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So it 'only' took me 6 years of deliberation in the end, but I've finally bought a new(er) bike! I'm having a little trouble identifying it though and was hoping someone on here may be able to help.
The bike was sold to me as a 2014 Specialized Epic Carbon Comp 29, but I've not been able to find it in any archive catalogues or even another one the same on Google images. Someone on a Faceache page reckoned it to be a 2012 model, but I've been similarly unsuccessful searching on that.
I live abroad and haven't actually seen the bike in person yet, I had a friend collect it for me and the first time I see it will be when we meet for a ride in Llandegla when I come home for Christmas. I've asked him to check the frame number for me and he ound a sticker under the BB shell with a barcode and the number TAZ312F0320. He said there might be a couple of digits before that but they're covered over by the frame graphics, which seems slightly odd.
A couple of other questions I have:
Does anyone know the seatpost clamp size? I wanted to upgrade to a Hope collar with the integral cable guide for the dropper post. I originally ordered a 34.9 but, when my friend tried it on the bike, it came up too small. He sent it back for me and exchanged it for a 36.4 but this is apparently also too small!
I plan to, in slow time, replace the drivetrain with M8000 Shimano XT, as the current mix of Shimano and SRAM (not to mention the scuffed cranks!) irks my OCD. I've ordered up a 40/30/22 chainset and corresponding front mech, as the weight difference between the triple and double was negligible. I'm now wondering, however, as the front mech appears to bolt to a fixed point rather than being a band that can slide up and down the seat tube, will it be able to swing high enough to reach and clear the outer chainring?
Possibly a respray then?
https://www.bicyclebluebook.com/BicycleDatabase.aspx?make=741#Mountain
A starting point
2014 bikes
nd the Epic Carbon comp
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/epic-comp-carbon-29/p/49683?color=154204-49683
The support above the shock looks much thicker and closer to the 2012
https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Specialized/Epic-Comp-29,6666
2013 model?
https://www.bike-treks.co.uk/516815/products/2013_specialized_epic_29_fsr_comp_carbon_large.aspx
I confess, I hadn't even thought about it having been resprayed. The 2012 bike you've linked to is an aluminium model though, whereas mine is carbon.
malgrey, that seems to be the one, thank you!
No worries. Nice bike!
Entirely plausible that the owner confused the year in which it was purchased, to the model year.
Honestly, with newer wide range cassettes (I mean 36 is considered as a small-ish big cog nowadays) I'd cancel the triple and go with a double anyway - you'll get a 38:24 probably and the ratios will be almost the same as your triple with less duplication of ratios in the middle.
Someone will be along shortly to tell you to go with a 1x setup, but that's your call.
The triple has already been despatched from Rose in Germany. It was only after ordering that it dawned on me that there may be an issue. 🙁 I plan to pair it with an 11-40 cassette, and then only because it's the smallest in the range. I'm well aware that 1x is the current vogue, but I like what I like. Some people will no doubt be horrified to learn that I've also bought bar ends for it! 😀
I plan to pair it with an 11-40 cassette, and then only because it’s the smallest in the range. I’m well aware that 1x is the current vogue, but I like what I like.
How big is your mech? that is a very big range to be taking up there (not mentioning quite how many duplicate gears you have in there!!)
I haven't bought a rear mech yet, but it'll be a Shimano M8000 XT SGS when I do. Shimano list this as having a max sprocket size of 40t when used on a 3x11 set up.
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/deorext-m8000/RD-M8000-SGS.html
That being said, I run short cage M732 XT rear mech on my retro MTB with a 12-28 cassette and 46/36/24 rings and a short cage 5800 105 rear mech on my road bike with an 11-28 cassette and 52/36 rings - both of those configurations 'should' have long cage rear mechs and I've never had any issues with either, so I may opt for a GS mech.
As I say, the only reason for using the 11-40 cassette is not because I want a dinner-plate low gear, but because that is the smallest Shimano produce in the M8000 group; if they did an 11-36, an 11-34 or even an 11-32 then I'd use that instead.
That is OK then, 3x11 wow I didn't think they would actually bother!! The reason they don't go smaller is you will get more range from 2x11 at that point, let us know when you get round to using them all 😉
22x40 will get you up a vertical wall or spin your legs at 10k rpm!
Were not RS forks all black by 2014? It looks a lightly older model to me - but I'm no Spesh fiend.
I wouldn't call 1x "en vogue" nor current, I've had it for 9 years on my bikes and it probably started before that. It's just great if you try it.
But nothing wrong with a triple per se and in isolation, I just find it clunky and detrimental to the riding experience in comparison but that's just me.
Lovely bike mate.👍
Ride the triple as you have ordered it and see how you get on.
I've gone 1x12 but there is a good argument to go 1 or 2x 11 at some point if you feel like it.
There is no right or wrong, just enjoy!😋