Video: Christina Chappetta's 2021 Trek Slash - Bike Check

Nov 4, 2020
by Pinkbike Originals  


Pinkbike presenter Christina Chappetta has a new Trek Slash that is ready to roll.




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Videos Pinkbike Originals Sponsored Enduro Bikes Trek Trek Slash Christina Chappetta


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117 Comments
  • 200 4
 I'd like to see more real privateer bikes. Where nothing is sponsored and everything gets chosen for performance, price and durability reasons.
  • 46 1
 Second this bigtime. I have wanted to see this for a while so I'm trying something. I just created an instagram for this exact purpose, @runofthemillbikes.
Send me pics of your privateer bike, build spec, and why you chose the components you have (eg. price, durability, manufacturing that doesn't add to ocean trash piles, to on up your dentist buddies, position of Jupiter's moons, etc. ) and I'll post them along with the description. Extra points for any originality, hacks, and bodge jobs. Only rule is no sponsors. Practicality is the main driver.
  • 29 2
 That would be a sudden shock to people running top of the line suspension and seeing guys with a Yari obliterating the downs.
  • 1 1
 @runofthemillbikes: I think I am your first follower haha. Unfortunately my bike is just off the shelf so I got nothing to share.
  • 3 0
 @runofthemillbikes: no posts yet - when are you expecting to have the first ones up? Should be interesting when it takes off, might give a follow Smile
  • 3 0
 @bananowy: haha I was hoping to get something from someone to post and that I won't have to post my bike which is pretty boring, but if I don't get anything today I'll post mine. Gotta eat my own dogfood, etc
.
  • 5 1
 @runofthemillbikes: This is great, but most people just buy off the shelf builds these days, it's so much cheaper, and I don't think many parts on bikes these days are really bad either
  • 1 0
 @melonhead1145: Myself included. I only change out parts for practicality. Most of my bike is stock, but I have tweaked a couple of things, some for performance, some to make wearable parts cheaper to replace.
  • 4 0
 @runofthemillbikes: Love the idea! I'm working on a pretty fun build right now that I should be finishing this week. Don't have instagram though, maybe I should get one just for this.
  • 1 0
 @runofthemillbikes: just followed, I’ll send you my bike
  • 8 0
 I think it's probably hard to find a legit privateer that isn't at least getting some sort of discount on parts, etc. I have mediocre regional DH results and a number of parts on my bikes were chosen purely because I was able to get them cheaper.
  • 6 0
 @nickgarrison: that's a fair point. I think I'm okay with that as long as it's stated up front, exactly like you did. FWIW my results sound similar to yours and I have exactly zero sponsorships, except for my wife who occasionally agrees to watch the kids while I spend the weekend racing.
  • 1 0
 @runofthemillbikes: Following!
  • 2 1
 @nickgarrison: I think that the title privateer these days almost exclusively means a rider that has no salary but is sponsored by parts or discounts from plenty of companies.
When was the last time that I saw anybody with any media coverage that payed for their own components and everything they wear/ride and had no sponsor logos anywhere?
  • 15 1
 I actually love this idea! Maybe I can post up at the trail head one day and get some real gems! Problem is...everyone here has super nice bikes! It's our lifestyle and it really shows when the bikes cost more than most folks' cars hahah But thanks for the idea. I hope to bring it to life!
  • 5 0
 @Bikercerr: I think HOW you set your "off the shelf bike" up is as useful as picking your own parts. Its is all personal preference at the end of the day :-)
  • 3 0
 @tonit91: hahah I'll bet those folks will still run the high end stuff. But it is always enlightening to see a 20 year old dh rig at the bike park and that rider is just as stoked as I am!
  • 3 0
 @runofthemillbikes: hahaha LOVE IT! Can you share here so we can check that out?!
  • 2 0
 @christinachappetta: thanks! it's there....@runofthemillbikes on insta, posted a couple I was sent. Thanks for everybody who sent stuff already! As much of a description as you can the better! I'll try to post one a day assuming I continue to get them.
  • 1 0
 @reindeln: yeh I don't love instagram, just the easiest way to do this kind of thing.
  • 1 0
 @christinachappetta: Yes, nothing wrong with that, we all have different priorities and needs.
  • 3 0
 @clindblomenduro: we should get some of the boys on the NS mtb thread to do this, I feel like theres a pretty interesting variety of riders and bike setups.
  • 2 0
 @runofthemillbikes: followed????????
  • 4 0
 the vital bike checks are pretty solid for this.
  • 1 0
 @Johnoble: I think the shore has possibly the best variety of riders and bikes hahah it's wild what you see out there!
  • 1 1
 My bike has a bunch of weird shit bolted on.
  • 2 0
 Alloy wheels, Maxxis tires, fox suspension, shimano drivetrain, shimano pedals, shimano brakes.
  • 1 0
 __
  • 1 0
 Is that an unbranded Super Deluxe? Mix of Fox and RockShox? I wonder why!
  • 1 1
 fell in love with you couples of years ago on top of Lord of the Squirrel...still have the picture on my phone.
you were ,what looks like,guiding a bunch of people.i caught up to you guys and you stuck to my rear wheel to the top.Hammering hard.Big Respect ✊
  • 1 0
 This. Videos of sponsored riders telling us how good the stuff they get free or paid to use isn’t very entertaining or believable
  • 1 0
 @melonhead1145: ya from there its then just matter of adding some fairly priced aftermarket upgrades(susp.) To the insides
  • 30 17
 On the next Ask Pinkbike: Does Pinkbike disclose advertorials?
  • 19 2
 Umm, it does say "Sponsored" under this video, doesn't it?
  • 22 1
 @mikkosinisalo : Yes. Everywhere if you manage to read or hear anything of this before commenting (hard i know). Its in the tags. In the text. In the vid. She was also totally up front about it.

