You’ve seen the Rocky Mountain Sherpa by now, a pretty blue prototype was debuted at last year’s Sea Otter Classic, and then a revised version came with us on our epic Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Loop. Rocky didn’t just stretch some rear triangles and call it good, they’ve thoroughly re-thought the entire bike’s build to emphasize its new 27.5+ platform. The first WTB Trailblazer 27.5+ tires and rims were delivered to Rocky’s R&D department and the bike meticulously built around them in secret. Manitou has produced the first plus-specific fork and also built it from scratch, engineering it to withstand the great forces of a wide tire and wheel. And the frame and suspension was designed and tuned with the unique forces and challenges of a loaded full suspension bike in mind. In short the Sherpa rides like a dream.

Jason and I stole two of the bikes for a rip around Fort Ord MTB trails at the The Sea Otter Classic this weekend. The bikes are featherlight and love to be whipped around, inviting us to push them hard in the corners, up the steep rollers, and flared off every little bump of the trail. My only regret is that we couldn’t load them up and steal them overnight! I’ve got zero complaints about my rigid Krampus and slack hardtail Gnarvester, but they’ve both been camping bikes trending towards what I really enjoy: Trail riding. Getting rowdy. Cooking up long slogs and blasting down the steep descents. This is the bike for it.

As part of Blackburn’s Comes With Baggage film release at the first night of the Sea Otter Classic we presented our Bikepacking Primer photos and and stories and Rocky Mountain gave their official media introduction to the Sherpa, including this absolutely inspiring short film: “Black Canyon Trail.” Watch it and get stoked to go ride!

The Black Canyon Trail from Rocky Mountain Bicycles on Vimeo.