Australian DH Nationals Round One - Pro Bike Check

Dec 13, 2014
by Paul Aston  
The downhill race season is kicking off in Australia, and after a four year absence, the series returns to You Yangs, Victoria. We check out what eleven of the top riders have chosen to start the attack this weekend.


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  There's an interesting mix of enduro and downhill bikes at You Yangs. The track must be pretty flat to warrant bringing a pedaller, unless these guys are all changing bandwagons for this season? Tim Eaton riding what looks like an out of the box Giant Reign 27.5 1.


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  Thomas Crimmins decides to go full DH with this new 2015 Glory 27.5.


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  Pretty standard enduro build on Connor Fearon's Kona Process 153, excluding the Sram X0 DH 7 speed cluster and non-dropper post.


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  Brendan 'Moony' Moon riding for Aussie brand Bilt. Some nice weight-saving touches include the Cane Creek DB with a ti spring, Renthal carbon bars and what looks like Schwalbe's Hans Dampf in a lightweight Evo casing. There are also a lot of Marsh Guards at a very dry race - perhaps they add air drag to the front wheel?


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  Number 2 plate Dave Mcmillan going full enduro, rocking the bottle cage, dropper post, 42t cassette and minimalist chain device, and he looks to be the only guy here with carbon wheels. Specialized's Roval Fattie SL wheels and the Slaughter semi-slick tire help reduce rolling resistance, allowing for a little extra speed out of the corners.


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  Another out of the box enduro setup, and in fact Dean Lucas' Devinci SPRTN looks like it literally just came out of the box = there's not even any shoe rub on the crank arms yet.


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  Ben Hill has some exceptional colour coding on this Rocky Mountain. Full downhill bike, full size rotors, beefy Schwalbe Magic Marys and instructions for his race-run - "Breathe, Tuck, Smart Brakes, Faster." Maybe he should have also written 'Pedal' in there if he is going to keep up with the shorter lighter travel bikes?


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  Tegan Molloy's tiny Kona Carbon Operator also has some good co-ordination, including the custom kangaroo and signature fork decals. Running the Minion DHF at both ends of the bike, a combination made famous by another well-known Aussie.


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  Spencer Graf and his Knolly Podium.


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  Andrew Crimmins is putting it all on the line with no chain-guide. Even with a sharp and fresh narrow/wide ring, I'm not sure that I would risk dropping a chain at a National DH event, but to each their own.


Aussie Nationals Round 1 Bike Check
  Troy Brosnan is blurring the lines between the two types of bike with this custom Specialized Enduro EVO that's running what looks to be a shorter than standard Vivid Air. Putting on the number one plate at the first race of the season must be a good confidence boost, although given his results on the World Cup last season he probably doesn't really need one.