Its a bike check. We see bike checks of sponsored riders all the time.
  • 8 2
 @freestyIAM: Cheers for listening to my spiel!
  • 11 1
 looks like a copy paste of the G2 process 153
  • 1 0
 Yeah I thought it was one in the thumbnail!
  • 1 0
 that was exactly my thought!!! the rocker and shock position esp
  • 4 0
 Oh please! The Slash has marginally more anti-squat, the motion ratio is slightly more progressive, and the head-tube angle is 0.1° slacker! Could hardly be more different!
  • 1 0
 @R-M-R: in seriousness the only apparent difference is pivot concentric with rear axle vs pivot on seatstay
  • 5 1
 I currently have a 2017 trek remedy 8 and I'm planning on getting a new bike this spring. Do you think this new slash could actually work as a one bike quiver? I primarily ride trails in the northeast with a good bit of climbing but I also like to ride the bike parks and plan on doing some enduro races. I need something that can pedal!
  • 5 0
 FOR SURE! I think this bike pedals better (on paper and in real life) than my previous bike and I've taken it on biiiiig days but also hit some park laps. Pick a mid-weight tire that would do well in all scenarios. Do a little numbers comparison on the Trek site of your current bike and prospective bike and it should make some sense. Big wheels, BIG fan.
  • 1 0
 @christinachappetta: question here too ride my fuel ex everywhere, quarantine no bike park/race build ha ha! debating if I build slash and buy a top fuel this winter or I just build one insane slash, any reccomandtions ? spec wise keeping the bike peddling all day
  • 2 0
 @CrawfordMTB: In the past, I've found that 2 sets of wheels can make a huge difference in your one bike set-up. Wheels aren't too expensive, compared to another bike, but seriously change how your bike feels and what it can handle. Can be a pain to re-adjust your brake adapter each time you swap but worth it IMO.
  • 1 0
 I went from an Ibis HD3 to a Nukeproof Mega cuz everyone on every site talks about how great the new enduro bikes climb, etc. That was not the case. For trails, the big bike just muted the whole ride, harder to maneuver, and harder to get up to speed. I guess if you're super fit, any bike is the same. But for a guy that sucks at and hates climbing, the extra weight, suspension, etc was too much. I didn't bother taking it to the bike park since I have a dh bike. Honestly, if you're doing trail rides 90% of the time, my choice was a mistake. If you're hitting a jump park one day, then a trail the next, sure.
  • 2 0
 100% yes. The new Trek Slash is a brilliant. I think its their best bike. Ignore the journalist fueled 'seatpost angle needs to be 78 degree' rhetoric, as anyone who actually rides varied terrain would find this ridiculous. I think the Pivot Firebird/Switchblade climbs tech a bit better...but overall my few rides on the new Slash have been wow. So versatile and fun.
  • 9 2
 Thanks Christina. This was super interesting and reassuring for my wife who's your height and stepping up to a 29er in 2021.
  • 8 0
 Awesome! It's intimidating at first so she'll want to test the big wheels out, maybe a few times, to feel good. Not gonna lie, took me a full summer to feel as comfy on the big wheels as I did my 27.5 but that's probably bc I put myself in precarious situations hahah A good bike fit goes a long way!
  • 1 0
 @christinachappetta: Yes. Thanks, Christina, for the bike check. Well done! I'm another one with a 5'4" wife and just moved her from 27.5 to a new Ripley with 29" wheels. Standover clearance - she doesn't have much of it. I'm thinking of knocking the fork down from 140 to 130, and changing tires from the 2.6 to a 2.35 just to get it down a tad more. I'd imagine you don't have much standover clearance with the 29 wheels and 170 fork on the slash. Are emergency dabs & foot downs an issue, or does it just work out? Thanks, again.
  • 7 0
 Alright, the sock gag got me. Nicely done.
  • 7 0
 hahaha who knows what else we would have found!
  • 2 0
 Has anyone else broken a thru shaft shock? I've broken three and have had enough. My local shop says they don't really see anyone else coming in with broken shocks. Normal shocks seem to work fine for me with no issues. I don't feel any performance benefit from the Thru-Shaft, just a dismal lack of reliability.
  • 4 0
 rockshox thru shaft shocks on trek bikes are brutal. Seen many need rebuilds after way to short of time. Replace it with something fox and never look back.
  • 2 0
 @sweet-bike: thanks! Glad to know I’m not the only one. Two of mine were rockshox. One was a fox. Now I just run a normal fox shock w/ no issues. Just costs a lot of extra money for a new shock and hardware.
  • 9 4
 İdk why but new slash looks like it squished from front and rear
  • 22 1
 I would guess it appears like that likely due to the frame being a smaller size
  • 5 0
 Small frame. Unfortunate for me though bc the longer frames have more snack space!
  • 5 1
 A Marz Bomber in BC...getting back to the good ole days (on a trek no less)
  • 5 0
 Got the shock on the way too! Stoked to get back to coil, feels so nice!
  • 1 0
 @christinachappetta: I was very pleasantly surprised by the Marz coil shock on my Sight. With the LSC set properly you get just the right amount of support.
  • 1 0
 @christinachappetta: changing because of the thru-shaft rockshox or by choice going to marz?
  • 1 0
 Nice video.
How rolled do you ride your bars?
Slightly further back as you rin a longer stem?

