Tech Randoms – Fort William DH World Cup

Jun 2, 2017
by Ross Bell  
After a brief hiatus, the WC Downhill is back as the series heads to the classic Scottish track on the slopes of Aonoch Mor, just outside Fort William. The lengthy, rock-strewn track is a tough test for body and bike alike, and that was obvious in the pits today with teams focusing on complete rebuilds and prepping an excess of wheels and tires. We've been for a lap of the pits to get the scoop:

Fox Coil remote lock out.
Fox Coil remote lock out.
Team Mondraker's secret weapon: Fox's prototype remote lockout uses two buttons, presumably, the smaller one is the release lever. The bits on the shock are adapted to the stock DHX2 housing.

Fox Coil remote lock out.
Fox's DHX2 remote lockout housing is printed. Go-fast factory parts don't get any fresher than that.

The Nicolai of Jack Reading leady to go.
  The Nicolai of Jack Reading, leady to go.


Jack wouldn t tell us the weight of the lead but just said he s been working with Chris Porter from Mojo and through testing have found that by placing the extra weight behind the stem and at the bottom bracket helps to calm down the forces and roughness from tracks keeping the ride planted.
Jack wouldn't tell us the weight of the lead but just said he's been working with Chris Porter from Mojo, and through testing has found that by placing the extra weight behind the stem and at the bottom bracket helps to calm down the forces and roughness from tracks, keeping the ride planted.

It is track specific however as Jack says it feels good on the fast and rough tracks but made the bike feel a little dead on the tight and twisty sections.
It is track specific, however, as Jack says the extra weight feels good on the fast and rough tracks but made the bike feel a little 'dead' on the tight and twisty sections.

Complete overhauls were standard practice throughout the pits.
  Complete overhauls were standard practice throughout the pits.

All neat and orderly on the work benches.
All neat and orderly on the work benches.
The Norco rigs get a bearing swap to make sure they are immaculate for Blenkinsop Smith and Fitzgerald tomorrow.
The Norco rigs get a bearing swap to make sure they are immaculate for Blenkinsop, Smith, and Fitzgerald tomorrow.


Air shock for Loris Vergier...
Air shock for Loris Vergier...

...whist Greg Minnaar and Luca Shaw opt for the coil
...whilst Greg Minnaar and Luca Shaw opt for the coil


Graeme Mudd is aboard the new Trek 29er this weekend flying the flag for the team in the elite men as Gee Atherton recovers from his dislocated hip.
  Graeme Mudd is aboard the new Trek 29er this weekend, flying the flag for the team in the elite men as Gee Atherton recovers from his dislocated hip.

A fresh build for Rachel Atherton this weekend with a little touch of Rainbow stripes on her perfect season liveried Session.
  A fresh build for Rachel Atherton this weekend with a little touch of Rainbow stripes on her 'perfect season' liveried Session.

We already spotted Tahnee s new Transition TR11 at the BDS earlier in the month but she is on a stealthed out version this week.
  We already spotted Tahnee's new Transition TR11 at the BDS earlier in the month, but she is on a stealthed-out version this week.


Thermometers strips on the shocks of Troy Brosnan and Mark Wallace.
Thermometer strips on the shocks of Troy Brosnan and Mark Wallace.

Super Alloy Racing springs in the back too.
Super Alloy Racing springs in the back too.

Fresh Deemaxs ready to do battle with the Fort William rocks.
  Fresh Deemaxs, ready to do battle with the Fort William rocks.


Aaron Gwin has a new Odi number board holder this weekend.
Aaron Gwin has a new ODI number board holder this weekend.

Aaron Gwin has a new Odi number board holder this weekend.
Unfortunately it does its job well so was already covered by Gwin's race plate by the time we'd got there!


Loads of wheels and tires being prepped today...
Loads of wheels and tires being prepped today...

...and when we say loads we mean it
...and when we say "loads" we mean it!

The Giant boys making sure everything is bang on before the riders let loose on Aonoch Mor tomorrow.
  The Giant boys making sure everything is bang on before the riders let loose on Aonoch Mor tomorrow.

Greg Minnaar s mechanic Jason Marsh prepping some big wheels for some hard action this weekend.
  Greg Minnaar's mechanic, Jason Marsh, prepping some big wheels for some hard action this weekend.

