LCKD N LDED Jackrabbit: The Leadville 100 Winner Setup Now Banned

By 2025, XC double suspension gravel bikes with drop bars were everywhere and for good reason. Keegan Swanson won the Leadville 100 that year on one, after racing it on flat bars in 2024. For 2026, this setup is officially banned from the event, which only makes me wonder: was it just a marketing trend or was it truly the ultimate setup?

What if?

The question stayed with me. And then it hit me: what if a bike like that was perfect not just for the trails I ride around here, but also for the gravel roads that connect them, and for exploring the Jackrabbit Reserve? Yes, the Jackrabbit Reserve. Originally created in 1981 as the Laurentides Ecological Reserve, it was expanded in 1992 and renamed to honor Herman Smith Johannsen (1875 to 1987), whose trailblazing efforts opened ski trails across the Laurentians and introduced cross-country skiing to North America. His legacy still shapes how we explore the region today.

Inspired by the reserve and its trails, I named the bike Jackrabbit. Fast, nimble, and agile, just like the animal, it represents speed, adventure, and local heritage all in one.

The Jackrabbit

Frameset: LCKD N LDED is always open to testing new ideas. For this build, they collaborated on a carbon fiber frameset with a matte raw finish, keeping it light while giving it a stealthy, understated look.

Wheelset and tires: FSA provided the KFX i28 XC carbon fiber wheelset & WTB supplied Macros 2.4” fo the initial build and few other models and width.

Saddle: WTB also sent the carbon fiber Solano.

Cockpit: FSA delivered the K-wing AGX carbon fiber handlebar, a 35 mm stem, and a matching SL-K carbon fiber seatpost while Sram sent their latest Apex AXS E1 levers.

Front suspension: RockShox equipped the bike with a SID SL SELECT 3P fork.

Rear suspension: RockShox equipped the bike a SIDLUXE ULTIMATE 2P A2 rear shock.

Rear derailleur: Staying true to my love for mullet setups, SRAM sent a GX AXS derailleur paired with a 10-50 cassette and a black XX1 chain.

Crankset: The crankset is Carbon GX with an upgraded 34T chainring.

This project is not about chasing controversy. It is about testing limits. Throughout the season we will publish individual component reviews as each part proves itself on real terrain. At the end of the year, we will deliver a full season verdict.

Follow the season and decide for yourself: myth or masterstroke?