Pete just got his hands on a brand new 2016 Saracen Mantra Trail Carbon.
He’s going to train on the bike and then race the epic, Epic Israelย (so epic).
// 2016 Saracen Mantra Trail Carbon
// ยฃ1599
// Shimano Deore groupset
// Kore wheelset
// Suntour fork
What have we here then? A brand new racey carbon hardtail from the boys over at Saracen!
Racey hardtails perhaps aren’t what Wideopen are known for skidding about the woods on, but this specific tool is for a very specific task. Come October, our staffer Pete will be out in Israelย tackling the 3-day, 180-mile Epic Israel where a lightweight hardtail is the order of the day.
Don’t run away in panic. We haven’t even started shaving our faces, or palms, yet, let alone our legs. The Saracen Mantra is no carbon, 29er paperclip, but blurs the lines between an out-and-out race machine and the hardtails that we as Brits love so much.
So, the Mantra’s base is the Toray Uni-diectional Carbon frame which features a 68 degree head angle with the fitted Suntour 120mm fork. This frame is about as understated as you can get, with all the joins perfectly smooth, and a top tube than becomes a set of chainstays without breaking the lines. The tapered headtube allows for headset-based slackening but that’s not really what this bike is for. The frame itself comes in just over the 3lb mark and sets the foundations for what is, despite a relatively modest spec list, a very light bike indeed.
As per the Saracen norm, spec is a mix of Shimano transmission and brakes, Deore on this model, with Kore wheels and finishing kit making up the rest. All the bells and whistles might not be present on this bike, but the asking price is as sensible as the spec. There’s little to go wrong and nothing too expensive to fix should it happen to. We look forward to putting some massive miles in on this wee beast!
Keep an eye on our Facebook and we’ll post up once Pete has had a ride on the Mantra. We’ll also be keeping an eye on his training leading up to Epic Israel!
Click here forย Saracen bikesย and more fast, fun bikes from wideopenmag here.
