Bike Check: Nino Schurter's Scott Spark - Nove Mesto World Cup XC by RichardCunningham

86 Comments

78 1

mrift04 FL (May 22, 2015 at 13:48)

Be really annoying putting the tyre on the wrong way would it.

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Nimble9 (May 22, 2015 at 16:25)

that would be more annoying than kneepads after shoes.

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vRidge (May 22, 2015 at 18:29)

I'm not the only one that does that?.....................................almost every time?

dk861 (May 24, 2015 at 8:07)

yes @vRidge

42 0

jrocksdh (May 22, 2015 at 13:53)

Well, f1 has a formula to follow, ie weight restrictions. ..but I get it.

Breeconay FL (May 22, 2015 at 13:58)

Ha ha thats the first thing I said, too funny

whilgenb (May 22, 2015 at 15:52)

Maybe WEC instead?

src248 (May 22, 2015 at 16:05)

F1 is very restricted, not a great comparison.

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RichardCunningham (May 22, 2015 at 16:22)

^^^ True, src28, and whilgenb, WEC would be a better analogy. Constructors still have tons of room to innovate in F1 though. Road bikes? Not so much.

JonJonM (May 22, 2015 at 18:37)

I would have to disagree about the road bikes. although the UCI rules are ridiculously strict, technology will always advance. rules change eventually and even if they don't and the sport is the same tech will still get better. think of tennis, racquets they used 30 years ago are not the same as now

timmins (May 23, 2015 at 14:18)

I follow road bike tech as well and it would be foolish to think that road bikes aren't pushing the limits of what the materials can handle. Trek and Merida (and many others) are releasing bikes in the sub 10.5 lb range.

the latest trend in road bikes is to make all components as aerodynamic as possible, which involves some pretty substantial R & D.

Low bars are better for climbing but they also put the rider in a more aero position which over 1.5 hours, will shave lots of time.

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owenpollock (May 22, 2015 at 13:49)

Yay for xc bikes

27 2

chriskneeland (May 22, 2015 at 15:36)

I'm not into XC, but bike checks like this might change that some day. Keep them coming.

31 0

sevensixtwo (May 22, 2015 at 14:09)

I don't know who Dugast is, but I'm guessing those tires are expensive.

12 1

Momemomay (May 22, 2015 at 14:24)

$170/tire

15 1

Fix-the-Spade (May 22, 2015 at 15:24)

I bet the ride they give is worth every penny.

vl95 (May 22, 2015 at 16:27)

Imagine the price for a set of fat tires !

27 1

TheStig04 (May 22, 2015 at 15:19)

I think this bike looks f***ing dope! I enjoy all types of biking, and there really is nothing like a properly sorted XC rocketship. What blows my mind is that this bike is only a pound heavier than my Madone 5.2 :O

SangamonTaylor (May 22, 2015 at 15:49)

Lighter than my cyclocross bike and my carbon hard tail! Would love to take a spin on it, or even something remotely comparable.

TheStig04 (May 22, 2015 at 16:52)

yeah you and me both! the lightest mountain bike I've ridden is my 2001 Schwin Homegrown Pro at 22 pounds, and at that weight it can scamper up some crazy climbs, but I need to true the wheels after each ride :/ I'm sure this is waaaaaaay better in pretty much every way!

26 1

DarrellW (May 22, 2015 at 13:51)

Absolutely stunning.

maynardle3 (May 23, 2015 at 6:03)

I bet you are a very stunning person. As is this bike.

20 1

Speeder123 (May 22, 2015 at 13:48)

Cut-down chainguide with the outer plate removed. Now THAT'S weight weenie.

14pslope (May 22, 2015 at 14:04)

I did that on my dj bike

rexluthor (May 22, 2015 at 15:33)

it might just be smart. I bet on a narrow wide that top aspect of the guide is all that is needed to ensure it stays on.

