Product Manager Garth’s, Sommet 297 CRX
‘Currently I’m on a Sommet 297 CRX. I love how easy it is to adapt to different styles of riding. I switch between an air and a coil shock depending on what I’m doing. With the flip chip in the high position and an air shock fitted, the bike feels more lively and responsive, which is great for fast, flowy trails. Pop the flip chip in the low position and fit a coil shock, and it transforms into a more stable, planted feeling bike that eats up steeper, choppier trails and flatters your skills.’
'The Sommet CRX comes with a great spec as standard, so, apart from switching between air and coil shock, I haven’t felt the need to change much. The Hayes Dominion A4 brakes feel incredible with a nice light feel at the levers and loads of power behind them. The SRAM GX T-Type drivetrain shifts flawlessly even under load and makes for a really clean set-up, which I love.
A few personal touches include switching to a 170mm dropper to give a bit more clearance when the saddle is set to my preferred height and a set of Revgrips, which have a bit of float forwards and backwards on the bars that helps absorb vibrations and reduces arm pump.'
Key specs:
- Fox 38 & Float X2 Factory Series suspension
- SRAM GX T-Type 1x12 speed wireless drivetrain
- Powerful Haye Dominion A4 4 piston hydraulic disc brakes
- Nukeproof Horizon V2 tubeless ready wheelset
- Maxxis Assegai & Minion DHR II tyres
Garth is mostly interested in the gravity aspect of mountain biking, whether it’s flowy trail centres, rough natural trails or uplift days at the bike park. He also really enjoys the occasional gravel ride and is still obsessed with BMX, which he’s been doing for most of his life.
He also once caused a ‘code red’ in Target during a team trip to Sea Otter.
Favourite place to ride - 'can’t beat a summer session at my local, near Bangor. Lots of short runs to session with mates, plenty of jumps and a nice easy climb back to the top. So many good times here!'
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Marketing Manager AJ’s, custom painted Venon EVO-RS
‘Jonny at Elite Refinish did me a solid on this one with the paint job. For the type of riding I do with a group of mates, the Venon EVO-RS is perfect. Fast enough to ride the local chaingang, but with a more relaxed geometry for longer rides. I ride the Venon EVO because it's so versatile and have been lucky enough to test various iterations of the frame throughout its development'.
Key specs:
- Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset
- Prime Primavera aero handlebars (38cm)
- FSA SMR stem (110mm)
- Prime Primavera Shorty saddle
- Prime Primavera 44 wheelset
AJ is an out-and-out roadie. However, he did once ‘send it big’ on a nightime staff mountain bike ride at Davagh Forest.
Favourite place to ride - the Algarve, Portugal.
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R&D Engineer Chris’ Sommet.
‘For me, this is a dream build when it comes to a race orientated enduro bike. It's our Sommet, but spec’d out to be an ultimate racing machine.’
Key Specs:
- Rockshox Zeb Ultimate
- Rockshox Super Deluxe Coil Shock
- Hayes Dominion Brakes
- SRAM XO T-Type Drivetrain
- 200mm dropper post
- 220mm Hope Rotors
- Fizik Saddle
When he’s not at work staring lovingly at kinematic data, Chris focuses his riding around Enduro racing. He’s a local legend that competes in multiple national enduro series and EWS rounds. He's also recently dipped his toes into some adventure racing, competing in both the Trans Maderia and Trans Variata.
Favourite place to ride - Finale and Donard Forest.
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Design Engineer Orlando’s VT-01 Prototype
‘This is one of five VT-01 prototype test mules in existence. Most of the parts are stock bits that we had lying around the R&D centre, but almost everything on the frame is a bit special’.
Key specs:
- Rockshox Vivid Air Ultimate 225x75mm
- Rockshox Boxxer World cup 29” 200mm
- SRAM XO DH Cranks
- SRAM XO 10-52t cassette
- SRAM XO derailleur & shifter
- NP Horizon mullet wheelset
Orlando mainly rides enduro, however, he’s no stranger to taking the VT-01 abroad to either Whistler or the Alps.
He once tried to do a backflip and ended up with the biggest bruise on his a#~e cheek we’ve ever seen.
Favourite place to ride - Whistler or the Alps.
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R&D Engineer, Ben's, raw carbon Vitesse EVO.
‘This is the OG Vitesse EVO prototype in raw carbon. With a few tweaks I’ve managed to get the weight down to around 6.8kg.’
For me the Vitesse EVO is the perfect bike. It's one of the best bikes I have designed and is my go-to for that perfect balance of speed, lightweight and comfort’.
Key Specs:
- The first ever sample of the Prime Primavera aero handlebar
- Mechanical Dura Ace
- Prime Primavera Shorty saddle
- Prototype Prime Primavera 44s
When he’s not in the office fantasising about carbon layups, Ben can be found testing and developing our dropbar bikes in the hills of the South Downs National Park.
Fun fact. He’s had a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch everyday for the past two years.
Favourite place to ride - Barcelona.
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Senior Product Manager, Jodie's pimped-out Substance.
‘This is one of those see what I can find in the garage type of bike builds. It's our gravel adventure bike, the Substance, but with a twist...AKA the Pubstance'.
Key specs:
- Prime 650b wheels
- Hope carbon seatpost
- A new, prototype saddle that we're testing
- Zipp Service Course stem
- Microshit Advent groupset
- Sram Rival 1x cranks
When he's not riding this bike to the pub, Jodie can be found riding a mixture of road, gravel and XC. He's a big fan of Co-op's own-brand cookies, and loves a sprint effort during our Friday lunch Zwift rides.
Favourite place to ride - The French Alps.
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MTB Product Manager, Ben's original E-Mythique LT Test Mule.
As a small team of bike riders, when we're not in the office we're on our bikes. Testing and developing products that we love to ride.
Throughout January we're going to be sharing the bikes that we're currently riding and testing with you.
Kicking things off with nobody better than, Ben. He's our MTB Product Manager and this is his OG E-Mythique LT test mule.
‘This is the first ever E-Mythique LT test mule. However, I am running it with a coil shock from FAST which gels great with the bike. I find it gives even more traction and confidence for those dodgy high lines'.
'I have also added some big 220mm rotors front and rear to keep things sharp on the brakes and pretty fussy about the bar roll also, I like them rolled right back!’.
Key Specs:
- Vitus E-Mythique LT V2 Prototype
- Bafang M510 Drive System & 630Wh battery
- Rockshox Zeb Ultimate 170mm Fork
- FAST Fenix Evo Enduro Coil Shock - 500lb spring
- Shimano SLX Drivetrain
- Shimano SLX Brakes with 220mm Rotors Front & Rear
- Nukeproof Neutron Wheelset with Cushcore Pro in the rear
- Maxxis Assegai & DHR II Tyres
- Fizik Ridon Saddle
- Brand X Ascend Dropper
Ben lives and breathes two things, mountain bikes and Ben Affleck movies.
He mainly rides and races enduro on either a normal bike or ebike. He also loves a bit of downhill and has been known to don some lycra from time-to-time.
Favourite place to ride - Locally, Ballycastle. Abroad, Morzine is hard to beat.