Pit Walk: EWS 2015 - Ainsa

Sep 25, 2015

by Matt Wragg

We talk a walk through the pits of the Ainsa EWS for the best of the tech details.

With the technical climbing here in Ainsa, Isabeau Courdurier runs a 30t ring up front.

Yoann Barelli has gone gold this weekend, thanks to SRAM.

On Yoann's bike were some discretely branded SRAM carbon rims with a very different profile to anything currently in their range. Him and his mechanic were tightly lipped about details, but they look to have a shallower and much wider profile - we'd guess somewhere in the 28-30mm internal width range. What Yoann would say is that he was very impressed at how strong the carbon rims have been as he has been putting the miles in on them at home.

Jan the man has a busy day today, race prepping all four of the Cube riders' brand new race rigs.

Cube are one of the few teams who are running Shimano Di2 in the race - many of the other top Shimano supported teams have opted to stay mechanical with their race bikes right now while they work to understand the system better before running it in race conditions.

Canyon's Larry is never without a smile in the pits.

Inside Larrys toolbox is a rainbox of colour.

Inside Larry's toolbox is a rainbow of colour.

It's all about the little details - Canyon have had presentation carpets made for each of their riders bikes, a throwback to team manager, Flo's, Moto GP days.

Anneke Beerten has also gone gold this weekend.

Beerten's bike was also sporting Crankbrother's all new version of their Mallet pedals.

Specialized's Paddy is meticulous when it comes to prepping the bikes - and that process starts with a thorough clean of the cassette.

It was a fairly quiet day for the guys at SRAM today, but there were still a few Charger dampers to be stripped and rebuilt ahead of the race.

We're not quite sure how you're supposed to knock on this door...

Rene Wildhaber couldn't find an old Shimano thumbshifter for his remote lockout so improvised...

EWS round 7 Ainsa Spain. Photo by Matt Wragg.

Matteo Nati's little touches on Jerome Clementz's race bike: the top cut off the chainguide to make getting the cranks off quicker and easier; the sticker behind the crown of the fork to keep the mud out; Jerome is one of the few athletes to have access to Torque Caps to mate with his Lyrik fork and give him extra stiffness; prototype Michelin Wild Rock'R tyres are mounted to prototype, carbon SRAM Blackbox wheels - the same that Yoann Barelli is running.

The bikes of the defending champion and the series leader. The Yeti guys are rocking 30th anniversary edition frames and kits - no pirannahs in sight though. The bikes are exactly what you can go out and buy today - although only 250 are to be sold.

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mattwragg
Member since Oct 29, 2006
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78 Comments

81 3

speedfreek (Sep 25, 2015 at 8:47)

Those Yetis :O

11 3

PAmtbiker (Sep 25, 2015 at 8:51)

I thought they were ugly until I saw one in person a few weeks ago.

12 0

twozerosix (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:03)

Love em... In favor or not you gotta admit the execution is top notch.

3 19

salespunk (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:05) (Below Threshold)

Not what you can buy off the shelf though. XTR is not available on the 30th, only XO1.

rippersub (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:42)

The frame is identical, it was built to Jared's specs, I can't see him wanting to change the bike he designed. Parts don't count.

polarflux (Sep 25, 2015 at 10:24)

Eye candy. Just want to take a bite out of one.

radman13 (Sep 25, 2015 at 11:52)

Anyone else notice internal cable routing too? Pretty stoked to see that .

WAKIdesigns (Sep 25, 2015 at 12:40)

Those Yetis are the best looking bikes this year. Absolutely spectacular, beatiful. 90% of companies, take note.

UtahBikeMike (Sep 25, 2015 at 16:27)

Those yetis are much like my beard - growing on me

Jhou (Sep 26, 2015 at 0:38)

I'm actually surprised they're using the Fox Fit4 instead of the RC2. Is it that good or just 2014 marketing all over again.

40 2

MTBrent FL (Sep 25, 2015 at 11:09)

If I had to choose between ending world hunger or creating world peace, I would pick the 30th Anniv. color for my new SB6c.

