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Tech Randoms Round 1 - Bielsko-Biała DH World Cup 2024

May 16, 2024
by Dario DiGiulio  

A herd of locals.
Randoms Round 1
Bielsko-Biała DH World Cup

World Cup Number 2, Poland Edition. The racers and fans are all stoked to see the DH World Cup come to a completely new destination this year, with the mystery and excitement surrounding a new track really adding to the fervor. As always, there's plenty of interesting bits of tech floating around the pits, so lets dig in.


New brakes and rotors from TRP

The new brake lever appears to be evolving and approaching completion.
The new brake lever appears to be evolving and approaching completion.

These were off Greg Minaar s bike during his Fort William crashes hence the scarring.
These were off Greg Minnaar's bike during his Fort William crashes, hence the scarring.
photo

TRP s new rotors with many many little holes.
TRP's new rotors, with many many little holes.
Apparently these offer 50 more braking power than the existing model.

e*thirteen's Sidekick hub

e thirteen s mysterious Sidekick hub
Not the first we've seen of this, but more time in hand adds to the mystery.

e thirteen s Sidekick hub replete with a big ol shiny dust shield.
The hub has a sort of soft catch at each click of the pawl engagement, similar to how an O-Chain feels.
Rear Sidekick with a pretty large shell on the drive side.
Large shell on the drive side.

Looks like a new rim model as well.
Looks like a new rim model, as well.
The Grappler is their existing DH rim.
The Grappler is their existing DH rim.

Prototype 8 at We Are One

Prototype 08 rocking some raw links.
Prototype 08 rocking some raw links.
photo

WAO is working on a new bar and stem as we saw at Sea Otter this year. You can flip the two sides of this direct mount stem to gain different flex characteristics.
WAO is working on a new bar and stem, as we saw at Sea Otter this year. You can flip the two sides of this direct mount stem to gain different flex characteristics.
I really like the way the frame hugs the Vivid s aircan.
I really like the way the frame hugs the Vivid's air can.

New tires from Maxxis

Maxxis had a couple sets of their unreleased new tire out in the pits. They look very similar to the Conti Argotal the Specialized Hillbilly and aren t terribly different from the Shorty.
Maxxis had a couple sets of their unreleased new tire out in the pits. They look very similar to the Continental Argotal, the Specialized Hillbilly, and aren't terribly different from the Shorty.

We l https www.pinkbike.com news spotted-new-tire-from-maxxis.html first saw these l at the end of last summer so hopefully they re nearing production.
We first saw these at the end of last summer, so hopefully they're nearing production.
29x2.4
29x2.4

Carbon-wrapped Norco DH bike

Minaar s carbon-wrapped rear triangle is meant to increase stiffness.
Minnaar's carbon-wrapped rear triangle is meant to increase stiffness.
The Norco crew decided things were flexing a little too much based on rider feedback race footage and some data acquisition taken at Fort William.
The Norco crew decided things were flexing a little too for Greg much based on rider feedback, race footage, and some data acquisition taken at Fort William.

Carbon over alloy and a headshot overlooking the whole deal.
Carbon over alloy, and a headshot overlooking the whole deal.
Looks prototype-y.
Looks prototype-y.

High pivot Canyon proto

Idler equipped high main pivot and plenty of other ones.
Idler equipped, high main pivot, and plenty of other ones.

Linkage close-up.
Linkage close-up.
Very official size graphics and a shot at the guts of the system.
Very official size graphics and a shot at the guts of the system.


Rumor has it this a deep cover Specialized prototype. Stoked to see it on track this weekend.
Rumor has it this a deep cover Specialized prototype. Stoked to see it on track this weekend.

Plenty more coming, stay hungry.

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Randoms DH Racing World Cup DH Bielsko Biala World Cup Dh 2024


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55 Comments
  • 39 0
 "With many many little holes".
480 small holes if you must know.
528 if you count all of the cut outs and bolt holes too.
God damn, I need to go for a ride.
  • 19 0
 And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all…
  • 3 1
 Dang you, I had to go back and count
  • 2 1
 And though the holes were rather small, They had to count them all.
  • 6 0
 Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall
  • 5 0
 @killjoyken:
I love to turn
You
On
  • 20 0
 Curious if TRP will release alternative levers for those who want a closer reach. If they’re less than half the price of CNC’d aftermarket levers, they should sell like hot cakes.
With fat grips, silicone lever covers (during winter), and large hands, I’m at the limit of adjustment.
  • 3 0
 Just get the pushrods off their website, can run it super close with the stock levers
  • 2 0
 @h8terbike999: Do you retrofit another lever’s pushrod?
It’s part 6 on the link below, correct?
trpcycling.com/products/trail-evo-lever-small-parts
  • 1 0
 @TurboDonuts: yep
  • 2 0
 Just pick up some @freedomcoast levers. Made a great brake amazing.
  • 1 0
 @worthphoto: I don’t like the shape and there’s a creak halfway through the stroke that’s annoying also they’re expensive for a piece of cheap material, they also feel cheaply made, the oak components ones look better since they’re two piece
  • 1 0
 @h8terbike999: came here to say this. install only took me 30 mins to do both. need a circlip plier and steady hands
  • 1 0
 @Jshemuel: Great to hear. For those with Trail EVO levers, what’s the modification? DH lever push-rods? Or did TRP do a generational update?
  • 1 0
 @h8terbike999: The freedom coast levers are a bit chunky for my taste but I like my levers super close to my grips. Side note: one of my freedom coast levers creaked shortly after install. Ended up taking the lever off and lightly greasing all the mating surfaces. Been silent going on 9ish months. DHR EVOs btw.
  • 1 0
 @worthphoto: I just bought these. They are in the mail. You say they improved braking performance, too?
  • 2 0
 Oak Components tdo some nice TRP lever upgrades
  • 1 0
 @TurboDonuts: I have the trail EVOs. I believe the push rods are the same as DHR but ask them to be sure
  • 1 0
 @Jshemuel: I have the trail evos too. Those levers from freedom coast are the same for the trail and DHR TRP brakes or Evo series brakes.

