Efficient workhorse for the EnduroWorld Series champ
WHO IS TRACY MOSELEY?
We’re not sure this box is really needed, but just in case you’ve been living under a rock, Tracy is arguably the most successful female mountain biker to have ever rolled onto the trails. Racing for various teams since 1992, including Trek for the past seven years, she’s stood on numerous DH World Cup podiums, won the DH World Championships and taken this bike, plus the previous two incarnations of the 29er Remedy, to three consecutive Enduro World Series wins.
WHY IS THIS A SUPERBIKE?
-140mm of rear wheel travel might not sound at lot, but coupled with the smoothing effect of Tracy’s 29in wheels, makes a big difference on rough tracks!
-The 2x11 drivetrain bucks the current trend but works for Tracy
-Custom rocker link to accommodate a Fox Float X piggyback shock
Tracy Moseley’s talent and experience when it comes to MTB racing is so vast she could jump on a penny farthing and still be quicker than most. Her Trek 29er isn’t the most in-your-face bike, but it’s hardworking and deceptively fast – just like its rider.
Take one look at Tracy’s Remedy and it’s clear this is a race bike. Each part has been carefully chosen, with a clear purpose in mind. The three-time enduro world champ knows that to be successful at racing, reliability and efficiency – both in terms of saving energy and maintaining momentum – are key.
The energy conservation tour begins with the frame. The front triangle and seatstays are made from Trek’s OCLV Mountain Carbon, producing a stiffer, lighter bike than the aluminium Remedy. For the second stop we pull in at the 29in wheels.“The 29er works for me because it suitsmy riding style,” says Tracy. “I’m pretty smooth and efficient and love to keep as much speed as I can, so the momentum you have on a 29er is the perfect thing.”
Different curves
Tracy’s Remedy is one of the shortesttravel bikes on the Enduro World Series circuit, with 140mm (5.5in) at the rear and a 150mm (5.9in) Fox 36 Float fork up front. The stock bike comes with an inline shock but Trek’s engineers have designed a custom rocker link so she can run a Fox Float X piggyback damper with a more progressive spring curve. This modification gives a firmer, slightly less plush ride, but more big-hit capability for the highspeed downhill sections of the EWS races. Tracy gets a base tune from Fox at the beginning of the year and then makes small adjustments at each race, working with the Fox technicians, depending on the terrain.
Bucking the current trend, Tracy sticks with a 2x11 Shimano XTR drivetrain. Don’t call 2012 to see if they want their bike back just yet though, because she has a good reason. Enduro racing is all about big ups and fast downs, and retaining the front granny ring means Tracy can spin up the climbs, saving her energy for more important matters while her competitors’ legs pump like pistons pushing ‘one by’ gearing. She’s not worried about losing her chain thanks to the added security of an e*thirteen chain guide.
Planning ahead
The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that the bike in our photos is equipped with Shimano’s electronic XTR Di2 transmission. Tracy stuck with the mechanical version during the race season, simply because she didn’t feel she had enough time to get used to the new kit and its radically different feel. She’s a perfectionist and likes to know her gear inside out. After all, a World Series can be lost with a single poor result – a risk not worth taking. She’s now ready to give Di2 a proper shakedown though!
Tracy uses a Garmin Edge 810 GPS unit to monitor her training and a Stages power meter to keep track of race data, both of which help her plan for future success. Talking to her, you quickly realise that racing at this level involves so much more than just going fast on race day. The amount of planning and preparation involved is phenomenal, not just for the racer but also their sponsors. Dylan Howes, an engineer at Trek, tells us that Tracy’s success on the Remedy and her continued preference for 29in wheels has enabled them to keep developing this category of bike. So Tracy’s ride and race results aren’t just personal to her – they have an impact for the wider mountain bike community too, making this a true SuperBike.
BIGGER AND BETTER
A custom rocker link allows the use of a bigger Fox Float X piggyback shock instead of the stock DRCV unit, giving a more progressive shock curve and improved damping consistency on long downhills.
HIDDEN POWER
Custom battery holders let Tracy hide the power source for her Shimano XTR Di2 transmission neatly inside the top tube, rather than leaving it in a vulnerable position on the outside of the frame.
STIFFNESS BOOST
Wider ‘Boost’ hubs were introduced on the Remedy 9.9 for the 2015 race season, allowing the building of stiffer wheels for more precise handling.
GIVE AND TAKE
Tracy has worked with Fox since her early DH days, not only making sure her suspension works for her but also giving valuable feedback. She’s got similarly close and successful relationships with other sponsors too.
NAME BRAND
Tracy has her own signature carbon bar, the Deity T-Mo Enduro. It’s not the widest, at 735mm with a 15mm rise, but works for her. A 50mm Deity stem puts the enduro star in the perfect position on the 17.5in frame for long days in the saddle.
FORK UPGRADE
This year Tracy swapped to a longer 160mm fork for two EWS races. She told us: “I wanted a little more travel to sit me up slightly higher on the steeper, rougher tracks of Samoens and Whistler.”
TEAM ISSUE
Reliable rubber is essential in enduro racing, and Tracy’s Bontrager SE5 and SE3 tyres keep her glued to the track all year round.
PRICE: 3600$ (production frame and shock)
