When we are looking for a lightweight, short-travel ride to blast down singletrack on but still want the capability to ride more aggressive terrain occasionally, the Rocky Mountain Element is a no-brainer. With its lightweight design, short-travel platform, and exceptionally capable geometry, the element lives to blast down tight singletrack flow trails and rocket up fire road climbs all day long. Rocky Mountain redesigned the Element this year, giving us an updated frame profile and an upgraded bearing and pivot design, making for a more durable, reliable, and capable design. 120mm of Smoothlink suspension ensures the Element is capable all over the mountain, and size-specific tunes combined with revised suspension kinematics give us an increased anti-squat value for a more linear progression and smoother ride feel. Rocky Mountain's Ride-4 adjustment system equips us with four different settings to adjust our frame geometry to our riding style, allowing us to steepen up our angles for all-day pedal fests and slacken out our ride for more aggressive terrain. The Element has exceptionally slack frame geometry for a cross-country bike and sports a 65. 5-degree headtube angle in the neutral setting, so we will have no problem handling the ever-changing modern cross-country courses, and a long reach and wheelbase also help keep us composed in steep, aggressive terrain. Finishing off the Element is a SRAM UDH compatible derailleur hanger for easy replacements, integrated downtube and chainstay protector to keep our frame protected, and two water bottle mounts so we can stay hydrated. The A30 Deore build of the Rocky Mountain Element features an aluminum frame, and quality, value-based components. Rocky Mountain's FORM alloy frame is durable, stiff, and perfect for entry-level riders who don't want to spend an arm and a leg for a carbon frame. Next, Shimano's Deore 12-speed drivetrain sports a wide range and a reliable, value-based build. Deore 4-piston brakes have a g...