36 4

ninjatarian (Sep 25, 2015 at 8:46)

In regards to Di2- "Work to understand the system better..." What do they need to understand better? Seems fairly straight forward to me.

willstuart94 FL (Sep 25, 2015 at 8:56)

Thought the same when I read that. Maybe it is the battery placement/cable routing, some frames don't allow for that yet.

27 2

g123 (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:04)

Just tells me that they don't yet trust Di2 on raceday when it's critical, in contrast to what some pros have been gushing about in recent promo ads...

18 4

VTwintips (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:07)

Probably how to fix it if it brakes. Mechanical systems are easy to fix because they're so god damn simple and clunky. Electronics are complicated as shit.

30 1

Duc1098 (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:27)

I wouldn't be too hard on them. They are probably testing it on their practice rigs and adding up the miles. I suspect it is less about 'not trusting it' and more along the lines of these riders wanting to beat the s*$% out of it at home and throw every conceivable problem at it before they deem it (in their personal opinion) 'race ready'. If I was a top pro/top shimano dog I would want to spend as much time as I felt I needed trying to beat it into the ground before I debuted it on race day.

18 1

groghunter (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:48)

Racers are a superstitious lot as well, you don't want to put something on their bikes that they don't trust yet, just because of the mental impact.

andrewbikeguide (Sep 25, 2015 at 12:21)

Not many frames designed for internal battery placement espcially as non specific internal option is designed around using a fixed seat post not a dropper. External battery mountes to bottle cage mounts and currently includes the junction box. Relatively exposed to being damaged in a crash/ fall when compared to mostly internally routed mechanical at the moment. Just a thought.

mblar (Sep 25, 2015 at 18:21)

I've got one of the brown 36 that's nearly as homely as those.

Brenmaster FL (Sep 26, 2015 at 0:49)

This stuff has been on Greg Callaghan's bike since last season. If it survived and Irish winter it can't be too flimsy. Cube where probably first to start using this so stands to reason they are the first racing on it.
Why ? Because they can.
Would I ? No
Why ? Because this year for the first time I have a high value derailure on my bike and I'm spending way too much time and effort minding it

VTwintips (Sep 26, 2015 at 9:25)

Its probably just as strong as any other derailleur. The exception is that it could be possible to fix any other deralleur if it takes a wack, whereas, good luck fixing this one.

deadtime (Sep 27, 2015 at 7:14)

Does the man answer his own questions? Yes, he does.

Is it always amusing to me to see someone have a convo with themselves thru text? Well, yes, it is. JK

27 1

arna86 (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:54)

I'm sure Specialized's Paddy knows what he's doing...but I can't help but notice all that greasy cassette water flicking straight onto the rear disc?! Bike OCD here

kdstones (Sep 25, 2015 at 11:52)

Exactly what I was thinking! I'd have to give my rotors a thorough rubbing alcohol cleaning if I did that...

wolf-amongst-lambs (Sep 26, 2015 at 22:55)

What makes you think water would clean an oily cassette to begin with?

kdstones (Sep 27, 2015 at 9:10)

I'm just assuming that it's probably a degreaser he's using there...

wolf-amongst-lambs (Sep 27, 2015 at 15:51)

That's what I'm saying....

arna86 (Sep 27, 2015 at 16:07)

@wolf-amongst-lambs Just for the the record, I'm aware that you can't clean an oily cassette with just water. Degreaser or not though, I still wouldn't want anything that'd been on my cassette anywhere near my rotors. As I say though, I'm sure Paddy knows what he's doing - think of it more as a comment on my initial reaction to the way the photo looks and the caption reads

30 11

gabriel-mission9 (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:28)

Matteo Nati's little touches:

Taped the fork crowns, then fitted a mudguard? Why? One makes the other redundant.

Cut the top off the chain device to make removing the guide easier. Except I own the same chain device and all the hardware is captive, so it is actually quicker to remove it the normal way than loosening it then wiggling it out the top. I remove mine to reposition it, as it is quicker than loosening then wiggling.

