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Moots Vamoots RSL as a Light-Duty Cyclocross Bike
Related: Lightweight, Moots, Moots Vamoots RSL, mountain biking, Road Bikes
Moots 2012 Vamoots RSL Titanium Road Racing Bike
The Vamoots RSL is a road racing bike, intended for pavement. But it’s a world-class titanium bike, and that means it has a wonderful ride quality that begs to be pushed to the limit, even abused, at least a little.
Accordingly, to test the limits of comfort on rough surfaces, I pressed the Vamoots RSL into cyclocross duty.
The Vamoots RSL wore the Lightweight Obermayer rear wheel, and the Lightweight VR8 front wheel, both with racing tires.
For locals familiar with the area, I rode up Alpine Road (dirt), took White Oak Trail to the top of Black Mountain, down Montebello, then reversed course. This kind of trail, mainly like this.
What I found astounded me— the comfort on lumpy hard-pack clay with my race wheels and tires when seated was impressive, indeed it felt on par with my Moots MootoX RSL 29er with ~42 psi in its tires. Of course, one can soften up the front shock and drop tire pressures to 32 psi or so on the MootoX RSL 29er for more comfort, but the point is that the Vamoots RSL is an amazingly comfortable ride, even on lumpy off-road terrain. Yet stand up and sprint and it goes like stink.
Compared to the Moots Psychlo X RSL cyclocross bike, the Vamoots RSL is easily more comfortable when seated. I suspect that this is due to the rear triangle, in particular the pencil-thin 6/4 titanium seat stays; the seat stays of the Pyschlo X RSL are considerably beefier (for harsh duty), with much larger tubes. If the Vamoots RSL only had more tire clearance, it would make a super comfortable cyclocross bike!
