The Garbanzo Endurance Downhill start is about three quarters of the way up Whistler Mountain. With snow covering much of the area the racers were somewhat corralled. This gave us the perfect opportunity to check out what bikes, components and tires the racers were running. With this in mind we randomly chose fifty amateurs and fifty pros to see what gear they have chosen to hang on their frames. Sit back, take a gander and remember most of this equipment has been chosen for its performance and durability in a downhill setting.
![Start of the Garbo Enduro DH.]()
With limited room in the start area nobody could escape from us scrutinizing their bikes.
Frames:
| Specialized Demo 8 (2011) | 12% |
| Giant Glory | 12% |
| Transition TR450 | 8% |
| Trek Session | 8% |
| Commencal V3 | 8% |
| Santa Cruz Carbon V10 | 6% |
| Iron Horse Sunday | 6% |
| Specialized Demo 8 (pre 2011) | 4% |
| Cove Shocker | 4% |
| Intense 951 | 4% |
| Intense M9 | 4% |
| Xprezo Furax | 4% |
| Intense Socom | 2% |
| Yeti 303 | 2% |
| Santa Cruz V10 | 2% |
| Lapierre DH Team | 2% |
| Kona Operator | 2% |
| Scott Gambler | 2% |
| Specialized Demo 7 | 2% |
| Rocky Mountain Flatline | 2% |
| Norco Shore | 2% |
| Devinci Wilson (pre 2011) | 2% |
Forks:
| Fox 40 | 44% |
| Rock Shox Boxxer World Cup | 22% |
| Rock Shox Boxxer Team | 12% |
| Rock Shox Boxxer Race | 8% |
| Marzocchi 888 | 8% |
| Manitou Dorado | 4% |
| Rock Shox Domain | 2% |
Rear Shocks:
| Fox DHX 5.0 | 66% |
| RockShox Vivid | 12% |
| Fox DHX RC4 | 10% |
| RockShox Vivid Air | 6% |
| Fox DHX Air | 2% |
| Elka | 2% |
| Cane Creek | 2% |
Rear Derailleurs:
| SRAM X9 | 32% |
| Shimano Saint | 30% |
| SRAM X0 | 18% |
| SRAM X7 | 12% |
| Shimano XT | 6% |
| Shimano SLX | 2% |
Brakes:
| Shimano Saint | 42% |
| Avid Elixir | 40% |
| Avid Codes | 8% |
| Avid Juicy 5 | 4% |
| Formula The ONE | 4% |
| Shimano XT | 2% |
Front Tires:
| Maxxis Minion DHF 3C | 50% |
| Maxxis Minion DHF Super Tacky | 22% |
| Maxxis High Roller 3C | 8% |
| Maxxis High Roller Super Tacky | 6% |
| Maxxis Ardent | 2% |
| Maxxis Minion DHF 60a | 2% |
| Hutchinson Barracuda | 2% |
| Specialized Butcher DH | 2% |
| Syncros FL Tire | 2% |
| Kenda Nevegal | 2% |
| Schwalbe Muddy Mary | 2% |
Rear Tires:
| Maxxis Minion DHF 3C | 36% |
| Maxxis Minion DHF Super Tacky | 22% |
| Maxxis High Roller 3C | 12% |
| Maxxis High Roller Super Tacky | 10% |
| Maxxis Ardent | 8% |
| Maxxis Minion DHF 60a | 4% |
| Maxxis High Roller 60a | 2% |
| Specialized Butcher DH | 2% |
| Hutchinson Barracuda | 2% |
| Schwalbe Muddy Mary | 2% |
![Paper rock scissors anybody]()
Mick Hannah is so confident in his bike and it's components that he has nothing to worry about at the start except playing rock, paper, scissors. At least that is what it looks like.
Frames:
| Specialized Demo 8(2011) | 16% |
| Santa Cruz Carbon V10 | 12% |
| Devinci Wilson (2011) | 10% |
| Giant Glory | 10% |
| Trek Session | 8% |
| Intense M9 | 8% |
| Banshee Legend | 6% |
| Specialized Demo 8 (pre 2011) | 4% |
| Kona Operator | 4% |
| Intense 951 | 4% |
| Transition TR450 | 4% |
| Evil Revolt | 4% |
| Commencal Supreme DH | 2% |
| GT Fury | 2% |
| Cove Shocker | 2% |
| Lapierre DH Team | 2% |
| Saracen Myst | 2% |
Forks:
| RockShox Boxxer World Cup | 44% |
| Fox 40 | 28% |
| Marzocchi 888 | 14% |
| Manitou Dorado | 8% |
| RockShox Boxxer Team | 6% |
Rear Shocks:
| Fox DHX RC4 | 58% |
| RockShox Vivid | 18% |
| Marzocchi Rocco | 8% |
| Manitou Revox | 4% |
| RockShox Vivid Air | 4% |
| Elka | 2% |
| Cane Creek | 2% |
| X-Fusion Vector | 2% |
| Fox DHX 5.0 | 2% |
Rear Derailleurs:
| SRAM X0 | 44% |
| Shimano Saint | 36% |
| SRAM X9 | 14% |
| Shimano XT | 4% |
| SRAM X7 | 2% |
Brakes:
| Shimano Saint | 34% |
| Avid Codes | 28% |
| Avid XO | 14% |
| Avid Elixir | 10% |
| Hayes Ace | 4% |
| Shimano XT | 4% |
| Avid Juicy 7 | 2% |
| Formula The ONE | 2% |
| Hope-Tech V2 | 2% |
Front Tires:
| Maxxis Minion DHF 3C | 48% |
| Maxxis Minion DHF Super Tacky | 22% |
| Schwalbe Dirty Dan | 8% |
| Specialized Butcher DH | 4% |
| Specialized Chunder DH | 4% |
| Maxxis High Roller 3C | 4% |
| Maxxis High Roller Super Tacky | 2% |
| Maxxis Swamp Thing | 2% |
| Schwalbe Wicked Will | 2% |
| Continental Rain King | 2% |
| Kenda Nevegal | 2% |
Rear Tires:
| Maxxis Minion DHF 3C | 36% |
| Maxxis Minion DHF Super Tacky | 24% |
| Maxxis High Roller 3C | 14% |
| Schwalbe Dirty Dan | 8% |
| Specialized Butcher DH | 4% |
| Specialized Chunder DH | 4% |
| Maxxis High Roller Super Tacky | 2% |
| Maxxis Swamp Thing | 2% |
| Schwalbe Wicked Will | 2% |
| Continental Rain King | 2% |
| Kenda Nevegal | 2% |
![Marcelo before the start of his second place run in the Garbanzo DH.]()
Marcelo Gutierrez and his rig on their way to second place in the Garbanzo DH.
Some video action from the race:
Can all amateurs afford everything they want?
Do all pros end up with everything they want, or are they using whoever pays them the most?
But for pros, why would it matter if 8% ride a particular frame? All that means is 8% of them are sponsored by a certain team.
The only surprising thing to me is that I didn't realize people still used DHX5's.
Is this a mistake, and if not, why is that so?