Video: Ben Cathro on a Bike that Actually Fits Him - DH Savagery

80 Comments

82 7

IllestT (Mar 31, 2019 at 9:01)

Cathro is doing more for Santa Cruz than the whole Syndicate these days. He's the main reason I'd buy one

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MatthewCarpenter (Mar 31, 2019 at 14:04)

not quite sure about that, but any content he's producing is top notch. He might just do a seal of quality for good mtb content as another source of income ^^. check this article/film/bike out, Cathro certified quality stuff ^^

enduroNZ (Mar 31, 2019 at 15:42)

so not that you actually liked riding the bike... because someone else you like rides one? Insane!

IllestT (Apr 1, 2019 at 0:30)

@enduroNZ: It's called marketing. If you think you're immuned to advertising, you're nieve

heavyp FL (Apr 1, 2019 at 3:51)

Ben Cathro will be able to buy the perfect bike for himself when the Atherton racing site goes live!

ryansimonovich (Apr 1, 2019 at 8:05)

@heavyp: Hahaha

Radley-Shreddington (Apr 1, 2019 at 8:55)

@IllestT: There is such great irony in not knowing how to properly spell naive dude!

Nagrom77 (Apr 1, 2019 at 10:57)

@Radley-Shreddington: Maybe he meant Nieve Campbell from Scream?

- I'll see myself out...,

Radley-Shreddington (Apr 2, 2019 at 1:05)

@Nagrom77: Thats not how to spell that either, this is an epidemic!

Nagrom77 (Apr 2, 2019 at 9:20)

@Radley-Shreddington: LOL! Tongue was firmly planted in cheek mate!

Radley-Shreddington (Apr 2, 2019 at 9:27)

@Nagrom77: Best place for it buddy, its not true what they say about you lot and British humour after all

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cornwallfreerider (Mar 31, 2019 at 12:24)

Man that bike just sounded so planted and dialled i looked for roots! When I ride shit like that it sounds like a skeleton shagging a packet of tic tacs! Such killer lines too. Nice work Ben, keep it coming.

colincolin (Mar 31, 2019 at 14:54)

best description of noises I've read all minute.

blackapturphoto FL (Mar 31, 2019 at 15:52)

Probably the best description I've heard. Ever.

samoooli (Mar 31, 2019 at 19:43)

HAHA. How good

INS4N3 (Apr 1, 2019 at 5:31)

Top comment right there boys

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Jordansemailaddress (Mar 31, 2019 at 5:13)

I feel like if he ever crashes it must be just epic destruction! Like one of those “freight train vs. giant bulldozer” YouTube crash videos. Great riding though!

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Ozziefish (Mar 31, 2019 at 6:38)

Immediately googles "freight train vs. giant bulldozer”

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Ozziefish (Mar 31, 2019 at 7:00)

I was not disappointed. except in myself.

mitochris FL (Mar 31, 2019 at 12:32)

No Cathro’s were injured doing this video! (We hope.)

mashrv1 FL (Mar 31, 2019 at 13:34)

His dad used to take pleasure in posting up his race crashes back when he was a junior. Some of them were brilliant!

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suboptimusprime (Mar 31, 2019 at 6:15)

More Cathro riding please...glorious to watch.

10 1

Sassyquatch (Mar 31, 2019 at 12:32)

I’m 7 feet, and agree with Cathro...you can make most bikes work...as long as you are young. Back, neck and knees feel it when you get older. I’ve been running an XL Kona Process for years (got an XXL Coilair back in the day and broke it several times so they switched me to a Process with the lifetime frame replacement) which works ok with a 3 inch riser bar. Seems like stack is more important than reach for me.

My Waltworks 29+ 160mm has 720 stack and 530 reach...feels pretty perfect. Same for my XXL aluminum Guerrilla Gravity smash with 680 stack and 530 reach.

Rented an XXL 2018 V10 in Whistler last summer...felt terrible until I swapped on the 3 inch bars...pretty sweet after that

thenotoriousmic (Mar 31, 2019 at 17:01)

Let’s see some pictures.

