With the race this weekend Albstadt being the first stop on the XC World Cup calendar for 2019, there are a number of fresh bikes on course. Here are several that caught our photographers' eyes along with a few more interesting tech randoms.
Kate Courtney's Scott ScaleScott's Twin-loc system isn't just used on the Spark.
DT Swiss wheels and hubs
Kate's mechanic, Brad Copeland, has integrated a blip in the grip to control the wireless dropper post.
SRAM's AXS drivetrain kept in place with a small chainguide.
Jolanda Neff's Trek ProcaliberSRAM's AXS drivetrain held in place with an MRP chainguide.
Malene Degn's Orbea AlmaFSA cranks keep the power numbers going through the SRAM XX1 drivetrain calcualted.
Nearly every top racer seems to be running a dropper these days. Proper.
Fox suspension up front smoothing out the interesting terrain here.
Michelin tyres.
Carter Woods' Rocky Mountain Vertex
Manuel Fumic's Cannondale FSi
MENTIONS: @mdelorme @andy9
The throwback paintjobs are kind of a mashup of old designs rather than an actual replica, no?
I gotta admit I'm confused by their choice of hubs too. Top riders riding top end hubs should be a no-brainer from both the rider and DT's point of view. Why on earth aren't they running them?
No, not really.
So they only reason not to run them i can think of is the cost issue you mention. But then these guys are the worlds top pro's. They arent paying for them. I dont get why dt arent pushing them to ride the most expensive snake oiliest hubs they produce. It seems silly not too.
Ceramic Speed bearing are an absolute crime against intelligence.
The balls are ceramic, true, but races are still steel.
Plus, it’s the sealing in a bearing often combined with minor bearing cups (i.e. in BBs) that causes most of friction issues.
The story told by Ceramic Speed is utter bullshit. 14 watts advantage on bearings alone is nonsense marketing garbage.
Admittedly I am a a bit of a geek when it comes to customizing my bikes, and have an artsy OCD with this stuff, but, these are tough but beautiful creations..why not celebrate them with the best aesthetic they can have?
I'd say the orange(which I can't stand) of the Fox fork should have something like a seat collar, steer tube spacers..whatever, or even the kashima goldish color tied in, but out their on it's own with no color bond, it's just...out there, no unity.
I didn't want to say itoadaso, but itoadaso!
"Why are you using ..." wheels?"
"Why are you running (no) rear suspension?"
"Why are you riding (without) tire inserts?"
"Why are you running (no) remote lock-out?"
Any of these questions and any answer to these from a WC XC racer should be just fine, shouldn't it?
They have real gems in their catalog.
The crank above was presented over 1 year ago, maybe even two. He did not hit the shelf until one year later.
Hey, thank you, if you postpone the launch of some products because you found some issue and wanted to fix it (Like Shimano and unlike Sram). But almost all products you present hit the shelf a year later?
And, no it’s not a women’s fit thing. Some women have higher bar heights because of smaller frame sizes on 29ers, but that was a factor of fitting them to the bike and it turned out it was still fast. They could run -25 drop stems like Nino, but it turns out it’s not needed. Back in the 26” days, pro women rode pretty big saddle to bar drops as well. Besides Fumic runs a pretty new school fit (maybe not as high as Courtney’s bars but still really upright, and he’s not a female, and he rides in baggies).
www.pinkbike.com/photo/17078048
Looks more upright to me.
One of Fumic’s older setups, but bars pretty level with his saddle. Once again, not female.
When actually sitting and pedaling shes in almost the exact same position as langvad, with a torso angle right at 45 degrees. Taking individual riders as an example of whole doesnt work, because not everyone has the same level of flexibility. Its not a matter of "new school fit", you cant make power if you exceed your ROM.
www.bikehub.co.za/features/_/news/mtb/international-mtb/langvad-and-courtney-dominate-on-prologue-day-r7186
The two best male XC racers side by side, with almost identical fits despite different body builds:
cdn-cyclingtips.pressidium.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Screen-Shot-2016-08-18-at-4.02.12-PM.png
You can compare the top road riders and they all look fairly similar on the bike too. Most of the greats roadies aren't the ones riding with slammed stems and flat backs in an attempt to be aero.
images.app.goo.gl/dP1ndUwxyWkttEoT9
And that’s the same position enduro and DH riders are in in the attack position as well, despite massive stack heights and riser bars. Bars don’t need to be low to get your weight forward or to bend at your waist.
snowbrains.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/enduro-mtb.jpg
This isn't hard, if you put your saddle in the correct position for pedalling efficiency you then put the bars where your hands are. For men it results in a low bar, for women not so much. There is this thing called science, and you're woefully ignorant about it.
www.njdsportsinjuries.co.uk/bike-fitting/bikefit-science
None of that in this thread, but it seems to be a growing trend when any geo/bike fit topic comes up.
www.syncros.com/us/en/search/?text=fraser
But as you said, no racer on the world is using such a light bike. Most bikes (hardtail) that raced yesterday are in the 8,5-9kg range or above.