Dream Builds: Travis Engel's Scott Ransom (Again)

This Dream Build is a little different. It's still 20 minutes of Ryan Palmer in his corrugated aluminum lair, assembling small pieces of jewelry into one large piece of jewelry. But this time, that jewelry isn't entirely new. The minute that Bike Mag gear editor, Travis Engel, sat down to think about his Dream Build, he realized he already had it. His choice from last year, the Scott Ransom, is perfectly capable for the unforgiving, unmanicured and underappreciated trails near his Los Angeles home. But it's also light and quick enough that it won't slow him down on the occasional 10,000-foot death march. And maybe even more than that, it feels like home. Even though it's part of our job here at Bike Mag to bring you news of the new, incredible toys that are coming out on the regular, sometimes you don't need them. Sometimes the perfect bike is the one you have.

That doesn't mean Travis wasn't ready to make some changes. The switch to XTR brakes, shifter, derailleur and hubs was at the top of the list. And a switch to Enve 635 rims was the next, even though they're a hair lighter duty what Enve recommends for a 170-millimeter 29er. Enve also took care of the cockpit, with the updated M9 31.8 bar and matching stem. The opposite end of the cockpit is taken care of by the newly lengthened 200-millimeter RockShox Reverb, and a Bike Mag custom WTB Volt saddle and Ergon GA2 Fat grips take care of the touch points. 

There are some smart odds and ends from Wolf Tooth, whose B-Rad system at least got Travis's tube strap off his frame, and the Morse Cage allows for wide- and fine-tuning of bottle position to keep it all tight. Also tight is the in-bar EnCase tool system from Wolf Tooth. Again, less stuff to be strapped to the paint. And a Timber bell keeps the hikers happy.

The Cane Creek ee Wings had to stay, so thankfully, Wolf Tooth makes a chainring that works with both a SRAM direct-mount crank and a Shimano Hyperglide Plus chain. Way to reach across the aisle, Wolf Tooth. Travis still isn't letting go of his remote-controlled rear shock. It's what helps make the Ransom so versatile. A heavy hardtail at your fingertips makes those all-day fire road climbs a little easier to swallow. The model-year 20 Fox 36 is still front and center, along with the Syncros fender. Really, that's about all that stayed the same. That, and the frame. Travis is still waiting for a bike to come along that will dethrone the Ransom as his dream bike. That'll be the day.