COLE’S SPECIALZIED STUMPJUMPER EVO ALLOY

FRAME

Stumjumper EVO Alloy
Size: S4
Weight: 37.9lbs (with pedals and swat tools)
Geo settings – Headset: Middle Dropout: Low
Cascade Components Link

When the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo was released, I was lucky enough to spend a few days up in Bellingham riding the bike for the launch and then took it back home to review on my local trails. I remembered the bike just being jack of all trades: It felt great in the steeps, but also made more mellow terrain super fun to play around on.

When my Norco Range frame had a warranty issue, I knew I needed to make a change and get a bike that was better suited to everyday riding. At that time there was a solid sale going on, and the Alloy Stumpy was too good to pass up!

So far this frame has been a solid choice for my riding zone here in Spokane Washington. We have a wide variety of dirt types as well as trails that go from all berms to gnarly rock rolls with big compressions. I found that with the 170mm fork, running the geo adjustments in the low setting on the dropout and middle on the headset gave me the ride characteristics I was after. One of the only things I needed to play around with were the stem spacers, typically I run a very tall stack height, but on this frame I found my weight to be further off the back than I wanted. This was partially due to a huge change in size compared to my Range, which was an XL at 510mm reach versus the relatively compact 475mm of this Stumpy Evo in S4. Once I got my bar height sorted though, I started to feel right at home, and am enjoying the easier maneuverability of the shorter reach for day-to-day riding.

SUSPENSION:

Float X Performance 225psi .4 reducer R8
Fox Factory 38 170mm HSC4 LSC9 – 92 PSI 4 reducers (rebound changes all the time)

The stock Float X has really surprised me. Sure, not having adjustable LSC is not optimal, but I do not feel that the shock holds me or the bike back at all. Prior to the Cascade Components link, I was struggling to obtain enough support at the end of the stroke without having the shock feel harsh due to the amount of volume reducers I had in. Moving from the .8 to the .4 with the CC link made a huge difference across the entire stroke of the shock, and left me in a happy place.

My trusty Fox 38 Factory fork was recycled from the Range. This fork has been super consistent (well, until recently) and works very well in just about every scenario. Recently, I have been having some issues with the rebound damping not getting slow enough, so I think it is time for a rebuild, but it’s no surprise. I got the fork early in 2022 and have yet to do anything but a few lower leg services.

I did end up running a bit less pressure in the fork on the Stumpy EVO than I had on the Range, but other than that my settings really have not changed much at all. Over this summer I was experimenting with running more compression damping instead of relying on the air spring for more support. I have found a sweet spot, but I do consistently faff with the dials, most likely for a psychological gain rather than pure physical performance.

DRIVETRAIN

SRAM GX AXS Derailleur
GX Carbon Crank
XX1 32T Chainring
XX1 50T Cassette
XX1 Chain
CeramicSpeed BB
Cane Creek Aluminum Collar
Cascade Components Full Chain Guide

Everything here but the BB and the Chain Guide was taken from the Range frame, and they have been nothing but consistent. That AXS Derailleur is absolutely beat but keeps on shifting reasonably well. I’m quite amazed that it has lasted since the summer of 2021. The CeramicSpeed BB is a product that is on the bike for a long term review. I wish I could say that I can feel a difference, but at this point I really can not feel any less drag over the cheap Sram BB I had before. However, the ability to service it – as well as the lifetime warranty – for sure piques my interest, as I plan to keep this frame for a very long time and imagine it’ll eventually become a spare bike for friends once it’s served its lifespan as my personal daily driver.

I was initially struggling with dropped chains quite frequently, and was sick of pulling over mid-trail to yank it out from behind my cranks. I would have to guess the well used derailleur does not help with retention. but the CC upper and lower guide solved the problem at a fraction of the price of replacing the groupset. The added security of the lower bash guard is rad as well. All said, this is a durable and fuss-free drivetrain setup that fades into the background for me.

BRAKES

TRP DHR EVO
SRAM HS2 200mm Rotor F/R

I do not have enough good things to say about the TRP DHR Evo brakes, they just work and keep on working! I have yet to ever have an issue with brake fade or inconsistent power. And if you ever have a spongy feeling, a Shimano-style lever bleed is a 5 minute job and usually sorts it. I went well over a year before doing a full bleed, waiting for the point of “I think I should do this”, even though the bite point was still spot on. I would say every few months I give them a top off just to be safe, but it’s rarely provoked.

