Despite the prevalence of lightweight and efficient full-suspension machines, cross-country racers still look to their hardtails when the track demands it. Hardtails might be light and fast, but they offer little chance to recover when the trail turns downwards. With the release of the new Team Elite 01 hardtail, BMC believes it has managed to combine the low weight and high efficiency of a hardtail with even greater traction and comfort by using an elastomer sandwiched between the seatstays and seat tube of the all-carbon frame. Dubbed Micro Travel Technology, it gives around 15mm of vertical rear wheel movement for a weight penalty over the old Team Elite frame of 140g, giving a respectable total of 1,175g for a medium frame.
BMC states that this new Team Elite is not designed to supplant full-suspension bikes, but to improve the traction and comfort of its top-end racing hardtail. Geometry and front travel is unaltered from the 2014 bike, sharing the same 100mm fork, long top tube (610mm for a medium), slack-for-a-race bike 70 degree head angle and short 429mm chainstays, while retaining the ability to run a front derailleur. BMC will offer the new Team Elite in a wider range of sizes, with the new XS model giving 85mm more standover clearance than last yearâs small.
Top-end is exactly what this bike is, too, with the frame-only option starting at â¬3,399 / US$3,599. Complete bikes start with an 11spd Shimano XT build coming in at â¬4,399 / US$4,599, A SRAM XX1-equipped model at â¬5,999 / US$6,599 and the top level Shimano XTR Di2 model pushing the limits at â¬9,999 / US$10,599. (UK and Australian pricing has yet to be announced.)
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The biggest component is obviously the elastomer. Elastomers may be a thing of the past in most other full suspension designs, but theyâre a good call in this very low travel application. Thereâs no seal friction to overcome, dirt doesnât affect them and theyâre very light. They also have a naturally self-damping property called hysteresis, getting rid of some of their energy when they decompress as heat. As anyone who owned an old suspension fork that used elastomers can attest, they are somewhat sensitive to temperature, becoming less springy as they get colder. Their very nature means that theyâll happily flex in all directions, so to prevent lateral play, the system uses two hard anodised studs that thread into the seatstays through a pair of DY bushings, just like the ones youâd find on a traditional shockâs eyelets. BMC claims this means thereâs no loss of lateral stiffness over the previous rigid frame. It also means the elastomer can be changed to suit rider weight or preference, with hard, medium and soft versions included with every bike. Dirt ingress is prevented with a pop-on plastic cover. BMC recommends that the system be cleaned, greased and checked after every 30hrs of riding, with worn bushings replaced as necessary. BMC dealers will be sent the bushing tools free of charge. We managed to field strip and change the elastomer in less than five minutes, the only tools needed were a screwdriver and 6mm hex key.
The rear end offers 15mm of elastomer-sprung suspension
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