Pit Randoms: Samoens EWS

Jul 17, 2015
by Paul Aston  
Randoms - EWS Samoens
  Megavalanche aftermath with Miles Mallinson. Miles said the wheel was still straight enough to go around after it 'popped out of shape,' but was too ovalised to pass through the chainstays. I suggested he should try running more than four spokes...

Randoms - EWS Samoens
  Custom bottle cage solutions in the SB Gravity pits.

Randoms - EWS Samoens
  There's lots of coil shocks knocking around in the pits, including a Rock Shox Vivid mounted to Bryan Reignier's YT Capra. The French format in Samoens means nearly all the riding is lift accessed, and stages are mostly steep, downhill gnar. Many riders are beefing up their suspension, discs and tires.

Randoms - EWS Samoens
  Nicolas Vouilloz is a big fan of his E-bike for training. Custom roost protectors and even a 27+ tire at the back to be even more moto.

Randoms - EWS Samoens

Randoms - EWS Samoens
38 tooth chainring #beast.
Randoms - EWS Samoens

Randoms - EWS Samoens
Voullioz is nursing a sore shoulder from a recent dirt nap. Mechanic Mattieu say they are trying make the bike more comfortable and easy to ride. Coil shock, downhill tires and 200mm rotors.

Randoms - EWS Samoens
  The BMC team must have taken note of the continuous moaning about their colourless black kit and bikes from the EWS photographers. All three team riders all have personalised new paint jobs and matching race kit for this weekend.

Randoms - EWS Samoens
  Hannah Barnes has a lovely new signature Mucky Nutz guard.

Randoms - EWS Samoens
  Sam Blenkinsop is racing his second EWS this weekend. I remember him pulling off a 7th place at the Mega a few years back on a downhill bike, with steep, loose and dusty conditions scheduled for this weekend he could be a rider to watch out for.

Randoms - EWS Samoens
  Not only are the Hope Technology pits full of beautifully crafted works of art, they also have some pretty bike components too.

Randoms - EWS Samoens

Randoms - EWS Samoens
Randoms - EWS Samoens

Randoms - EWS Samoens

Randoms - EWS Samoens
  Despite the lift assisted nature of this event, Nico Lau is still running a dual ring up front with Shimano Di2 shifting.

Randoms - EWS Samoens
  Radon Factory Team rider James Shirley has gone to town with customising his pit set up. He was also once voted most beautiful man in Fort William.

Randoms - EWS Samoens

Randoms - EWS Samoens
Randoms - EWS Samoens

Randoms - EWS Samoens


MENTIONS: @EnduroWorldSeries



Author Info:
astonmtb avatar

Member since Aug 23, 2009
486 articles

168 Comments
  • 178 46
 Oh god somebody toss Nicolas Vouilloz's bike in the lake! Does he seriously train with an e bike or is that a joke?
  • 99 114
flag Treehouse15 (Jul 17, 2015 at 6:43) (Below Threshold)
 nowt wrong with that mate...be open minded
  • 68 40
 There's plenty wrong with it. It's very nearly a motocross bike, all you need to do is remove the crank arms...
  • 57 21
 training and e-bikes dont make sense? ever heard of a lift ticket ??
  • 159 24
 Satan created E-bikes
  • 69 35
 Are you a better rider than him for being able to tell him what to do?
  • 80 18
 Tons of top guys use moto as training, this is a lot closer to mtb than that. As an aside it is probably the coolest E bike I have seen.
  • 39 2
 I think if they're serious he means it's a good way of training meaning you can get in a lot of downhill because you don't use effort on uphill? I don't know, that's what I'd think.
  • 67 3
 Or it's easier to preview whole EWS courses on that thing because you don't use as much energy as on a real mountain bike.
  • 20 36
flag mddigger (Jul 17, 2015 at 7:11) (Below Threshold)
 When i think of training i think of physical activity, how is riding an e bike up a hill training? why not just use a moto or drive up to the top if u wana save your legs for race day or better yet do what others do and pedal! It looks like it is trying to be a moto pretty hard with the little roost guards and the laptop computer on the bars, so why not just ride an actual moto?
  • 65 32
 Norrow minders sucks...
  • 82 1
 Because I have a small feeling people will be a bit less offended by someone riding an e bike up hills than a CRF450.
  • 21 8
 The entire Lapierre squad use E-bikes for training, including Bruni and Vergier, they do the local enduro races on them during winter.
  • 69 8
 The fact that he trains with an e-bike or rides an E-bike is not that big a deal to me. But I am a big opponent of E-bikes on mountain biking trails that are specific to mountain bikes. Granted most E-bikes currently are pretty much a mountain bike with an electric motor, but if they are allowed it wont be long till you see Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda come out with electric motor bikes. As you see lighter motor bikes the line between electric motorbikes and electric mountain bikes become blurry. I really dont want ANY motorized vehicle on single track trails for mountain bikes regardless of the type of motor, gas or electric.
  • 37 9
 Not against e bikes for people who have a handicap or a disability, but the dude is a pro enduro racer, you don't see XC or dh guys training on e bikes. Also what the actual f*ck are the roost guards even for, is he clocking in that high of speeds on that thing?
  • 48 11
 wonder how many of you have ridden a peddle assist e bike. its nothing like a motorbike, its 250w for god sake. people need to get theirs heads from their bottoms and realise there are lots of different e bikes but these will not hurt your mtb trails. its the hub and mid drive bikes with 2.5+kw motors that might do trail damage, but most of them stick to roads and fire roads as theyre heavy and not as nimble.

