Insider Rides looks at the bikes that we ride, the bikes that industry insiders ride, that racers ride, and everyday folk ride. For this instalment, we are looking at Jhan Vernon’s Ellsworth Moment, which once belonged to ex-DH World Cup racer Cam Cole. Given to him by a fellow tradie who he just happened to be on the same job after not having a bike for a few months, the Moment is now that ‘loaner’ bike that you share around whenever someone is in need.

The story goes, Jhan put a pre-order in for a bike that was never released (looking at you Norco 2014) and he was left without a bike for two months. He was complaining about his lack of bike while on a job (he was a sparkie) and it just so happened that the drain-layer on the same job was into mountain biking. He said he had most of a bike that was just gathering dust that Jhan could have (for FREE!?). The only condition was that if Jhan ever wanted to pass it on that it went to someone who would appreciate it. In the end Jhan loved the bike so much that he kept it, instead using it as a way for people who want to try mountain biking to give it a go, without having the financial commitment of buying a bike straight away.

“American as Hell” head tube badge.

He took away the frame, a wheelset and a few other bits, but the rest of the bike has been sourced, donated and borrowed from friends. The first ride on the new ‘Frankenbike’ was “glorious.”

“It just grips, regardless of how rough the track is.”

The kilometre-long rocker and token piece of carbon fibre.

The bike was so amazing that he decided to try and improve the geometry, picking up an offset bushing that slightly reduces the length of the rear shock, which slackens the bike a little.

“It gave the bike more stability at speed and a more planted feel on the steep stuff.”

The offset bushes making the Moment #soenduro

Eventually some hand-me-down 10 speed gearing was added to the bike along with a home-built derailleur cage, so the bike could run a 42 tooth rear sprocket and allow the drivetrain to still perform well.

Even though he has spent a bit of money on the bike it doesn’t feel like his, but he feels “a duty to keep the Moment up and running so it’s there when anyone needs it.” It has been loaned to complete strangers, with some fingers crossed and “thank fuck”s when it came back with a happy rider. It’s first loan out was actually to me a few years ago, and it was such a great bike to learn to ride on it was hard switching when I eventually bought my own bike!

You may hear people talk about how their bike has soul, that it has its own character; the Moment is definitely one of these bikes. With the updated geometry and modern-ish components it can really hold its own against the modern plastic super bikes of today. Jhan catches himself taking the Moment out every now and then instead of his Nomad, because it is just that much fun to ride. Having ridden this bike I would have to agree, the Moment is really something special.

Jhan revels in his Moment.