Bike Check: The Privateer is Going to Finale on a New Bike

Sep 25, 2018
by Brian Park  



What a season it's been for Adam the Privateer. Between holding down much of his regular job, filming The Privateer series, and still making time to train, his result at the Whistler EWS was nothing short of amazing.

All the support you guys have shown for the series has been amazing, so we're sending Adam to Finale Ligure, Italy, for the final race of the EWS season. The work he's put in this year has been incredible, and it's high time he experiences what it's like to do some truly international racing. Thanks for everything Adam, can't wait to see the last episode of the season.

To cap off an amazing project the folks at Scott Sports hooked Adam up with a new Ransom, their recently announced 170mm 29er enduro bike. We've got one on test and you'll see the results soon, but in the meantime, here's Adam's fresh build.


Details

FRAME: Ransom Carbon HMX - 29" wheels, 170mm travel
FORK: Fox 36 Float Factory Air - 170mm travel, w/ TwinLoc
SHOCK: Fox Nude TR EVOL Trunnion - travel adjust (170mm/120mm/lockout) & ramp adjust
REMOTE SYSTEM: Scott TwinLoc with TSP technology
REAR DERAILLEUR: Box One 11 Speed
SHIFTERS: Box One Twin Shifter
BRAKES: TRP G-Spec Quadiem - 203mm front, 180mm rear
CRANKSET: Stages Power L Gen 3 power meter, XT M8000 crankset - 170mm, with OneUp Components 32t Oval Traction chainring
HEAD UNIT: Stages Dash
CHAINGUIDE: Scott custom
PEDALS: Time Speciale Red
HANDLEBAR: Spank Spike 800 Vibrocore - 50mm rise, 760mm wide
DROPPER POST: Fox Transfer - 31.6mm, 150mm
DROPPER POST REMOTE: OneUp Components
SEAT: Spank Oozy 220
WHEELSET: Mavic Deemax Pro 29” - F: 15x110mm, R: 12x148mm Boost
CHAIN: Box Components Hex Lab 11 Speed
CASSETTE: Box Components Two - 11-46 T
TIRES: Schwalbe Magic Mary - Super Gravity casing, Ultra Soft, front 22psi, rear 24psi
ACCESSORIES: One Up Components EDC, Syncros Trail Fender, Camelbak Podium bottle
WEIGHT: 33lbs
The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019


The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019

The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
Scott TwinLoc remote.


The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019

The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
Box 11-speed transmission, Scott top guide and a OneUp oval chainring.


The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
OneUp dropper post, and....
The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
...all the necessary tools stashed in the head tube with the OneUp EDC system.


The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
PB rates TRP G-Spec Quadiem four-piston brakes as class leaders.


The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
Mavic's athletes are doing on the EWS Circuit.


The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
Schwalbe Magic Mary tires on both ends of the bike.


The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019
Made in France: Time Speciale Red pedals.


The Privateer s Scott Ransom 2019





Watch the first 11 episodes of The Privateer here. Many thanks to all the below sponsors for supporting Adam Price and this series:




MENTIONS: @pinkbikeoriginals / @SCOTT-Sports / @mavic / @Fox-Head-Inc / @boxcomponents / @schwalbe / @stages-cycling / @CamelBak / @Spank-Ind / @RydersEyewear / @TRPCyclingComponents / @OneUpComponents / @timecycling


Author Info:
brianpark avatar

Member since Dec 29, 2010
214 articles

130 Comments
  • 172 1
 So Adam, do you or do you not have volume spacer in your fork. Answer in 5 seconds.
  • 53 1
 How'd that get in there?
  • 5 61
flag MisterJones (Sep 25, 2018 at 6:31) (Below Threshold)
 @casman86: watch the entire season and you will unterstand ?
  • 34 0
 @MisterJones: Steve knows how many spacers you are running by staring at you.
  • 23 11
 The suspension question for this episode this is going to be how long does it take to overheat that tiny little inline shock
  • 87 4
 Needs more cables emanating from the handlebar region.
  • 10 16
flag tcmtnbikr (Sep 25, 2018 at 11:53) (Below Threshold)
 Bwahaha!!!...said no one, ever. Scott sure do like to overly complicate things with gadgets, cables and crap that nobody wants
  • 13 0
 @tcmtnbikr: they sure seem to sell a shit ton of Sparks and geniuses, so apparently somebody likes them. Have you ever ridden twin loc?
  • 63 0
 The "Privateer". I thought he was meant to sleep in his van and beg old tyres off the pro's?

