Long-legged carbon fiber playbike for the cross-country icon
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The aluminum TracLoc remote control switches the rear shock between three different operating modes.(Image credit: James Huang)
Frischknecht has been a Ritchey-sponsored athlete for ages and even in retirement he's well supported.(Image credit: James Huang)
The new SRAM XX cassette is almost more air than metal.(Image credit: James Huang)
Frischknecht opts for the 26/39T version of the new Truvativ XX two-ring crank.(Image credit: James Huang)
Asymmetrical chain stays are shorter and stiffer on the non-driveside but lower on the driveside for chain clearance.(Image credit: James Huang)
A bonded-on alloy bit provides the anchor points for the rear disc caliper and pivot on the non-driveside.(Image credit: James Huang)
Carbon is also used for the driveside dropout but a replaceable derailleur hanger provides a bit of insurance.(Image credit: James Huang)
A 20mm thru-axle on the RockShox Revelation XX fork provides extra steering precision.(Image credit: James Huang)
Thomas Frischknecht spent most of his racing career on hardtails, short-travel cross-country bikes and 'cross rigs but now this longer-travel Scott Genius lets him have a little more fun.(Image credit: James Huang)
Frischknecht prefers to place his hands on foam grips while managing the new SRAM XX controls.(Image credit: James Huang)
The top tube, head tube, down tube and seat tube are all molded as one piece.(Image credit: James Huang)
Aluminum is used sparingly on the Scott Genius frame such as on these upper links.(Image credit: James Huang)
Frischknecht can likely use any pedal he would like from the Ritchey catalog but these apparently suit his needs just fine.(Image credit: James Huang)
The new SRAM XX rear derailleur is based on the existing X.0 but also borrows a number of key features from the road-going Red group.(Image credit: James Huang)
Carbon fiber construction throughout the modified four-bar rear end keeps the chassis weight impressively low.(Image credit: James Huang)
Even the rear rim is carbon fiber to keep the weight down.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Avid XX rotor uses a stainless steel brake track for proper stopping power but an alloy carrier for reduced weight.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Ritchey WCS Streem V2 saddle is technically from the company's road range.(Image credit: James Huang)
The proprietary Scott Equalizer 2 pull shock requires very high inflation pressures - take a closer look at the tuning guide!(Image credit: James Huang)
The one-piece carbon fiber seat stay assembly keeps things stiff and light.(Image credit: James Huang)
The seat tube is offset far forward to make room for the rear shock.(Image credit: James Huang)
This is not some sticker slapped on a production stem. Rather, the image is applied during production and then clear-coated over. And no, you can't buy one.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Ritchey Z-Max Premonition tire is an evolution of the long-standing Z-Max tread design.(Image credit: James Huang)
Thomas Frischknecht is one of the most decorated athletes in cycling with UCI world championship titles in cross-country, marathon and cyclo-cross disciplines, eighteen UCI World Cup victories, and fifteen world championship medals, not to mention three trips to the Olympics (for both road and mountain in 1996), eleven Swiss national titles and three UCI World Cup series victories. Not bad, to say the least.
Even in retirement, the 39-year-old rider is heavily involved in racing – as team manager for the Swisspower mountain bike team – and still remarkably fit though now it's by choice, not necessity. As part of that newfound freedom, Frischknecht has also traded in the Scott Scale hardtail and Spark short-travel full-suspension race rigs for a longer-legged Scott Genius as a daily driver with a healthy 150mm of travel at either end and a more versatile geometry, but still just 10.66kg (23.5lb) of mass to tow around.
"The Genius is now my fun bike for big rides in the Alps or to play around," he said. "I still ride my hardtail a bit, but the Genius is now my main bike. The Spark is a good bike, too, but much more race oriented, which is not my main target anymore."
As on his Spark, Frischknecht's Genius uses a monocoque front triangle plus a nearly all-carbon rear end, including both the asymmetrical chain stays, seat stays, and even the dropouts – just the upper links and a few hard points are made of alloy. Claimed frame weight is a staggering 2,250g (4.96lb) including the proprietary rear shock, rivaling many companies' full-blown race chassis.
