Video: Sam Hill - Welcome to the Team

 That Pulse is sexy as hell with all that blackbox kit on it

 Really nice Bike, but with all these CRC Stickers it looks horrible !

 yeah stealth black would be the one.

 It is what it is... Get stoked... DH evolution!

 If I worked for the Australian postal service:

See big box with huge Nukeproof logos.. addressed to Sam Hill...
sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579525_376067125769737_660986243_n.jpg

 Harryaitch, you kick ass. Thanks man

 well pickle my cucumbers, he looks even faster

 Dear Sam, thanks for your job- A. Gwin

 Now we wait for Aaron Gwins first video on the demo!!

 Ladies and gentlemen, this is the pinkbike version of Good Guy Greg.

 Dam he's quick.

 haha ya think?

 Should call it the spam bike!

 Watching this vid makes me smile. What a great way to start the day. Bike looks really active and lively. I think Sam is going to really do well on it.

Nobody says "absolute legend" quite like Nigel Page.

 @TheGoose, if that thing was left stealth black everyone would think batmans coming down the track!

 Like that about NukeProof , every one who appeared in that Video rides DH. From Damo in Marketing to the old fart in the back ground I can never beat at the races :-)

 this reminds me of his days on iron horse. i wouldnt be surprised if he sets another new standard for dh

 The BB looks pretty high on the Pulse as compared to the Demo. Its going to be really interesting how Sam's riding style will have to be adjusted for such a high BB.

 sexyest bike possible and rides like it too. stoked for sam!!!!!!!!!

 He looks fast in this video, but I feel like this trail doesn't push the limits of this new bike like some of them will. Maybe I'm wrong, very possible, but that's my opinion. But even so, I'm not making any conclusions. I'll be staying tuned. Good luck, Sam, I've been a fan since your Sunday days.

 I thought that was Chad Reed sitting on the couch drinking when the knock on the door came. Guess I got two worlds in my head right now. Looked at the snow outside and the nice loam in the vid and wept a bit. Too long to spring!

 @chickenlassi - Its 44 degres C (112F) outside at the momment, windy as f*ck and all state forests are closed due to the huge fire danger, I seriously wouldn't mind abit of snow right now.

Also sam looks mega fast on the dh sled. He's starting to look like the old sam that i used to watch when i just started getting into mtbing

 I love the kit with on the black bike and white framed gogs with purple lenses, as well as the white and black leatt

 i like black box on white boxxer... all white lowers crowns... but the way the bike is its nice... i would ride it and wouldnt conplain about it lol

 Key words; 100% fit

 Yes, Waldon83. Sam is quite pretty isn't he.

 WOW........dust, what a strange sight that is.........

 Any idea what the first song is? (the one at 1.32)

 Yeaaaa throw another shrimp on the barbie

 I can't wait until sam destroy's everyone on the circuit this year!

 ^Well done Captain Obvious!

What MoreBravo meant is that the 2013 DH race season is shaping up to be quite an interesting one.

 hope he gets a win this season...

 I had my doubts but I now actually think that Sam WILL make a comeback on this bike. the Specialised videos never really got me that stoked anyways!

 good man sammy!! he'll get it done...

 I know I saw that in the background!

 wreck the fun much

 I think he looked great in that segment!

 Makes the bike look like it's made of air.

 I was thinking the same thing. He seems genuinely excited to race again and CRC/Nukeproof are just stoked to be working with him. I really hope we see him reclaim his rightful place atop the podium this year!

 All the best to Sam...Its going to be a great season. However, I think he looked just as fast as he ever did. Recall how fast he looked back in 3 Minute Gaps, Follow Me, and Earthed 5. All Sam's chances to win will come from his being finally 100% healthy and being refreshed with this new start.

 What I was getting is that he's slimmed down and toned up lots. He looks more like a racer and a finely tuned athlete. He's always looked quick on the bike

 he would probably look just as good on the scalp

 this his a better bike to win at that level ..the main pivot is higher.....the demo was just a average bike ..the main pivot was to close to the bb...that allowed not enuff chain grow ....so it resume in a lost of speed in rock garden or root section and a bit mushy to pedal and have a to short chain stay .....even sam tell that the pusle keep more speed in tech section ....if gwin is as dominant on a demo that will prove that he is veeerryy good......good luck sam you look happy

 @rouxdh: I agree.

