by A. Tong
I've put some legit time on the Knolly Podium and it's time for a review. The wife and I had a chance to spend 7 days riding between Silver Star Resort and the Whistler Bike Park. The Podium did not disappoint.
Probably the best thing I can say about this bike is that I felt comfortable right away. I was surprised that I didn't need even a run or 2 to get the feel of the bike. The large frame is perfect for me (6ft with 50mm stem and 760mm bars).
This bike handles exceptionally well. I was surprised at how I could rail corners. The harder I pushed, the more I was rewarded. This bike is perfect for an aggressive rider. Although the low bottom bracket height aids in handling, I had concerns about clearance over root and rocks. My concerns were unfounded as only once did my pedal hit a rock. Blasting through tight and technical rooty sections was super fun on this bike. Stay loose and off the brakes! There wasn't a section I couldn't tackle with confidence.
Being a DH bike, one of my biggest concerns was how the bike would behave on jump type runs (ie. ALine style). Well, the bike excelled at that too. Popping off the lips were easy and moving the bike in the air was not as issue as well. In fact, I had so much confidence going into the jumps that my main problem was overshooting the landing. The fork did a great job of saving my a$$ on multiple occasions.
Here are a couple of things to note for anyone interested in a Podium.
On washboard sections, the rear end stiffens up while braking. I'm talking super huge brake bumps. To be honest, I think the Session 88 I rode last year did a better job of smoothing those out (it could also be my suspension set up...). But just lay off the brakes and you're gold!
Invest in a decent chain stay protector. I wrapped my chain stay with an old inner tube and it was worn right through after a day. I'll try the sticky Velcro method and see how that works.
Spend time adjusting the suspension. The Fox RC4 has so many adjustments it really takes some time to get it right. I still don't think I have it as good as it can get. I do think the 450lbs spring is a tad on the stiff side for me so I'd like to get a 400lbs to see how that works. It seems I could run just a bit more sag.
Final Thoughts:
I am really happy with this bike. It's not 100% dialed for me right now but tuning the suspension is part of the game. There isn't one part of the bike build that I'm unhappy with except the old shifter and derailleur. But those parts should be replaced by the next Whistler trip this September. This bike is so good that I almost want a Knolly Delerium to replace my Carbon Nomad. But I can tell you right now that will not happen....not this year anyways :)
If you have any questions, please ask away!
If you have any questions, please ask away!
