During the recent No-Fuss Macavalanche race, we were surprised to see a blur of purple mixing it up on the front row of the mass-start race. Once at the bottom, and with full-faces removed, we found it was none other than elite racer James Shirley riding the new Identiti Mettle. We took a second to check out this exciting new 160 mm bike, and also find out more about how James sets it up.
The Identiti Mettle.
The Identiti Mettle is a new bike on the EWS scene, and it Identiti Mettlecertainly looks brutal in its intent. The numbers back up the menacing looks too, with a 65-degree head angle, 27.5-inch wheels with space for 2.5″ tyres – and then some – and a generous 462 mm reach in the size Medium that James races (177 cm tall). Even though the bike has been in development for three years, It has all the latest standards including Boost and a 230 x 60 mm Metric shock for increased bushing overlaps.
Suspension setup
James is particular about his suspension setup. “I tend to run the shock softer than the fork. I like the back end to sag into the travel but with plenty of ramp up to avoid harsh bottom outs and hard impacts. My forks never use their full travel. I like it to be supple on small bumps but sit tall on steep terrain. This is why I decided to run the Luftkappe to further increase sensitivity in the first part of the stroke. James runs the 160 mm Rockshox Lyrik fork at 70 psi with 3 tokens (though the Luftkappe essentialy adds a token taking it to 4). To keep the stroke super sensitive James runs the low-speed compression fully open with a fast rebound (14 clicks from fully open). This gives a 20 % sag with a neutral stance. 35 % sag with full body weight on the bars. To keep the rear end tracking well, James runs 170 psi in the shock. The rear shock is running a total of 2 tokens, of a maximum of 3. This is the stock tune that comes on the frame and is race ready straight from the box. James keeps the pedal platform fully open with a medium rebound – 5 clicks from fully open. This gives 27% sag with a neutral stance. 35% sag with fully body weight on the saddle.
When it comes to servicing, before the beginning of every race week James will do a simple lower leg/air can service on his suspension. Out of season, James changes the oil every 2 or 3 weeks of hard use.
Brake Setup
James is running SRAM Guide RSC brakes with 180 mm SRAM Centreline Rotors front and back. James uses organic pads for dry conditions but switches to sintered when it’s cold and wet. “I usually don’t bleed my brakes unless they start to feel spongy. For some reason, I always run the bite point of my rear brake lever slightly closer to the bar than for the front.”
Tyre setup
“I have no commitment to tyre brands this year, but currently I’m using Schwalbe Super Gravity tyres with a Trail Star Compound. Usually I run a Magic Mary on the front and a Hans Dampf on the rear. If conditions are bad then a Magic Mary goes on the back too. If it’s loose and loamy then I can run as low as 17psi on the front and 23psi at the back. If it’s really rough, fast and rocky then no more than 20psi front and 28psi rear. Puncture resistance and sidewall stability is incredible with these tyres. If I feel I need to save weight then a snakeskin Magic Mary sometimes goes on the front and if it’s exceptionally muddy then the Dirty Dan’s come out to play.”
For more information head to the Identiti website.
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