I had been eyeing a Scalp for a couple of months now as a matter of fact. No point buying a Pulse (can you even get one yet?) as it'll be another 20 years before I'm as fast as these cats (that's not going to stop me from trying tho!).

Anyway, I do believe the short chain stay high single pivot design of the Pulse is good one. And Sam looked rockin' fast and smooth on it in this vid. Mad props as far as I'm concerned.

 jaame - I think you, and this whole press talking about testing of Pulse, are overestimating the capability of tech in mountain biking to be a deciding factor in riders results. It's no Fo1. I have no doubt that if bike was such a big component of the success Syndicate riders would be winning more as they changed from SRAM to what Aaron rode, that is Shimano/Fox. Then Gee Atherton should have been a World Cup champion by jumping from average Commencal to High tech GT.

I perfectly understand that it is exciting to think so of bikes and it would greatly justify why we spend so much money on them. However in reality their capability to become a deciding force is very small. Unless we get some super tech like Active suspension, ABS for brakes, the human skill and fitness factor will dominate over machine. If riders rode custom bikes truly tested and adjusted to their needs like F1 drivers work with their engineers to dial in cars, it could also have been different.

But instead of providing us some magic of exclusivity, the aura of mystery surrounding race bikes, the industry prefers to play the cheap ball of: our clients must have the possiblity to buy exactly what our World Cup riders use on races... so you end up with a bike park full of guys in signature clothing on black V10s and think: woow was that Peaty?! no just some FB hero

 ...wonder if we'll see him clipped in?

 So much fail in that post. These guys who race at the top level are involved in testing, have access to new development items, and have suspension custom tuned to a level you clearly don't understand. While it may be hard to grasp, a bike shock like these guys run gets the same level of attention that motorsports teams use. Shock Dynos aren't for dinosours like yourself, and their bikes aren't one in the same as you ride. Trickle yes, same, no. case in point: Blackbox programs, Fox inverted fork. Enve carbon rims, Shimano prototypes, Carbon frames.... HONDA. Can YOU buy a pulse? There, I just proved you wrong.

Get over your ludite attitude and realise that the top pro's are so much more technical than you give them credit for. There is a reason they complain about bikes they 'had' to race in the past and test equipment prior to swapping.

Also, High Tech GT..... very funny.

 @ Jaame: World Champ definitly not for Gwin (well we'll see!). PMB's a pedaling track as you said, and the Demo is not the most pedal friendly bike around. My bet: Minaar or Gee Atherton

@ Silocycle: Sam said he rides clips sometimes just in case it'd really make sense (dirt.mpora.com/news/sam-hill-crcnukeproof-interview-2013.html). End of the video interview "I want these stripes back". So I'd expect him to ride clipped in in PMB (just like Brendog did this year actually).

 Holy shit, dude you are on a mission! all I can do is to wish you all the best of luck on proving more people to be wrong today... hihi

While I was editing my post, by mistake I removed the crucial point of all I wrote: All bikes Pros use these days are pretty much equaly advanced, probably due to same technolologies (sometimes factories) used in their production. So it does not matter whether Aaron rides a Demo or Session, Boxxer or RC3Ti, Saint or X0, Maxxis or Schwalbe.

 What about Schwalbe making custom tires for the world championships in 2011, specialy made for cold wet conditions, never to be relased to the public. And yes, that snippet you left out would have rendered my diatribe pointless.... hahaha

 EManiac- yeh that debate seems to be over, it definitely makes sense for certain tracks.

 @WAKIdesigns: You're kind of wrong up there with that stuff about "overestimating the capability of tech in mountain biking". Sure, the tech alone isn't going to win a race, but instead the amalgam of the rider and machine.