Put torque caps on a hub so there is massive contact between spacer and fork. However this doesn't do anything about the fact that the other end of the cap is still pressing up against a tiny bearing race. So a lot of work modifying the fork (i assume) for little benefit...

wonder how many negs I'll get for this...

16 1

gabriel-mission9 (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:29)

that sunrace lockout lever on the other hand, thats the kinda bodge I like.

12 7

DARKSTAR63 (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:50)

You should apply to be a race mechanic then huh

Seabassfourfinger (Sep 25, 2015 at 10:02)

Also the small sticker on Clemenz rim stats that the rim is "sample only not for structural evaluation" hopefully Jerome will survive the weekend

18 0

feeblesmith (Sep 25, 2015 at 10:44)

The caps also has contact along the axle thus making it less bendy = stiffer fork.

I still vote for 20mm though.

10 7

gabriel-mission9 (Sep 25, 2015 at 10:45)

I would love to be a race mech, and call me arrogant but I think I'm good enough.

How the hell do I apply?

Seriously, this is a genuine question....

gabriel-mission9 (Sep 25, 2015 at 10:52)

@feeblesmith Yeah, I was kinda hesitant to write "no benefit" so I compromised with "little benefit" I agree with what you are saying about contact with the axle itself improving things but we're splitting hairs here. How much play do the spacer have on the axle? I'm willing to bet its enough to negate any real advantage. As you rightly pointed out 20mm is the actual solution to the problem, rather than pissing about with funny end caps which make very little difference to an inferior system.

14 0

xeren (Sep 25, 2015 at 10:55)

you probably are good enough to apply, but it tends to be a "friends of the athletes" type gig.

so, start making friends?

15 4

gabriel-mission9 (Sep 25, 2015 at 11:04)

Bugger.
Any racers out there need a mech? I'm much less of an a*shole in person

DARKSTAR63 (Sep 25, 2015 at 11:08)

Just saying, kind of silly to nit-pick. The sticker isn't exactly redundant- you really think mud won't find its way there...at all? .. Furthermore - does he need a better reason than just wanting to put the sticker there? lol Secondly - even though it seems pointless to debate, let's : How is loosening the guide and sliding off the top not quicker?

mark3 (Sep 25, 2015 at 11:10)

there's got to be at least 0.1mm+ clearance between the axle and spacer bush which will do nothing to increase stiffness, @Gabriel-mission I agree with all you say, 20mm = maximum stiffness

DARKSTAR63 (Sep 25, 2015 at 11:11)

Haha - in all seriousness it does sound like a dream job to me @gabriel-mission9

10 1

gabriel-mission9 (Sep 25, 2015 at 11:22)

But I like nit picking. If I can't be a race mech, then my number 2 dream job would to be one of those monkeys that goes round picking nits off of other monkeys.

The guide thing: loosening, then wiggling just makes the captive hardware catch in the slot. fully removing the bolt takes an extra second, and you save at least 5 seconds repositioning the hardware.

kdstones (Sep 25, 2015 at 11:54)

Apply for your local bike shop, then try to work your way up... I would love to have a guy like you at my shop! @gabriel-mission9

billymtb (Sep 25, 2015 at 17:05)

Mud guard stops mud from coming between the arch and crown when it flings off the tyre at a certain angle.

jhtopilko (Sep 25, 2015 at 20:30)

Some people are smarter than mechanics, but they don't fix things as well.

