Mitch Ropelato's Santa Cruz V10 CC - Leogang DH World Cup

Jun 10, 2016
by Mike Kazimer  
Mich Ropelato V10
Mitch Ropelato's Santa Cruz V10 ready and waiting.

With little fanfare, Mitch Ropelato has reappeared on the World Cup DH scene, this time racing for Santa Cruz / SRAM and Troy Lee Designs. The American racer qualified 26th at Fort William, and ended up placing 55th once the dust had cleared at the end of the weekend. No matter if he's taking laps around a pump track, racing enduro, or blasting down a DH run, Ropelato has an enviably effortless style, and it's good to seem him back on the circuit.

Mich Ropelato V10 - Set to Low Position
Mitch is running his V10 in the lower geometry setting, which gives it a 63.5-degree head angle to go along with its 216mm of travel.

Mich Ropelato V10 - standard King headset no adjustment for angle or reach
We're used to seeing Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar running reach-extending headsets on their V10s, but Mitch is a good six inches or so shorter than the likes of those two, so there's no need for anything other than a standard Chris King headset on his size large frame.

Mich Ropelato V10 - Code Brake
Mich Ropelato V10 - code caliper
SRAM's new Guide brakes may be hogging the spotlight these days, but their Code brakes are still a favorite among DH racers due to the plentiful power and solid lever feel that they deliver.


Mich Ropelato V10 - crank bros pedal
Crankbrothers' Mallet E pedals have a slightly smaller platform than their DH pedal, making them a little less likely to catch on rocks and roots, which could be helpful considering the post-apocalyptic appearance of the Leogang course.


Mich Ropelato V10 ENVE M90 wheels
ENVE's M90 carbon wheels are mounted up with Maxxis Highroller IIs front and rear, although that could change depending on how much rain falls this weekend.


Mich Ropelato V10 - 7spd
SRAM's 7-speed X01 DH drivetrain out back...
Mich Ropelato V10 - Gamut guide and xo crank
...And a Gamut chainguide / bashguard combination up front.


Mich Ropelato V10
Mitch is either thinking up a prank to play on someone, daydreaming about sunny weather, or the jet lag caught up and he's taking a sitting nap.


Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,719 articles

79 Comments
  • 112 2
 Good to see Mitch getting some spotlight. Guy really shreds.
  • 20 15
 He's got plenty of potential and already a legend.
  • 40 7
 @makripper: legent this, legent that, everyehere legents...
No disrespect to Mitch
  • 25 19
 @gapos999: At 22 years old, he had won countless of pump track and dual slalom events against stacked pro fields, been riding for one of the biggest brands in the world, gotten podiums at US nationals, and top 5's at EWS races, seeded 2nd at the 2013 world championships, and competed at Rampage.
Oh, and btw, the last 2 things I mentioned were done on an Enduro29.
I think that qualifies as a legend in a lot of people's book.
  • 53 3
 IMO ropelato is not a legend. Steve Peat is a legend. Just winning lots of races at a young age does not make you a legend. Steve is not simply a legend for what he did results wise, he is a legend for everything he did for the sport.
  • 20 2
 @fabdemaere: successfull and talented rider yes, legent NOT YET...
  • 4 0
 I agree. . Good guy and awesome rider to watch.. However, I don't think I would call him a legend.. Hope to see some good results for Mitch!
  • 4 3
 @fabdemaere: for being so young he's already accomplished more than any of us in respect to bicycles. That's pretty bad ass! Peaty is more than legendary in my mind. He's synonomous with downhill. It'll be sad not seeing him race at the top level next season. That's what it was getting at but with less words haha oops!
  • 1 0
 @fabdemaere: did he really ride rampage on a 29er?
  • 1 0
 @el-nombre: no he was on one of the specialized big bikes, status I believe
  • 2 4
 @el-nombre: Demo 8. No factory rider rides a status hahahaha
  • 1 0
 @el-nombre: just google "ropelato rampage" and you'll see the demo he rode in 2014 at the rampage
  • 4 0
 @nickyp132: didn't berrecloth choose to ride a status over a demo a year or two back?
  • 2 0
 @makripper: legend smegend

