Pro bike: Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski's Subaru-Gary Fisher Superfly 100

Fleet-footed dual-suspension 29er

James Huang/BikeRadar

Published: June 3, 2010 at 1:43 pm

Current US national cross-country champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) won the inaugural Mellow Johnny's Classic on a Gary Fisher Superfly 29er hardtail but chose a full-suspension Superfly 100 this time around to better cope with the course's relentless rocks.

Though offering 110mm of rear wheel travel – as compared to none – Horgan-Kobelski's Superfly 100 isn't much heavier than its non-suspended cousin. Frame weight is only around 2.2kg (4.85lb) thanks to a clever all-carbon construction and a svelte 44g carbon swing-link, and the complete build is an impressive 10.69kg (23.57lb) in full race trim with a CO2 inflator and computer. That's lighter than many riders' 26" hardtails.

Front triangle stiffness is very good, too, owing to the ultra-wide BB95 bottom bracket shell with press-fit bearings and a tapered head tube. And out back, the efficient modified single-pivot suspension design and clever ABP dropout pivots help keep wasted power to a minimum and also work to keep the rear end planted under braking.

The rear shock is badged as a rockshox monarch 2.1 but the controls suggest it's a 3.3 model instead.: the rear shock is badged as a rockshox monarch 2.1 but the controls suggest it's a 3.3 model instead. - James Huang/BikeRadar

The rear shock is badged as a RockShox Monarch 3.1 but the controls suggest it's a 3.3 model instead

In contrast to the stock Superfly 100, suspension duties are handled at both ends by team sponsor RockShox instead of the usual Fox Racing Shox bits. Bolted to the swing-link is an air-sprung Monarch 3.1 rear shock – which Horgan-Kobelski says he left in the mid-gate position the entire race – and up front is RockShox's latest Reba 29 XX World Cup fork, complete with a tapered carbon fibre 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" crown and steerer assembly that team mechanic Matt Opperman says shaves roughly 140g as compared to the standard alloy version.

Old habits die hard, though, as team mechanic Matt Opperman says that Horgan-Kobelski runs a relatively firm 160psi in his rear shock, paired with a more standard 110/110psi positive/negative pressure up front.

"Jeremy runs his rear shock probably a little more firm than a lot of riders because he comes from a hardtail background for most of his career," said Opperman. "But he's been experimenting a lot with rear shocks so he's been getting progressively more comfort and with the issues with his back, this really works for him."

An 11-36t sram xx cassette is fitted to the bontrager rear hub.: an 11-36t sram xx cassette is fitted to the bontrager rear hub. - James Huang/BikeRadar

An 11-36T SRAM XX cassette is fitted to the Bontrager rear hub

Further aiding on the weight front is Horgan-Kobelski's SRAM XX component group, dressed in versatile 26/39T chainrings and an 11-36T cassette to better match with the 29" wheels' longer rollout. Lone substitutions include standard stainless steel Avid G3 rotors in place of the aluminium-and-steel XX units and a steel-caged SRAM Red road front derailleur bolted to the direct-mount tab on the seat tube with a custom mount made by high-end auto parts manufacturer and importer Stratmosphere.

A single bontrager race lite bottle cage is fitted with t25 titanium torx bolts - not for weight-saving but rather to cut down on the number of tools required when servicing the bike.: a single bontrager race lite bottle cage is fitted with t25 titanium torx bolts - not for weight-saving but rather to cut down on the number of tools required when servicing the bike. - James Huang/BikeRadar

A single Bontrager Race Lite bottle cage is fitted with T25 titanium Torx bolts

Keen-eyed readers will note Opperman's inclusion of Torx-head titanium bolts in several locations such as the water bottle cage and front derailleur cable anchor bolt. However, he quickly points out that while they do save a few grams, it's more for his own convenience than anything else.