Dominant88 (Mar 31, 2019 at 17:35)

I think the rise vs reach comes down to your personal body shape. I'm 6'1" but have quite long legs and a shorter torso. I can make a Medium work if I have an 80mm riser bar. Usually the first thing I do when I get a new bike is put on a riser bar or it just doesn't feel right.

gonecoastal (Mar 31, 2019 at 20:17)

LOL

How do you ride a bike that small?
Serious you have almost a foot and a half on me and your reach is 28mm more?

monsterville (Mar 31, 2019 at 21:59)

@gonecoastal: You have truck nuts on your Raptor don't you

RoverDover (Apr 1, 2019 at 4:25)

i am 6'2" with orangotang arms and a long torso at 40 years old i cant stand to ride ill fitting bikes the way we used to. at 500mm of reach I still have to run a 60-75 mm stem. What are you running for stem length? i wish i could run a short 40mm stem.

thenotoriousmic (Apr 1, 2019 at 5:07)

@RoverDover: I’m 6,3 running 450mm reach with a 50mm stem and I think that’s perfect. My other bike has a 490mm reach and it’s a tad bit too big.

gonecoastal (Apr 1, 2019 at 11:08)

@monsterville: I converted my Raptor to Diesel so I can roll coal on deez nutz.

mikelee (Mar 31, 2019 at 5:55)

Those tracks are so British,it seems everywhere i go in the uk is rough,narrow with trees all around. We're very lucky over here.

generationfourth (Mar 31, 2019 at 9:59)

Would love to see him on a XL pole with 540mm reach and dual crown fork

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Linkpin (Mar 31, 2019 at 12:59)

“Would love to see him on a XL pole”

Sexy.

Radley-Shreddington (Apr 1, 2019 at 8:57)

I'm only a measly six two so not that big in this thread, I do however stick with a size large frame as I like it more loosey gooosey. Rat is my height and rides a medium for similar reasons, I am not that much of a jibber though!

Levin192 FL (Mar 31, 2019 at 5:14)

that tree at 0:25 wowzers

fantaman (Mar 31, 2019 at 5:16)

That Downhill track looks fire so rough and rocky,perfect testing ground for any Downhill bike.

aljoburr FL (Mar 31, 2019 at 7:16)

Yes, I used too enjoy racing, But must feel good to have track totally dialed & put down a good run that you know has won before seeing the time?
But never had that experience, hope Ben gets more of those days on his new bike!

SintraFreeride (Mar 31, 2019 at 10:23)

Sweet vid but I think he'd be better on an even longer bike. Shame Santacruz didn't make a XXL V-10- XL has 492mm of reach and Ben is how tall? The Syndicate bikes are even longer and even Loris is on a longer bike than Ben.

joselp (Mar 31, 2019 at 11:56)

No they are not longer.

Loris is on a Large frame, 462mm reach + a 8mm Buzzwork headset. = 470mm reach, same set up as Luca
Greg is on a XL + Buzzwork headset

SintraFreeride (Mar 31, 2019 at 12:20)

@PA37: Ok then my mistake. Their wheelbase is way longer than stock though with Minnaar's bike coming in 15mm longer at 1330mm and Shaw's is 1320mm. Loris has a 1310mm wheelbase which is huge for a large even with 455mm chainstays. Maybe Loris is running an his headangle in the 62ºs.
Source: www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/2019-Downhill-Tech,10443?page=1

CrispyNuggs (Mar 31, 2019 at 13:39)

@SintraFreeride: lol my xl hardtail is bigger than the v10. I'm sure there are many bigger bikes out there than th SC.

lews-therin (Apr 1, 2019 at 2:04)

@SintraFreeride: I suspect that PA knows the measurements with-out looking at Vital forums; being that he's actually in the video that's linked in the forum, and is Loris' mechanic hahaha!

SintraFreeride (Apr 1, 2019 at 12:23)

@euan91m: Yeah I noticed that after I replied, haha.

tgent FL (Apr 1, 2019 at 9:32)

Yeezus Ben is fast AF! I've watched his riding videos before, but mostly watch him doing the WC Track analysis (which are top notch!), he looks to be going WC pace in these vids. Good stuff, and glad us tall people are finally getting bikes that actually fit!

Hillfarmer (Mar 31, 2019 at 12:54)

When’s Big Ben getting his xxl megatower, hope he had a little bit of input into the design of the biggest of the big bike.

leviatanouroboro (Mar 31, 2019 at 5:52)

Would love to share a pint with Ben Cathro!

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Linkpin (Mar 31, 2019 at 7:26)

I’d like to go for a drink with him, but I think I’d have my own rather than sharing his.

leviatanouroboro (Mar 31, 2019 at 9:52)

@Linkpin: Doh!! We'll played, we'll played...

