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Mountain Gear

Pro Bike: Rebecca Rusch’s Leadville Specialized Fate

Caley Fretz gives the once-over to Rebecca Rusch's Specialized Fate ahead of the Leadville Trail 100 MTB

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Don't miss a moment from Paris-Roubaix and Unbound Gravel, to the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and everything in between when you join Outside+.

Rebecca
Three-time world champion and four-time Leadville winner Rebecca Rusch will look to defend her crown on this 29-inch Specialized Fate, the company’s carbon fiber women’s frame. She’s on a SRAM XX and XO 2×10 drivetrain, a RockShox SID with Specialized Brain internals, and Specialized cockpit, seatpost, saddle, crankset, wheels and tires. The setup is nearly identical to her winning ride from last year — except this year she may run the aero bar pads pictured. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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The Fate’s top tube drops down, improving standover clearance. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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An increasing number of companies are realizing that there is a market for high quality race frames built for women. Specialized is one of them. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Rusch has a custom-etched CarbonTi seatpost collar. Due to the sloping top tube, she can’t run a second bottle cage inside the main triangle; instead she mounts a second cage on the seatpost. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Rusch runs a 2×10 setup with 38/24 chainrings. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Many pros use SRAM’s XO rear derailleur instead of the top-tier XX because XO has a roller-bearing clutch to help control chain slap. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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SRAM’s heavily machined 11-36-tooth XX cassette. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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SRAM XX disc brakes keep Rusch under control. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Rusch still wasn’t sure if she was going to run the arm rests as of Friday, but mechanics had them mounted up for testing. They would allow her to rest her elbows comfortably on the bars in a sort of invisible-aero-bar position. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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The SID features hydraulic lockout. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Rebecca
Rusch rides a Specialized Oura Pro saddle with carbon rails. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Ergon-like Truvative grips. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Fork lockout is always close at thumb. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

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