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MojoMaujer (May 22, 2015 at 16:43) (Below Threshold)

Narrow wide is total bs... The clutch rear derailer holds the chain, not the chainring. All marketing.

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MojoMaujer (May 22, 2015 at 16:50) (Below Threshold)

The cage was trimmed to be less visible. Not to save weight.

Quinn-39 (May 23, 2015 at 5:28)

My narrow wide on a 1x9 setup using an OG XT shadow rear mech from about 8 years ago says otherwise. Try again.

R-trailking-S (May 23, 2015 at 10:29)

Still using chainguide on 1x9 and narrow wide ring. It's mostly the clutch. Although a chainguide is stupid proof.

10 0

holee (May 22, 2015 at 15:45)

I ride XC and would never consider a dropper. Do what you like. The 19lb mark is likely due to the carbon DT Fork and the rim/tire combo. DT doesn't even list a tubular 27.5 wheelset, just 26 and 29. I also think that the fork is a prototype and not for sale. Race rig in the extreme.

sevensixtwo (May 22, 2015 at 18:32)

Incredible. I wonder how that DT fork rides day to day? Carbon fork is kinda scary, but we all thought that about wheels not too long ago...

holee (Aug 18, 2015 at 8:30)

It is really no different than a Rock Shox XX fork. Only the crown is carbon. The legs are magnesium I think. Waay cool fork and superlight.

holee (Aug 18, 2015 at 8:34)

As well the stock Scott RC bikes are 21.8lbs out of the box or so and that is with carbon clincher wheels. Most of the weight savings likely comes from the tubular wheel/tire setup. 2.8lbs is a lot to lose when you are down at 21.8lbs. Layup on the frame could also be "race only" for Nino.

11 0

piranah (May 22, 2015 at 15:17)

Looks like a Swiss army bike. Ill see my self out.

blackbirdworks (May 23, 2015 at 6:59)

Flip the stem right side up and it would make for an awesome commuter bike.

CarboninXC (May 22, 2015 at 15:00)

XC bike goals right there

headyspliff (May 22, 2015 at 13:52)

36 tooth chain ring! That's burly for an xc course.

nhp890 (May 22, 2015 at 14:12)

the cassette is large, so the ratios definitely allow for some climbing

K4m1k4z3 (May 22, 2015 at 14:45)

It's a 650b as well. 36T on that equals 34T on a 29er. On a related note, Absalon is running 36x11-40 on his 29er BMC. Now THAT'S BURLY.

goffhorner (May 22, 2015 at 18:27)

So used to looking at slack head angles that it looks like he's run head first into a wall haha

dirtyknobbies (May 22, 2015 at 21:20)

Did R.C. really basically say F1 racing has no restrictions? Who is this guy? F1 racing is a lot closer as Nascar, IRC, motogp etc to road bike racing with restrictions then wc xc mtb ing. Wow. I'm impressed. Great journalism. Luckily more impressed with Nino's bike. That is insane...especially tubular tires!

RichardCunningham (May 22, 2015 at 22:27)

Dirty Knobbies, your point is taken and accurate in one sense. There are restrictions, however, for nearly all forms of racing (the ultimate land speed record may have the fewest.) Restrictions, however, can cultivate innovation or quench it. F1 is a formula - outside the formula, absolutely anything goes. The restrictions for road racing are basically, the bike has to operate, look, and perform similar to steel, diamond frame bikes like the Binachi Fausto Coppi won the World Championships upon in 1953. Cross-country racing bikes have a formula - a few wheel sizes, pedal powered, no motors, some safety stuff, but after that, anything goes. F1 got to where it is now because constructors were given that freedom. Not slapped down every time some designer got crazy, as road bike designers have contiuously been. Road bikes have evolved, but nowhere near the pace that they could have. Check your history and you may agree that, from 1980 to present, both the mountain bike and F1 have enjoyed a stratospheric period of evolution. Remove Triathlon, and the road bike is a carbon fiber model T.

iamamodel (May 23, 2015 at 4:20)

What I don't understand is why there are no weight restrictions in mtb. I remember JHK showed off his xc race bike in bicycling magazine and he was running road rims on his 29er and three bolts on his rotors. Surely that is toying with safety just as much as ultra light road bikes.

