Repurposing 90s MTBs into ’round town basket bikes has been a huge repeating theme in our weekly Readers’ Rides series. This week’s build comes from Benny, with his Specialized StreetStomper. Check out words and photos by Benny below!
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Radar
Specialized: Disrupt the Decay – Chisel LTD Frameset in Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water
The Chisel is an XC hardtail and perhaps it’s this frame’s simplicity that inspired the designers at Specialized to develop a special edition pack, inspired by Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. The pack is dubbed “Disrupt the Decay”.
Key Features:
-Frames come in as light at 1,400g
-D’Aluisio Smartweld technology from M5 alloy hydroformed tubes, which allows for fine-tuning of the ride qualities
-Progressive XC Geometry
-Internal cable routing
-BSA BB
-12x148mm spacing
-30.9mm Dropper post compatible
Available in June 2021. See more at Specialized.
Reportage
Liam’s Specialized Rock Combo Bikepacking Rig
I love well-used 26” rigid MTBs from yesteryears, you love them, everyone loves them, they are the best. Liam’s steed is no different with its glorious mane of tattered Newbaum’s tape flowing in the wind is something to see. At first, when I saw it, I thought, “oh rad an updated Rock Hopper” to which I was quickly corrected that, “It was a Rock COMBO.” How could I make such a mistake, this was no run of the mill 1980s 26er. This was a Rock Combo, the first gravel bike? First performance Hybrid? Since there were only 500 made I guess it’s not so bad that I didn’t recognize it.
Radar
Specialized’s Thru-Axle Rack Mount Works on Your Boost MTB
In yesterday’s Reportage, featuring Kyle’s Falconer, a reader plugged this innovative and simple product. If you have a mountain bike with 148mm rear end (and a 1mm thread pitch – Syntace) and want to run a rack similar to the Tumbleweed T-Rack or the like, then check out this innovative Thru-Axle Rack Mount that Specialized has in their catalog. It’s hard to see but each end of the axle has threading for a bolt to secure your rear rack. This problem-solving device is only $30…
Reportage
Lael Wilcox’s Kenai 250 2021 Specialized Epic Evo Pro with Hope Tech
The Kenai 250 is a 257-mile, self-supported mountain bike race in the Kenai peninsula, the only area in Alaska with a large network of singletrack trails maintained by the forest service. The race organizer, Michael Braun, stitched together a route that connects the trails with highway miles. It’s 60% singletrack and 40% pavement. The race has been going on since at least 2013. This year, with 36 starters, it’s a record setting year for participation. This will be my first time racing it. I grew up in Alaska. It’s amazing to have the opportunity to ride and race in my home state. A couple weeks ago, Rue and I went out to tour the trails– several of which I’d never ridden. In a single day, from my bike seat, I saw a moose cooling off in a pond and both a lynx and a grizzly bear crossed my path. Alaska is still very wild. I’m really looking forward to riding through the night and experiencing this full route in one go. It would make a great multi-day tour as well.
Radar
Specialized Listened: the New Diverge Comes in a Flat Bar Expert E5 EVO Model
Remember Sarah’s SIQuoia flat bar? I like to think that builds like that prompted Specialized to experiment with their newly-launched Diverge line announced today. Nestled in the EVO line – the catalog reserved for experimentation – the new Diverge EVO joins the newest in Diverge tech with a flat bar package suitable for singletrack riding. This model retails for $2,600 and the EVO Comp model retails for $1,600. The only bummer is that these flat bar aluminum frame models lack the SWAT storage the carbon models use. Now the next question is, when will Specialized release an Aero-Bar build kit like Sarah’s?
Check out the full lineup at Specialized.
Specs:
-E5 Aluminum frame
-Future Shock 2.0 with an adjustable hydraulic damper offering 20mm of travel
-Shimano XT 1×12
-Magura MT4 brakes.
-X-Fusion Manic dropper
-Rhombus 42mm gravel tires
-DT Swiss G540 alloy wheels.
Radar
Specialized’s Recon 2.0 and 3.0 MTB Shoes
MTB shoes don’t have to look like 1990’s era skate shoes. Case in point is Specialized’s Recon shoes, the pinnacle of the brand’s MTB footwear. The Recon utilizes a Body Geometry sole and footbed for comfort and power transfer. These shoes have a stiffness index of 10, thanks to the Carbon STRIDE toe-flex technology and the fully-welded upper body reduces seams, so you don’t have to worry as much about blisters. The Recon 2 ($160.00) features one BOA closure, while the Recon 3 ($225.00) features two. See more at Specialized.
Radar
Specialized to Donate $100,000 to Australia with the Down Under Collection
Specialized’s new Down Under Collection looks to the fauna Down Under, specifically the Australian Budgie. As 500 million animals have been affected by the massive bushfires, Specialized is donating $100,000 USD to WIRES, the Australian Wildlife Rescue Organization. You can now buy product from the Down Under Collection, to show your support or if you’d prefer to donate yourself, do so at WIRES’ emergency fund.