Having just slagged it off, I have to admit it is the best thing on Pinkbike. Good Luck Adam
  • 137 3
 The Bachelor is called The Bachelor even though the goal of the series is to not be a bachelor. Same for The Privateer.

...did I just make a Bachelor comparison? I need to reevaluate my life.
  • 8 3
 @brianpark: Why couldn't I come up with this answer for the whole year? It's gold haha.
  • 20 0
 Can Pinkbike “force’ Adam to legally change his name to Adam The Privateer?
  • 16 1
 I think the Privateer is way better than most of the seasons of The Bachelor. Although, season 13 with Jason and Melissa is *really* hard to top because their connection was, of course, very special.
  • 27 5
 Read this "... Hard to argue with Adam's wheel choice, considering how well Mavic athetes are doing on the EWS Circuit..."

Went back to the new bike day Ep1 vid, he was provided the bike, didn't mention any personal choices. Don't turn this sponsorship into a personal endorsement exercise.

But yeah, awesome series, really enjoyed it! Smash it, Adam...I was watching the Whistler results in real time, really egging you on :-)
  • 5 0
 Count me in as the advocatus diavoli mate!

I guess it's an understatement to say that Mavic wheels are not that popular down under. It's down to the distribution, their products and the lack of parts in workshops. In the workshop I run, ditching Mavic was one of the first things I did. You have to have few yellow binders full of parts and it's a complete nightmare. Can't remember how worth a mavic binder is here but when I worked in Europe it was 1500 or AU$2500 each.

But in Europe and in North America Mavic is in charge of its own distribution. And their race support -the famous "service course"- is second to none. Pro athletes or privateers they will have your back covered. So maybe it was not too bad of a choice if it was a choice.
  • 10 0
 @hifiandmtb fair, I removed that caption. That said, Adam did have input in putting together his bike.
  • 24 0
 Sickest news of the day! Good luck Adam!
  • 6 0
 Yeah: go get them Adam!
  • 23 0
 Dang! You got shocks... pegs... Lucky! You ever taken off any sweet jumps?
  • 2 0
 I heard he gets 3ft of air.
  • 24 4
 that's a sweet ride, and 170mm 29er sounds like a monster descendant. i'm a bit surprised by the lack of a piggyback shock, though.
  • 27 11
 First, CONGRATS Adam. However, honestly I'm thinking this may not be the best idea. You just spent all season getting used to a bike and getting good results then you change it up for the Finale? You never try something new during the finale, you stick with what you know. This is about you, it's not about Scott making you a billboard for their new bike.

Lets say you're a chef and you just made it to the finals of a cooking competition; Do you make a dish that you've made 1000x and can make it in your sleep, or do you try to make a new dish you've never made before? You stick with what you know.

