Race favorite Aaron Gwin (USA) saw his hopes of taking the World Title this year come to an end around 1min 20secs into his final race run in Leogang, when inexplicably his front brakes failed, resulting in a crash. Shortly after the crash Aaron pumped the brake to try and get some pressure going but it was insufficient to complete the course safely at speed, and he cruised to the line disappointed he was unable to throw down a full race run. After the brake failure, both brakes were sent to Shimano Japan and were thoroughly evaluated by their engineers, and in Norway the results of their findings were revealed to Aaron and his mechanic Monkey. Testing proto-type products, always to the limit and sometimes to failure, is part of the role of modern day professional downhill teams and riders. The timing couldn’t have been worse, but the feedback and information gleaned was extremely valuable and all part of the process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQdqQsivA4U
Gwin the racer, Gwin the philosopher, Gwin the man at peace with his world (and his Worlds)... and fired up to have his run next year.
Back to biking: even if it states in the contract the he can't blame his sponsors/products, i don't think that is why he is calm. That is just his natural state.
Please Look up more often! We need more people doing this
ProTour is excellent at playing devil's advocate and getting people riled up. Like I said, excellent break time reading. Considering how heated his comments on Gwin's brake failure were right after it happened, I am interested in hearing what he has to say about this video. Is that so wrong?
High horse > get off!
Those props were there before you even made your comment on the matter. Try again.
If you're not talking about Gwin here, then who are you referring to? Learn to read. No one was bashing Gwin.
For those of you getting all butt hurt about the "ProTour bashing," (I'm lookin' at you, Waki), it's all in good fun. ProTour posts some crazy (in my opinion, anyway) stuff here sometimes; and I find the ensuing debates entertaining to read. I mean, come on, it's the internet.
We're all looking forward to seeing you next season Gwin.....
The piston in the video at 8:12, picture: right hand side, middle, is very bent.
In the video at 5:51after Aaron's run the lever clearly goes all the way in to the bar and out as you would expect it to do if there was a fluid loss.
I would not expect the bent piston to slide in and out like that if it was bent!
I could believe it if Aaron crashed, causing the piston to bend like this if the lever was not working at the bottom of the run, I would find it hard to believe that the piston was like this when Aaron went up the hill for his run!
If Shimano are like other large companies the "prototype" lever/piston assembly would have had extensive testing before being received by the race team.
You would expect several characterization builds, then at least 1 verification build before a race team gets their hand on something from Shimano, they may get something from a V1 build but not for using for many months.
"Can you hear me nao?" - BAAAANG!!!
I love the fact on here that nobody (well a couple do) knows who you have worked for, do work for and in what position :o)
Not saying any of this isn't true, he's a true Pro, but if we walk away from this thinking no less of Shimano, then this video was worth the price and the marketing dept' have done their job. Great video too. Love watching him ride at full speed (not slo-mo), so f-ing rapid.
Consistent lever feel and does not fade = world champ Gold.