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2022+ Element Build Thread

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#401 ·
Sucker Punch said:
I just picked up a '24 Element and have been spending time getting it set up. Decided to try all 4 settings today, and while everyone seems to be going steep and loving it, I did not like the feeling of being perched up high with it in steep mode and found handling to be vague and climbing squirrely. I couldn't hold a line and had no confidence in the front end.

I put it in slack mode and the bike transformed. Holds a line, turns quicker, tracks better and to my surprise, climbed far better. The front end is planted now and I feel in the bike rather than on top of it. Which makes no sense! But in my case, slack fits me.

I must be some kind of freak!
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Glad to hear slack works best for you!

Mine came with a 10mm lower headset cup so I put it in steep to try to offset it, and I was looking for more of an XC bike.
I sold it a year and a half ago and I'm starting to regret that decision.

Enjoy your Element!
 
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#402 ·
That totally makes sense. Mine is zero stack, but I read somewhere that during supply chain issues RM used headsets with 10mm stacks because that is all they could get their hands on. So compensating for the increase in height by going steep makes sense.

CannondaleF9 said:
Glad to hear slack works best for you!

Mine came with a 10mm lower headset cup so I put it in steep to try to offset it, and I was looking for more of an XC bike.
I sold it a year and a half ago and I'm starting to regret that decision.

Enjoy your Element!
Click to expand...
 
#403 · (Edited)
Picked up a C50 XT Element from Competitive Cyclist for 40% off. Coming off of a Spur, and an Epic Evo before that.

Swapped a bunch of parts over from my Spur, including an X01 drivetrain, 1220g wheelset and Barzo/Mezcal tire combo, plus my preferred cockpit- SQ Labs 12 degree carbon bar, ESI extra chunky grips, and my favorite generic 155mm wide carbon Chinese saddle from AliExpress.

25.5 lbs for an XL before the bottle cage with multi tool and pump. Pretty stoked on the weight relative to the bike’s capability.

Got in my longest ride so far today, about 36 miles of XC riding with some decent chunky spots sprinkled throughout. The Element splits the difference between the EE and Spur really nicely, IMO. More confident going down than the Epic, and just a touch more lively climbing than the Spur.

Going to try a 50mm stem (currently 40mm) and lowering the stem by 10mm, cockpit is feeling a tiny bit cramped when seated. Running it in position 4/steep right now. But otherwise super happy so far.
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#404 ·
DETarch said:
Picked up a C50 XT Element from Competitive Cyclist for 40% off. Coming off of a Spur, and an Epic Evo before that.

Swapped a bunch of parts over from my Spur, including an X01 drivetrain, 1220g wheelset and Barzo/Mezcal tire combo, plus my preferred cockpit- SQ Labs 12 degree carbon bar, ESI extra chunky grips, and my favorite generic 155mm wide carbon Chinese saddle from AliExpress.

25.5 lbs for an XL before the bottle cage with multi tool and pump. Pretty stoked on the weight relative to the bike’s capability.

Got in my longest ride so far today, about 36 miles of XC riding with some decent chunky spots sprinkled throughout. The Element splits the difference between the EE and Spur really nicely, IMO. More confident going down than the Epic, and just a touch more lively climbing than the Spur.

Going to try a 50mm stem (currently 40mm) and lowering the stem by 10mm, cockpit is feeling a tiny bit cramped when seated. Running it in position 4/steep right now. But otherwise super happy so far.
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Looks great and fantastic weight
 
#405 ·
DETarch said:
Picked up a C50 XT Element from Competitive Cyclist for 40% off. Coming off of a Spur, and an Epic Evo before that.

Swapped a bunch of parts over from my Spur, including an X01 drivetrain, 1220g wheelset and Barzo/Mezcal tire combo, plus my preferred cockpit- SQ Labs 12 degree carbon bar, ESI extra chunky grips, and my favorite generic 155mm wide carbon Chinese saddle from AliExpress.

25.5 lbs for an XL before the bottle cage with multi tool and pump. Pretty stoked on the weight relative to the bike’s capability.

Got in my longest ride so far today, about 36 miles of XC riding with some decent chunky spots sprinkled throughout. The Element splits the difference between the EE and Spur really nicely, IMO. More confident going down than the Epic, and just a touch more lively climbing than the Spur.

Going to try a 50mm stem (currently 40mm) and lowering the stem by 10mm, cockpit is feeling a tiny bit cramped when seated. Running it in position 4/steep right now. But otherwise super happy so far.
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I have the exact same evoc bag. It's as if it was designed for the Element.
 
