Endurance test performance: 3,100 km | 26,000 altitude metres
When handing over the Rock Machine Blizzard 90 in the BIKE cellar, I swallowed briefly: my gaze fell on the protruding gear cable on the rear triangle. Was this the harbinger of various breakdowns? I was also initially taken aback by the look - after all, the previous bike (Ghost Miss AMR 5700) was a women's model that looked much more delicate than the Rock Machine touring bike. My alarm bells rang immediately: I could already see myself heaving the 13-kilo Blizzard up the Isar trail ramps on my home circuit.
However, the first tour completely wiped away all my reservations. The Rock Machine took me quickly along fast forest tracks to my favourite terrain - the rooty ups and downs of the Isar trails. Here, the bike proved to be an agile, lively and confident ride. The climbs, which tend to be short, crisp and steep, were easy to master. The Fox fork and shock with 140 and 130 millimetres of travel respectively levelled the rooted trails and responded sensitively to small bumps even at my 50 kilos. The XT groupset from Shimano worked just as flawlessly over the entire test distance of a good 3000 kilometres. Even numerous rides in the rain and mud couldn't harm the long-lasting components. Only the chain came to its knees due to contact with a stone. Although the Blizzard is not a special model with women's geometry, the 16.5-inch frame with its 585 mm top tube fitted my body measurements perfectly.
ConclusionThere are certainly lighter, more prestigious and more innovative bikes for as much as 2600 euros. But very few are more durable and reliable than the Blizzard 90 from Rock Machine. Price and
performance are therefore in the best relationship.
Functionality ****
Shelf life ******
(max. 6 stars)
TUNING
- 0 km: Saddle changed
Mounted the Fizik Tundra 2 instead of the standard WTB saddle
DEFECTS
- 0 km: Stowing the shift cable
A cable tie put the shift cable, which was sticking out far too much, in the right position.
- 560 km: Tyres replaced
What nature couldn't do to the tyres, a short ride into the city centre did: shards on the cycle path. The inner tube and tyre had to be replaced.
- 2280 km: Chain riveted
A stone got lost in the chain and bent a chain link.
- 3100 km: Damper
At the end of the test phase, the shock kept losing a little air - it had to be pumped up before every third or fourth tour.