A better idea would be to let Adam race with his old bike, then when the race is over, give him this new bike as a gift to show appreciation for his hard work.
  • 40 2
 He wouldn't even be going to Finale if it weren't for the sponsors... Plus I would bet money that as a privateer he is pretty stoked about getting a top shelf bike that you can't even buy yet...
  • 16 14
 It has nothing to do with the sponsors or being stoked about getting free stuff. I'm sure he appreciates it. But he spent all year fine tuning his bike to exactly the way he rides on the exact conditions he will be riding in the finale. You get used to the small stuff, the sounds it makes when you put it under certain stresses, how it responds, etc... There's a bond you build with a bike when you've spent hundreds of hours on it. Being a "top shelf bike that you can't even buy yet" doesn't mean squat. To switch his bike now is like starting over. So unless he spends another hundred hours on this new bike before the finale, he's banking on hoping that this new bike will perform exactly like his old bike - which it wont.
  • 45 3
 @NYShred: some of you people are unbelievable, cry at support, cry at no support. its amazing Scott is supporting him and giving him a great new bike.
  • 10 2
 I had that thought to, but you can get a bike 95% dialed in a few days and that with the added gains of the new bike could be enough for even better improvement. Even the psychological improvement of a new bike should make a difference.
  • 16 0
 I believe I saw him on Instagram on the podium of a smaller level enduro race with him commenting about how good the new bike is. So, while I agree you generally shouldn’t ride a new bike blind at a major race, I think he’s got some time on it already. Besides, the new rig looks a lot better for EWS than his old Genius.
  • 52 2
 its a miracle Richie Rude was able to win the last EWS on a brand new bike...... :/
  • 10 1
 It's the full pro experience, where your frame sponsor forces you to ride their new bike for marketing reasons.
  • 14 0
 "Don't punch a gift shark in the mouth."
-Rick Sanchez
  • 17 0
 @NYShred mid-season bike changes are always high risk—if I were his team manager and he were in the hunt for the overall I'd never let him switch bikes.

That said, he's been putting in time and feels fast with the new monster-truck; sometimes changing bikes up can be a mental advantage as well. Plus, this is more about his experience doing the whole international racing thing for the first time.
  • 1 0
 Have to make the point that often new dishes are good, as judges will penalize for unoriginality. Granted, a scenario like this/that is a gamble(r, or would that make Adam a Gambler?) (sorry! Big Grin ), but it could pay off big.
  • 4 0
 Adam you can't get any more PRO than this! A new bike, traveling the world, adoring fans saying good things about you and your gifts. Soak it in brother. Keep a journal of these great experiences.
  • 2 0
 @whambat: yup a couple weeks back in Wa at Tiger MTN. He got second.
  • 1 0
 @NYShred: You can easily adapt to a new bike. It may take a little while to set it up, but he some of the best guys in the business to help him set it up fast. The Ransom is highly likely to be faster than the Genius.
  • 2 0
 @NYShred: Totally agree with you. It’s not that Adam doesn’t appreciate the support. He completely does. Who wouldn’t? But that bond you get with your machine is quite deep. Yeah you know every little thing it does and how it does it. My main trail ride is an old bike that I’ve modernized and customized. My wife rides a 2016 CC Bronson. I’ve done enduro on both. Despite being incredibly underbiked on my old rig my results were better. Why??? In part because of how well you become tuned to your ride.
  • 2 0
 @fattyheadshok: Good point. I do better at the bike park on my XC hardtail than my buddy's FR bike. Why? His feels weird to me lol. But then again, I'm sure someone with way more skills would be equally better at adjusting...
  • 1 1
 @fattyheadshok: I'm glad some people actually still read instead of skimming through a comment just so they can find one thing to bitch about based off one sentence. It appears the highest "propped" in this conversation are those that quipped about the sponsor and support. Missing my point entirely.

Also, before I commented I didn't know that Adam has been riding this new steed for a while because I'm not an Instagram Creep like some on this forum. My point is/was - If you've ever competed before in any sport you know it's risky to try new gear/equipment/techniques especially during a final round in a comp. I learned that lesson a long time ago. Skated street and park for months on the same wheels and deck then entered a comp - I decided to get new wheels right before a competition but since the urethane wasn't broken in I was sliding all over the place and slipping out of tricks I would have normally stomped without a problem. Lesson learned. Don't change your equipment right before a competition.

I'd even go as far as saying that many athletes in this sport might have more consistent results if they just stayed on one damn bike through the season instead of getting a new one every race. This contributes to the on-going nonsense in this culture that the newest latest most expensivest bike will somehow miraculously make you a better faster rider.
  • 1 1
 @NYShred: I get your point about feeling comfortable on a bike you have been on for years but that doesn't mean you can't feel instantly comfortable hopping on a new bike. I've been riding the same bike for about 6 years and have made many upgrades/changes. The past couple seasons I've been renting/demoing bikes in anticipation of purchasing a new one(plans got delayed due to a dog surgery). For me it went both ways, a couple didn't feel quite right but most were rockets from the get go and I never felt held back in the slightest. Yes my bike felt like an old pair of boots when I hopped back on it but that doesn't take away from how good I felt on the other bikes too. Also the psychology factor others have mentioned about getting a new rig is definitely a fair point.

