The Specialized Stumpjumper was the original trail bike. Growing up, that was the bike that everyone wanted — because it could do everything well. Over time, The Stumpjumper and just about every other trail bike has gotten bulkier, chunkier and more enduro-like. This shift isn’t isolated to a single brand, but is true with almost every bike brand you’ll find today. Knowing that it is possible to build a streamlined, lightweight 140mm trail bike, ALLIED set out to do just that and it’s their all-new FITZ.
I have personally lamented the demise of the purist trail bike — settling in on 120mm downcountry bikes, like the phenomenal Salsa Spearfish as my ideal bike. But, I often still wish for just a little more squish. Most of the time, that extra squish comes with a huge weight penalty as most 140mm bikes are well north of 30 lbs. Sam Pickman, Director of Product and Engineering had this to say:
“Trail bikes have become bloated over the past decade. FITZ was born from the idea that a trail bike doesn’t need to be heavy to be capable. We wanted something we could pedal all day into the backcountry, then point downhill and fully trust when the trail turns rough.”
I’ve met Sam and he and I definitely see eye-to-eye. And the new ALLIED FITZ aims to be a lightweight and capable trail bike that can still hang with the XC crowd or do lift service duty — a “do-it-all” bike, I daresay. With plenty of room for a large water bottle, the FITZ is made for all-day adventures or fast lunchtime sessions. Opting for a Horst link simplifies things while providing a consistent, proven trail feel. Well-done, ALLIED. This one looks like a winner.
ALLIED FITZ Features:
