Having already taken delivery of their new bikes a few weeks back, both Loic Bruni and Loris Vergier arrived in California with a good sense of what the Demo was capable of and how it related to their previous winning rides at Lapierre. Testing both stock setups as well as the modified frame used by Troy Brosnan and Aaron Gwin to give the suspension a different rate, both riders had already weighed in with their own preferences to the Specialized engineers. Most notably on suspension suspension characteristics and handling.
Before continuing I must first clear up one common misconception, the idea that if one rider makes a change to a "stock" design that there must be something inherently wrong with that design. In reality this could not be further from the truth. What works for one rider, especially at the sharp end of the sport, may not work for another. Or may just not work as well. And when you are chasing fractions of seconds there really is no room to compromise on anything. Even if the concept doesn't work out in the end, any rider looking to eek the most performance out of a product will at least give it a try during test sessions. Again, without going into too much specific detail, that is what went down here in California.
Loic and his mechanic Jack Roure have long worked with on-board telemetry to quantify and analyze what the suspension is doing, and to see changes as data rather than simply as a "feeling." With this approach in mind, the first order of the day was for Loic to get up to speed on a new trail using his current settings. That way all changes made through the day could be compared back to this baseline with a clear picture of how feel and performance intertwine. It is a system that works for Loic and has evolved over the years through his relationship with Jack, and while available to other riders on the team, you will see later that it isn't the only way to set up the bikes.
The first change of the day came when Specialized's head of suspension development, Brad Benedict, showed up with a shiny new link fresh off the CNC machine.
Even more exceptional was that the concept for this link was drawn up in a meeting with the team earlier in the visit and within hours it was designed, machined in house, hand delivered to the testing site and being ridden on dirt by a World Champ. Where some riders may wait weeks to get their hands on prototypes parts to test a concept, the team at Specialized is able to make it a reality, quite literally, on the spot. If that is not a commitment to racing and development, I'm not sure what is.
What was the result? We can't tell you in words, but all the data needed is right there on Jack's computer screen.
While Loic is much more reliant on the telemetry to set up his bike, Loris Vergier still prefers to go by feel. Again I must emphasize there is not one right or wrong way, just different approaches as a means to the same end. Where Loic might be confident on a bike that might not "feel" the best but has been set up using the telemetry info, Loris knows he rides fastest when he feels the best on his bike. At the end of the day it comes down to what gives the rider the most confidence and the least to worry about or question.
With only one link to share, Loris gets his chance to see how it performs once Loic has finished putting it through the paces. While Loic runs a coil spring, Loris has found that the airspring and likely its more progressive spring rate to be preferable on his Demo. Also of note is that Loic and Loris always go back to their base settings to close the session in order to fully understand the changes made. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not.
What's that? You say you'd like to see how a bike performs with a different flex characteristic on the back end? One (or is that two) chopped chainstay coming right up. While possibly not ideal for all tracks and riding styles, if there were to be a time and a place for such a modification now the team has some data to back it up. This is not something you'd likely see being tried for the first time in the middle of the season, but in off-season test sessions it's just one of the many many stones not left unturned.
The majority of your race career has been spent aboard a Lapierre – are you nervous about making the switch to a different bike? How much time did you spend aboard a Demo before deciding that it was the right one?
Loris: The Demo has already been proven that it is up to the task by Gwin and Troy. I know if you have the skills then you can find the speed on this bike so it was not stressful to switch.
Finn: Honestly I'm not too nervous about switching bikes and since I've been on a new frame for the past four seasons it isn't really a nerve-wracking thing. I've ridden three days on the Demo and by the third day I really started to feel at home on it. With two weeks of testing and riding coming up I'll be dialed in no time.
How many years is the contract with Specialized for?
Laurent Delorme (Team Owner) : Loic is under contract with PureAgency for the next 3 seasons, and PureAgency is under contract with Specialized also for the next 3 seasons. It was important for us to work on this period, that way we will have time to share our ideas and and put our heads together for the whole project in terms of development.
Loris: Just one year... For the moment.
Finn: I am signed for the next two seasons to race the World Cup season as a Junior.
Last year both Aaron Gwin and Troy Brosnan rode on modified versions of the Demo that were basically custom tailored to suit their needs. How much involvement will there be between the team and Specialized's designers and engineers?