Data acquisition ready to go on the Polygon test mule of the overall leader Alex Fayolle.
  Data acquisition ready to go on the Polygon test mule of the overall leader Alex Fayolle.


Headset stripped out in the Polygon pits.
Headset stripped out in the Polygon pits.

Every part off the bike checked greased if necessary and torqued ready for battle this weekend.
Every part of the bike checked, greased if necessary, and torqued ready, for battle this weekend.

Gold Ohlins stanchions aboard Loic Bruni s Demo.
  Gold Ohlins stanchions aboard Loic Bruni's Demo. Loic is also running a custom 28mm rise Joystick 8-bit bar, and he contributed to the bars custom graphics too.


Side by side comparison of the Rock Shox 27.5 and 29 fork offering.
Side-by-side comparison of the Rock Shox 27.5" and 29" fork offering.

No caption needed here. Bigger tire bigger clearance.
No caption needed here. Bigger tire, bigger clearance.

After Lourdes we got a sneak peak of Intense 29 offering and here it is in the flesh.
  After Lourdes we got a sneak peak of Intense' 29" offering and here it is in the flesh.


Intense didn t look to adapt the M16 and have poured a lot of resources into the project.
Intense didn't look to adapt the M16 and have poured a lot of resources into the project.

Rims and tires are a potential headache for teams switching to 29 but it doesn t look to be a problem for Intense with Enve rims and Maxxis rubber as normal.
Rims and tires are a potential headache for teams switching to 29", but it doesn't look to be a problem for Intense with Enve rims and Maxxis rubber as normal.

GT s Tom Duncan gets to work polishing up the team frames.
  GT's Tom Duncan gets to work polishing up the team frames.


GT Fury linkage detail.
GT Fury linkage detail.

New decals going on. The bikes looks spotless for now.
New decals going on. The bikes look spotless, for now.

Semi-slicks are nothing new at Fort Bill but with the rain falling now it ll be interesting to see who risks running them.
  Semi-slicks are nothing new at Fort Bill, but with the rain falling now it'll be interesting to see who risks running them.

The Crankbrother s Stamp pedals aboard Operator of Connor Fearon.
  The Crankbrothers Stamp pedals aboard Connor Fearon's Operator.

Connor is using 7.5mm pins which should give him plenty of purchase.
  Connor is using 7.5mm pins, which should give him plenty of purchase.


Wheel builds going down in the Kona pits.
Wheel builds going down in the Kona pits.

Fingers crossed these wet screams won t make an appearance this weekend.
Fingers crossed that these Wet Screams won't make an appearance this weekend.


MENTIONS: @davetrumpore / @rossbellphoto



Author Info:
rossbellphoto avatar

Member since Apr 25, 2010
145 articles

131 Comments
  • 66 4
 So that's it then, no more I-Drive floating bottom bracket nonsense on the next GT Fury. Hooray!
  • 23 3
 Just simple and sexy single pivot!
  • 10 26
flag inter71 (Jun 1, 2017 at 15:45) (Below Threshold)
 I-Drive = URT. Terrible design.
  • 19 2
 @inter71: That isn't accurate.
  • 2 0
 @inter71: whenever I see an i-drive I think it looks like a URT and wonder how can it work. However I'm pretty sure there's more to it than that. So if anyone can shed light I am genuinely interested.
  • 37 0
 @alexhyland: I-Drive is basically a very high single pivot, but the bottom bracket hangs on a link from the swingarm rather than being part of the main triangle. That link is also attached to the front triangle by a second link. When the swing arm goes up, the chain pulls the bottom bracket link backwards, this reduces the amount of kickback from the high main pivot. The link between the bb and the main triangle limits the bb's motion so it moves less than the swing arm. This increases the chain tension and generates some kickback, which helps keeps the rear wheel gripping and reduces pedal bob. If that sounds like the bb link is doing contradictory things, that's because it is.
.
I-Drive actually works pretty well, the old I-Drive XC bikes were notorious for sticking to climbs and just moving forwards as long as you could turn the pedals. But as a system it had no place on long travel bikes, especially now rear shocks are actually good. To get an acceptable level of chain growth you need a lot of movement in the bb position and it's just not necessary. My memory of the old I-Drive 7 was how weird it felt to have my feet move backwards and forwards relative to the bars, it didn't feel bad as such, just weird. A simple single pivot with a quality shock can achieve the same 'lot's of traction but still pedals well,' feeling I-Drive had twelve years ago with half as many moving parts, so I-Drive's not needed anymore.
  • 13 2
 @alexhyland: when shocks were literally squishy, hot turds...i-Drive would let you sprint down a fire road like you were on a hardtail. Every other DH bike would going and squat and mush when you pedaled. At.one point in DH, it was such an advantage
  • 2 3
 @hamncheez: Its not far off. The rider is still not fully isolated from the unsprung mass.
  • 4 0
 @Fix-the-Spade: What I'd also add is clutch derailleurs... In my experience the chain growth of older single pivots meant a dropped chain non stop if the cables lost a some tension...When I got my GT it didn't have a clutch derailleur, but at the same time never dropped the chain as much as the single pivot... But adding a modern derailleur to a single pivot goes a long way to fix that problem... How else would Orange be able to rock single chainrings with no chainguide otherwise?

