Eric Porter gets to travel the world riding his bike in amazing places, but when he’s home, the riding can be just as incredible. That includes his incredible back yard with a pro-only dirt jump line that features massive wood kickers to dirt landings that was designed and built with the help of the late Kelly McGarry along with digging assistance from a number of others. Well versed in a number of riding disciplines, dirt jumping has always been a way for Porter to just have fun on his bike with friends, and now his family as he raises two sons with his wife on the picturesque property just outside of Park City, Utah.
Naturally, with a dream backyard like this, you’d also expect Porter to have at least one dream dirt jump build which is exactly what he was breaking in while we visited…
Literally fresh out of the stand, Porter was excited to break in the new bike. Based on a Diamondback Assault frame with 26″ wheels and built in chain tensioners, this is one of the rare times that you can’t actually buy the frame that Porter is riding. The Assault has been available in the past, but is currently not listed on Diamondback’s website. Up front, Porter is running a Fox 36 fork set at 100mm.
To make the Assault go, Porter opted for a drivetrain with 25 x 12 gearing with a Deity Helltrack sprocket upfront and an Endless Bikes Kick Ass Cog in the back to which he says, “only the best!” The Deity Vendetta 3.0 cranks also include a titanium spindle since this is a dream build after all – though the chain is just your basic single speed variety.
To make the Assault stop, the bike uses a single rear brake with a Magura MT8 dual piston caliper and Carbotecture SL lever body with the HC single finger lever blade, all clamping down on a 160mm Storm SL rotor.
Deity also makes the cut for the Black Label bar with 38mm rise (cut to 775mm), 35mm Cavity stem, Knuckle Duster grips, and T-Mac pedals.
For the rare times that the saddle is actually used, an SDG Apollo seat and matching I-beam carbon Micro post are held in place with a Deity Circuit clamp.
Hardly your ordinary dirt jump wheels, these carbon beauties were hand built by Porter’s long time friend and “wheel building ninja,” Jason Wynne. Apparently the last 26″ carbon hoops that Reynolds had on hand, they were originally made for an OEM partner and now are part of the most ridiculous dirt jump wheelset out there. Laced to Industry Nine hubs front and rear, the uses a 135mm spacing with a bolt on axle.
The wheels are wrapped in Kenda rubber which is an obvious choice given Porter’s sponsorship by the brand, and in this case a 26 x 2.35″ folding Slant Six DTC is up front, while a 26 x 2.35″ folding K-Rad is out back. And of course – ultra light Kenda Tubes.
Unfortunately, I failed to get any great shots of Porter hitting the jump line, but by dusk Porter, Andrew Taylor, and a few other riders were throwing down and putting on a great show. Fortunately, Brandon Castelli from Mountain Bike Action was also on hand and got this banger just as the sun was ducking behind the mountains.
Thanks again to Porter for allowing us to invade his house at the end of the Camelbak Porter ride, and everyone involved for a killer time!
