Brendan Fairclough on the 2022 Scott Spark 900 Tuned (image from SCOTT Sports).
Mathias Flückiger might be the best example of this phenomenon, as he gained the entirety of his winning gap on the downhill portions of the race. This was to win the World Cup, and it certainly matters for us too.
Obviously, what’s good for racers isn’t always good for the public, but added suspension travel benefits everyone. A lot of times people steer away from getting a cross country bike because they want the capability of a trail bike on most terrain, but with these developments one can get the lightweight cross country bike and still feel comfortable on more aggressive riding. With that, it makes the Cross country bike a better bike for the non-racers.
Why do all of these developments excite me? In a way, these changes are just what I’ve been looking for from cross country bikes. Shortly, I am going into the collegiate mountain bike scene, where I hope to race something called the Omnium. The Omnium is a 4-part race where each racer has to race a cross-country, a short track, a dual slalom, and a downhill event. Because of this event, I prefer longer travel frames. Unlike years past, I may be able to race all the events on one bike and still keep up with everyone else.
Don’t just call me a racer, however. I do a lot of riding just for fun, and a bike that I can still race on but that has more travel makes it more appealing to me as something that can go almost anywhere. I expect my bikes to be able to descend well, as I take them down a lot of terrain that is definitely out of the bikes comfort zone. I have found that my 2020 Scott Spark RC rides like a trail bike, and now I am so excited to ride the new Spark and the Blur to see how they compare to my current bike.
Eric,
good thought, especially when you consider that the Spark and Spark RC now share the same frame and swingarm. The RC is the racing version, but everything we said about the Spark RC can easily be applied to the Spark. A Spark Tuned that you’re eyeing would be an excellent choice for what you’re looking to get out of your bike!
Alvin - Contender Bicycles on
Good article. Not sure why you limited your Scott comments to the RC. I have my eye on the new Spark 900 Tuned AXS (the one in the picture above). I don’t race but I want the best climbing bike possible without sacrificing much on the descents. The 130mm front travel (120 rear) and a little extra slack seem perfect for the Wasatch.
Eric on