Mondraker F-Podium RR

The Spaniards combined the purebred racing XC F-Podium with the downcountry DC model and the result is this crossover, which should handle everything from single trails behind the house to attacking the first sections of the race. The unique Forward geometry can be found here as on all Mondrakers , as well as the Zero suspension system, only in the updated latest version.

FRAME

The three bulls in this test use four-pin suspension or over-leveraged single-pin suspension. But not the Mondraker, whose silencer runs in the twin-link Zero system. It is about the so-called a virtual pivot that gives designers the opportunity to better design the movement at individual points of the stroke. At the same time, the shock absorber is placed very low in the frame for a lower center of gravity . Two small rubber fenders protect it from the elements, but due to its location, it is quite difficult to measure sag on it. The upper frame tube looks thin in the photo from the side, but when viewed from above it is quite wide. It contributes to the high rigidity of the frame, as well as the reinforcement on the rear structure. You will find a holder for only one basket per bottle. However, there are additional screws on the upper frame tube for attaching a tool or spare inner tube.

COMPONENTS

The suspension is from the top line of Fox Factory in the form of a 34 Step-Cast fork and a FLOAT shock absorber . Both ends of the F-Podium RR bike offer three-stage slow compression damping adjustment via a single remote control on the handlebars . The suspension can thus be tightened in stages or fully opened with a single press. In addition, fully open damping can be fine-tuned on the fork in a few steps. Since the remote locking takes the traditional place of controlling the telescopic seat post, it is moved to the top of the handlebars. It takes a while to get used to. The GX Eagle mechanical kit is upgraded with X1 upper kit cranks and an X01 derailleur. Braking is handled by two-piston SRAM Level brakes. The wheels are carbon from Mavic and shod in 120 tpi Maxxis Recon Race tires . The rest of the equipment is under the direction of OnOff's own brand of components.

RIDE

Most bikes in this category replace one of the pivots on the rear structure with carbon strut suspension. Even the twin-link system, which is usually the domain of bikes with a higher stroke, works well here. After trying different settings, we settled on a fairly high 28-30 percent sag, which helped the rear wheel follow the ground. This increased not only comfort, but also traction, and thus also speed . The disadvantage is that the bike sways more when pedaling. Therefore, we quite often reached for the lever to tighten the shock absorber. Already in medium mode, you get rid of most of the rocking, which is ideal for hiking or smooth flowtrails. At the same time, the rear wheel still reacts to larger bumps. The fork handles these larger shocks better than the RockShox SID installed on the other bikes in this test . With repeated impacts in quick succession, it behaves more disciplined and sinks less when overloaded. The disadvantage is that it is not so sensitive to the smallest irregularities. Mondraker gave the muffler a medium hard factory tuning. This gives the fork a good second, but even so, we wondered if the softer one wouldn't show the bike more. You could inflate the shock absorber to a higher pressure with the same sensitive operation and at the same time you would reduce the rocking. However, it would fit less well with the fork, so everything has its pros and cons.

Mondraker is one of the pioneers in the field of geometry, and this bike with a long wheelbase (1208 mm on the L) and a 66.5-degree head angle placed on the XC is proof of that . The result is an extremely stable bike that holds like on rails in turns. The relatively low-slung center and high-quality tires also help. As the only bike in this test, it does not have electronic shifting, but it is also a reminder of how well classic cables can work. It shifts exactly when you press the lever, and not when the shift itself decides that it is the most suitable moment for the chain to hit the leading edges of the pinion . We also like the Mavic wheels, which, thanks to their width, add extra volume to the tires and perfectly strike a compromise between stiffness and comfort.

DICTIONARY

• TPI - How many threads per inch (threads per inch) the rubber cord contains. The higher the number, the more flexible the cord and the lighter the jacket.
• WHEELBASE - The distance between the axles of the wheels. The longer the wheelbase, the more stable the bike is at the expense of agility.

DETAILS

INTERNAL MANAGEMENT

• Cabling routed through the head assembly looks cleaner, but is more difficult to service. However, the benefit is that everything is better protected in the event of a fall.

MECHANICS STILL LIVES

• Nowadays, everyone wants electronics, that's clear. But quality mechanical shifting still works flawlessly, and this bike is proof of that.

NUMBER OF SETTINGS

• The fork has slow compression damping adjustable in three steps – fully open, damped and damped. However, the open mode can still be fine-tuned in fine steps to find the ideal ratio of support and sensitivity.

PROS

• Geometry adds a sea of confidence
• A very capable bike in difficult terrain

CONS

• The suspension is not that sensitive
• A damper that is more difficult to access is more difficult to adjust

Verdict

A fast bike that shines especially on the downhill sections of the circuit.

Source: Sportmedia