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Rocky Mountain Altitude 770 MSL bike


The market for capable, 6-inch-travel trail bikes is as jammed as an L.A. freeway on a Friday afternoon. So what does it take to rise above the fray? Enter the Rocky Mountain Altitude.

The mainstay model has evolved from a steel hardtail in the early ’90s to today’s do-it-all 150-millimeter trail bike built around 27.5 inch wheels and trusty four-bar suspension. Our test rig fell in the middle of the price spectrum, arriving with a carbon frame, Fox CTD suspension, Shimano XT 2x10 drivetrain, RockShox dropper, Stan’s ZTR tubeless-ready rims and Shimano XT Centerlock hubs laced with DT Swiss spokes and Race Face Turbine cockpit and cranks. It’s a nice package, though ideally Rocky would offer a single-ring option on at least one build below the wallet-draining 799 MSL. The cockpit feels a tad busy, what with the remote suspension lockout lever, front shifter and dropper button all jockeying for space. Then again, your thumbs never feel a lack of purpose.

Given its B.C. birthright, I expected the Altitude to destroy any downhill in its path so I was pleased, but not surprised, when the potpourri of rock gardens and small drops on the trails in Laguna Beach, California, felt like they had just been smoothed over with a butter knife as I descended. I was more surprised that the bike ascended so well. With the shock in Trail mode, the Altitude scooted up steep climbs with the alacrity of a bike with less travel, the plush Smoothlink suspension providing ample traction but no pedal bob.

The Altitude’s aptitude in either direction speaks to its geometry, which is, well, whatever you want it to be. The shock-mount system allows for nine different geometry and suspension rate configurations. On a size medium, the headtube angle spans 66.6 to 68.3 degrees depending on how you adjust the chip inserts, which also affects seat tube angle and bottom bracket drop. I opted for a 67.9-degree headtube angle with 4.9 millimeter BB drop, resulting in a linear suspension rate. This kept the front end from wandering on steep, prolonged climbs and, since I’m not the mostaggressive downhiller of the bunch, the bike still felt slack enough when gravity took over. That’s the beauty of the Altitude–it adapts to wherever the trail, or your own progression, goes, giving you freedom to roam. Sort of like a traffic-free drive.

PRICE 5500$



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