Connor Fearon's Kona OperatorKona's Connor Fearon has gone with an understated look for his 27.5" wheeled Operator, especially compared to some of the flashier bikes pictured below. The paint-less frame is no doubt lighter than it would be if it had been done up in a few layers of Australia's national colours, though, with only a few splashes of green, yellow and a bit of blue to be found. Fearon will no doubt be looking to carry some of that momentum from his second place in Leogang to the top step of the podium in Andorra.
Neko and Brendan's Scott GamblersNeko Mullaly's Scott Gambler getting assembled in the pits. Check out how the brushed and clear-coated front end matches the bike's linkage, as well as the smaller details like the white star at the rear axle and the offset headset from Chris King that adds a bit of length to the bike's reach. Neko is also completing the Americana vibe with an impressive mustache - we can only hope that he races in a pair of mirrored aviator sunglasses as well. His teammate's bike is a bit flashier, with Fairclough going for a brighter red, white and blue motif, along with some old school typeface for his name on the top tube.
Mike Jones' Nukeproof PulseMike Jones' Nukeproof Pulse is another bike that's running more under the radar than in your face, with him going with the same spec as his teammate Sam Hill is running. Nukeproof is also now offering a team replica bike that's essentially the same thing that you see here, and is claimed to weigh just 35lbs, although it won't come with a full compliment of titanium bolts and ceramic bearings like Jones' bike has.
Matt Simmonds' Carbon MystWe showed you Saracen's new Carbon Myst last month, but Matt Simmonds' team bike is well worth a second look. While Saracen dabbled with carbon back in 2012, they've gone all out for 2015 by going as far as using carbon for the bike's linkage. Both the swing link and the driving link are made from the stuff, although it's hard to tell if there have been any changes when it comes pivot locations that might alter the bike's travel, leverage rate, or geometry from what the team had been using for the aluminum bike. The new carbon frame is much sleeker than its aluminum predecessor, with Saracen doing away with the old bike's forward shock mount that connected the top and down tubes. The shock now simply bolts onto an extension formed out of the down tube. It also looks like Saracen have stuck with the oversized head tube that we spotted earlier this year on Matt Simmonds' aluminum race bike. The design allows riders to tinker with both head angle and top tube lengths by fitting different offset headset cups, which in itself isn't a new idea, but the keyed interface on the Myst does ensure perfect alignment and zero guessing.
Martin Maes Custom Helmet & Fury FrameIt's easy to forget that GT's Martin Maes still races in the junior class when it comes to World Cup downhilling. The young Belgian ''Maes-Dog'' himself will be looking to put some of his Enduro World Series power down through the pedals of his much longer travel Fury DH bike, and he has to be on the short list of possible winners.
Josh Bryceland's V10Bryceland prefers to fly high over the radar rather than under it, and he'll be doing exactly that aboard this wild Santa Cruz V10. It will no doubt be set up with a pair of matching wheels from ENVE as well.
Minnaar's Lion King V10Greg Minnaar's Lion King V10 that he'll be on come race day. A victory at the Lenzerheide World Cup back in July made Minnaar the winningest World Cup downhill of all-time this year, with eighteen Ws to his name. He's also won gold at the World Champs in 2003, 2012 and 2013, taken second in 2004, 2006 and 2009, and third in 2001, 2005 and 2010, all of which makes him one of the most consistent racers ever. Don't bet against the smooth South African this year, either.
dirtmountainbike.com/bike-reviews/josh-brycelands-2015-world-champs-race-bike.html#8Pd4ty6OhxjJhPS3.97
Some seem to have had character assassination in for Gee, ever since he was competing with Stevie Smith for the overall.
Gee bashing is just another trend like the most recent FOX bashing and the RockShox right bashing before that.
People who argue that Gee is too serious are f#cking retarded parrots. They should watch the Atherton project, which is by the way the godfather of edits like 'This is Peaty'. Also Minnaar and Gwin undoubtedly take their jobs every bit as serious as Gee does. And do you really think Stevie Smith got where he is now by being not 120% commited to his goals? Use your brains.
Go Troy, Sam and Conner.
That's your podium right there!!!
www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/World-Champs-DH-Entries,8692
i love Ti-Ni and black nitride. im a coating whore.