StraightLineJoe (Sep 26, 2015 at 1:19)

You can be my race mechanic mate @gabriel-mission9! I never win but I always fall off so you will shit loads to fix.

ecologist (Sep 26, 2015 at 9:42)

Didn't the Atherton's float an ad for a race wrench a year or so ago? Obviously not common but I guess it happens.

sicmoto (Sep 27, 2015 at 13:50)

Have any of you ever thought to yourselves "Jesus, my front axle is waaaay too flexy". Such utter nonsense, the perpetual front axle debate does my proverbial tits in. Why oh why did they change from 20mm? WHY?

faul (Sep 28, 2015 at 2:22)

About the torque cap, if there is a cylinder between the fork's axle and the bearing races (like many 12mm rear hubs), "torque caps" may hold it, that would stiffens the fork/wheel.

gabriel-mission9 (Sep 28, 2015 at 10:59)

Indeed, and if that cylinder had really massive wall thicknesses, it might just make a noticeable difference.

16 2

jaame (Sep 25, 2015 at 17:39)

Jerome has access to torque caps to add stiffness to his 15mm axle.

20mm anyone?

It's laughable.

13 1

madmon (Sep 25, 2015 at 8:52)

yeti................yum yum yum

10 0

Orangesicle (Sep 25, 2015 at 8:59)

And running Saint brakes. BAM!

rickaybobbay (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:59)

to go fast you have to be able to stop fast. "You're only as fast as you can stop."

groghunter (Sep 25, 2015 at 15:22)

This is why I run 203 rotors on the front of every bike. the weight difference between rotor sizes is really pretty negligible, you're certainly not losing enough weight to counteract the loss of speed from poorer braking. I run 180 in the rear purely because I like the way it feels combined with the 203, except on the full DH bike.

BobChicken (Sep 27, 2015 at 4:44)

Pretty sure Graves runs Saint callipers and XTR Race levers.... FYI. Better modulation, more power?

christx (Sep 25, 2015 at 16:19)

Dear Maxxis:

Please make the Maxxis Minion Semi-Slick Tire in 26" x 2.3" and 2.5".

Thank You for your consideration.

keewi (Sep 25, 2015 at 13:21)

Slip jaw pliers on the shock cartridge is just criminal, by a factory tech to boot. I would expect that from a farmer.

sniggled (Sep 25, 2015 at 20:30)

It's actually a wrench posing as a pair of pliers. Awesome tools and very common in the tool boxes of pro mechanics. Saves time switching between wrench sizes.

www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&page=group_detail&groupID=1500

"replaces the need for sets of metric and imperial spanners
smooth jaws for damage free installation of plated fittings - working directly on chrome!"

Most farmers don't have $75 pliers on hand.

joeyrotundo (Sep 26, 2015 at 8:07)

Good eye,thanks for that!

bongpill (Sep 25, 2015 at 8:55)

Bike gear porn! I wonder if smashing those Di2 derailleurs is what worries them. Lots of rocks in Ainsa!

Orangesicle (Sep 25, 2015 at 10:27)

I don't think they have to worry about the cost... And they are just as strong as the non-Di2 mechs. We have to worry abut replacement cost!

ReformedRoadie (Sep 25, 2015 at 10:00)

Why no 3D violet bling on the Yetis?

SB66 (Sep 25, 2015 at 10:07)

No OneUp chain guide on either of the yetis? Interesting.....

lumberjack77 (Sep 29, 2015 at 7:04)

Haha I love it, modifying an old sunrace shifter for the lock out. Hopefully it didn't seize up mid race...

MojoMaujer (Sep 25, 2015 at 12:51)

What's up sram? Did not have money to make the big cog gold as well? FFS two pic of that cheesball cassette to boot!

maxyedor (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:20)

What's that tire in the lower left of the Yeti pic? New Maxxis semi-slick with Minion side-knobs? Please say yes.

Mattin (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:25)

Yes

Mattin (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:25)

It's the new Maxxis Minion SS

bonfire16 (Sep 25, 2015 at 9:28)

www.pinkbike.com/photo/12020923

jasdo (Sep 25, 2015 at 11:20)

Maybe out just in time for the winter mud... seems like this dry conditions tire should have come out over the summer!

pipcarder (Sep 26, 2015 at 9:14)

For the northern hemisphere it may be the end of the hot weather...

Ronworth (Sep 28, 2015 at 2:07)

I once wore a yeti costume on a yeti during halloween. True story.

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