Tom Pidcock's mysterious suspension system was first spotted in Nove Mesto when he showed up at the short track race on a bike with surprisingly few cables. Although his bike in several events, including Sunday's XCO just a few days later, featured suspension with standard cable-actuated handlebar remotes, Pidcock appeared to be testing electronic suspension in the XCC event on his unbranded BMC Fourstroke, which he rides because team Ineos Grenadiers' bike sponsor, Pinarello, doesn't make a mountain bike.
Yesterday, he rode the same bike and electronic suspension setup to Olympic victory, which gave us a few more photos to analyze.
While his fork had the same SR Suntour branding as his standard Axon, a thin, electronic-looking cable spouted from the crown and disappeared into the bike's frame instead of the usual mechanical connection to a handlebar remote. On the rear, he rode an unmarked black shock with a much larger diameter than the SR Suntour Edge shock he has often sported. Seated right behind the shock, there was some type of control with another cable routed into the frame near the bottom bracket.
The third shot in this series has a decent view of the control box and the wiring. Note the large shock diameter.
The most likely explanation is that it's a prototype for something similar to the Fox Live Valve or the Specialized Brain, but we've had some back and forth about who is responsible. It would be plausible for Pinarello to be working on a mountain bike, which isn't out of the question considering the brand now sponsors the Olympic XC men's champion, plus Pinarello already makes a road bike with electronic suspension. Next, since it's a BMC frame, it would be possible for BMC to work on creating something to compete with Specialized's Brain. Lastly, SR Suntour would have plenty of incentive to compete with the Fox Live Valve by entering the electronic suspension scene.
If Pinarello re-entered the mountain bike market, they'd have to top this infomercial.
We can rule out it being a Pinarello project simply because of the amount of collaboration it would take between Pinarello and BMC to develop such a system using a BMC frame. Along a similar vein, if BMC were developing an electronic suspension system, the testing would probably be done by sponsored riders like Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and the rest of the Absolute-Absalon team, but that crew is Rockshox'd out. It makes the most sense for it to be a SR Suntour project, but we'll admit that the unbranded shock combined the branded fork had us scratching our heads.
Fortunately, today, SR Suntour all but claimed the project:
This looks like a complete redesign compared with SR Suntour's current cross country offering, the Edge. The prototype has a very different silhouette from the Edge, and obviously the difference between an electronic and a mechanical control is significant.
We have reached out to SR Suntour for comment and will keep our eyes on Tom's bike to keep you updated on all the latest.
They had electronic lockout in 2008. But wrong sode of the fork for ramp control.
www.srsuntour.com/af/company/company-history
@DC1988:
JOKE
--------------------------------------------------------->>
Your head.
I got it. but posted comment there like a know it all dick head. Ruining everyones fun. @hellanorcal:
Swept hardline podium,
Neff was on fox.
Luca and Hrastnik both on Fox.
Jackson was on fox for Canadian junior champs.
Rude and naughton both in fox
Plenty of podiums for fox... I’d venture to guess no one else even came close to them..,
“I dunno…but it’s purdy”
You k is what looks better than Kashima?
Gold
Well, literally every comparable RockShocks and Marzocchi fork I've ever tried has had faster rebound than the Fox Stuff, but YMMV.
Freaking forks, shocks and droppers always have different color Kashima coatings from each other.
The Kashima had to go. In a way I was sad to see the back of it because I lost a lot of money on that bike, but I was not sad to hear the back of it. I’m sure the new owner felt the same about the creak creak creak. It would no doubt make the Kashima bittersweet, knowing that it came with that awful sound and that the two were inseparable.
On to the next. Rockshox is where it’s at these days anyway. Nothing fancy but they are quiet and reliable.
There's still plenty of pre-Fox Marzocchi products out there in the wild. The pre-Fox 380 in particular has way faster rebound than my old Fox40.
Speak the truth or use common sense... be prepared to get smashed. It's entertainment for sure. @snl1200: it's absolute comedy. You can pretty much predict which posts will and won't get downvotes.
Speak the truth or use common sense... be prepared to get smashed. It's entertainment for sure.
I run upper end of recommended pressure, usually a tad higher, and multiple spacers in all of my forks.
Sorry, but your need for faster rebound probably stems from running low pressure in your fork / a less progressive setup.
I can’t speak for people who don’t ride aggressively + mostly ride steep dh tracks...but I am 15lbs lighter than you and run relatively slow rebound on all my fox products.
I mostly use my 36 (on trail bike) for less aggressive fitness loops, and run a very middle upper pressure of recommended, 80psi and 3 spacers. Again, relatively slow rebound, but maybe a click outside of recommended...can’t remember, somewhere around 2-3clicks of hsr and maybe 4 lsr.