Mitch a good dude tho
  • 70 3
 Another beautiful thing I want between my legs but never can.
Put it on the list with those custom Commencals, Peaty's painted frame, Scarlett Johansson, Cam McCaul's Session, the "prototype" paint job Canyon Sender and so on
  • 44 3
 LOL scarlett johansson
  • 25 4
 @l8igz: She's on my list as well.
  • 3 4
 Well played sir
  • 13 4
 @bstill30: don't talk about my wife please
  • 2 3
 @MisterJones: Lord it'd be amazing wouldn't it!!!
  • 40 0
 Day after a rain in Santa Cruz CA. Hero dirt. Only saw one rider and we decided to do some laps. Had no idea who I was riding with. Set off on the first down and he manuals like 50 yard through corners and bumps and out of sight. I saw some mind blowing riding that day. Went to scope his bike in the lot afterwards and saw his ews name decal on his specialized bike. So humble, friendly, and just a good human bike shredder. Wish him all the success and podiums.
  • 22 42
flag slowrider73 (Jun 10, 2016 at 22:21) (Below Threshold)
 Your a lucky mtb rider! Cool story! Tell your kids about that one! Nice
  • 18 3
 @slowrider73: does being a dick come naturally, or do you have to work at it?
  • 7 0
 @Kiwiplague: hey dude i was actually being serious eh. Getting to ride with anyone of Mitch's level, for me anyway would be something to tell my 6 and 4 yr old kids about. Not to mention anyone else who would listen. I gave the dude props for his experience. Sorry if my honesty is something new to you mate. Scincerity. Look it up eh!!
  • 6 0
 @scjeremy : hey mate im sorry if my comment was interpreted as being a smart arse. I would have been stoaked having that experience too. Like i said nice and thanks for sharing it with us/me. Jeeez !
  • 2 6
flag Kiwiplague (Jun 12, 2016 at 2:01) (Below Threshold)
 @slowrider73: the context certainly came across as dickish and the number of down votes suggest that plenty of others read it the same way.
Glad to hear you're actually stoked for the guy ????
  • 8 0
 @Kiwiplague: well like i said the comment was made with all scincerity and if you read it with scincerity in mind then it doesnt come across as "dickish".
........maybe some pb readers could adopt a more positive approach to how they 'interpret' peoples comments. Im actually quite amazed at how it got to this point to be honest. It may be some peoples way to go about things with smart arsed, snide comments to others genuine experiences but its not mine. I could tell the scincerity and how genuine scjeremy was about his story and am nlown away that others didnt read mine the same? Sorry to anyone i "offended", particularly scjeremy but i didnt realize i had to be more sincere in my writing!
  • 3 0
 @Kiwiplague: The down vote thing can easily be lynch mob mentality BS and also an equally dickish form of behavior. People agreeing with you doesn't define right or wrong, i.e. Hitler didn't destroy the lives and murder millions of people all by himself .... all it usually takes is one careless toss of a match to set the whole forest on fire. His comment below sums it up and is pretty classy considering that he's apologizing profusely for doing nothing wrong.
  • 2 0
 @TheUnknownMTBR: Godwins law bro...
  • 2 0
 @TheUnknownMTBR: I understand that entirely! Like I said though, context can sometimes be hard to ascertain correctly and sadly, with what a lot of people on the net can be like, its sometimes a bit too easy to take a negative from what may be written as an innocent comment. I think that was the case with me here and I do apologize to @slowrider73 for taking his the wrong way.
  • 2 0
 @Kiwiplague: Your man enough to apologize im certainly man enough to accept. Thanks!
  • 2 0
 @slowrider73: no worries!
  • 19 0
 Perfecting the sitting nap! That's how I got my degree. Mad props for bring back the SN
  • 18 2
 Nice to see him back after the Specialized thing. 5'9 on a large, I see Santa Cruz still can not get their sizing right.
  • 23 1
 They really should just name their sizes after their riders or something. Do away with the extra extra large in with the Minaar. Would also make for some great conversations
"Hey what are you riding?"
"Minaar"
"?"
  • 4 2
 Yeah! Reach number on "Minnar's limo" make me laugh. My HT Trail bike is longer
  • 1 0
 How is their sizing not right? No two bikes are the same at the best of times let alone comparing direct sizes.
  • 17 0
 syndicate 2017? i hear there's going to be an open spot on the team.
  • 3 2
 I heard a rumour of one of the Hockenhull brothers for the Syndicate. Think of them as twice as loose as the Rat, with the same accent
  • 13 1
 Would have like to know about the suspension setup, tire pressure, bar width and how he's got on w the bike vs. the demo but ah well..
  • 9 0
 It'd be nice if PB actually got 'info' on these bikes, instead of just reporting what anybody can see walking through the pits. It'd be nice to know what these things weigh, what spring-rate they run, how far from 'stock' their valving is, and how far from stock their frames are.
  • 11 2
 Mitch has all the skills and potential to podium at any wc race. Glad he listens to all our outcries for him to return to DH.
  • 13 1
 It appeared like specialized was fuckin him on that. His best results are on a santa cruz back in the day. I believe he has a top 5 qualifier at champery worlds. Kid can PIN
  • 10 0
 @SnowshoeRider4Life: 2nd in qualies at the PMB world 3 years ago. The guy's an animal
  • 2 0
 @fabdemaere: Don't forgot that is was on a 29er. lol
  • 8 3
 High Roller is such a great tire. Don't know why it all but disappeared from WC.
  • 9 3
 I dont like it
  • 5 0
 Way to go, Mitch. Rooting for you!
  • 6 1
 sold him tubes once. LIFE CHANGING EVENT!!!
  • 1 0
 Proud to call this kid a fellow Utah native. At local events he always seems to have a great disposition and friendly attitude towards everyone who approaches him. Great brand and sport ambassador.
  • 3 0
 Mitch is a boss! Rampage contender and absolute downhill shredder!!
  • 4 0
 Mitch is no bitch
  • 1 0
 Would love to know some special and diferent things and setups on racers bikes. Like those ofset ahead set and diferent special custom parts.
  • 3 1
 Cant go wrong with Black......
  • 3 0
 Black is timeless.
  • 2 0
 ropo! loved his segment in "Arrival" dude has got loads of speed and style
  • 1 0
 What does the CC stand for in the v10¿
  • 1 0
 Higher grade carbon
  • 4 5
 The high roller II on the front for me was like having a roller-skate on a banana peel. Ive never crashed so much Razz
  • 1 0
 Funny that you feel that way about the HRII, I have 2 HRII in a shit (not 3C) compound that came on my Capra and I am amazed at how well they ride vs the Swalbe Dirty Dans I had been running on my 26er during the winter months.
Rolling resistance is hugely improved, dry cornering on hardpack is solid and they even feel okay on wet mud, the Dirty Dans are better in the wet but HRII feel like a solid all-rounder when you don't feel like changing tires each time you go out.

What tires are you running instead of the HRII?
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