Yes, she’s heavy. And yeah, she’s probably overpriced.
But look at her. Seriously, up there in the photograph.
She goes by the name of Sawyer, just like all those hot girls in high school who had boys’ names: Billie, Sam, Jean, Randi.
The first impression is hard to shake. The lines are retro, yet modern. The curve of the down tube, the split top-tube, the gigantic 29er tires and the understated matte paint job … all meant to hearken back to the days when Gary Fisher and his friends were bombing the hills of Marin, inventing what we now call mountain biking. These intrepid, harebrained souls took bikes that were meant for cruising around the block and hacked them into dirt-bombing adrenaline machines.
This specimen is a part of Trek’s new Gary Fisher Collection — a special line of mountain bike models dedicated to the man who started it all. Among a wide range of frames all baring his signature, the Sawyer is a sentimental showpiece. Fisher was one of the first bike designers to start mass-producing 29-inch-wheel mountain bikes in 2001, and Trek (which gobbled up his company) is celebrating his 10-year obsession by launching this bike.
The design of the Sawyer hearkens back to the sport’s salad days. Given visions of those old-timers plummeting down Mt. Tamalpais on their sturdy steeds decades ago, there was no doubt in my mind that when I hefted the Sawyer, she was going to be a tank. And I was right: She’s not quite 30 pounds, but she certainly rolled right past 20 like it was standing still.
After letting her sit around looking pretty for a couple of days, I finally got a chance to throw a leg over her and put some time in the saddle. At first, I assumed she was going to be all show and no go. After a few miles, I realized I could not have been more wrong.
The Sawyer is fun. A little like the fun your dad might have had if he were a member of the Repack, burning up his brakes and shredding his tires while laughing hysterically down the mountain.
A few issues got in the way of the good times. The shifting is not quite crisp, and I had some brake adjustment woes right out of the box. In this price range (the Sawyer is $1,500) you’d expect a better kit.
When I turned to the bike forums on the web, I found some kindred spirits. A great many riders are so in love with the Sawyer’s curvy steel build, they are just buying the frame and fork and tricking it out. With some effort (and a small fortune) you can get the Sawyer well under 25 pounds, especially if you take advantage of the split dropout and convert her to a single speed. Belt-driven Sawyer, anyone?
In the end, I decided I liked her just the way she is, flaws and all. I wouldn’t want to spend all day in her saddle, slogging through singletrack or whipping the downhill course at Downieville. And there are certainly better choices for commuting to work or riding a century.
But for shorter rides that involve a little of this and a little of that, give the Sawyer a shot. Just like the rest of her crew — the Randis and the Billies and the Sams — she’ll make you feel like a man and leave you begging for more.
WIRED Stylish steed with old-school cred. Steel frame, rigid fork and swept Bontrager Crivitz bars give it a cruiser vibe, but it’s capable on the trails. Sliders and split dropouts allow for multiple drivetrain options. Modders already love this bike, and will continue to do so.
TIRED Lower end components and all that extra steel add up to one heavy bike. If function is more important than form, you should look elsewhere.
Gary Fisher steering his steel down a mountain.
Trek Sawyer photo by Jim Merithew/Wired