Keegan Wright's Specialized Stumpy 29er: Crankworx Whistler EWS 2017
Keegan Wright is on a roll in 2017. The Kiwi snagged the elite men’s downhill title at the New Zealand Mountain Bike National Championships in a field that included the likes of Brook Macdonald and Sam Blenkinsop. Then there was that fingernail-biting moment when he edged out the Pumptrack World Champion, Adrien Loron, for the win at the Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge. Keegan also picked up Specialized as a frame sponsor not so long ago and has been racing the full Enduro World Series calendar this season. Here's a look at his Whistler EWS ride.
 | Apart from the rear shock, everything is pretty stock. I don’t get too fancy with it. Keep it simple, you know? |
One thing that's not-so-stock on the Stumpy is the full Gradient bar, stem and crank spec—Full Speed Ahead is also one of Wright's sponsors.
Earlier this season you may have seen Wright piloting a 27.5-wheeled version of the Stumpjumper. This time around, he's running the 29er flavor of Stumpy. The 6-foot tall Kiwi ("But I'm 6'3" in my high heels.") is riding a size Large. Would the longer wheelbase be an asset on the Whistler course? It could very well.
The thing that immediately stands out here is that you're running that new Specialized Purgatory 2.6-inch tire out back and, out front, a 2.6 Butcher...
Yeah. It’s kind of like a downhill sidewall, but with a trail tread. It’s way harder to rip the sidewalls on these tires. I’m running the 2.6s out here because they give you way more grip on this loose, dusty stuff... and it just feels good.
23psi up front...
and 30psi out back
What are you running for pressures?
Usually, I’ll go with something like 20 in the front and 24 in the back, but here I am running about 23psi in the front and 30 in the back—just trying to stop from flatting the tires. Everything is so blown out and rough right now.
How about your suspension?
I’m running a 548lb rear spring on a 140-mm Ohlins coil shock. The rear shock is, obviously, aftermarket. I don’t think they’ve come out with that on the Stumpies yet, but apart from that, everything is pretty stock. I don’t get too fancy with it. Keep it simple, you know? I am running 170mm travel up front... [laughs] I’m not even too sure what pressure I am running up front.
How about your drivetrain? What kind of gear ratio are you using here?
I think it's a 32 tooth up front... and 42 in the back….? I don’t know, actually [laughing again]. You know, I just run the same thing everywhere, otherwise, it just gets too complicated for me.
Does Keegan Wright obsess about finding the perfect gear combination for a given course? He most certainly does not.
Magura MT7 Next... no shortage of power here with the four-piston stoppers. They'll come in handy at Whistler.
MENTIONS: @Specialized / @mdelorme
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Specialized: "Black and red with custom decals and--"
Keegan: "Perfect. I want blue pedals."
Specialized: "Wut."
I'm just speculating but I think he was kidding when he said "I don't even know what pressure I am running" in the fork. I would venture to guess that since they didn't take a picture of the non drive side of the fork he is probably running a coil which is travel adjustable internally.
I also have similar thoughts when I see most of the Rocky Mountain team on the Altitudes instead of the Slayers.
edited to add a couple of links.
www.ambmag.com.au/gallery/bike-check-jared-graves-ews-specialized-stumpjumper-457640
www.mbr.co.uk/news/jared-graves-stumpjumper-29-differ-normal-one-347072
Reach increases from 430 to 444mm on the medium.
Chainstays now are 433mm.
All 2018 models will have these numbers.
The evo became the entire line essentially.
@WasatchEnduro: Graves posted that he will finally be riding an Enduro. He basically claimed that it took a long while before he felt dialed on the bike. Reach may have something to do with it, but he suggested at the suspension in his post.
@bull-dozer: fatigue and snappiness. Not all Enduro races are held on the steep, gnarly, huck-fest trails that the bikes like the Enduro, Spartan, and Slayer were built for. They usually include a lot of pedaling in both liaisons and timed stages; a bike that is lighter, quick on the gas, and in and out of corners fast, saves energy and is usually faster. It seems that even a large number of Enduro riders in the US have resorted to shorter travel and even border line XC bikes like the Tallboy or Process 111.
www.bike-magazine.fr/exclusive-specialized-enduro-2018-les-premieres-photos-et-specifications-sont-la