I just picked up an RC4 rear shock and the new upper linkage by Push for my Nomad Carbon, and I wanted to share some first impressions.
I got the rear shock the day before leaving for a riding trip in California, so I only had time to bolt everything up and throw it in a box to be put on the plane. The link itself is an awesome piece of CNC'd goodness, with a nice shiny ano black finish and lots of CNC marks all over it (which I love). I don't have a precise scale, but the link adds a little less than 50 grams to the bike relative to the stock carbon piece. I'm no engineer, but it looks to me like Push could eventually shave a bit more weight from the part in some areas as it is pretty burly - either way, 50 grams is a weight penalty I can overlook.
I hadn't had the RC4 mounted to the carbon link, so I can't really offer any direct comparisons, but I can say that the rear suspension action is significantly improved over the stock link/RP23 combo I was riding before. While the carbon link and air shock seemed to climb a bit better, this new link and RC4 has improved the bike's handling in almost every situation. Pedaling efficiency is almost identical with a single 34T ring up front, and the bike has FAR better traction on the downs without sacrificing "pop". The bike still has a very level feel in the air, but small bump performance has improved significantly and the bike doesn't sit in the mid-stroke any more. The bike uses its travel much more efficiently, allowing me to power through rough sections without blowing through the travel or bottoming. The shock ramps up beautifully on bigger drops and jumps, and keeping the bike in control through braking bumps or a blown out landing takes much less effort than before.
I only have a couple full days in the saddle with this new setup and I definitely don't have the RC4 as dialed as I could, but so far I'm extremely impressed with this new setup. The link increases traction and lets me enter sketchy corners faster without having the rear end break loose as easily, and the bike tracks the ground much better. The 36 TALAS up front is no longer outperforming the rear suspension when the going gets nasty, and the bike feels more composed. There is a slight loss in pedaling efficiency and Push said that there is more pedal bob in the small ring (if you run one), but if you ride especially rough terrain or live for the ride back down, this is an extremely impressive upgrade that I wholeheartedly recommend. It makes a big difference.
I got the rear shock the day before leaving for a riding trip in California, so I only had time to bolt everything up and throw it in a box to be put on the plane. The link itself is an awesome piece of CNC'd goodness, with a nice shiny ano black finish and lots of CNC marks all over it (which I love). I don't have a precise scale, but the link adds a little less than 50 grams to the bike relative to the stock carbon piece. I'm no engineer, but it looks to me like Push could eventually shave a bit more weight from the part in some areas as it is pretty burly - either way, 50 grams is a weight penalty I can overlook.
I hadn't had the RC4 mounted to the carbon link, so I can't really offer any direct comparisons, but I can say that the rear suspension action is significantly improved over the stock link/RP23 combo I was riding before. While the carbon link and air shock seemed to climb a bit better, this new link and RC4 has improved the bike's handling in almost every situation. Pedaling efficiency is almost identical with a single 34T ring up front, and the bike has FAR better traction on the downs without sacrificing "pop". The bike still has a very level feel in the air, but small bump performance has improved significantly and the bike doesn't sit in the mid-stroke any more. The bike uses its travel much more efficiently, allowing me to power through rough sections without blowing through the travel or bottoming. The shock ramps up beautifully on bigger drops and jumps, and keeping the bike in control through braking bumps or a blown out landing takes much less effort than before.
I only have a couple full days in the saddle with this new setup and I definitely don't have the RC4 as dialed as I could, but so far I'm extremely impressed with this new setup. The link increases traction and lets me enter sketchy corners faster without having the rear end break loose as easily, and the bike tracks the ground much better. The 36 TALAS up front is no longer outperforming the rear suspension when the going gets nasty, and the bike feels more composed. There is a slight loss in pedaling efficiency and Push said that there is more pedal bob in the small ring (if you run one), but if you ride especially rough terrain or live for the ride back down, this is an extremely impressive upgrade that I wholeheartedly recommend. It makes a big difference.