PINKBIKE FIELD TEST
Specialized Epic S-Works
Words by Sarah Moore, photography by Margus RigaThe Specialized Epic been rocketing around racecourses for almost twenty years and has World Cup, World Championship, and even Olympic hardware to its name. We last saw an update to the frame in late 2017 and now, three years later, we’ve seen another overhaul for what was supposed to be an Olympic year.
The new FACT 12m Epic S-Works carbon frame with Specialized's Brain-controlled suspension is said to be over 100-grams lighter than its predecessor, and according to Specialized the size medium frame now weighs just 1,869-grams. We can confirm that our complete medium test bike is the lightest here, weighing just 21.2lb with our Schwalbe control tires installed.
Specialized Epic S-Works Details• Travel: 100mm rear / 100mm fork
• Carbon frame
• Wheel size: 29"
• Head Angle: 67.5°
• Seat Tube Angle: 75.5° (effective)
• Reach: 445mm (size M)
• Chainstay length: 433mm
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Weight: 21.2lb / 9.61kg
• Price: $11,525 USD
•
www.specialized.com As for details on that ultralight frame, it employs a carbon link, uses SRAM's Universal Derailleur Hanger, and has a threaded bottom bracket. You won't find a SWAT box on the Epic, but you will see a SWAT chain-breaker tool in the headset for emergency repairs. The Epic accommodates two water bottles inside the front triangle on all sizes, with the exception of extra-small frames that can fit one bottle on the downtube. There's also a Quarq power meter that comes stock on the S-Works model.
The big story with the new Epic is geometry. With a 67.5° headtube angle, a 75.5° effective seat-tube angle, a 445m reach, and a 1,148mm wheelbase on our medium, Specialized says that their geometry borrows from trail bikes while optimizing cross-country responsiveness for today’s technical courses.
ClimbingWith a head angle on the new Epic that's two whole degrees slacker than the previous generation, and slacker than any of the other cross-country bikes I was riding during the Field Test, I was curious as to how the numbers would add up on the trail. The cockpit and position feel modern as well, with a wide handlebar, shorter stem, longer reach, and relatively relaxed steering. At the same time, you’re in the right position to be efficient while pedaling. Riding the Epic, I had to think, 'why has it taken so long for cross-country bikes to use geometry like this?' Although at the same time, I can understand why racers might resist change.
One example: The new-school geometry on the Epic results in handling that, while not by any means lazy, does require a bit more anticipation when the tight corners get even tighter.
The pedal-assisting (no, not that kind) Brain system also took a bit of getting used to but it does work really well on climbs, which, let's be honest, is where cross-country races are usually won. It feels super efficient on the smoother stuff, but when you get to more technical sections, you still have ample traction. When you try to push down on the bike from the top it feels like it’s locked out, which is a bit funny. But true to its marketing materials, when you actually encounter a bump, the Brain opens the suspension and helps you maintain traction up whatever you point it at. In short, there's ample traction while climbing, but not at the cost of that efficient feeling. The Brain system also means that you don't have to worry about remembering to lock or unlock your bike, and your handlebar is as clean as it gets with just the brake levers and the shifter on it.
Descending It’s hard to recover on the descents aboard many cross-country bikes since you’re often struggling to stay upright and not get thrown around. With the Epic, you actually have time to breathe and recover from the climbs since the geometry doesn't want to pitch you over the handlebar. You can easily keep weight on the front wheel and have more input into where your bike actually goes as opposed to just "riding the slide". On a technical, wet course, you wouldn't be worrying about slick rocks and off-camber roots.
That being said, while the Specialized Brain is awesome on climbs, it’s not always as easy to ride on the descents. At speed, and on smoother sections, it was great in the middle setting that made the bike easy to pump into the terrain. But on our rooty test track, I found my that favorite setting was wide open, which basically means that I liked the Brain best when it was backed right off. That made it feel the most natural and there wasn’t the sensation of the valve opening like there was with the firmer settings. Switching back and forth between bikes with "regular" suspension definitely didn't help though, and I'd like to spend more time with the Brain to see if I can get used to it in a firmer mode.
I would hope the QC is a bit better on these wheels, but it's pretty sad that they're willing to sell an aluminum wheelset for $800 USD and do such a poor job building it.
