BIKE CHECK:
Mick Hannah's
Polygon DH Racer
WORDS: R. Cunningham
IMAGES:Kane Naaraat
Mick Hannah put eight seconds on the pro field, handily out qualifying a tough crowd at the Australian National Championships. Last year he was on Fox suspension. This season he switched to a BOS fork and shock. Is there a new sheriff in town?By all accounts, Mick Hannah was absolutely flying down the course last weekend in Bright, Australia. Looking smooth and in control, the hard man of World Cup DH was on a tear all weekend - and he was the favorite to win the Aussie National Champs after putting over eight seconds on the nearest qualifier in Sunday's seeding races. It was not to be, however, as Sik Mik had some trouble on his race run that relegated him to a fifth place finish. That said, one has to wonder where Mick's magic flow came from? The track at Bright was brutal, a true testament of the racer's resolve and of the bike's performance. Reportedly, both Mick and his Polygon looked very settled on course. One explanation may be the switch to BOS suspension. PB Photographer Kane Naaraat stopped into the Hutchinson United Ride pits to shoot some pictures of Hannah's Polygon DH prototype so we could take a closer look.
Hannah's Polygon was reported to be the
same chassis he and the Hutchinson United Ride team used last season - an updated version of the Collosus with different suspension metrics and slacker geometry. The news for 2014 was the team's switch to BOS suspension. The small French manufacturer was once a self-proclaimed coil-sprung suspension maker, but all that changed with the development of the air-sprung Void damper, which now joins two air-sprung versions of its legendary Idylle fork in the BOS DH range. Mick Hannah used the
Void shock and the air-sprung
Idylle Rare fork at the Aussie Nationals.
The air-sprung BOS Idylle Rare fork (left) and air-sprung Void shock (right). BOS says the shock weighs only 519 grams, and the Rare fork is pegged at 2680 grams. As time splits between the top ten racers become ever closer, clothing gets tighter and bikes get lighter.ComponentsMick's build, like most pros, is constrained by sponsorship considerations. That said, he has a good kit, with an e*thirteen crankset and guide powering a Shimano Saint derailleur that is activated by an XTR shift lever. Wheels are also e*thirteen and the bar and stem are by Spank. With Hutchinson as the title sponsor, Mick can choose between the
new Squale or the DH Toro. This time he ran the Toro. Brakes are Formula RO, with aluminum levers and the lighter, aluminum-spider-type rotors. Hannah's setup is conservative, in that it doesn't have any carbon parts, yet it is set up to be a lightweight, fast-rolling chassis.
E-thirteen wheels (26-inch), cranks and chainguide with a Shimano Saint mech. The crankarms look like 165mm items, which indicates a low bottom bracket height. The cassette is a nine-speed. Mick helped design Hutchinson's new Squale tire, but he chose the 2.6-inch Toro for Australia - lots of grip in dry conditions. Formula RO brakes have calipers with ovalized pistons and are the Italian maker's most powerful stoppers. Among riders who have a choice, the verdict for brakes on the World Cup circuit seems to be divided between Shimano and Formula. Mick Hannah checks the pressure in the BOS Idylle Rare fork.
Is this a scene that will be repeated throughout the pits in the future? | Mick Hannah is fitter and more focused than we have ever seen him and he is on the hunt for podiums this season, but he will have to fight the strongest field DH has seen in a long time to bag one. Which begs the question: "Is the switch to a air-sprung suspension a gamble to pick up precious seconds on pedally sections, or does BOS and Australia's Man of Steel know something that they are keeping close to their chests?" BOS' Void shock made it to the top step last year - the first for an air-sprung shock in contemporary downhill history. With more talent switching to BOS suspension, Hannah will be the man to watch. The wheel debate would be quickly forgotten, at least in the DH world, if 2014 triggered the demise of the coil-sprung shock and fork. Right now, though, that premise is pure speculation. - RC |
look at this, some good info.
As far as Gwin riding Avid because that's what Specialized uses, you contradict yourself in your own reply. Specialized uses SRAM you say and thats why he rides avids, Rock Shox is what Specialized uses and is a part of sram and he made sure his contract said he could stay with with Fox. He could have held out to stay with shimano as well. Its not like Specialized was going to say, ok we are going to pay you 10mil or whatever it really was, and you can stay with Fox, but no deal if you stay with shimano. The team was also sponsored by monster and he made sure he could stay Redbull.
Most privateers, I know ride who ever gives them a pro-deal or the best hookup. Everyone person that qualifies for a WC race could easily at least get a pro-deal from some where. Personally, all of the top end brakes are better at braking than I am at riding.
Their history with UK distributors are a testament to that:
TFTuned dropped them.
R53 dropped them.
Surf Sales dropped them.
Now Jungle Products have taken up the banner - let’s see how long they last.
The saving grace however is Mad Elk cycles in Ireland, who are fantastic to deal with. Owners can also get their BOS related issues looked at by Sportsnut in Germany, who are a class act.
I forgot what the shop is called, but I think it's in Wales
If you have any questions regarding service, products already in service, or anything else please don't hesitate to contact us:
By email: customerservice@bosmtb.com
By phone: +33 (0)5 34 25 33 66
BUT, the customer service is simply terrible. We understand you are a small company compared to other big brands, but it doesn't stop you from offering a better customer experience. Communication with customers is key to success and it's something you lack. You really need to support your customers with faster responses and a quicker turn around on warranty work. I had to weight 10 weeks for my Bos RaRe fork to be sorted!
If you sorted out these two simple things, you will have a customer base who is far more confident and supportive towards you and your products.
Time and time again I need to repeat the same to people asking the same question.
According to:
www.bosmtb.com/uploads/media/manual_startup_IdylleRare_2014_eng.pdf
You say that:
Tighten (anticlockwise) = close harden
Undo (clockwise) = open/soften
THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
It may be a French translation to English thing, but is absolutely incorrect and causes frustration and confusion among users.
The HIGH SPEED COMPRESSION is reverse threaded, meaning that the knob starts turing out of the frame, when you turn it clockwise. This still however tightens / closes it.
In addition, while we're talking about user manuals - please be as professional with them, as you are with the products. In the VOID user manual for example, you refer to the Vipr' and so forth. Copy/paste failing basically.
Get a native English speaker to rewrite the English user manuals please.
(more to the point, I could actually do it ...)
Firstly, in terms of the speed of customer service; any email sent into the address above can expect a reply within one business day. This includes updates about parts that are at our location for service.
Secondly, we are aware of the issue in the Idylle user manual, and are working to correct it.
Cheers,
BOS MTB
Move forward and you'll charge the front wheel, no worries about that!
mtb bar height is like bmx saddle settings: fashion.
Interesting fact there about the split between formula/shimano, and damn..that headtube is miniscule.
www.amazon.com/Scotch-Rubber-Electrical-10-Foot-065-Inch/dp/B001B1AP3O
NO CARBON?
Nooooooooooooooo... said every downhill internet forum Cat 2 racer ever.
Who is laughing now?
check them out if your keen
chunked.com.au/Products-CROWNS.html
Or you could just get stock ones re-sprayed
well, duh.