Bike Check: Wade Simmons' Rocky Mountain Pipedream - Crankworx Whistler 2019

Aug 15, 2019
by James Smurthwaite  

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BIKE CHECK
Wade Simmons'
Rocky Mountain Pipedream

The aluminum Pipedream that Wade Simmons shredded on the Shore two years ago will have a familiar profile for anyone who has been paying attention to the many new bikes released this week as it was actually the basis for the new Rocky Mountain Slayer.

The Pipedream looked like a cool marketing project for an edit in 2017. It's now been revealed as a working prototype for the Slayer, hidden in plain sight. It allowed the Vancouver company to test away without any fear of leaks. We got a closer look at the prototype at their stand today:

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Built in house by Rocky, the bike includes the downtube from a Flatline World Cup, the top tube from a 2013 Altitude and the chainstays and seatstays from a 2018 Altitude. It was all assembled with yokes, gussets, shock mounts and links that were also specially built in house. Rocky builds all its prototypes in North Vancouver for testing on the Shore before shipping out production to Taiwan.

This freeride throwback is a 180mm front and rear bike rolling on 27.5" wheels. It is "Wade Simmons" sized (about 5' 8") and weighs 34.7lbs with downhill tubes installed, for the fully authentic feel. Despite the vintage styling, there's lots of modern componentry on this bike from Fox, RaceFace, and Shimano, which made it more than capable enough for Wade to recreate some classic Shore stunts when he first rode it in late 2017.
Pipedream Details
Frame: Rocky Mountain Pipedream / prototype Slayer
Shock: Fox DPX2, 180mm rear travel
Fork: Fox 36, 180mm
Wheels: RaceFace Atlas, 27.5"
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHR/DHF, 2.5" front and rear, fitted with downhill tubes
Drivetrain: Shimano XT and RaceFace 34T crankset
Brakes: Shimano Saint - 180mm rotors
Cockpit: RaceFace Atlas
Size: Designed around Wade - 5' 8"
Weight: 34.7 lbs with tubes (claimed)
More info: bikes.com

bigquotesI've got one word for you, 'linkage plates'.—Wade Simmons

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Many of the early Rocky Mountain freeride bikes had a feature that allowed you to mount the rear shock in 3 different locations. This was known as "NE 3", and required 2 linkage plates on either side of the shock with a cross-brace to stiffen everything torsionally. While having a bit of fun with cross-bracing designs, the NE 3 Man was born.

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This bike is no show pony, there are signs of abuse everywhere.

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An FSA NO.9m headset for a 1.5" straight headtube.

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How many gussets is too many gussets? Trick question, as you can never have too many. Longtime Rocky Mountain welder, Al Kowalchuk, was on the torch for all of these.

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A purple lever for the RaceFace Aeffect dropper is a nice touch.

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These were a very rare sight at the turn of the Millenium.

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The CNC'd, 3D link was a feature on a lot of early 2000s Rocky Mountains including the Element, Edge, and Slayer so it was a natural addition to the Pipedream.

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The Pipedream's linkage vs the Slayer it became

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A big ol' bash guard to keep the chainring safe.

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The full RaceFace cockpit.

Watch the Pipedream edit here.

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bike Checks Enduro Bikes Rocky Mountain Rocky Mountain Slayer Wade Simmons Crankworx Whistler 2019


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70 Comments
  • 86 1
 They should have just released this frame as is in this colour scheme and sold a shit ton of them. I would be on one now if it was available. Great looking bike, great name too.
  • 13 19
flag rippermago (Aug 15, 2019 at 13:29) (Below Threshold)
 Just pay $200 at a local paint shop and they could easily do this sweet paint scheme
  • 25 8
 @rippermago: more like a grand...
  • 4 0
 @michibretz: a grand, ummm, no. Two solid colors, decals, and clear coat.
  • 5 0
 @michibretz: Well just throw your $ out the window on the freeway then....
  • 4 0
 @rippermago: Voids Warranty...
  • 2 0
 @Eddie814: Yes it does!
  • 2 0
 i dunno how I missed this when the pipeline dream edit first came out. so damn good.
  • 7 0
 It’s unridable without ability to place a water bottle inside the triangle. Further proof Wade is from Area 51.
  • 1 0
 @gonecoastal: love it hahah
  • 5 0
 Like this? www.pinkbike.com/photo/17614805
  • 23 1
 I would very much like to buy one...I really like older looking bikes, but with modern geo and specs like this would be mint. Like the guy who built up a completely custom Ironhorse Sunday: p.vitalmtb.com/photos/stories/2018/03/07/max_DSC02039_440884.jpg
  • 1 0
 That was my first real dh bike. Geometry is still up to date with a slackerizer headset
  • 2 0
 Just look at any good steelframe company. There you go! I ride an Production Privee Shan No5 and love it! Modern geo with oldschool and simple look. Other Company´s like BTR (Pinnr) or Starling Cycles (Murmur, Swoop) do fantastic bikes that ride incredibley well and take a crazy beating (Cause its steel Wink )
  • 21 0
 I dont get why Rocky didn't just make a production run of these in a few sizes and allow the link adjustment to fit 26" wheels appropriately or buy a separate link aftermarket. It would have been so different and unique but functional too with some modern geo tweaks. The street cred of this bike is through the roof and it hits at the heart of Rocky Mountain too. A proper modern throwback for the masses throwing it sideways (not me lol).

Then they make a kids version: )
  • 19 0
 I’d do some pretty unspeakable things to get my hands on this bike
  • 22 7
 Be a lot cooler if it was 26"
  • 15 5
 Howdy Rocky - Please build a limited edition Pipe Dream in OG Pipeline colors with 29'' wheels + 170mm travel f/r & I'm totally in.

