Ellsworth Epiphany Crbn 275 xc XT (2014)

I wish i could give it a 5

Pros

- Handmade boutique quality and attention to detail
- Overall manners and trail ability
- Great mix of components

Cons

- Expensive
- For this much money could have done with a dropper post

Review

Ellsworth, in my mind at least, make the sort of bikes that have you question the path you have chosen. The beauty of Ellsworth is that even the parts made in Asia are built in the smaller, higher quality factories and shipped individually to the US to be put together by bike building artisans. I love that attention to the things that matter. Slaving in an office job all day for a crust seems worth it if the payoff is enough money to buy a steed like the Epiphany XC 275.

The Epiphany carbon looks like it was designed by a half-man, half-porpoise such are the organic flowing lines. The cables enter and exit the frame via sculpted ports that look like they belong under the sea filtering oxygen from the water. This is Toray Rare Earth carbon at its finest and is just about as good as it gets. The Epiphany XC is a 24lb bike with 140mm travel - not bad eh!

Don't be caught thinking this is an all-mountain bordering on enduro bike though; the Epipany XC is well named as the steeper frame angles and efficient "fully active" suspension design means this lightweight bike is ready to smash any cross country trail whether it goes up or down. Ellsworth have another version with slacker angles for the "going down" crew, but this XC Epiphany is truly a versatile bike for all manner of trail duties, even though it has 140mm of squish.

On the trail the Eiphany XC is a supreme performer. Its lack of weight means it can be accelerated like a whippet and the suspension does a good job of remaining squish free under pedalling. Sure there are better pedalling XC bikes out there, but not many of them have 140mm of fully active suspension for when the trail heads south. The 27.5" wheels are the perfect accompaniment to the travel and riding style on offer here.

Components are a fine blend of quality, performance and reliability and there are not really any weak spots. I think for the amount of money here it would be a crime not to spec a dropper post, but one good thing is the ability to build the bike how you want it.

Anyway it's a great bike. I want it, nay, I need it...I'm off to the city to get a corporate job paying big $$ so I can afford to buy one....