Marie-Hélène Premont’s Rocky Mountain Vertex RSL Team

	Photo ©: James Huang

Rocky Mountain's racing hardtail enters the carbon age

Rocky Mountain says the new direct mount front derailleur Photo ©: Luke Webber

Direct Mount looks like the latest standard Photo ©: Luke Webber

This smooth integrated seat clamp Photo ©: Luke Webber

The down tube surface has a distinct concave curve. Photo ©: Luke Webber

By Luke Webber

Rocky Mountain's classic Vertex hardtail has earned a cult following for its smart low-slung design, keen British Columbia-inspired handling and practically unrivalled racing history. Yet although the existing scandium version is arguably the lightest and fastest iteration yet, Canadian cross-country star Marie-Hélène Prémont and her bike sponsor both knew that the bike could no longer compete on an even scale with its carbon competition. After a year of development, Rocky Mountain believes it now has the answer with the new Vertex RSL Team.

The RSL Team builds upon the basics learned from the evolution of the Vertex - which has taken Premont to Commonwealth gold, Olympic silver and multiple World Cup wins - but the new bike drops nearly a full pound from the old guise while still encompassing everything Rocky knew about creating a great race machine. Claimed weight for the bare frame is now just 1150g (2.53lb).

The new bike retains the trademark deep red and white maple leaf paintjob and compact design but tube sections have grown to massive proportions throughout for more rigidity. A sculpted down tube and curved rear triangle give this bike a unique look and pronounced lateral ribbing also lends more stiffness, according to Rocky Mountain. In addition, Rocky Mountain says the new direct mount-style Shimano front derailleur allows far more scope for shaping the bottom bracket.

Apart from the frame, Prémont's build is relatively standard with a full Shimano XTR groupset, wheelset, and pedals, including a pair of Dual Control levers. Shimano launched Dual Control several years ago with the promise of revolutionized shifting, and while most of the public seems to have settled back on triggers since then, the 'flippers' still have a faithful following among the racing crowd.

Though the XTR build kit is essentially factory-issue, the hubs are fitted with ceramic bearings and the scandium rims are wrapped with special edition Hutchinson Bulldog soft compound tyres filled with the obligatory Stan's sealant. Finishing kit is provided exclusively by Easton, with a mix of EC70 and EA90 bar, stem and seatpin topped off with a WTB Shadow saddle and Syncros grips.

Up front the 2009 Fox F-RL Remote fork is adjusted to provide just 90mm of travel and the external compression adjustment of other models is swapped in favour of the new remote lockout switch, manufactured by Shimano. The final touch is a custom Sigma computer with Rocky livery to match.

While this pro bike doesn't feature a wealth of prototype parts, it is still refreshing to know that some of the world's best are still using stock product and getting on just fine. Unfortunately that leaves little excuse if you roll up to the starting line with this team replica. You certainly can't blame the bike...

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Luke Webber

• Canadian cross-country star Marie-Hélène Prémont will compete for one more year aboard Rocky Mountain's newest Vertex RSL Team carbon hardtail.
• Rocky Mountain says the new direct mount front derailleur allows for more liberties in shaping the bottom bracket area.
• Direct Mount looks like the latest standard to be adopted by frame makers.
• This smooth integrated seat clamp is typical of the design detail on the new Rocky Mountain.
• The down tube surface has a distinct concave curve.
• It's business as usual up front with huge tube sections to increase stiffness.
• Fox finally offers consumers a handlebar-mounted lockout for 2009.
• The lockout lever is designed and manufactured for Fox by Shimano.
• Prèmont also gets a Rocky Mountain-edition Sigma computer.
• As there's no need to allow for a conventional clamp, Rocky Mountain could shape the seat tube nearly however it wanted.
• Neatly integrated cable guides run the length of the frame.
• This Hutchinson tyre is a special soft compound edition and was perfect for the unpredictable Schladming course last month.
• Curved seat stays provide a unique look.

Full specification

Frame: Rocky Mountain Vertex RSL Team, (Small)
Rear shock: N/A
Fork: Fox Racing Shox F-RL Remote, 90mm travell

Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.6m (5' 3") height: 56kg (123lb)
Seat tube length, c-c: 389mm
Seat tube length, c-t: 419mm
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 765mm
Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 609mm
C of front wheel to top of bars (next to stem): 712mm
Top tube length: 565mm (effective)

Front brake: Shimano XTR BR-M975P, 160mm rotor
Rear brake: Shimano XTR BR-M975, 140mm rotor
Brake levers: Shimano XTR Dual Control ST-M975
Front derailleur: Shimano Deore XT Direct Mount
Rear derailleur: Shimano XTR RD-M970-SGS
Shift levers: Shimano XTR Dual Control ST-M975
Cassette: Shimano XTR CS-M970, 11-34T
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7801
Crankset: Shimano XTR FC-M970, 22/32/44T, 170mm
Bottom bracket: Shimano XTR FC-M970

Wheelset: Shimano XTR WH-M975
Front hub: N/A
Rear hub: N/A
Spokes: N/A
Front tyre: Hutchinson Bulldog 26x2.1" soft compound, tubeless-ready with Stan's The Solution sealant
Rear tyre: Hutchinson Bulldog 26x2.1" soft compound, tubeless-ready with Stan's The Solution sealant

Bars: Easton EC90 flat
Stem: Easton EA70
Headset: integrated
Tape/grip: Syncros

Pedals: Shimano XTR PD-M970
Seat post: Easton EC70
Saddle: WTB Shadow V
Bottle cages: N/A
Other accessories: Sigma Rocky Mountain Team computer, ceramic bearing hub upgrade

Total bike weight: 8.9kg (19.6lb)