Something Keith Code (a dude that teaches people about going fast on motorcycles / much of it applies here) talks about is having a finite amount of attention to pay to what's going on. This is precisely where the capability of the bike comes in!!!! If the bike likes to push the front end, guess what's going to happen while riding some course with fast flat off camber corners? You are going to be spending a lot of time wondering when/if that front tire is going to tuck while you're heading for the apex. That's attention that could be better spent else where. Like looking further up the course as an example.

I use the front wheel as an example because Brook McDonald had a concern along these lines with his Mondraker this season. He went to a 50mm stem to help get more weight over the front tire. We can infer from this that it was a problem, or a considerable concern at the very least. Concerns as such are not the thing that helps you go fast. It distracts from your ability to relax and focus at speed.

The truth is that a machine that allows the rider expression of will and intent without squabble is a perfect machine! Riders tweak and adjust endlessly to get the machine as close to that ideal as they can. The bike that allows the rider to coalesce perfectly is the bike that will kick the most a$$ in the hands of the most riders, regardless of individual style.

Bike tech is extremely important and a bike must mesh well with a rider. Otherwise neither will shine.

 Exacty, it's a dynamic interface. It's not like we're riding rigid hardtails anymore. The wrong set up is simply dangerous, the right one puts the rider at ease.

 BDKR I screwed up my rant while editing it - I totaly agree with you (cool insight into this MC thing - thanks!), the thing I meant is that the same technologies making those guys faster are pretty much available to each of them, and eventual micro differences in geometry/suspension play too little role in MTB racing, comparing to for example what developing mental skills can do for you. Sure if we take South Africa course and suddenly there was only one guy on the hill with dropper post, he would be in a certain advantage.

There are variables and trust me I would love to see them, I would love technology to make it more exciting! I actualy see a big chance for mechanics to be more in the attention of media - let's take TV coverage to the pits and ask more questions what setups riders are running, not just tyre choice, so people have more to talk about. not sure if they would like it but hell, let's make it a bit more F1. I hope and silently believe that Enduro format will bring that!

 @WAKI is on the right track... @BDKR nailed it!!

 Funny to see you Specialized hater's saying that the Demo isn't a top notch race machine. Anybody that thinks that hasn't spent an ample amount of time on a new Demo setting it up properly and letting off the brakes. The faster one rides the bike, the better. The new Demo's (2012 and up) are DH race bikes developed with Sam Hill, not sure what people don't understand about that.

 You guys don't realize that there aren't 'bad' or 'better' bikes out there anymore. Bike kinematks and geometry are not rocket science. Sure supension setup changes but that's mainly to sell more bikes. What really has advanced are shocks and virtual production processes allowing to design frames lighter and faster and with more efficient kinematics. With ergonomic options, suspension setup and tuning you can suit any bike on the WC circuit to any rider. It doesn't matter if Hill rides a Pulse or Gwin a demo.

 @dualsuspensiondave: I'm pretty sure nobody is saying it's not a top notch racing machine. That said, I'm sure there isn't one of them out there that doesn't make some design sacrifices somewhere. Some of the discussion here is about just that. A strength of a bike in one place may be a hindrance in another. Whether or not it's a strength or a hindrance will depend on the rider.

There is no absolute here. There is no "best frame". It's how good is the rider and how much does that frame design hinder or not.

 How should frame design hinder a rider? I don't know a frame on the wc who can't be tuned if it has flaws. Take the Fury as an example: because carbon molds are expensive GT didn't update it although it's headangle is outdated. So the athertons just fitted an angle set, short shock and excentrical bushings to drop the bb. Many frames even have adjustable chainstay lengths so as long as a frame doesn't have mayor flaws like lacking stiffness or poor or not optimal suspension design any pro can be satisified and the latter could be compensated with shock-tuning.

 @tabletop84: The point is that one shouldn't.

But if Sam Hill wanted to ride the Pulse before deciding if it was good enough then there is obviously still room for hindrance.

Not to be a jerk, but should I believe you over Sam?

 You better believe in marketing because that's exactly how it works.

 There is a lot to be said about feeling right on a bike, the interface between rider and machine is extremely important. Example in the last year I have run five big bikes, all with similar equipment and similarish travel. Scalp, fury, gambler morewood Shova lt and froggy. Out of those only two have felt part of me, two where machines I was just comfortable and one just felt wrong. So in my opinion as a man who has been lucky enough to ride many many bikes over the years the right machine initially does make adifference and yes on a purely personal level there are bad designs

 @randybadger, care to give us more details on your preferred rides, and which one sucked?

