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<\/a><\/p>\nThe Pitch Comp 650b retails for R9,410, putting it firmly in the wallet-friendly category of mountain bikes. The 650b wheels mean it is ideal for smaller riders, and beginners who don\u2019t have the confidence to maneuver larger 29er wheels around corners and over obstacles.<\/p>\n
The aluminium frame features XC orientated geometry and matching component specification. This is a bike for getting out and about, and which should allow you to climb and descend comfortably and reliably (Specialized refer to it as \u201csturdy and dependable\u201d).<\/p>\n
Components<\/h2>\n
The suspension is seen to by an SR Suntour XCR 32 650b, coil spring fork. Stopping power is provided by Shimano BR-M315 hydraulic disc brakes, and the drivetrain is made up of a mixture of parts. The crankset is Specialized\u2019s in-house Stout design with 44\/32\/22T chainrings, the cassette a Sunrace 9-speed, and the rear derailleur is an ever-reliable Shimano Deore. Front shifting is provided by a Shimano Altus derailleur, paired with Shimano Altus shifters for the front and rear.<\/p>\n
<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe wheels are built from Specialized’s in-house Stout 650b alloy rims, laced to Shimano center lock hubs and wrapped in Specialized Ground Control Sport tyres. Cockpit components are all Specialized parts: a 720 mm Stout bar and 70 mm stem, a Body Geometry mountain saddle and Specialized MTB grips rounding off the contact points.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Hopping on the bike, the first things I noticed were the tyres and the contact points. The Ground Control Sport tyres offer far more grip than I am used to seeing on an entry level bike, and this touch improves first impressions and ride quality immeasurably. Similarly, the grips and saddle lack that brittle plasticky feel that often comes in hand with a low price tag.<\/p>\n A whizz round the car park revealed a comfortable setup: the coil spring fork was plush and predictable, and the 650b wheels give the Pitch a playful, agile feel. The most noticeable sign that this wasn\u2019t quite my usual type of ride were the brakes, which just aren\u2019t as responsive as I am used to, and the 3x drivetrain. 3x is standard for a bike in this price range, but still makes me want to tear my hair out when I have to use it.<\/p>\n The Pitch proved to perform as advertised: a competent, composed all-rounder. I tested it mostly on the Constantia greenbelts: this being the type of riding I imagine it would be most used for. I was genuinely surprised by the way in which it handled the rock gardens scattered amongst the cork trees along Rhodes Drive. Aside from a dropped chain, and some poor gear choices while coming to terms with the triple chainrings, the Pitch handled the roots, rocks, and little kickers with aplomb.<\/p>\n The 650b wheels give it a nippy feel, and make it enjoyable to thread through rocky sections, rather than smashing over everything with brute force and a bigger wheel. Where I did struggle was on short, sharp ascents where the weight of the bike meant I really had to push hard to carry speed through. I also kept knocking the dinner plate sized plastic chainring protector on the rocks as I worked my way through.<\/p>\n In the cockpit, the 720 millimetre bars, paired with a 70 millimetre stem worked well together on the medium size frame I tested. Steering was comfortable and predictable. As mentioned previously, the grips and saddle were comfortable and gave the impression of a more high-end ride.<\/p>\n The coil spring fork was hassle free to set up with the preload adjust button on the left, and my personal preference meant I was relieved to see that there was no remote lockout, with the associated extra cabling and clutter on the handlebars.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSpecifications<\/h2>\n
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On the trails<\/h2>\n
<\/a>The saddle proved to be comfortable<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n