Agree completely with you on the pedalling side of things... That wheel tracks the ground like white on rice and bob is minimal compared with the single pivot I had before it... On the downs I learned to live with that weird feeling at the feet by sitting a little further back than usual and it seemed to work for me... What was a complete headache was the maintenance... Those big pivots loosened themselves all the time and the bike would creak nonstop if they were even slightly loose... and the rear shock had to be tuned absolutely perfectly and have the right pressure down to the last digit... Volume spacer was essential... But when everything gelled the bike ran like a dream
  • 7 1
 Never mind that. I just learned that I should keep my heavier bikes to be stable? Wow, what an age we live in.
  • 2 1
 @jclnv: The rider isn't fully isolated from the unsprung mass in any suspension design. With the i-drive, you have a very high pivot point, with too much rearward movement for a traditional BB. The BB moves rearward upon compression, not upwards. If you think of the BB as stationary, the rear axle moves, relative to the BB, in a very similar manner as a traditional suspension layout. The front triangle and handlebars move forward, relative to the stationary BB. Travel is measured by how much the axle moves upwards, given the BB is stationary.

In the older Fury that Gee developed, they said that the BB moves about a centimeter. The main pivot was barely higher than a traditional pivot, and the BB barely moved. It was a very small, subtle difference over a traditional suspension design.
  • 1 1
 @hamncheez: Nonsense. Watch the video below and note the BB movement in relation to the main pivot. Now imagine that suspension cycling at real world frequencies and those forces going through your feet.

It's an absolute garbage design of marketing over function.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB0xjX0QNKQ
  • 5 0
 @jclnv: That video is going to make everything look completely exaggerated with no shock in there. Take the shock out of any bike and you have more travel than what the bike was designed for. MFG's like to account for the shock bottoming out to keep things clear. Rather let the shock take the brunt of the force than the frame hitting parts of the swing arm. So your swing arm will actually travel more in both directions with no shock installed. A better example to see real world movement would be to take the spring out of the shock while leaving the shock in place. Weather that be air or a literal spring.
  • 2 1
 @USMC: I don't think that guy is cycling the suspension excessively. Actually seems fairly consistant with the travel IMO.

Regardless, apart from a URT, you will not find another design on the market where the sprung mass is not fully isolated from the sprung mass.

Imagine designing a steering assembly that moved the bars 10mm when the fork was fully compressed. People would think you're insane.
  • 1 0
 @jclnv: I don't see any real vertical movement in the BB area as it cycles through its compression. There is rearward movement, but not as much as the rear axle is moving rearward. The i-drive system has similar amounts of chain growth compared to more traditional systems.
  • 2 1
 @hamncheez: I'm not talking about anti-squat. Just the fact that the rider isn't fully decoupled from the rear axle. Whether it's vertical or horizontal movement is irrelevant. The BB and the riders feet are moving relative to the other contact patches.

It's simple to see how flawed it is. I can't believe you guys are arguing about it!
  • 4 2
 All this discussion makes the whole I-drive design sound severely out dated. Manufacturers like Canfield have set up their suspension to have more-or-less stationary instant centers and, in the case of their downhill bike, put a pulley where the instant center lives (which, by the way, is high up the seat post). No chain-stretch, and so no pedal kick back, but the rear wheel can swing way back during travel.

