Red Bull Rampage 2014: James Doerfling's Knolly Podium
BIKE CHECK ~ DOERFLING'S KNOLLY PODIUM
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THE SPORTSMAN'S EDITION
IMAGES: Colin Meagher
Canadian James Doerfling's Knolly Podium appears to be painted with a camo scheme at a distance, but up close, the TIG-welded aluminum chassis is appliqued with a stunning wilderness wrap - reminiscent of the technique once used by the likes of Cannondale to illustrate their frames with topographical maps, where a photographic emulsion is floated on top of a tank full of water and the frame is lifted up from below. Doerfling's SR Suntour RUX fork is also styled out in a matching graphic. "Sun's out, guns out, " is inscribed on the right chainstay - hopefully an omen that will have some sway over the weather, as thunderstorms are predicted for both Saturday and Sunday when the contest is scheduled.
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 Knolly's 4 by 4 linkage drives a Cane Creek Double Barrel shock. The bike's mountain and forest theme suggests that Doerfling may have mail-ordered his Knolly from the Cabella catalog. |
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| Doerfling's SR Suntour Rux fork carries the "Werx" anodized mark on the stanchion tubes. SR Suntour has been at every Red Bull Rampage. James has about one centimeter of his stanchions raised above the fork crown, although looking at the side view of the bike, it had little effect - that head angle is slaaaack. Doerfling's 8Bit Handlebar, Digital Feather saddle and 8Bit stem are Joystick items. Brakes are Hope Tech 3 levers squeezing V4 calipers. |
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| Doerfling runs a Shimano Saint rear mech' powered by an inexpensive SLX shifter. The crankset is an e-Thirteen LG1 with a Guide Ring and the chainguide is also an e-Thirteen item. Pedals are by HT. Wheels are Novatec Demon on both ends, mounted to 2.4-inch Onza Citius tires. A better look at Knolly's 4 By 4 suspension linkage illustrates that any flex that might be generated by lateral forces from the rear wheel are checked by the large rocker link that picks up the seat stays close to the tire. Parallel bars transfer wheel movement to the shock. |
Check out all of our images from the Red Bull Rampage 2014 here.
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I'm a big fan of Aggy and I want him to participate in finals, but do you guys realize that to let Aggy in, someone should be let out? And this will be a guy that won his place with his performance. This is completely disrespectful for the riders that won their places and completely disrespectful for the sport at all. I want threre to be a second runs and Aggy to earn his place to finals, but rules are rules for everyone.
I believe this pre-quali is also disrespectful and I hope for the next year this stupid thing will be missed out. Invite riders and give them equal start next year. It's been told that pre-qualifiers needs to have more lines or more tricks in the bag to have a chance of winning the Rampage and they must do twice more runs which is just not right. Hopefully organizers will take a mark.