Brendan Fairclough's Scott Gambler - London Bike Show
It wasn't that long ago that PB did a bike check on Brendan Fairclough's Scott Gambler. He was at the show for the Pumptrack Challenge and lending a helping hand on the Scott Sports booth. I took the chance to catch up with him since he has just returned from North Carolina where he was testing with Neko Mulally. They managed to knock out 53 timed runs on the same 2-minute track over a few days. Keeping most of the variables the same, they focused on not only tweaking the adjustable geometry of the Gambler, but also on the suspension set-up of his new FOX air shock. These are his latest settings and likely how it will ride when he turns up at Lourdes for the first round of the World Cup in eight weeks.
His set-up is pretty standard on the whole, he runs a Large size frame, FOX Suspension, Schwalbe tyres DT Swiss Wheels, Shimano Saint drivetrain and Syncros finishing kit. The carbon Syncros handlebar width is 780mm, paired with a 50mm Syncros stem. The Saint cranks have a 36 tooth chainring and a custom 7-speed Shimano block. Rubber wise he is currently using a 2.35", Super Gravity VertStar compound Dirty Dan on the front pumped up to 23psi and trimmed down. On the rear he's using a 2.35" First Ride (First Ride is Schwalbe's racing development program) Magic Mary with a Procore system, 80psi in the core and 26psi in main chamber of the tire using the new 2 in 1 valve stem. I asked why he didn't run lower pressure (one of the main features of the Procore) - he said he didn't like the feel of the tire squirming at lower pressures especially on high speed corners.
His FOX 40 has 2016 graphics, and I'm sure there will be some special arrangements inside the fork. He has stopped using the offset crowns and runs the stock, 63 degree head angle and the shock in the lower position. Recently he has changed the chainstay to the 450mm, 'Long' setting which he says make his whips look 15% bigger. I think it's the same principle as drifting cars; Volvo station wagons look better sideways than a Mini, and a Sprinter van with the back end out is a joy to behold. As well as improved whip stance, he can get more weight on the front wheel for grip, which makes sense as going longer on the chainstay will center his weight more between the wheels and moving the front wheel in towards him will make naturally put more weight on front.
The Gambler has a more linear shock rate this year compared to previous incarnations to make the bike easier to set up and gives a more forgiving ride when things start to get aggro.The polished linkage looks slightly different than the standard black anodized rockers, possibly to create a more progressive rate to match Brendan's hard hitting riding style and his way above average riding speed. If you think you need a more progressive linkage just to be like Bren, you don't.
Suspension wise he has this new FOX air can, and I'll hazard a guess that this is getting closer to a production unit now its appearing on more riders steeds. Bren sets the shock's sag at 19% on a flat surface in riding position fully kitted up. He doesn't measure the sag of the fork as his off-the-back riding style means that they basically don't sag when he's on the flat, and instead sets them up using feel and and the o-ring to check how much travel is being used. Currently at 79psi, -9 clicks of rebound, -10 clicks of high speed compression and no comment on LSC. As for shock settings he wouldn't let on anything except that it's rad, and he has been trying different variations of volume spacers inside to achieve the feeling he's after.
Of course he using his own signature Brendog DMR Vaults, although he said he might be clipping-in for a couple of pedally races this year. Other interesting facts include that he prefers the bigger 27.5" wheels compared to the old Gambler, but has never rode a 29er in his life. It has been 3 years since he was selected for the British World Champs Downhill squad and is hoping this will be the year he makes it back on to the team. He also mentioned that he never quite got over the day I overtook him on the final straight of the MegaAvalanche a few years ago...
All images courtesy of Aldridge Photographics
MENTIONS @SCOTT-Sports @foxracingshox @schwalbe @dmrbikes
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His set-up is pretty standard on the whole, he runs a Large size frame, FOX Suspension, Schwalbe tyres DT Swiss Wheels, Shimano Saint drivetrain and Syncros finishing kit. The carbon Syncros handlebar width is 780mm, paired with a 50mm Syncros stem. The Saint cranks have a 36 tooth chainring and a custom 7-speed Shimano block. Rubber wise he is currently using a 2.35", Super Gravity VertStar compound Dirty Dan on the front pumped up to 23psi and trimmed down. On the rear he's using a 2.35" First Ride (First Ride is Schwalbe's racing development program) Magic Mary with a Procore system, 80psi in the core and 26psi in main chamber of the tire using the new 2 in 1 valve stem. I asked why he didn't run lower pressure (one of the main features of the Procore) - he said he didn't like the feel of the tire squirming at lower pressures especially on high speed corners.
 |
His FOX 40 has 2016 graphics, and I'm sure there will be some special arrangements inside the fork. He has stopped using the offset crowns and runs the stock, 63 degree head angle and the shock in the lower position. Recently he has changed the chainstay to the 450mm, 'Long' setting which he says make his whips look 15% bigger. I think it's the same principle as drifting cars; Volvo station wagons look better sideways than a Mini, and a Sprinter van with the back end out is a joy to behold. As well as improved whip stance, he can get more weight on the front wheel for grip, which makes sense as going longer on the chainstay will center his weight more between the wheels and moving the front wheel in towards him will make naturally put more weight on front.
 |
The Gambler has a more linear shock rate this year compared to previous incarnations to make the bike easier to set up and gives a more forgiving ride when things start to get aggro.The polished linkage looks slightly different than the standard black anodized rockers, possibly to create a more progressive rate to match Brendan's hard hitting riding style and his way above average riding speed. If you think you need a more progressive linkage just to be like Bren, you don't.
 |
Suspension wise he has this new FOX air can, and I'll hazard a guess that this is getting closer to a production unit now its appearing on more riders steeds. Bren sets the shock's sag at 19% on a flat surface in riding position fully kitted up. He doesn't measure the sag of the fork as his off-the-back riding style means that they basically don't sag when he's on the flat, and instead sets them up using feel and and the o-ring to check how much travel is being used. Currently at 79psi, -9 clicks of rebound, -10 clicks of high speed compression and no comment on LSC. As for shock settings he wouldn't let on anything except that it's rad, and he has been trying different variations of volume spacers inside to achieve the feeling he's after.
 |
Of course he using his own signature Brendog DMR Vaults, although he said he might be clipping-in for a couple of pedally races this year. Other interesting facts include that he prefers the bigger 27.5" wheels compared to the old Gambler, but has never rode a 29er in his life. It has been 3 years since he was selected for the British World Champs Downhill squad and is hoping this will be the year he makes it back on to the team. He also mentioned that he never quite got over the day I overtook him on the final straight of the MegaAvalanche a few years ago...
All images courtesy of Aldridge Photographics
MENTIONS @SCOTT-Sports @foxracingshox @schwalbe @dmrbikes
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‘The carbon Syncros handlebar width is 780mm, paired with a 50mm Syncros stem.'
Tire pressure is one of those things that you need a certain amount of to get the right ride feel and traction/speed balance you want.
It's for saving you from pinch flats.
P.S. I get it from Kaufbundesstadt at a very fair price
Those polished linkages + the fluro paint job looked great.
That's all I can do.
While it doesn't have more pivot points than a lot of other designs, I think people may be tripping over the fact that the links are external to the rear triangle, giving the appearance of extra baggage. It's not more complicated, but I wonder if this design brings a small weight penalty?
I am guessing sarcastic because you don't care that much about brake jack (you have said before), and the valving on that shock will prevent too much bobbing on the peddly parts, but I have been wrong before.