I don't know why, with designs like these around, you'd want what sounds like a second-rate solution to the problem of pedal kickback.
  • 2 1
 @WaterBear: M A R K E T I N G.

Same with counter rotating links like SC's VPP's. Identical levels of anti-squat etc can be achieved with other designs that don't require them to jump though hoops to get a decent leverage rate etc but they carry on with it because it's a unique-ish marketing story.
  • 1 0
 single pivot with a clamp in bearing, rather than press in?
  • 56 3
 Man the biggest bike company's in the world shouldn't waste all their money on research - all the non pro dudes on pinkbike have the answers!
  • 25 3
 Darn corporate b*stards don't know what they're on about. Give me a 26" wheel and a kona stinky and I'll shred this track faster than any 29er scam!!1!!!
  • 8 0
 If your Stinky has a Monster T you might just win it all.
  • 50 1
 I love that Transition! And those pins are making my shins cringe!
  • 4 1
 They're so grippy your feet will never slip off!!
  • 2 1
 @freeriderayward: But if they do... your shins gonna get a grating!
  • 1 0
 Having seen a lot of scratched rocks, it would be interesting to see how the 7mm pins stood up to the granite of Nevis Range
  • 30 1
 Tahnee's stealth TR11 is one of the best looking bikes I've seen in a while.
  • 21 0
 As much as I dislike the very sudden push for everyone to have a 29er, I do love the almost F1-esque prototype nature of all these bikes - that Trek is pretty damn hot in raw carbon. Also loving the gold Ohlins, simply for its motorsport heritage!
  • 2 0
 did you see the state of the seats rear though?
tyre stirkes?
  • 2 0
 @nojzilla: pretty sure they have cut the seat
  • 1 0
 @Wheelersmtbholidays: yeah, can see it better on vital. Pic of the bike all newly set up the,seat intact. Then a pic with the seat cut Smile
  • 15 1
 So GT did away with the floating BB? Probably a good move.
  • 3 0
 Yes... Details!!! Is it 2018 model?
  • 13 1
 i wonder how many grams you gain by using that odi plate holder instead of zip ties
  • 3 0
 Very high tech stuff
  • 3 0
 Aero af boy.
  • 11 0
 2.5kgs of lead on that Nicolai. Works wonders when landing the backside of the motorway section, no pedals required and can cruise the jumps.
  • 5 0
 interesting indeed. Should get Nicolai to make cutouts with threaded holes for bolting on different weights. get all F1 about it. haha. This would be the one track that would benefit from it.
  • 1 0
 I am surprised Jack isn't running 29" wheels given what I have been reading on the Geometron thread on mtbr.
  • 12 1
 "Fingers crossed that these Wet Screams won't make an appearance this weekend." STOP TRYING TO RUIN DANNY'S SEASON PINKBIKE
  • 2 9
flag yxbix (Jun 2, 2017 at 2:34) (Below Threshold)
 Danny didn't do so well in Lourdes, did he? Why does everybody keep assuming he is some sort of rain master, based on one single Champery run?
  • 6 0
 @yxbix: Did you notice that it was dry during the winning run?
  • 1 0
 @yxbix: dude, it's a f*cking joke, alright? Also, Lourdes final runs weren't on a wet track, they were in the middle of a hurricane, essentially. Thus why a lot of people, including me, think the UCI should have delayed finals to the next day, or held them earlier.
  • 3 1
 @groghunter: Not commenting on Danny's skills in the wet, but anyone who thinks that a UCI DH race should be postponed a day for weather has no concept of the type of planning and schedule coordination that goes into holding one of these races. Everyone from around the world who are involved in these things have planes to catch and schedules to keep. It would be easier to cancel than to postpone a day. Would that be a better solution?
  • 4 1
 @mammal: Than not letting all the racers have a fair shot at winning? yes. take the quali times as finals. FMB does it all the time when weather doesn't work out.

But you're VASTLY overstating the challenge of postponing the race. These people do this for a living. You think they can't change their plans by 24 hours? LOTS of other sports delay events due to weather. Heck, baseball often has teams with games the NEXT DAY & they manage somehow.
  • 2 1
 @groghunter: You're comparing DH to baseball... There's your problem.

