Pivot Phoenix DH Bike with a Singlecrown and AXS Dropper for Enduro? Let's Go Racing - Episode 3 29

Why would you want to make a Pivot Phoenix downhill mountain bike ready for enduro racing? Brian Cahal goes through the details of his bike setup, converting a DH bike into a race-ready enduro rig with a singlecrown fork, dropper seat post and 12-speed drivetrain. He has to run a SRAM AXS dropper seatpost because the Phoenix doesn't have cable routing for a dropper and his RockShox Zeb fork is 180mm travel because axle-to-crown of the 190 was too tall. Plenty more bike tech where that came from!

Credit: Brian Cahal

Brian Cahal Enduro Let's Go Racing Maxxis Pivot RockShox Sprindex SRAM Troy Lee Designs

Brian Cahal Enduro Let's Go Racing Maxxis Pivot RockShox Sprindex SRAM Troy Lee Designs

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2 sspomer https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/2/avatar/c50_Screen_Shot_2015_03_09_at_2.10.12_PM_1425936051.jpg?1425935424 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/sspomer,2/all 06/26/09 1322 170 19840 766 315 2207 3108 28 36

sspomer
7/14/2021 9:25 AM

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29 comments

8256 Shishka https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/8256/avatar/c50_14798.jpg?1306077916 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Shishka,8256/all 05/22/11 4 164 4

Shishka

7/18/2021 8:20 AM

Super D is back!

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32261 Burgh https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/32261/avatar/c50_Rocky_and_Bullwinkle_1610891593.jpg?1610890821 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Burgh,32261/all 08/22/14 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Burgh,32261/setup 1 50

Burgh

7/17/2021 6:10 PM

Sounds like he's trying to create a size small Nicolai G1. Sweet rig regardless. A+ on the intro!

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46433 Thriller /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Thriller,46433/all 03/01/18 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Thriller,46433/setup 2

Thriller

7/15/2021 1:53 PM

That intro was A+

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1297 Nick https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/1297/avatar/c50_sunshine_bike_1_1384835591.jpg?1384835328 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Nick,1297/all 11/17/09 5 21

Nick

7/15/2021 10:55 AM

super rad. good luck to this guy.

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55349 Pierrot_22 /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Pierrot-22,55349/all 07/14/21 1

Pierrot_22

7/15/2021 4:25 AM

What a sweet setup! I run a Mondraker summum with a 180 durolux, dropper post and 11 speed xo drive train when lift season has not started yet and it’s as an absolute hoot! Way to be cost efficient dude

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55412 Paco77 /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Paco77,55412/all 07/14/21 1 2

Paco77

7/15/2021 2:44 AM

This is awesome. Interested to know why you didn't stick with the double crown fork though (since many people seem to be experimenting with them for enduro now)

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24007 Brian Cahal https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/24007/avatar/c50_08650020_1433348955.jpg?1433348739 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Brian-Cahal,24007/all 04/30/13 1 1 8 2

Brian Cahal

7/15/2021 4:47 PM

Yo! A few reasons that I went with the single crown. Weight is one of them but also I really like the performance and feel of the Zeb, I feel like it has a little better small bump performance than the Boxxer and its better suited for trail use. Also I had the 51mm offset boxxer and I liked the feel of the shorter offset on the zeb. And it didn’t happen often but on tight switchbacks I would max out the steering on the boxxer every once and a while. Plus I can do x ups now.

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31463 mamath7 https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/31463/avatar/c50_diabolo_1412754224.jpg?1412753528 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/mamath7,31463/all 06/17/14 1 1 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/mamath7,31463/setup 1 65 201

mamath7

7/16/2021 12:12 AM

And let's be honest: DH bike with sc fork are rad

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55412 Paco77 /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Paco77,55412/all 07/14/21 1 2

Paco77

7/19/2021 2:27 AM

Sounds good Brian - thanks for the reply!

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45621 GeorgeMichael https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/45621/avatar/c50_Yeti_Schnappschuss_1516100317.jpg?1516100309 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/GeorgeMichael,45621/all 11/14/17 4 60

GeorgeMichael

7/15/2021 12:09 AM

Cool video, thank you. Yes, the Geometron G1 (in the shortest size) is very similar to the Pivot and gives you exactly what Brian pointed out as good: the long chain stays and 62 degree HA. Plus a steep seat tube. Never had a bike that climbs so well (just as Brian describes). Climbes better than the Yeti SB150 and SB130LR.

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2507 astrizzle /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/astrizzle,2507/all 04/11/10 5 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/astrizzle,2507/setup 44 188 178 24

astrizzle

7/15/2021 12:02 AM

This is the future of enduro bikes right there! How much does it weigh? Has to be pretty darn close in weight to some of the bigger enduro bikes these days and idk about you but I think I'd rather have this...

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43035 fartymarty https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/43035/avatar/c50_2021_03_12_19.38.55_1626349021.jpg?1626348671 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/fartymarty,43035/all 11/14/16 2 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/fartymarty,43035/setup 7 15

fartymarty

7/15/2021 4:47 AM

I completely agree. I see enduro and DH frames morphing into the same thing with different components hung off them. After all they are built to do the same job - getting down a hill as fast as possible. DH bikes just don't need to pedal back up.

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24007 Brian Cahal https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/24007/avatar/c50_08650020_1433348955.jpg?1433348739 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Brian-Cahal,24007/all 04/30/13 1 1 8 2

Brian Cahal

7/15/2021 4:49 PM

For a bit I was running double down rear, exo+ front with no insert and it think it was right around 36 with pedals. The frame is really light. At race spec with heavier tires I think its low to mid 37s. Not to shabby for running a coil shock, if I really tried I could get this thing even lower.

