DREW’S PIVOT PHOENIX CUSTOM BUILD

I FINALLY BOUGHT A BIKE!

Words by Drew Rohde | Photos by Cole Gregg

I’ve been fortunate enough to work full time testing and reviewing bikes for roughly 15 years now. I spent the first 5 years like most bike industry nerds, buying a new bike every season as I always wanted to have the latest and greatest as my “personal test mule.” It took me about that long to realize, I was so busy testing and riding other people’s bikes, that I never got the chance to ride my own. Because of that, I stopped buying bikes around 2015 as I just never got to ride them and it hurt my feelings to have such beautiful, customized bikes sitting around collecting dust. I am thrilled to say, I’ve broken the streak, and I will be making time to ride my recently purchased, Pivot Phoenix DH bike.

THE BACKSTORY

Like the rest of you, I first saw the new 6-bar Pivot Phoenix being ridden by Bernard Kerr. It was a beautiful CNC-lugged frame with hand-laid carbon tubes. It was one of the best looking bikes I’d seen in recent memory, maybe even one of my top 5 all time bikes. I had to have one. Sadly, but understandably, the prototype frames are just way too cost prohibitive to make at scale, and despite my best efforts and a few emails, it didn’t look like I’d be able to get my hands on one. I would have to wait until the day the bike finally went into production. Fast forward about one year and that time arrived. I got word about the upcoming launch and during a visit to Pivot Cycles for the launch of the updated Switchblade, I was able to plant the seed of me buying a bike as soon as they were available.

Living up to their word, Pivot Cycles reached out and I am lucky enough to say that I was the first person to purchase the new Pivot Phoenix! As you may have seen in our recent publication of the Pivot Phoenix press release, customers will have the choice between two complete bike builds or a frame set. I opted for the frame set as I had my vision set as soon as I saw pictures of the paint scheme.

THE PARTS

After locking in my frame, the hunt for the parts began. Wanting to keep the black and gold vibe going, I ordered a set of TRP DHR Evo brakes and their 7-speed DH drivetrain. The DHR Evo brakes are my favorite brakes and the fact they come in gold just made the decision even easier. The frameset comes with a Fox Float X2 shock, so I opted to keep things matching and got myself a gold Fox 40 with the Grip X2 damper. I have this fork on another DH bike in our test fleet and it has instantly become my favorite DH fork on the market. The difference in the Grip X2 damper is really impressive and the improved performance is quite noticeable. Mounted to the top of that fork crown is a Race Face stem and handlebar, which is cut down to 780mm. Rounding out the cockpit is a carbon fiber SDG I-Beam post and saddle, which I’m a big fan of.

Bolted to the fully carbon fiber frame and fork is a set of DT Swiss FR 560 wheels with DT’s 320 hubs. Due to availability I wrapped the wheels in some Schwalbe tires in their Super DH casing and Ultra Soft compound, though I’ll be swapping them with a set of the new Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial tires once more of them can be found.

THE FINISHED PIECE

Every year we are fortunate enough to test countless beautiful and amazing bikes, but no bikes get me more excited than downhill bikes. So, in that way I guess it makes sense that the bike that brought me out of my bike-buying desert was a DH bike. My first bike race was a downhill race when I was 15 years old and it quickly became my obsession thereafter. To me, downhill bikes are the pinnacle of mountain biking. The stance, look and presence of these gravity-fueled machines command attention. They are just the best two-wheeled machines built and nothing beats the feeling of being on top of a downhill bike as it plows over steep, chunky trails that truly justify their existence.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Despite my love affair with how this bike looks, I will be doing my best to get miles and time aboard it as we work towards a long term review. And yes, I will do my best to separate my attachment for how good it looks, with how well it rides.

I’d like to personally thank the Pivot Cycles team, Fox Shocks, Race Face, TRP, Schwalbe and SDG for helping make this dream build a reality.