DH races have been running rain or shine for over 20 years (at all levels), and the adversity of weather has never been an issue. You put it on TV for all the Joeys to see, and now people are crying foul.

There are around 100 riders, some heavily supported by many, some by themselves and self funded. They all have plane tickets outta there after the event, as well as other travel accommodations and plans back home. That's not even mentioning the of additional volunteers and hired help that is brought in on a tight schedule, to put on the show. The DH circus is nothing like FMB or baseball.
  • 10 3
 Looks like a lot of guys are riding around on hack bikes just so they can't squeeze in those 29 inch wheels. It's absolute madness. I'll take a well refined 650b over a 29er that has been hacked together at a moments notice like Bruni is.
  • 6 35
flag MTBCAM8 (Jun 1, 2017 at 15:21) (Below Threshold)
 I havent been at all excited for this season of WC DH, and now that I see they are running 29ers in the mix I am definitely not tuning in....
  • 18 2
 @MTBCAM8: ur los m8
  • 25 4
 @MTBCAM8: So you're saying you don't care about this year's WC DH racing and all because of a wheel that's 1.5" larger in diam. OK... and #convfefe to you too.
  • 5 1
 @MTBCAM8:
I reckon its the opposite mate. Heaps of new tech going on with the 29er stuff. A few riders on new teams. DH is the F1 of the bike world and to me every year it looks like it gets more professional, more r&d from companies, more young guns stepping up and keeping the seasoned riders on their toes!
I love it hey............Claudio and Warner hell yeah.....
  • 3 2
 @slowrider73: I just hope it never becomes F1 though. Boring af, egos the size of medium sized moons, posturing all around, big teams eating small teams for lunch. The cars are so automated that they could race them remotely.

I think this 29in episode is not good for the sport. All teams invested in 27.5 as a transition from 26 relatively recently, and as the smaller teams barely caught up with the larger ones, there goes the 29in thing and everything 27.5 goes to trash. This will severely damage the smaller teams and I wouldn't be surprised that on the end of the season some of those teams pull out. This means less competitors and is this really better for the sport? Would you really like to have just couple of teams and thats it? Moreover, I think that is just unsustainable. I think UCI should have stepped in and set one wheel size and that's it. Changing wheel size requires changing almost everything (expensive) on the bike. If you want F1 analogy I think it would be like FIA saying that they don't care what kind of engine you have. It would spell disaster for the sport.

Keep MTB/DH riding/racing raw, wacky, friendly and most of all, fun.
  • 1 0
 @Archimonde: F1 is just one example. Better example is skiing equipment. Strict restriction do not matter and manufacturers have noninclonation to market products that real users do not need, and everybody are doing just fine.
  • 11 1
 Those 7.5mm pins look like they'd shred my shin in a second.
  • 15 8
 I know the nicolai is focused on crazy geometry but how can a bike like that compare to the likes of a full carbon, 29" wheeled, patented suspension designed, WC winning, Stupidly light bike like the trek ?
  • 9 8
 No hate on the nicolai at all btw, just crazy to think a company like that doesn't use more modern features
  • 8 2
 @prenderville: what's curious is that I believe the bike Jack Reading raced before the Nicolai was a carbon Trek.
  • 16 0
 Nicolai are stiff, precise and dialed. Weight on frame is not that important.
  • 6 0
 I heard they're actually pretty light
  • 7 0
 @lewismurphy: not as light as plastic ones. I don't care.
Tolerances for all pivots and wheel alignment is what also helps it to ride great. And it is a tank.
  • 17 0
 Geometry > everything.
  • 13 0
 While you guys argue about weight, he is adding lead weights to his 'already heavy' aluminum frame. Maybe they know something we don't?

