Bike Check: Christina Chappetta's Trek Session

Jun 30, 2021
by Sarah Moore  

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BIKE CHECK
Christina Chappetta's
Trek Session

Pinkbike presenter Christina Chappetta has been riding the Whistler Mountain Bike Park for almost a decade now and it was the main reason she moved to Whistler from Colorado at the age of 22. In fact, if you watched our Getting to Know video with her earlier this year, you'll know that she lived in a tent for almost two months when she first moved to Whistler because she was so committed to living in the resort town.

Christina knows her race lines and is a competitive racer; she came 6th at the Whistler EWS in 2018 and regularly wins the Whistler Phat Wednesday races, but she also has mad style on the bike and loves sending the huge jumps on A-Line and Dirt Merchant.

Recently, Christina got a new rig to ride the park with, so we thought it would be a good time to go over the details on it. Her Trek Session, which she's named "Starry Knight", is a size small and she's set up as a mullet.

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Rider Name Christina Chappetta // Pinkbike Presenter
Age: 32
Height / Weight: 130 lbs / 59 kg; 5'4"/ 162cm
Hometown: Whistler, BC
Instagram: @cchappetta1


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At 5'4" (162cm), Christina is riding a size small Trek Session with a 29" front wheel and a 27.5" rear wheel. Christina was riding a medium in the previous version, but since this new version is bigger overall, Christina decided to go back to a size small. She says she's loving the space in the cockpit, but it’s still nimble enough to throw around jumps.



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Trek Session Details
Frame: Trek Session
Size: Small
Wheel size: Mullet 29"/27.5"
Shock: 200mm Marzocchi Bomber CR
Fork: 203mm Marzocchi Bomber 58 29r edition
Wheels: Bontrager Line 30 DH aluminum rims and Bontrager hubs
Tires: Schwalbe Magic Mary Super DH casing ultra soft compound front (2.4) rear (2.35 )
Drivetrain: Shimano Saint 36T, 10 speed. 165mm cranks
Brakes: Shimano Saint
Cockpit: One Up Components 35mm handlebar, 760mm with a 20mm rise


bigquotesSince day one, which was opening day at the Whistler Bike Park, I have loved this bike and how it rides. I honestly wasn’t sure how it would go because I did really love the previous Session and this one is way different! For starters, the entire suspension design with high-pivot is different and I’ve never ridden a mullet setup before. I’m really loving it for the tight turns and big jumps but I do plan to compare it to full 29er soon just to make sure.—Christina Chappetta

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Since the bike is set up as a mullet, Christina put the Mino links in the high BB setting and set the progression suspension chip to 25% to compensate for the smaller rear wheel. She says the set up has been working really well with the coil shock in the bike park.

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Christina rides Schwalbe Magic Mary in the Super DH casing and ultra soft compound. The front tire is a 2.4" and the rear tire is a 2.35". Christina doesn't ride tire inserts. Her tires, which are set up tubeless, have 20 psi in the front and 21 psi in the rear.
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The fork is a 203mm Marzocchi Bomber 58 29r edition that Christina rides with 49 psi and 4 tokens. She has 3 clicks of LSC from closed and 13 clicks of rebound from closed.

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White shifter cables and a name tag are some of the details that let you know who is riding this bike.

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Christina installed the OneUp EDC tool in her steerer tube because park laps inevitably always lead to things coming loose, and if nothing else she can always find people on trail to help out with it.
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The coil shock is a 200mm Marzocchi Bomber CR. Christina runs a 350lb spring with 4 clicks of LSC from closed and 14 clicks of rebound from closed.

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Shimano Saint brakes for stopping duties as well as 203mm rotors front and rear.

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Christina rides Shimano Saint SPD pedals on her Session.
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Christina rides her OneUp 35mm carbon bar at 760mm wide, with a 45mm direct mount stem.

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Christina getting sideways on Dirt Merchant.


Christina's Pinkbike content is supported by Trek, Marzocchi, Bontrager, Schwalbe, OneUp Components, Shimano, Garmin, Troy Lee Designs, Ride 100%.


