13 Downhill Bikes from Silver Star - Crankworx Summer Series

Jul 31, 2020
by Aidan Oliver  
It would be a drastic understatement to say we've missed Downhill racing, but luckily Crankworx's Summer Series has come to the rescue and we got to see British Columbia's top athletes go head to head against the clock on a dry and dusty track in SilverStar Bike Park. Check out 13 DH bikes from Finn Iles, Miranda Miller, Casey Brown and even Brett Rheeder.

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Finn Iles' Raw Specialized Demo.


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Vaea Verbeeck's custom painted Rocky Mountain Maiden.


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Mckay Vezina's Giant Glory.


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Brett Rheeder's C3 project Kashima colored Trek Session 29. Brett was in full DH mode with big wheels and clipless pedals.


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Kasper Wooley was running his Yeti SB150 set up, one of the few riders not running a downhill bike. How did it work out? You'll have to wait for the broadcast...


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Fabien Cousinié and his Polygon Collosus DH9.


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Custom camo.


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Georgia Astle's Devinci Wilson.


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Miranda Miller's Kona Operator.


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Bas Van Steenbergen's Hyper Dh rig.


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Casey Brown had a very cool new C3 Project Session.


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Kirk McDowall's Devinci Wilson.


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Rhys Verner's Kona Operator


Mentions: @officialcrankworx


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bike Checks Crankworx Brett Rheeder Casey Brown Finn Iles Georgia Astle Kirk Mcdowall Miranda Miller Vaea Verbeeck Kasper Woolley Crankworx Summer Series 2020


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84 Comments
  • 41 0
 I like the look of that Hyper.

Can someone tell me how that company works? Do they sell enough bikes to afford to sponsor Bas...? How? What? Who?
  • 16 8
 No
  • 8 0
 They are still selling walmart like bikes, these bikes are prototypes for a long time
  • 39 0
 @Noeserd: They aren't prototypes because they will never go into production. They are taiwanese catalog frames with Hyper stickers that they provide to their sponsored athletes due to the fact they don't actually make any actual mountain bikes, just halfords/supermarket type throwaway bikes...

It's an unusual setup, and I'm not sure how it can be financially viable to pay athletes to promote bikes you don't even sell, but they have been doing it for years so there must be some reasoning behind it...
  • 2 0
 @its-joe: oh, that's odd
  • 43 0
 @its-joe: it’s a cover up for a huge drug cartel! ...possibly not but I’ve just finished watching ‘Queen of the South’ on Netflix.
  • 7 0
 In the BMX world they sponsor a bunch of excellent athletes, and you can buy those frames, I suppose. However, one of their best riders, and arguably one of the best women to ever ride freestyle bmx, Hannah Roberts, doesn't even appear on their website.

Who is dropping $400 USD on a bmx frame for a Wal-Mart brand, when you can buy a Hoffman frame for the same price.
  • 18 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: kids who walk into Walmart wanting a BMX.
  • 6 0
 They're primarily a BMX race brand. Plenty of race frames available. They have the best BMX rider on the planet in Logan Martin and sell the frames he rides. The DJ looks like a pretty quality frame. Why they just don't offer the DH and slope frames I have no idea. They'd probably sell a bunch.
  • 13 0
 I think it goes to show that raw aluminum and some clean smart graphics are a recipe for a great looking bike.
  • 2 0
 Quick link to their website of 'real' bikes.

hyperbicycles.com/product-category/bmx-racing
  • 10 6
 @roma258: Definitely better looking than that ugly ass Operator.
  • 5 0
 @chriskneeland: love the looks of Kona’s current crop. Look way better in person
  • 9 0
 @its-joe: Partially true. My brother Cam, helped design pretty much the same Hyper frame back when he was riding for them in 2012. Of course, for 26 though.

www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/Rampage-Pro-Bike-Cam-Zinks-Prototype-Hyper-DH,6504/Rampage-Pro-Bike-Cam-Zinks-Prototype-Hyper-DH,65123/sspomer,2
  • 3 0
 @its-joe: catalog frames don't mean it crap either! Just look at the priviteer 161. The reason that's so cheap is they're using catalog tubing.