Reportage
Lael Wilcox’s 2019 Silk Road Mountain Race Specialized Fuse Bikepacking Setup
With the 2019 Silk Road Mountain Race beginning tomorrow, we thought we’d give a break-down for what Lael Wilcox will be carrying on her bike for the duration of the event. Lael is hoping to finish the 1700 kilometer course with 27,000m elevation in 7-9 days. In order to do that, she has her setup dialed. Check out the full list below for those curious as to what an ultra-endurance racer carries on their bike.
Radar
Specialized Knows How to Make Fun Of Itself
These videos are too good.
Reportage
Lael Wilcox’s Tour Divide Specialized Epic Hardtail
If you have ever ridden with Lael you know that she would ride a rusted beach cruiser until both tires were flat and the wheels imploded and would still be smiling bigger than anyone about it, but if Specialized is sponsoring you with bikes for races, you might as well indulge in some cool shit.
Radar
The Specialized Sequoia Gets New Paint and Expert Build Part Upgrades this Year
The Specialized Sequoia namesake is one of heritage and for 2018, this popular model gets a few upgrades, most noticeably, new paint designs. As for the Sequoia Expert build kit, it now comes spec’d with a complete SRAM Force group, and a more capable PRO 2 allow seat post, which fits bikepacking bags more easily (safely). For pricing, availability and more information, head to your local Specialized dealer. See the full build kit and bike line below.
Reportage
The Jim Merz Edition Specialized Sequoia
In its time, the Sequoia has had three authors. Three designers whose own vision of this bicycle’s intent would be realized as a large-scale production model. The Sequoia opened the doors for those with a love for touring. It was an off-the-shelf, do-it-yourself, vessel to the outdoors and freedom. You can wax poetic all day about the joys of touring and how in the 1980’s, it was all the rage in America. Touring forever changed the face of cycling.
Radar
Team Specialized Rocket Espresso Red Hook Crit Allez Allez Allez
Photos by Chris Riekert
The Red Hook Crit Brooklyn is coming this weekend, April 29th. Each year, the designers at Specialized look to outfit their racers with limited edition Allez track bikes. This year, the design was inspired by the process and design of the BMW art car series with a composition made by puzzle-pieced decals on top of the frame’s paint as a collaboration with Rocket Espresso, the team’s co-sponsor.
This process makes these uniquely-designed bikes production-ready, unlike previous versions of the RHC Allez race frames. If you’re looking to acquire one of these, the bad news is the track frames are for the athletes only, but there will be 300 road frames available in July. See the Allez track frames in action this weekend at the Red Hook Crit and check out more photos below. Thanks to Dylan Buffington for sending these over!
Radar
The New Specialized Sequoia in Montana
Here’s a quick short from Specialized, featuring the new Sequoia and some overnighting in Montana. Our gallery of the revamped Sequoia got quite a bit of discussion going. At the time we only had some catalog photos to look at, but all the details are now up at Specialized.
Reportage
Call it a Comeback: Specialized Brings Back the Sequoia and its Versatile Design
The Specialized Sequoia was first designed by Tim Neenan in the early 1980’s. Later, Jim Merz improved upon the design of this versatile bicycle. While the 1980’s steel Sequoia had a certain panache, the aluminum models of the 2000’s somehow lost their sex appeal. Maybe it was the industry at the time, or maybe it was the “hybrid-looking” silhouette of the bike, but whatever the reason, the Sequoia died out in the 2000’s. In its time however, the steel Sequoia from the 1980’s received a cult-like following.
“In the early 2000’s, Bicycling Magazine asked several industry luminaries what they thought the best bike ever built was. Grant Petersen, founder of Rivendell Bicycles, nominated the 1983 Specialized Sequoia.” Adventure Cycling, August 2003.
Fast forward to modern times. The cycling industry is enamored with the outdoors. Bikepacking, touring, bicycle camping and S24 rides are all the rage. Hell, even Adventure Cycling is celebrating the Bikecentennial this year! All the brands have taken a stab at designing the best-suited bike for the aforementioned activities. While Specialized wasn’t by any means the first to the party in terms of “adventure bicycles,” they have staked their claim to the movement.
Radar
Specialized’s Crown Jewels x Deck of Cards RHC London Track Crit Bike
Jon Takao, the footwear designer at Specialized looked to the royal family to inspire the latest Red Hook Crit track bike. This black and gold bike is an homage to the Crown Jewels, the gates of Buckingham, a deck of cards and believe it or not, Alice in Wonderland. Check out the BTS video above and a few photos below.
Radar
Ask A Founder : Mike Sinyard of Specialized Bicycles
Mission Workshop hosted Mike Sinyard of Specialized Bicycles in an Ask a Founder event in October. Here’s a 15 minute highlight reel, featuring some of the key moments in the discussion…