Overall I am over the moon with these. When I build up the Range as my DH bike, I plan to pull these from the Stumpy and use them on the DH build. I plan to give the TRP Trail EVOs a try, since this is a “trail” bike at the end of the day.

COCKPIT

OneUp Components Carbon Bar:
– 35mm clamp, 30mm Rise
Title 40mm Stem
DMR Deathgrips Race Compound

For me, the bar and grip set up is super important for confidence on the bike. I first tried the OneUp Components bars in 2021 and have not looked back. In fact I have a spare set to use on test bikes that come in. They are stiff enough to not feel like a noodle under heavy compressions, but do not beat your hands up on long descents. With the Stumpy build I picked up a fresh bar, as the original ones had been through the ringer and I figured it was as good a time as any to retire them.

Race compound DMR Deathgrips have been a staple in my cockpit setup since they were first released. Yeah they wear out fast, but as a rider that enjoys riding without gloves they freaking rock! For me these tick every box and need no changes or improvements. A Title alloy stem holds everything in place, with nice looks and no-fuss performance.

DROPPER | SADDLE

OneUp V2 240mm Dropper (34in/86.3cm center BB to saddle)
SQLab 611 Saddle

If you can’t tell by the photos of the bike, that dropper is huge! The 240mm OneUp Components dropper is excessive for most, but with my giraffe-like legs it is needed. The post is slammed all the way to the lowest point of insertion with the stock 240mm of drop left untouched. It did take some coaxing to get the internal cable guides to play nice, but it was time well spent. I can finally leave the post in one position for all types of riding.

I never thought I was in need of a specific saddle as I thought my sit bones were pretty narrow. It was not until I tried some wider saddles that I realized your undercarriage is not supposed to go numb on climbs… I tried out an SQ Lab saddle when visiting the Loam Wolf HQ this summer, and immediately realized it was going to solve my problem. Since getting the 611 I have yet to have any discomfort. It was a big splurge price-wise, but I know the value is there. If you have never measured your sit bones I urge you to do so. SQ Labs has a free kit you can order. Much to my surprise, I found out that my sit bones are actually on the wider side of the spectrum, contrary to my slightly narrower than average frame otherwise.

WHEELS | TIRES

Elite GnarTrail Carbon Wheels
Elite Frequency Hub
Maxxis DHR2 DD 3C MaxTerra
Maxxis DHF DD 3C MaxTerra
CushCore Pro F/R

I do not want to give too much away about these wheels before the review drops, but I will give a few highlights. I found these to be super stiff vertically with just a hint of compliance laterally. Compared to my SpokeX Wheelset, they really drive a lot of feedback up through my arms. On long Silver Mountain Bike Park laps it created a fair amount of fatigue, but on trail rides where runs are shorter it has not been an issue. The Frequency hubs are legit: not quite the engagement feel of an I9 Hydra, but they are dang close. They sound pretty rad as well, similar to the I9 but a little higher pitch.

Since discovering CushCores I have always run a set of the Pro’s. I find that I can keep the tire pressure I want without having to worry about blowing the tire off the rim. For me it is a weight penalty I am happy to accept. CushCore recently sent me over the new Trail version to try out – I am hopeful that I will still get that bead retention but with less of a weight penalty.

OTHER

Garmin Edge 530 w/ k-edge mount

SWAT Storage Contains:

• 2x C02
• plugs/bacon
• multi tool
• chain tool
• tire lever
• zip ties
• emergency snack bar
• goggle wipe
• gorilla tape
• hopes and prayers.

Since having the Garmin on my bike paired with the watch I can keep my heart rate in check, ultimately getting me more miles on rides. Visually being able to see it spike is a great reminder to back off a touch and let it recover. Being a rider with climb anxiety, this has greatly helped put miles on every ride, so it is a valuable tool.

With the Stumpy being the first bike I have had with internal storage, I was stoked to get it loaded with essentials. I still use a Evoc water pack, but getting more weight off my back and onto the bike has been a big win, I do not need to think about packing essentials for both big days and afternoon laps. It has taken a few tries to get the items inside to not bang off the aluminum, but with some precisely placed folder paper towels I made it happen.

Final Thoughts:

At the end of the day a bike is a bike, and it gets us out on the trails. What makes a bike special or unique is how you set it up for your skill level, terrain and preferences.

Since building this frame in August I have found a new love for trails I did not enjoy on the Range, without sacrificing what I could ride. Sure, it might not be as stable at higher speeds, but at the end of the day it is a trail bike (a burly over-built one), but it serves the daily driver purpose with room to stretch your skills when the trail asks for it.