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bike Checks Sponsored DH Bikes Trek Trek Session Christina Chappetta PBWMN


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65 Comments
  • 113 8
 there really trying to get their mileage out of Chapetta right now. I feel like it's chapetta.com.
  • 6 6
 comment of the year
  • 41 12
 they're?
  • 8 5
 Totally. Could have sworn they already bike checked this bike? If not how is it really different from her Slash aside form a dual crown fork?
  • 6 1
 @covekid: does the clash have a high pivot? they look the same but....
  • 49 10
 Seems logical. Christina has brought a lot of quality content and personality to the site.
  • 24 9
 Christina is one of the best presenters they've had for the last little while. Damn solid presenter and she has fun with it, which is why she was good hire.
  • 12 2
 Fair observation. She's also a natural at presenting (or has had good education/training), she rips, and she seems like a genuine person. They can change it to Chapetta.com and I'm still showing up, idgaf. Just splitting time between here and Cathrovision.net I guess.
  • 2 0
 @covekid: This about the time a Neko article will come out again. 4 to 1 ratio.
  • 4 2
 Don't mind that at all. She seems awesome. As everyone else has said she's a great presenter, an absolute shredder and an all around real chick. I really enjoy Levy's personality but we haven't seem much of him lately. Christina is filling the Levy sized hole in my heart. Keep 'em rolling PB.
  • 2 1
 That's like saying Top Gear was really trying to get their mileage out of Clarkson in the 2010s. ???
  • 7 24
flag espidieg (Jul 1, 2021 at 7:53) (Below Threshold)
 its so lame... who cares about this chick...
  • 1 0
 @espidieg: real nice dude
  • 5 2
 @GotchaJimmy: don’t think she should be compared to that prick Clarkson or his two sidekicks.
  • 3 0
 @crazy9: kind of agree, just trying to highlight how daft the OP's comment was
  • 1 1
 @extratalldirtrider: they iz
  • 4 3
 @extratalldirtrider: All of them. Poor girl's really being exploited.
  • 30 7
 Looks like a Session.
  • 6 0
 How is the high pivot for jumping? Listening to the podcast and reading other articles and comments, I come away with the impression that high pivot's are not as good for jumping because of the rearward travel on the back wheel.