I like your setup, apart from the no compression on the fork bit. Always find when pushing hard the fork doesnt respond fast enough, I am by no means new school firm though.
  • 2 0
 I use the guide on my bars and stem so they "should" be lined up evenly with the angle of my fork. Too far back feels more like a moto to me. The rooty terrain here can handle little to no compression, but if I'm riding different terrain, I'll add a bit for sure. It's a lot of travel!
  • 1 0
 @christinachappetta: Christina can you explain that more please? I've heard that mentioned, but am not clear what it is. Bar rise line?
Thanks.
  • 2 0
 @christinachappetta: Gotta love roots, faster rebound helps with the roots, I was astonished when I rode in Whistler, North shore etc how grippy the roots are compared to here, they are like eels when wet over here, good old shiny pine roots.

I feel the same with respect to bars, too far back puts my wrist in the wrong place and I start hanging back too much, too far forward and I feel pitched over the front too much and control is lost.

I remember the old "stick test" for seeing what rise and sweep works best for a rider too.
  • 2 1
 The opposite on Min-Maxing...
XTR bits and carbon rims w/ a stock shock and Bomber fork.

I know 'Zoke is a quality fork, but every single enduro racer I knew locally who rides a Slash (and there are many) have ditched the stock shock for a Fox X2.
  • 2 1
 In one of the comments, she states she's waiting on a Marz coil to come in to replace the stock shock.
  • 1 0
 First time I’ve heard of setting brake lever angle/height for straighter wrists while not really using the brakes and resting. I’ve always set brake angle to feel best with hand/body position during crucial braking, when it’s rowdy and your body needs to be lower with straighter hand/wrist alignment for control and power.
  • 1 0
 Hey Christina ,
I'm running the new Magic Mary SG tires. 2.6 front, 2.4 back.
I'm amazed at how low I can run the pressure on these tires with no vague or squishy feeling.
As a 200 lb rider, I'm running sub around 18 front and 20 rear.
Have you found the same ?
  • 1 0
 There's a thing Christina said in there that made me curious—she talks about how she could insert her post more, but she likes the saddle between her knees when descending, so she runs it a little higher than she otherwise could.