Loic: I am always looking to improve, it's almost a constant process, but what was good for Troy and Aaron isn't necessarily good for me and my style. I have already tried their frame and tested different variations. I'm trying some changes and we are all working hard to find free speed. We have a little bit of time too since testing began early in the winter, and we are in constant contact with the engineers which is awesome. It's the beginning so we are learning from each other's point of view and It's definitely going on the right way. They push hard on their side for us which gives us the confidence we need to ride at 100%.
Communication and teamwork is key when it comes to exploiting any and every advantage, and all adjustments and test runs are both cataloged on Jacks computer as well as in a journal by Loic and Loris. What this does is allow riders, mechanics, and engineers an ability to "look back" at previous settings of both this current bike and the Lapierre that Loic and Loris are coming off of. So if there was a setting that felt perfect at Mont Saint Anne in 2015, the team will be able to compare the computer data and riders feedback from that setup to what the are seeing in 2016 and adjust accordingly. Less guesswork and less time to reach that optimal setup mean more time training on track with a bike tuned to perfection.
DAY TWO:
THE WIN TUNNEL
Likely the first thing that pops into most people's minds when they see a photo of DH bikes in a wind tunnel is that it is just plain silly or irrelevant. Or they fear DH might go "backwards" to the days of skin suits and peakless visors. But rest assured, in thinking that you'd be wrong on both accounts. While Specialized's own moniker of "Aero Is Everything" may not translate directly to DH racing, aero is still "Something". A very, very, very, big something.
If you could find a simple and easy change that would save you 0.10 seconds a kilometer on a track like Fort William or Mont Saint Anne you would most certainly take it, and if you really need any more convincing that aerodynamics matter, just take a moment to recall these three examples.
1. Neko Mullaly at World Champs in 2014
2. Loic Bruni at MSA in 2015
3. Aaron Gwin at Leogang in 2015
Etienne Warner - Senior Mountain Bike Engineer, Jason Chamberlain - Principal Engineer-Creative Specialist, and Cam Piper - Aerodynamics R&D Technician, join the riders and staff of Team Specialized Gravity for a day of intricate and detailed tests in Specialized's in house Win Tunnel
It was mentioned that another company offered more money to sign the team, but in the end the decision was made to go with Specialized. What was the reasoning behind this choice?
Laurent: It was a totally different type of project. We were supposed to be included in the whole project, but everything would have been defined for us, and it was really hard to be sure that all of our input and feedback would been truly valued and validated. Loic wanted to keep the same staff, with same possibility to work with his personal partners like 100% and One Industries, and it was also hard to find the good option matching with all the needs of this partner. We have a long time relationship in the team and with some sponsors, it was long and hard to create that, it is truly something special and we absolutely wanted to keep that. With Specialized this was all possible so the choice became obvious.
Loic: At the end of the day, these choices are always tough, but Laurent really involved all of us into the decision making and I chose the brand that made me dream. I was like a little kid, it's just insane!
Loris: For me it was easier because some negative points were involved with the other brand, not so much on the product but in the team structure. On the other hand Specialized was a respected brand and their bikes were already on the top step of the podium and we were able to retain the same structure within in the team so it really was all positive.
How particular are you about bike setup? Some riders are known for being incredibly particular and even superstitious, while others seem to be less concerned with their equipment. How do you see yourself in this regard?
Loic: I used to be not so picky on my bike, but year after year working with Jack I really got interested in how you can play with the settings and how helpful it can be to know what you can do on your bike. Now I'm quite difficult on the settings cause having such a big structure behind me made me a princess, haha. But I've come to know through experience when the bike corresponds to my expectations and if I can push or not with it. Telemetry helps also to understand the bike and improve it. In my head you can be really fast with "any" bike, but to win you have to have the bike set up perfectly.
Loris: I see myself right in the middle. My bike is special to ride because my suspension setup doesn't always correspond to everyone else's styles, but at the same time not really exceptional. Just my brakes angle is quite different to the others, they are almost flat.
Finn: I'm not super particular. I just know by feeling when a bike is set up in a way that is the best for me.
Due to the massive expense of building an in house Win Tunnel, as well as the unique exclusivity for the riders to even be able to test in such an environment, sharing of the different variables tested and the results are strictly forbidden. That said, I can assure the doubters that gains indeed were made, some so unbelievable simple and profound that you likely wouldn't believe me even if I did tell you. Just more info to add to the little black book of knowledge, that combined as a total package with product and suspension testing will get the team one step closer to their elusive goal.
