Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into the Rocky Mountain Altitude Alloy 50, a bike that's been making waves in the mountain biking community. If you're on the hunt for a versatile and capable trail bike that won't break the bank, then this might just be the one for you. We're going to break down everything from its frame and suspension to its components and overall performance. So, buckle up and let's get started!

The Rocky Mountain Altitude Alloy 50 is more than just a mountain bike; it's a gateway to adventure. It's designed for riders who crave challenging trails, epic climbs, and thrilling descents. The Altitude Alloy 50 strikes a harmonious balance between agility and stability. Making it suitable for a wide range of riding styles and terrains. It's not just about the components; it's about the feeling you get when you're out on the trail, pushing your limits, and exploring new horizons. This bike is built to inspire confidence and deliver a memorable riding experience, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out. One of the standout features of the Altitude Alloy 50 is its carefully engineered suspension system. Rocky Mountain has fine-tuned the suspension kinematics to provide optimal performance on both climbs and descents. This means you can efficiently power up steep inclines without excessive pedal bob, and then confidently tackle technical downhills with plush, controlled suspension. The suspension is designed to absorb bumps and vibrations, keeping you comfortable and in control even on the roughest trails. This is crucial for maintaining momentum and reducing fatigue, allowing you to ride longer and explore further. Moreover, the Altitude Alloy 50 boasts a durable and lightweight frame, constructed from high-quality aluminum alloy. This frame provides a stiff and responsive platform for efficient power transfer, ensuring that every pedal stroke translates into forward motion. The frame geometry is designed to strike a balance between stability and agility, making the bike feel confident and maneuverable on a variety of trails. The frame also features internal cable routing, which not only enhances the bike's aesthetics but also protects the cables from dirt and debris, ensuring smooth and reliable shifting performance.

Frame and Build

Let's kick things off with the heart of the bike: the frame. The Altitude Alloy 50 boasts a frame crafted from Rocky Mountain's FORM™ Alloy. This isn't your run-of-the-mill aluminum; it's a lightweight yet durable alloy that's designed to withstand the rigors of aggressive trail riding. The frame geometry is modern and aggressive, featuring a slack head angle and a steep seat tube angle. This combination provides a stable and confident ride on descents while maintaining efficient climbing capabilities. The frame's construction also incorporates features like internal cable routing. This not only gives the bike a clean and sleek look but also protects the cables from dirt and debris, ensuring smooth and reliable shifting performance. Additionally, the frame is designed with Boost spacing, which allows for wider and stiffer wheels, enhancing overall stability and control.

The frame's design philosophy revolves around maximizing both strength and weight savings. Rocky Mountain employs advanced manufacturing techniques to optimize the alloy's properties, resulting in a frame that is both incredibly strong and surprisingly lightweight. This is crucial for a trail bike, where every gram counts when you're tackling steep climbs or navigating technical terrain. The frame's stiffness also contributes to efficient power transfer, ensuring that your energy is translated directly into forward motion. This is especially important for riders who enjoy pushing their limits and tackling challenging trails. Furthermore, the Altitude Alloy 50's frame is designed to be compatible with a variety of components and accessories. This allows riders to customize their bike to suit their individual preferences and riding styles. Whether you want to upgrade the suspension, add a dropper post, or swap out the tires, the frame provides a solid foundation for building your dream trail bike. The frame also features multiple mounting points for accessories such as water bottle cages, frame bags, and fenders, making it a versatile choice for both short trail rides and longer backcountry adventures. The attention to detail in the frame's design is evident in every aspect, from the carefully sculpted tubes to the precisely welded joints. Rocky Mountain's commitment to quality ensures that the frame is not only durable and reliable but also aesthetically pleasing. The frame's sleek lines and modern graphics give the bike a premium look and feel, setting it apart from other trail bikes in its class. Overall, the Altitude Alloy 50's frame is a testament to Rocky Mountain's expertise in designing and manufacturing high-performance mountain bikes. It's a frame that is built to withstand the demands of aggressive trail riding, while also providing a comfortable and confidence-inspiring ride.

Suspension System

The suspension is a key element of any trail bike, and the Altitude Alloy 50 doesn't disappoint. It features a 160mm travel fork up front and 150mm of rear travel, providing plenty of squish to soak up bumps and keep you in control. The suspension components are carefully selected to offer a balance of performance and value. The bike typically comes equipped with a Fox or RockShox fork, known for their smooth and responsive performance. The rear suspension utilizes Rocky Mountain's Smoothlink suspension design. This is designed to provide a supple and active feel throughout the travel range.

