Madonna V3 "Silver Bullet" - RAAW of the Month February

This month, Cole’s Madonna V3 takes center stage in our "RAAW of the Month" series. Although Cole lives in a relatively flat region, that hasn’t stopped him from developing a deep passion for mountain biking. His Madonna V3 is a bike that’s equally prepared for long days in the saddle and demanding descents in the mountains. With a carefully chosen setup focused on performance and durability, he’s created a build that not only looks great but also delivers a high level of technical capability. 

Seven years ago, Cole first got into cycling, starting on an all-road bike, where even gravel paths felt like an extreme adventure. But a friend convinced him to try a mountain bike—and it was love at first sight. Since then, mountain biking has played a central role in his life. For Cole, it’s not just about speed or racing; it’s about exploring. Whether it’s discovering new trails, learning new lines, or pushing his own limits—every ride is a new challenge. Sometimes he’s on the lookout for new jumps and gaps; other times, he’s testing how far he can go on a bikepacking trip. His diverse riding style calls for a bike that can handle anything he throws at it.

He decided on the Madonna V3 when he parted with his downhill bike. Traveling frequently to bike parks had become too much of an effort, and he wanted a bike he could use anywhere. Quoting his own words, “I wanted a bike I could ride all day but was focused on descending.” The Madonna’s geometry—with its long wheelbase, moderate head angle, and the option for a mullet setup—fit his requirements perfectly. After a video consultation with Sophia, he was confident that a size Medium would be ideal: compact enough to remain agile but offering enough stability for high-speed descents.

His build reflects a clear philosophy: performance first, followed by ease of maintenance, weight, and aesthetics. Cole deliberately chose components he already knows and trusts. The SRAM X0 Transmission not only delivers reliable shifting performance but also gives him the option to track his training data via a crank-based power meter. As he puts it, “I do structured training outdoors year-round, so power meter cranks were a must-have.”

For the brakes, he stuck with a proven setup. “The Intend Trinity brakes are the best performing and easiest to maintain brakes I’ve used, so I kept them when I sold my DH bike,” he explains. 

On the suspension side, he pairs a Fox 38 Factory fork with an Öhlins TTX2Air shock. He prefers an air shock over a coil system since he can fine-tune it more easily without having to swap springs.

A particularly interesting aspect is his choice of wheels. At just 62 kg, he wanted something light yet robust. He opted for Berd Hawk 30 rims laced to Onyx Vesper hubs. The combination of flexible rope spokes and tried-and-tested We Are One rims creates a wheelset that’s both stiff enough and still comfortable. For the rear, he chose the heavier Hawk 30X rim for extra reserves in rough terrain. Continental Kryptotal tires round out the package, offering exactly the predictability and speed he’s looking for: “They’re predictable and fast—exactly what I want.”

Visually, Cole kept the bike clean by sticking to a limited color palette of raw aluminum, black, and white. All the decals were adjusted to complement the raw finish of the frame. This small detail pulls the whole look together and gives the bike a unique touch.

The bike is still brand new, and Cole has only managed a few rides on it so far. But the first impressions are very promising. “On the rather flat and technical trails here, it climbs incredibly well, corners like a much smaller bike, and gets off the ground like it’s only a portion of its actual weight,” he says. The real test will come this summer when he heads to Vermont, New Hampshire, and possibly Quebec, where he’s looking forward to tackling steep, challenging terrain. An enduro race is also on his radar. “I can’t wait to ride the bike on the terrain it’s really meant for.”

His Madonna V3 perfectly embodies what RAAW stands for: durability, versatility, and performance. It’s a bike that’s reliable, easy to maintain, and helps its rider reach their full potential. With a carefully curated components list and an uncompromising focus on functionality, Cole has created a setup that’s just right for him—and it’s well-deserving of our “RAAW of the Month” award for February.

Since we founded RAAW, one thing has given us a lot of pleasure: seeing where, how and by whom our bikes are ridden all over the world and how you use our frame kits to create different, individually optimized works of bike art. That's why from now on, every month we'll choose a particularly successful and exciting bike build from the community as "RAAW of the Month" and present the bike and its rider in detail on our website. In addition to glory and Insta-fame, a 100 € voucher for our online store awaits the lucky winner. Does your bike have what it takes to be "RAAW of the Month"? Check out this page to find out how to apply.