Axxe (May 23, 2015 at 21:28)

There is no weight restriction, because you can not get away with a joke of bike. It will disintegrate. On road, reasoned chance to get away with stupid and too many people will be willing to risk it.

Momemomay (May 22, 2015 at 14:27)

I am surprised that they didn't highlight the special AM seals in the fork.

groghunter (May 22, 2015 at 14:34)

pretty sure they're new SKF ones: www.dtswiss.com/SKF-seal they're for sale, I'm about to pick up a pair for my DT swiss fork. edit: they're black in that link, but the greenish color where I've seen them for sale.

wingguy (May 22, 2015 at 15:12)

WC colours innit. Green seals, yellow Scott logos, black frame, red Swiss flags and blue mech hanger. Sneaky!

jfloren (May 26, 2015 at 18:16)

What's up with the reversed crown on the fork?

wingguy (May 27, 2015 at 2:19)

DT-Swiss always do that.

sevensixtwo (May 22, 2015 at 20:59)

Is that a custom frame? I don't remember my old scale's stays being that pencil thin

radioinactiv (May 22, 2015 at 21:04)

loving the ritchey components, especially that saddle and post!!....would be even nicer if it was 34.9mm.!!!

AllridersAgency (May 23, 2015 at 8:42)

This bike and components hasnt changed for years now!... And still winning,,,

LeDuke (May 25, 2015 at 21:19)

Dugast CAN make black sidewall tires; Absalon ran them a few years ago, relabeled as Hutchinsons.

zire (May 26, 2015 at 11:12)

@RichardCunningham Just a tiny niggle - there's typo in the title... (cue "Porshe 911" jokes)

RichardCunningham (May 27, 2015 at 13:59)

Nice! I'll be visiting Scott in a few weeks. I am "Schure" that they will be giving me hell for that. It's funny that nobody here at PB caught that when we went over the story. We always double check names.

rrrrxx (May 28, 2015 at 21:22)

Want to know actual weight.

beeboo (May 22, 2015 at 14:19)

#theminsta this looks exactly like your frame!

theminsta (May 22, 2015 at 17:51)

haha yeah. Its flexy af on my skinny ass, so id bet this frame is actually lighter and has custom made stays for stiffness! And btw i saw this by chance; you have to use @ to make it pop up on ppls dashboards!

freeride-forever (May 23, 2015 at 19:42)

Another clean & mean lookin' ride & black to boot!!! Giggity.

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tremeer023 FL (May 22, 2015 at 14:28)

What's going on with the stem ? Doesn't look like there is much control there.

TheStig04 (May 22, 2015 at 15:17)

It's to get low over the front end on climbs

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shredjekyll (May 22, 2015 at 17:59)

Have you seen this guy ride? "Not much control"..... LOL

sevensixtwo (May 22, 2015 at 20:36)

Uh, I don't even know how to respond to that

vaqui (May 23, 2015 at 7:36)

I think that the white stripe on the tyre is a poor choice, It makes a top bike look like a klunker.

vRidge (May 24, 2015 at 7:46)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I just don't think Dugast makes blackwall tires.

vaqui (May 24, 2015 at 19:43)

you're right but it has nothing to do with the fact that they don't look well.

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WAKIdesigns (May 22, 2015 at 14:10)

I will never get it - why no dropper post...

nilswalk (May 22, 2015 at 14:19)

Yeah, I don't get it either but I'm sure there's been lots of experimentation and they came to the conclusion for valid reasons. Maybe it's that the speed on the descents is traction-limited by the tires already and there's not as much time to be gained as we would think?

bikekrieg (May 22, 2015 at 14:27)

That and they use the descents as semi-resting periods so they can punch climbs harder? I dunno, I still would use a dropper...

