Vitus Rapide 29 Mountain Bike (2022)

Vitus Rapide 29: An XC racing thoroughbred

Brands’ descriptions of cross-country hardtail mountain bikes are typically littered with overstatement; chock-full of words like “rocket ship,” “course-crusher” and “game-changer.” Yawn.

The Vitus Rapide 29 does all the talking on the trail. On demanding tracks, marathon days and in the closing laps of a frenetic XC race, its unbridled speed and confident handling simply speaks for itself. It’s a go-fast machine that smokes climbs and is a formidable descender, plenty capable of handling the demands of today’s more technical XC courses.

Its lightweight aluminum frame converts effort to power instantly, making for a wonderfully responsive ride that gets up and goes when you push on the cranks. Out front is a RockShox Recon Silver RL fork with 100mm of travel and a remote lockout to maximize efficiency. Rounding out the build is the workhorse Shimano Deore 10-speed groupset and dual-piston hydraulic brakes.

The Rapide 29 is a bike built on the tenets of speed, efficiency and control — a race-proven carbon hardtail that makes the most of your effort and delivers a healthy dose of fun.

It’s up for the challenge if you are.

The Rapide 29 component details

• RockShox Recon Silver RL fork, 100mm of travel
• Shimano Deore 1-speed speed drivetrain
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• Tubeless-ready WTB ST i25 wheelset with tubeless tape applied
• Fast-rolling Schwalbe Racing Ray & Racing Ralph tires