The Specialized Podcast: Epic 9 | Creating the Fastest XC Bike Ever

You know Christopher Blevins from his record-breaking 2025 season, where he finished #1 in UCI XC points, claimed both the XCO and XCC overall titles, and helped the Specialized Factory XC Team sweep the World Cup podium twice aboard Epic 8. So why change the bike? Because lead engineer Jason McDonald and the rest of the Specialized Science Club knew they could make it faster. In this episode, Jason explains how the team started with Epic 8’s world-beating benchmark, then removed what held it back: 206 grams gone, making Epic 9 the lightest full-suspension XC race bike on the planet. Then he gets into how suspension friction was cut by 11%, how kinematics were optimized, and how it all adds up to unmatched efficiency, capability, and speed per watt. Christopher shares what modern World Cup XC racing demands at full speed, how Epic 9 feels on course, and why control, confidence, and composure now matter as much as efficiency and weight. This episode covers: • Why Specialized built Epic 9 after Epic 8’s dominant season • What actually slows riders down in modern XC racing • What “Made In Racing” actually means: turning data, rider feedback, and engineering into speed • The engineering behind the 1,589 g frame • Why lighter only matters if the bike stays fast, controlled, and composed • How Epic 9 blends Epic World Cup crispness with Epic 8 capability • The role of 11% lower pivot friction in ride feel and traction • How Wide Open, Magic Middle, and Sprint-On-Lock damping settings work in real racing • Why efficiency is more than stiffness and weight • How Body Geometry data shaped Epic 9 fit and handling • What Christopher feels when the bike disappears and flow takes over It is a conversation about speed, science, flow, and devotion beyond reason to making the fastest XC bike in the world even faster. GUESTS: Christopher Blevins and Jason McDonald Follow Christopher Blevins Instagram: @christopherblevs Subscribe to Specialized Bicycles on YouTube for more conversations with the engineers, athletes, and creators shaping the future of cycling. Get More from Specialized TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@specializedbicycles Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamspecialized Facebook: https://www.fb.com/specializedbicycles Outride: https://www.instagram.com/outride