Miranda Miller's Specialized Enduro - Finale Ligure EWS 2017

Sep 29, 2017 at 12:32
by Mike Kazimer  



It was less than three weeks ago that Miranda Miller won the rainbow striped jersey at the DH World Champs in Cairns, Australia, but her race season isn't over yet. She's swapped out her Specialized Demo for an Enduro, and will be battling it out this weekend on the rocky, tricky tracks of Finale Ligure at the conclusion of the 2017 Enduro World Series.




Rider: Miranda Miller

Team: Specialized Racing
Height: 175 cm / 5'9"
Bike: Specialized Enduro 650b
Handlebar width: 760mm
Stem length: 50mm
Tire pressure: 21 psi (front), 23 psi (rear)
Bike weight: ~14.5 kg / 32 lb
Newly crowned Canadian National Champion Miranda Miller ready to battle it out on home soil.


Miranda Miller Bike Check

Miranda Miller Bike Check
Miranda Miller Bike Check

Cockpit

Miranda runs a fairly similar setup between her DH rig and her enduro bike in order to make both bikes feel as familiar as possible. She's currently running a 760mm Joystick bar with 28mm of rise that's mounted to a 50mm stem with a healthy number of spacers underneath, creating a fairly tall front end. Formula even provided Miranda with a special set of levers for her Cura brakes etched with the words '2017 DH World Champ,' one of the many perks to come from that victory.



Miranda Miller Bike Check
Ohlins' TTX 22 out back...
Miranda Miller Bike Check
...And an air-sprung 170mm RXF 36 up front.


Suspension Setup

Coil shocks seemed to skyrocket in popularity on the EWS circuit this season, partly due to the increased number of options on the market, along with the fact that many of tracks have been extra rough and technical. Miranda's on Öhlins' TTX 22 shock with an 480 in/lb spring, and an air-sprung RXF 36 up front. There's 115 psi in the main chamber, and 240 psi in the bottom chamber, which adjusts the amount of bottom out resistance. Keep in mind that the Specialized team has full factory support from Öhlins - the fork and shock have been tweaked and tuned especially for Miranda.


Miranda Miller Bike Check
Miranda Miller Bike Check
Carbon Roval Fattie SL wheels are mounted up with prototype 2.6" Butchers.


Tires

Specialized recently updated their mountain bike tire lineup, and even the classic Butcher underwent a slight revision. The edge of each knob now has a pattern that resembles a set of stairs, providing more angles to dig into the ground. Miranda's on a new rubber compound that mechanic Patty Young says is in the middle as far as stickiness goes. Her 2.6" tires are inflated to 21 psi in the front and 23 psi in the rear, and there's also a CushCore tire insert in that rear tire for additional protection against flats from Finale's rocky terrain.



Miranda Miller Bike Check
Miranda Miller Bike Check
Miranda's running BikeYoke's Revive 160mm dropper post.



Miranda Miller Bike Check
Good luck this weekend, Champ.







Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,716 articles

88 Comments
  • 60 1
 That bikeyoke revive dropper post is so good. in fact the whole bike is pretty damn buttery smooth.
  • 4 3
 How is the geo update? Any different than the 17 or 16? Seems like it's a cost reduction model....
  • 7 1
 @nicolai12: 18 bikes are about 0.5in longer than 2017 and have a geometry adjust flip chip. Considering that the 0.5in change would mean all new moulds for the carbon front triangles that is the exact oppositte of cost reduction, expensive way to make such a small change.
  • 6 2
 @nicolai12: the bike was a complete ground up redesign from MY 16 to MY 17. 100% new geo, suspension kinematic, aesthetic etc. It has been revised MY17 to MY18 as fix the spade wrote, with revised geo and suspension kinematic. So, far from cost saving. I would even venture to claim that they spared no cost.
  • 4 0
 The Bikeyoke revive is worlds better than any other dropper I've used (though I admit, this doesn't include 9pointCool . Smooth like butta ...and I've never even used the revive feature, which is one of the main reasons I bought one.
  • 3 0
 I have the Revive 160 on my Stumpy, IT IS AWESOME! the on the fly bleed... Genius!!
  • 1 0
 @Fix-the-Spade: Is that true that a new mold is required for such a minor change? I would expect extensive research to be done that would be resolve that issue - doesn't seem economical unless it can be scaled with a substantial unit count.
  • 2 0
 @nicolai12: if there is one thing you can be sure of, it's that specialized is not losing money on this and has maximized their profit margin. Maybe carbon isn't as expensive as everyone in the comments leads you to believe but we are just accepting that as part of justifying our 8000$ bike costs.
  • 20 0
 @mikekazimer I am guessing she is on a medium sized frame. Please confirm. Sorry if I missed it.
  • 5 0
 +1 wondering what size frame.
  • 2 0
 it looks more like a large than a medium...but that would be huge for being 5´9"
  • 2 0
 Looks large to me.