Would be interesting to hear your comments on how it jumps vs last years Session.
  • 7 0
 It's been pretty great! Riding everything in the bike park and love taking the dh bike out for laps over anything else so no issues there whatsoever. I did love the previous Session but this one is quite different and I'm loving the ride.
  • 2 1
 @kmtpdx I suspect the benefit for square edge bump compliance is probably a greater net gain overall than the "poppy" feeling you might lose a little bit of on jumps, which probably does make for a better complete experience. Of course if you ask any Trek sponsored rider about this they're going to say that the new bike is "good all around" though lol.
  • 4 2
 @christinachappetta: US flag on the bike, Canadian flag in the comments?
  • 2 0
 @thepwnstar39: Thanks for the insight. I should probably give it a ride and see. I like the "poppy" feeling of my Bronson.
  • 1 0
 @pablobell: She's an American living in Canada.
  • 1 0
 Can't speak for the session but I have a 2021 supreme. It is far better at jumping compared to my old 2015 gambler. I'm really surprised at how effortless it is to pop and how easy it is to get in the air. I'm running a super deluxe shock so maybe the air shock has something to do with it being a bit more playful.
  • 10 0
 I swear I've seen that bike shape somewhere before
  • 5 0
 Looks like a gambler?
  • 4 0
 My wife is about the same size, and wants a DH bike, but Trek is all sold out of Sessions for the year, and maybe into '23! She's only 107 lbs, so air sprung F/R is probably better for her, and the Session is about the only choice. It's sizing is a bit smaller too, as she usually rides an XS in her other bikes. I would love to find a shop that has a small in stock somewhere if anybody knows of one.
  • 3 0
 Buy/sell may have a couple goodies to check out.
  • 3 0
 Just get her a gambler. It looks like a Session and no one will notice.
  • 3 0
 My wife is 5’3” and loves her Small V10. It is also setup as a mullet. I would stick with a coil rear shock.
  • 2 0
 @nermol: her last DH was a Wilson with the lightest coils we could get front and rear and she usually only used half the travel. She rides well, she just doesn’t weigh much! Her Mach 6 is set up well and she uses most of that. Thanks for the suggestions.
  • 2 0
 @sledMXer: sorry for the late response. I’d look at Super Alloy Racing for the rear spring. Wife has a 250lbs on her glory a couple years ago. Even if she can’t use all the travel quality travel is more important. Steve at Vorsprung has a great video on that topic a while back.
Also at that light of spring rate (air or coil) you will likely benefit from a custom rebound tune.
  • 2 0
 As a vertically challenged rider (5'6) experiencing 29er butt buzz on steeper trails I say bring on the mullets! Interested to hear how you feel this one compares to the 29 version Christina
  • 5 0
 I've yet to try the 29'r version bc I LOVE this mullet setup! I do notice after a few days of only park riding, when I hop back on the Slash I am quickly reminded it is full 29r haha so yeah, some adjusting but worth it. I plan to try the full 29 on the Session soon.
  • 2 0
 since when is the bomber 58 available in 29" ? It's not even listed on marzocchi's site
  • 1 16
flag bigmeatpete420 (Jun 30, 2021 at 17:05) (Below Threshold)
 It’s not. It’s a old 40 lower. Idk why anyone would ride anything Marz. It’s just shitty fox at a super high price point
  • 4 1
 @freeridejerk888: That's not a 40 lower. It has the M shaped brace, and what makes you say its shitty? Have you compared them?
  • 2 0
 Its 49 lowers painted black with some stickers
  • 1 0
 @zyoungson: oh it is 49 lowers. my bad.
  • 1 0
 @freeridejerk888: they would ride their stuff because they're sponsored or because it's cheaper
  • 1 0
 It’s literally a 40 lower lmao @imnotdanny:
  • 1 1
 And have you tired a rythen damper ca a grip two? Go ahead and do that and come back. It’s literally the same thing @imnotdanny:
  • 1 0
 @freeridejerk888: I know. my other comment says "oh it's a 49 lower my bad"
  • 1 0
 @freeridejerk888: I haven't but I'm wondering why you're comparing a cheaper fork to a much more expensive one. Obviously the fox factory is going to be better performing than the rhythm damper.
  • 1 1
 It’s 300 for a way better lowers and damper. Wouldn’t call that much cheeper. And even less when going from fox to marz in Single crown. Suspension makes a world of difference and I hate that fox rewlly puts out crap untill you get the high end stuff @imnotdanny:
  • 1 1
 @freeridejerk888: I actually prefer Rhythm dampers over Fit dampers
  • 1 3
 So you like rebound spikes and less control? Sounds like you didn’t set up your grip 2 right. There’s lot of great info and videos on this @etron:
  • 5 0
 @freeridejerk888: @freeridejerk888: Grip2 and fit are totally different dampers. And I'll concur lower end dampers are better than the fit. Though not the Grip2.
  • 1 0
 @hmstuna: I'm a bit confused by Fox's lineup; which versions use the Fit damper? Performance? I know Rythm uses something basic (old GRIP?), Perf. Elite and Factory use GRIP 2. Just unsure about the mid range.

If that's the case, would you say e.g. a Fox 36 Rythm would be better than 36 Performance?
  • 1 0
 Yeah what's a guy got to do to get one?
  • 1 0
 @bananowy: their older factory stuff used fit4 before it was replaced with Grip2 and then Grip2vvc. Still used in the 32 and some 34s cause it's lighter. Was worse than Grip, Grip2, Grip2vvc, and rc2 imo.
  • 3 0
 Wicked cool Christina. Love the paint and build....keep it simple.
  • 3 2
 Quality looking bike.

Is the goofy pic with the bike mandatory now, ironic or just plain goofy? I am too old and uncool to tell anymore
  • 2 0
 200mm shock?
  • 1 0
 Headset tool...perfect idea for DH bike! I'm gonna use that one.
  • 1 0
 Shouldve had a V8
  • 2 2
 Saint grouppo kinda outdated for last 3 to 5 years
  • 3 0
 and yet it will last forever
  • 2 0
 @jarretthelesic: they need to update chain and cassette, all other stuff quite ok
  • 1 1
 Solid. Checks all the boxes... nice bike too.
  • 1 1
 looks like a session?
  • 2 5
 looks like a Fury
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