Rab Wardell's Marathon Worlds Santa Cruz Blur by RabWardell

Rab Wardell
Age: 36
Hometown: Glasgow
Height: 178cm / 5'10"
Weight: 64.8kg / 142 lb
Instagram: @rabwardell

Rab Wardell is a well-known face on the UK XC scene, but as we've seen through his West Highland Way FKT, and his most recent video series, Old Enough to Know Better presented by Wahoo, he can turn his hand to more than just mile crunching. Training for the West Highland Way FKT in 2020 reopened Rab's eyes, and he saw that he still has the potential to ride faster than ever. Rab's continued to strive for success, and this year he returned to compete at the highest level since retiring from World Cup racing in 2014, to tackle the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships for the first time, in Elba, Italy.

Frame: Santa Cruz Blur CC mk4 - Sockeye Sal and Blue colourway, size large
Head Unit: Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM
Wheels: Reserve 28 XC rims / DTSwiss 350 hubs
Suspension: Rockshox Sid SL Ultimate, 100mm, 29" fork / RockShox SidLuxe Ultimate with Sram/Rockshox Twistlock
Tyres: Continental Race King 29" x 2.2 ProTection with 60ml Revo Sealant front and rear run @ 17psi front and 17psi rear with Cushcore XC tyre insert
Pedals: Crankbrothers Eggbeater 11
Drivetrain: SRAM XO1 Eagle AXS 12 speed, SRAM XX1 cranks, Quarq power meter, 34t chainring, 10-52 XO1 Eagle Cassette, GX AXS shifter
Brakes: SRAM Level TLM - 160mm rotors front and rear
Seatpost: Fox Transfer SL Performance Elite, 100mm, 31.6mm
Cockpit: Santa Cruz Bicycles Flat Bar cut to 700mm, Syntace Lightforce 70mm stem, Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated headset and Fizik Tempo Argo R1 saddle

"The bike really is a lot of fun. I've finished on the podium in a gravel race on it and set some quick times on downhill trails used in the Tweed Valley EWS. I've even flipped it! It's full of surprises and I can't wait to keep pushing the limits on it".

RockShox SidLuxe Ultimate with Sram/Rockshox Twistlock .

"I'm a big fan of the twist lock. When I first saw it, it gave me flashbacks of gripshift in the late '90s, but I actually really like it. It works well and it keeps the handlebar clean and uncluttered. I use it all the time and love that it locks front and rear suspension at the same time"

Lining up at the start of the Worlds in Capoliveri on the Isle of Elba on-board his SC Blur. A culmination of an 18-month journey for Rab.

Continental provides the rubber, with Continental Race King 29" x 2.2 ProTection. Rab runs 60ml Revo Sealant front and rear run @ 17psi front and 17psi rear with a Cushcore XC tyre insert.

"As a cross country rider, and one who started racing in the early 2000's it's hard to get my head around adding weight to my bike, especially to the wheels. Running a Cushcore is mint though, the bike feels better with it and I feel more confident on downhills and when cornering. It's slightly heavier but I'm faster with it".

Santa Cruz Reserve Wheels. Rab runs a 28mm rim on DT Swiss 350 Hubs

Cockpit with Wahoo ELMNT ROAM, a critical component in Rab's training arsenal. Rab runs a 700mm SCB Flat bar mounted on a Syntace 70mm stem

Sram XX1 adorns the bike. Rab runs a 34 tooth chairing out front, mounted to a 10-52 XO1 Eagle Cassette.

Standard fare for the whippets amongst riders these days: Quark Powermetre mounted onto Sram XX1 Cranks.

Author Info:

RabWardell

Member since Jul 22, 2011
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