Cam Jones: King of the White Rim
There’s a new time to beat on the White Rim.
On the morning of March 31, Cam Jones rolled down Mineral Bottom Road with one goal: beat the clock and set the fastest time around the legendary 100-mile loop.
Cam Jones is no stranger to big solo efforts, but this was one of the highest-profile FKTs he’s ever taken on, and the way it came together made it even more impressive.
Fresh off a second-place finish at Mid-South Gravel in Oklahoma, Cam was in route to California for the opening round of the Lifetime Grand Prix at Sea Otter. Somewhere along the way, the idea took shape: stop in Utah, swing by the SCOTT USA office, and take a shot at the White Rim.
He arrived just two days before the attempt. One short ride on either end of the course, just enough to open the legs and get a glimpse of the terrain, and that was it.
The rest? He would see for the first time at full speed during his attempt.
“Even before I ever came to the U.S., I’d heard the legends of the White Rim Trail. It’s not only an iconic mountain bike adventure, but also a route with a deep history of FKT attempts that I’ve followed throughout my career. It’s incredibly special to see my name alongside, and ahead of, some amazing athletes. Next time, though, I’d like to slow things down a bit and take in the views.”
—Cam Jones
Cam did have a bit of insider knowledge, tapping into the experience of SCOTT teammates Hannah Otto and Ryan Standish. Hannah, the current women’s FKT holder on the White Rim, knows exactly what it takes to set a blistering pace.
As Cam dropped out of sight down Mineral Bottom, it was time to get to work
With slightly cooler temps, the day looked good, but the same forecast brought wind, and there was still plenty of deep sand and chunky rocks to contend with. For much of the first half, Cam battled the swirling wind along the rim, staying low on the drops and holding an aero position to stay efficient as he pushed the pace.
His 120mm SCOTT Spark RC smoothed out the rough edges, letting him stay on the gas across challenging terrain without losing momentum.
As the miles ticked by and his stuffed snack pockets and bottles started to empty, he finally started to feel a reprieve from the wind and Cam clawed back time. He cranked up the speed and prepared for the brutally steep Shaffer climb that marks the last big hurdle of his ride. Over the top and gaining time Cam flew through the last few miles to the end!
The Bike
SCOTT Spark RC World Cup Evo: Drop bar special
Cam stayed aero and efficient with these ENVE Aero Road bars and a hidden TwinLoc Lever, allowing him to adjust his FOX suspension on the fly between open, traction mode, and full lockout.
Cam had to get creative to get as low as possible on the front end, allowing him to get down into his aero positions and rest his forearms on the flats of the bars.
Cam kept rolling on his i9 and Schwalb tire wheel combo.
Cam pushed a huge 38-tooth chainring paired up to his Shimano XTR cranks and 4ii power system.