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wanleggedwinston (Mar 31, 2019 at 11:03) (Below Threshold)

@leviatanouroboro: you really are a credit to the American education system aren't you

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leviatanouroboro (Mar 31, 2019 at 11:35)

@piersgritten: Fml. This damn phones autocorrect* No need to be penis mate.

m47h13u (Mar 31, 2019 at 5:59)

Making some of those sketchy saves look steezy as hell.

nsteele (Mar 31, 2019 at 8:06)

The Flying Giraffe!

deadmeat25 (Mar 31, 2019 at 15:26)

I'd be very surprised if this doesn't end up on his helmet one day.... ooh err mrs....

Bighill2015 (Mar 31, 2019 at 6:43)

It’s the SDA this weekend so let’s see if he can stay on the bike this time

caldwellvisuals (Mar 31, 2019 at 16:31)

Sick work boys.. like it!

KiwiEnduro128 (Mar 31, 2019 at 23:16)

Why doesn't the lunatic just buy a Pole duh

wakiisapuddinghead (Mar 31, 2019 at 5:37)

the force is strong in this one, I can sense his presence

aljoburr FL (Mar 31, 2019 at 6:51)

Good too hear Big Ben got right size bike, about time!

downhillnews (Mar 31, 2019 at 8:44)

No XL? So is he just on a standard LG or is it custom?

mitch32 (Mar 31, 2019 at 12:23)

Beautiful riding as always... that bike looks awesome…

EckNZ (Mar 31, 2019 at 15:47)

Always great stuff from Hightower.

rip-it-rob (Mar 31, 2019 at 20:44)

he looks like a fun bloke to ride with

BustiNuts (Apr 2, 2019 at 1:00)

Slayeddd so goooddddd!!!!!

conv3rt (Apr 2, 2019 at 8:48)

he put the hurt on that trail. impressive

trails801 (Mar 31, 2019 at 8:26)

Great stuff right there

youknowitsus (Mar 31, 2019 at 16:59)

I see you kid

RobertBro (Mar 31, 2019 at 6:10)

Keep it original.

rh00p (Mar 31, 2019 at 19:54)

"The big wheels ride so nice." LOL I remember not that long ago how the Euros were chastising 29" wheels. I knew they'd get it, just a bit slower.

Clarkeh (Mar 31, 2019 at 20:57)

Early 29ers were shit though, they've finally got the angles right in the past 2 odd years.

Below threshold threads are hidden

chriskneeland (Mar 31, 2019 at 5:55)

Note: you have to be 6'7" to clear a 29 rear tire.

cxfahrer (Mar 31, 2019 at 8:18)

I dont clear the tire of my 29er, when going gets really steep. At 6'7".

But: riding a proper sized bike feels soooo good

. XXL 29er ftw.

mtbikeaddict (Mar 31, 2019 at 19:14)

Really? Thanks so much for telling me! I could be in great danger riding an XXL 29er when I'm only 6'3.5" stocking feet. Good thing I've only been riding it for a year or two... Any longer and I might suffer a horrendous accident! /s

mtbikeaddict (Mar 31, 2019 at 19:15)

PS. Rear wheel = 29". Inseam = 37". 37 > 29. I clear my wheel.

chriskneeland (Apr 1, 2019 at 2:58)

@mtbikeaddict: Then you clearly don't any ride DH.

mtbikeaddict (Apr 1, 2019 at 3:48)

@chriskneeland:

Uh huh. Yep. Sure. Cleeeaarly. Boy, you know what? You're right, you've got me, I must not ride any Downhill... I ride "DownMountain".

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TrevZ (Mar 31, 2019 at 6:25)

I love Cathro's videos and that bike looks perfect for him. Having said that, I swear every sponsored 29" bike video I see the rider is popping around in a very very intentional way that you don't really see outside of those videos (all the little parts of this video where he's popped his back wheel up, I've never seen him do that in other vids). I can't help but feel this is the bike sponsor asking the rider to go overboard trying to demonstrate that 29er bikes can still be playful and hop around etc. I'd prefer to see just the rider riding! And stop it with the scandy flicks guys bikes aren't cars it doesn't help get around a corner.

Levelheadsteve (Mar 31, 2019 at 8:59)

I noticed as well and scanned the comments to see if anyone else thought the amount of bunny hopping seemed unusual.

chriskneeland (Mar 31, 2019 at 9:59)

@TrevZ you hit it right on the head. The compromises of bigger wheels are awful. Noone's pushing these things unless they're getting free stuff from the sponsors trying to sell them.

wanleggedwinston (Mar 31, 2019 at 11:06)

@chriskneeland: got any other good conspiracy theories? I heard the world is flat!

chriskneeland (Mar 31, 2019 at 11:38)

@piersgritten: Yeah, because marketing a new fad for profit has never been a thing.