BMC

Team Elite TE29/SRAM X0 Complete Bike - 2012

The 29 inch wheel standard has reinvigorated cross-country bikes, and what once was considered a fad is the new world order. If you haven't added a 29er to your stable yet, the BMC Team Elite TE29/Sram X0 Complete Bike hits all the high notes and will almost certainly complement your riding style.

Long wheelbases, toe overlap, janky geometries, and a lack of parts once plagued the twenty-niner. Now that the dust has settled, parts are plentiful, geometries are dialed, and big-wheeled bikes are no longer the investment risk they once were. BMC took their time, investing heavily in both saddle-time and computer feedback to perfect the Team Elite's geometry. They settled on a 70 degree head angle and super-short 430mm chainstays. Because of this, you'll enjoy easy negotiation of tight switch backs, stable handling around high-speed sweepers, and excellent traction when climbing.

The heart of the Team Elite TE29 is its triple-butted, hydroformed alloy tubeset. BMC's iSC (integrated Skeleton Concept) optimizes weight savings, strength, and ride characteristics by using Finite Elements Method (FEM) computer technology. Every 6000 series aluminum tube is shaped to exacting standards; what you get is a frame that reacts to rider inputs like power application, steering, and braking with impeccable efficiency and precision. While aluminum caries the stigma of being a harsh ride, BMC's extra attention to tube shape results in a compliant ride that still takes full advantage of aluminum's positive traits.

As a frame, the BMC Team Elite TE29/Sram X0 Complete Bike sounds blissful, but that's just part of the equation. Without the right parts a frame is just a piece of wall art. We set up the Team Elite with choice components like a SRAM X0 2x10 drivetrain, including a 36 -22 X0 crank, X0 shifters, and an X0 rear derailleur. Taking care of front shifting is an X7 derailleur, while stopping duties are handled by Avid Elixir 7 disc brakes. BMC Scor MKII stem and handlebars, and a BMC race post comprise the cockpit, with a Fizik Tundra Saddle perched atop the post. Easton EA70 XCT 29er wheels are wrapped in Schwalbe Rocket Ron and Racing Ralph 2.25in tires.

The BMC Team Elite TE29/Sram X0 Complete Bike is available in White, and comes in three sizes -- Small, Medium, and Large.