Press Release: Privateer BikesRider & Photography // Liam Saint & SharpographyFirst seen at
Eurobike 2019, we had been quietly working away for 18 months already. Privateer bikes was founded on the idea of creating a bike that fits the needs and demands of it’s namesake - Progressive race ready geometry combined with rider focused features, ensures the 161 can handle season’s worth of abuse. With our main testing focused around top 20 EWS rider Matt Stuttard, we sought out to test the 161 in other ways too. Wanting to test throughout the season with a variety of riders, tracks and terrain, at different paces and styles, we saw an opportunity to test the Prototype on Morzine’s most famous and roughest track.
Knowing Hunt Bike Wheels supported rider Liam Saint was out in Morzine, we challenged him to attack Pleney Black as hard as he would on his DH bike, on the 161. He took to Strava and aimed to be one of the fastest, if not the fastest! With names like Wyn masters, Sam Dale and Flo Payet on the leader board, we knew this would be a challenge… Being no stranger to the French mountains, we were confident Liam could challenge these times and show that the Privateer 161 can offer riders a bike that is ready to race tracks like Pleney Black, just as capably as a downhill bike.
Liam was given the bike for four days, before it had to be taken back to the UK for further testing. With only a few dry and dusty cutting laps on the new steed prepping for the task ahead, the heavens opened up and unloaded some classic Morzine rain storms for days two and four of the challenge. Frustrated, Liam knew this would impact the times, but in hindsight it was the perfect opportunity to see how times compared in the both the wet and dry - while also making for a more exciting challenge.
After a battle with storms, limited lifts and a few sections of the track closed, it made getting in the laps a lot slower, but a good test for the uphill pedals. Despite all this, Liam came away with one of the fastest times placing him top 3 on the Upper half of Pleney, next to some big names. It was a solid result for Liam, but also for the 161, he aimed to be as fast the top times, and to do this in the wet conditions only made it sweeter.
This is just the start for Privateer, we learn and improve from small tests like this and have kept pushing the 161 to be race-ready for riders.
We have been experimenting with colour schemes, finishes and logo composition, so what you see here most likely will not be the finished look for the Privateer 161. You can keep up to date via our website at
https://www.privateerbikes.com/
Many time I have run both - Garmin Edge 520 and a smart phone, and Garmin sometimes misses that I have done small off-shot loops and other fine trail details. God forbid I ride though the city with skyscraper condos - Garmin will miss a whole lot.
In the end, comparing ride lengths, Garmin often comes up short while my phone is much closer to stated trail lengths.
I work in a bike shop and have used a wide array of computers, GPS and and smart phones to track my rides. I personally can tell you they are all pretty terrible in their own way but to say the Garmin's are better and that it's common knowledge is a pretty bold claim.
I totally agree. Twice I've bought a Garmin, hoping it would at least EQUAL the accuracy of my iphone, so I could stop risking my phone every ride.
Both times the Garmin tweaked out, so both times I returned 'em and put the phone back on my bars
I agree it’s not the best for timing, for example, a 1:13 downhill segment through a forest. Timing a ten minute segment out in the open and comparing yourself to your mates and yourself over multiple runs is worthwhile, in my opinion. Even if it’s a bit out, you’re not going to go top-10 on a segment with 4600 riders by being shit and relying on gps drift.
Coil shock option or rolling chassis in the works?
Thanks! Appreciate the kind words and feedback.
The frame works great with coil, but adds another logistical hurdle to stock different coils, however we are looking into it. Possibly rolling chassis too down the line.
Don’t worry, we’re offering both raw and a colour option.
If not raw, which colour/s would you prefer?
Thanks for all the feedback! Definitely appreciated and really helps us to create bikes riders like yourselves want.
While we may start with more ‘simple’ schemes such as Matt black, we’d love to add more variety and colours as we grow.
Thanks again!
images.app.goo.gl/qSK4fq198CzzFNqc9
Also, there are some unusual 2 color combos that could be great, like green and orange, green and yellow, etc.
images.app.goo.gl/kxPi8T3yyJCfyAR28
Heres the RM Altitude, orange and brown, and I think it´s a beauty:
images.app.goo.gl/ovmNUyf9UMCEmWKY7
Most frames (and cars) in matte finish look far better!
I could se myself riding that with manchester v-jeans.
can't help but think the branding would have been better as the "Hunt bikes Privateer 161" ?
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Thank you.
I really have the 161 as my next bike depending on two things: when it will be available (said soon on their instagram answer), and which size.
I´m only 183,5 cm, but it seams in size 3, the top tube 603 mm and reach 490 mm is short for a bike with this length. But I am quite ignorant regarding this subject, and would appreciate enlightenment. It seems to me that bikes in general are too short in reach, and when I saw a review of Pole Evolink, in this picture it seems like this is one of few bikes that actually put the rider in the center of the bike:
images.app.goo.gl/5o1bVqjh5KKk1be58
The rider above seems to be in the bike instead on top of the bike (as the reviewer puts it himself). Can anyone confirm the riding experience of being on a big bike like that?
Because, if this is the case, I guess I should go for size xl on the 161.....or am I wrong?
And how do you guys from Privateer bikes see it?
I guess that was more than two questions. Thanx in advance for enlightenment.
Thanks for the questions and really appreciate your interest.
Sizing can be a tricky one, some of it is science but often it comes down to preference. Matt Stuttard is about your height and is riding a P3 with 50mm stem as he prefers a longer stem.
490mm is fairly progressive, although you’re right it’s not the longest. For our bikes it’s best to take the top tube length with a pinch of salt as the steep seat tube makes this appear short.
We’d probably still suggest the P3 for you, but if you’re not happy on it we offer a 60 day ride and return as we understand buying online can be hard, so we could swap you to a P4.
Hope this helps, but please feel free to contact us anytime.
I think I prefer a short 35 mm stem, but perhaps P3 will be perfect for me. At least its far more roomy than my YT Jeffsy which feels cramped. When I descend, I´we notised that I spend most of the time over the back wheel - resulting I loose traction on the front wheel. I guess its also a matter of technique (or lack of it;-).
I´m interested in the full build - when can we see it in the black matte version?
Question: across the different sizes, how far/deep does a dropper post fit the seat tube (insertion length)?
Hey, thanks for the question, insertion depths are as follows
P1- 230mm
P2 - 250mm
P3 - 280mm
P4 - 300mm
All the specs can be found on our website at privateerbikes.com
Thanks!
Thanks for the support, it really does mean a lot to us.
Can’t wait for you to get out riding on it! ????
I just saw a bike bouncing a lot at 0:13 sec in the video.
Look like you should work with your shock damping before trying to go faster...
Strava for timing too? Wow
Hope this legitimises it some what for you ????