 @Randybadger: I agree with you completely!

 I believe the bike makes a difference, both in rider feel and suspension geometry. The Demo is a good bike but the main pivot is too low to allow it to carry as much speed through really rough stuff as a high pivot bike. Put one of these guys on a Zerode and they'd be several seconds faster on courses like Val di Sole. Everyone knows that, don't they? I'd agree with what you guys are saying about bikes having to feel right. I of all the DH bikes I've ridden I thought the Lapierre DH720 was the most fun and best suited to me. I think the V10 is like an armchair, fast but not much fun, great suspension but a bit too race focussed perhaps. And I think the Glory is a dead feeling POS. Shame because they look great and they're cheap as shit here in Taiwan. Anyway I'm going to buy a WIlson when the right one comes up second hand, and that's based on looks. For me, a two hours a week, five races a year type of guy, looks are the most important thing.
As for Gwin not winning PMB because the bike doesn't pedal well, I think Fox will set him up with something special to counter that. He's their number one, isn't he? Or is he switching to Blackbox?

I applaud you gentlemen in this part of the thread for having adult discussion without the arse licking... something often missing from PB.

 Oh I will lick yer wee bum right nae I'll go in like Tiger into the golfer hole; like a hot, sulfur saturated water into the arse of a lad that wanted to poop into the geysir.

I have no problem with rider preferences/ riding style fitting specific frame - good points indeed. I am also far away from denying Sams opinion that this bike feels better for him than Demo, and to render it to be just marketing crap. Sure whatever deal he's got from CRC, if bike was dodgy he would probably not accept the contract, or at least negotiate riding something better.

What I was refering was comments on objective advantages/disadvantages of certain frames and the impression I got from the side of CRC's slightly blurry statement that the bike played nearly a major role in the deal. As I wrote few times above, differences are very small to what those different bikes can deliver for a rider. And remember that we talk here of a frame and few components that are coming from Nuke Proof. there's whole load of important components that go into bikes performance, particularly suspension and tyres, which will stay the same for him.

Likes not likes, we are dealing here with contracts in DH racing, it's hard to extract money out of that microscopical segment, yet commitments to ride fully professionaly are just as big, if not bigger than in way better paid sports. You need a good sponsor support to focus on your job, training and racing, at the same time feel secure that you can provide for your family. Even at Sam's level you can't just go around pits, and base the choice of your future employer nearly solely on how their bikes ride. It might be an issue in motorsports as you know that you won't get anywhere on a poor MC or in a poor car. But in MTB, you can still have chance to win races being on aluminium frame with CF ones around. Look at tyre choices in mixed conditions, how close those guys come, using some using spikes, some dry tyres, usualy from different manufacturers.

 Before going to the big big travel bikes the morewood shova lt was my perfect for me, it just felt right. I went straight of having that onto the froggy which initially i couldnt decide wether i liked, had to learn to like it. Scalp came next which i instantly felt confidence ive never had before, my riding improved immediately and with that more speed and focus. Gt fury came next and i just didn't get on with it at all just didn't have any confidence on it (although set up, tyre choice and muddy winter trails may have influenced me) finally the gambler, only had it a short while and whilst there wasnt the immediate bonding that i had with the scalp it feels like we might have fun together and there is a certain feel good factor to it looking like an absolute beast of a bike.
So for me its
1 scalp
2 shova
3 gambler
4 froggy
5 fury
This is just me personally.

 I agree that the bike played a part, but a small one. At worst he thinks it can be made good enough even if it isn't already. I'm not saying it isn't good, I am saying that even if it wasn't he wouldn't admit that in the media. You don't bite the hand that feeds you. At the end of the day they are all pretty similar, and my guess is that CRC offered the best package. I saw a thing on TV several years back about sports agents, mostly the football ones. One bloke I remember well saying something along the lines of: Always take the money. If Adidas want to pay you 20% more than Nike, sign with Adidas. If you really must have the Nikes, buy them yourself and make them look like Adidas. In other words, a career is too short to be picky on equipment. You have to pay the mortgage and a pat on the back isn't going to do that.

