Cody Kelley is making the switch from 27.5 to 29 this weekend - moving from his trusty SB6C to an SB5.5C.
This may not look too exciting, but this is one of the sweetest Shimano Di2 installs we have ever seen. Yeti mechanic, Shaun Hughes, got one of the guys at the factory to make him a plug for the headtube to store the battery there. Just behind it is a junction box, epoxy'd into the frame, so when he whips the fork out he can simply unplug it at the junction, rather than having to deal with the whole cable each time.
Before parking up here, all the teams have had to sign some pretty strict guidelines to help keep the bears away from the pits this weekend.
Miranda Miller is joining the SRAM Eagle program this weekend...
And she is more than happy to get stuck in with her bike setup.
Curtis Keene is keeping his Vivid coil strapped on for Colorado.
While Nico Vouilloz may be out ill, his mechanic Mat Gallean is here with the team and sporting this prototype rear tire from Michelin. He says it will be called the GripR and the profile is different from many intermediate tires in that there is a pronounced channel between the center and the sides, which should help the rider know where on the tire they are riding.
Maxxis deliveries were arriving for a number of teams in the pits. At Santa Cruz, the boys received these largely unbranded DHFs in the Double Down casing, with Aggressors to match for the rear.
Mark Scott makes the switch - he is also running a new, barely branded aluminum rim from SRAM that has a noticeably wider inner profile than their current models.
Iago Garay has always run large bikes, but for his 29" Hightower he has recently dropped down a size to a medium, saying he felt more comfortable on the slightly smaller frame.
Canyon team manager, Flo Goral, has his shopping game on point here in Aspen.
Joe Barnes has one of the neatest tire plug solutions we have seen so far strapped to his top tube.
If you look closely at the knuckle on Yoann Barelli's right hand you can see the mark the Megavalanche left. He says the bone is good, so it should be ok to race, but pointing in a straight line is no longer as easy as it once was.
Mckay Vezina is another rider rocking the coil shock for this weekend. After a solid showing last time out in La Thuile, he could be one to watch this weekend.
Josh Carlson's wheels get one last check before practice.
While X-Fusion may not come to these races often, they have their pit setup pretty dialed.
Ibis team manager, Mary Moncorge, turned her hand to being team wrench today, prepping the team's bikes as their mechanic doesn't arrive until closer to the weekend.
To Eagle or not to Eagle? Yoann's face tells you his decision.
Alex Cure managed to put 20 stitches in his arm while riding before this race. He's tough, so we doubt it will slow him down too much.
Alex is also another one of the riders opting for larger wheels this weekend - although his teammates are staying on the smaller wheels.
I am sure she would release the trigger from the reaction and it will only make a mess of her hair. Now if it was a drill press, then it would be of concern for a real injury. In this case though, they will only laugh at her when someone is helping her cut her hair from the drill.
While I agree with the safety around power tools gist of this....its a battery drill. And if she knows what shes doing its gonna be set to pretty low rpm. Which means even if her hair does get snagged, it would take literally 5 minutes of continuous trigger holding before she was in any danger whatsoever.
Im more concerned about the ton of swarf she is about to produce directly above her fork seals....
@gabriel-mission9: that drill is powerful enough to drive a lag screw into a 2x4 with no pre drilling and hits about 3000 rpm on the drill tip so yeah; good bye pony tail
@toddball: it was only a chunk outta the side of my head. I got off lucky I imagine if I caught more hair it could have been worse it more scared the shit outta me when my head suddenly jerk ed and smacked of the side of the drill
@FireBallDHR: I wouldnt be hitting 3000rpm drilling whats she's drilling. I know the drill is plenty powerful, and I know she could accidentally squeeze the trigger or whatever if her hair got stuck. I'm just saying at the speeds id be drilling that, I wouldnt be too concerned about shit going wrong quickly.
For a bunch of so-called HUCK YER MEAT!!! dudes, we sure are quick sound the Shop Teacher safety alarm bc a woman's (who obviously knows what she's doing) ponytail is somewhat close to a slow-moving drill. Kinda odd, don't you think?
@mhoshal: Haha sounds like yours was worse than mine; I just lost a patch of hair around 3x4 cm off the top of my head. Stung pretty bad and sunburned, and being the bald kid in junior high was fun.
@knarrr: It's different. If you grew up using power tools, a cordless drill is nothing to be afraid of. It almost seems that because she is a woman, the men are suddenly Joe Safety up in here. Give her a break. It's ok to take a calculated minor risk. Mash that down arrow, IDK.
Need a warning on that photo of Mark Scott not lining the Maxxis decal up with the valve stem, wasn't expecting to see such filth on a safe for work site.
Everything I read about dropper posts suggests that you shouldn't lift the bike via the saddle, but every pit lane that's ever pictured shows bikes being hung from the seat. Is this mis-information, or do the race team mechanics simply not care ?
Specifically this relates to the Reverb, and a few others, when the seat is below max extension. Can damage the IFP. Also a good reason to raise the seat all the way before putting it on a chairlift or shuttle.
I think it can be an issue if the post is not extended when you pick it up by the saddle. Manually pulling on the stanchion when it's not against a stop can cause cavitation- air can mix in with the hydraulic oil.
