The eagle eyed among you may have spotted that the bike Manon Carpenter rode to second place at last weekend's DH World Champs wasn't her usual Saracen Myst. Instead, Manon and her fellow Madison Saracen Team riders were aboard a new, full carbon version of the Myst downhill bike.
Saracen has since confirmed details of the bike – the appropriately named Carbon Myst, which will feature in the company's 2016 lineup.
A switch to carbon for the front triangle and suspension linkage components makes for a considerable saving of 670g (1.48lbs) over the current semi-carbon Myst chassis. Unlike the alloy triangle of the existing Myst, the Carbon Myst's shock mounts at the down tube – Saracen has kept quiet about the impact of this on the bike's kinematics but says the design makes for improved standover clearance and a lower centre of gravity. Another plus from this configuration is the Carbon Myst has room for the latest generation of big volume air shocks.
As well as a weight saving of 670g (1.48lbs), the Carbon Myst frame will accept large volume air shocks that the current Myst cannot
The design team at Saracen have also incorporated the ability to fine-tune the front-centre length -/+5mm with its custom head tube and headsets. Other notable features are a rear brake hose that's internally routed through the chainstay, and integrated bumpstops to protect the frame.
Production bikes will be available to buy from winter 2015 and will retail for £4,999.
