Andy's Evil The Following MB: Employee Rides

Andy is the Operations Chief at Worldwide Cyclery and has been known to get pretty rowdy both on and off the trails. A man of many bikes, he is currently riding a custom build Evil The Following MB and has been loving it so far. Check it out and see why he is such a fan!

What are you riding?
I am riding an all new Evil The Following MB custom build : )

Why did you choose this bike?
I chose this bike because I wanted something a little more playful. My last few bikes were long and stable, so I really wanted to change it up a bit. I am a big fan of 29ers and usually do a longer travel bike, however I figured the majority of my riding is not gnarly enough to use a 160mm bike. The Following is supposed to be really capable for the amount of travel, so I figured it fit the ticket perfectly!

What are some of your personal touches?
I went all out on this build and I think it turned out perfect : ) I haven't tried E13 wheels or cranks yet, so I went with the TRS Race front wheel and the Race SL rear wheel combo. I also went with the TRS race carbon cranks and 32t boost chainring along with the new TRS plus and race tires. For other components, I went Chromag Fubars BZA handlebar / Chromag HiFi Version 2 stem combo, a sweet SDG Chepi saddle, Sram GX / X01 Eagle combo drivetrain, and KS LEV 175mm dropper post. I also have the TRP Quadium brakes which are my new favorite.

How does this bike compare to others you have built in the past?
Playful. The bike just wants to pop off everything, while still providing enough control to provide confidence in the chunky sections. It is a lot shorter in the rear than my previous few builds, which I absolutely love now. I feel I can hold speed much better because it's easy to maneuver the bike around rocks and chunky sections that normally I would plow over and lose speed. I haven't lost any confidence in chunky sections too and have taken it on some pretty hefty trails. Although it is less travel, I do feel it is a bit sluggish on the climbs. I think a little of it has to do with seat tube angle and big heavy tires though.

Why do you run such a particular set up?
I wanted a bike that was less travel for climbing purposes, but still aggressive enough that I could take it to bike parks and good DH trails without feeling out of control. I wanted to build it reasonably light, but was more focused on performance and traction.

How does it ride?
The bike rides incredible. I feel that I haven't really lost anything in the descents, and almost gained some speed with the agility of the bike. The climbs I thought I would gain a bit more efficiency over my previous longer travel bikes, however it doesn't seem to climb any better. I think a lot of this has to do with the 140mm airshaft I put in the Pike and also the beefy E*13 tires. I could drop the fork back to 130mm and put some faster rolling tires on it, but I only climb for the descents so I prefer the grip of the tires and extra travel to save my ass when I mess up : )

Is there anything you have thought of changing?
As mentioned before, I might change the travel a little lower again and put on some faster rolling tires to see if it improves the climbing. I am not too worry about it right now though because it still climbs fine and I am having an absolute blast riding it! Other than that, there is nothing else I could see worth changing right now. All the components work great.

Any last words?
Go ride your bike! There are plenty of them out there and everyone is different. Find what puts a smile on your face and get out on the trails. The Following definitely makes me smile and I am loving it! Also, “Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.” - Bob Barker