Also selling junk bikes is far more profitable than selling high end stuff. Look at any bike shop, for every one full carbon race bike that is sold, how many commuters or enter level 600 quid hardtails are sold.
  • 3 0
 @felimocl: Of course not. I'm sure they are perfectly good frames and most likely come from the same factory as bikes from brands we know and love! It does seem odd to have sponsored athletes riding branded bikes that are not available to the public though, as traditionally the whole point of sponsoring riders is to advertise products and bolster sales...
  • 1 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: Probably made in the same factory...different label...
  • 40 0
 Seeing Rheeder on clipless pedals racing downhill is peak 2020. And, it’s jolly excellent.
  • 5 2
 I'm not sure why seeing Rheeder on a DH bike is such a novelty for people. Yes slopestyle is his thing but I’ve seen him out on the local trails. The man can ride no matter what bike he has under him.

Pro’s racing down Dag’s Downhill should be fun to watch today.
  • 3 0
 he always rides clipless pedals actually, he only takes them off for freeride/slopestyle things.
  • 4 0
 @shredb4dead: « Racing downhill » - I’ve watched him ride a downhill bike once or twice ????
  • 27 0
 Go on Finn be a legend and ride the Stumpy in the DH!
  • 18 0
 Giant Glory and RM Maiden are LONG overdue for an update. What up with that?

Also- you did Casey dirty on that shot. Not cool!
  • 12 0
 Maiden isn't going to be updated. Rocky's done with dh bikes. Especially because you can long shock a slayer anyway.
  • 3 0
 @j-t-g: slayer don't need long shocking it's a beast anyway
  • 3 0
 Derp
  • 5 0
 i'd agree, who is the photographer on the Casey photo and who picked it to put on PB?
  • 3 0
 I’ve heard that giant is working on a new Glory. Should be a 29er similar to the concept the factory team was racing in 2019
  • 4 0
 I love the look of Maidens. They look Beefy af. It's like a sexy ellesworth. Thats an oxymoron but u know what i mean lol
  • 2 0
 @luckynugget: I think they look sweet too! They're just really, really small. I'm 6'1" and felt cramped on the XL
  • 2 0
 @luckynugget: must be the artists eye
  • 19 0
 Why is there a logo shaped hole in the polygon's downtube?
  • 15 0
 Not sure if I love or hate that Kashima Session. I wish Devinci made a trail bike that moved me as much as the Wilson does. And. That SB150 is running a 36, not a 38. Unrideable! He's going to get killed.
  • 1 0
 The kashima session looks best in person, my friend even got to ride it the other day
  • 1 0
 I know it doesn't look the same, but the Devinci Spartan rides like a dream. Have a Wilson and I would 100% own a Spartan... if I had any money
  • 1 0
 SB150 leading... Wink
  • 1 0
 @dirtjumper771: @Glenngineer I had a 2015 Wilson, rode it 3 years. Picked up a Pivot Phoenix...light, but didn't like it. Back on a Wilson and don't see myself getting a new DH bike anytime soon. Especially since I just left Colorado and am in Bentonville now. Love that bike. Only thing that grabs my attention if I did would be a new Commencal
  • 2 0
 @bman33: Commencal is the next DH bike I'm looking at getting. Hoping to buy a new one for next year, gotta start saving
  • 19 4
 Little Kashima - good. Much Kashima - bad. Turn down the Kashima.
  • 7 4
 Turn up the kashima
  • 1 3
 nah, it looks way better in person
  • 1 0
 The 2 people that downvoted me clearly haven't seem it in person...
  • 1 0
 *seen
  • 5 0
 Took me a minute to realise that Kirk McDowall's seat tube does in fact connect to the bb, that grey paint section looks like a cut off cause it matches the adjacent grey's closely enough in the image to fool me at first glance!
  • 1 0
 His kit looks so good!
  • 4 0
 Interesting that over the seasons Cousinie never competes on any of the Naild bikes.

