Yeah, it feels a bit like a first-world dilemma. I’m considering testing my hardtail against my Ripmo at some point next spring, both for time and fatigue.
And that’s where I am too! I know I’m overbiked with the Ripmo - but I’d rather be over biked than endo and crash out of a race and injure myself…
I’m terrible at weighing my bikes because they’re always heavier than I’d like even after spending too much money on them. I’d wager now mine is in the 25-26 lb range which to me is acceptable for racing. I do know that when I had it built up with a 36 and beefier tires and wheels it was coming in at 29 lb. I think I’ll split the difference this time and install a standard Fox 34 (non step cast) at 140, and add some “DC” tires instead of the enduro treads last time. I have a Specialized Status that I use for fun rides and that thing is a tank I’d guess 37 lbs at least. So when I go back to the Ripley it feels like cheating almost. I will say the Status makes going DH in the leaves (East Coast) a lot more fun.
I am convinced you will find the differences between the Ripmo and Ripley to be minimal if you’d spec them the way you say. Both have efficient DW suspension, so pedaling economy should be similar. With same wheels & tires they should roll equally well too.
I would keep the Ripmo, sell the HT while the market is still hot, and then pick up a Specialized Epic EVO, Santa Cruz Blur TR, Canyon Lux Tr or similar when the market cools down to more normal levels!
I’m in almost the same spot! Except I got the Ripmo AF, so even heavier, and looking to add the Epic EVO or Canyon Lux Tr when possible
This is great advice. It took me a day or two to come around to it, but you’re right - bikes are only increasing travel. While the Ripmo is more of a “point and shoot” bike, a good XC racing or XCM bike is so going to be full suspension - either 100/100 or 120/100, probably with around a 67 HTA. My HT will never substitute for that.
I may look at epics and exies and other XC racing bikes vs the “downcountry” crowd, but still…
Thanks!
I’d hold onto that and get a 100/100 race bike.
I like the idea of downcountry bikes for folks who only have one bike. For racing, given the choice, I’d rather have a dedicated race bike. I race a Specialized Epic and trail ride an SC Nomad 4.
Obvious benefits of the 100mm bike are lighter weight and more efficient power delivery. Less obvious benefits include fewer pedal strikes and better climbing geometry up the steeps when the front is unweighted and rear is sagging.
The main limiters on my Epic are the tires. They came with Fast Traks, which are very fast rolling but not confidence inspiring. If I’m riding a course with a lot of flat turns, I prefer a beefier front tire.
Yeah, I’m rapidly coming around to that point of view. Since both bikes would be 29ers, I can easily swap my 3 wheelsets (roval control cabins for reaching, FSA afterburners for training, and ibis s35s with 2.5’s for the Rocky stuff) between them.
I’ve been looking at epics and trying to understand if the Brain would be a good setup for XCM. Have you done 4-5 hour rides/races on it? If not, would you choose that bike for those races?
Still never found a 100/100 bike that I geled with. Going back to a 120 trail bike felt like coming home. So, that’s my race bike and I use an enduro sled bike for fun and the super tech stuff I enjoy. Given that I really only race back country endurance stuff now, the DC/trail geo works a lot better for me and is a great race bike. So it really just depends on the type of course you’re targeting and what’s comfy.
Sometimes fun is fastest.
Having ridden both the Ripmo and Ripley in my opinion they are quite different from an XC/ Marathon perspective. The Ripmo isn’t something I would entertain as a marathon race bike regardless of build partly due to weight, partly geo.
The Ripley built light with a 120mm fork is as aggressive as I would ever want to get.
The parts are steadily coming in now, I will post the full spec list and weights when complete.