A love letter to the undead
First, let's get one thing straight. I am a bike nerd. I like the way they look, I like putting them together, and I like riding them. Like many of you reading this, I was that kid in the neighborhood with a plywood ramp that never grew up.
When I think of iconic downhill bikes,Β models like the Honda RN01, Iron Horse Sunday, Yeti 303 DH, and the Intense M1Β immediately come to mind (I could go on,Β but we would be here all day).Β These bikesΒ paired unique engineering with captivating design, andΒ wouldΒ stillΒ punch above their weightΒ today.
For me, there's one bike thatΒ standsΒ above the rest. Maybe it's becauseΒ it shoehorned me into a decade of good times at Evil Bikes. Maybe itβs the fond memories ofΒ smashingΒ DH laps with Walsh andΒ Strobel in Evilβs early days. Either way, the most iconic downhill bike of all time (at least in my book) is the Evil Undead. More specifically, the World Cup Team issue that sported Yellow Deemax wheels and Evil's signature zombie apocalypse livery.
I happened to ride a civilian Undead back in those days. That thing looked fast standing still and rode like a bat out of hell. Design & ride characteristics that remain driving forces today.
An Iconic Wheelset
Iβve wanted to build a modern take on that look for years, although considering its been some time since we last saw yellowΒ Deemaxβs, that presented aΒ bit of aΒ challenge. I surelyΒ wasnβtΒ about to bust out the yellow Krylon on a modern 29β wheelset.
Then last year,Β MavicΒ surprised everyoneΒ withΒ a limited run of 29βΒ DeemaxΒ wheels in theirΒ classicΒ yellowΒ colorway.Β The stars aligned. IΒ immediately grabbed a set and began amassing parts for what has been a decade-longΒ dream build.
Offering 151: A Strong Foundation
The chassis is the best damn bike Iβve ever had the pleasure of riding: the all-new Evil Offering. The Offering has been my daily driver since its debut in 2018 and that is for good reason - thereβs nothing this bike canβt do and the latest iteration is on another level entirely.
FOX Factory Suspension
Keeping with the aesthetic, Fox suspension was a must. Fox released their βPodiumβ inverted fork late last year. Considering I am a full-fledged bike nerd and upside down forks are just cool, I couldn't say no. With the Podium up front, and a Float X2 in the rear, this bike floats comfortably on a cloud of Kashima.Β
SRAM X0 AXS TRANSMISSION
Shifting and dropper duties are handled by SRAM. AXS is the shit. Batteries are the future. Your digital overlords command you - join now or perish in an onslaught of frayed cables and barrel adjusters.Β
Magura MT7 Stoppers
Stopping power comes courtesy of Magura with a conveniently matching pair of MT7βs. This is my first go with Magura and I am eager to put these through their paces. One ride in the books and Iβm already impressed.Β
Cane Creek Reliability
Up front, a Cane Creek 110 Series headset keeps the steering smooth. I believe this headset is on it's third bike now. These things last forever and the lifetime bearing warranty doesn't hurt.
OneUp Riser Bars
A OneUp V2 Carbon bar with 50mm rise because I like tall bars and Pinkbike told me so with graphs and numbers. I am a big fan of OneUp.Β
Burgtec Bargain
Burgtecβs Enduro stem does exactly what I need it to; hold my bars on and look good doing it. If you were wondering, yes, that is the one Jenson was selling for $20. I donβt sleep on a good deal.Β
RevGrips Comfort
If you haven't already, give Revgrips a try. I know, I know β they're a bit pricier than your average grip, but I I promise, your hands and wrists will thank you. And no, you donβt βfeelβ the rotation while riding.Β
A head-turning Livery
The original Undead graphics were designed by Nigel Quarless, and they still hit just as hard today. My good friend (and Evil design wizard) Kole Wetherell adapted these legacy decals to fit a modern frame, and our friends at Ground Keeper Custom were all-in on bringing them to life. Huge thanks to Ground Keeper for this one - the decals look incredible and this build just wouldnβt be complete without them.
So here it is: the coolest bike Iβve ever seen, dressed head-to-toe in the finest garb from present day. The reigning mini-DH champion of my heart, the Evil Offering Undead.
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