I'll second your thoughts on the Fury, Randybadger. The Demo feels like a great fun bike, lively and responsive, but if we're splitting hairs I can't see it being as fast outright as a higher pivot bike. I mean, when you're pinning it and you hit a bump, the wheel doesn't want to go straight up. It wants to go back. Rightly or wrongly, that puts me off buying a low pivot bike. I also like the idea that a high pivot bike makes the suspension less active when you pedal. I don't believe the chain growth makes much difference to the suspension when you're going fast, because the wheel is turning so you probably wouldn't notice. Even if you did, I think the rearward axle path is worth the sacrifice. I'm not an expert or an engineer though...

 Incidentally One thing I didn't mention the scalp is quite long and very low and quit prone to pedal strikes I ran quite a short crank and it seemed to carry speed very well so pedaling never seemed a massive priority also if you have a vivid shock on it the rebound adjuster is practically unreachable through the linkage. I ran a dhx air but anything with all adjustment at the top would do. Thought id mention it incase anyone is looking to buy. I made a few tweeks to the fury to make it ride better, offset bushes to lower it and bringing the fork as far down as poss to.stop it feeling wallowy but I alway felt like I was going to kiss the front wheel. I think the problem I had is that its quite a short bike and most of my six ft is in a long body and arms. I digressed a bit there but I guess what I'm trying to say is signing the biggest money deal in the world won't help you win races if the cockpit doesn't suit your style.

 Yea randy, but in case of such a huge company as CRC and their Nuke Proof brand, then direct support from Rock Shox, Sam with his protfolio can get any suspension setup and any geometry he wants. We mortals can't even dream of support he gets, did you see FOX engineers trolling on data gathered by some techno-shmo mounted Justin Leovs bike? Even if you troll on shim stacks, you would need to buy like 10 forks and 10 shocks, stuff it with different settings and spend weeks testing stuff out - those guys do it for living, while you have to fit it into your free time and ardously learn pieces of information they know since years.

That is also a reason why I find deeper levels of geeking utterly pointless - if it makes you happy, if it's your interest fine - but delude yourself that it makes your arrival on finish line any sooner. At least anywhere sooner comparing to what spending that time in the gym and on deliberate practice of skills, instead of geeking in your garage and in front of the computer looking for info. Amount of free time and energy is limited, you need to choose.

Tech's big, there's a vast gap between us and them, no doubt about it - still we get a lot of that packaged when we buy one of top bikes. I dare ANYONE to give his bike of let's say Giant Glory caliber with, Boxx team, X0, to one of top dogs and their mechanics, for a race week - and they will still be competitive without changing a single part (given if damaged to be replaced by same component )

 In a word. Yes

 As an aside on frames design and feel the first question anyone ever seems to ask me is "how does it pedal" personally i dont see it as a major part of a downhill bike (im not very good) but there does seem to be a trend for more efficient pedlars.
Does this sacrifice frames ability to descend or help? I would value opinion? Certainly it seem that a lot of modern race venues have more pedally courses but from a purely down hill perspective for us weekend warriors will we be aided better by a bike that purely decends (i would as im quite lazy and dont pedal much if i can help it) or a bike that is more pedal friendly.
I dont just mean speed and time. But also fun, which is what its really all about.

 how bike pedals, I can't say I had too little bikes, but I can definitely see the difference on my AM bike (or should I say Enduro?) Nomad between stock DHX5 coil and Pushed RP23. You just can't compare these two when it comes to pedaling. However as soon as you hit a proper downhill track... it's not about durability, but I leave such air shock at home when heading to the lifts...

 For me it's about getting as much fun out of my weekend bash as I can until I'm too knackered to carry on. Usually 2-3 hours on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Where I live, most of my riding is done on not very steep tracks with jumps and berms. We have a DH course but it's too much effort to push up more than twice a day, especially in summer when you have to drink about 2 litres of water an hour to fend off the headache. Riding a bike at 30-35% sag that pedals badly is going to see you waste a lot of energy compared to a 25% sag setup.

