Twenty-four-hour endurance racing is a burgeoning segment of the competitive mountain bike scene on...
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Twenty-four hour solo racing specialist Nat Ross (Image credit: James Huang)
A dramatically dropped top tube (Image credit: James Huang)
The beefy head tube area imparts front-end strength (Image credit: James Huang)
It looks like a standard Rock Shox Reba SL 29 (Image credit: James Huang)
Ross' cockpit is rife with carbon fiber bits (Image credit: James Huang)
The main pivot on the Gary Fisher HiFi (Image credit: James Huang)
SRAM also provides its PG-990 cassette. (Image credit: James Huang)
…and dropout pivots. (Image credit: James Huang)
Nat Ross' bike was spotted with a Fox Racing Shox RP23 rear shock (Image credit: James Huang)
Subaru-Gary Fisher endurance racer Nat Ross' Gary Fisher HiFi 29. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
A dramatically dropped top tube rises up to meet the tall 29" fork and also provides plenty of standover clearance. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The beefy head tube area imparts front-end strength which is supplemented by the smoothed lower weld. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
It looks like a standard Rock Shox Reba SL 29 from afar… (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
…but a closer look reveals the 'Handling by Bontrager' and 'G2' (Genesis 2) decals, signifying a crown with increased offset for better 29"-specific handling. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The main pivot on the Gary Fisher HiFi uses widely-set cartridge bearings to aid lateral stability. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Asymetric chain stays are stiffer and lighter. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Bearings are also used in the suspension linkage… (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
…and dropout pivots. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Nat Ross' bike was spotted with a Fox Racing Shox RP23 rear shock covered with Rock Shox decals. Apparently Ross will race on a new Rock Shox Monarch once the proper size is available. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Nat Ross' name is on the top tube of his bike, but as far as he knows, his is the only fully-built one around for the time being. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Team mechanic Matt Opperman built Ross' bike just up the road in Boulder, CO. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ross' cockpit is rife with carbon fiber bits, including the Avid Juicy Ultimate lever blades and Bontrager carbon bar ends. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ross prefers cork tape double-wrapped over a standard Bontrager grip, in contrast to the small-diameter models more commonly favored. Ross says the larger diameter aids in hand fatigue over the long haul. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
A new PushLoc lever controls the lockout function on Ross' Motion Control-equipped Rock Shox Reba SL 29. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
SRAM also provides its PG-990 cassette. Hubs are made for Bontrager by DT Swiss. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
SRAM handles front shifting duties as well with its X-Gen front derailleur. Check out the anodized aluminum cable end cap. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
One-piece Juicy Ultimate caliper bodies are found front and rear, along with heavier rotors borrowed from the Avid BB5 mechanical disc brake. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Crank Brothers Candy 4Ti pedals are lightweight but offer a little more of a platform to prevent hot spots over a 24-hour period. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ross supplements his standard Bontrager Race X Lite crankset with stainless steel guards borrowed from the Race XXX Lite model. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Bontrager's new Dry X tires are said to stick like glue in its intended environment. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
A 100% carbon fiber Bontrager Race XXX Lite stem is found up front. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Cane Creek offers up its Zero Stack 2 internal headset. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ross prefers the Bontrager Race Pro TT saddle for its heavily-padded nose. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
An unusual choice for an off-road saddle, perhaps, but Ross says the extra padding makes all the difference as the clock approaches noon the next day. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
In contrast to minimalist XC racers, Ross prefers to be prepared in the event of a breakdown out on the course. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Twenty-four hour solo racing specialist Nat Ross poses with his machine of choice, the Gary Fisher HiFi 29. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Pro bikes, August 16, 2007
Nat Ross' Subaru-Gary Fisher Gary Fisher HiFi 29
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