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2507 astrizzle /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/astrizzle,2507/all 04/11/10 5 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/astrizzle,2507/setup 44 188 178 24

astrizzle

7/15/2021 8:33 PM

Thanks man, I wonder what the ST angle ends up being with the dropper post extended fully on it too. Might be proving the whole steeper seat tube angle making a better climbing bike crowd WRONG! (A.K.A. the entire bike industry)

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12284 EBlackwell https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/12284/avatar/c50_zmZOOYw2_1546834739.jpg?1546833993 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/EBlackwell,12284/all 12/18/11 14 33

EBlackwell

7/18/2021 9:01 AM

According to Pivot's website, the STA on the stock Phoenix is 76 degrees. Assuming this is with a 200mm fork, this 'enduro' version probably has a steeper seat angle, as the front end is probably lower (although long travel SC forks can have a pretty long axle to crown). I'd wager the steep STA is a big part of why this bike can pedal uphill decently at all. While suspension design matters, in my experience, being in the more biomechanically advantageous position that comes with a steep STA makes a huge difference on steep climbs.

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52347 CadeG4 https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/52347/avatar/c50_B5E560AE_D855_43CA_9544_67636BBB4154_1605605883.jpg?1605605397 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/CadeG4,52347/all 04/25/20 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/CadeG4,52347/setup 14

CadeG4

7/14/2021 11:04 PM

Nice job bro! Currently riding the other way. Have my geometron set up with a 180mm boxxer with 175 back. Similar idea as my bike is still over half a degree slacker.

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10329 DHmental https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/10329/avatar/c50_fb_picture_1310985705.jpg?1314654554 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/DHmental,10329/all 08/29/11 2 59 8 2 6 90 3

DHmental

7/14/2021 9:01 PM

I’m currently running a Canfield one.2 with a mezzer pro single crown up front. Best all mountain bike ever, really gives me the confidence to send it. I used to just ride my dh bike up hills, but I’m getting too old for that.

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44475 Hollywood Gainey https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/44475/avatar/c50_20180209_073745_1518760341.jpg?1518759415 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Hollywood-Gainey,44475/all 05/23/17 64 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Hollywood-Gainey,44475/setup 55 145 1

Hollywood Gainey

7/14/2021 8:48 PM

.....and DH bike sales go up again!

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55371 beachmtb https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/55371/avatar/c50_z1_4_1626295696.jpg?1626295207 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/beachmtb,55371/all 07/14/21 2 4 1

beachmtb

7/14/2021 7:00 PM

i don´t get why more people isn´t doing this. I know why I am not doing it at the moment : money for a new bike. But this is amazing, and great video. thanks.

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34379 Eoin /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Eoin,34379/all 03/06/15 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Eoin,34379/setup 121 107

Eoin

7/15/2021 2:28 AM

My guess is because so many brands will sell you a super-enduro bike: 170-180mm travel bike marketed as pedal friendly mini-DH bike. But there is a good point made here that the geo on DH bikes isn't quite the same as the latest and greatest super-enduro bikes.

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33966 yzedf https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/33966/avatar/c50_E7B42F97_567D_4E88_BC5E_F2CEB6978905_1626787405.jpg?1626786820 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/yzedf,33966/all 01/27/15 1 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/yzedf,33966/setup 24 72 8

yzedf

7/15/2021 1:03 PM

For all but the nastiest raw double black tech trails I’m perfectly comfortable with my 170/170 bike that has a flip chip. The dh bike just needs to be cleaned up a bit so I can sell it.

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48025 pablo_b /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/pablo-b,48025/all 11/06/18 3 4

pablo_b

7/14/2021 1:11 PM

Does anyone know how tall is Brian?

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10828 cuban B https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/10828/avatar/c50_B238CADD_4FC4_47A1_9B95_93783A232C56_1610389671.jpg?1610389561 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/cuban-B,10828/all 09/20/11 2 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/cuban-B,10828/setup 5 10 37

cuban B

7/14/2021 1:44 PM

The fans want to know! Oh and the new geo numbers too!

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2 sspomer https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/2/avatar/c50_Screen_Shot_2015_03_09_at_2.10.12_PM_1425936051.jpg?1425935424 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/sspomer,2/all 06/26/09 1322 170 19840 766 315 2207 3108 28 36

sspomer

7/14/2021 2:09 PM

"a little over 6 foot"

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10828 cuban B https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/10828/avatar/c50_B238CADD_4FC4_47A1_9B95_93783A232C56_1610389671.jpg?1610389561 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/cuban-B,10828/all 09/20/11 2 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/cuban-B,10828/setup 5 10 37

cuban B

7/14/2021 12:50 PM

Really good job on the video Brian

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97 ryan_daugherty https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/97/avatar/c50_Bike_1537828811.jpg?1537828378 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/ryan-daugherty,97/all 08/01/09 5 99 24 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/ryan-daugherty,97/setup 5 65 392 30

ryan_daugherty

7/14/2021 10:54 AM

would love a geo chart

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54470 BlazersDad89 /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/BlazersDad89,54470/all 03/05/21 1 4

BlazersDad89

7/14/2021 10:08 AM

Super interesting video.

I always thought it was weird that Shark Attack Jack ran a Large bike at his size but the parallels you draw on for reach and having room to move on the bike are very valid points.

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128 NoahColorado https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/128/avatar/c50_88160290_1258334763.jpg?1290150194 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/NoahColorado,128/all 08/01/09 1 6 364 29 https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/NoahColorado,128/setup 5 160 479 6

NoahColorado

7/14/2021 10:08 AM

This is awesome.

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51693 Explodo /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Explodo,51693/all 02/11/20 1 12

Explodo

7/14/2021 10:05 AM

He did quite a good job of explaining his geometric ideas. I was pleased to see that.

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