In fact, I emailed TRP and there's nearly no difference between the trail and DHR brakes expect for the lever adjust.

I just ordered the new TRP 220mm rotors and they should have the stopping power I'm looking for now... They better or... Everyone is lying about TRP brakes being good!
  • 1 0
 I run the Oak Roots levers with TRP on the DH race bike - incredible difference & the feel & flowy power is the best I have experienced, can’t describe enough how good!
Now changing out the brakes & levers on the enduro & trail bikes to the same.
Galfer rotors though, much better than the old TRP rotors.
  • 14 0
 Specialized's barber really fucked up that mullet.
  • 5 0
 The rollover is wild tho
  • 13 0
 TRP… “looks like a Galfer” lol
  • 2 0
 it would be funny if they perform the same but at half the price lol
  • 10 1
 That we are one aircan hugging is almost x rated
  • 6 0
 X2 rated surely!
  • 7 0
 Calling it right now - Sidekick hub is a traditional pawl/drive ring, nested inside a sprag clutch.
  • 2 0
 That seems like a good guess.
  • 1 0
 Side routing.
  • 1 0
 Definitely not. Sprag clutch needs more space, axially or radially or it'll be sponge ring.
  • 1 0
 @fluider: While admitting that I probably don't know what I'm talking about, when I compare Onyx Vesper hubs to this one, the Sidekick appears to be significantly larger in diameter, but has slightly less depth.
  • 1 0
 I figure its this

www.tairinwheels.ca/product-page/silent-shogun-rear-hub
  • 1 0
 HAH - almost right! Sprag clutch combined with a drive ring
  • 5 0
 Tektro's high-end brakes are nice. Wouldn't kick em out of bed for eating rotors.
  • 4 0
 Seems wild that Minnaar might actually be racing this weekend. Nevertheless, stoked if he does!
  • 4 0
 Aint nobody gonna comment on the carbon wrapped alloy rear triangle!?
  • 15 0
 You did
  • 5 0
 Sounds a bit like Greg puzzling away trying to find reasons for his crash. Ain't no telemetry going to show rear triangle flex.
  • 1 0
 @the00: he said that the back skipped out from him in a previous crash from earlier in the run not shown on broadcast. I assume he felt the rear was still too loose.
  • 3 0
 Looks like they need to beef up the bearings and swinglink and pivots where they attach to the “downtube”. This looks like a fancy sticking plaster of limited benefit not a long term solution.
  • 2 0
 @tempmeister: fodding a issue to make it go away briefly is a pro sports thing in general dbf, duct tape in f1 etc
  • 11 0
 I'm gonna take some of the credit for that carbon wrapping idea
  • 1 0
 @tempmeister: generally looks like the connection of the rear triangle to the main frame is rather narrow hence flexy…
  • 2 0
 It is funny to see Greg adding stiffness to an already beefy aluminum rear triangle due to what he perceived as too much flex at Fort William, while Amaury was going to the noodly tiny diameter steel chainstay at Fort William to add additional flex. I guess it just goes to show there isn't a lot of consensus as to what works, even amongst the best riders in the world.
  • 1 0
 @jacks0n0: Nice
  • 1 0
 @thekaiser: Its not about consensus, different things work for different people, so you get different solutions.
  • 3 0
 Analyzing the used suspension system I wonder why Canyon did not put rear brake mount on chainstay.
  • 2 0
 “ The Norco crew decided things were flexing a little too for Greg much based on rider feedback, ”

Greg doesn’t like his bike a little too
  • 1 0
 Interesting seeing Codes on that Canyon rather than the new Mavens
  • 2 0
 Lighter weight rider maybe mavens overkill?
  • 2 0
 Mavens require more lever effort to get full power. Hand fatigue is definitely something to consider.
  • 1 0
 @needmoregears: I’m running Mavens and trueyou may feel “bit” a bit more break away force in the garage, on the trail it’s non existent much like a parking lot bounce won’t tell you how your suspension feels on trail. The power available lends to less to hand fatigue because you definitely do not have to clamp down on these brakes. If Mavens give you arm pump stick to the rail trails on your city bike.
  • 2 0
 @needmoregears: whoops, didn’t mean to be such a prick in my reply, my bad!
  • 1 0
 Greg with the traditional stretched limo.
  • 1 0
 i like the specialized prototype with ultra-mullet wheels







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