This Custom Chromag Rootdown was built for out customer Matt W., who resides in Connecticut. He wasn't sure which Chromag frame would be best for his new bike, and the final showdown came down to either the Stylus or Rootdown. Ultimately, Matt decided that the 29" wheeled Rootdown would out-perform the 27.5" wheeled Stylus on his local trails, where maximum rollover capabilities were more necessary than playfulness.

          The overall goal was to build Matt a new bike to fit perfectly within his budget and make things look real purty in the process. Matt started by choosing the beautiful Hunter Green Rootdown frame, and wanted to bling it out with gold accents. This build actually used several components that were spare at the shop, such as the Speed-Tuned wheelset, which helped keep costs down. Budget doesn't mean that strength and ride quality are sacrificed, however, as this bike was built to take a beating and ride smooth while smashing through whatever was within reach of the front tire.

          When building a hardtail you know that the front suspension fork is going to be doing all of the work since there isn't a rear shock to help smooth out the trail. This means that picking the right fork to hold down the front end is super important, which is why we recommended the Marzocchi Bomber Z1. The Bomber Z1 uses 36mm stanchions plus a burlier crown and chassis than the Fox 36 to make this a sweet fork to handle all of the abuse that a hardtail endures on rough terrain. The damper is also super sensitive and overall simple, keeping the price down to $699. It was a no brainer that the Bomber Z1 was the perfect tool for this job!

          To get the bike pedaling, Matt opted for SRAM's NX Eagle drivetrain which offers insane performance for the low price that you pay. To keep some weight off of the rear end, we recommended a GX Eagle cassette which Matt agreed with since it weighs ~165 grams less. To slow down this long and slack steed, we used the Shimano Deore 2-piston brakes, which are a great brake to slow things down for a small price. For grip, we recommended the Maxxis Assegai up front and the Maxxis Aggressor in the rear. This is a decently fast-rolling tire setup which tons of bite. The sidewall casing is Double Down front and rear with a CushCore to give Matt tons of support when smacking roots and rocks. To finish this bike off, we got some gold goodies to tie the colors together. These gold bits consisted of Chromag Squarewave grips, Chromag Scarab Pedals and a Chromag Seatpost Clamp. To keep initial build costs down and keep this project simple, Matt chose to run a rigid seatpost with a WTB Silverado saddle rather than going with the popular choice of running a dropper post.

          Overall, the custom Rootdown is freaking beautiful with the matching green and gold colorway, and was built to conquer the ups and down with durable parts to keep this machine rollin' for years and years to come.

Matt... thanks so much for working with us to build the bike of your dreams. Enjoy the smashing!!

-The Lost Co Crew