Bicicletta Specialized Epic Hardtail Comp Carbon - 2017

Lighter, faster, better handling—the Epic Hardtail Comp Carbon is changing XC hardtails in a big way. It's one of the lightest frames we've ever made, tipping the scales around 1175g. And to do so, we built the entire frame from our superlative carbon fiber, FACT 10m, and then we took some cues from our road bikes. We borrowed the Rider-First Engineered™ concept that originated with the Tarmac. Now, the frame design applies specificity to every tube size and carbon layup for every frame size. This creates the optimal balance of rigidity, weight, and responsiveness, so every frame, regardless of size, performs just as we intended. We've also tweaked the geometry for more speed and stability by slacking-out the head tube angle, lengthening the top tube, and correcting the seat tube angle. This way, it feels more planted then ever, and frankly, it's stupid fast. We also widened the rear spacing to 12x148mm and included internal split-housing cable routing. For the build, this Epic hits right on the money, opting for a custom-tuned RockShox Reba RL fork, Shimano SLX 11-speed shifting, and stupid-fast Roval Control wheels.By pairing a FACT 10m carbon fiber frame with our XC 29 Geometry, this Epic places a focus on tight tube angles and extremely light overall weight for explosive speed and nimble handling on the race circuit. For good measure, we also gave it 148mm rear spacing and all-new triangulated post-mount brake mounts.A custom RockShox Reba RL 29 fork offers up 90/100mm of smooth travel, while an easily accessible compression and rebound adjusts permit you to customize the feel according to the terrain at hand.Shimano Deore XT 11-speed rear derailleur is tough, reliable, and incredibly precise.