In regards to my "quip" about the sponsors... that was a perfectly relevant comment. He wouldn't be traveling to Italy at all for this race if it weren't for them nor would he have had the bike he trained and raced on all season. Even if he isn't as comfortable on the new bike it is arguable that it is better to go with it rather than not be able to go to the race at all...
  • 10 1
 I am actually a Schwalbe fan ( for years) especially for the Mary. Interesting to see the Mary in 29 - Ultra Soft - Super Gravity - and I assume Tubeless Ready on this Scott.
All of these Options are not availible for paying customers like me.
In ultra soft in 29 inch you can only buy a non folding, heavy DH casing and worst of all non tubeless version.
Schwalbe I am seriously pissed off!!!!
  • 1 0
 Yep was gonna say, I would love to know where to get those.
  • 9 0
 This series is a marketing bonanza for Scott bikes. I hope whoever thought of it gets a big Christmas bonus this year.
  • 8 2
 I would say you are more of a semi-pro than a privateer if you have that many sponsors
  • 4 0
 Id really like to see how the twin lock remote is set up with that one up dropper remote...

Bonus neat fact for squamptonites. My autocorrect changes "twinlock" to "republic"!
  • 2 0
 twin lock is on the top of the bas dude
  • 4 0
 How will this thing ever go downhill without a coil shock or reservoir? The lack of reservoir on his Genius is clearly what was holding him back from a podium spot alongside Sam Hill.
  • 3 0
 @brianpark
A 29" Magic Mary in Super Gravity and Ultra Soft is not even available now nor listed on the @Schwalbe website...
Is this a sign that the tire will be available soon??
  • 6 0
 What size frame is Adam on? And how tall is he?
  • 5 1
 everyone's talking about the bike, but thank you for mentioning the Camelbak Podium bottle! i was gonna lose it if it wasn't brought up. Drool tup
  • 2 0
 @Brian Park
A 29" Magic Mary in Super Gravity and Ultra Soft is not even available now nor listed on the @Schwalbe website...
Is this a sign that the tire will be available soon??
  • 1 0
 @pinkbike hello
I have a scott ransom and i want to switch the headset.

This is the first bike check i saw without a syncros stem. I ask scott and my lbs to tell what type of headset i could use to replace the syncros. They told me its a proprietary headset nothing compatible on the market.

But it seems here you have a cane creek headset.

Pleaaaase could you gave me the ref of the one you bought ?

Thanks !
  • 10 6
 Genuine question: what is a privateer and doesn't clash that with having a gazillion sponsors?
  • 3 2
 There's no factory support. He needs to do all his wrenching, travelling etc. on his own. Sponsors are helping mostly with parts and possibly small amounts of money.
  • 17 3
 As far as I can tell privateer seems to be anyone who isnt on a works team being paid. I agree that calling someone with an armful of sponsors a privateer is stretching the term IMHO. To me a privateer is someone who has no sponsors and has to provide everything themselves. There is then a group between these 2 that is where Adam and many others sit semi-pro? Pro-Am? Supported rider? I dont know what I would call them
  • 2 2
 that's what I was thinking ...
  • 58 0
 *sighs* the whole project is about taking a privateer who didn't have sponsors etc. and helping him out and seeing how it helps him.
  • 3 0
 @zephxiii: the answer being obvious to all. It helps a lot.
  • 6 0
 Watch the video series!
  • 6 2
 Even amateur racers have sponsors. Being sponsored has nothing to do with being a privateer. Also being sponsored doesn't mean that parts or bikes are free. A factory rider has factory support, is getting paid, and everything is taken care of for free.
  • 7 0
 you missed the point, someone who works a full time job then races on the side is a privateer. This was a test to see if you took the bike out of the equation, how would the results change. Privateers usually dont have the best kept gear or the freshest of parts.
  • 11 0
 @vhdh666 @SleepingAwake the point of the series is to see what happens when you give a privateer more support. Smile
  • 2 1
 @dualsuspensiondave: I know what it means to be sponsored, I was in a different sport for many years but I wasnt a pro. If you are being sponsored you have to behave as a pro, you are there to represent the brands that sponsor you in the best light. The only difference is the amount of sponsorship you get and thus how much time you are expected to give to your sponsors in return.
  • 2 1
 @muletron: I'm disappointed the payoff wasn't bigger in Whistler--I assumed all the "what a great result" stuff was PR spin. You don't think so?
  • 3 0
 @phile99: I don't know why he didn't think of just doing better. Smile

