Velopedia Bicycle Archive

2003 Rocky Mountain Vertex

Original specifications: Shimano XTR · 9-speed · mechanical rear derailleur · 26" wheels · legacy reference geometry.

Share owner experience

Planning to sell? Draft your listing

At a glance

Archive #39366
Model year
2003
Category
Mountain
Original MSRP
$1,720.00
Sizes
14.5", 16", 17.5", 18.5", 19.5", 21"
Colors
White/Buffed Mapleleaf
Geometry
Legacy reference
In this record
27 specifications · archived image · original MSRP · geometry
Model history 4 other years

Browse other years

Compare side by side

Identification clues

2003 archived details

Published colors
White/Buffed Mapleleaf
Frame
Easton Ultralite
Original equipment
Mountain Mix

Clues, not proof of model year. Colors vary and components may have been replaced.

Campaign
Original buildEaston Ultralite · Mountain Mix · 26" wheels

Manufacturer catalog

Published sizes and colors

6 sizes · 1 color

Manufacturer-published sizes and colors; availability and exact size/color pairings may vary by market or production run.

Published sizes

14.5"16"17.5"18.5"19.5"21"

Published colors

White/Buffed Mapleleaf

Frameset

Frame ConstructionTIG-welded
Frame MaterialEaston Ultralite
ForkRock Shox Sid Race, 80mm travel
Fork MaterialAluminum/magnesium, single crown

Drivetrain

Component GroupMountain Mix
ShiftersShimano LX RapidFire SL
Front DerailleurShimano Deore XT, top-pull/clamp-on 31.8mm
Rear DerailleurShimano XTR GS
CranksetRace Face Prodigy ISIS, 22/32/44 teeth
Bottom BracketShimano BB-ES51, 113mm spindle
BB Shell Width73mm English
Rear Cogs9-speed, 11 - 34 teeth
ChainSRAM PC-59, 1/2 X 3/32"
PedalsShimano PD-M515 SPD

Brakes

BrakesAvid Single Digit 7 brakes, Avid Speed Dial 7 levers

Cockpit & Contact Points

Headset1 1/8" threadless Ritchey Logic
HandlebarFSA XC191
Handlebar ExtensionsNot included
StemFSA XC120
SaddleSelle Italia Onda Custom
SeatpostRMB 3D Lite, 26.8mm diameter

Wheels & Tires

HubsShimano Deore LX
RimsMavic X221, 32-hole
SpokesDT stainless steel, 15ga. (1.8mm) straight gauge
Spoke NipplesBrass nipples
Front Tire26 x 2.00" Hutchinson Python Air Light
Wheel Size26" wheels

Geometry

Legacy reference · 6 measurements

Historical measurements. Frame size unknown.

All geometry measurementsLegacy reference · 6 measurements
MeasurementLegacy reference
Top tube585 mm
Head-tube angle71°
Seat-tube angle73.5°
Chainstay / rear center425 mm
Wheelbase1060 mm
Fork offset / rake38.1 mm

Frame size not recorded.

Gearing

Lower gears help on climbs. Higher gears suit higher speeds.

RPM

RPM = pedal turns per minute.

All published sizes44/32/22T · 11–34T · 9-speed
Lowest0.65:1 Highest4.00:1 Total range618%
Estimated speed At 90 RPM Lowest gear4.5 mph Highest gear27.9 mph

Uses front tire 26×2; rear size isn’t listed.

How it works

Ratio = front teeth ÷ rear teeth. Hub gears also include the hub’s internal ratio. A 400% range means the highest ratio is four times the lowest.

Speeds are estimates from tire size and pedal cadence. Actual speeds vary.

Try other gearing

Try your current gearingChanged tires or gears? Calculate your setup.

Your changes apply to this calculation. The archived build stays unchanged.

Your gearing setup
Gears

Use up to three front tooth counts, separated by /. For one rear sprocket, enter the same count twice.

Rear tire

Apply the marking on your rear tire or edit its dimensions below. Older or fractional inch sizes need the ISO marking (e.g. 37-590).

