Alpine Bikes' resident enduro racer Stuart Nicholson reveals the process behind his labour of love: his custom-built Trek Remedy. Got any questions? Ask us below in the comments!
Having had the opportunity to build up a custom bike, I thought I would share the specifics and reasoning around the choices and bike setup of my Trek. It’s been built with reliability and performance in mind, with weight a second. Light is good, but goal #1 is always to finish.
The frame
The heart of every bike is the frame and I was spoilt for choice with two great options: the Trek Remedy or Trek Slash. I chose the Remedy as it has 20mm less travel and, with slightly steeper geometry, it suits my riding style and location. I added a 150mm Rockshox Pike (+10mm on standard) to slacken it a touch to ~66.5°. Suspension is set up with 75psi and 1 token in the fork, and 200psi in the shock.
Stop and start
To me, the two most important components on a bike are brakes and tyres. I kept my SLX brakes from last season because I have them set up perfectly for me and I trust them. Tyres-wise, I run a Bontrager SE4 at the back as its fast rolling for the grip and a good all-weather option. SE carcass is tough and relatively light too. On the front I’ll use a Bontrager SE5 or a Maxxis Shorty in muddy conditions.
Rims etc
I’ve not bought into the new super-wide rim concept yet, so I’m running a set WTB Frequency i-23 rims on DT 350 hubs. These wheels are 3 years old and still going strong! I don’t struggle with burping tyres and it's nice to have a rounder tyre profile so you can lean the bike more.
The bar and stem are by Shimano’s finishing kit brand Pro. Amazing value and lightweight...What’s not to love! The Gamut Trail SXR is an upper guide with a lower fixed bash. It’s really lightweight and just works. Combined with a 32t narrow wide chain ring and XT clutch mech, I don’t expect to lose a chain all season. Finally, I love the shifter-like lever and set positions on the Fox DOSS. It’s reliable and easy to use, what more do you want!
Key stats: Custom build Trek Remedy
- Bike weight: 12.5kg race ready with spare tube and pump
- Frame: Trek Remedy 650b carbon 140mm travel
- Fork: Rockshox Pike 150mm
- Groupset: Shimano XT 1x11 (SLX brakes, XTR cranks)
- Wheels: DT 350 hubs, WTB Frequency rims
- Tyres: Maxxis Shorty/Bontrager SE5 front, Bontrager SE4 rear
- Bar/Stem: Shimano Pro Koryak 50mm stem and 760mm bar
- Chain Guide: Gamut Trail SXR
- Dropper post: Fox DOSS 125mm
