The latest addition to the family, the Chute was going to be a sort of 'hardcore XC' bike, but it's turned out to be completely freeridey. No problems there though, because as freeride bikes go they don't get much better.

On the Nannerch DH run (photo by Lee Collis)

Just how good is this bike? Well, it went to Morzine this year and I'm sure I was downhilling faster than I was on the GT last year. Ok, on the straight, bumpy sections the full-sus was quicker, but this thing inspires so much confidence through the twisty stuff that you end up hitting the bumpy stuff at full tilt anyway, fast enough to get blurred vision.

In its full black glory

The really impressive thing about the bike is that it's so sensitive to any input, yet it's still stable and predictable. The fact that the frame's quite small for me is a help I guess: flying drop-offs are effected with a subtle movement backwards rather than the jerk that XC bikes need. On drop-ins, the fore-aft balance of the bike is perfect.

As the kit goes, I'm pretty happy with it all. The Dirt Jumper 2s are stiff and solid, and super plush, if a little underdamped with the stock oil. The 24Seven bars are huge, making for easy but responsive handling. Two rings and a bashring is good - I'd prefer a single ring, but my back won't cope with pushing those gears on a bike this small. (For a two-ring shifter trick, check this out)

The DMR Speedguide is something I can't make up my mind about. I had to bend it slightly so it didn't foul the tyre, and the mech pulls the floating roller across a little too much, so in low gears on the middle ring, you get noise as the chain is pulled sideways off the chainring.

Most of the rest is good reliable stuff - XT, Avid discs, RooX post. The weak link is the ISIS system - it's plenty strong and stiff, but the bearings are small and the BB has gone rumbly really quickly. When it dies, it'll be time for a three-piece crank set. And it's dying fairly quickly - I've stripped a crank, a crank bolt and a BB axle during dismantling/fitting of this stuff. When it next comes apart, it won't go back together again.

Basically - I bloody love it. The best handling bike I've ever ridden for the fast and/or technical stuff.

Current Setup

Frame: Kona Chute 17" (Kona DH 7005 custom tubing)
Fork: Marzocchi Dirt Jumper 2
Wheels: Atomlab Trailpimp, sometimes with Syncros Lil' Snapper on GT MTN disc front
Tyres: Specialized Roller Pro 24x2.5/Nokian Gazzaloddi 26x2.3 or Intense DH 24x3.0
Brakes: Avid CPS disc
Brake levers: Shimano Deore XT
Rear mech: Shimano Deore XT
Shifters: Shimano Deore XT RapidFire
Chainset/BB: On-One Reetard
Headset: FSA Pig DH
Stem: 24Seven
Bar: 24Seven
Seatpin: RooX S4
Saddle: WTB SST
Pedals: Planet X Clingon sealed