oh and its funny reading people giving his training techniques a bashing, how many world champs have you guys won?
  • 41 6
 I have won as many EWS championships as Lance Armstrong has won Tour De Frances I think I know what I am talking about. :p
  • 15 4
 so...making your mtn bike "moto" is the hot shit now huh? so i can spend even more money on my rig to make it moto, instead of spending half as much for a real dirtbike. thats it, the world is ending
  • 37 5
 E-bikes are the the new Rollerblades. Don't let your friends see you on either one.
  • 6 2
 Exactly. He can sus out the downs and more effort in to them. Makes sense to me
  • 28 7
 These E bikes (at least the ones I've read about) are not electric dirt bikes. They are electric pedal assisted mountain bikes. NO THROTTLE.
  • 11 2
 its all about advertisement
  • 10 1
 The Bosch motors require you to pedal for them to apply any amount of assistance
  • 6 3
 yeah with a lift ticket you ride a bicycle down the hill not an electric motorcycle.
  • 16 6
 Give the guy a break. Hell, he's had both knees destroyed and still racing. A little help can't be that bad.

www.pinkbike.com/news/nico-vouilloz-injured-in-training-accident.html
  • 16 5
 Nico would smoke all you nay-sayers, so that's a bold statement to flip him shit for how he trains.
  • 15 6
 Just to clarify; I'm not laying in to Nico, I'm slating E-bikes as a concept
  • 7 4
 Hell no i am not an ews racer and never will be, i just dont see the point of training with an e bike? How is training with an e bike going to improve his fitness? Im obviously no pro, but my guess is that the best training for enduro is pedaling up a hill and then bombing it down, is that not what enduro is about???
  • 9 18
flag mnorris122 (Jul 17, 2015 at 8:26) (Below Threshold)
 Man 27.5+ E-bikes must be TERRIBLE for the trail, I can't believe he'd ride one. IMO anyone who rides a bike like that is a douche, based solely off of what they're doing to the trail.
  • 23 5
 @mnorris122

That bike is just pedal assisted. You can't rip up trail like a dirt bike. It does no more damage than any other bike.
  • 15 15
 E-bikes are fantastic, only ideology could stop anyone from enjoying a ride on one. You pedal like an idiot because you just want more speed. I would buy one to my family if I could afford it.
  • 6 4
 @mugen they do local enduros on them? what kind of race would allow that? Isn't half the point of enduro being able to pedal to the top? e-bikes are the devil.
  • 6 7
 Where does it say Nico uses E-bike to practice stages?
  • 4 2
 The extra terrestrial on a ebike? Seems fitting to me. But I think they made a mistake in the article. He actually trains with a rally car. In all seriousness, who are we to say what he does is right or wrong? He's won more world cup dh championships than anyone to date. Plus, he's only ridding this whole enduro thing for fun. It's not like he's in his prime expecting to win multiple championships. But, who knows.
  • 5 0
 imagine if there was an image of "Froome training e-bike" what that would sound like...hahah
  • 11 1
 training on an e-bike...use less energy, but go a lot faster...he can do the course more times in a day without over exhaustion...seems like that would be good way to train for a race.
  • 4 2
 Respect the legend that Nico is! You gonna harp on guys for training on moto x bikes too?
  • 5 1
 Nothing like a moto... No throttle twisting, just a couple extra watts at the cranks. Big deal... :\
  • 1 0
 @wakidesigns "Nicolas Vouilloz is a big fan of his E-bike for training. Custom roost protectors and even a 27+ tire at the back to be even more moto." caption under the photo of his handguards...
  • 3 0
 E-bikes certainly have their place, but I can't help but feel you shouldn't be allowed to use them while on race duty. It's akin to shuttling imo. Now obviously this course is 1 practice lap only and lift assisted, so makes no difference here, but at the likes of tweedlove it would make a huge difference.
  • 2 0
 @gingerninja you're right, 250w really isn't much.