Do many people do the thing that her comment implies—run their posts as far in as possible, regardless of saddle height at full extension? Like, I base my seatpost insertion on having my preferred saddle height for climbing. I've got like 25mm of post showing below the dropper collar—so I could get my saddle even lower for the downs than I currently do by inserting the post further, but then I'd be sitting an inch too low for the climbs, which seems super uncomfortable and inefficient to me.

What do y'all do?
  • 5 1
 Hated the color at first but it's growing on me.
  • 4 0
 At first I thought it was a custom paint job for me hahaha NOPE! Stock and wicked!
  • 1 0
 I'm looking real hard at the Slash or a Stumpy Evo. Such a difficult decision! I will be able to demo the Slash but probably won't be able to demo the new Stumpy Evo.
  • 1 0
 Great video @christinachappetta actually inspired me (5ft 4 rider ) to go demo some waggon wheel bikes. Love your tips about stem to slightly mitigate the ass on wheel issue!
  • 3 1
 I have a HUGE crush on this bike. Send it!!!
  • 2 0
 Is it just a shuttle bike or do you actually pedal that tire combo?
  • 11 0
 No shuttling here in Whistler so we pedal a lot! The tire combo keeps me fit! And I'll take it if it means no punctures on trail. Could go lighter but I don't personally see the point, especially when I'm carrying 5lb of snacks anyway.
  • 1 0
 @christinachappetta are you guys testing the commencal meta AM in this round of bike tests?
  • 2 2
 At 5'4" (162cm) tall riding a full 29er?! The world has gone crazy. At least she doesn't have to be concerned about the 29er ball rub, when things get steep.
  • 1 0
 Can we talk about what size we mean by "full size water bottle"? That looks like a little guy to me.
  • 1 0
 I love my new Slash AL, was pretty happy that it got the handy downtube hole.
  • 1 1
 I figured Orbea would throw in some bikes for the presenters of the reality show as well Smile
  • 2 2
 They did
  • 5 4
 Pinkbike is going downhill
  • 2 1
 Look at that seat angle and saddle position! hOw cAn shE cLiMB?!
  • 2 1
 More bike check write ups instead of videos please
  • 1 0
 haha, but you missed the fender/mud guard!!! super nice video and setup.
  • 1 0
 organic or metal brakepads and why?
  • 1 0
 Lines like a Mondraker Foxy
  • 1 0
 Nice bike @christinachappetta, we want to invite you to ride to PERU!
  • 1 0
 That’s pretty much how I have my bikes. Including tire pressures.
  • 2 2
 Too cute and great speaker/presenter. Like your style, keep up the great work!
  • 1 0
 Do you also leave comments complimenting Levy or Kazimer on their handsomeness? I didn't think so.

I know you think you're being nice, but you're not.
  • 1 0
 @BrambleLee:
Ah, no offense intended, just think cute personality and refreshing to hear her presentation of bike set up where often presented by male riders it seems. Regardless of gender, she is great speaker/presenter and thought she did great job with that and other content she presents.
  • 1 0
 Uh, up here it’s a Marzocchi “Zed” 1!
  • 2 1
 "snacks"
  • 2 0
 You put your W&&D in there!
  • 2 4
 Sweet ride! Those tire pressures tho!! I only weigh about 160 lbs. And if I go below 25 PSI, I hear my wheels pinging off of rocks/roots constantly!
  • 15 0
 A 130lb rider is about 20% lighter than a 160lb rider. 20psi is 20% less than 25psi. Math is cool.
  • 4 2
 You should get a new gauge.
  • 6 0
 For sure, it's all relative. Jesse Melamed weighs a bit more than me and rides similar or lower pressures! All depends on the wheels, tires, terrain, tubeless, inserts.... so many variables!
  • 3 1
 @christinachappetta: Inserts! I can see lighter folks not needing them as much, but there are 2 types of people in this world: Those who have never tried inserts and those who never want to be without them ever again. Wink
  • 3 0
 There are also another 2 types of people: Those who have never used tires with proper Enduro or DH casings, and those who don't need more stability or protection because they do. Inserts have their place, but far too many people use them as a band aid solution to a problem which would be better solved by picking appropriate tires in the first instance!
  • 3 0
 @nzandyb: That's 4 types of people. That's getting out of hand.
  • 1 0
 Nice video
  • 2 2
 Nice Whip !!
  • 6 7
 Nice infomercial
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