PINKBIKE FIELD TEST
2020 Mondraker F-Podium DC
So much potential, but the details hold it back on the descents.
Words by Sarah Moore, Photography by Trevor LydenWhen Mondraker printed "downcountry" on the 'DC' model of their F-Podium XC machine, we knew that it had caught on as a subcategory. Or maybe that means it's jumped the shark? Regardless, the DC version of Mondraker's World Cup-level F-Podium gets a longer travel fork, wider tires, and a dropper post.
Prices for the two DC models are $6,000 (F-Podium DC R) and $8,400 USD (as tested). The regular F-Podium XC race model ranges from $5,500 USD to $14,000 USD, but doesn't have that sweet 'downcountry' sticker. Our test rig came with a 120mm Fox 34 Float FIT4 Step-Cast Factory fork, Fox Float Factory rear shock, Shimano XTR brakes, a Shimano XTR drivetrain, and DT-Swiss XR1501 Spline One 29 aluminum wheels.
F-Podium DC Details Intended use: Downcountry
Travel: 100mm
Wheel size: 29''
Frame construction: Carbon fiber
Head angle: 66.8°
Chainstay length: 432 mm
Reach: 450 mm (size Medium)
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Weight: 26.4lbs / 11.97 kg (as pictured)
Price: $8,400 USD
More info:
www.mondraker.com Mondraker helped popularize the long, slack and low geometry with its bigger travel models, and the striking F-Podium DC incorporates the latest iteration of their Forward Geometry. That means a 450mm reach on a size medium, a 50mm stem, and a 44mm offset fork.
The F-Podium uses the Spanish brand's Zero Suspension system, a dual-link design with a carbon fibre rocker driving the shock through a tunnel in the seat tube, and an aluminum lower link rotating just behind the bottom bracket.
Frame details include full internal cable routing, a rubber frame protector on the chainstay and down tube, space for a bottle cage on the down tube with a choice of two positions, a threaded bottom bracket, and Boost spacing. As with most new bikes these days, it doesn't accept a front derailleur.
Climbing The climbing position on the Mondraker F-Podium DC is dialed. The combination of the 75.1° seat tube angle and the 450mm reach keep you centered over the bike, and the front wheel stays nicely planted on the ground. It’s also really light, and it feels like it on the trail. The F-Podium DC was just 26.4lb, without pedals, which was 300g heavier than the Trek Top Fuel, but two pounds lighter than the Juliana, and three pounds lighter than the Guerilla Gravity.
While we relished the low weight on the climbs, we found the suspension to be somewhat harsh, even for just 100mm. Mondraker's Zero design is extremely efficient, but the shock's stock compression tune is heavy-handed, which negatively impacts the traction on rougher climbs. It also ramps up too quickly, which led to James and I running the pressures much lower than what Mondraker recommends.
One minor gripe was that the stem has a -5° drop. Combined with a trimmed down steerer tube, we found the bar/stem position to be too low even for our XC-ish intentions. It was in a better position for climbing after we flipped it, but visually the stem clearly isn’t meant to be run that way.
Descending A roomy 450mm reach (size M) combined with a neutral 66.8-degree head tube angle on the F-Podium suggested that it should be a relatively good descender, and for the most part, that’s how the handling felt on the trail. It's easy to navigate through corners and it's stable at speed.
But while the geometry is dialed, the suspension felt unbalanced. There was nothing wrong with the 120mm travel Fox 34, but paired with the rear suspension that ramped up early and aggressively, it sometimes felt like the bike was steeper than it needed to be, pitching us forward. Speaking of that ramp-up, even though we were already running the rear shock with a lot less air and more sag than we were supposed to, neither of us used more than about 80-percent of the available travel, either on the test loop or on any of the longer rides we did. The suspension kinematic has too much rise, and the compression tune on the rear shock is too heavy. Most riders would benefit from yanking out some volume spacers to help make the suspension a little more linear.
Given how efficiently their Zero system suspension works already, in our opinion it doesn't make sense to have a dual remote lockout on this bike. On top of that, the default position on their lockout is locked, and we both locked out the suspension accidentally more than once while descending. Not good. And don't get me started on the dropper post... It returns slowly and with so much friction that it struggles to fully extend.