Also of note, and likely to everyone's relief, no tests were made with skin suits, modified jerseys, or peakless visors. All gains were made in existing kits that looks exactly the same as the kit we've all come to love for DH.
DAY THREE:
THE GRAND TOUR
One the team's final day in Morgan Hill they were finally joined by the third member of the team, Finn Iles, who had been delayed due to finishing up his mid-term exams back in Whistler. Lucky for him, the collaborative nature of the team means that everything learned by Loic and Loris will be passed alone despite his absence. And with another week of testing on the docket in Southern California he'll have plenty of time put different variables through their paces.
With the gang all assembled and in the same place at the same time since last August, it was time to finally take the grande tour of the truly living and breathing headquarters of Specialized. No cameras allowed, but if you close your eyes and picture Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory for bikes you'll have a pretty good idea of what we saw.
Despite missing a bit of school to make the trip, it didn't mean Finn Iles got to cut any classes. Up first was a history lesson and Shaun Palmer's 1997 World Champs bike. A bike ridden by the legend himself two years before Finn was even born.
Social media photos leaked over the previous days let everyone at Specialized know the team was in the area, and everywhere they went employees and race fans were on the look out for photo ops and autographs. If there was any doubt in the riders mind as to the level of commitment to their cause by the brand and its employees, one lap of the lobby and lunch room was really all it took to put their minds at ease.
Confident, energetic, and most of all humble at just 16 years old, Finn Iles knows he has an incredible opportunity laid out in front of him. The look on his face as he walked through the doors at Specialized for the first time says it all.
Champions don't become champions by sitting around, and even on this "off" day the crew made time for a rigorous gym session made up of interval training both on and off the bike, as well free weights and stretching. Countless hours spent exploiting all the benefits of the bike and your equipment are all irrelevant if you neglect the the hours of physical hard work to tune the body. To make things even easier, Specialized has a full service gym on site for employees and visiting athletes.
What does a typical week of off-season training look like for Loic Bruni?
Loic: Generally some school or currently my internship at 100% in San Diego. Then gym sessions, BMX track, intervals and I try to ride at least ride my downhill bike once a week. Diet is important too but I get one day relaxed on the food so i can eat the sh*t I love.
Many DH racers cross-train on motos – is that the case for you as well? What other sports/activities do you do when you're not on the bike?
Loic: Yeah I ride a little bit of moto but I'm not really good. But you can feel that it's good training, holding to the bar and going fast into jumps. I wouldn't have been able to be pro in moto, not like Aaron or Blenky. Basically I only do things with two wheels, I hate running and swimming, because I can't do it properly! Though I do like paddle boarding in the summer and relaxing on the beach.
Loris: Yes, moto is a cool to ride and a good thing for training but I actually don't do anything particular apart from BMX, moto, DH, road cycling and gym. Just a good balance to keep things interesting. And also going to University full time.
Finn: I don't own a motocross so I don't use it as cross training, and since I live in Whistler the motocross tracks near my house is closed all winter long anyway. I mostly ski during the winter and I also really enjoy ping pong. (editor's note: Finn will crush you at ping pong)
How many times a week do you typically ride? What style of riding makes up the majority of your training (DH, trail, road, etc..)
Loic: I ride a bike at least two days a week. Like I said, BMX quite a lot, especially at home where the BMX track is really close from my house. Then not much XC, some enduro when a good crew is going, and some downhill. But I definitely need to ride more DH, I feel that I'm not riding enough and that's why going to New Zealand is amazing for me. I ride and train everyday on the DH bike, and am looking forward to heading there once again in March.
Loris: I don't ride a lot on a downhill bike in the off season so most of the time I go to the gym and to the BMX track.
Finn: I'm still In school so most of the time I can only ride twice a week but I try to ride when ever I can. I mostly ride trail bikes and some DH during the off season.
The Specialized Gravity Team, which consists of you, Loris Vergier, and Finn Iles, is a separate entity from the Specialized Factory Racing team that Troy Brosnan is on. Do you have an idea how this will work out at the races? Will there be two separate pit areas, or will there be a shared space?
