Style is always subjective, but open the shutters and let the sun’s rays stream in on the Altitude – trust us, there’ll be at least a flicker of a smile on everyone’s face. Helmet Smith Forefront | Shorts Alpinestars Pathfinder | Jersey ROCDAY ELEMENT | Shoes Five Ten Maltese Falcon The Rocky Mountain Altitude 2018 on the Trail The spec is well tuned for heavy-duty trail riding, and looks like it will survive some abuse. The bottom bracket is now lower, and the chainstays are marginally shorter at 425 mm. Rocky Mountain have still kept it moderate though, going for a 452 mm reach (in Large) and 65° head angle in the slackest RIDE-9 setting. The geometry has also been nipped and tucked to bring it firmly into fashion, seeing it turn longer and slacker. The geometry of the Rocky Mountain Altitude Sometimes the shot backfires, but the Rocky Mountain Altitude succeeds in its color choice all the way down to the smallest details and ensures an impressive appearance. Hiding behind the inconspicuous facade of the FOX 36 Performance Elite are the innards of the Factory fork, and only the coating of the stanchions differentiates the two models. This can be done with a multi-tool and takes no more than three minutes. Using the RIDE-9 system you can easily set the Altitude to your preferred geometry. There’s also a ton of other new features to render the Altitude fit for the future: wide Boost hubs, a metric-sized rear shock, ball bearing pivots (instead of cartridge bearings), and revised cable routing. And while 160 mm forks were once only the preserve of the Rally edition, this longer-travel setup is now standard across all the models. The most significant visual redesign is the new rear linkage, which still features the RIDE-9 system from the former models, but in a more elegant form. “When you open the door of your bike shed and the first rays of sunlight strike the Altitude’s lacquer, the corners of your mouth inevitably go upwards.”įor 2018, the Altitude takes to the starting blocks with a all-new frame. For 2016, the brand turned their attention to the rear shock swing-link and bearings, while the frame – by then in its 5th season – was beginning to show its age. In 2014, Rocky Mountain dropped the sexed-up Rally edition, giving the Altitude the option of 160 mm travel up front. The latest iteration of the Altitude marks the most significant step forward for the range since 2013 when it adopted the then-controversial 27.5″ wheel size and welcomed a whole new frame. It’s certainly not a new bike to the scene, but it can be defined as one that has invested real time and energy in its evolution in a bid to keep pace with our ever-changing society.

Rocky mountain altitude geometry