Bike Check: Andréane Lanthier Nadeau’s Rocky Mountain Instinct

Rocky Mountain / Race Face launched as a new all-Canadian, and very Canadian, enduro team at the start of this Enduro World Series season. Andréane Lanthier Nadeau joined Jesse Melamed and Remi Gauvin to make up the small, three rider team supported by two the two B.C.-based title sponsors.

Lanthier Nadeau’s Rocky Mountain was still shiny and clean when I had the chance to take a closer look at her team edition Instinct, as she was still sidelined while recovering from a broken wrist. Since then, ALN has made her return to the EWS series at Petzen-Jamnica, where she finished ninth. Two weeks later, she was sixth at La Thuile. Here’s a closer look at the bike Lanthier Nadeau will be racing when the Enduro World Series arrives in Whistler this weekend.

All three of the team’s riders have picked Rocky Mountain’s 29″ wheeled Instinct to race this years EWS series. While the frame is the same, each rider’s bike has a different build reflecting their different riding styles. The Instinct frame is the same as the BC Edition bikes, which drop Rocky’s Ride-9 suspension adjustment system for and extend the bikes travel from 140mm to 155mm, but the rest of the build is team issue only.

Shimano supplies drivetrain parts and brakes for the Rocky Mountain / Race Face team. Lanthier Nadeau is running XTR for the drivetrain and brakes, but Saint platform pedals for extra stability on the rough EWS tracks. A Stages power meter inside the XTR cranks helps with pacing during long race days that consistently involve thousands of metres of climbing just to get between timed sections.   

Fox takes care of the Instincts suspension with a Factory 36 fork up front, and the highly adjustable Factory Float X2 out back. A Fox Transfer Factory dropper post make’s sure Lanthier Nadeau’s seat is out of the way when she needs it to be.

Race Face supplies the Next R series carbon wheels, built around the Vancouver company’s Vault hubs. The Next R wheels are wrapped in burly Maxxis Minion WT 29 x 2.5″ tires to keep Lanthier Nadeau pointed exactly where she wants to go.

RELATED: Escaping ‘the wrist prison:’ ALN on Injury, EWS and finding freedom on the bike

A chainguide from Squamish’s OneUp Components makes sure everything stays in place when the going gets really rough. The small Sea-to-Sky company also supplies its Everyday Carry (EDC) tool, which hides in the Instincts steerer tube. Mid-race mechanicals are “when” not “if” at the EWS, and the EDC makes sure the team always has tools without having to carry extra weight in a pack.

Rocky Mountain Instinct

Fox Factory 36

Fox Float X2

Rocky ditches the Ride-9 to get up to 155mm travel

Fox's Float X2 offers an array of adjustments, including high- and low-speed compression and high- and low-speed rebound

The EDC is a tidy set of tools stashed away in the steerer tube from Squamish-based OneUp Components

Shimano XTR keeps the Instinct light and fast

XTR rear derailleur with clutch mechanism.

Shimano XTR cranks and chain, but with the extra support of Shimano's Saint pedals.

Enduro isn't all fun and descending. Stages power meter helps ALN keep track of her effort on long transfer climbs between race stages.

Fox Kabolt keeps the front end tidy, and saves a couple grams

Shimano XTR brakes with ICE Tech finned pads and rotors to keep a consistent feel through demanding stages

Maxxis Minion DHF in 29 x 2.5 WT casing.

The Wide Tread version of Maxxis Minion is one burly tire

Lanthier Nadeau's Minions roll on Race Face Next R series wheels

Tidy cable routing from Rocky Mountain that allows the instinct to run Di2 or mechanical shifting

Race Face Next R series bars support XTR levers and Race Face grips

ALN run's Shimano's mechanical XTR shifting, and a shaped grip from Race Face

Race Face sizable Vault hubs

Fox Transfer Factory dropper post. Down for descents.

And WTB saddle up for the climbs between race stages.

Fox Transfer post lever, with sandpaper for extra grip when you need to be sure you can get your post out of the way.

The kind of detail you get with a custom set up from Rocky Mountain / Race Face team mechanic Adam Trotter. When not travelling with RM/RF, Trotter turns wrenches for Team Canada

Lanthier Nadeau's Rocky Mountain / Race Face team edition Instinct