Loic: There will be two different pits on the races, we are part of the same family but living in two different houses. Troy will stay in the Specialized Factory pits, but we now see one another as team mates I think and it's gonna be cool. I've been battling with Troy since the beginning in Junior and we are friends I'd say. Not really close ones because I've never spent a lot of time with him, but from not speaking English while battling in juniors without saying a word to him, we got along well. I have a lot of respect for him, he is cool and a incredibly fast rider and think it will be easier now to do some laps together... But I'm sure we both still want to kick each other's ass in the race though, haha.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Word Cup Season (racing begins on April 9th in Lourdes, France), what race are you most excited for? Is there any course on the schedule that you don't particularly enjoy?
Loic: Of course the opening round will be a great one as it is in France and I like the track. But my favorite trip is going over seas to Canada for MSA, so yeah, I'd say I'm excited a bit more for that one. I enjoy every race, maybe not too much the ones in the rain but these are the rules, and you can't control the weather.
Finn: I'm really looking forward to Valnord since I've never been there. So far, of the few tracks I have ridden I've enjoyed them all, so I don't really know which tracks I won't like just yet.
And with a quick session on the pump track on the way out the door, the crew jumped in their new team truck and headed south to San Diego for another week of product testing and sponsor visits.
They got the wind tunnel from NASA after they sued them for unauthorized and excessive usage of "Brain" technology. Westboro Baptist Church will never get in such trouble
@EnduroriderPL "unnecessarily big pictures" ? its a 'Pinkbike photo epic' article. High quality photography demands this layout. This isn't f*cking instagram.
I can see why Gwin left. Specialized: So we'd like to start wind tunnel testing, what do you think? Gwin: Um I won a race last year without a chain maybe that money would be better invested in rider salary.
I've always thought, especially after that race, why not train without a chain doing laps on a short DH track. You can't always make up time by pedaling if you make a mistake but learning how to pump the bike over terrain can really save a few ticks.
Why is everyone acting like they just recently built this wind tunnel? The novelty isn't that it exists it's that they are using it for DH bikes. They've used it for road bikes for years.
@bartdm yup there's still pics of Gwin on the wall and no ones trying to hide them. There is also a room dedicated to Sam Hill right as you walk through the front door. Nothing but respect for Specialized for the riders who helped put them on the map, regardless of current team affiliations.
I'm really sorry for you Dave... such a great material and the reception is a load of complete crap from the people, just because it's the "evil Specialized". Fkless and rideless morons with scape goat complex.
It would be much more useful use of a wind tunnel session if the suspension was in the same position it is while riding downhill. The front end will be much lower of course. Not a big deal on road or TT bikes (which is where this no doubt sees most of its use), but not an ideal test setup for DH.
@davetrump I can imagine it is so! I have respect for all good (and not only) riders and specialized had lot of them. was just a joke about hiding Gwin´s pictures.
Jackson - the wind is parallel to the direction the rider is moving, which means there's no need to make special adjustments to the suspension position to get a reasonable measurement.
The air resistance mostly comes from the speed of the rider moving through the air (up to 40, 50 mph on typical world cup tracks), not the air blowing around the mountain (10-20 mph if its gusty).
The whole Aaron Gwin NO CHAIN thing. The real question is whether or not he meant to have his chain break in that race? Maybe he did testing and knew he could go faster (at that race) with no chain? When Troy Brosnan went to chat with Aaron right after he crossed the finish line at the race Aaron said "the suspension works great without a chain". It did impress everyone and he did sign for more money.
@davetrump it was a joke. I'm sure Aaron and many DH racers before him have spent plenty of time in the tunnel. I don't really know how effective it really is aside from body positioning at speed. I get why roadies need it just seems a little much for DH. I mean if they're that concerned maybe we should go back to street bike helmets and skin suits. There are rules about how tight a kit can be so that's what seems a little counterintuitive to the expense of full blown wind tunnel testing.
RollinFoSho - seriously?! You need to see a doctor about that, it's called paranoia. Holy sht, Specialized and Aaron attract the biggest whackos. I was never aware of this side of MTB and I don't want to have anything to do with it... this gets dangerously close to football
Yes, totally serious. I wouldn't call it paranoia, just discussing a totally valid possibility.
re: paranoia How could you possibly make a living (unless employed by pinkbike) to be able to spend so much time commenting on pinkbike? I'd love to see the stats, how many comments have you made on Pinkbike? 1000's ! You must be the record holder?