This platform is clearly an impressive one, but with some key component missteps, it’s not quite there. It's an incredibly efficient bike with progressive geometry and would be right at home on a one-day marathon race or an aggressive XC track, but some spec changes are in order before it's truly worthy of the “downcountry” sticker on the frame.
now that's working the system!
At $8.5k I’d just expect every 100mm-travel bike to weigh under 12kg. Maybe I just don’t understand Downcountry.
Depends...if its an Evil ,your just screwed.
If a brand can get their top end bike reviewed and it has better specs than everyone else's it has a better chance of riding better than everyone else's.
Then when everyone reads the glowing review they buy a more reasonably priced version (you can't review every model in the lineup). So having a halo bike = better reviews = more sales even if no one buys the top end version.
The ad hominen "get over yourself and get the F*** out of everyone elses business" is kinda bullshit though. Not that keeping it civil is an internet thing, or much of a thing for us Americans anymore - everybody's triggered into their caps lock.
Yes, you may do what you like with your money, obviously; but I'll continue to hope - and encourage - part of that is giving to MTB advocacy. I'm not sorry if that fires you up as much as it seems to.
so people buy them. how i dont know, but they buy them
DM me if you want some help finding one.
“Jésus, what did you want Levy?! You said this new DownCountry thing would pay off. That doesn’t work if we have to pay designers...honestly if you wanted more than an XC frame with a long travel fork and downcountry written on it you should have told us...we’d have been out from day 1!”
100mm XC marathon: Maxxis Aspen/ Pace > 100mm XCO: Ikon/ Ardent Race > 120mm Down Country: Minion DHF > DH bike 200mm of travel: Minion DHF - makes perfect sense. NOT
oh I shred downs so hard on my DC bike that I need DH knobs.
My DC bike is rocking Forekaster/Rekon. It’d be nice to see brands start using this combo rather than the DHF because you’re right, that is way too draggy of a tire if you’re actually using the bike for “down country”/trail and not just trying to turn an XC bike into an enduro racer
For instance, I think it's silly that the SB100/ SB130/ & SB150 all arrive with the exact same factory tire selection when one bike is XC/ light trail and the other extreme is a full on Enduro race bike. The tires should match the application. Is it any wonder that rider reviews often say things like "The SB150 doesn't pedal any worse than the SB130, so might as well get the 150..." No shit they don't pedal any differently, they have the exact same tires even though 1 is a trail bike and the other is a race bike. Put trail tires on the trail bike and get back with me on that.
What’s the point of going down in travel from Enduro bike when you keep the tires and the fork... and everything fricking else just as they were?! The only one single factor that separates Norco Optic from Norco Range or SB130 from SB150 is rear suspension travel. What’s the point then?!
I'm sick of pinching through sidewalls, washing out the rear end, having no braking traction, etc so I put a DHF and an aggressor on it. Its not that I think short travel bikes should have the same tires as enduro/DH bikes, its that I don't see the point for any tire lighter than an agressor/highroller unless you race XC. Otherwise its like CX- the worst of mountain biking mixed with the worst of road biking.
Next week mounting up some studded tires as fromme is now covered in snow.
I'd rather see bikes come with tire options, it sucks getting a new bike and then having to drop another $125 on a set of tires because it either came with some cheapo thin wall wire bead OEM only version of a tire, or something that works well everywhere except where and how you ride.
Makes you wonder what would have happened if:
1) the shock tune was better - 200 bucks if you want to do yourself
2) the remote was reversed or they just removed the dam thing - not cheap
3) the stem was changed - cheap....
I am intrigued about this frame as I would like an XC bike with a slacker head tube angle.
Probably this tune was intended to suit the needs of the xc race crowd, more than the DC trail riders, and pairing it with a longer fork only exacerbate the racey nature of the shock.
And the idea of a Suspension lock out on a Mondraker is just silly to me anyways, more weight and complexity for no good reason at all. If anything in this price range the bike should have had that electronic suspension.
Take my money!!