For proper DH, if you have lifts or shuttle access, then you probably wouldn't notice a bike that pedalled well or not though. If that was me I'd buy a Glory 0 and freewheel down every run, knowing that I was killing it. They're like tanks - get them going and it's not easy to stop them!

 I went from having what was in my opinion the worst pedaling am bike to owning one that I suspect may be the best. I love mashing the pedals now and can't stand bikes that are mushy or bob or have chain feedback. Also managed to drop my times on my local track by 15 seconds with the bike change. Isn't Aaron gwin known for setting up his bikes with super firm suspension to help the bike pedal well and carry speed.

 @Waki: You really do make some brutal generalizations.

"That is also a reason why I find deeper levels of geeking utterly pointless - if it makes you happy, if it's your interest fine - but delude yourself that it makes your arrival on finish line any sooner. At least anywhere sooner comparing to what spending that time in the gym and on deliberate practice of skills, instead of geeking in your garage and in front of the computer looking for info. Amount of free time and energy is limited, you need to choose."

How little free time do you think we have? During that time of year when the days are longer, I get up, workout, work for 8 hours, ride after work at least 4 days a week (not including the weekend), then still have time to do research (History and Geopolitics) and write.

And nobody goes faster beyond a certain point unless they understand what's going on? Otherwise they just dumbly bang against a ceiling they can't break through like low IQ crude instruments. Surely that's not what you're suggesting for us is it?

 I think what he is saying is the person makes the difference, not the bike. At levels below world class, that is unarguable. Isn't it?

 What i was trying to get at was do modern world cup standard frames offer us the general rider a huge benefit over older less pedally dh sleds. As amatuers are plushers less pedal friendly dh bikes from days gone by better suited

 @jaame: I do agree with that. But I will say that it prolly applies at regional and national levels as well.

And sorry for the harsh tone Waki. ;-)

 Scumalized and Aaron moneybin? Grow the hell up, you're 30 for Christ's sake.

 I don't have anything against Specialized and them signing Aaron , I just love Sam and want to see him back on top.

 A few weeks back everyone was saying "Oooh, Hill to CRC, they must be paying him big bucks to get him from Spesh..." now it's "Ooh, Gwinn's just going where the money's at, he sold out..." 99% of PB users (myself included) probably know 0 facts about their actual contracts, so stop jumping to conclusions and go ride your bikes.

 @ cyrix - er what? Get a life mate, it's only a laugh. And don't be so flicking condescending to someone you've never met. I'm glad you went to the trouble of checking my profile to see my age,,,loser. We're all entitled to our opinions be it sarcastic or genuine. Like dingus said "ride your bike" n take a chill pill

 Sure thing sport.

 WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?????

 Bootleg ha ha! I hope Gwin goes backwards this season and ends up in the bin at the end of it. Boring bastard.

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsGP3PuXx7A

 lol, i see what you did there.

 You mean the bike's so hot or the possibility of finding traces of fungus on Pagey's saddle, capable of causing epidemia and desolation in infamous Australian cattle?

On another hand, If I was Pagey and got it back from Sam after testing I would be shitting myself if a colony of funnel-web spiders and a fkn coral snake hasn't found their home inside of the frame... Horrible - terrible!

 its not that bad over here! gotta be more worried about skank-ass 16 year olds who tell you they're 18 trying to get pregnant and take all your wages...

 @standard22 that sounds like a terrific story you have to share about the 16 year old that you impregnated and took all your money

 C'mon standard22 - it's not a country it's a death trap, box jelly fish, great whites, stone fish, stingers, crocodiles, spiders, snakes, dingos stealing babies, venomous lizards, giant birds running and kicking people in the face! Anything can bite you, sting you and f*ck you up -2 eyes, 5 rows of teeth and an a*shole. Blue ring octopus - that shit stings you, you don't even make it to the phone! And those f*ckers all over tell you - it won't bother you if you don't annoy it! and they don't tell you what annoys it! Stuff like breathing, walking... and the vegemite to top it all.