A recent rework changed the suspension from a true four-bar design to a modified four-bar but much of the originally intended functionality has been retained in the unique Equalizer 2 rear pull shock. The three-position Tracloc handlebar remote selectively opens and closes various shock chambers, allowing Frischknecht to quickly choose between the full 150mm of rear wheel travel, a shortened 95mm setting, or a full lockout, plus appropriate geometry changes to boot. The low-slung frame design keeps the weight relatively low to the ground, too, and there's even enough room in the compact front triangle for a single bottle cage (a carbon one, of course).
Ritchey has sponsored Frischknecht seemingly since the dawn of mountain biking and that relationship continues even in retirement. Nearly everything that could say 'Ritchey' on it does, from the Superlogic carbon low-rise bar, WCS Streem V2 saddle and carbon post, all the way to the wheels and tires, the pedals, and even the grips. The WCS stem is a particularly special bit, too, as it bears a playful 'Frischi' logo underneath the clearcoated finish – an admittedly small touch but one that likely took years to earn.
We caught up with Frischi during the recent SRAM XX launch and naturally, his Genius was resplendent in the new group from tip to tail. Gearing is SRAM's most climbing-oriented configuration with 26/39T chainrings and an 11-26T cassette, 160mm rotors are fitted both front and rear, and the XLoc hydraulic remote for the RockShox Revelation Maxle Lite fork is neatly integrated into the right-hand brake lever clamp.
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It's all pretty standard issue gear, and even Frischknecht admits that there is "no special stuff on the bike."
Frischi says he normally uses a carbon fiber DT Swiss EXC fork with a regular 9mm quick-release axle, though, along with a carbon Ritchey Superlogic front wheel to match the rear. In addition, both tires were fitted with tubes at the time we shot photos but he says he usually runs a converted tubeless setup to better deal with Tuscany's minefield of thorns.
Even with so many seasons under his belt, one would think that someone like Frischknecht would have a hard time leaving the competitive scene behind, right? Think again – on the contrary, it sounds like he's too busy having fun.
"I feel very comfortable in my new role as team manager," he said. "I still get to travel to the nice places and I’m part of the racing scene, which means a lot to me. But to be honest, I don’t miss the suffering at all."
Complete bike specifications:
Frame: Scott Genius, size medium Rear shock: Scott Equalizer 2 w/ TracLoc 2 remote control Fork: RockShox Revelation XX, 140mm-travel w/ Maxle Lite Headset: Ritchey WCS Press Fit Stem: Ritchey WCS 4-Axis, 80mm x -6º Handlebars: Ritchey Superlogic low rise, 660mm Tape/grips: Ritchey True Grip WCS Ergo Front brake: Avid XX w/ 160mm rotor Rear brake: Avid XX w/ 160mm rotor Brake levers: Avid XX w/ MatchMaker X Front derailleur: SRAM XX direct mount Rear derailleur: SRAM XX Shift levers: SRAM XX Cassette: SRAM XX, 11-36T Chain: SRAM PC-1090 Crankset: Truvativ XX, 175mm, 26/39T Bottom bracket: Truvativ XX GXP Pedals: Ritchey Front rim: DT Swiss XR 4.2D Front hub: DT Swiss 240s 20mm Front spokes: DT Swiss Aerolite w/ alloy nipples, 32h Rear wheel: Ritchey Superlogic ??? Front tire: Ritchey Z-Max Premonition WCS, 26x2.1" tube-type Rear tire: Ritchey Z-Max Premonition WCS, 26x2.1" tube-type Saddle: Ritchey WCS Streem V2 Seat post: Ritchey WCS Carbon Bottle cages: Topeak Shuttle Cage CB
Critical measurements:
Rider's height: 1.76m (5' 9") Rider's weight: 69kg (152lb) Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 720mm Seat tube length, c-t: 455mm Seat tube length, c-c: 390mm Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 535mm Handlebar drop: 83mm Head tube length: 115mm Top tube length: 585mm (horizontal) Total bicycle weight: 10.66kg (23.5lb)
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