I'm 5'9" and find the 17 large almost too big with a 40mm stem? The 18 is 12mm longer and with a 50mm stem there is no way I would be quick on it.

Hill is what 5'10"? and he's on a bike that's 30mm shorter in reach than this bike.
  • 1 0
 @funkzander: for sure a Large frame.
  • 4 0
 Another bike check without the frame size given...
  • 5 0
 Should be at the start after her height
  • 11 1
 The bike is rad. Testament to her coolness, it's really pretty stealth. She's world champ, no flash needed. Miranda's "just" a bad ass athlete who can world class kill it without a hint of arrogance. Why? 'cause she's Miranda. Hope the big S takes good care of her, she's the real deal.
  • 5 39
flag mollow (Sep 29, 2017 at 20:54) (Below Threshold)
 Lmao she's gonna get destroyed at this event and all of next year like she did all season long
  • 8 3
 That is a beautiful bike! I was thinking 21 and 23 psi she's gonna flat, oh yeah cush core. Why don't they just make a heavier tire already and stop adding foam to the inside. Or just go full bib mousse?
  • 6 1
 Because it doesn't serve the same purpose. Multiple advantages to CushCore including dampening of vibration, making the air spring more progressive, rim/pinch flat protection, etc. Heavier tires will still pinch flat even at high pressure. By comparison I have run into curbs at 20 mph while compressing the suspension with CushCore and the tires have been fine.
  • 7 0
 @salespunk: Sounds like fun. I'm going to try that tomorrow.
  • 5 0
 @salespunk: how big a curb? Can I try without cushcore? Will I be ok?
  • 3 1
 @salespunk: not if they make a heavier sidewall. You could run lower pressure and no squirm, just like a dirt bike. The first mtb I owned was fully rigid univega in '91 and I couldn't believe that bikes didn't copy dirt bike geometry, handlebars, and tires. Now it's 2017 and both my bikes are very similar to dirt bikes. This industry moves at a glacial pace sometimes, 69 degree head angles are still here. I don't need to ride in a circle with my back wheel staying in the same place.
  • 7 0
 How much does she weigh? 480 lb. Spring seems pretty up there. Any deets on the custom suspension tune?
  • 12 4
 I was wondering what she weighs too. They usually provide that info under rider height. Was the interviewer scared to ask because she's a woman? If so, that is sex discrimination. There is no place for sex discrimination in this world. Tell us the weight.
  • 6 1
 Or they were being polite... @jaame:
  • 6 0
 Patty Young (Miranda's mechanic) didn't provide her weight during this interview, but earlier in the season she was 157lb.
  • 1 0
 @tuboy95: or she flat hauls and needs the return rate . . .
  • 6 0
 Had the coil stumpy. The lvg rate is high so at 195 kitted i ran a 550 and felt it was a bit soft..
  • 3 1
 Being polite not asking an athlete's weight in an article about bike setup? It's a pretty important detail.

Thanks Mike!
  • 8 0
 well, she has been in italy for few days, so take her WC weight and add 2 or 3 kg.
  • 7 0
 oooooooooooooooooooooo nice bike.
  • 1 11
flag rrolly (Sep 30, 2017 at 8:33) (Below Threshold)
 It may ride really well, but it looks old/outdated IMO.

Up here we have an annual police recovery auction where unclaimed stolen bikes get sold off. Sometimes dudes will grab a spray can and hit up a bike to try cover their dastardly deed. That's what this Speshy looks like.
  • 11 5
 Cant wait till next year! She is going to putting some heat on the other ladies!!!
  • 13 6
 We will see about it.
  • 8 31
flag mollow (Sep 29, 2017 at 20:51) (Below Threshold)
 Lmao can't wait to see her get destroyed on a light dh event
  • 6 2
 Sure she is the World Champ, but she never put any pressure on the top women in the WC season, I think her best finish was 6th.
  • 16 15
 @cjgauss: her world champs victory was pretty much a fluke, rach out with injury, manon retired, tahnee crashed, pompon had timing issues, tracey crashed.