The difference between an average Joe putting down 200 watts and having 450 watts with pedal assist is nothing. Fast guys are putting down 450 watts anyway!
  • 8 1
 If Chris Froome was putting out 400w up a climb in the TdF, and he added another 250w, yes, that would surely be a big deal. That's an additional 60%+. To pretend otherwise is either intentionally obtuse, or blind ignorance.
  • 13 1
 If Nicolas Vouilloz runs it, then I would trust it, that man has been ahead of the curve since before curves where around!
  • 6 4
 The world is flat.
  • 7 3
 @mattsavage - does that mean that he uses it for training at home or anywhere he wishes to as as a part of preparation for all EWS events or that he uses it for at the venue of EWS event? I am so confused
  • 2 1
 You nailed it there with the comment "a real mountain bike" !!!
  • 6 9
 Well Froome is using tons of legal drugs along with grams of illegal ones while MTB purists are ok with spending thousands on dumb XTR or stupid carbon rims which uses exactly same principle of performance enhancement but gives them virtually nothing.

I give you an idea. Let say that you mount to your bike a 10lbs cylinder made of lead. It has its own cog and freewheel. You spin it up to 10k RPM before race, in the pits. Then at selected times during the race, you can connect it to your drive train which assists your pedalling.

Would that be moral to use on Enduro race?
  • 4 10
flag LCW1 (Jul 17, 2015 at 15:19) (Below Threshold)
 Just lost a bit of respect for the legend that is Vouilloz... Sorry man, but if an athlete of his status (sure he's not at his prime) choses to use an E-bike for training, WTF kind of message does that send out...
  • 2 0
 send out whatever his sponsors or brands want him to. I guess now there is a lot of boys and girls exited with enduro e- bikes... (looking at comments). Meanwhile in other stratosphere also respectable riders deal with power assisted myths in their sport... but in this case it's a toy until someone tell me that is used for training ... then that got me thinking... nah ...
  • 7 1
 If motorcycles help with turning and other abilities then why not train on an ebike? They let you work on the non-health related skills (turning, jumping, etc) for longer before your body fails.
People are stupid for hating on a pro for riding one. If you are going to complain do it because the trails are getting too crowded since being unhealthy is no longer a barrier to entry.
Personally I think demand will increase the supply of trails and skill will be a barrier for the non-flow trails.
  • 5 1
 i don't know if any of you e-bike haters remember that Vouilloz had some heavy injuries that follow some heavy surgeries so give him a brake... no one had such amazing prime time as he did ...
  • 2 0
 @LeDuke I wasn't saying that the increase wasn't substantial, I'm saying it wouldn't cause trail damage. If it did, strong riders would be damaging trails. Skid kiddies dragging brakes on the way down is what causes trail damage.
  • 2 5
 www.pinkbike.com/photo/12464564

I wish to thank God for giving me the opportunity to ride this super expensive 650B bike with Boost on a machine dug trail
  • 6 0
 e bike haters, you are aware that all the things you are saying were said when suspension first came out, and dropper posts, and 10 speed, and expander rings. you can hate all you want but who are you to criticise what people ride. mtb is about having fun, not slagging off the latest technology. if you dont like peddle assist ebikes dont buy one. but dont try and make out they ruin your trails or people are so how less of a biker for riding one. stop slagging people off and just get out and ride your bikes.
  • 1 2
 @WAKIdesigns En kärringcykel är nog mer passande
  • 2 0
 I actually have ridden the lapierre E-bike. The version I rode had 3 modes for pedaling and the turbo mode was amazing it was like being superman on a mountain bike only on uphill though, down hill it was like a heavier MTB.