#408 ·
DETarch said:
my preferred cockpit- SQ Labs 12 degree carbon bar
View attachment 2142425
Click to expand...
Is that the "high" rise bar, ie 45mm rise? I have the 30mm rise sqlab 12d and was surprised to find that it doesn't look like 30mm rise. Not sure how they measure it, but it was almost identical to the 20mm rise on my old one up bars. Think I may need the 45mm aka high from sqlab.
 
#409 ·
rfxc said:
Is that the "high" rise bar, ie 45mm rise? I have the 30mm rise sqlab 12d and was surprised to find that it doesn't look like 30mm rise. Not sure how they measure it, but it was almost identical to the 20mm rise on my old one up bars. Think I may need the 45mm aka high from sqlab.
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Yeah, it’s their “high rise” and similarly, I don’t know how they’re measuring their rise, haha. They claim 45mm rise, it’s probably more like 25mm.

Love this bar though, luckily I don’t need any more rise than this provides.
 
#410 ·
DETarch said:
Picked up a C50 XT Element from Competitive Cyclist for 40% off. Coming off of a Spur, and an Epic Evo before that.

Swapped a bunch of parts over from my Spur, including an X01 drivetrain, 1220g wheelset and Barzo/Mezcal tire combo, plus my preferred cockpit- SQ Labs 12 degree carbon bar, ESI extra chunky grips, and my favorite generic 155mm wide carbon Chinese saddle from AliExpress.

25.5 lbs for an XL before the bottle cage with multi tool and pump. Pretty stoked on the weight relative to the bike’s capability.

Got in my longest ride so far today, about 36 miles of XC riding with some decent chunky spots sprinkled throughout. The Element splits the difference between the EE and Spur really nicely, IMO. More confident going down than the Epic, and just a touch more lively climbing than the Spur.

Going to try a 50mm stem (currently 40mm) and lowering the stem by 10mm, cockpit is feeling a tiny bit cramped when seated. Running it in position 4/steep right now. But otherwise super happy so far.
View attachment 2142425
View attachment 2142423
View attachment 2142430
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Looks great! What prompted the change from the spur? How does it compare to the spur going downhill?
 
#411 ·
Kruton101 said:
Looks great! What prompted the change from the spur? How does it compare to the spur going downhill?
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The change was prompted by my incessant need to try something new and a good sale 😆

Beyond that, I wanted to get something just a bit lighter and better suited to some (non-podium-seeking) races I have this summer and fall.

I gotta put some more miles on it before I can make a detailed comparison to the Spur, I’ve only ridden it 3 times. Feels like a pretty deep 120mm, similar to the Spur with a Mara rear shock. Never rode the Spur with the stock SID fork or shock, though.
 
#412 ·
Anyone happen to have any comparisons with the 4 bar Element and the Epic Evo 8? Having a bit of analysis paralysis trying to decide between the two. I have a Sentinel built up 160/160 which really pedals great for what it is but still prefer something more sprightly on the ups and also a little more playful on the downs. Rides are a mix of blue flow with some doubles and bits of rock/chunk but nothing crazy.

Seems like I can't go wrong with either, but would be awesome to hear some direct comparisons as that info seems to be lacking. Cheers!
 
#414 ·
DETarch said:
The change was prompted by my incessant need to try something new and a good sale 😆

Beyond that, I wanted to get something just a bit lighter and better suited to some (non-podium-seeking) races I have this summer and fall.

I gotta put some more miles on it before I can make a detailed comparison to the Spur, I’ve only ridden it 3 times. Feels like a pretty deep 120mm, similar to the Spur with a Mara rear shock. Never rode the Spur with the stock SID fork or shock, though.
Click to expand...
Have you tried it in the steeper flip chip setting yet? Could make it slightly snappier, made a pretty big difference on mine.
 
#415 ·
JohnShroe said:
Have you tried it in the steeper flip chip setting yet? Could make it slightly snappier, made a pretty big difference on mine.
Click to expand...
Yes, I put it in the steepest setting a few rides ago. That, plus a 10mm longer stem and lowering the stem by 10mm has been a very positive change for my riding. Was just out on a ride with several super steep climbs, and it felt great with the shock in the middle setting. Super happy with the bike so far, it's exactly what I wanted vs. the Spur- a little lighter, a better climber, and nothing given up on the descent, IMO.
 
#416 ·
DETarch said:
Yes, I put it in the steepest setting a few rides ago. That, plus a 10mm longer stem and lowering the stem by 10mm has been a very positive change for my riding. Was just out on a ride with several super steep climbs, and it felt great with the shock in the middle setting. Super happy with the bike so far, it's exactly what I wanted vs. the Spur- a little lighter, a better climber, and nothing given up on the descent, IMO.
Click to expand...
I've had 5 bikes since my Element and without a doubt none have been even close to covering so many bases, really a perfect bike for SoCal
 
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