I rode 4 Pipelines over a few years way back when freeriding was born - That steed opened my eyes and my riding to new ways of playing with the mountains all over this planet.

It embodied the soul of Rocky Mountain Bicycles and it's awesome to see you're back at it .

Thanks for the inspiration and all of the wicked ride memories you trigerred for riders like me.

Keep on Shreddin'
  • 5 2
 29 kills the point of this bike
  • 12 1
 Buy Rocky Mountain coz you always want to be more Canadian (especially if you're not).
  • 5 1
 Devinci too
  • 5 0
 Knolly too
  • 5 0
 Norco too
  • 5 0
 Banshee too
  • 5 0
 Cove too
  • 2 0
 @chainspotting Cannondale, Brodie, Cervélo, Argon and Chromag are canadian based or Canadian parent owned corporations! We've got some sick bikes
  • 1 0
 @lehott: Kona was actually founded in Vancouver
  • 10 0
 does he seriously run the shifter window or is that just another throwback touch?
  • 1 0
 xt comes with it, and in my case im too lazy to change to put on the black screeen that coves it
  • 9 2
 I'm sold on 29" wheels and in-frame water bottle mounts, but this would make me rethink everything if made available.
  • 4 0
 Always been a fan of Rocky Mountain bikes. Love the stealth mode they went through in order to proto for the Slayer. Brilliant. Better than zebra tape and checkers cruising down the trail
  • 8 1
 this need's 26's Wink
  • 4 7
 27.5 is the new 26
  • 3 0
 The one word 'linkage plates' on the Pipedream look a lot better than the rather weird looking welds on the link on the alloy Slayer version in my opinion (www.pinkbike.com/photo/17596913)
  • 2 0
 It looks really weird on the black one, the red color scheme hides it a bit. Should have done linkage plates or a straight tube.
  • 3 0
 I’ve been stoked about this for 2 years! I ride a Wade Simmons RM7 frame with new components! Raddest rider ever! Here is the promo they did in 17’:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=pi90F7mZUAM
  • 1 0
 Even though it's now up for sale, I still have my 1999 Pipeline. It has always done very well in all conditions. I wrote Rocky Mountain (as I'm sure 1000 others did) to ask them to please make these. I guess that I'll just have to sell everything, including my older Slayer to get "THIS" in the new Slayer.
  • 1 0
 Somewhere I have a pic of the Reaper FS that Rocky brought to Sea Otter years ago. (2001?) It was the basis for the first Slayer which itself was an update to the Element DH but with Easton’s RAD tubes. Funny how models converge.
  • 1 0
 There is absolutely no question that I would buy this bike in a second if I could. I though then and I still think now, Rocky Mountain is completely missing the boat on this one. It would sell like hot cakes to us older 90s era riders.
  • 6 2
 One could say that’s a slayer of a bike.
  • 2 0
 If the new Slayer came in this colour scheme, I'm sure it would sell like hotcakes. And not just because I'd be buying one every 20s....
  • 1 0
 Maybe?
www.pinkbike.com/photo/17614805
  • 1 0
 @mlangestrom: You're my hero for making that, but my villain for tempting me so. I am too close to buying the slayer and having it painted and you're not helping
  • 1 0
 @Lookinforit: Haha, sorry Wink
  • 1 0
 Carbon fiber bash guard, nice. Yeah, I always wonder about my ISCG05 tabs, looks like if I really bashed, they might break off, but is also a good solution. Carbon fiber ring might be the ultimate solution.
  • 1 1
 It was so cool to see Rocky make this from scratch in 2017, just for shits and giggles as we presumed back then. Now we see there was an ulterior motive, so they lost some points in my book :semisrs:

34.7 lbs is not bad for a 180mm metal bike with tubes built Wade tough though
  • 1 0
 I remember the good old times in the nineties where a middle classed Thin Air frame was handmade in canada. And the Colour... Electric Blue. Loved it.
  • 1 0
 My 1999 purple and yellow Pipeline frame hangs on the wall of my Garage with my Switch and RM7 frames. I plan on getting a new Slayer and getting it custom painted.
  • 1 0
 I really liked the Pipedream. It had a classic look with modern features. Who would have guessed this would turn into the new slayer !!!!!
  • 4 2
 Autocorrect strikes again.... page title says “pipeline”
  • 4 0
 Good catch, thanks!
  • 2 0
 If I could weld aluminum like that I'd never buy another bike again.
  • 3 1
 retro looking bike will be the next selling thing after the 29er hype.
  • 1 0
 Should have made some tweaks to the previous Slayer and introduced the Pipeline as a new model.
  • 1 0
 Old school goodness right there, I remember when bikes used to have straight tubes
  • 3 0
 Downhill tubes eh?
  • 1 0
 Too bad that the Pipedream looks awesome and the new slayer kinda.... boring!
  • 1 0
 I am severely allergic to that colour scheme but it looks like I'm in the extreme minority on that.
  • 2 0
 That headset cup just needs PIG DH after the logo and it would be spot on
  • 1 0
 Damn fonts are blocking the view of the bike. You are pixelating the porn.
  • 1 0
 Needs more ano aluminum. Like, a lot moar
  • 3 1
 Raging boner alert.
  • 1 0
 Rocky Mountain should read these comments... Lot of good ideas.
  • 1 0
 The pipedream needs to be sold as shown. I want one.
  • 1 0
 i prefer the pipedream over the new slayer
  • 1 0
 Awesome bike, oldschool look, modern geo, sell the frames already!!!!
  • 1 0
 jesus wade simmons is so short.
  • 1 1
 Where's the Lakers shield?
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