Staff Bike Check: Alex's Yeti ARC

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Brand: Yeti Cycles

Bike Model: Arc T-Series, Size Large

Fork: FOX 34 Factory 130mm Grip2 with LTD Edition Orange dials

Handlebar: Race Face SIXC 35mm x 20mm

Stem: Race Face Turbine R 50mm

Grips: ODI Longnecks (Push On)

Saddle: SDG Bel Air III Lux-Alloy

Seatpost: FOX Transfer Factory 200mm

Pedals: Shimano SPD

Crankset: Race Face Next SL 170mm, 34t

Wheelset: Stans Flow/DT 350

Tyres: Michelin Force XC 2.25 & Michelin Wild XC 2.35, Peaty’s Holeshot Sealant, Peaty’s MK2 Tubeless Valves

Groupset: SRAM GX AXS, 10-50t Ratio

Brakes: SRAM Guide Ultimate Front, SRAM Lever Ultimate Rear, 180mm Rotors F&R

Weight: 25lbs

What’s your name?

Alex

How long have you been with Silverfish?

5 months

What type of riding do you do?

Anything and everything, I’m a massive extrovert so who I ride with is often more important than what or where I’m riding. I’ll see who is available and that’ll define what we’re riding. I’m happy on anything from BMX to road, gravel to enduro. Big jumps still scare me, but I’ll give anything a go. I love the feel of a fast bike, something which encourages you to accelerate and pump the trail to the fullest.

Contrary to what’s sold to us as the dream, rather than big days out, I’d much prefer a week of lots of short punchy rides. I love to come back after a 90-minute ride exhausted, knowing I’ve gone up, down and along as hard as I possibly could

What is your favourite trail?

I’ve been fortunate to ride all across the UK, there’s so many trails that I love, that if I’m passing, I’m desperate to get a bike out of the car. I’ve got fondest memories of the trails at Glentress and Kirroughtree, however, so many trails on the right day can become instant classics that I’m happy to ride anywhere and with anyone.

What made you pick this bike?

During my second week at Silverfish, I was visiting a store in the South East, a long established customer called Mountain Trax, as I was looking around the store I kept being drawn to the lines of the ARCs they had in store. I knew then that my first modern Yeti would be the ARC, it also had to be turquoise.

I’ve always loved hardtails, they are bikes I just pick up and hammer. It’ll get a bit of a beasting and I definitely subscribe to ‘it’s a tool not a trophy’ mantra so it’ll be ridden as if it was a full-suss. Initials impressions are awesome and I love the way it accelerates and I can’t help popping a cheeky manual as I exit corners.

Have you changed/added anything to your bike to suit your riding style?

I’ve got a few quirks, picked up from too many years in the bike industry, I still hate photos of bikes with their saddle down. So, I love the fact that with the 200mm dropper post in there, there only Kashima showing, no black lower.

Tyres are light and fast rolling, I don’t mind a party at the back of the bike so I’ve gone fast and loose with Michelin Force XC and SRAM Lever Ultimate rear brake, I might swap the front tyre for a Michelin Wild AM2 2.6 on the front to match up with the more powerful Guide Ultimate front brake.

Contact points are critical for me, with this in mind I’ve gone for tried, tested and trusted Race Face, SDG combination. Another of my quirks is that I personally don’t like lock-on grips, so I ride longnecks.

As with most of my bikes, I ride mostly clipped in, but will swap out to flats if I’m taking it down to the local pump-track.