Photo's by: Jason Stevens

Author Info:
astonmtb avatar

Member since Aug 23, 2009
486 articles

119 Comments
  • 117 1
 Troy is having a good hair day.
  • 39 1
 Great Scott!
  • 37 0
 he has released the inner ginger, watch out for him in 2015
  • 14 24
flag bentown (Dec 13, 2014 at 19:29) (Below Threshold)
 @flamshmizer It's a Spesh mate.
  • 8 0
 Looks like Conan Obrien
  • 4 1
 i didn't realize it was troy haha
  • 3 3
 It seems it's upside down
  • 3 2
 Is that a comb over.....
  • 7 1
 It's really quite specialized...
  • 2 1
 haha dean lucas wearing tld knee pads but reps fox?
  • 2 0
 Troy Super Sayan
  • 53 4
 We run marsh guards because they look badass
  • 4 2
 what happened to bender fender?
  • 1 0
 I'm still running my bender fender....
  • 28 0
 So dry......So warm
  • 43 5
 So Enduro
  • 11 1
 Actually Marsh guard also keeps dust or minimises dust fetting into the seals as well and stones sticks getting kicked up, its not just useful in mud, have found this alos increases service life on a fork, everything has a purpose if you know hlw toget the best out of it, hardly like it adds weight!
  • 2 15
flag myanh (Dec 14, 2014 at 7:50) (Below Threshold)
 so is it a enduro race or a dh race. they should put some guideline on witch bike racer could use otherwise it s free for all and it s not the same for everyone.
  • 6 0
 @myanh its not the same for everyone anyway, not everyone can afford to run the latest 650b bikes should they not be allowed to race? Some peoples bikes are carbon some are ali each with its advantages just because its different doesn't mean you cant use it. Best tool for the job and all that...
  • 1 12
flag myanh (Dec 14, 2014 at 13:13) (Below Threshold)
 so its a dh race but people could use whatever bike they want. mmm strange. it s not the matter if you could afford one or the other.
  • 24 5
 any body else think that troys bike just looks... odd with that dual crown fork?
  • 20 12
 how did you make it past that abortion, the Knolly, get to the Specialed and think 'that looks odd'?
  • 20 4
 Get on that Knolly. You won't abort it!
  • 21 8
 I have never understood people who think Knollys are ugly. Everything with a purpose, clean lines and beefy as fuck. Mmmmmm
  • 7 1
 That's the reason they signed James 2 more years.
  • 17 7
 Don't get it? Your statement 'everything with a purpose, clean lines' explains why you don't. They are fugly because they have an inordinate linkage assembly. It looks like it was built by a kid with an Erector set and designed to get around patents.
  • 7 2
 MmmBones, I see where you're coming from but don't be a hater, have you ridden one? If you do with an open mind I think you will change your opinion, I certainly did.
  • 4 2
 I would probably agree with you if I hadn't ridden one. I cede that the linkage looks a bit industrial, but I like that. Everything with a purpose, no extra material just for looks. Plus, it works, and in a way that is pretty unique to Knollys. Ride one and you may still think it's ugly but you'll get it when it comes to the feel.
  • 7 13
flag MmmBones (Dec 13, 2014 at 20:49) (Below Threshold)
 dugglesthemud. I don't think riding one will change how it looks for the better, unless it was completely coated in mud. I never said they ride bad, so don't put that on me, breh. I hear this all the time from delusional Knolly owners, which leads me to believe that while they might ride good. But, in order to justify the terrible aesthetics, they have convinced themselves the ride quality is a deodorant for the looks.
  • 5 1
 I own a Knolly and I genuinely think it looks great. Granted, it's a Chilcotin and I will happily admit that it looks better than the Podium.
  • 8 1
 Yeh not the prettiest bike for sure, it cant be denied and if that's all your insinuating then fair enough. Personally for me, ride quality and reliability are massively more important than aesthetics, which is perhaps why I like my Knollys. To each his own.
  • 5 4
 Man the knolly looks cool, people love knolly for that linkage, i would buy one if the stack height is slightly shorter and please that troy's enduro evo gave me ebola
  • 4 4
 @shuwukong Why don't get a negative rise stem and bar if that's the case. And puhleeze don't you "please" me, I never said the Enduro Evo looked good although it looks a helluva lot cleaner than the Knolly. @dugglesthemuddled Yes, not the prettiest. That's what I'm saying. Fit/geometry, Ride quality and reliability should always come before looks. Though, I don't see how they couldn't make that bike feel nearly identical without the multiple rate altering linkage unless there was a certain patent getting in the way. Let's not forget that more moving parts, linkage and bearings = more maintenance and expenses down the road.
  • 2 4
 nobody puhleeze you... was agreeing to chillrider199's comment. And yeah you switched channel pretty fast
  • 3 4
 @shuwukong Switched channel pretty fast? I never changed my opinion.
  • 4 1
 There isn't a patent in the way, the horst link patent expired years ago, if Knolly wanted to go tradition 4-bar they would have. The main reason Noel does it is to permit an slack, uninterrupted seat tube. Get the seat up to climb, out the way on descents. If you don't want that, fair enough but I find it a decent geometry feature. Noel specs high quality bearings in his frames designed for the types of loads they will be exposed to. As such, I have actually not changed my bearings in my Knolly when I would almost certainly have had to in previous frames I have owned. The 4X4 linkage also ensures the shock sees no out of plane loads, extending DU bushing life. Also your argument has lost me, started off saying the Knolly was an abortion and now you agree with me the looks arn't so important, by the sounds of it perhaps you should get a Knolly demo in your Diary!!
  • 3 4
 @dugglesthemuddled , It's good to hear they ride ok and are stiff and durable. That does not mean I don't think it's an abortion. I never said "looks aren't the most important", YOU DID! Right after you agreed with me that "Yeh not the prettiest bike for sure, it cant be denied". It's an abortion, No holes in my argument. Just a bunch of Knolly-aid being consumed by rabid fanboys, seeming to have an affect on reading comprehension. You might want to ease back on the sauce. It's possible to have a slack uninterrupted seat-tube without the 4x4 linkage. Shock rate can also be altered without 4x4. Bearings can be indestructible for all I care, doesn't change the fact that there are more of them than necessary. There are plenty of other bikes that don't look gross, have stiff linkage and a fine tuned shock rate. It's possible!
  • 4 4
 ..Youve lost me, I think we have both said now that we prioritize how a bike rides over its aesthetics. And therefore however ugly a bike may be, if it rides well it might be worth a shot. Great.

