Tech Randoms: Fort William DH World Cup 2019

May 31, 2019
by Ross Bell  
In true Fort William fashion, it was a soggy start to proceedings at the foot of Aonach Mòr as teams and riders got their bikes ready for a wet weekend in Scotland. There was plenty going on in the pits today as the rough ride down the lengthy track beckons tomorrow:

A bushel of Boxxers off to service.
A bushel of Boxxers off to service.

We spotted some rather prototype looking TRP calipers.
There wasn't much information available but they were spotted on Thomas Estaque's Commencal.

Standec telemetry and data brains about to be installed onto Connor Fearon s Operator.
Stendec telemetry and data brains about to be installed onto Connor Fearon's Operator.
Standec sensors and other magic installed on Connor Fearon s Kona.
Stendec sensors and other magic installed on Connor Fearon's Kona.

Luca Shaw takes the reigns from his mechanic Dougie Fresh shifting his saddle position forward to avoid the dreaded bottom-out buzz.
Luca Shaw takes the reins from his mechanic, Dougie Fresh, shifting his saddle position forward to avoid the dreaded bottom-out buzz.

Marshy wrestles with Greg Minnaar Maxxis at the Syndicate.
Marshy wrestles with Greg Minnaar's Maxxis tire.

Jason Marsh reinstalls Minnaar's forks after a service in the FOX pits.
Greg Minnaar's cockpit setup.

Wheel balancing and a Chris King hub in the Santa Cruz pits.

Makeshift eight speed cassette fitted on Loris s V10.
Makeshift eight-speed cassette fitted on Loris's V10.

Luca Shaw's Santa Cruz V10 ready to go tomorrow afternoon.

New Nukeproof Dissent DH bike.
The new Nukeproof Dissent.

Nukeproof Dissent rear end.
Middle setting flip chip.


Aaron Gwin s E-13 Kenda combo coming together.
Aaron Gwin's E-13/Kenda combo coming together.
Aaron Gwin s back-up bike awaits a new build after the stolen bike fiasco.
Aaron Gwin's back-up bike awaits a new build after the stolen bike fiasco.

JT giving Tracy Hannah s bike some love after a whole lot of training down under.
JT giving Tracy Hannah's bike some love after a whole lot of training down under.

The Trek young guns forks await pick up from service at Sram.
The Trek young guns' forks await pick up from service at SRAM.

Commencal have a set of new powermeter cranks from Quarq/SRAM.

Aaron Gwin is still running a large sized frame with a reach adjust headset.

Neko Mulally and Jack Moir running coil while Aaron Gwin is on the air shock.

Dakotah Norton has moved from an L sized frame to an XL, he is running a reach adjust headset to shorten the reach slightly.

The Unior Devinci Team have been running custom links which are more progressive.

Details in the GT pits.

Precision in the transition pits. Tahnee Seagrave s cockpit gets it s final touches.
Precision in the Transition pits. Tahnee Seagrave's cockpit gets its final touches.

Tahnee Seagrave's chainline on her Shimano Saint drivetrain.
Neat cable routing on Tahnee's Transition TR11.

Ben Arnott getting Suarez's steed running sweetly.
Kogel bearing details.

New 223mm rotors from TRP on Angel Suarez's YT Tues.

SRAM's Evan Warner's tool roll.

Rudy Cabirou's Propain Rage getting prepped for practice.
Fresh flats for Joe Smith.

Counting clicks in the Atherton pits.

Gaetan Vige is swapping out his carbon bars for alloy this weekend.
Impressive toolkit found in the Cube pits. Magnets and all.
Impressive toolkit found in the Cube pits. Magnets and all.

The finishing touches getting put on Magnus Manson's Canyon Sender.

Stendec s all new data-acquisition system featuring action-cam pairing on Mike Jones Summum.
Stendec s all new data-acquisition system featuring action-cam pairing on Mike Jones Summum.

Stendec s all new data-acquisition system featuring action-cam pairing on Mike Jones Summum.
Stendec's all-new data acquisition system featuring action-cam pairing on Mike Jones' Summum.

Party Mark bringing Laurie Greenland s bar width down to size.
Party Mark bringing Laurie Greenland's bar width down to size.

Fresh XTR brakes for Brook MacDonald s ride at the MS Mondraker pit.
Fresh XTR brakes for Brook Macdonald's ride at the MS Mondraker pit.