youtu.be/myFJTO8mdtw
  • 15 0
 @prenderville: lol what are you talking about man? I'm not particularly a fan, but Nicolai is ALWAYS the first company to implement the newest stuff.... the most radical geometry ("geometron"), beltdrives, gearboxes, e-drives, wheelsize compatibility... you name it.
  • 1 0
 @ibishreddin: It's a pretty simple bit of physics, in the end and it does make a lot of sense. It's been tried in the past too, which makes it seem odd it didn't catch on. The only downside is that, by increasing the sprung mass/inertia, you're going to make it harder for the rider to move the bike around as well, which is maybe why Reading's not adding the weights for the tight and twisty stuff.
  • 3 4
 @jordanchaos: Which is why 29" have an advantage over 650b.
  • 1 0
 They are dialed, and Kalle can turn ideas around in days, allowing the team to get what they want in terms of suspension feel, ratios, etc, and geometry. even down to weight. Put any of the top guys with Nicolai and they would be winning as well, the bikes are incredibly dialed and he can make anything the rider wants.
  • 1 0
 Jack Reading rides a Nicolai but the team is his own. The guys at Mojo are working with them trying new ideas on the fly. When they are happy then Nic. Can make them a new frame. Same process as the Geometron.
  • 2 0
 @mazze: they are top of the list of bikes I would buy.
  • 10 1
 Damn, I hate to admit it but that Intense proto 29" DH looks spot on Rad.
  • 2 0
 Found this loic Bruni interview interesting , at least he speaks his mind and the truth , a few other top guys feel same way but are silently toe'ing the corporate line .
www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Why-Loic-Bruni-Wont-Race-his-Prototype-Specialized-29er-at-Fort-William,33809/sspomer,2
  • 4 0
 Did anyone notice that gwin's bike has an extra wire coming from the left side. Maybe a lockout for his rear shock.
  • 1 2
 Optical illusion I believe; that's just the brake cable from bike right next to it.
  • 3 0
 @Jamminator: nope. If you look on the right picture you can see the cable creeping in near the top of his number plate.
  • 4 0
 Is that tubular glue on Greg's tubeless tires? Just to decrease the chances of burping or coming off?
  • 1 0
 This is absolute madness...i think back to the days of the 2006-7 world cup and how simple it all was...not saying that the current wc is too much because i find it amazing that this technology has found it's way into the pits but christ, it's just a bike.
  • 4 1
 Those Mavics were anything but fresh. The back one had a dent the size of Texas in it.
  • 3 0
 So is RS going to just sell new Boxxer lowers? That way we can convert our 27.5 to 29ers?
  • 7 0
 this is the MTB industry. sorry but most likely not.
  • 1 0
 Tyre clearance looks wider too
  • 2 0
 Hope that they fit my 26 boxxers
  • 1 0
 The offset is likely different for 29ers too
  • 2 0
 Come on guys! Nobody?? I can´t believe that anybody realized that Gwin's bike has an extra cable on the left side of the handlebar. Any kind of shock locking system??
  • 3 0
 attaching lead to your frame in the era of carbon superbikes? well, way to be non-conformist
  • 3 0
 That Intense looks so good, so Intense!! best of the Wagon Wheelers so far for sure, get it done in carbon! Boom!!!
  • 3 1
 YES!!!! Thank you GT for FINALLY dropping that useless I-Drive. You may have just got yourself a lot more new customers!
  • 3 0
 Right, I'm off to strap some lead to my bike...
  • 3 0
 Fresh Dmax rims with a big fresh ding....
  • 1 0
 Haha, I wondered if anyone else noticed Smile
  • 2 0
 Doesn't the mojo's paint remind you of a bubble gum wrapper.
  • 1 0
 Donnie Osmond, Captn Purple!!!!
  • 1 0
 Bigger wheels rolling better equals taller people going faster. Hey, there still cross country out there.
  • 3 1
 Where's Richie Schley's bike?
  • 17 1
 in his garage
  • 1 0
 He only rides in Cali these days dosent he!
  • 4 2
 Leave the decals off the GT, straight stunner as is.
  • 3 0
 @gemma8788 GT doesn't put up a few $100,000's for the racing program to run Fury's under the radar. #bizniz
  • 1 0
 When they say overhaul, are they seriously swapping all bearings etc, or just cleaning everything ?
  • 7 0
 Often everything. A lot of what separates a pro bike from yours or mine, is things they do that reduce lifespan of things, but make them faster or better for the limited time they need to work in a race run. Greg's mechanic famously runs the BB bearings down with a drill until they're almost worn out, because it makes the pedals spin just that little bit quicker. Bath oil will be almost non-existent in their forks, just enough wiped on the seals to make it through a practice, & likely no foam rings at all. every bearing will have the grease swapped out for something lighter weight.
  • 3 0
 @groghunter: Yea these guys feel every little thing. I remember a few years back reading that Gee wasn't running a clutch derailleur because he could feel the extra tension it put on the motion of the rear suspension.
  • 1 0
 @sino428:
so what is the answer to reduce the tension? Stick with a shimano Zee setup and tune the amount of 'clutch tension' in the derailleur?
  • 1 0
 @sino428: that is something really overlooked. The resistance for chain growth is not the same
  • 1 0
 @EvoRidge: The answer is: you're not Gee, & you're not competing on the top level of racing. the advantages of a clutch outweigh the disadvantages for 99% of people. your suspension will be much more supple if you rebuild the shock every ride, & wash all the grease out of your bearings, but you shouldn't do those, either.
  • 1 0
 @EvoRidge: I think Gee's answer was to just not run the clutch. I remember in the interview he said that he was running a full chain guide so he wasn't worried about the chain falling off.
  • 1 0
 @donpinpon29: For sure. It definitely makes a difference. I ride a Yeti 303 RDH which has alot of chain growth and the tension is definitely noticeable if I'm sitting still on the bike and compressing the suspension. But once I'm out on the trail I can't say I notice it. My riding is not consistent enough to really tell the difference.
  • 1 0
 @groghunter: of course not! I have two shocks. My valet rebuilds one after each run and he swaps them out in the lift line.
  • 1 0
 Drag is a pros enemy! Overhaul, mechanics aren't they're to Fk spiders!
  • 2 1
 Just curious as to how long it will take before I see some kid with LED taped on his bike.
  • 1 0
 E-bike!! Next aparently pros need things to be made easier! Except for Loic and Gwin Sam Hill etc
  • 1 0
 Love to see these Wagon wheelers on old Champery!
  • 1 0
 Too late. I already have a LED Zeppelin sticker on mine.
  • 1 0
 WTF is going on with the chainstay on that silver Intense!?
Oh, there's a trailer hitch in the way...
  • 1 0
 GT 322 !....sorry...GT OCTANE....damn it...GT FURY ....that is the correct name
  • 1 0
 adding weights to bikes now.....er ok. so carbons not really worth it then.
  • 1 0
 A new number board holder, well, thats exciting....
  • 1 1
 Soooo, they took a tr500 front triangle, flipped it upside down, and now it's a tr11. Looks great.
  • 1 0
 Loic stanchions blinded me for a sec.
  • 3 3
 certainly a top caliber World Cup team could find a better way to attach lead to a bike than duct tape.
  • 3 0
 It's lead tape.
  • 3 4
 @mrgonzo: Right, that's covered in trashy looking green duct tape. Atleast mold some lead and get some proper looking clamps. But I have not had a roll of duct tape in my tool box for probably 5 years.... cause I don't work in hvac.
  • 2 0
 @Jordanh604: Don"t you be slagging HVAC guys there are hackers in all trades, actually bike "mechanics" are some of the worst.