Every brand is going to have thing they want to hide, and lets be real - we all fuck up - business ain't no different.
So, in answer to your question.. Yes. Yes they are.
No they are not.
They exist ONLY to make money.
Produce as chap as possible.
Spend money on advertising to brainwash people.
Hire lawyers to destroy any form of competition.
They are the worst business model.
A company that never produced a single product in their own country.
@trailriderdood Really? I don't see any other companies, including the very big ones, being as "competitive" as specialized. They are a lawyer run company, and it is back firing now. I don't see trek, cannondale, etc suing mom and pop stores. And trek is bigger than specialized and getting more market shares as small stores across Europe are dropping specialized.
@mojomaujer this is what, Your 7th negative comment slamming Specialized in the comments section of this article alone? You've said your piece now run along, and stop trolling the comments section with your nonsense.
@Mojomauer there isn't a company on mtb doing it for any reason other than making money. There are no charity bike brands. Also, I'm fairly sure they sued one mom and pop, and when the owner found put, he tried to make amends. Get over it bahd.
@MojoMaujer name ONE company making bikes or any other consumer goods without a goal to make money. Walmart brands all the way up to high-end World Cup level bicycles. Every company selling bikes looks to make money. I am not defending the bike shop situation with Specialized nor any of their patent lawsuits. However, Mike Sinyard himself went and resolved the bike shop deal and admitted it was an overly aggressive attorney.
They all want to make money. Some want to make money so they can make the bikes they want to ride. Or the best bikes they can make. The focus is the bike.
Apple wanted to make good products–years ago. Samsung just wants to sell. Get it?
OtherS spend more money on ads... and ads buy the press... and the press tell people what to think... they make the cheapest product possible and sell it to the highest $.
I am not going into the legal etc. aspect because I would be waisting my time... but if you are a S dealer they pretty much force you not to carry any other brands. If you are a small-medium shop. However it is the shop decision.
It is the business model. One is moved by making a good product to make money. The other is moved only by making money.
Apple wanted to make good products? That's it? So the wealthiest company in the world is simply the biggest because they just wanted to make good products? Get the f*ck outta here. They're in it for the money! Sure, they make good products and based on customer demand, price it so that they get the highest margins possible. Quit thinking there are any companies out there that don't care about making money.
If you don't like Specialized, don't buy their products.
Id bet if Saint @MojoMaujer won a flashy new S-Works in some sweepstakes hed be just as proud as the rest of us riding it all over town showing off those most bling 6 letters in mtb
Mojomaujer@ Trek really. . . . . . Trek sued and ran Gregg Lemond out of business! Look it up! I could go on a Trek rant as their local dealer sucks. . . . .
Always find it interesting when pros say they only get out twice a week on the bike during the offseason (obviously excluding gym and diet) - kinda weird hearing that the pros ride less than some guys I know.
Man, I love shit like this. It's understanding the work that goes on behind the scenes like this which really excites me (yeah, I'm cool.). I've always wondered why the downhill guys don't use data like we do in car racing.
Speaking of which, can someone invent a bar mounted lap timer with GPS in it? One of these, but for bikes. www.mychron5.de
@davetrump - Great article! I really enjoyed reading it. The article doesn't seem to be getting the greatest reception, because Specialized... but I really enjoyed the insight into the very professional way they run the team. Love the details about one-off parts and returning to their personal configuration at the end of a data collection day for a final run.
Shame you can't share more information about the wind tunnel, you have me very curious. The results are probably fascinating.
@bernbern I'm sure lots of people are enjoying it. I would't gauge it's worth by the handful of internet trolls who think they are cool trendy and funny to bag on Specialized. Just like the Enduro and Gee haters, their shtik is really starting to get tired and old. It's a shame that the lowest common denominator of internet A-holes feel the need to speak about something they really have no understanding of.
It is disrespectful to the riders (one of which is the world champ), their mechanics and support staff as well as the brands who live and breathe for development and racing. Not to mention the people behind a website like Pinkbike and the contributors who work exceptionally hard to bring these kind of stories to the masses, and for free.
Ya, I feel for the behind the scenes guys who are just lumped in with "corporate" as they dedicate their lives to a sport they love and have a passion for...
@davetrump dude, this piece is awesome, really enjoyed it. Awesome insight and great photos to boot. No idea what's with the turds in the comments. Cheers.