You clearly hate the looks of the Knolly, fine. But just becuase I like it, it does not make me a "rabid fanboy" or "delusional".

In response to your points:
It's possible to have a slack uninterrupted seat-tube without the 4x4 linkage - yes, with longer seatstays/linkages = more flex
Shock rate can also be altered without 4x4 - But not independantly of wheelpath
Bearings can be indestructible for all I care, doesn't change the fact that there are more of them than necessary.- see previous points, smaller leverage on bearings and other kinematic advantages justify their inclusion.
There are plenty of other bikes that don't look gross, have stiff linkage and a fine tuned shock rate. - agreed, but I'm not trash talking whatever bike it is you ride.
  • 6 6
 That knolly looks like the bike was designed properly at 1st , but when it come to the linkage they let a 5 year old at it with a meccano set , allways looked like a half finished prototype to me
  • 2 2
 @dugglesthemuddled , Shock rate can be altered independently of wheel path, thats exactly what shock links do. It's also possible to have reasonably slack seat-tube with a stiff seat-stay and linkage that won't eat bearings or bushings.
  • 5 1
 Here is mine...

www.pinkbike.com/photo/10907070

Looks are quite subjective. Kind of like a redhead. Either you love em' or hate em'.
  • 8 3
 Worst argument ever.
  • 13 0
 The fisheye did not do that Knolly any favours! It looks like the front wheel lines up about a foot to the left of the rear triangle.
  • 2 0
 Agreed. looked at the photo details and it shows he was shooting with a 15mm lens. Clearly barrel distortion.
  • 15 4
 "Number 2 plate Dave Mcmillan going full enduro, rocking the bottle cage, dropper post, 42t cassette and minimalist chain device, and he looks to be the only guy here with carbon wheels. Specialized's Roval Fattie SL wheels and the Slaughter semi-slick tire help reduce rolling resistance, allowing for a little extra speed out of the corners."