Have had pretty similar experiences when I used to have some rock shox forks...last one was a lyrik, popped latest charger damper and air spring in it...was running 80-85psi and 3 spacers. Slow rebound just like my 36.
Are you also one of those muppets or runs their tire pressures as low as you can and your bars as wide as they’ll produce them? Ha
What do you consider a stumpy Evo? certainly isn’t an enduro rig by today’s standards...I consider it a trail/AM bike. For what and how I ride, it would be massively under forked with a 34.
Anyways, I’m done with you. Feels gross to even engage with low life form gapers who think they know shit.
www.brembo.com/it/BBW/index.html
I would however like to see a wireless version. Seems viable, SRAM and Shimano might already be working on it...
"Electronic Brakes Have a Terrifying Problem"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=82UH7MQ42W0
drive-by-wire has been tested for over 20 yrs and is used in many other applications. The safety argument is moot at this point.
www.thedrive.com/news/37391/did-you-know-mercedes-tested-a-twin-joystick-control-system-in-the-1998-sl-class
Would also be great if Continental came up with a bigger, safer Race King in the next Time.
This tire thread hasnt really changed since 2008, which speaks for itself in case of speed and has been my choice for many years. Switched to maxxis due to the not working tubeless setups in 2019.
So please make better carcasses and finally get the tubeless thing done. Bigger volume would also be well appreciated..
www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/mtb-reviews/compare/continental-race-king-protection-2020-vs-maxxis-aspen-exo-tr
The old RaceKing Protection was also very easy to set up tubeless, and had better puncture protection between the knobs. I like the old version better than the new.
Also, traction increases with lower pressure so it is a win-win.
With lower pressure ( 20 PSI) my experience is that the difference is even bigger between RaceKing and Aspen etc, because Aspen and most other tires have big side knobs that digg into the ground creating even more rolling resistance.
Seemed like they were making a real effort at marketing to the PB crowd as an aftermarket option a few years ago but it's been quiet for a while. Don't think the PB reviewers loved the Durolux or Auron, which was a little surprising IMO because Vital gave the TriAir, Durolux, and RUX good reviews.
Hint: The Suntour Triair has green pieces inside ;-)
Really curious how that came about. If DVO designed it I wouldn't think they'd let Suntour sell it. So is it an open mold/catalog part? How many premium components are picked from a catalog??
Fun to think about
I would guess that Aaron has made more $$ than loic in recent years because he uses sponsor correct tyres. Dont think it helped his performance though. He does have a nice view from his sh.tter. @rsbromley:
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/other-sport/tokyo-olympics-no-rest-for-leeds-gold-medallist-tom-pidcock-as-he-targets-vuelta-a-espana-3324482
2 brakes, one shifter, one dropper.
In the pics it looks like he's not using a dropper because on the 4-Stroke the dropper is integrated into the frame, so looks like a fixed seatpost.
www.bmc-switzerland.com/rad
From the UCI regs:
Any equipment in development phase and not yet available for sale (prototype) must be
subject of an authorization request to the UCI Equipment Unit before its use. Authorization
will be granted only for equipment which is in the final stage of development and for which
commercialization will take place no later than 12 months after the first use in competition.
The manufacturer may request a single prolongation of the prototype status if justified by
relevant reasons.
They mention olympic games approvals through the UCI so I'm guessing its a weird sort of olympics endorsed by the UCI kind of situation.
And I quote:
"ARTICLE 1.3.006
“Equipment shall be of a type that is sold for use by anyone practicing cycling as a sport.
Any equipment in development phase and not yet available for sale (prototype) must be
subject of an authorization request to the UCI Equipment Unit before its use. Authorization
will be granted only for equipment which is in the final stage of development and for which
commercialization will take place no later than 12 months after the first use in competition.
The manufacturer may request a single prolongation of the prototype status if justified by
relevant reasons.
When assessing a request for use of equipment which is not yet available for sale, the UCI
Equipment Unit will pay particular attention to safety of the equipment which will be
submitted to it for authorization.
The use of equipment designed especially for the attainment of a particular performance
(record or other) shall be not authorised.
Upon expiry of the authorized period of use of a prototype (equipment not yet available for
sale), any item of equipment must be commercially available in order to be used in cycling
events. The requirement of commercial availability shall be understood as equipment having
to be available through a publicly available order system (whether with manufacturer,
distributor or retailer). Upon an order being placed, the order shall be confirmed within 30
days and the relevant equipment shall be made available for delivery within a further 90-day
deadline. In addition, the retail price of the equipment shall be publicly advertised, shall not
render the equipment de facto unavailable to the general public and shall not unreasonably
exceed the market value for equipment of a similar standard."
UCI, probably
I found this part particularly interesting:
"No minimum production quantity or minimum price is defined for either bicycles or any
component parts."
But Tom can win with out need for, remote suspension mapping?