My personal bike is selected simply to serve a purpose: be the most versatile MTB I can build while offering as much reward from the terrain as possible. To me this means a bike that has aggressive geometry [long reach, slack head angle, low BB] combined with short travel [120mm]. The reason I selected Evil as a brand [a name many of you will no doubt have never heard] is because of exactly that; they are a small nondescript company based out of the North West Coast of the USA, and most importantly, a company whose ethos I can personally identify with, and whose business I simply want to support. The rest of the components that are bolted onto the frame are selected purely to suit the frame, compliment its abilities and aesthetics, and offer the highest level of function and performance. What I am left with is a 120mm travel trail bike that I am just as happy riding on multiple 50km back-to-back days on district roads in the KZN midlands as I am tearing down the Pietermaritzburg World Cup DH track.
Spec:
- Frame - Evil The Following XL
- Fork - Formula 35
- Shock - Rockshox Monarch Debonair
- Bar - Renthal Fatbar Carbon 30mm Rise, 780mm Width
- Stem - Renthal Apex 40mm
- Grips - Renthal Lock-on Kevlar Compound
- Brakes - Formula T1R
- Rotors - Formula 180mm
- Shifters - Shimano XTR M9000 11spd [Rear Only]
- Derailleurs - Shimano XTR M9000 Medium Cage [Rear Only]
- Crankset - RaceFace Next SL, 170mm
- BB - RaceFace Cinch installed with Enduro XD-15 Bearings
- Chain - Shimano XTR
- Chainring - RaceFace 30T NarrowWide
- Chainguide - MRP
- Cassette - Shimano XTR M9000 11 - 40T
- Wheelset - Industry Nine Enduro 29
- Tyres - Onza Ibex 2.25 [29PSI Front, 31PSI Rear]
The new Formula 35 Fork offers super supple beginning stroke and with great control over damping through the high / low speed compression adjustments.
The DELTA [Daves Extra Legit Suspension Apparatus] is far simpler than it looks, but the ride that it provides is truly incredible.
Loooooooong front centre for my 186cm heigh leaves room to move, plus the slack 66.5deg head angle allows me to tackle the most demanding trails.
29 x 2.25" Ibex are certainly my rubber of choice, tough, dependable and a true all-year-round tread patter.
My most pedantic area: cockpit. I will run Renthal handlebars on EVERY bike I own.
The KS seatpost was not the most obvious choice, but with the short seat tube on the Evil the 150mm drop it offered was a great bonus.
I have been running i9 wheels since my time in the US in 2006, I will not run another wheelset, the 3deg engagement is simply unrivalled.
Cable routing is my pet peeve. Usually I use heatshrink to join the dropper post and rear brake to keep things tidy up front.
Custom Formula T1S brakes - R1Racing Lever > Stainless Hose > T1 Calliper.
30t Direct mount chainring mounted to a RaceFace Next SL crankset. I'm not made of steel as I'm a weekend warrior :)
