Specialized Epic Comp Carbon 29

Comments:

Best bike I've ever ridden. My former bikes were all 26ers, 05 stump jumper, 07 epic, 2010 superlight and a Cannondale hard tail. I also did a demo ride on a Santa Cruz 5010C which was awesome but was 10k as tested! After some research I decided to buy the Epic carbon comp. This thing is fast and will go anywhere you point it. When you put the power to the pedals it jumps forward with no bob at all. It is a do it all bike in my opinion, I feels like a rocket on a gravel road, will bomb a downhill at speed, and makes short work of rooty/rocky sections or slick turns. At 5'10" and 170lbs my personal set up is 150psi in the fork, 4 clicks out on comp/5 clicks out on rebound, shock psi 180, 1 click out on comp, 4 clicks out on rebound, tube less tires, and 1x10 gearing with 34 up ft, I also cut 1" off the bar width. Shifts and brakes great and has a very comfortable riding position sitting or standing. Also very light for any price range full suspension, was 25.4lbs stock and now just under 24 as set up! One sick bike for the price!

Comments:

I am a 5’9� Midwestern single track rider who has activity participated in in age class racing for a couple of decades. A 29er was not on the radar as I looked to replace a well-used but fast 26 until my son, who works part time at a bike shop, arranged for a weekend demo. My transition to 29ers only took a single lap. The Comp is as quick and maneuverable as any 26. The stability through typical single track rocks, roots, sand and curves taken a speed is remarkable. Simply put, the Comp 29er is the best handling single track bike I have ridden. The only downside is weight. The Comp is 3 lbs. heavier than my race ready 26 and that is noticeable on long climbs. (To be fair, this also reflects moving from a top end 26 to a mid-level 29er) As things wear out, the Comp will go on a diet. As a point of note, the 2x10 gearing with push shifting coupled with the larger wheel circumference does take some time to get used to. Reflecting the 29er’s larger wheel circumference, the 36x11 on the 29er gives you virtually the same top gear travel inches as the 42x12 on a 26. In the middle gears, it takes some experimenting to get comfortable. At the lower end, the 22x36 on the 29er will be more equivalent in travel inches to the 22x32 on the 26. With the extra weight, you do get an uphill workout. Given my race results to date, I am at least as fast on the Comp (maybe faster) but do not feel nearly as beat up post-race. All in all, the Comp is an excellent ride