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Rocky Mountain unwraps the new Altitude

The camo-cover comes off Jesse Melamed's EWS-winning enduro bike

Rocky Mountain Altitude Photo by: Margus Riga Photography

Updated altitude is a big change for Rocky, and for the Instinct. Rocky Mountain racers have been teasing the updated enduro rig for weeks, with the camo-covered frames first appearing at Crankworx Summer Series. Then, Jesse Melamed won the Enduro World Series Zermatt race on the secret-not-secret bike. Now, the Canadian brand is releasing details, and bikes to the public.

Rocky Mountain Altitude
Andréane Lanthier Nadeau riding the Altitude. Image: Margus Riga

Altitude simplifies Rocky Mountain’s enduro line

The big news is that Rocky is consolidating its enduro bikes. Previously, the Instinct BC offered a 29″ option, with the Altitude handling 27.5″ duties. 2021 presents a simplified enduro line-up for the Rocky Mountain.

Now, the Altitude will be the only enduro bike Rocky Mountain makes. But it will no longer be just 27.5″ wheels. Small size frames get custom frame design offering more standover and 27.5″ wheels. Large and XL are 29″ only. Medium frames are offered in 27.5″ or 29″ wheel sizes.

End of the popular Instinct BC edition bikes. The Slayer remains for those that want something bigger.

Rocky Mountain Altitude
Remi Gauvin, Melamed’s Rocky Mountain Race Face teammate, testing the Altitude on Vancouver’s North Shore. Image: Margus Riga

Race proven on the Enduro World Series

There’s plenty of other improvements to the Altitude, bringing back up to date as a top enduro race bike. From geometry to frame design, it’s burlier to survive modern race courses. All this has already been tested out in the real world, extensively.

As Melamed showed in Switzerland, the new-look Altitude is capable of riding against, and ahead of the best.

“ I started my EWS career on the Altitude, I won my first EWS on the Altitude, and now I’m ready to take this all-new version to the top step of the podium. The Altitude has always been the bike for me, and now that there’s multiple wheel sizes offered, updated geometry, and a ton of attention to detail, I think it’ll once again be a crowd favourite amongst riders everywhere. It’s got everything you need to accomplish your riding goals, and for me that means race winning, lap smashing, all-around mountain bike fun!”

– Jesse Melamed

Image: Margus Riga

2021 Rocky Mountain Altitude: two wheel sizes, dual purposes

The goal of the Altitude redesign is to make a bike that’s competitive in modern enduro, but still fun to ride on your home trails. Unlike some brands that split these goals by wheel size, each Altitude build should be capable of both. Along with hefty travel for burlier courses, the Altitude now has 160-mm rear and 170-mm front, the new frame has more adjustability than ever before. Chainstays are now adjustable by 10-mm. Set it long for speed or short for fun no matter what wheel size you run. Combined with Rocky Mountain’s Ride-9 geometry adjustment chip, you can tune the Altitude to play or to race.

The frame has added frame protection for 2021, as well as the new “Canadarm” chainguide mount with OneUp Components V2 Top Guide. Rocky custom tunes the suspension for each frame size, so every rider gets the same Altitude experience. All frames, 27.5″ and 29″ have clearance for 2.6″ rubber. For added toughness in wet west coast weather, there’s dual bearings at chainstays and seat stays.

Pricing and Availability

While the Instinct BC Edition won’t return for 2021, there are several special editions of the Altitude that fill in its place. Below the dream-build Altitude Carbon 99, there’s the Carbon 90 Rally Edition, built for toughness on any terrain, and the pure-gravity Carbon 70 Coil.

In addition to the carbon fibre offerings, Rocky Mountain has three alloy builds of the new Altitude. These bring the price down from the staggering $13,500 Carbon 99 to a more approachable $4,300 Altitude Alloy 30.

2021 Altitude bikes are available now from Rocky Mountain Dealers.

  • Altitude Carbon 99: $13,500
  • Altitude Carbon 90 Rally Edition: $11,500
  • Altitude Carbon 70 coil: $9,000
  • Altitude Carbon 70: $8,600
  • Altitude Carbon 50: $6,800
  • Altitude Carbon Frameset: $4,500
  • Altitude Alloy 70: $6,700
  • Altitude Alloy 50: $5,500
  • Altitude Alloy 30: $4,300