing reliability should be your primary concern. Carbon Rims are stronger than alloy and DT Hubs are arguably the most reliable and easy to service hubs out there.
Drivetrain/Brakes: If you’re not finishing in the top 20% of the field a 2 x 10/11 drivetrain is non-negotiable. No matter how well prepared you think you are for a stage race, fatigue and terrain take their toll as the stages roll on. The extra gears will soon be a blessing and Shimano’s new Side Swing Front Derailleurs effectively eliminate the traditional drawbacks of a dual ring setup.
XTR 2 x 11 with a Race Face carbon crank take care of our propulsion and ads some bling, while XTR Trail Brakes take care of the stopping our above average racing physiques.
Components & Tyres: When it comes to components & tyres personal preference and riding style will determine most choices.
We’ve gone for a fixed carbon seatpost as opposed to a dropper to allow for a second water bottle, as a hydration pack on a marathon stage gets a bit uncomfortable. If you’re comfortable with a pack, a dropper is a great option as it’s a huge confidence booster on the technical stuff and the ability to drop the saddle a touch every now and then helps a lot to relieve saddle pressure.
Handlebars are 750mm wide Bontrager Rhythm Pro matched to a Rhythm Pro stem; these are both light and strong.
As far as tyres go, tubeless is another non-negotiable. Choose a slightly faster rolling rear tyre and more aggressive front to balance out the need for traction and low rolling resistance. For Western Cape races that are typically over rougher and rockier terrain go for a 2.35 inch tyre, for most other areas 2.2 will do.