Thanks! This was an epic article. But, like was said, data is just data unless someone can extract what it really means in elapsed time. Don't think that Specialized was, or is, the only manufacturer to do this level of data acquisition. Although as in any form of racing, it all comes down to what the rider feels comfortable and can ride fast. As in motorsports, the fastest setup is only fast if it can be driven/ridden. Sometimes, the key to speed and winning is something that can't be quantified.
I think this is one of the best write ups I've seen in a long time. Truly awesome read. Made me laugh and smile. Also the team van is absolutely stunning!
Good day @davetrump i am an aspiring photographer out of south Africa and is my dream to shoot wc what advice could you give me to get this going truly love your work, i would love to pick your brain on how you got started
All that time spent working with ohlins on building a bike around a shock.... and now there back the square one with rockshox suspension. The bike im sure works great with a vivid but come on guys!
They have to share one link? In all the time between losing gwin and gaining loic, they couldn't have machined another? Or was the link hot off the "press" and there really was no time? Seems strange and inefficient to have to share it.
So are they gonna be allowed factory team status with those non matching outfits? Santa Cruz got burned last year for it or does specialized pay the uci way more
@adrenna, I believe the XC team not the DH team was registered as a trade team and therefore got all the perks in regards to pit size and placement. At WC's where both XC and DH were being held Troy and Aaron simply pitted out of the factory XC setup. Not 100% certain that's how it went down but definitely something similar.
If this story was an attempt to make Specialies look cool its having a negative effect. Absolutely no disrespect to the riders, a bunch of true shredders for sure but this just wreaks of big dollar dick swinging- come on, measurable gains... did they remove the chain? The win tunnel in this article is just a phallic display like owning a super car on a small island. #smalldickbigtruck
Mmmm..."Specialized"...certainly is. I'm with the others on the dangerous wind tunnel testing...again, very "special-zzzzzzzz (something)" blah, blah, blah - da-do-do-da-da-da-da etc. (there was a song once)
@Specialized I hope you are sending guys out to work on those SC DH trails your riders are ripping in the mud. These trails are illegal and therefore maintained by a small group of locals on the DL. Please give back what you take guys.
It wasn't muddy, trails were not damaged. If you want to keep sectet trails on the DL it might not be so wise to post that they are illegal on the Internet. No one mentioned trail names or locations in this article, so you are just posting speculation.
They are really testing the motor hidden in the frame. Unless you're wearing skin suits Lycra and slick tires, there's no point of wind tunnel testing for DH racing. This was probably paid by US TAx dollar anyway.
@allix2456 - How is 60km/h not relevant to DH mountain bike racing? Maybe you never hit that speed but in Leogang Gwin averaged 56km/h without his chain...
The problem is not the upper range but the ability the machine has to run at a low speed. These machines are notoriously bad at consistently running at speeds below 60. Believe it or not @burnbern DH although his average speed may have been close to 60, there is very little actual translation between a sterile wind tunnel and an actual DH track. Something, Something Yaw angle….
In essence Specialized spent a ton of money on a machine that will at most tell them how to tuck on the 1 or 2 straightaways that are smooth enough to actually get into that body position. I'd like to see them try to be that aero on any of the current WC tracks, they'd end up with a stem through their collarbone.
I think they probably learned more than just the body position for straightaways... And keep in mind, they didn't build that machine for DH, not even in the slightest. It is used almost entirely for other pursuits (including road riding), but the DH team got some time in it.
The point is small gains, every percentage point counts when you are competing with the best in the world...
My point still stands that these machines are only accurate at 60km/h+ and almost all race conditions (road, tri, etc) either occur right on that bubble or 5-10km/h below it.
They spent all that money and the new Madone is still more aero than the new Venge.
@allix2456 I understand you doubt the ability of a wind tunnel to consistently operate at low speeds, however a quick search returned this kind of thing polysonic.fsu.edu/lowspeed.html which operates from 1m/s, I am absolutely sure modern wind tunnel technology is perfectly capable of producing conditions suitable for bicycle testing. Do we really want DH to become that kind of sport is a different question.
Hey smart guy @XxJ0SEPHxX that's funny... "site" refers to a location (burial site, testing site, etc) and "sight" refers to vision. So yeah, it's correct in the article.
PS: what's with this unnecessarily big pictures?