I understand the difference between an E-bike and a moto. All I'm saying is that if a local trail allows an E-bike, 5 years from now when I have a 500watt "E-bike" with dual crown suspension, 3-4inch wheels and weighs 60lbs should Ibe able to ride it on a MTB only trail?
  • 1 1
 Den ena sanna cykelglädje är en elektrisk glädje
  • 2 1
 @dirtypants - increase in power is a serious concern indeed, so is the simplicity of hacking the system to eliminate power-cut off sbove 25km/h and eventual upgrade with hand operated throttle. Howe er I believe the law of dininushibg returns would stop most of such developments and limit them only to absolute idiots, as such bike would get even heavier (Trek I rode is on the edge of what I would consider as enjoyable handling), which would cause issues on downs. Then it would get so close to a motorbike that one could ask himself, why bother. Those electric engine equipped MX and trials motos are sweet.
  • 1 0
 Ktm has an all electric dirtbike. I expect dh bikes with electric motors to be more akin to the future of motorcycling, not Mtb. Also, expect laws prohibiting wattage to begin governing trails soon enough.
  • 6 4
 Nothing wrong with ebikes. Just stay the f#ck off the non-motorized trails. Thanks!
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns I hope you are right

I will say that if you want to pre ride an Enduro course 1 or 2 weeks before the race and there is a no shuttling rule on the trails the current E-bikes are very tempting
  • 1 0
 Hate on him all you want he would still shit on you even if you were riding the ebike. Also its likely advertising
  • 1 0
 @Dirtypants - what do you propose so that such situation does not happen?
@poozank - are you suggesting that I am sponsored by one of companies making E-bikes?
  • 2 0
 Nobody commenting here is even close to Nicolas' level of fitness and the majority of you have used a ski lift.
  • 3 0
 From a racing aspect to be able to practice the course with putting as little amount of effort in the up hills as possible and to save your energy for race day is brilliant. Negative prop me all you want
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns I was reffering to the people hating on nico and him riding the ebike
  • 1 0
 you can already get and ebike with more than 250w but they are not peddle assist and are not legal to ride on the road and are considered a motor bike in the uk. my mate has a 2.5kw mid drive trek remedy and even that wouldnt do any real damaged to an mtb trail. oh and he built it himself and only rides on the roads.
if you want to see what an ebike is really capable of watch this.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=leLZZK4llYE
most of the powerful bikes are built by nerds that have no desire to ride mtb tracks.
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns I have been thinking about it, and I really don't know what is a good solution. Again today's E-bikes I am not concerned with it's the unknown future I wonder about.
  • 3 0
 There is no problem in my eyes. 250W assist-only is a good regulation. Everything else is illegal and subject to fine. You need a good local community monitoring trails, in most cases you need to make disrespectful morons feel not welcomed, it will always play on their mind.
  • 1 0
 The truth ^
  • 1 0
 ...so training with an e-bike got him a second place - does not sound that wrong after all, doesn't it?
  • 1 0
 Terrible horrible, and training on MX for DH is totaly legit, cuz do you even moto bro
  • 3 0
 #whogivesashit hes a lord
  • 2 0
 The fact he rides a 38T single on the front for enduro should be the talking point!
Have any of you weapons even ridden an ebike?
I have - it definitely wasn't cheating. For practise, what a tool. You can get miles of trail practise in, in a third of the time.
  • 2 1
 oh and the dude at the top who said, if you take the cranks off its nearly a motorbike. yes a motobike that doesnt go anywhere. peddle assist, if you dont peddle nothing will happen, and if it did 250w is about the same as having 5cc motorbike.
  • 1 1
 @gingerninja: 500+ watts for specialized
  • 2 0
 @ryanbpoquette: This thread is close to 2 years old and you are wrong about specialized, their Levo is 250W.
  • 1 0
 @Patrick9-32: Specialized Turbo Levo has max power at 530W. They call it Trail tuned 250W. Have a nice day
  • 67 16
 Lift-assisted and e-bikes. Enduro is in full-on bitch mode these days.
  • 8 15
flag zede (Jul 17, 2015 at 8:49) (Below Threshold)
 It's so sad, enduro was invented in France and it was like : pro and amateur racing together, no chairlift, nearly no media, no stress, lots of fun. And it wasn't in big mtb/ski resorts.

