All of our staff at Fanatik have a shared passion for cycling in one form or another. It's how most of us found our way into the industry and is what keeps us coming back day in and day out. Nick P. is one of our highly skilled mechanics responsible for ensuring the wheels keep turning in our service department in a very literal sense. Covering everything from custom wheel builds to suspension service; Nick brings his passion for bikes into every turn of the wrench. He ensures that every bike, wheel, or suspension component that comes across his bench is dialed. If his bench is vacant, there's a good chance Nick is out in the woods aboard his Forbidden Druid V2. Having previously owned and ridden both a Druid V1 and Dreadnought V1, I chatted with Nick about what sets this new frame apart on the trail, as well as the finer details of this custom build. 

Bike Details

Frame: Forbidden Druid V2

Size: S4 

Wheels: We Are One Union / Hope Pro 5 / Sapim Race Butted Spokes 

Tires: Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Gravity Addix Ultra Soft 29 x 2.4 / Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Gravity Addix Soft 29 x 2.4

Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle AXS GX Derailleur / SRAM Eagle GX Cassette and Chain / Hope EVO Crankset / Hope 32T Boost Chainring

Brakes: SRAM Code Ultimate Stealth  / SRAM HS2 rotors 200m F/R

Cockpit: Tenet Bodem V3 Alloy 40mm, 800mm wide / Burgtec 32mm stem / Tenet Icon Grips

Seatpost/Saddle: OneUp V3 Dropper 210mm / Chromag Lift Saddle

Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate 185mm x 50mm 

Fork: RockShox Zeb 29" Ultimate Charger 3.1 160mm

Frame/Sizing

Nick is 6’5” and rides a S4 Druid V2. He is running full RockShox suspension front and rear. Nick has opted for a 160mm ZEB Ultimate up front for increased rigidity to suit the Druid V2’s aggressive descending capabilities. A Super Deluxe Ultimate air combined with the Forbidden’s new suspension layout provides bump-eating sensitivity while maintaining a supportive feel while pedaling and pumping through terrain. 

Brakes / Drivetrain

This Druid is a fully SRAM build, except for its eye-catching silver Hope EVO cranks and chainring—a well-loved SRAM GX AXS derailleur and accompanying GX components round out the drivetrain. Nick runs a set of Codes Ultimate Stealth brakes, tying together the silver aesthetic of the build. Accustomed to their lever feel and ease of service, Nick runs SRAM code brakes on both his Druid V2 and Transition TR11, keeping the feeling the same between his two setups. He is running 200mm HS2 rotors front and rear. 

Wheels / Tires

As one of our custom wheel builders, Nick knows better than most what wheels build up well and can withstand seasons of abuse. Accordingly, he has chosen to roll on a set of Hope Pro 5 hubs laced up to We Are One Union rims. The Pro 5 offers high engagement and amazingly low drag at a fantastic price point, while the We Are One’s rims are a shop favorite for their accurate craftsmanship and longevity. Nick is running Schwalbe Magic Mary tires front and rear. 

Cockpit / Pedals 

The centerpiece of Nick’s silver Druid V2 is his silver Tenet Bodem handlebar and matching Burgtec stem. He runs his bars at 800mm to accommodate his larger 6’5” frame and has opted for a set of Tenets’ Icon grips. Nick runs Chromag Dagga pedals on all his bikes, and he has scars on his shins to prove it.

How does the Druid V2 compare to the Druid V1?

I'd say it definitely pedals better than the V1. That was the first thing I noticed right off the bat. I feel like it's maybe a little bit smoother off the top, the small bump sensitivity is a bit better, and I don't feel like I've bottomed it out yet. The V1 was noticeable when I'd bottom it out. The V2 is more comfortable when it gets gnarly; they've done a really good job with this new suspension platform.

I had noticed on the Druid V1 it had a sensation of the wheelbase "growing" as it got deeper in its travel. Do you have that sensation on the V2? 

It doesn't feel like that as much on this one. I would say there is still a rearward axle path, but I believe it is a little bit less rearward and more upward on the V2. You can notice the difference, it doesn't feel like it has a long, wallowing feeling when you go through the travel. 

What would you say is the primary difference between the V1 and V2 on the trail? 

I think the biggest thing I notice is the geometry. The V2 is slightly slacker, it feels comfier on the stuff we ride in Bellingham. The V1 was a great bike, but I think that's a bike I'd choose for terrain that is a little less steep. 

What is your favorite component on your bike? 

That's a tough one because the whole bike performs really well as an entire unit. Performance-wise, I'd say the ZEB. Visually, I'd say the silver Burgtec stem and Tenet bars. 

The Druid has earned a reputation for being more capable than its travel numbers suggest on paper. Has that been your experience on this bike? 

The numbers say it's a 130mm bike,  but it performs more like a 150mm mountain bike. I definitely wouldn't say it's limited to its trail bike category. I chased our co-worker Tim down the Top of the World trail at Whistler while he was riding his Druid V1, and I was on a downhill bike, and it didn't slow him down any. 

If you could ride this bike anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

I would go ride one of the trails in Madeira that descends down towards the beach. That's like my dream place to go. 

What song embodies your bike?

Dirt - The Stooges