Specialized: So we'd like to start wind tunnel testing, what do you think?
Gwin: Um I won a race last year without a chain maybe that money would be better invested in rider salary.
I've always thought, especially after that race, why not train without a chain doing laps on a short DH track. You can't always make up time by pedaling if you make a mistake but learning how to pump the bike over terrain can really save a few ticks.
The air resistance mostly comes from the speed of the rider moving through the air (up to 40, 50 mph on typical world cup tracks), not the air blowing around the mountain (10-20 mph if its gusty).
The whole Aaron Gwin NO CHAIN thing. The real question is whether or not he meant to have his chain break in that race? Maybe he did testing and knew he could go faster (at that race) with no chain? When Troy Brosnan went to chat with Aaron right after he crossed the finish line at the race Aaron said "the suspension works great without a chain". It did impress everyone and he did sign for more money.
Yes, totally serious. I wouldn't call it paranoia, just discussing a totally valid possibility.
re: paranoia
How could you possibly make a living (unless employed by pinkbike) to be able to spend so much time commenting on pinkbike? I'd love to see the stats, how many comments have you made on Pinkbike? 1000's ! You must be the record holder?
Is just biber cool ass too?
Hahah....
Really? I don't see any other companies, including the very big ones, being as "competitive" as specialized.
They are a lawyer run company, and it is back firing now.
I don't see trek, cannondale, etc suing mom and pop stores.
And trek is bigger than specialized and getting more market shares as small stores across Europe are dropping specialized.
Some want to make money so they can make the bikes they want to ride.
Or the best bikes they can make. The focus is the bike.
Apple wanted to make good products–years ago.
Samsung just wants to sell. Get it?
OtherS spend more money on ads... and ads buy the press... and the press tell people what to think...
they make the cheapest product possible and sell it to the highest $.
I am not going into the legal etc. aspect because I would be waisting my time... but if you are a S dealer they pretty much force you not to carry any other brands. If you are a small-medium shop. However it is the shop decision.
It is the business model.
One is moved by making a good product to make money.
The other is moved only by making money.
Same applies to the rest of your life.
'Nuff said
Apple wanted to make good products? That's it? So the wealthiest company in the world is simply the biggest because they just wanted to make good products? Get the f*ck outta here. They're in it for the money! Sure, they make good products and based on customer demand, price it so that they get the highest margins possible. Quit thinking there are any companies out there that don't care about making money.
If you don't like Specialized, don't buy their products.
I suggest you check out a user's age before you post a "your mother' joke.
has Pinkbike been acquired by OUT mag?
anyone knows?
Amen, Brother.
Speaking of which, can someone invent a bar mounted lap timer with GPS in it? One of these, but for bikes. www.mychron5.de
Shame you can't share more information about the wind tunnel, you have me very curious. The results are probably fascinating.
And as always, excellent photography...
It is disrespectful to the riders (one of which is the world champ), their mechanics and support staff as well as the brands who live and breathe for development and racing. Not to mention the people behind a website like Pinkbike and the contributors who work exceptionally hard to bring these kind of stories to the masses, and for free.
How much do these kits weigh ?
And do the settings found using the telemetry differ from the ones the riders will actually use due to the extra weight from the kit ?
Or is there some kind of formula ? Or am I just spouting useless thoughts from my half baked mind ?
Does anybody knows which demo frame size the three riders have chosen and how tall they are?
Pretty cool article nonetheless. Thanks Pinkbike!
So the aerodynamics of the bike play no part? Kind of a misleading comment.
The problem is not the upper range but the ability the machine has to run at a low speed. These machines are notoriously bad at consistently running at speeds below 60. Believe it or not @burnbern DH although his average speed may have been close to 60, there is very little actual translation between a sterile wind tunnel and an actual DH track. Something, Something Yaw angle….
In essence Specialized spent a ton of money on a machine that will at most tell them how to tuck on the 1 or 2 straightaways that are smooth enough to actually get into that body position. I'd like to see them try to be that aero on any of the current WC tracks, they'd end up with a stem through their collarbone.
The point is small gains, every percentage point counts when you are competing with the best in the world...
They spent all that money and the new Madone is still more aero than the new Venge.
Do you even proof Read your work?
This one might have been intentional. "But you can feel that it's god training, holding to the bar and going fast into jumps."
anyone knows?