Ok... too much Billy Connolly - I check out please...

 hahahaha..

wouldnt have it any other way

 Where's that trail? Looks like Dwellingup. Good to see some footage of the Aussie bush hills around here. I'd put my money on Sam on that track against anyone damn he looks fast. Probably a secret trail for secret testing. I'm sure every WC rider has his own fave trail where no one could beat him. Steve Smith's seems to be Whistler.

 Yeh that's dwelli mate! good guess! he rips them tracks a new one when he races them!

 looked more like mundaring....?

 Naaa, that's dwellingup, mundaring is a lot thicker than that and a lot less pineforresty. Plus I know the guy that filmed it

 NEW ZEALAND!!!

 It's dwellingup. Fact.

 There. From kian himself!!

 He's been back since over a year ago.

 duh... hes back to his old self. fast as hell

 Yeah Ive spent alot of time hanging out with the pros myself and think similar things

 Myself I am a well established visitor of dinner parties held by the industry in finest restaurants in San Diego, California. I have not a single doubt that Sam will do very well this year, I am convinced of his wellbeing on most trecherous rockgardens of this Earth. We had such a marveolous discussion on upcoming trends in Downhill bikes geometry, and it's possible impacts on market shares in that segment of the market. I tried to give him no less that flattering comments on his new team, splendid indeed. I wished him good luck... then some peasant from restaurant staff spilled wine on my kashmir trousers. Sir Fisher, the host of the party, apologized and ensured me that this illiterate oik will be fired, possibly deported.

 Hahaha wtf whacky waki

 i can't believe i read that long paragraph (which exceeded my attention span by 10 fold). it was both funny and pointless, LOL!

 I think i'll go out on a limb and say that when footage of Gwinny get released people will all pipe up and say "Damn , he's fast on that " or " he looks so comfortable " and other such shit . I'll say it till i'm blue in the face "FAST IS FAST"

More neg props on the way

 un-Australian

 Taxiii, gotta get this guy outta here.

 it's in the citizenship test

 Moved back to Oz from the states expecting Sam to be a hero here but, there are a bunch of haters in W.A. It's called 'tall poppy syndrome'. Probably why he hasn't got a big head. As talented as he can be it's his inconsistency that makes him so exciting to watch. When he's on he's on when he's not he's still up there with the best but every so often he just pulls some magic out of his arse and blows your mind.

 He is the nicest bloke! Always happy to chat at races! WA loves him!

 he partys too

 Still talks like a bogan though

 Still wins every local race he enters in the last two years

 cameronb3321: it is my dream to one day move to Australia and become a bogan.

 Still wins every local race he enters in the last two years without even one practice run*

 ^^ yeah what I meant to say

 Me too. "Give 'er the biscuit, Sam! Stay hungry."

 The Jersey looks like a quick iron on job with the CRC logo, probably just did a quick one up for the video now that Sam has moved teams TLD hitting the drawing board maybe ?

 He doesn't look right in white... Definitely not lairy enough for Hill!

 I want some pink!

 Don't we all ?

 Brown goes alright too, or a bit of both?

 Hey guys, Stikman from TLD here. That is just our white out GP jersey, white ruckus shorts that I put some heat transfers on, we are working on full new kits for the CRC team along with some spicy new carbon D3 helmets. All these new deals are happening so fast, I can only work so fast! haha Super excited to be continuing with Sam in this new venture!

 What about a new Hill signature D3 Stikman? Any plans for it to happen anytime soon?

 @Stikman: what are you doing on this forum don't you have some homework to do?

Oh, BTW, as I have a TLD guy at hand: can't you produce some D2 carbon helmet again? That light weight (sick looking) lid was perfect for enduro!

 Hyperpower, its coming, the SH signature lid. @enduromaniac ---- is your name for real?? Don't worry, we will have something perfect for enduro, that won't be a rehash of a DH lid, just wait, coming in moments...t minus 5, 4, 3,

 @stik, Id be waiting for a Hill sig lid. Its been too long!

 CAN'T WAIT NO MOOOOOOOORE!!

 @stikman...

Would TLD be bringing out a D3 open face, following from the D2 Open face adventure you guys went on. There's clearly a market out there.