Also - I used to love the look of the Devinci Wilson, and still do like the 26" version...... but something about the enormous seatstays required for the bigger wheels ruins it for me!
  • 8 0
 maybe wait 'til casey is ready before taking the shot..
  • 5 0
 I think next time pinkbike needs to find longer in grass in which to photograph bikes
  • 5 0
 Rheeder pity’s all da fools...
  • 4 3
 So PBikers finally killed all models of 3RDACT polygon bikes or whatever called... Damn I loved that bike and system... call me what ever but with the rider on and some good angles they looked from another planet and they perform super smoothly...
No single drop of arrepentance around here...?
  • 1 0
 I think Fabien just doesn't have the sq1 on hand. He didn't race dh last year, in which the team raced the sq1. On the enduro side, the team use the siskiu...
  • 2 0
 I dont understand why you would keep your mask on for a picture? especially when your standing by your self outside.... don't get me wrong mask can help indoors blah blah blah
  • 8 0
 Probably just to use whatever platform they have to visibly advocate for wearing mask in general since so many morons (especially in the US) are simply refusing to wear one under any circumstances.
  • 2 0
 I love how the only part that doesn't match Rheeder's Kashima bike is... the Fox DHX2 stanchion. You'd think after all these years they'd be able to make their own forks/shocks/droppers match but...
  • 5 0
 Wierd, no Canyon? Norco?
  • 6 0
 Both of those bikes could likely be new, or at least have some test bits on them. Any 2020 race is perfect, away from prying eyes, and relatively laid back atmospheres would make them feel more like test sessions than world cup races. Plus, even a run ruined by a broken bike is a huge step forward this year where in past years it would be a huge let down.
  • 1 0
 @samnation: did the old canyon attach the shock to the top tube or the bottom tube? Because the one mark wallace was riding was attached to the bottom tube, also the norco looks really weird
  • 1 0
 @Bikerdude137: the new canyon sender has the shock connected to the downtube. Check Vital for a better photo of the linkage.
  • 1 0
 @ORTOGONAL555: ok thank!
  • 1 0
 @ORTOGONAL555: *s
  • 2 0
 Just noticed all the bikes with saint drivetrains have lower chainguides. None of the other bikes do. Is there something up with the clutch on the saint mech?
  • 3 1
 casey lookin good out there!
  • 4 0
 flattering hahah
  • 2 0
 Interested to know if Kasper tossed a 180 up front like Rude was doing.
  • 1 0
 Any word on Rheeder skipping the enduro and d.s but getting a dh bike check ?
  • 1 0
 i think he couldn't do the last two comps for unknown reasons
  • 2 0
 Prayers and thoughts for Finn's

:-)
  • 1 0
 Nearly 100% sure that Vezina is running a 29” front wheel on that Glory. Otherwise why have a Fox 49 on your bike?
  • 2 0
 the hype went when I realized I couldn't buy that frame Frown
  • 1 0
 Funny. All the locals are on double crowns. SS isn’t rough enough anymore for a double crown.
  • 1 0
 i meant single.. eff my phone.
  • 1 0
 The locals are all using dual crowns and the 3 tech trails we do have i would consider rough enough for dual crowns, maybe not chainsaw but definitely dags and downtown
  • 2 0
 Hi Vaea Verbeeck!!!!! 3
  • 1 0
 Finn's jersey is sweet. Wondering if we can find those on the internet...
  • 1 0
 Is it me or do all those bikes seem really short wheelbase?
  • 1 0
 Drooling over Vaea's Maiden, excited to see her crush the downhill today!
  • 1 0
 Rocky and Giant dh bikes are fugly.
  • 1 0
 I think the Rocky looks better than the Demo and the Kona and no worse than any of the others. The Demo just looks too busy to me and the Kona's rocker link looks unrefined like something somebody cut out in their garage. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like the look of Sessions the best though.
  • 4 0
 @shami: They aren't all sessions???
  • 1 0
 Brett Rheeder got the fasted looking bike, hope goes fast too!
  • 1 0
 Where was the custom Polygon?
  • 1 0
 Damn all these bikes are fugly.. Only the Spec is good looking
  • 1 0
 Damn if most of these bikes don't look the same??
  • 2 2
 The best response to Kashima is more Kashima.







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