There's no denying that in mountain cross, we're seeing fewer and fewer hardtail mountain bikes on the track, and that's partly down to the track getting harder. While full-suspension mountain bikes can add comfort and confidence, many riders still crave a stiff front and rear triangle for efficient pedaling.
This is often seen in the World Cup XC short track races. For example, Cérvelo has been replacing the rear shock of its ZFS-5 full-suspension bike with a sturdy linkage that can effectively turn it into a hardtail. On more difficult tracks, it can be fitted with a rear tank and switched to full suspension mode.
This compromise is relatively cumbersome, especially for the average consumer, and you can't always change the rear suspension module every time before riding, right?So, how do you strike a balance between efficiency and power delivery?Trek's SuperCaliber and Specialized's Epic have the perfect answer.
Both of these cars are the star XC cars of both brands, and they offer hardtail efficiency when you need to pedal, the advantages of a full-suspension car on downhills, and a more relaxed and stable arrival at the bottom of the mountain. They differ slightly in frame and suspension design, though, although the end goal is similar. Which is best?Should we say goodbye to the hard tail?
The S-Works Epic World Cup ditches the Brain shock and features an all-new rear suspension design with 75mm of rear travel paired with a 110mm travel fork. It allows for maximum power transmission and overall efficiency. Officially, the new Epic gets the stiffness, weight, and responsiveness of a hardtail car on the track.
trek supercaliber slr 9.The 9 XX AXS is now in its second generation, with its signature Istatrut rear structure offering 80mm of travel and a 110mm travel fork up front. The upgraded Istrut offers the same hardtail efficiency and realistic damping suspension as the previous version, but the use of laser-graduated SAG preload scale markings and numbered rebound adjusters make setup much simpler. Although both were developed in collaboration with Rockshox, unlike the Epic World Cup, the SuperCaliber is designed as an integral part of the frame structure to improve stiffness and pedal efficiency.
Frame details and geometry
At the heart of every bike is the frame, which sets them apart from many of their competitors, and the softtail owes much to how their rear suspension works. The Works Epic World Cup is built from its latest FACT 12M carbon fiber, with the rear tank half-hidden inside the top tube and driven by a tiny linkage. At the rear, the same carbon fiber deformation is used, there are no extra turning points, and the frame has a 665-degree head tube angle, more slack than the previous generation, and a seat tube angle of 745 degrees.
Trek's Supercaliber SLR 9The 9 xx AXS, the top-of-the-line model in the range, also uses carbon fibre with a higher modulus and also abandons the internal conduit to reduce weight. Underneath, the chainstays extend above the main pivot to further increase stiffness. It also doesn't have a back-turn point, and there's plenty of room for two kettles in the front triangle. Its head tube angle is 675 degrees, seat tube angle 745 degrees, REACH is 5 mm shorter than the equivalent Epic World Cup.
Configuration information
S-Works Epic World Cup specifications.
Frame: FACT 12m Carbon Fibre, 75mm travel.
Fork: Rockshox SID SL Ultimate Brain, 110mm of travel.
Backliner: Rockshox Sidluxe WCID
Wheelset: Roval Control SL carbon.
Tires: Specialized S-Works Fast Trak and Specialized Renegade 29 235
Drivetrain: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS with Quarq Power Meter Crank (1 12).
Brakes: SRAM Level Stealth Ultimate, 180 160mm
Handlebar stem: Roval Control SL integrated, 60mm 760mm
Seatpost: Roval Control SL Rigid
Saddle: Specialized S-Works Power
Weight: 96kg, size L without pedals.
*: £11,000.
trek supercaliber slr 9.9 xx axs
Frame: SLR OCLV Carbon Fibre, 80mm TR**EL
Fork: Rockshox Sid SL Ultimate, 110mm TR**EL
Backline: Trek Istarut Rockshox Sidluxe
Wheelset: Bontrager Kove RSL Carbon Wheels
Tyres: Bontrager Saint-Anne RSL XR 29 22in
Transmission: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS (1 12).
Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth, 160mm disc.
Handlebar stem: Bontrager RSL Integrated, 750mm 70mm
Dropper seatpost: Fox Transfer SL, 100mm drop
Seat cushion: Bontrager AEOLUS RSL
Weight: 962kg, size M without pedals.
*: £10,800.
The two cars share a number of accessories, with the SRAM wireless xx eagle AXS shifting to drive both cars forward, and the Level Stealth Ultimate brakes for effective braking. However, there are subtle differences between the two. Trek opted for the more powerful four-piston version, while the Specialized went for the two-piston version.
The crankset is 34T, but the Epic World Cup has a built-in power meter. Both bikes use RockShox suspension. The Supercaliber gets a regular SID SL Ultimate fork with 110mm of travel. Specialized, for its part, put its Brain damper on top of the SID SL fork.
Both come with carbon wheels, but the Specialized comes with a wider 235-inch tires, while the Trek uses a relatively narrow 22-inch tires. The Epic World Cup comes with a carbon seatpost, while the SuperCaliber comes with a Fox Transfer SL dropper seatpost.
Both cars are almost top-of-the-line, and they have a stronger "hardtail" mode than the competition, with both cars having a well-balanced mountain performance, and if you want a stiffer pedaling effect, you might want to opt for the Epic World Cup. If you're looking for a quicker downhill experience, perhaps the Supercaliber with a longer rear travel and a dropper seatpost would be better.
Editor: Hamma.