This is my Forbidden Druid V2 custom build and it is my do it all trail bike. I had just come off a Yeti SB140 for two years and I spent a few months on our shop demo Druid. After that I knew this was going to be the next bike for me which was the main goal. The Druid has a tall stack (637mm), longish chainstays (452mm) and with the high pivot/idler pulley setup, it has a rearward axle path. The bike definetly fits the rider more upright, putting a smaller amount of weight on your hands and front wheel. I also chose the dual 29” wheels as it fits our trails better. Once I got used to all of that I found it suits my aggressive riding style. It gets more stable as you go deeper into the travel and it does not get hung up on rough sections of trail. I have pushed it to its limits from bike park days to all day pedaling on local singletrack and it just keeps on delivering.

The frame is a Forbidden Druid V2 in the Blue Monday colorway. I run 29 in the front and 29 in the rear. I decided on a S3 "large" because I am 6'1 and with a reach at 480mm I am right in the ballpark. The frame has room for a full size water bottle, an accessory mount, and a little bit of in frame storage on the bottom of the bike by the bottom bracket. Cable routing is internal with secure mounting points. It does need foam lining through the front triangle to keep the bike as quiet as it can get. The high pivot layout and the idler are a big part of the calm feel and how the bike carries speed over rough terrain. The hardware is very well done with collets securing all of the major frame pivot bolts. Also, all of the pivots are accesable from the non-drive side and only take a couple of tools to take apart and put together. The idler pulley is also a fully sealed self lubricated bearing so keep the lifespan high and friction at a minimum. There is ample frame protection on the seat and chainstay, keeping things protected and quiet with its abnormal chain routing. The frame is UDH compatible and it's brake mounts are separte from the frame, mounting into the axle interface and changeable from mount size to mount size.

I change wheel sets based on the riding environment. For racing, bike park, and aggressive trails I have been testing and running our Trail One Shed wheel set. They are built for smashing and they keep the bike stable when the ground is doing the exact opposite. The rims are laced to DT Swiss three fifty hubs and with that setup I also run a two hundred millimeter rear rotor. For everyday riding around town I run a DT Swiss trail setup with XM 481 rims laced to the limited edition 50 year chrome 240 DEG hubs. It has been a light and reliable setup that rolls fast and sounds even better. Next on my list is the DF upgrade kit so I can play with different degrees of engagement and see how this bike responds with regard to pedal kickback, something that I have been very curious about with a high pivot style bike. Both I am using Trail One Valve Stems and Orange seal.

I am lucky enough to always be testing different tires. For the downhill style setup on the Trail One Shed wheels I usually run a DH casing Maxxis Assegai in MaxxGrip up front and a DH casing Maxxis DHR II in MaxxTerra in the rear. I cannot think of a better combination that inspires more confidence in fast and gnarly terrain. If conditions are super loose I will change the Assegai for a Maxxis High Roller 3 or a Continental Argotal. For the trail style setup I have been very happy with Michelin. I have settled on the Wild AM2 front and rear. It still rolls quickly and has consistent grip and I have been impressed by the stability of the casing.

I am running a full SRAM XX T Type group with a 32t chainring and both bash guards on the chainring. This is my third year on this drivetrain and it has given me zero issues which is amazing, not even a dropped chain. I choose not to run a chain guide for this reason, saving a bit of weight in the process and so far it has yet to leave me down. The clutch and chain retention keep the bike quiet and it allows me to shift under load while riding aggressively. Having a mostly RockShox and SRAM ecosystem is very nice because everything works well together. It is simple, it integrates cleanly, and it gives me a tidy cockpit and a quiet ride.

The frame is protected with a tailored RideWrap. It keeps scratches off, it is hydrophobic, and you can hardly tell it is there. I think it gives the bike a great shine as well. I recommend doing this to any bike, especially if you are building a custom bike from the frame up. A small touch that makes this build stand out is the clear anodized Wolf Tooth headset topper. It is different from the usual black headsset and it matches the Trail One clear anodized topcap and spacer kit with the Rockville stem. It makes the bike pop without being too flashy and it matches the aesthetic of the XX drivetrain, the DT hubs, and a few decals on the suspension.

I have really fallen in love with this bike. The fact that I can do all of my riding on a one hundred thirty millimeter travel bike says a lot. I cannot think of another bike in this travel range that can do the same things. It is unique in that way and it really sits in its own class. The pedaling platform is great and I only lock it out on long road climbs. The bike shines when it gets deeper into the travel. It grows longer and more stable, it does not get hung up on square edges, and it keeps its speed. One of my favorite parts is the bottomless feel. There is no harsh bottom out like you get on some frames which is wild for a short travel trail bike. I am not afraid to take this bike on a thirty mile backcountry ride, my local cross country loop, or a full day at Mammoth Bike Park. My only gripe is the idler pulley. You can hear it when you are pedaling, especially in a cross chain on climbs, and you can feel a bit of it through your feet. People say there is not much actual drag in the system, but it is not the same as a conventional drivetrain. If you stay on top of maintenance and keep the chain lubed it is not a big deal, but at the end of a long day with a dry chain it will remind you that it is there. Over the past year this bike has been trouble free. I am a mechanic so I stay on top of service, but the last thing I want after work is to wrench on my own bike. With this build and setup it is as quiet as a bike can get and it can be pushed far past what I thought was possible for this category.