You are looking at Matt Beer’s new XCO and Marathon race bike.
As the reigning Absa Cape Epic and SA Marathon Champion Matt Beers is currently one of the most celebrated endurance riders in South Africa. Together with French teammate Jordan Sarrou, Matt nailed his first Absa Cape Epic overall title back in October, on a Specialized Epic. With a relatively short turnaround period since the last Cape Epic, Matt hasn’t had a lot of time (or the need) to make too many setup changes to his bike. He is however running a different saddle and what may be a prototype rear tyre. Matt is refreshingly transparent with his setup and was more than happy to share his numbers with us. Here you go:
The Champ.
Matt is 1.96m tall, weighs 81kg and rides a size XL Specialized S-Works Epic that has a reach number of 495mm.Matt runs the standard RockShox SID Ultimate fork (100mm) with 100psi for his weight. As a former motocross racer, he is particular about his suspension setup and regularly tweaks the clickers for the conditions he will be racing. “I’ll regularly change the clickers to whatever feels good for the track and conditions”. Matt runs between 180 and 190psi in the rear shock and for his riding style prefers a slower rebound setting. With 5 possible settings (from firm to soft) Matt mostly runs the Brain Fade in the fully open position, fully closed or in the middle setting. On a rough marathon course like at Tankwa Trek he runs the Brain Fade fully open. On XCO courses he will fine-tune things a little more to suit the track – for example, at last weekend’s XCO he ran it two clicks from open. Talking to him I get the feeling it’s something he pays more attention to than other riders might.He uses the SRAM X-Sync 2 chainring in either a 36T or 38T, a Quarq Power Meter and 175mm SRAM XX1 carbon cranks.Matt is using the SRAM AXS wireless electronic rear derailleur.On the 38T chainring Matt will usually use the 10-52T cassette. On the 36T chainring Matt will run either the 10-52T or 10-50T SRAM Eagle cassette. #OilSlickFTWLook X-Track pedals.That’s a pretty sassy race whip!RockShox Reverb AXS dropper with 125mm of travel.He runs 20mm of spacers under the stem. Without shifting and dropper cables the cockpit is pretty clean. SRAM Level Ultimate 2-piston brakes with 160mm rotors front and rear. Custom top cap for the man with the coolest name in the paddock! Matt runs two Sahmurai Sword plug kits, foam grips and 750mm S-Works Carbon 10mm rise bars with a 6-degree upsweep and 8-degree backsweep. The stem is 110mm long set with a 6-degree drop.Stats by Wahoo.With pedals, power meter, plugs, dropper and cages the bike is 10.85kg. Not bad at all!Roval Control SL wheels with 2.35″ Renegade Control T5 front and a Renegade GRID T5 (might be a prototype) rear. Pressures are 23psi front and 24.5psi rear. The GRID denotes a tougher casing.Specialized Romin Evo 143mm saddle.Keep it pinned Matt!
