![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/04\/MBUK_Firstrides02.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\nPace RC529 XT<\/h4>\n\n
\u00a34,029 + \u00a340 shipping<\/span> <\/strong>| A modern update for a classic steel hardtail <\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n Yorkshire-based Pace <\/strong>have adopted the \u2018longer, lower, slacker\u2019 trend for the latest RC529. Some great features stand out on this steel hardtail, from its ride feel to its adjustability. <\/p>\n\n Frame <\/strong>Custom Reynolds 853 steel Steel has inherent flex and can be manipulated to provide increased comfort or a poppier, more playful ride, by using different grades of alloy and careful tube-shaping. Here, Pace use Reynolds\u2019 renowned 853 tubeset, which has a high strength-to-weight ratio, with the aim of making a compliant, capable chassis. Traditional features such as a threaded bottom bracket, external cable routing and external headset sit alongside an adjustable wheelbase and bang-upto-date geometry. <\/p>\n\n The 64.5-degree head angle and 77-degree seat tube angle are slacker and steeper, respectively, than on the previous model, while the medium bike we tested has a 478mm reach and 314mm BB height. Those numbers sit at the \u2018progressive\u2019 end of the scale. Sliding dropouts allow chainstay length to be adjusted from 430mm to 445mm, to increase tyre clearance, alter the ride feel or even set the bike up singlespeed. ISCG mounts permit the fitting of a chain guide. There are rack mounts on the rear triangle, plus bottle cage bosses on the down tube. <\/p>\n\n It\u2019s good to see a full Shimano XT drivetrain. Pace\u2019s website lists SRAM G2 brakes, but the spec can be tailored to your requirements, and our bike had four-piston XT callipers instead. Hope Fortus 30 SC wheels are shod with 29×2.4in Michelin Wild AM2 <\/sup>tyres. The headset is from Hope, too. Our bike came with a 140mm-travel Rockshox Pike Ultimate, not the listed 150mm Lyrik, which is stiffer but slightly <\/span>heavier. Pace supply their own 35mm stem, which holds a Burgtec Ride Wide bar with Bartender single-clamp grips. Burgtec also supply the saddle, which sits atop a BikeYoke REVIVE dropper post with 160mm of travel.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n While the conditions we rode the RC529 in were varied and the range of terrain extremely broad, the Pace did what hardtails generally do \u2013 everything, pretty well. With no suspension bob or sag to contend with, the seat tube angle remains steep, offering an upright, comfortable pedalling position, which lets you spin up climbs confidently. While the gradient sometimes demanded a lean forward, not once did the front end rise. There\u2019s little front-wheel wander, too, even on steep \u2018e-bike only\u2019 climbs. <\/p>\n\n Downhill, the slack head angle and long reach deliver stability at speed or on steeper terrain. The key characteristics of a steel frame are on display on any type of terrain. There\u2019s enough \u2018give\u2019 in the Reynolds 853 tubing to reduce the harshness of washboard sections and let you skip through rock gardens. That compliance (engineered flex) provides a cornering feel unique to steel frames. While never in danger of being accused of being \u2018flexy\u2019, we felt confident tipping the RC529 into well-supported corners, and it feels surefooted in off-camber turns and traverses, too.<\/span><\/p>\n\n We appreciated the dropped top tube\u2019s great standover clearance, and the option to make the back end as short as possible \u2013 although this has less of an effect on handling than on an alloy or carbon fibre hardtail, as the steel Pace already has a playful ride. Unfortunately, to achieve that compact rear triangle, Pace have put a kink in the seat tube, which limits how long a dropper post you can run. There was enough room between saddle and seat tube for us to drop our seat by 210mm, but the limited insertion depth of the medium frame meant the longest post from BikeYoke (Pace\u2019s seatpost partner) that would fit was the 160mm version. Swapping to a dropper with a lower stack height and shorter body would eke out a bit more travel, but still significantly less than 180mm. Spec-wise, Shimano XT represents a benchmark for high performance and durability. Finishing kit is well thought-out, too \u2013 the saddle is comfy, the bar a good shape and the Pace stem does its job well, despite requiring more clamping torque than expected. Travel complaints aside, the REVIVE post itself was flawless, with a great lever shape and action. The Pike fork and Hope wheels suit this bike down to the ground, with the former having enough adjustment to achieve your desired feel and the latter being stiff enough to complement the compliant frame without creating a harsh ride. We found the tyres impressive on all terrain, too. <\/p>\n\n While it\u2019s brilliant that you can fit a pannier rack, the provision of only a single bottle mount detracts from the RC529\u2019s adventure credentials. A cargo mount on the underside of the top tube would be a step in the right direction; a second set of bottle bosses, even better. <\/p>\n\n Will P<\/strong><\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/05\/4021d3b3-fd4c-48db-a3b9-1c974deca93e.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\nSPEC <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Fork <\/strong>Rockshox Pike Ultimate, 140mm travel
Gears <\/strong>Shimano Deore XT (1×12)
Wheelset <\/strong>Hope Fortus 30 SC wheels, Michelin Wild AM 29×2.4in tyres
Brakes <\/strong>Shimano Deore XT, 203\/180mm rotors
Bar\/stem <\/strong>Burgtec Ride Wide Alloy Enduro, 800mm\/ Pace, 35mm
Seatpost\/saddle <\/strong>BikeYoke REVIVE\/ Burgtec The Cloud
Weight <\/strong> 14.23kg, medium size without pedals<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/05\/f640457a-6f2b-46c2-8df7-4a05d9ecd5b0.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\nTHE FRAME<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n
THE KIT<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/05\/0c6e453a-e544-4f76-b0c5-1d092d1075c7.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/06\/AL_MBUK_8524243_preview-1024x683.jpg\")
THE RIDE<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n