Now in 2015, the worst EWS is in France (regarding the original definition), people who think mégavalanche is an enduro race are french. And everybody think vouilloz and barel are a good example of enduro racers...
  • 16 1
 They should just call it Long Downhill Racing.
  • 15 3
 Funny thing is about 75% of people on this site, don't have the fitness and skills to even finish an EWS race in one piece. Where does that leave you then?
  • 14 1
 Sorry but, saying Barel is not a good example of an Enduro Racer? Please, show me your trophies pal!
  • 9 2
 @dualsuspensiondave riding on an EWS racetrack is not that hard. What is hard is racing on it. So finishing is "easy", but finishing within the pro racers...impossible

Enduro was/ is/should stay "natural" single track racing. And I think the italian and irish EWS tracks are those which fit the best to the original enduro definition.
  • 5 6
 @Allier
barel is originally a dh racer ; clementz, lau, absalon are enduro racers since the beginning (of enduro racing). that's my point.
  • 2 3
 Race endurance if you want the pedalling to wear you down. Enduro is named for enduro motorcycle racing where the sheer challenge of the trail wears you out. If you think lift is for wimps then you must think DH doesn't wear you out.
  • 2 3
 @taletotell who said lifts is for wimps?
you just don't understand that enduro is like WRC : race takes place on special stages linked by non raced trail/road sections.
By the way, I'm not saying the track is shite, it's probably the opposite, but the format of this race doesn't match the definition of enduro.

But talking about what is enduro with guys from US is useless, since your enduro are lift assisted races on imba trails.
And again, read the memo about enduro that matt wragg wrote few years ago
  • 2 0
 Every race format starts with no press and on minor trails with everyone racing together.
And it's not like you can't can't still go to small races.
Are you just sad the sport has grown up?
  • 2 0
 And If enduro is like wrc then they should push the cars between stages because enduro is gravity powered racing. Also, most enduro here is not lift access. The Scott enduro uses the lift once in the park city venue. I am not sure about the Idaho race, but the moab venue has no lifts. The Oregon enduro uses even less lifts. I don't know about California's races overall, but I bet they are the same.
  • 1 1
 hey that was just a bit of trolling, don't worry. I think they are using lifts here because the climbs are really steep, it would not be appropriate as linking sections.
  • 2 0
 @taletotell the Idaho enduro had 4000 + ft of climbing on day one and another 1000 ish day 2. It was about 95 degrees too which was making a lot of people wilt. I think the amateur class lost about 20 people after the first day
  • 35 3
 "m8 wanna go ride? no man... my battery is dead..."
  • 20 0
 I know of a better way to being even more moto.........
  • 10 1
 better and cheaper
  • 18 5
 Holy shit, most AMA MX guys will only run hand guards at mud races, and maybe unadilla and washougal (rocky)... How is it possible that an ebike needs hand guards? Are they getting mad ebike roost ouch. I feel like I must be missing something here because nico is too much of a beast to ask for hand guards on an mtb.
What's next, oh man my downhill bike is sooooo Moto bro it has radiators...
  • 2 4
 You gots good grammars.
  • 4 2
 BECAUSE RIPPING THROUGH MTB TRAILS UPHILL YOUR NOT COVERING THE BRAKES REALLY, THEREFORE LEVERS ARE SUBJECT TO BEING GRABBED BY THE PASSING BRANCHES/BRUSH.
  • 4 0
 single track is often narrower than moto trails in my experience. I have hit hands on trees enough doing both sports.
  • 1 0
 That makes sense, thanks
  • 6 2
 I'm pretty sure he does it for laughs, way to stand out, individuality sheeiiit I thought it was Hella funny and for all the sheep's out there your telling me that if you where given a e bike for free you wouldn't rip the shiznits out of it because your inflamed ego is to massive for you to even imagine yourself next to one cuz others might make fun and hurt your feelings haha that's almost as funny as e bike hand guards I bet there fun as hell! If I had the chance ide be silent brappin it up threw all my local moto spots. My sister got a sh*t Chinese electric Vespa for Xmas one year and I had as much fun beating the hell out of that as my moto, dh and trail bike and that bad boy was hot pink. You know what though no one was knockin me once I cleared the hole big line they where rolling up to for the last year swearing today was the day there where gunna hit it on there DJers haha good times...what's this world coming to where people are more worrying about what is and Is'nt acceptable to be seen on or ride on instead of going out and having fun. Fu*k what others think do you and don't jump on the hate train just to fit in or be cool stand out be different that's what's cool and a lot more enjoyable.....weeeoooooow rant over ima go romp princes barbie vespashreder till the wheels fall off or till it runs out of juice eather way see ya peeps on the trail you can't miss me!!!!! I'll be the one with road bike spandex half fingered gloves dirt bike boots one of them shnazy foam half shell toddler helmets a zip lock baggie rubberbanded securely around my head for eye protection rollerblader wrist guards swim floatys for elbow pads duct tape sponges for knee pads a fancy Fannie pack for good measures my mom's table cloth for a superhero cape and my badass 90s boom box cranked all the way up playing the sound of a pinned 2 stroke on the pipe to trick my mind into believing I'm going worp speed since vespashreder is taped at 25mph. Good day ladies and gents!!!
  • 9 0
 Mikey, I am in total agreement with you. First and foremost, a pedal assist E-Bike (like the one Nico is riding) is nothing like a motto bike and I'm speaking from a long history (20+ yrs) of experience of riding mountain bike, motto bike, and now E-bike. In fact, the tires are the exact same on an E-bike as my mountain bike and the weight is the same a the older 90's downhill bikes. So, how could they damage the trails more? Humans are the key factor of damaging trails plain and simple.

