I spent a lot of time at Saddle Drive this year riding and talking about bikes with plus-sized tires (or at least plus-compatible). It definitely seems to be the theme of the moment in mountain bikes.
Then there was the Foundry Firetower XT. Not plus compatible. Just a lightweight, race-inspired carbon hardtail 29er with cross-country geometry.
The Firetower is in line with Foundry’s “spirit of competition” motto, designed to be fast and nimble. Tire clearance tops out at 29×2.25″, which did seem a little weird next to all the 3.0″ tires I was seeing. But plus isn’t for everyone, and 29ers are certainly still very relevant, especially in XC racing.
The Firetower comes with a 100mm RockShox Reba fork, a Shimano XT drivetrain, and Shimano SLX brakes. The bike comes spec’d as a 1x but is certainly 2x compatible. It has a BB92 PressFit bottom bracket and a 142x12mm thru axle. The lightweight Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires are mounted on DT Swiss rims. Brake and shifter cables are internally-routed, but there is no internal routing capability for a dropper, because the bike wasn’t really designed with one in mind.
I didn’t get to ride this bike to offer you any insights into its performance, but it seems like for someone who’s into cross-country racing or wants a light singletrack rig designed for speed, this could be a good fit. One of the guys from Foundry mentioned that one of the target groups they’d like to market to are high school mountain bike racers in the NICA program, which is gaining momentum across the country.
Complete bikes and frames will be available this September in sizes S-XL at $3,700 and $1,400, respectively.
Alright, definitely late to the game here: Foundry is out of business. But I’ve got a Firetower frame I bought as they were closing and built out myself.
Yes, it’s a little dated and I’d love to be able to get some wider tires on it, it would certainly make things a bit easier on the trail. With the flow of NC trails, which tend to be more XC focused, it’s still a blindingly fast ride and offers a lot of advantages. The large frame weighs just shy of 3 pounds, I’ve built i9-hubbed wheels with DT-Swiss Comp spokes with WTB KOM rims, a Sid XX WC fork (got it used, not sure if it’s still made), Shimano XT 1×11 drivetrain (34T front, 11-46 rear), Whiskey seatpost, 90mm Enve stem, and Shimano Tharsis carbon bars, Specialized S-Works Captains on front and back (also a defunct tire, glad I stocked up when I did). Total weight is about 22 pounds, give or take air pressure (tubeless I stay around 23-25psi).
It’s sharp, it handles beautifully, and out-climbs quite a few other carbon bikes on the market, even ones with more “modern” geometry. It’s a really stiff frame, which does produce some extra bumpiness descending, and more technical rooty ones can get rough. Still, all those articles focused on “modern geometry” tend to forget that the rider is the other half of the equation, geometry just helps you out. Sure, it’s not very slack, it can get a little twitchy, and has a wheelbase that may be a little too long, limited to 100mm travel and 2.3 tires, but it’s taken everything I can throw at it and I’ve ridden it for years and I know how it handles. Riding up near Black Mountain/Mount Mitchell does get a bit challenging and quite jarring descending Heartbreak Ridge, but any hardtail is going to struggle going down that type of trail.
As Foundry went under, it’s a moot conversation, but I’m going to stick up for my bike. I’m very proud of my build and it suits me just fine.
I just hope the carbon doesn’t crack!
Wow, $3,700 for a carbon frame with that parts kit seems like a pretty great deal! However, I’d still like the ability to put at least a 2.4″ 29er tire on that bike if I wanted to.
I’d disagree with you there Greg. This bike is a bit of a head-scratcher for me. The whole Foundry brand is, in fact. Their mission – at least when they started – was to provide race-worthy bikes at affordable prices. But their prices are actually higher than the big three brands, and they don’t seem to offer any discernable benefits over the competition.
You can get a Trek Superfly (carbon) for $2500 with a Fox fork and SLX drivetrain. You can get a Specialized Stumpjumper hardtail (carbon) with a Reba and a GX 1×11 drivetrain for $2800. And Giant has the XTC Advanced (carbon) with a budget Suntour Raidon fork and NX 1×11 drivetrain for $1850! $2600 will get you a Fox fork and SLX 1×11 from Giant.
I just don’t get what Foundry brings to the table.
I agree with Aaron. Nothing really special here. Seriously a head scratcher that Foundry comes back into the mountain bike game with a bike that would have been considered relevant 5 years ago. No boost, limited clearance, dated geometry, given that XC courses are getting more and more technical. I’m sure it’s light enough, but for $3700 it better be. Very strange.
Nevermind, I take it all back 🙂
Honestly, didn’t realize you get carbon completes from the big brands for that inexpensive. Thanks for the data!