Lance tweets his mountain bike but doesn’t tell us what make/model it is (maybe it’s proto!): “mtb is insane. First ride on the new SRAM XX as well. Hands down best shifting I’ve experienced on a mtb.”
From the photo it looks to be a close cousin of the Top Fuel 9.8 frame, but obviously with different kit. SRAM XX does not come cheap, nor is it stock on any Trek (yet). It looks like our man is sticking with a SID 100 fork but going with the DT Swiss rear shock (if so, I would advise him against it and not be the only one) instead of the RP23. (This figures because the components all look to be SRAM.)
This is all hi-zoot stuff but the saying in mtb is “stupid light” and Lance needs to be careful about bleeding-edge kit untested in something as grueling as the Leadville 100. We repeat: We don’t want this race decided by equipment failure!
That said, I run SRAM on my mountain bikes with no problems whatsoever; it’s a great company that has done wonders via acquisitions to challenge the Shimanopoly.
I’m sure Trek wants Lance to show off the latest tech in XC and he has contractual obligations of course. So be it. On paper he’d be hard-pressed to come up with a better kit!
The Leadville 100 will be Webcast starting at 5:45 a.m. Saturday, August 15. Which is a good thing, because I’ll be in Whistler for the Crankworx Slopestyle finals but can tune in on my MacBook at the village Starbux. Hopefully Leadville will be a wrap (for the winners, at least) by Slopestyle time.
Update: Dave Wiens has posted his TransAlp experience. Interesting read on the race and his own ups and downs.
Actually, it looks to be a 2010 Rock Shox Ario rear shock based on the graphic and bright red decal color pop and gray shock shaft w/o sag indicator markings.
I wouldn’t worry about Leadville being rough on the “stupid light” bikes. It’s a road race with a few bumps and some rocks thrown in, but nothing that this level of tech can’t handle. Not sure why he doesn’t just ride a hardtail for it. Especially since he finishes in under 6.5 hours.