When I first began working at Fanatik, I was fascinated by the warehouse. It was all there right before my eyes, golden cassettes, glossy Onyx Vesper hubs, and all the other latest and greatest mountain bike tech right at my fingertips. When I saw a custom build waiting to ship, a Forbidden Dreadnaught outfitted in oil slick X01, it stopped me in my tracks. Admittedly, over my two years at Fanatik, I have slowly been numbed by the constant exposure to Kashima-adorned bike builds. However, every once in a while, a bike rolls through the photo studio that still grabs my attention as that first custom build had; Brody’s Spire being one of those.

After a string of direct-to-consumer bikes with so-so components, Brody decided to enter the 2023 season with a bike that wouldn’t leave him questioning its reliability.

Brody centered his build around a Transition Spire in their gorgeous huckleberry colorway. From fork to derailleur, you can’t scoff at a single component. This build is as airtight as they come. Brody made the trip over from Idaho to pick up his new Spire and to give it a proper shakedown in Pacific Northwest soil before returning home for a summer of racing. We took a moment to chat about his build experience using our Custom Bike Builder and his plans for the upcoming season.

This is definitely a bike I'd classify as a dream build; is this build one you've been envisioning for a while? 

Yeah, I had ridden a couple Transitions but never owned one. I’ve been on a lot of direct-to-consumer bikes over the years just because I run through them every race season. I had a little extra money, so I decided to go for a custom bike. I figured if I were to do a custom build, I should go all out.

Snow camo frame decals. After all, custom is our specialty.

Are these components you are familiar with using? 

Yeah, I had issues with some of the components on direct-to-consumer bikes. So, I decided to go back to SRAM. I’ve never had problems with GX stuff, which is just a cheaper version of the X01 parts I chose.

Having had positive experiences previously with SRAM GX components, Brody decided to double down and try a SRAM X01 groupset.

How did you decide on a Spire frame?

I did a lap at Big Sky bike park on a Sentinel, and I liked how it felt, but I wanted a little more bike. The Spire seems like the big brother to the sentinel. I was thinking about Patrol, but I really do want a full 29er. With my riding style, I tend not to take the smoother line, just the fastest, chunky lines. So I like the idea of what is essentially a downhill bike I can pedal, considering the geo and wheelbase. 

Brody looks forward to a season full of racing on his very own dream build Spire. Coming off a handful of seasons on more price-conscious bikes, a fully-kitted Spire will take his season to another level.

What are your plans with this bike for this coming season? 

A lot of racing. I’m racing the Big Sky BME, Purgatory BME, and then hopefully some Montana enduros. My first race will be the North American Enduro Cup at Silver. 

Dominion Hayes brakes paired with 203mm D-Series rotors take care of all the stopping duties.

How would you summarize your custom build experience with Fanatik?

I really don’t think it could have gone any better. I was emailing a lot of people in customer service, and they were super responsive and made the process easy. Just making sure everything was dialed. You guys were super easy to work with, and you even threw in custom stuff I didn’t know was possible, like camo decals!

The DT Swiss EX 511 is one of the most popular options in the shop for a durable alloy rim and pairs nicely with a set of custom decals.

Yeah, I know our graphic designer, Ian, is always down to come up with something custom!

It was awesome, it was just an idea, and you guys got back to me with a super responsive email in less than ten minutes. The guys were super helpful with making that happen. The bike looks amazing!

If you’ve got an idea for your own custom decals, give us a ring, and we’ll see what we can make happen!

Moments after our interview, Brody loaded up his Spire and hastily left to dirty its tires in Galbraith soil. While the build looks immaculate, it will look even better with a generous coat of mud.

Check out our Bike Builder to bring your dream build to life! If you have any questions or further inquiries, don't hesitate to contact our support team at 1-844-FANATIK (326-2845) or sales@fanatikbike.com.