The devil is in the detail before Mullaly s cranks go on to a fresh build.
The devil is in the detail before Mullaly's cranks go on to a fresh build.
Neko Mullaly s grips protected from greasy paws at IFR.
Neko Mullaly's grips protected from greasy paws at IFR.

John Hall half way into the fresh bike built for Aaron Gwin.
John Hall halfway into the fresh bike built for Aaron Gwin.

Mixing potions that are said to keep tires inflated.
Mixing potions that are said to keep tires inflated.

Charlie Harrison s chrome misssle.
Shiny new frames for the Trek boys.

Chrome looks better when wet.
Decal applied ready to race.
Charlie Harrison Trek Session sitting pretty in the rain.

Harrison is running an air shock on the back.

It's decked out in RockShox, SRAM, and Truvativ components.

MENTIONS: @rossbellphoto / @natedh9 / @mdelorme / @andy9


Regions in Article
Fort William

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Randoms DH Bikes Commencal Cube Devinci Ethirteen Components GT Intense Kenda Maxxis Nukeproof Propain RockShox Santa Cruz Bicycles Shimano SRAM Stendec Transition Trek Trp Aaron Gwin Greg Minnaar Luca Shaw DH Racing Fort William Dh World Cup 2019 World Cup DH World Cup Dh Tech


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145 Comments

  • + 199
 That Session... Sooo sweet.
  • + 35
 Oh my that's gorgeous.
  • + 31
 @shirk-007: Im definitely drooling over that trek!! (hey trek!!! if you sold this as a stock colorway, id bet your sales would double!!! just saying...)
  • - 26
flag RedBurn (May 30, 2019 at 14:57) (Below Threshold)
 Looks like a session
  • + 6
 You're talking about the silver one right? Not the blue and yellow one?
  • + 3
 Luca Shaw's V11 is more gorgeous !
  • + 7
 Looks like a BEER CAN just begging to be cracked open!!!
  • + 6
 @rockchomper: If Trek make that frame in XL, 27.5 I will write them a cheque for many moneys. Many.
  • + 26
 I’m going to Stir it Up (little darling) by pointing out that Dak moves from L to XL just after AW gets his L nicked, and a day later AW is still on L!!! Conweenient? I’m no Sherlock Holmes (not even a Dr Watson) but I have a suspicion, a hunch, something in the air tells me there was a little nudge wot ushered Dak off that L onto that XL. A push factor I tells yer. A little word in the ear. Get orf that there bike, there’s a good lad... i’ll be ‘avin that. YOINK....
  • + 3
 I've been an Intense rider for 15+ years but that Session made me say wow out loud while I was scrolling through the photos. Damn fine looking bike!
  • + 2
 @aps62: then they spray painted Daks Devinci to look like an M9. It's a conspiracy I tells ya!
  • - 8
flag Pisgah4life (May 30, 2019 at 18:59) (Below Threshold)
 @RedBurn: WTF?! You get down voted for it now?
I wrote that this joke isn’t funny anymore on another thread an I get downvoted by like195...Pinkbike peeps are getting confused.
Guess the XC guys love the session comment an the DH dudes don’t.
  • + 1
 @B650wagon: Yes, that paint job is top notch!
  • + 1
 looks good, but honestly its not so great riding polished frame in sunshine and what I really don´t understand is that super grippy mud catcher coating on cranks
  • + 3
 @aps62: errrrrrr, like, Really??? #differentbrands
  • - 3
 @bok-CZ: It's painted not polished, and I don't like it.
  • + 2
 @m1dg3t: Polished Carbon...?
  • + 1
 Man! That Session.... Still can't match the RS red though?
  • + 1
 @valleyimagewerx: you mean the paint job, right? Wink
  • + 3
 @TinyTim10: Oh, I just LOVE polished carbon! No one can mess with me when I'm at the trail head sittin' on my shiny polished carbon frame Smile
  • + 1
 @m1dg3t: oh yes, obviously Smile
  • + 1
 @aps62: AW, that's Aaron Win, then?
  • + 1
 @m1dg3t: My bad, replied to the wrong comment. Although I can play it off as if I was being sarcastic I'm sure, this is the internet after all
  • + 0
 Looks like a....
  • + 2
 The Santa Cruz is the pick of the flock in my opinion. But hey, they are all beautys
  • + 3
 White grips, after Labor Day?!
  • + 1
 Wow, just wow!
  • + 1
 @m1dg3t: exactly what I was thinking. "Carbon is the only way to go for bikes!" (Almost every builder and shop in the offing world) Trek Team "Hey lets make this look like all the amazing small builder frames that are done in Alu!" Banshee, Pole, Turner & others. "Uhhh what just happened?"
  • + 59
 That looks like a best ever Session
  • + 5
 Yes.
  • + 6
 I'm in awe, I've never knew that carbon could be painted to look like polished steel, and it looks incredible.
  • + 2
 I AM SO FRIGGIN READY GIVER
  • + 3
 My best ever session looked like me, a few good friends, an 18" beaker, a steam roller, few packs of 1 1/4 RAWs, a Volcano - with bags, a couple grinders, and several varieties of top grade flower...
  • + 1
 I bet Semenuk would beg to differ. He's had some sick rigs. This is a stellar one though.
  • + 2
 @Try-To-Be-Positive-My-Dude: hey brands! More high end raw alloy Bikes please!
  • + 1
 Looks like a Session... Just saying.
  • + 1
 @kannamerano: THIS! I bet this paintjob cost about 1/4 the price of a high end alloy frame. Trek marketing "So now for just 2.25 The actual cost of truly unique alloy frame, you can have our plastic fantastic bike that looks like you spent 1/3 the money!"
  • + 1
 @jethromtbr: I never realised how amazing seamless curves without welds would look in polish. Legit hope Trek adds this as an option.
  • + 30
 that session is so nice, first bike to look good with the silver boxxer crowns too imo
  • + 29
 Pretty big Estaque of brake mounts right there. I'll get my coat...
  • + 0
 Flexy flexy snap snap.
  • + 16
 Man, if only all bikes looked as good as that Session...
  • + 12
 Now they makin carbon frames look like aluminium...
You´re not foolin us TREK!!!!