FWIW, I've had a few $500 wheelsets, and all have taken a beating and not gone more than 1mm out of true after a season of riding.
Thanks for great videos.
This is all based on my 2014 Epic so this two generations newer one may be quite different.
It's not fair to say it will for sure be crap. It's also not fair to assume it won't be crap.
But my turn to be a dick. I am so tired of people that have been mountain biking for 20 years trashing new or expensive bikes as "unecessary". They say "I saw Joe Blow ride that trail twice as fast as you and he made that climb you failed; he's on a steel singlespeed hardtail." Well guess what? If I had Joe Blow's bike I'd never ride because I'D be miserable. That's great that Joe likes it and is a better rider than me; can I still have fun on my $8000 bike please without being judged?
And it's 39 years of MTB, 57 years of bikes.
The math:
Epic is .95 the speed of Supercal. Supercal is .9425 the speed of Scalpel.
=> Epic is .95*.9425 the speed of Scalpel = .895 Scapel = (1-.105) Scalpel
Canyon Lux. Great gravel bike (XCM), terrifying mountain bike.
Cannondale Scalpel. Really fast pretty much everywhere but not an engaging ride (high BB?). The rougher and longer the course the better.
Trek Procaliber. The bike that really seemed to put a smile on Sarah's face to ride. Great traction, great climbing, more attention needed descending but a great all around XCO race bike.
Specialized Epic. Fast on the smoother climbs, fast on the rougher descents but not on the bits in between. Lovely to descend but annoying to ride. But erm... have you seen that red
Maybe I'm misunderstanding this - why didn't you use the lockouts? They're part of the design and performance intent.
It’s very hard to believe that the lightest bike in the test is the worst climber by a significant margin.
We did a value test this spring: www.pinkbike.com/news/welcome-to-the-2020-pinkbike-field-trip.html
The real question to me is how much slower are the DC bikes? If the DC bikes are say less than 5% off the Scapel's loop time, then anyone short of a Pro XC racer might as well be on the top performing DC bike.
I suspect that Spur will trash the average AM/ Enduro bike when an entire loop is considered as the time benchmark, even in true AM terrain.
When it's hot I stop and take breaks, but ride the same pace.
Tires make the biggest difference in my overall speed. Over a 25 mile trail ride I went 7% faster due to much faster tires recently. I wouldn't lose nearly 6% just cause an off day.
That's not a very fair comparison. The bike comes with it, and it's automatic once setup. Takes even less effort to use than a dropper, which you did use on the Lux, because it comes with one. But the other ones didn't come a dropper... so you shouldn't have used the dropper if you weren't going to use the lockouts or the Brain. Especially since you admitted that using the dropper on the Lux was not ideal because of the lockout levers (that did not get used...)
Owning a 2021 Epic Pro (almost SWorks) I can say with 0% doubt testing this without the brain on is an injustice. Its why you would buy this bike over the others.
It feels like the anti-squat isnt that high, and running it open makes it a mushy sponge sucking out your watts. Thats on purpose. The brain makes it ridiculously efficient when on and its a jeckyl/hyde phenomenon using the brain vs not.
Brain on and its so fast, so efficient, just brilliant. Actually using both brains, full firm, and if you trust it and push it works spectacularly for a race day setup. It's like driving an F1 car (admitting I never have, but I DID watch top gear alot) you have to commit and trust its gonna work. And it does.
Great video folks.
Yep, my brain and my eyes..
Also one of the nicest looking bike within the test;
Climbs like a hard tail, goes down like a 100mm single pivot. Not so fun in technical downhill but if it's not roots infested it's okayish.
Also it looks pretty except the part where there are 6 cables in the front. It's also light af. Fits a big water bottle.
Important side note, nino's legs heart and lungs aren't included when purchasing the bike, so don't do like me and go easy on the first rides even if the bike wants you to pedal faster
Some good information on it here.
there are also a few great videos on Youtube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gxP57_Yxbw
Service on Brain is included with purchase for 2 years to original owner. Plus many Epic retailers have a loaner shock on hand so you can keep riding while you send the shock in for yearly service.
There's your answer.
As for the courses, they’re purpose-built and typically a little bit manicured, but it makes for entertaining races.
ok, without googling it, who won the 2012 london XC race?
most of you didnt know did ya?