It is so damn sad to hear all these supposed hardcore mountain bikers talk about riding the good old fashion way, OG roots style. If you folks who have so much opinions are so OG, then stop using the chair lift assistance to ride DH. Ride your ass up then bomb down like the old skool riders had to do. Way too much idiotic responses to E-bike in general. Get over it and ride whatever gets you out to ride. Just respect the trails and those using it as always.
  • 2 0
 Yeah my buddy runs hand guards on his dh because he broke a wrist on a tree. It's not a bad idea to have Saftey wise especially since e bikes aren't as nimble to make quick decisions
  • 17 0
 Blenkinsop has podiumed an EWS, so I doubt it is his first!
  • 1 0
 You 're right,it ain't his first.He had a 7th place finish in Rotorua!
  • 2 0
 Not even his first this year!
  • 1 0
 Yep, and I think he did also the first EWS race ever at Punta Ala on 2013...
  • 11 1
 I think it should absolutely be illegal to ride an electronic assisted bike to pre-ride the taped off course in a race weekend.. After all this is Mountain Biking.. I understand that many people train on dirt bikes and are free to ride E-bikes on their own time.. I just don't think its fair (especially considering a privateer would have a very hard time affording one of the cheat machines to train on, and then have a race bike).
  • 3 0
 that is a reasonable complaint about the ebike. The first I've seen in fact. I am not sure he is using it on the course for practice though. Possibly just training.
  • 1 0
 Yes, at that level or any pre-race course training, E-bikes will probably become restricted in the near futures against usage for pre-race practices. That is just common sense.
  • 8 0
 Dirt did an interview with Nico and mentioned him training on an e-bike; he said he doesn't put in any less effort, he pedals just as hard, but can go uphill much faster and therefore do more laps/ride further in a day. If he's working just as hard and therefore getting just as much benefit from his training, then why not?
  • 8 0
 That s-works- hope build makes me feel all tingly inside...
  • 7 0
 The Yeti with DVO gave me instant wood. HOPE to have one someday...
  • 8 0
 No shirts allowed under the Hope tent!
  • 7 0
 I expect he's put those hand guards on as a bit of fun.
  • 16 0
 No way man, you're supposed to rag on him for riding an e-bike. Didn't you get the memo?!
  • 2 0
 I kind of want some now. Would be kind of fun one a bushier ride or two. Plus I can pretend i'm riding my KTM.
  • 2 0
 Big fan of taking things lightly. I threw some pink streamers on my bars for my first race. Made me feel like I was actually riding fast.
  • 4 1
 i want to hate on the E-bike just a much as the next person, but the way my knee is going, that may be the only way i can keep riding. also with nico lau running twin rings, it makes sense with Di2 just because it does syncro shifting, and would help reducing crossing the chain, and seems to have all the benefits of a wider range without the drawbacks of a front mech.
  • 3 1
 Omg an E-bike let's go full retard about it...

Even more pathetic fighting about what is a real "enduro" race, it's not like enduro it's just a rebranding of trail riding/am moutain biking.