For real though, with the amount the level of competition increases every year, we're beyond stoked with how Adam did in Whistler.
  • 3 0
 the Ransom is supposed to be the bomb. All bike mag testers chose it as favorite. That's sayin' something after all the bikes they tested.
  • 1 0
 Crazy air pressure! I'm running the same tires but 27,5 also tubeless and with 29 PSI in the back i dented my rim. I´m a sub 70 Kg guy, so I think he'll use his rims pretty bad... or he uses some special helpers Wink
  • 1 0
 YES ADAM!! Just got me some of those speciale 12 pedals yesterday. I put my shoes on and tested them out in my apartment, and then found myself clipping in and out of them for about a half an hour--its addicting.
  • 3 0
 Can someone do a long term test on the latest incarnation of the Box drive train?
  • 1 0
 Made of plastic. Worked great untill a friend borrowed my bike and I noticed a crack in the parralelogram, (a metal part broke, not the plastic.) Still got 5 more rides even with it injured. I give it a good review if you are a smooth rider that knows how to keep from bashing parts on rocks.
  • 2 0
 @Chonky13: The first generation parts wereused cast construction. Newer parts are visually identical, but are forged and are twice as strong. So far, we're impressed and I may spec Box shifters and derailleurs on our bikes.
  • 2 0
 Looks like a beast of a bike. For a scott, this one comes in a little heavy as built-gravity tires and i guess those bars aren't lightest around.
  • 4 0
 50mm rise bars on a 170mm front end?? Holy hell
  • 3 0
 Go Adam, GO!!! and good luck in Finale!
  • 3 0
 best thing on pinkbike without question
  • 1 1
 Adam, I would love to know your reasoning for going with 170mm cranks for such a big guy. I know we all hate petal strikes, but I’m interested to hear any downsides in enduro format racing.
  • 2 0
 I am 6ft 4 and run 170mm cranks. Only to avoid pedal strikes
  • 1 2
 went up in travel 10mm, 170mm 29er, i think hes got the room.
  • 1 0
 @SnowshoeRider4Life: Bigger travel means more pedal strikes. You end up lower when cranking out of the saddle because of all the squish.
  • 2 0
 @casman86: The twin lock really is a "genius" addition to a dually. In the mid firm mode, not only does the travel shorten, it also really firms up the shocks to pedal like an XC rig instead of a fluffy marshmallow.
  • 1 0
 @Chonky13: Yeah the handlebar clutter is ugly but I could definitely use it at least on the rear. My Patrol doesn't let me sprint like my older shorter travel bike.
  • 2 0
 @casman86: LOVE the nude shock. Wish they would ditch the "twin" aspect of twinloc and divorce the fork from the nude shock... There is no need to make on the fly adjustments to a properly set up fork. Whereas the on the fly adjustabililty of the nude shock truly makes a noticeable difference on the long travel bikes.
  • 6 4
 Mavic please stop ruining the look of people’s bike with that hanging yellow. That is all
  • 3 0
 holy cable management batman!
  • 1 0
 I tell you what. For crazy staff like La Thuile or Whistler it can be ok but for most of Enduro I would stick to Genius with upgraded For 36 170 mm fork
  • 1 0
 I have come all the way from the U.K. to Finale to cheer him on and I can’t even find his start time. He doesn’t seem to be listed as riding?!
  • 1 0
 So what ever happened here? Adam isn't listed on the Finale results. I wanted to see how he did, but it seems he didn't race?
  • 2 0
 Good luck in italy!