How much specialized pay you to say that? hahaha
  • 4 5
 uh thats a fact?
  • 15 0
 Downduro?
  • 11 0
 Endhill??
  • 14 4
 Looks like something stole Troy's soul
  • 88 2
 Specialized tend to do that.
  • 6 1
 /\ Winner.
  • 2 2
 his hair has that soul-glo. maybe his hair stole it.
  • 4 4
 it's not just his hair, it's his mojo
  • 7 0
 As a process 153 owner who thinks the bikes is absolutely brilliant, id say its one weakness is chain retention, get that guide on Crimmins! at least a top one
  • 2 0
 As an owner of the 153. I agree with you.
  • 2 0
 Funny that neither of them is on the 153DL frame.
  • 2 1
 Interesting that they're on the "old" 2014's. Unfortunately they steepened the hta to 67degrees on the new ones. Loved riding mine for a year, one of the burliest 6" bikes imo.
  • 4 1
 I was also wondering why they didn't go with the green frame. Aren't Aussies love green/yellow colors? lol
  • 3 0
 My 2015 P153 DL is still at a 66.5 HTA. It's printed right on the back of the seat tube.
  • 2 0
 Hmm. Maybe they flubbed on their website. That's good to hear though because the geometry was spot on.
  • 2 0
 I saw the same thing on the website and it scared me as well before I bought the bike. But If you look at numerous reviews they all state "the 66.5 degree HTA".
Then confirmed with dealers and ultimately in the flesh.
  • 2 0
 Rode a 153 all year without a chain guide, but that had nothing to do with the bike or indeed the ones here. Sram's X-Sync system - ring, chain, cassette and derailleur, keep it put. Never lost a chain riding predominantly DH style trails, in the UK and abroad - it's awesome, although the lack of protection from grounding out the ring is an issue on steep, natural terrain...
  • 1 1
 Put my first ride on my 153 DL today in the So Cal mud, derailed the chain twice due to mud...
  • 1 1
 its prolly not just the mud. Are you running 2x10? I love the bike, but have given up on keeping a chain on. I'm asking Santa for a 1x11 set up this holiday season. Hopefully this will help me out.
  • 1 0
 If your running a 2x system you will drop chains for sure. I run a raceface 32 NW with saint clutch rear derail 10 speed and have never dropped a chain in almost a year of hard ridding (coast gravity park, shore, squamish etc).
  • 1 0
 Nope I'm running the X01 1x11
  • 1 0
 The lack of piggyback shock is interesting, especially for DH applications. I wonder why they went that route.
  • 8 0
 Love these features! Gotta love a little bike porn now and again Wink
  • 9 0
 Hill?
  • 2 2
 Hanna?
  • 4 0
 I don't think Brosnan has a shock that's shorter than standard. Seems a normal length and stroke for that bike.
He was running this set up at Cairns earlier this year - flowmountainbike.com/post-all/cairns-dh-pit-tech
  • 2 4
 i think what they meant by it is that it isn't the normal 203mm DH length. but instead the 180mm found on the Evo.
  • 4 4
 Umm they're talking about the rear fork not the front shock
  • 5 0
 rear fork lol !! like this? : www.moredirt.com/bikes/5534.jpg
  • 2 0
 @TFreeman , umm what?
  • 4 1
 @MmmBones that bike is so enduro
  • 7 1
 Interesting that Connor and crimmons are both running an inline shock. (Unless its my eyesight)
  • 3 3
 Crimmins and Connor are both running monarchs...... McMillan is the only one who is running an inline
  • 2 2
 Connors bike looks like a standard spec monarch rt (which i couldnt get quite right on dh stuff onmine) but crimmins one looks like a bigger air can?
  • 8 0
 @The-mnt-life365 He means inline as in non piggy back. The Monarch RT3 Debonair on the kona's and the CC Inline on the Enduro are both inline shocks. Cane Creek just put inline in the name. Confusing I know.
  • 5 0
 Am I the only one who thinks it's strange they're still on 2014 frames...
  • 2 0
 Ya Arnold that is the most confusing thing I've heard all day, but that would make a lot more sense as far as his comment goes
  • 1 1
 Ya, Connor does not have the piggyback, debonair rt3.(no resi)
Therefore, he has an inline shock.
  • 1 1
 Crimmins looks bigger but Fearons looks like a standard rt to ?

and from the pinkbike thunderbolt review looks like the 2015 monarch rt has a bigger aircan
ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb11693958/p5pb11693958.jpg
  • 8 2
 Graves to win, with Clementz in second.
  • 7 0
 brosnan rules.
  • 2 0
 What is this? A dh race or an enduro race without climbing? Does anyone else think if it doesn't need a dh bike then something is wrong? Actually hold on, devils advocacy on myself, dh bikes are mad capable these days (as are enduros), maybe not every course can match their capabilities. So does 'down a hill' define dh racing these days, instead of 'needing a dh bike'?
  • 6 0
 Where is sik mik?
  • 2 0
 I'm no idea riding at You Yang's Dh courses use mid travel bike. It surprise pro riders are just need 160mm travel. My bike is 200mm bike but it's not enough riding on there, also has passed some gaps.
  • 1 1
 Well I suppose you can't blame the bike.
  • 4 0
 What sonicusx said.

