The sweetest bike of all. 2009 Specialized Epic S-works
September 23rd, 2008 by Conrad Stoltz
The 2009 Specialized Epic S-works.
The press has hyped the bike up and Susi won the XC World Champs on it, but DANG, I was especially surprised by: a) the suspension and b) the weight. And, yes, it is a really pretty bike.
As you can see in the background, I tested the bike on a not-so-old lava flow at Edison snow park outside Bend, to see how the new Specialized Armadillo Elite (Fast Trak 2.00) tires would hold up through the sharp lava. I ran into big lumps of sharp lava as hard as I could (to test the tires for tire cut resistance) but every time the suspension just ate up the much anticipated jolt. When the suspension is not active, bike is 100% rigid- unlike anything I’ve felt since… well, since my Tarmac road bike. The New Epic’s suspension is definitely a few cuts above the “old” Epic. And I’m sure many cuts above anything else out there.
As for the weight, I haven’t weighed it yet! I’m blogging from my hotel bed in Las Vegas, (Dirt Demo and Interbike) and haven’t had a chance to weigh the bike in its full race get-up yet. The fork and frame alone saves 700g on the old bike and when I load the bike on the back of the car it feels like I can wave it around like a stick. Susi’s bike weighs 19.1 lbs, but mine definitely doesn’t weigh 19lbs, just like I definitely don’t weigh 138lbs.
- Edge XC wheels. What great wheels. What great company. What great people. Even the logo kicks ass. I’ll blog about these puppies (and their sickeningly light Edge tubular MTB wheelset) shortly.
- SRAM and Avid. I have been riding SRAM parts and Avid brakes exclusively since 2002. I like parts that work. I like parts that can stand the rough and tumble life of traveling, racing and having the Caveman as your mechanic/rider.
- Titec handle bar, stem and bar ends. Gotta love their website.
- LOOK Quartz Carbon Ti pedals. Nice and light (109g) but more importantly, Caveman proof. I lost a World title once due to another “nice and light” pedal not loving the Maui lava rocks.
- Osymetric chain rings. I hate them, they feel horrible, don’t buy them, they dont work, the website is in French. Stay away from the egg shaped rings!
- Squirt chain lube. The only lube. The chain stays clean, quiet and your drive train lasts noticeably longer.
4 Responses to “The sweetest bike of all. 2009 Specialized Epic S-works”
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September 23rd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
damn dude…. I’m jealous. The bike is sick!
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
so no 29′er at Maui?
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:40 pm
can i have your “old” bike
September 26th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Hond se kieree dit is ‘n lekker ding hierdie! Bel my Poepies, jy is hier Dinsdag. Gertman. 530-414-3867