Submitted by
Croaker
a Weekend Warrior
from Folsom
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2011
Strengths: Suspension and Brakes
Weaknesses: Feels like I'm sitting on a 6' ladder, seat has a lot of tail flip-up so it's a little hard to slid off the back for downhills.
Bottom Line:
I'm an old 57 year, 30 lb overweight Roadie that's back on the dirt to help with the local High School Mountain Bike Race Team. We ride 3 days/nights per week rain/shine single track, dirt roads & bike trail. I decided I was tired of my "superman" night falls and needed to get a bike or expect an expensive hospital visit. The 'Chance Rigid just didn't help me enough in the dark. The Altitude's steep seat tube feels strange but in my "sheer-desperation" night single-track climbs I'm able to stay with the slower kids - thanks also to the suspension. Superman falls have been cut dramatically (I still have operator-error on steep downhills in the dark). Brakes are amazing (with cantis you don't have brakes - you have slowers). The other boys are envious of the better Rocky Mountain components used verses Fishers, Treks and Stumpjumpers. I fully expect the boy to be "borrowing" the Altitude this summer for his x-mountain riding and downhills. (He got an Element 70)
Similar Products Used: Nothing in this century. '84 Fisher HKEK I bought new(yes I'm that old), '92 Fat Chance Wicked Lite Rigid.
Bike Setup: Stock with upgraded Easton EC90 flatbar, flipped the stem to the down position - with the fork headtube spacers on top of the stem (I'm a roadie), Eargon Biokork grips (strange but nice), Niterider 700 pro & Niterider headlamp (absolutely essential for night singletrack.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gofaster10
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2010
Strengths: This bike climbs so well, you'd think you were on a 25 lb. carbon race rig. I never would've thought a 140mm travel bike would go uphill like this, but whatever Rocky Mountain did, it's a notch above. Descending is a pleasure. This bike handles on steep descents a lot like the Slayer. It wants to stick to the ground and traction is never an issue. Riding position is more comfortable than other similar bikes, too.
Weaknesses: It costs a bit, but it was still cheaper than my Blur LT. The bars were too damn wide, so I cut over an inch off of each end. And the grips are complete crap, but those were easy enough to change.
Bottom Line:
It's not cheap (Duh). If you're looking for the XC bike that does it all for less than $3,000.00, this is it. Plenty light, Squishy where you want it, great climber. This bike does everything that my Blur LT was supposed to do.
I demo'd this bike against an Ibis, A trek fuel ex, a Yeti, and even Giant's latest doodads, and I'm pretty damn thrilled with my choice after 3 months of hard riding in the Southwest's sand, rocks, steep little climbs and such.
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