.......wait, what did he say?
  • 4 1
 I'd love a vivid air on my Enduro evo... can anyone tell or does anyone know what is needed for that?
  • 3 1
 i'm pretty sure Rockshox came out with some linkage for Trek and Spesh, because they both run jankey ass links, buuut to be safe, contact your LBS or rockshox directly, i'm thinking of getting one on my trek Slash.
  • 1 0
 Much appreciated! I'll get in touch with them to confirm.
  • 2 3
 TFreeman you are misinformed. Neither of those manufacturers made "janky ass-links", they made links that don't work with shocks that have "standard" eyelets. Rock Shox recently began producing Monarchs that are compatible with these Trek and Specialized bikes. Those Vivids must be custom units as I have only seen them on Troy Brosnans 650b Evo and Curtis Keene's 29er Evo. More info : www.bikerumor.com/2014/07/08/rockshox-monarch-and-monarch-plus-evolve-to-include-mounts-for-trek-and-specialized
  • 2 2
 While its ok to ride what ya got especially in the non pro ranks this is not good for the DH side of the sport, either for sponsors pushing how good theyre Enduro bikes are, plus with the competition so high at pro level you need time on your Dh rig at races, praftice is one thing at non races, its not like, the new Demo has actually won anything yet, would have thought that might have been high in the list to start getting some cred under the new model, just not picking on the big S, but it would be high on my priority list, one thing ya dont see the Syndicate team doing, remember 09 Worlds top 3 bikes legit Dh rigs! No Bs trail gimmicks! Just kicking up some dust!
  • 3 0
 I didn't see any new V10s pictured here, so hold on to that argument until you see one here. And just because some racers aren't on a DH bike doesn't discount the brand's DH bike here. It just discounts the venue. No point in riding a heavier, less nimble bike when the course doesn't dictate it. First and foremost- racers want to win and they will select the best product from their sponsor to achieve that. If anything we should be bitching about the venue, not the bikes (which from Specialized have already proven themselves worthy at the highest levels of competition).
  • 2 0
 The Bilt looks like a Knolly 4x4 linkage, but missing the chainstay pivot (?).
  • 1 0
 Both have long links that drive another link that compresses the shock, but it's a single pivot swing arm, so it doesn't have a Horst link and the link that drives the link that compresses the shock. Both have a very slack seat-tubes that join far away from the BB on the down-tube. So, sure, sort-of.
  • 3 1
 What is wrong with that knolly podium? Is it broken or is the rear arm really that long?
  • 1 0
 Photo details shows he shot the picture with a 15mm ultra wide lens. At that focal length you get a lot of barrel distortion.
  • 1 0
 Yeah at the other end it looks like a 70° ha. ha. ha ha.
  • 3 0
 Troy running ht pedals?
  • 1 0
 Yeah. I noticed that too. Looks like he's off the Mallets.
  • 3 0
 Trek?
  • 2 0
 Did notice Bronsan seems tl be running the new HT clipless?
  • 2 0
 One stage enduro race wirthout transfer
  • 1 0
 Troy looks like the Elephant Man in the big pix, lol
  • 2 0
 im digging the enduro dh
  • 3 0
 I'm digging you.
  • 3 2
 Downhill race with enduro bikes??? That sucks
  • 1 0
 Troy Brosnan looks like Syndrome from the Incredibles..
  • 1 2
 Why are guys like brosnan and ropleto running enduros, especially when they just got a new demo?
  • 5 0
 I understand the point you are trying to make, but it all comes down to which tool is best for the job. Plus that Enduro with the Dual Crown fork is a new addition to their lineup as well.
  • 1 1
 Yeah I get that, I was just curious because I instantly think of that.
  • 2 1
 Sometimes less is more. If the rider feels faster or more comfortable, it's often looked at as an advantage.
  • 1 2
 Today's 'enduro' bikes are rendering most DH bikes obsolete for all but the burliest terrain - awesome geo, suspension and the weight alone makes them highly competitive on tracks that don't warrant a big DH bike that only slows down when the terrain is less than aggressive...







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