Bergamont Straitline 29er – Fort William DH World Cup 2017
Bergamont Factory Team rider Eddie Masters—fresh from the German Rampage—will be racing this modified Straitline on the rough cobbles of the Fort William World Cup this weekend. Eddie already proved himself here last year, with 2nd place in qualifying, only to take a front door exit strategy on two occasions in the final. Let's hope the big hoops will give him the grip he needs to stay on track this Sunday.
OK, so this isn't a new bike, it's a standard Straitline team chassis with wagon wheels wedged inside, a tight clearance trend that will be rife in the pits as riders scramble to not be left behind. The Straitline frame has an adjustable wheelbase and in the long 440mm setting has just enough clearance for a bigger wheel.
The team admitted they had not done much testing in terms of times and numbers, but the best feedback the mechanics got from the racers is that they are definitely not going slower. Feeling a lot more in control, fatigue over full runs is reduced, and they are getting less beaten up by the rocks; all of which means they can ride faster for longer.
Waiting years for a new lower fork casting to try a big wheel DH bike? Not for Manitou and their upside down Dorado. Bolt in a big hoop, check the clearance and get going. And, hey, what's up with that extra valve?
The team has swapped out their standard 240mm x 76mm shock, for a 230mm x 65mm metric unit. This reduces travel slightly to 180mm and lowers the ride height.
Normally the team use the -1 degree headset cups supplied with the Straitline, using a shorter shock meant they changed to straight cups to maintain the 62.5 head angle.
Limited clearance. Let's hope the weather holds out and the infamous wooded section doesn't get too boggy. The team is limited in choice of rubber for this weekend, but if conditions change they can simply throw those little old wheels back in and the old shock to return to factory settings.
I have the same tires on my trail bike, fantastic choice. I chose them for all the logos. More logos must mean more performance, yeah?
The MTX33 from Sun Ringle is a hardcore wheel choice, a good match for the brutal rock sections at Fort William.
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"Go home with your 29ers" he said....
GOLD!!!
p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2017/06/01/5181/s1200_Screen_Shot_2017_06_01_at_9.55.51_AM.jpg
Can you set LR HR LC HC Sag and bottom-out in a tire ?
Loic i am in your side.
One day they will make a GPS Shock that changes settings in a precise spot.
This trade-off is stupid.
They said with bigger wheels you need less travel...cool...
How big they should be so you wont need a shock ?
A 35+ ?
Maybe your right...image how much you save in fork and shock.