Just sit back relax and enjoy. :-)
  • 2 3
 I wish to thank God for giving me a 11000 dollar e-bike with my favorite 275+ wheels.
  • 6 1
 That Hope Spec Enduro is fricking fantastic! I'd love paintjob like that on Spec 6Fatty Turbo
  • 7 0
 #SOMOTOBRO
  • 4 2
 I rode a electric assisted bike today (Norco Fatbike) at a local shop and I can honestly say when I get too old this technology may help keep me on the trails for a few years longer!!! Think outside the box a bit people these bikes may have other applications other than assisting the lazy through the trails!
  • 3 1
 And when it breaks down, are you going to be able to pedal that bike back home? Or leave it there? Or just...die, out in the woods?
  • 5 0
 That Hannah Barnes muckynuts is ti... erm, really cool. :p
  • 5 0
 i really like that Sunn Kern LT
  • 6 5
 Excuse me pinkbike, what are you telling us with that: " Nicolas Vouilloz is a big fan of his E-bike for training."?

Does he - in all honesty - train on the ews course using an ebike, where everybody else uses a musclepowered bike?
Clarification please! And if so there should be STRONG oposition to that.
  • 5 3
 It doesn't say he uses it for practicing EWS stages, it says that he uses it for training and that is a very broad term. EWS are so nazi-anal-paranoic about keeping the Spirit of Enduro that I don't think they would allow that.
  • 1 0
 So there is some dope ass bottle cage mounting going on with the GT and all you folks have to talk about is the e-bike. Geez.
On a serious note how is the green and purple Yeti's suspension resisting rear swingarm movement without a shock in place? Does the Switch Infinity system have enough friction and geometry with the upper link to resist rotating into the front triangle?
  • 2 0
 Yes it does. At the SAG position the switch infinity changes movement direction. This point is harder to pass over and think is what makes it so efficient at pedaling. Still it is the smoothest suspension i ever tried in Enduro... It's what any anti-squat system is supposed to do. Try it on a VPP system, it also has this harder point except that with the switch infinity you don't get the weird feeling you can have charging pedals on a VPP.
  • 1 0
 Thanks for the response and explanation!
  • 3 1
 Are those scratches on Nico's chainring, crank and spider from dropping the chain to the outside? Haven't noticed any marks like that on an XX1 setup.......
  • 3 0
 If wide rims are so good why are non of these guys running them? Lighter, stronger, more grip!?!?
  • 3 0
 That new Sunn is a looker with clean lines...

...but that hope build yeti? Schwing!
  • 3 1
 Hey Shimano, if you're going to pay Nico Lau to run a front der then at least get him a new crank that isn't scratched to hell from the chain falling off!!
  • 1 0
 How did managed to use a foul shock on spicy team large frame. I'm currently using a monarch plus, at full compression it has 2mm clearance before hitting the top tube.,
  • 4 1
 hope bikes are the sexiest on earth
  • 2 0
 I see old people riding their e-bikes all over our local paved bike trails-they look pretty fun.
  • 1 0
 That yt and enduro with coils are so scrumdiddlyumpcious damn dream machine right there!!!!
  • 2 0
 It's Samoëns not Samoens, really important thing x)
  • 1 0
 Check out all those apparent chain drops on Nico Lau's double? How else do all those marks get on the outside of the ring?
  • 4 2
 Carbon shit everywhere. #metalbikesforlife
  • 1 0
 That Hope specialized looks like what would happen if a bear ate a bunch of clowns, did a yardy and threw up!
  • 1 0
 Hey @paulaston: Nico's Spicy isn't supposed to be launched until next month. A full bike photo would have been a scoop.
  • 2 0
 Thats the same bike he's been racing all year. No sign of a new one in the pits!
  • 3 0
 Damn. Sorry for being presumptuous. Thanks for the coverage.
  • 2 0
 E-bikes are considered to be mechanical doping by the UCI for roadies.
  • 1 0
 Worldcup DH going to air shocks but enduro to coil!? Guess the vivid is too bulky for some frames...
  • 2 2
 These are eletric motorbikes, not e-mtbs. Call them whatever you want but without mtb in it
  • 1 0
 electric solex?
  • 1 0
 WATCH OUT for Blenkinsop!
  • 1 0
 Hope and Radon sharing the same van lol
  • 1 0
 ya give me the e bike, ill smoke it.
  • 1 0
 Aaaaaaand the winner is Nicolololololololo.
  • 1 0
 did anyone else notice blenky running a trek water bottle?
  • 1 0
 Coil!
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.055387
Mobile Version of Website