![\"BMC](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-55521400-1476791465.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhat is a soft tail?<\/h2>\n
\tAlong with clipless pedals, the term soft tail is probably one of the more confused technical terms in cycling. A soft tail is a bike that has some form of compliance or give built into a single piece frame while a dual suspension frame is made up of separate front and rear triangles that are joined by pivots.<\/p>\n
Why did BMC go the soft tail route?<\/h2>\n
\tApparently, the idea for the Teamelite 01 stemmed from the demands of the BMC team riders, not BMC themselves. They wanted something to fit between their Teamelite hardtail and Fourstroke dual suspension bikes, for certain types of courses on the cross-country racing calendar. A bike that has added compliance and traction without adding too much weight or complexity. With this brief, BMC\u2019s Impec Lab spent two years developing the Teamelite 01 frame with Micro Travel Technology.<\/p>\n
Micro Travel Technology<\/h2>\n
\tMicro Travel Technology (MTT) is the engineering behind converting the Teamelite hardtail into a soft tail. The MTT system offers up to 15 millimeters of vertical movement. The elastomer is supported by two small shafts (held in place by bushings) that guide the rear end as the bike compresses. The guide shafts also provide the necessary torsional stiffness. BMC have developed three damper settings to suit riders of different weights and styles to better customise the feel of their bike.<\/p>\n
\t \tBMC recommend servicing the MTT system after every 25 hours of riding. The process is simple. Remove the dust cap where the seatstays join the seat post and, using a 6 mm hex key, unthread the guide shafts. The elastomer can then be removed by hand. Check all the components for wear and then regrease.<\/p>\n \tWhile most of the attention is drawn to the black elastomer, the rest of the rear end of the Teamelite frame has undergone a major redesign. The tubing of the whole rear triangle has seen changes to accommodate the 15 mm of movement. The seatstays and chainstays are constructed from custom carbon layups to flex at critical joints.<\/p>\n \tUntil recently the 70-degree head angle would have been considered on the slack side. But with a number of brands releasing their most recent hardtail offerings with just under 70 degrees, the BMC is left somewhere in the middle. The chainstays remain short at 429 mm, helping whip the bike through corners.<\/p>\n \tFrame weight is a claimed 1080 grams, which is around a kilogram lighter than the BMC’s dual suspension offerings and not significantly heavier than the Teamelite 02 frame. The on-the-trail weight of our extra large sized test bike was 10.3 kg. Not super bike light but there is still room to drop some grams with a few smart component changes.<\/p>\n \tWe tested the lowest specification Teamelite 01 XT which proved to be a reliable build with no parts sticking out as being unsuitable.<\/p>\n \tThere is not much to fault on the Shimano XT groupset (including brakes). Our test bike featured the 11-speed 2×11 configuration which I got along with well. Throughout testing power transfer, shifting, and braking were responsive and reliable.<\/p>\n \tMuch like the drivetrain, the Fox 32 fork got on with business admirably. Likewise, I had no complaints about the DT Swiss wheels which ran true throughout testing with decent hub engagement and only moderate flex when pushed very hard.<\/p>\n \t \tBMC like to talk about their longer frames which accommodate shorter stem and wider handlebar confirmations. I\u2019m a big fan of going in this direction on cross-country bikes but having a 720 mm handlebar across the range is going to cause some problems for those on the extreme ends of the spectrum. On the extra large bike, I found the 720 mm handlebar to be far too narrow. Luckily, handlebar and stem are a quick fix and will always be a personal preference.<\/p>\n \t<\/p>\n \t<\/p>\n \tI managed to get the bike out on a variety of trails around Cape Town including Hoogekraal, Contermans, Table Mountain, and the Welvanpas black route.<\/p>\n \tThe Teamelite 01 had me climbing briskly with no sign of power loss through the MTT system. On the ups, the bike felt very much like a carbon hardtail. Only when sprinting extremely hard out of the saddle did I notice some movement in the rear. However, at no point did I feel that the MTT was slowing me down. On technical climbs, the MTT provided a little bit of relief (most noticeably when seated) to help absorb some of the harder knocks and keep the wheel planted.<\/p>\n \tWith climbing unaffected by the MTT system, I was eager to see how well it worked coming down the mountain. The Teamelite 01 is not a natural descender and requires constant attention to keep it rolling fast. The MTT system did assist in blunting jarring knocks but I struggled to notice any big improvement in traction or control. Even with the MTT,you still have to be a handy bike rider to get the most from the bike on the descents.<\/p>\n \t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/p>\nGeometry and weight<\/h2>\n
Components<\/h2>\n
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On the trail<\/h2>\n
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