If you don't mind spending just a couple $100 more on a frame set over other boutique bike makers, you can really build the ultimate bike starting with a Mondraker frameset.
@mikelevy
@brianpark
@sarahmoore
did you know that mintberry-crunch defeated cthullu ?
their "for the goddess" also triggered me -not sure it should.
Bummer to hear All Mountain lost its cool. It was basically the "shut up and ride" category when everything segregated. It seems they call it trail nowadays. But now that full suspension bikes with with less than 5" travel in the rear and more in the front suddenly fall in this downcountry category, we've got so much overlap that it makes you head spin. I get that but don't go silly on the alcohol and drugs. Then if you do, death metal concerts may not be the safe place to attend.
The only place where categories matter are on Pinkbike. Out in the real world, no one really gives AF and just rides. Out in the real world, no one actually uses "Down Country". This place has become a microcosm of idiocy. Entertaining though.
For the record, I think Enduro is pretty easy and reasonable to define as a race format. I do cringe when people describe their regular trail as an "enduro" trail or whatever. Like, nah, enduro is what happens if actually do timed racing on that trail. Otherwise it's just a rad trail.
Special indeed...
Lovecraft's inspiration in DM is very prevalent, for sure.
Not that we can throw stones here, with Levy kicking off the whole downcountry thing...
.
The interesting part being it's a digressive tune intended for a 2019 Evil Following.
I am a lighter rider @140lb the digressive tune gives it platform but the evol combined with a progressive leverage rate means it has awesome small bump as well.
I am able to run 25% sag and use 95% travel without harsh bottom outs.
Previously I hated the float dps I had on this bike and it had a light compression tune.
Out of my three shocks, I would rate the McLeod first (ridiculously good, even on long descents, and especially but not only considering the price), the X-Fusion second (good compliance but overheats on extended descents) and the DPS a distant third. The DPS also happens to be the most expensive one...
I have a ribbon on my bike and have had a diamond also I tend to like the smaller companies.
But unfortunately dvo cancelled the inline opal shock they where working on so I don't have a choice ATM. But mrp have the dual chamber Jackson air shock on the way that will have 165x45 TRUNNION available. I was planning on getting it but this fox is better then anything I've ran including the Cane Creek db inline coil.
Every shock I've ever ran had too much compression for me until I found this digressive fox shock.
Also a note the Dvo topaz uses digressive damping also.
The Mcleod is my go-to on short travel bikes. So far it hasn't disappointed me since it's so tuneable.
you know cheap and used bikes still exist right?
You know what else is absurd? $300k cars, that doesn't mean everyone driving a car has one....
They are closer to road bikes (steep head angles, long stem, narrow bars) with mountain bike tires, than real mountain bikes. If this does not get addressed, our end of the sport is just going to get more expensive.
The $2K I spent on my TW200 is the equivalent of a $300 Wal-Mart bike. I can buy the equivalent of Aaron Gwin's DH bike and it'll be $12K, but if you want to buy Eli Tomac's Kawasaki you can add a zero to that figure...
Cars to bikes is a bad comparison.
-I'll add, look at all the issues the bicycle world has with suspension, brakes, etc. That's all related to tiny oil volumes and trying to cram moto technology into tiny brake levers and calipers and use magnesium and other more exotic alloys to try to keep weight down. Even on the lower to midrange bikes.
There is also something to be said for the fact that the technology on mid range bikes is only possible because of the last round of top tier tech. So a small number of people paying a larger portion of the development cost is actually good for the rest of us.
"The F-Podium DC was just 26.4lb, without pedals, which was 300g heavier than the Trek Top Fuel, but two pounds lighter than the Juliana, and three pounds lighter than the Guerilla Gravity."
Can we get some consistent measurements please?
Did you say "XC+"???
I think you might have discovered a new market segment.
As opposed to the mediocre XC on my local dumbed-down flow trails, obviously.
I found it perfect for my flexstay bike.
It has a digressive tune.
/rant
I was going to send it to Avalanche for tuning but they're tuning sounds like what I have .
A pedal platform that gets out of the way when it needs to and let's my suspension work on tech climbs.