Now that said, you won't be finding any hackers on the WC circuit, those guys are mechanics not just component put er on ers.

And duct tape has no place on ductwork, unless you work at homedepot.

Cheers
  • 3 0
 @lake-st: no offense was meant in that comment. I fully respect and appreciate all skilled blue collar trades.

My biggest peave is when people feel the need to start a paragraph stating that they are an engineer, or this, or that.. like it's suppose to automatically make their reply more justifiable. So I regret to even do it here. I'm a machinist by trade so I just thought wrapping lead on a rig with duct tape seemed out of the realms of typical WC fashion.

Good day!
  • 1 0
 A 'top caliber' team probably would have a different way of doing it. Nicolai are far from being a top caliber team compared to most other teams. It works, it needs to be removable safely and quickly, easily adjustable..... It's almost like they are doing something simple that simply works and you are miffed by it.
  • 1 0
 "Fresh Deemax's" The one at the back has a dent int he rim!
  • 1 0
 i dont care if its not 29'' dh Smile
  • 1 0
 2.5 Minion SS, haven't seen those before
  • 1 0
 Polygon, radbikes.
  • 2 3
 Where would I find the current leaderboard?
  • 12 0
 Are you kidding?? www.google.com . Try it. It's amazing.
  • 1 1
 68 ouch!
  • 1 1
 That's what happens when you can't keep in between the tape.
  • 1 2
 with those wheels, WC soon to be a circus...







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