next season she'll have a bunch of pressure to get results, and could prove detrimental.
  • 10 1
 back-up timing was accurate and she still beat pompon.
  • 3 1
 @colourclashing: So a fluke is finishing without crashing....hmmm okay. Rach crashed out, Tahnee crashed out, Tracey crashed out, and Manon couldn't hack it anymore. I'm thinking that you don't understand what a fluke is.
  • 4 0
 Awesome rig Miranda. So happy for you to be where you are. Best wishes for the race this weekend!
  • 5 2
 Lol even spesh athletes don't want that lame a$$ Wu dropper
  • 1 0
 Ok I am looking at the tire and to me it looks like the old Yeti FRO that Missy Giove used to run back in the day. My 2 cents.
  • 11 9
 Damien Oton's bike check included his height as well as his weight. No weight for the ladies? Sexist much?
  • 4 3
 How do pros get away with running such low pressures? I run 30+psi in my butcher grids and am constantly putting holes in the tyre casing.
  • 2 10
flag mollow (Sep 29, 2017 at 20:55) (Below Threshold)
 It's called cushcore dumdum + she's 157lbs
  • 2 0
 aren´t you sitting on the bike? :-D Iam usually on 24psi front 27-28psi rear, no troubles (166lbs in gear)
  • 1 0
 @bok-CZ: I'm 187lbs so maybe that's something to do with it, I run 29 2.35 butcher grids and I put 4 holes in the rear tyre in one race! Ended up having to run 35psi to stop the pinch flats
  • 6 3
 Logo's on tires not lined up with the valves! Looks horrible!
  • 2 0
 With all the "World Champ" etched on the bike she might as well go John Cena- "THE CHAMP IS HERE" when she rolls in.
  • 3 0
 She's so fast you can't see her !
  • 1 0
 At least nobody's bitchin about lever angle on this one! Pretty sweet looking rig!! Good luck to her!
  • 1 0
 Tracks extra rough and technical, the UCI need to take heed of that sentence
  • 1 0
 What does this bike cost the average dude off the street to build??????????? $15k and up??????
  • 3 0
 Frame color is so dope!
  • 1 0
 Very clean! Nice and simple, the yellow and purple/blue matches up well.
  • 3 2
 It would be pretty cool if she won this race
  • 5 12
flag mollow (Sep 29, 2017 at 20:56) (Below Threshold)
 No chance
  • 1 0
 How did she finish? Her name is not on the results from this race...
  • 2 0
 She came 22nd according to www.enduroworldseries.com/results/2017-round-8-finale-ligure-italy

User mollow got a hefty downvote for saying she was without a chance of winning this race. Now I don't know if he got downvoted for saying so, or the manner in which he said it (quite blunt to say the least), or a combination but he was essentially correct. Her best stage was an 11th, her worst 35th, a total of 11 minutes + behind Ravanel.

Make of it what you will.
  • 1 0
 Those new ODI grips look sick
  • 1 0
 Etched brake levers and rear shock.....shit is boss!
  • 1 0
 ah got it 650b. Oh Canada there is a Öhlins 650b fork, nice.
  • 1 0
 Awsome looking bike, it just sworks...
  • 1 0
 cool bike
  • 2 1
 Go Miranda!!!
  • 1 0
 Wow shes quiet tall
  • 1 0
 I like that colour..
  • 4 6
 That Butcher sure looks like the Onza Aquila
  • 10 1
 probably it is the other way around don't you think?
since the butcher is out for years now, gwin rode them before onza
  • 1 0
 @tiagomano @RollinFoSho: Same design basically. He shared his thoughts on how to improve Butcher to them years ago when he rode for them. They finally implemented last year. Protos have been out since last season, before Aquila was announced. And the only thing proto about this pictured tire, is the casing/compound possibly. The first wave of new Butchers was in stores a couple months ago. Most sold out right away and there's a backlog on 29ers big time. You can buy the non-grid version on their website right now. They're also on the MY18 bikes at stores. Specialized has done little promote their 2018 treads. Including all their new XC/Trail stuff as well.
  • 4 6
 @tiagomano: "Dear Onza, if you could make me a tire that's nearly identical to the Butcher without infringing on patent rights that'd be great!" - Aaron Gwin
  • 1 0
 @btjenki: My thoughts exactly, I have a 650b 2.6 on the front of my bike atm and they already shipped the gripton compound... i wander whats proto about hers... duel compound maybe?
  • 1 0
 @JamesPBlaw: Until now, I have never seen a new Gripton Butcher 2.6 with the new tread design. I recently got the new Grid 2.8 and 2.6 Butcher and only the 2.8 had the new tread design. The 2.6 had the new packaging, rubber, etc, but not the new rubber mould. Miller's is the first 2.6 I have seen with the new tread design with horizontal sipes.
  • 1 0
 @JamesPBlaw: Yes compound is different. 650 has not gone to the new tread pattern yet
  • 2 0
 ok, maybe you're right? But i thought the previous Butcher looked more like a DHF. This one looks almost identical in tread pattern and sipes to the Aquila
  • 1 0
 I stand corrected
  • 3 0
 @motoxxxer26: "Dear Specialized, if you could make me a tire that's near identical to the DHF without infringing on patent rights, that'd be great!" Sam Hill 2008
  • 1 0
 @Ron-C: ah that makes sense. Sneakysneaky specialized.
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.037493
Mobile Version of Website