I chose 140mm travel for the fork rather than the recommended 130mm. The slight ‘overforking’ coupled with the Element’s slackest and lowest geometry setting really helps the bike feel confident when tackling steep terrain. In my case, Rocky Mountain’s Ride 4 geometry adjustment system was just what I needed to expand the potential of this bike while tailoring it to my unique needs.  

For rear suspension, the Cane Creek Air IL shock is an absolute powerhouse on descents. For such a small shock, it makes for incredibly smooth riding when the trail gets rough. It feels like it came off of a much longer-travel bike, offering far more control than the cross country shocks that often come stock on bikes in this category. As an exceptionally lightweight rider, the wide-ranging adjustability of the Air IL allows me to tune my rear suspension exactly how I need it.

My previous mountain bike, a popular aluminum 29er from a leading brand, could absolutely plow downhill but it required an inordinate amount of energy to get to the top. Mountain bikes are proportionally bigger and heavier for me than they are for more average sized-riders. The thought of shouldering my old bike to navigate rugged terrain (pictured) was out of the question.

In the end, my Element weighs 27.3 lbs. which is pretty dang light considering what it can do. Any lighter and I’d have to compromise on the downhill fun factor.

In terms of the ride, it’s taken some getting used to. With the Element, I have to be more intentional with my line choices, but the energy I save makes me a more powerful and precise rider on both climbs and descents. In the end, I’m enjoying riding more on the Element because my equipment isn’t bogging me down in the same ways it used to.

In this case, size absolutely mattered—and bigger was NOT better!  

Don’t put yourself (or your bike) in a box. Sometimes you need to defy the labels to find what you really need.