 @PaddyD perhaps there is a market, you will know mid week what we are releasing.
Sam Hill is awesome, watched this a few times. I'm gonna have to get one of those nukeproof's!

 It's a poster on the wall behind. The poster is of a CRC ad. They do NOT have a 747 jumbo jet....come on man!

 Yeah i appreciate its a poster, thats very clear, but to be fair I haven't seen the ad. Still doesn't take away from my first point its a picture of a CRC Cargo plane right?... whats the point of the poster if its not a real picture of a real CRC painted Cargo Jumbo ??

 Younger team... as in Nukeproof have been around for less time than Specialized. (Jut a guess)
Are they less experienced in design and development, or the design department of the Demo at its current release standard vs the Scalp?
I guess you know who works on the Specialized design team, how many people re in the team, what experience they have their team management structure, how many people have experience of the greater number of technologies Specialized use, how they can apply the technology....
With Gwin on a Spec, I would guess the Demo may go through some changes for him to suit his style? Time will tell.

 Both brands are huge. I would venture to say that Specialized may have more experience due to working with a top level WC racer such as Hill with bike development. That's only on paper though.

 It's what's been going on in moto for a while now, and not without reason. Always liked it better myself.

 That's what all the top Pro's ride. Take a look back to the Decline from years ago that had comparison's of Gwin's Yeti, Gee's Commencal, and Leov's Session. Stiff suspension is the only way of carrying speed like they do.

 Why do people who own demos feel the need to defend them so rabidly? If you're happy with your bike it doesn't matter what other people think.
Please fill out this form and send it to someone who cares: i.imgur.com/TTlp6.jpg

 There are several bikes made in the same factory that are really similar. They use their own geometry, and own tube profiles, but they are basically custom catalog bikes (a great way to get a great ride at a reasonable price.)

 SAM HILL.... The man who is in the air more than on the ground! Give er shit this season!

 scalp is an awesome looking bike, not saying i dont like the pulse but the scalps curvey frame is nicer to look at

 In my humble opinion, the scalp looks shit house and the Pulse looks grand. I hate the curves on the scalp. Makes it look too big or too tall or something.

 Deepcreek, just because you own a scalp

 better than your trek...

 The box is way to big for inner tubes! must have been the pedals.

 and probably blenky.

 I know how you feel, Sam is now on a rocket ship. I hope he smashes it on the NP, the bike carries serious speed on the rough stuff.

 Agreed he is the legend /the man god damn its gonna be a hell of a season can't wait

 was he really on a small demo ??

 The Sweet Apes - Police Cops.... there you go man

 Don't watch the music videos. Bunch of kids. Nice song though.

 Thanks!

 for sure

 probably the same reason you painted your bighit..

 Haha true

 It would be kind of awkward if he was on the CRC/Nukeproof team and didnt run any Nukeproof parts.
He has Nukeproof seatpost, seat, bars, stem and pedals.. So no more Renthal and SDG for him.

 No

 demo isnt a race bike ? you should of told gwinny that before he signed for spesh !! .. it wasnt a race bike until sam got hold of it

 demo wasnt a race bike, when hill joined specialized it was known as a freeride bike, think rampage but hill had his "input" and it became about as much of a race bike as is possible, hill's lack of complete dominance after he signed specialized was down to his opposition starting to figure out how to go as fast as him, it had nothing to do with the bike, bikes make tenths not seconds difference so as long as the rider is comfortable on the bike he will be in contention,people need to stop thinking a different bike will make you the best, it wont so to borrow somebody elses phrase,"stop being a kashima coated be""end"

 this commet is around 6-7 months late, this ship has long sailed

yes it looks similar because the basic idea behind the suspension design is the same and so there is an obvious way of linking the tubes together in a lightweight stiff manor to create a good bike that performs well

 for sure is gonna win more this year then the past few........he is on a better bike now....watch out

 On a better bike! Hahahaha. Same quality, different ride characteristics which don't really matter with suspension tuning at that level.

 The Sweet Apes- Police Cops.

 I know I saw that. That's quality!

 the hype is over .....loll