For 32-622, width is 32 mm and rim diameter is 622 mm. Use the rear tire on mixed-wheel bikes. Leave both fields empty to compare ratios only.

Gear, dimension and cadence changes update results automatically.

Speeds are estimates. These calculations do not establish component compatibility or available tire clearance.

Parts & serviceability

Find replacement parts

Original specifications
Front tire · Original
26 x 2.00" Hutchinson Python Air Light
Retailer offers
Chain · Original
SRAM PC-59

1/2 x 3/32"

Bottom bracket · Original
Shimano BB-ES51

113mm spindle

More parts (11)Fewer parts
Pedals · Original
Shimano PD-M515 SPD
Saddle · Original
Selle Italia Onda Custom
Crankset · Original
Race Face Prodigy ISIS

22/32/44 teeth

Rear derailleur · Original
Shimano XTR GS
Shifters · Original
Shimano LX RapidFire SL
Handlebar · Original
FSA XC191
Stem · Original
FSA XC120
Seatpost · Original
RMB 3D Lite

26.8mm diameter

Headset · Original
1 1/8" threadless Ritchey Logic
Rims · Original
Mavic X221

32-hole

Hubs · Original
Shimano Deore LX

Based on the original build. Check fit and installed parts before ordering. Affiliate links may earn Velopedia a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Parts and service referenceQuick reference before buying parts

Archived specifications for reference. Check the fitted parts before ordering.

Front tire
26 x 2.00" Hutchinson Python Air Light
Drivetrain
9-speed
Seatpost diameter
26.8 mm
Bottom bracket / shell
Shimano BB-ES51, 113mm spindle · 73mm English
Equipment inspection checks 11 checks based on 6 archived component groups Open equipment checksClose equipment checks
0 of 11 checked Progress stays in this browser for this record.

Checks selected from the archived equipment. Confirm what is fitted today. This is not a complete safety inspection; use the full inspection guide before test riding.

Full used-bike inspection guide →

Archived: Frame: TIG-welded · Fork: Rock Shox Sid Race, 80mm travel · Aluminum/magnesium, single crown

Archived: Fork: Rock Shox Sid Race, 80mm travel

Archived: Group: Mountain Mix · Shifters: Shimano LX RapidFire SL · Front derailleur: Shimano Deore XT, top-pull/clamp-on 31.8mm · Rear derailleur: Shimano XTR GS · Crankset: Race Face Prodigy ISIS, 22/32/44 teeth · Bottom bracket: Shimano BB-ES51, 113mm spindle · Rear cogs: 9-speed, 11 - 34 teeth · Chain: SRAM PC-59, 1/2 x 3/32"

Archived: Brakes: Avid Single Digit 7 brakes, Avid Speed Dial 7 levers

Archived: Wheel size: 26" wheels · Rims: Mavic X221, 32-hole · Hubs: Shimano Deore LX · Front tire: 26 x 2.00" Hutchinson Python Air Light

Controls and contact points

Archived: Headset: 1 1/8" threadless Ritchey Logic · Handlebar: FSA XC191 · Stem: FSA XC120 · Seatpost: RMB 3D Lite, 26.8mm diameter · Saddle: Selle Italia Onda Custom · Pedals: Shimano PD-M515 SPD

My Garage

Velopedia

Enter your email and Velopedia will send a private sign-in link. No password required.

Have you owned this model?Help preserve its real-world history by sharing your owner experience.

Share the details that would help another rider understand how this model fits, rides and holds up over time. Velopedia reviews every contribution before publication.

Add fit, maintenance and buyer detailsOptional · five additional fields

Your contribution goes directly to Velopedia’s private review queue. We’ll email an optional confirmation link plus a private edit and withdrawal link, but you do not need to confirm your email before an administrator can review or approve the submission.

Already contributed? Send me a fresh private edit link

For privacy, Velopedia shows the same confirmation whether or not an experience exists.

No recent price sample is available for this bike. Check eBay for matching listings.

Find this bike on eBay

Search eBay US; check the model year, size and installed components. We may earn a commission from purchases.

Campaign

Specifications are presented as a reference. Components may vary by market, size, production run, or later manufacturer revisions.

Scroll to Top