16 1

Fix-the-Spade (May 22, 2015 at 14:28)

Because Nino descends like a bat out of hell anyway?

groghunter (May 22, 2015 at 14:44) (Below Threshold)

The main motivation most XC guys I know seem to have to for it, is they think it somehow proves they're better than other riders. "I don't need that stupid drooper crap!" XC is weird that way, it seems to be an awful lot about proving how much better you are than other people, rather than enjoying riding your bike.

bkm303 (May 22, 2015 at 14:54)

Well first off, Nino descends like a motherf*cker anyway. But also I think KS is the only company making an XC dropper right now (carbon, short travel), and it's probably not on everyone's radar. But I think we'll start seeing some hardtail riders use them. Pretty sure some women used them last year in the world champs? Doubt we'll see much FS with droppers though.

But I think there's some truth to the riders resting on the downhills. From doing xc races myself... It's f*cking scary to descend at full speed when your heart and lungs are that maxed out going into it.

Freewheel46 (May 22, 2015 at 14:56)

thats cute

wingguy (May 22, 2015 at 15:08)

Well yeah. It's a race

And no dropper is for weight saving. XC guys will never add a heavier component unless there is a clear cut, measurable improvement in overall speed or reliability. Sure it's a small amount of weight on its own but when you apply the same logic to the entire bike build you end up with quite significant reductions over what it could weigh if you were a little less ruthless.

kdstones (May 24, 2015 at 10:54)

www.pinkbike.com/photo/11907722

No dropper. Still steeper than anything I would ever hit!

WAKIdesigns (May 24, 2015 at 12:07)

@kdstones, No1 - don't take stuff out of the context. This was a one bloody rock, I'd hit it myself without a dropper and I'm sure you would too. The issue is not about how hard you can go without a dropper, it's about why not use an obvious advantage giving you seconds for free? If you win a quarter of a second on every corner on descents, a second or two on every tricky section, improve regeneration after uphill by riding descents more relaxed, then those things add up during the course of the whole race and create some good advantage. There is no questioning what so ever that saddle lowered by 10cm improves all aspects of bike handling. Saying that Nino could ride most of Val Di Sole DH track on his XC bike without a dropper is probably true, but it's like saying that Nino could lap me on XC race on Dual Ply Minions in Slow Reezay while I would ride his regular bike. Sure he caaaan, but why go there?

I tell you what, If Rockshox and Fox, each made a dropper post, lighter by 50g than Reverb or DOSS, and then (this is the important part) they would market it as "XC specific", almost all those riders would be running one. Shimano could easily make a Di2 shifter for Fox, that is coupled with suspension lock out(s). It would sell like donuts on Police memorial.

zephxiii (May 24, 2015 at 12:40)

Look they can run a dropper if they want. The reality is they don't feel the need to. THEY DON"T NEED A DROPPER POST. GET OVER IT lol

kdstones (May 24, 2015 at 19:31)

Yeah let's not get too heated over a seat post here. I personally prefer a dropper, but I was just making a small point there. I think it's time we stop telling the pros how to run their own bikes!

karoliusz (May 22, 2015 at 13:47)

Go 5PAND3X!

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ashyjay (May 22, 2015 at 14:12)

would ride the crap out of that if it was aluminium or steel.

2 10

brycebee (May 22, 2015 at 15:56)

ugh skinwall tires

mudmandhbrazil (May 22, 2015 at 17:09)

read shit wall tires

3 13

recipher (May 22, 2015 at 14:22)

XC bikes look less and less like mountain bikes to me.

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likeittacky (May 22, 2015 at 14:31)

I have always said, the stronger and faster you get, the heavier the bike you should have to ride. That being said, the Pros should ride bikes that are no lighter than 26 pounds and beginners should be riding 20 pound bikes.

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Jimmy0 FL (May 22, 2015 at 14:48)

this comment hurts me

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poah (May 22, 2015 at 14:05)

boring