Everyone who said you can lift it by the saddle when it's fully extended is correct. The reason being that when the post is fully extended it runs into a mechanical stop, the post can psychically go no further, so it holds the weight just fine without relying on the stopping mech to hold the weight. If it's not in full extension and you're relying on the stopping mech to support the weight that's where you run into problems
And in which position should I keep the dropper for bike storage? I usually ride only during weekends... I leave my reverb fully extended, as it seems to be the less demanding position for it.
So where are all of the 27.5+ bikes? The market has exploded with almost every manufacturing offering one, and people proclaiming their awesome traction and downhill capability. I'm guessing teams have tested plus bikes, anyone have any first hand knowledge?
they flat too easily for EWS riders. same goes for wide rims. Basically needs an improvement in tire technology. The market is also there for slower riders and less aggressive terrain
Multiple reasons. They flat easy, they run low pressures and as a result have that vauge and floppy feeling while cornering which ultimately negates the traction benefit, since it's not as confidence inspiring and folding sidewalls will compromise traction outside of theory. They weigh more for similar sidewalls, or they have weak sidewalls, and fold over too easy. Ultimately, a beefy 'standard' tire performs better for guys at the limit.
@atrokz: Tried them last weekend for the first time on a Mojo 3 and that sums up my thoughts very closely. I also thought the bouncy feeling of the tires really muted suspension settings; awkward feeling and unbalanced.
^ my impressions as well. Fun in the rocks and roots, but start to lean on them as hard as you can and it feels like you're riding a nearly flat tire. No go for me, but can see how some people would like them.
Racers test in the off season with their sponsors on specific things like tires and suspension set ups. Once they nail down a few set ups they stick with it for the season.
From talking to one team insider the + tires were not an option when they did testing so riders are sticking to what they know at this point. Expect to see more of them testing the stuff after this season ends and we'll likely see it next season.
@mikericci: ENVE is coming with a wide rim and then once all of the Santa Cruz guys start riding plus bikes and they get tires they feel comfortable on, you will see them everywhere.
I just did a week at Trestle in CO on my B+ set up and had no problems with the wheel choice.
@atrokz: .. I suppose anything is possible ... but i wouldn't think the market for plus size bikes is racing. Even with wider rims, But then again I had initially thought that the whole 12 sdp Eagle as a hoax ... I am just glad I didn't wager that i would eat the cassette.
@atrokz: When I received my Hightower, I was told that over 40% of these bikes being sold by Santa Cruz were sent with plus sized wheels. Also, I agree, I don't think the DH guys will be riding them, but as cmcrawfo said he would eat some tires when he seems them in the EWS, I will go the other way and bet that Santa Cruz puts out videos this winter of both the Hightower and Tallboy with B+ wheels under Rat, Greg, Peaty and Iago...They are coming...free your mind boys.
Please don't show another shot of Rude's Yeti. I already want all these bikes... but looking at his makes me have to face the reality that even with that bike, I'd be slow and style-free.
Riders making the jump to Sram 12 sp Eagle. Lets see , if your sponsored by Sram and want to stay on the free stuff sponsor train your making the switch.
@von-rumford: it's a tubeless tire plug in a pen lid. I was looking at mine the other day think how can I have that on my bike and not stab me and well cheers Joe
I recently had a chance to demo a Yeti 5.5 on some of my local trails. It's a ripper. Stiff in a good way with excellent power transfer and a plush rear end that works very well. The bike handles great too and the out of the box spec is race ready. I was impressed and it helped me understand the allure of Yeti a bit better. Will it help Cody Kelly on the pedally Aspen courses? We will soon find out!
maxxis making dh casing for 29er minions.... how long before we see the first 29er dh bikes on the WC?. wasn't there a 29er fox 40 prototype somewhere?
Eagle drive trains , 29 inch wheels. Oh yeah these sponsored riders are so happy to have this new stuff! Yes sir! Cut the b.s. They are smiling for the $.
OK, I'm going to say it, and this will probably become the most down voted post in PB history but here goes... I just don't give a crap reading about Enduro racing. Actually out on my Enduro bike riding? Love it (it's really just "riding" after all). Am I glad it's there? 'Course I am as it's pushing the technological advancements in mtb'ing that we get to ride (more down vote fodder right there), but I just don't get any excitement reading about it or watching it like I do with DH racing (when Redbull TV lets me watch it). So there you go, that's that off my chest.
No worries, bigtim.
PB and anyone else who covers mountain biking, I love reading about enduro racing. I love watching the posted vids. Please keep the coverage coming, all of it. Pit bits, little clips, team vids, privateer coverage, interviews with the factory riders and teams, it raises my own stoke level and keeps me inspired to push hard after 30 years of riding and racing! Thank you for sharing all the content!
C'mon Mary, give us a suckle?
Stop bein' a bunch of egotard hero complex fvck bags, she obviously knows more about a cordless drill than any of you dumb shits.
From talking to one team insider the + tires were not an option when they did testing so riders are sticking to what they know at this point. Expect to see more of them testing the stuff after this season ends and we'll likely see it next season.
Makes sense to me.
I just did a week at Trestle in CO on my B+ set up and had no problems with the wheel choice.
SOMEBODY EAT SOME TIRES !!!!!
Was very proud to hear, that he really likes it.
You may also check for more picutres on his facebook.
Oh yeah these sponsored riders are so happy to have this new stuff!
Yes sir!
Cut the b.s.
They are smiling for the $.