The Smoothlink suspension system is engineered to minimize pedal bob while maximizing traction and control. This allows you to climb efficiently without sacrificing downhill performance. The suspension kinematics are optimized to provide a progressive feel, meaning the suspension becomes firmer as it compresses. This helps to prevent bottoming out on big hits while maintaining sensitivity to small bumps. The suspension is also designed to be easily adjustable, allowing riders to fine-tune the bike's performance to suit their individual preferences and riding conditions. Whether you prefer a plush and forgiving feel or a more firm and supportive ride, the Altitude Alloy 50's suspension can be dialed in to meet your needs. Moreover, the suspension components are chosen for their durability and reliability. Rocky Mountain understands that riders need a suspension system that can withstand the rigors of aggressive trail riding, so they select components that are built to last. This means you can spend less time worrying about maintenance and more time enjoying the ride. The suspension also features external adjustments for rebound damping and compression, allowing riders to further fine-tune the bike's performance. These adjustments can be made easily on the trail, allowing you to adapt to changing conditions and terrain. The suspension's sensitivity to small bumps ensures that you maintain traction and control even on rough and chattery surfaces. This is crucial for maintaining momentum and confidence on challenging trails. Overall, the Altitude Alloy 50's suspension system is a key contributor to its exceptional performance. It provides a plush and controlled ride that inspires confidence and allows you to push your limits. Whether you're climbing steep hills or bombing down technical descents, the suspension will keep you comfortable and in control.

Components and Features

When it comes to components, the Altitude Alloy 50 is specced with a mix of reliable and performance-oriented parts. You'll typically find a Shimano or SRAM drivetrain, offering smooth and precise shifting. The bike also comes with powerful hydraulic disc brakes, providing ample stopping power in all conditions. Other notable features include a dropper post, which allows you to lower your saddle on the fly for improved maneuverability on descents, and tubeless-ready wheels, which can be easily set up to run without inner tubes for improved traction and puncture resistance.

The choice of components reflects Rocky Mountain's commitment to providing riders with a bike that is both capable and reliable. The drivetrain components are selected for their durability and performance, ensuring smooth and consistent shifting even under heavy loads. The hydraulic disc brakes offer excellent modulation and stopping power, giving you confidence and control in all weather conditions. The dropper post is a must-have for any modern trail bike, allowing you to quickly and easily adjust your saddle height to suit the terrain. This is especially useful on technical descents, where a lower saddle height provides more clearance and maneuverability. The tubeless-ready wheels are another great feature, allowing you to run lower tire pressures for improved traction and comfort. Tubeless setups also reduce the risk of pinch flats, making them a popular choice among serious trail riders. Furthermore, the Altitude Alloy 50 is equipped with a comfortable and supportive saddle, ensuring that you can ride all day without discomfort. The handlebars and stem are also chosen for their ergonomic design, providing a comfortable and efficient riding position. The bike's geometry is designed to strike a balance between stability and agility, making it feel confident and maneuverable on a variety of trails. The frame also features internal cable routing, which not only enhances the bike's aesthetics but also protects the cables from dirt and debris, ensuring smooth and reliable shifting performance. Overall, the Altitude Alloy 50 is specced with a well-thought-out mix of components that provide excellent performance and reliability. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, you'll appreciate the quality and attention to detail that has gone into selecting each component.

Ride Quality and Performance

So, how does the Altitude Alloy 50 perform on the trail? In short, it's a blast to ride! The bike feels stable and planted on descents, inspiring confidence to tackle technical terrain. The suspension soaks up bumps and chatter with ease, providing a smooth and controlled ride. On climbs, the bike is surprisingly efficient, thanks to its steep seat tube angle and efficient suspension design. The Altitude Alloy 50 is a versatile bike that can handle a wide variety of trails, from flowy singletrack to rocky and rooty terrain.

The bike's playful and responsive handling makes it a joy to ride, encouraging you to explore new trails and push your limits. The suspension's sensitivity to small bumps ensures that you maintain traction and control even on rough and chattery surfaces. This is crucial for maintaining momentum and confidence on challenging trails. The bike's stiffness also contributes to efficient power transfer, ensuring that your energy is translated directly into forward motion. This is especially important for riders who enjoy climbing steep hills or sprinting out of corners. Furthermore, the Altitude Alloy 50 is designed to be comfortable and confidence-inspiring, allowing you to ride longer and explore further. The bike's geometry is optimized for a balanced and neutral riding position, reducing fatigue and allowing you to focus on the trail ahead. The bike's suspension also provides excellent support and control, preventing bottoming out on big hits and maintaining composure on steep descents. Overall, the Altitude Alloy 50 is a bike that is built to perform. It's a versatile and capable trail bike that can handle a wide variety of terrain with ease. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, you'll appreciate the bike's smooth and controlled ride, efficient climbing capabilities, and playful handling.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Durable and lightweight alloy frame
• Plush and capable suspension
• Reliable components
• Versatile performance
• Great value for the price

Cons:

• Some riders may prefer a carbon frame for weight savings
• Stock tires may not be ideal for all conditions

Final Verdict

The Rocky Mountain Altitude Alloy 50 is a fantastic trail bike that offers a great blend of performance, value, and versatility. It's an excellent choice for riders who want a capable and reliable bike that can handle a wide variety of trails. While it may not be the lightest or most high-end bike on the market, it offers an incredible riding experience at a price point that's hard to beat. If you're looking for a trail bike that can do it all, the Altitude Alloy 50 is definitely worth considering.

So there you have it, folks! Our comprehensive look at the Rocky Mountain Altitude Alloy 50. We hope this has been helpful in your search for the perfect trail bike. Happy trails!