FIRST Rides MBUK

IT WAS EXHILARATING TO PUSH TO THE LIMITS OVER GNARLY, TECHNICAL, ROUGH AND STEEP TERRAIN, AND FELT LIKE IT HAD MORE THAN 135MM OF TRAVEL

PACE RC295 ULTIMATE GX (2020)

£3,999 Legendary UK brand’s first full-suspension bike for a decade

Forever remembered for the iconic, square-tubed RC200 – one of the most lusted-after bikes of the ’90s – Pace have kept a low profile in recent years, focusing on building hardtails for the faithful. So the release of the RC295, not just their first full-sus for 10 years, but their debut carbon fibre bike too, came as a bit of a surprise. We’ve put it through its paces (sorry) to see whether it’s worthy of their long-standing reputation.

The frame

The RC295’s frame is built from hand-laid, unidirectional Toray carbon fibre, moulded using a special latex technique claimed to improve the smoothness of the tubes’ internal walls, making them light and strong.

Pace’s Freefloater suspension system – a twin-link design with floating shock – delivers 135mm of rear wheel travel