So if it is tuned perfectly for me why is it still mediocre?
'Luckily', the default tuning isn't something to write home about, so there is some room for improvement. Unfortunately, the end result will still be worse than a McLeod or Topaz and be just as expensive as buying a new McLeod.
If you want to know more about damping, Vorsprung has a nice video: m.pinkbike.com/news/tuesday-tune-ep-2-how-damper-oil-flow-is-controlled-2016.html
www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/Fox%20DHX/Fox%20Float%20Evolution%20and%20Performance%20SSD%20HSB%20Mods.htm
2019, DHX2, P-Se, TiN, 2pos-Adj, Trunnion, Devinci, AC, 205, 65, 550 lbs/in, CM, Standard Logo"
Most 150mm trail bikes at this price point are not that much heavier and will still climb very good, but are more fun to ride down.
My 150mm XL carbon bike is at 12,8kg with pedals, 900g tires, bottle holder, frame protection, saddle bag and other stuff on the handle bar.
I can't help but think that this whole "Downcountry" marketing is meant for people who sell their trail bikes, because they don't have that kind of terrain, so they buy the exact same bike with less travel lol.
Not everyone is a KOMmunist
Wise PB reader in PNW/BC/etc: Alrighty now, which one of these nearly new bikes on Buy&Sell am I going to be riding this summer? Offers $4500 to seller from Kansas/Saskatchewan/etc who, feeling the credit card pinch, grudgingly accepts. BAM, score one sweet rig at half of retail pricing. Puts smaller chainring on it, grinds up the 2000' switchbacky climb, blasts steep/techy DH. Rider enjoys bike appropriate for their region, stares at campfire and stars while on weekend road trips.
I love my Rocky Mountain Element, the original downcountry bike, because it can toe the line of any XC race and climbs like a rocket, but is still up for trail bike duty once I throw some knobby tires on it. I've even taken it downhilling, although you can't push as hard, they are still plenty fun and extremely capable!
Try one, you might get hooked.
Hopefully Sarah and James' thoughts help your wife make some decisions in this category.
In all seriousness at first I thought it was Levy on the bike; oh no not again. Then realized it was one of my people! Glad you're enjoying Pemberton
I'm always, always shopping around, in my head, for the next bike. Definitely looking to go back to rear suspension. I'd like to go carbon, I'd like to build for ~30 pounds in a fun trailbike format with big tires. I'll pay for it... I'm a smarter shopper, I do all my own work as an ex shop rat, and 18 years now as a mountain biker and Pinkbike lurker I know enough to be able to build something that punches above it's weight. I've done it before.
But then I read a meh review on a 14K(!!) bike... and it really makes me want to go back to the cave, squirt some frame saver in my steel Krampus, polish it's Yari, and ride it for another couple seasons. I do one race a year, and I beat all the carbon wonder bikes in my class on it except for one... At the very least, it reinforces the idea that when I do build the next bike, it'll be aluminum, SLX, Fox Factory type decisions. It'll still cost more money than non cyclists understand, but at least I'll have my dignity.
As for the Troy, it's very similar to my Decree, so hovering at the very upper limit between fun and overkill for my needs.
They're f*cking us! all not just Mondraker!
It was you who originally coined the term “down country”, no?
Bet you never thought someone would actually put those words on a bike, did you?!
Kabush would be great to have on board, but at the moment he'd probably prefer the Yeti every time.
Super interested in the direction you go with your build and shock tune.
Difficult q but any timeline at your end yet for this build and review? Cheers
30mm por vida!>
For my winter marathon set up I actually run a mezcal 2.35 on a 29 mm internal rim. I also think it's profile looks perfect, though I run a 27 mm front room with a barzo 2.35.
What shock are you thinking about using on your build?
I’m *really* eager to check out the Mondraker with a different build and suspension tune, though. I think it’d be absolutely killer around here. Fantastic geometry.
Either way, here's the link: cyclingtips.com/2018/11/specialized-epic-expert-evo-review
Certainly feel free to hit me up if you have any questions.
Anti rise?
Damn it. I watched the video first...