Anyone know why he uses 50mm rise bars?
  • 2 0
 he said he needs the rise for the steep trails around squamish
  • 1 0
 @ThiloSchmidt-Werthern: makes sense, higher front end less chance of getting thrown otb
  • 2 0
 I've asked that before but never got an answer. 50mm rise bars on a long travel 29er with spacers underneath the stem. It's the highest stack height I've seen on any enduro bike. Wondering his height and ape index.
  • 3 1
 @casman86: not everybody likes a low stack height in the front... I always thought it was funny when you see people with the shortest headtubes, zero-stack headsets, upside down stems, #slamthatstem and then they wonder why their bike handles weirdly in steeper stuff
  • 1 0
 @tgr9: Yeah... my issue has always been wanting more stack... tall guy + steep stuff = ...
  • 2 0
 @tgr9: I'm definitely not comparing to low stack height. I'm talking about how he has a higher stack than anybody, ever. I'm 6' 3" and ride a 170mm 27.5 fork with 40mm rise bars and 20mm of spacers on a 130mm head tube. It's a tall stack. Adam's is probably at least another 25mm above that.
  • 1 0
 @AidanWilson so he can do mid-race turndowns obviously.
  • 1 0
 Such a shame they don't make the Ransom in XXL, such a great looking bike! Good luck in the last round Adam!!
  • 4 0
 500mm reach on the xl is pretty good how tall are you ?
  • 1 0
 @zyoungson: 1m98, should try to find a test bike, but that isn't so easy here
  • 2 0
 Crazy how much that bike weighs!
  • 1 0
 Like someone said on another article, the day when enduro bikes will be heavier than DH bikes is coming.
  • 2 0
 @nozes: Indeed, but then they do have to last more than 5 minutes. I do agree that I dont understand why bike manufactures can make DH bikes so light but not trail or enduro bikes.
  • 1 0
 Go Adam go Adam - big fan! But we need more Videos training riding and what so ever...
  • 3 4
 "To cap off an amazing project the folks at Scott Sports hooked Adam up with a new Ransom..."

Guess he's not a privateer anymore!
  • 2 2
 Finally got the bike dialed in, and now you're going to switch bikes? Bad move
  • 2 1
 Need to sharpie that Addix compound into ADAM signature tyres
  • 1 0
 hmmm...nice bike! have fun Adam!
  • 1 0
 I'm glad this series is continuing. My favorite thing to watch all year.
  • 1 0
 Follow him next year on : " my first year as a pro"
  • 2 0
 and the year after that on: "Hey, where did everybody go?"


Just kidding, Adam. Give 'er!!!
  • 2 0
 Missing part list = STEM
  • 1 0
 What is that green thing in the centre of the triangle?
  • 1 0
 I believe it is a plastic container of hydroxyl acid for rehydration purposes
  • 1 0
 That's what they call a bottle of dihydrogen monoxide.
  • 5 8
 Im sure Adam doesnt mind having this whole thing turn into a bit of a SCOTT Bikes advertisement campaign being as he is off to ride the final race of the EWS season for free....But at the same time it has taken away the charm and the appeal of what the Privateer series had going for it. Very interested to see the final video in the series come out and if it too has a SCOTT bikes stamp all over it too.
  • 4 0
 This is the essence of sponsorship, and sponsorship is the point of the entire exercise.
  • 3 2
 Now this is a proper bike check Wink
  • 1 0
 Congrats Adam! Crush it out there.
  • 1 0
 Dear scott, why are your bikes so freaking expensive
  • 2 0
 "So we could fly Adam to Europe--do you mind?"
  • 1 0
 @hadibe: I've owned 14 Giants and then two Scotts. The Scotts are worth the extra.
  • 1 0
 Adam, can I have your old bike minus the volume spacers in your fork?
  • 1 0
 C'mon Adam! We're living the dream through you...
  • 1 0
 Ooft.
  • 1 0
 I wish I were THE ONE
  • 1 0
 *pedal
  • 1 0
 Let her rip Adam
  • 1 3
 all those bikes look same
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.246319
Mobile Version of Website