You know the jumps are big when the event gets to have 'XL' in its name despite already being part of the limit-pushing Fest Series. Nico Vink's Loosefest XL goes down this weekend in the rolling hills of Malmedy, Belgium, and the course has been completely redesigned for 2019 to include some of the largest jumps in the world. The bikes are pretty interesting, too, with plenty of small wheels, semi-slick tires, and single-speed setups to be seen.
Nico Vink with his Ohlins-equipped Scott.
Another Scott with Ohlins, this one being Kristof Lenssens' bike.
Damon Iwanaga's Scott skips the chain guide and gets a semi-slick rear tire.
You know what it is by now. Alex Volokhov is running suspension from SR Suntour and DVO.
Luis Lacondeguy's single-speed Commencal.
Theo Erlangsen's Commencal.
Darth Vader's son, Phil Auckland, with the only Nukeproof at the event.
Jordie Lunn with Vee Tire rubber, a Hawaiian lei jersey, his YT Tues, and all the red.
Adolf Silva's single-speed YT is a bit less flashy than Lunn's. Unfortunetly, he suffered a badly broken leg during training.
Another derailleur-less DH bike, this one being Andreu Lacondeguy's 26" wheeled YT.
Hyper's DH bike under Bas van Steenbergen.
Kurt Sorge with one of the most interesting rides at the event, a Polygon Xuareone DH.
Sam Reynolds was riding Polygon's older DH bike.
From World Cups to some of the world's largest mountain bike jumps. Kade Edwards' bike looks like a Session, doesn't it?
Subdued bike, flashy gear. Kaos Seagrave with his Transition.
Fifteen year old Ike Klaassen's V10 is rocking a semi-slick rear tire for more speed.
David MacMillan with his Demo.
Did you know Merida has a DH bike? Here's Clemens Kaudela with his.
@drpmstrdan: Marin and Polygon both use the NAILD R3ACT suspension platform. but saying it looks exactly alike is a little off since the travel and geo are way different.
@n1ck: you can buy iron on Tire stickers to say anything you want for you tires. Can't say that I'm impressed with the logo on the sidewall of a tire more so the quality of the ride that gets me excited. They're Swabbies a great Tire Choice if you like hiking a bike with blown out flat tires
@pinnityafairy: If you buy full blown XC tires for your Enduro bike, any company is gonna suck balls. Get the right tire for the right terrain and you won't have issues. I've got schwalbe on my enduro hardtail and I'm not soft on them and they've been holding up great to whistler double blacks.... Set up tubeless too. Never had an issue!
@iscaryot98: i think the more link you add the more flex you get... Also if you add bearings/bushings you have a higher probability that one among them will fail. But the rear triangle is a one-piece, and in the photos i can see 4 link + 2 for the shock mount, wich is the same number as a lot of horst link bikes so yeah you could be right. It just seems very complicated by looking at it so i assumed it would be a pain to work on
@Code98: The bike is a link activated single pivot, only four of the eight bearings carry any real load. At least on my Gambler the upper did not need anything after 3 seasons and I weigh over 100kg also no noticeable rear flex!
Ive never understood Hypers sponsorship choices. Like they dont even make a product downhill bike. They had Travis Pastrana riding their bikes for a while. Just does not make too much sense.
@chriskneeland: again, Walmart alone is a massive amount of potential sales. Cheap, shitty kids bikes are what Hyper makes. Bas is marketing for them. To sell to 7 year olds.
@VwHarman: at the end of the day a cheap crappy bike is better than no bike at all for some people. I just hope a truly gifted kid doesn't end up on a subpar quality bicycle and getting hurt.
@VwHarman: Maybe I'm missing something. Is Bas really tipping the scales in Hyper's favor when a parent walks into a walmart to buy a 7 year old a department store bike?
@pinnityafairy: I am in no way ripping in a kid with their bike. My first bike was a huffy bmx with cartoons on the tube pads. My claim is that having a rider on a hyper, in a gnarly place sells an image to people coming in that differentiates that bike or brand from what the image of a supercycle is. The quantity of bikes sold by Walmart is North America is well worth the few custom frames, and a salary for whatever riders they employ. It’s a claim to scale. Their is a sports retailer in Canada called sport chek. They sell GT and Orbea bikes. They always have the lowest models on the floor, but the advertising is pics of Martin Maes on an EWS track. That kind of brand association is about selling an image and convincing potential customers that they are part of a group or community. Branding is entirely an image effort. Selling the bike he is actually riding isn’t the goal.
Hey PinkBike, thank you for doing this article! Always great to see some of the Top riders faces as well as their bikes. I want me a 2020 Carbon Scott Gambler Tuned 29er/27.5/Mullet Bike!
@Franzzz: Why not? 7 of the above are carbon. Many of the top Slope guys run carbon frames, etc. The fear of carbon (we all know most just don't want to pay for it) is hilarious
@Franzzz: , I don't think it's anyone's business but my own why I want a carbon bike. But thanks for worrying about me, Mom! You are a good mom worrying about me like that.
@Franzzz, no doubt about that, but the best thing is she gives me good advice, like to make sure I wear a sweater when it is 25 Degrees Celcius outside so I do not catch any sickness. ;-) Hugs to you!
Super interesting to see all these absolutely massive bikes. A few random take away's: There sure seem to be a lot of Gamblers, could be Vink invites more riders sponsored by his sponsor Scott. Also seems to be a lot of Ohlins suspension, they must be nice for huge hucks.
Curious what gear ratios these dudes are running and also where can I buy that SS unit? I've seen it for sale but only overseas. I sometimes run SS on my DH bike and found 36/14 a decent combo but occasionally was tough on starts and would spin out on higher speed sections. Lots of dope look Gamblers there!
funny ohlins is more interested in sponsoring freeriders, i thought thier main market would be the dh crowd. Or do they even sponsor and expect people to buy the product because it is ‘sweedish gold’
Love the older Gamblers. Scott FKD up with the new Gambler, should have evolved on the older Gambler and called their new DH bike something else. What a FK up.
For all of you Amazed by a tire label. You can get them customized to say pinkbike sucks right here
Also if you add bearings/bushings you have a higher probability that one among them will fail.
But the rear triangle is a one-piece, and in the photos i can see 4 link + 2 for the shock mount, wich is the same number as a lot of horst link bikes so yeah you could be right.
It just seems very complicated by looking at it so i assumed it would be a pain to work on
I want me a 2020 Carbon Scott Gambler Tuned 29er/27.5/Mullet Bike!
BTW: notice that half of these spotted bikes are aluminium made
They don’t own that big of a share anymore if I am correct. But yes, (still) a major player in the market.