That´s a sweet looking bike though.
  • - 2
 I agree it's a sweet looking bike Looks like a Session
  • + 13
 Mmmmm. Shiny session.
  • + 1
 Now that's what I call polishing a turd! Waka waka waka...
  • + 8
 What’s that little doohickey on top of Greg’s left stanchion top cap???
  • + 1
 wondering that myself. Possibly a proto air spring... nobody elses 40's have it...
  • + 7
 Good job pinkbike. I want more pit news and loads of pro bike checks please!
  • + 8
 John Hall just checking the expiry date there...
  • + 5
 I love seeing King hubs. The I9s my wife got me are nice hubs, but I've had sets of Kings for ages that still work perfectly...and I like things that work forever with no hassle.
  • + 25
 Your wife, she's a keeper!
  • + 10
 @bman33: word, how many sisters does she have?
  • + 9
 @freekandy: Just one and she's single, a lot of fun, and a bit sex-crazy with a solid career. Good luck.
  • + 2
 @Explodo: Big Grin
  • + 5
 Not feeling all the color on the new X01 DH stuff, but I like how it looks like a classic orange MRP chainguide roller in the middle of the crank. Smile
  • + 5
 Session, V10, and the M29 are so so so so so so so so beautiful. That session though. What a nice finish to a great set of photos.
  • + 7
 Carbon Session looking like polished aluminum is soooo muy caliente! P'
  • + 2
 I never really understood why they wait until the race to assemble the bikes. I can't imagine F1 or Motogp showing up and building a car/bike in the pits a day before the race.
  • + 1
 Could have something to do with the fact that both of those are trailered or container shipped. Whereas bicycles are often put in luggage on planes?
  • + 2
 @m1dg3t: No clue. Just really surprising it is a frame up build everytime. Lots of bar cutting, filing, wheel building. Seems like a lot of things that could go wrong or missing. I get that it is not the same budgets and the trailers aren't going home to huge bases, but the road side of things handles this stuff way different and preps all this stuff way in advance.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6iy7t5SGHQ
  • + 2
 @usedbikestuff: Roadies are a totally different breed. They aspire to be like pro motorsports. Maybe?

