We went up to Steamboat Springs last weekend (6/17) to go to the Ellsworth Demo they were having at Orange Peel bike shop. It was also Mustang Rally weekend - lots of very nice cars driving around. I wish we'd have gotten there earlier, we would have gotten some good photos (at first we thought it was Mustang horses, y'know, Colorado and all...).
Anyway, I didn't get to ride the bike long. It took about 30 min or so to get set up and what not and I had to talk about bikes - it was like a trip to Poto with Ivan and Diann, basically!
The bike is a beautiful piece of art in it's own right. And the price reflects that ($2395 frame only). The one I rode was a med frame with Fox Talas and RP3 suspension bits. It was built light - carbon cranks, SDG saddle/post combo, 2.1" Kenda Cortez tires on Crossmax wheels, similar to what is shown in the above pic from Ellsworth's website. The bike was vastly lighter than my Moment.
So, on the trail, it climbs well and feels very stable. Going down it was solid and fast. All in all, a bike I would be happy to ride frequently!
I spoke to the Ellsworth rep at length about the frame and the way I might build it up if I had one (Rock Shox Pike 140mm, 2.35 tires). She stated that the bikes geometric sweet spot was actually 110mm-120mm of front travel and that successive drops over two feet or so would seriously damage the frame with a tall fork on it (an issue not covered under warranty!). So instead of a hard charging 5" travel bike, I think what you get with the Epiphany is a long legged Truth, designed more for endurance racing and smooth trail riding (of which there is a lot in the US, even Colorado, but not really where I ride). I was a bit disappointed with that.
Overall, I liked the bike, but I wouldn't trade my Moment for it. The Moment is more versitile and makes a better "all mountain" bike as it can be built as a 5" travel trail bike or 6" travel light free ride/all mountain monster. The Moment frame uses a thicker tubing than the Epiphany which allows one to run a bigger variety of rear shocks and front forks. The draw of the Epiphany is it's light frame with magnesium rockers and shaped and swagged tubeset. A lot of work has gone into designing and building that frame, no doubt. In the future, the Moment will get much of the same treatment, though it's not really going to lose much weight overall.
It was cool seeing all the bikes that they're making, including new Truths, Rogues, Moments and Epiphanies. We also got to see a Witness, the full suspension tandem bike - HUGE! Maybe one day Crystal and I will get one...I bet they are fun to ride!
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