Bike Check: Becci Skelton's Saracen Myst

During the first round of the UK National Downhill Series, we took the opportunity to take a look at the reigning series champion Becci Skelton's Saracen Myst. Becci has recently moved from Rocky Mountain to Saracen during 2020 so there has been a lot of changes since we saw Becci race last, well bike-wise that is. Becci is still her usual self and is one of the biggest personalities in UK mountain biking and always charging hard with her do or die style of riding. Becci is actually riding a 2020 Myst due to the bike shortage issue so right now. She ended up on this bike, which she loves, but feels like she will end up on a Mullet set up in the future when, you know, we can actually get bike parts again.

That being said it's not like this Myst is anything short of a full factory carbon frame DH weapon. It also doesn't seem to be holding Becci back with a 3rd place finish (despite Becci's disappointment of only making the 3rd step of the podium) in the first round, showing the pace is still there alongside Becci's ability to send it over some pretty large jumps. Head over to Instagram to check out what Becci and her dog Esme get up to.

"Built for speed, ready to party.

Fast enough to win a World Cup, when you're riding a Myst you know it's not the bike holding you back." Saracen Bikes

As a Fox sponsored rider, it's no surprise to see a set of Factory Kashima coated Fox 40 forks fitted to the front of Becci's Myst. That is backed up by a Fox Factory DHX2 coil shock in the rear running a 400lb coil spring. Nothing shocking so far right? But that's all I can tell you with regards to Becci's suspension set up with the Becci keeping tight lipped as to what she and Fox/DialledTelemetry have been up to with her bike. This means she is almost certainly running a custom tune in both. Dialled Telemetry is a UK based suspension tuner that provides suspension tuning to the average rider as well as top level pros. They have been working with Becci throughout her change over from Rocky Mountain to Saracen to get her suspension right where she wants it and it seems to be working!

Shimano provides Becci's full drive train with their top tier Saint components being chosen. Becci is running 165mm long cranks with a 36t chainring and the standard Saint clutch rear mech. This is, however, where the standard parts end as there is a modified cassette on the back of this Myst, that is reduced down to 7 speed with a spacer. The Saint shifter is also set up to run 7 speed too. This is something riders have done for a while as there just isn't the need for 10 gears in downhill.

Becci's Pedal of Choice is the ever popular clipless Mallet pedal from Crankbrothers, at this point I'm not sure anyone runs anything else.