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Is it possible for a bike to be too good for its own good? Where it’s so capable that it pulls you into terrain and features beyond the category its predecessors lived in? That’s the question Morgan Taylor poses in this review of the 2023 Rocky Mountain Element. Read on to see if swapping out parts ruins this bike’s character, or if it transcends categorization while Morgan rediscovers backyard singletrack…
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Yes, we’re already thinking about the forthcoming winter months. With each crisp morning we’re awaiting snowfall in our beloved Rocky Mountains here in Santa Fe. That means, more time for fatbike rides. There was a time when we thought fatbikes would disappear from the major brands but to our surprise, we just received a press kit showcasing Rocky Mountain’s new fatty.
The Blizzard is Rocky Mountain’s flagship fatbike. Originally sold as an aluminum chassis, the 2022 Blizzard now comes in carbon and has been updated to include a variety of new frame features and specs, making this model even more aligned for year-round touring purposes.
Specs:
-Fits up to 27.5×4.5 and 26×5.0 tires
-Longer, slacker geometry for added stability
-Integrated chainstay and downtube protection
-Suspension compatible, up to a 100mm fork with 27.5″ wheels and 120mm fork with 26″ wheels
-Two bottle cage mounts on the fork, plus two on the frame
-Bento box mount on the top tube
-Pannier rack compatible
-Dropper post compatible
-Sizing: S, M, L, XL
-SRAM UDH compatible
Retail is set at two pricepoints:
Blizzard Carbon 50: $4,099 CAD / $3,299 USD
Blizzard Carbon 30: $3,399 CAD / $2,699 USD
See more at Rocky Mountain.
Each year I like to look at our content in its entirety and reflect back on bikes that took you, the readers of this website, by storm. Back in the mid to late 2000’s it was all fixed gears, then came the gravel bikes, the tourers, the MTBs, and the kooky, eccentric builds you’ve come to enjoy checking out in full-res detail. We’ve got some incredibly talented individuals contributing to this site and their hard work is something I cannot express my gratitude for enough. Going back through the 2020 content here at the Radavist, I am amazed at what we were able to accomplish all things considered.
For this year’s Top Beautiful Bicycles of 2020, we have compiled a great list of ten bikes, ranging from rim brakes to fixed gears, basket bikes, and more. This list is based on web traffic, commentary, and social media chatter, and each of these builds really brought something unique to our content. We omitted bike reviews here but included production bikes. Oh and I hope you like baskets!
Let’s jump right in!
The almighty basket bike. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Doesn’t need flashy components. Just build it out for practical uses… like wallrides!
Earlier this year, Bailey got the idea to convert this older Rocky Mountain Hammer frame into a basket bike. His intent with the bike was to have a no-nonsense, do-it-all beater that he could lock up anywhere and not worry about it. Yet, because it’s Bailey, there was a twist to this bike’s use…
Rocky Mountain gives its newest model, the Slayer, likes to go fast. Watch as the bike takes on some beautiful landscapes.
Rocky Mountain has something up their sleeves and I like it!
Beyond Mountain Bikes with the Rocky Mountain Solo 70 – Morgan Taylor
Photos and words by Morgan Taylor
When you think Rocky Mountain, you think mountain bikes. That’s where their focus lies and for that reason you may not even be aware that they’ve made a handful of drop bar bikes over their nearly 40 years in business.
The Solo has been in the BC-based brand’s lineup a long time – as both a cyclocross and a road race platform – but this most recent iteration skews more toward fat tires, cargo carrying, and, well, slotting a bike into the current hot niche in the drop bar world. It’s a step that, in my opinion, aligns this bike more with the others in the current Rocky Mountain lineup.
New bikes often launch with a video, and this one’s great! Join Sam Schultz and his pup Pancho as they travel from Missoula to Arizona for a winter escape with the new Rocky Mountain Solo.
The Solo has been a drop bar bike in Rocky Mountain’s lineup for years, and the most recent version is slanted toward dirt roads and getting shreddy with clearance for 700×40 or 27.5×2.2″ tires, dropper post routing, a 1x-specific frame, and a carbon fork with anything cage mounts. Morgan just got one in for review, so you can drop any questions for him in the comments.
Hit the jump for a few more photos, and get all the details on the new Solo at Rocky Mountain.
… is a truly Canadian partnership.
This is one hell of a throwback. Wade Simmons aka the Godfather of freeride, a custom-built, one-off retro Rocky Mountain “Pipedream” with modern components, and a return to some of the classic Vancouver spots from Wade’s early days as a pioneer of the freeride movement. Creek gaps, stair gaps, roof drops… just watch it!
Perspective is what makes us who we are, thus affecting how we ride. Rocky Mountain looks at perspective in their latest video, featuring Wade Simmons and Jesse Melamed on their new Pipeline.
Sun Valley, Idaho has some ripping trails, as evident in the latest from Rocky Mountain, featuring Thomas Vanderham and Sam Schultz.
Vernor made some killer video and photos for the new Rocky Mountain Altitude. Check out some beautiful photos from the Los Angeles area below.
The BC Bike race is no easy undertaking, so it’s easy to see why Rocky Mountain is so proud of their team’s accomplishments. See more at Rocky Mountain.
From scree to singletrack, the Rockies can provide excessive stoke, even if it’s just from our computer screens. Nice one, Rocky Mountain!
Rocky Mountain welcomes Vaea Verbeeck to their riding roster and this video proves why. I’m so stoked to ride after watching this!
Rocky Mountain’s Wade Simmons is a bit obsessed with the sterilizing of the North Shore’s trail system. Looks like he’s got some nice equipment under his legs too!