I find it a bit strange that DH bikes are built/assembled on race weekend too.
  • + 1
 @m1dg3t: Yea, i would think there is a closet in that massive service course where the DH team could smoke a J and assemble a bike. the point was more that the facility exists yet the mtn guys don't use it.
  • + 2
 Actually they do to some extent. Specially if its a fly over race.
  • + 4
 Speaking as an ex-World Cup mechanic. There are a few reasons, the main one being that bikes get ridden lots in between races, as a mechanic you don’t know what the bike has been up to, so at beginning of the weekend the first job is to strip the bike completely to check every inch of it. Now whilst the bike is in bits, and the team van is nearby (full of spares) you inevitably end up fitting some new parts. Another reason is that lots of new spares, or prototype parts are given to the teams at race meetings. (They arrive on the SRAM/Maxxis/whoever,,, team trucks) So at the start of the weekend, almost every bike is rebuilt from the ground up. @usedbikestuff @m1dg3t @Madtown
  • + 1
 @Cordall: It checks out.
  • + 2
 Don't think I ever noticed that Trek is running a shock model usually reserved for Enduro and Trail bikes on their WC DH bikes. I wonder what's going on inside that Super Deluxe w/ MegNeg?
  • + 3
 A few others teams have used them too.
  • - 3
 Which raises the question - is SRAM doing BlackBox custom tuning or mods to those shocks? I've heard some well reasoned arguments as to why the Super Deluxe is not an overly great shock out of the box from SRAM, so they must be doing something special inside. Has the Super Deluxe replaced the Vivid as a their chosen DH shock?
  • + 8
 What Dh air shock would you run from Rockshox? Each SuperDeluxe is made specifically for a bikes model and therefore tuned properly for that bikes application.
  • + 9
 @PHeller: Pretty sure the super deluxe is the top of the line DH air shock these days from rockshox. I think your confused its not a trail/ enduro shock on a DH bike, its a DH shock that people tend to throw on enduro / trail bikes. kinda like how everyone is running fox X2s on enduro bikes even though they are DH shocks. i don't think anyone runs the vivid airs anymore. canyon is still on vivid coils though.
  • + 1
 Jeeses that 'chrome' paint / treatment on the trek ( i refuse to use the ghey term "colorway" for fux sake" what, apparently the word "color or colors" was just not good enough...WTF?


BOT

....is absolutely SIIIICCCKKKK!


;-)
  • + 1
 Interesting that it appears Luca is having problems with seat buzz. My biggest gripe with the 29 V10 is you have no choice but to jack the seat up to XC height because they made the seat angle 2003 slack. Seems like an oversight...
  • + 4
 Power meter on a DH bike? Color me confused.
  • + 5
 They probably ignore all the data except % increase in power meters sales.
  • + 4
 Here it goes again! MOOOAARRRR
  • + 2
 Fitting all the telemetry stuff looks like such a pain in the ass...would like to see a BTS of one of the mechs setting it all up
  • + 2
 that new Nukie is SWEET!

I guess it's the size of the rotor throwing it off, but those proto TRP calipers look like they should be on a cycle-cross bike er somin! Smile
  • + 2
 I would love to have a session on that Session...even though my DH skills are such that it would never look that good again...and I'd be dead.
  • + 1
 Why can’t anyone tell me the deal w Greenland’s grips?!? Does he use a Renthal push on grip over a lock on sleeve or just run a lock ring up against the flange to keep it from folding? I must know!!!
  • + 1
 Wow, seems like many here missed the polished aluminium frame hype back in the days. Everything comes back and if Carbon fibre look is not the hipster style anyomre, we paint the shite in chrome. Nais!
  • + 3
 Bitchen stuff!