"More so than anything they're T25s," he admitted. "We did shave some weight on this bike with the all-carbon crown and steerer tube on the BlackBox fork but other than that the XX stuff is so light there's not a whole lot of weight savings we can do with our sponsors. The stuff's all pretty light and durable."

Jeremy horgan-kobelski (subaru-gary fisher) ran these fast-rolling and narrow bontrager 29-0 tyres for the mellow johnny's classic.: jeremy horgan-kobelski (subaru-gary fisher) ran these fast-rolling and narrow bontrager 29-0 tyres for the mellow johnny's classic. - James Huang/BikeRadar

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) ran these fast-rolling and narrow Bontrager 29-0 tires for the Mellow Johnny's Classic

Horgan-Kobelski has famously preferred to run fast and relatively narrow tires on his 29ers and this latest Superfly 100 is no exception. Mounted around his Bontrager Race X Lite wheels are a set of lot-knob Bontrager 29-0 tubeless-ready clinchers measuring just 1.90" in width. According Opperman, Horgan-Kobelski at least opted to run a fairly conservative 33psi both front and rear to prevent pinch flats.

Hey jeremy, what time is it?: hey jeremy, what time is it? - James Huang/BikeRadar

Hey Jeremy, what time is it?

Wrapping things up are a carbon fibre seatpost and low-rise bar plus a forged aluminium stem, all from Bontrager, light-yet-grippy ESI silicone foam rubber grips, a firm fi'zi:k Tundra k:ium saddle, a previous-generation crankbrothers Eggbeater 4ti pedals, slick Nokon red-anodized aluminium housing and sealed cables, a Cane Creek 110 headset, and a cheeky Trek Time Watch analogue clock.

Not to go unmentioned, either, is the custom stars-and-stripes paint job. As compared to the standard livery, the rich red, white and blue hues almost assuredly add back some of grams that were so painstakingly shaved away (paint is surprisingly heavy) but given how hard Horgan-Kobelski worked to earn that title last July, we doubt he minds much.

Complete bike specifications

  • Frame: Gary Fisher Superfly 100, size XL
  • Rear shock: RockShox Monarch 3.3
  • Fork: RockShox Reba XX World Cup, 100mm travel
  • Headset: Cane Creek 110, 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" tapered
  • Stem: Bontrager Race X Lite, 90mm x -17°
  • Handlebars: Bontrager Race XXX Lite Riser, 630mm
  • Tape/grips: ESI
  • Front brake: SRAM XX w/ 160mm G3 rotor
  • Rear brake: SRAM XX w/ 140mm G3 rotor
  • Brake levers: SRAM XX
  • Front derailleur: SRAM Red w/ steel cage, custom braze-on adapter
  • Rear derailleur: SRAM XX
  • Shift levers: SRAM XX
  • Cassette: SRAM XX, 11-36T
  • Chain: SRAM PC-1090
  • Crankset: SRAM XX, 175mm length, 156mm Q, 26/39T
  • Bottom bracket: Gary Fisher BB95 integrated
  • Pedals: crankbrothers Eggbeater 4ti
  • Wheelset: Bontrager Race X Lite TLR Disc CL 29
  • Front tire: Bontrager 29-0 Team Issue, 29x1.90", converted to tubeless
  • Rear tire: Bontrager 29-0 Team Issue, 29x1.90", converted to tubeless
  • Saddle: fi'zi:k Tundra k:ium
  • Seat post: Bontrager Race XXX Lite
  • Bottle cages: Bontrager Race Lite
  • Computer: Trek Time Watch
  • Other accessories: Nokon derailleur cable and housing, Genuine Innovations/SRAM Big Air inflator

Critical measurements

  • Rider's height: 70.3kg (155lb)
  • Rider's weight: 1.85m (6'1")
  • Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 798mm
  • Saddle setback: 80mm
  • Seat tube length, c-t: 533mm
  • Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 610mm
  • Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 90mm
  • Head tube length: 135mm
  • Top tube length: 638mm
  • Total bicycle weight: 10.69kg (23.57lb)
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