Minor typo: Neko Mulally and Jack Moir running coil while Aaron Gwin is on the coil.
  • + 2
 Erybody runnin coil
  • + 3
 What’s with the stack of brake mounts on that nukeproof?
  • + 1
 Hideous isn't it?
Is it a flat mount on the frame? (Road standard) Not that familiar with the road stuff...
  • + 1
 @Konda: It's a post mount. Looks like someone had a 203mm rotor but a 200mm PM adapter and got creative with a few mil of spacers to compensate.
  • + 2
 Why are so many guys running trail brakes? I see guides, those trp look like trail and the xtr on Brooke's bike?
  • - 4
flag jawa (May 30, 2019 at 15:06) (Below Threshold)
 Because the aim of the game for these guys is to brake as little as possible, so its fair to assume they don’t need the all out stopping power that mere mortals require? My guess.
  • + 2
 Those are the Guide RE on the Nukeproof. I'm wondering if people are going to start running e-bike specific parts such as the Guide RE's since they're built for stopping heavy ass bikes.
  • + 6
 @jawa: better brakes mean they can brake (even) later. if you are braking little, you need the braking you do to be very effective.
  • + 4
 @joepax: I have the Guide RE on my Enduro bike and The new Codes on my Downhill. I am 100% sold on the Guide RE, they are better than the new codes and really cheap.
  • + 2
 @joepax: My last bike came with Shimano MT520 callipers, which is their E-bike specific caliper, and from my research, Shimano's cheapest 4-pot. I really like them, but may eventually get the new SLX 4-pots to bring my brakes to the same level as the rest of my drivetrain
  • + 2
 @jawa: They still need a lot of power, the logic is they need to spend the smallest amount of time braking, and so to get more braking done in a smaller amount of time they need the strongest brakes.

I think the reason we see lots of variation in the brakes is because even the 'less good' brakes are still very good brakes... and there's probably also an element of personal preference.
  • + 2
 The limiting factor in how hard you can brake is the tyres grip. Either brake should be able to overpower the tyre easily enough. The reason dh bikes need bigger brakes is to deal with the amount of heat they have to shed to stay in operating temps. Pros tend not to drag their brakes for long periods so may be able to get away with smaller calipers. On the less steep tracks at least.
  • + 4
 Stendec not standec
  • + 1
 Wait few years and then 9 speed will be like something new to DH again Big Grin Big Grin Big Grin So next should be 9 speed or 6 speed lfmao Big Grin
  • + 1
 I thought they would have found time to cut down their bars during the off season. Seems an odd thing to be faffing about with in a race weekend.
  • + 1
 What is the grip tape looking stuff on the crank arms of a few of those bikes?
  • + 4
 Grip tape.
  • + 2
 They should rename that Trek Session and call it the Trek Terminator!
  • + 1
 Trek, please make the silver/red (or silver/??) a stock color!! my oh my is it beautiful
  • + 1
 Shimano is so off the back. Saint hasn’t been updated in years and pros are hacking their parts to be modern. Shame!
  • + 3
 If/when something works, and works well, why change/update? Just to say it's changed/updated? LoL
  • + 2
 Now I'm hot they all on my...who...Mike Jones.
  • + 2
 Trek wins best of show ????
  • + 2
 Luca Shaw rocking a bug net? :S
  • + 2
 "Neko Mulally and Jack Moir running coil while Aaron Gwin is on the coil"
  • + 2
 Sweet. Note on Moir, Neko and Gwin bike. Both say coil, gwin on air
  • + 3
 Shaw is going to race?
  • + 2
 But does Gwin's backup bike have the 'old' cranks installed?
  • + 1
 Cutting down bars, isn’t that blasphemy on this site.
  • + 1
 Cut the tree!
  • + 1
 John Hall..."Now what cranks am I putting on?"
  • + 2
 I like turtles.
  • + 1
 223mm rotor was exactly what we were missing ! Wink
  • + 1
 I wouldn't mind if my bike looked like a session.
  • + 1
 Nukeproof dropping bombs into PB comments sections.
  • + 1
 We joked about wheel-balancing last week... And this happened
  • + 1
 I had some thick sealant in a tyre that caused a noticable 'hop' at speed. Tyres don't usually mount perfectly, so I can see why these guys would want to eliminate that kind of bounce as it does affect the ride feel.
  • + 2
 That Trek is pure sex
  • + 1
 Cool trick to measure the brake lever angle and get both the same!
  • + 2
 What app is that? Super cool.
  • + 1
 @jorukfundan: Not sure but the app / play store has plenty of protractor apps.
  • + 1
 With such a low and narrow gear range, why not just go single speed?
  • + 1
 Really great pictures - wonder what phone he has...
  • + 1
 SOOOOOO MANY SHINY GOODIES Drool
  • - 1
 I thought tektro/trp is a cheap shimano copy. that brake looks like a sram copy.
  • + 0
 AG with a fresh bike build hmmm
  • + 0
 no cranks on that M29.. Hmmmmmmmmm
  • + 1
 Dissent looks decent.
  • + 1
 ...with descendant
  • + 0
 That's not Luca Shaw adjusting saddle position.
  • + 1
 That shiny Session! Wow!
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