Video: The Story of Neko Mulally's Self-Designed Bike - Frameworks Ep. 1

Jan 12, 2022
by Alicia Leggett  

bigquotesLogan and I are proud to present FRAMEWORKS. A 12 part series starting today!

Downhill racing and bike tech have been a passion of mine throughout my career. I've been lucky enough to ride for some of the best teams in the industry and have taken away valuable insight from each. From the bike set up to the team around you, there is more that goes into downhill racing than we see watching the race.

Follow along with me this season as I shine some light on what works for me... and what doesn't. I'll give an honest look at the development of my downhill frame, building a race program from the ground up, and everything in between. Depending on the race schedule, videos will drop monthly.—Neko Mulally


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138 Comments
  • 256 0
 Watching this unfold could be the best thing in 2022.......
  • 20 0
 I am hooked!
  • 10 0
 Should've done this in 2021, then it definitely would've been the best thing that year
  • 2 4
 What happened to using the O chain ?
  • 18 0
 Definitely the most engaging mtb content I’ve seen in recent memory. Stoked for this.
  • 5 0
 @Dnik: Agreed. Kudos Neko, Frank and all those involved. \m/
  • 6 0
 Definitely looks like a cool series. Plus, tech aside, his riding style is just insane - doesn’t appear to care about physics, whatsoever!
  • 16 0
 There is a great Downtime podcast with Neko about the bike and his programme.
  • 12 0
 @fartymarty: thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it!
  • 1 0
 @glenno: look at minute 7:40
  • 8 0
 Great concept, way more hyped for this than any team announcements. Opens the door for some cool ideas moving forward also: e.g. imagine a top 20 rider announcing he won't take up a frame sponsor and ride whichever brand frame he thinks is fastest at each race.
  • 2 0
 You’re not wrong there! Stoked for this!!
  • 3 0
 @downtimepodcast: I did and will look forward to you chatting with Neko as the season progresses.
  • 2 0
 Hopefully not watching it fold.
  • 2 0
 the only thing that would make it more interesting is if Henry and Jason welded up some frames in their garage and built them up with Alibaba parts to race too!! Smile

On a serious note it's going to be really cool to see how this plays out!
  • 113 0
 Looks like a Mulally
  • 50 0
 This should be a shirt or hat to help him fund this year, I'd get one for sure.
  • 6 0
 @Sniff303: I will buy
  • 1 7
flag wburnes (Jan 12, 2022 at 17:54) (Below Threshold)
 *Looks like a Neko
  • 11 0
 *Looks like a FTW
  • 50 1
 He preempted the session comment. The commenters will be both honored and slightly dismayed. Lovely.
  • 7 0
 Handled that so well, and its a great linkage.
  • 46 2
 Neko has a BMX background?
  • 48 0
 Impossible. We all would have heard about it
  • 25 4
 What kid into bikes in the US in the last 30 years doesn’t?
  • 138 1
 @DHhack: Judging by the average mountain biker's bunny hop, I'd say a lot.
  • 2 0
 @DHhack: me
  • 8 7
 @DHhack: whoosh. know your pinkbike inside jokes!
  • 2 0
 @DHhack:
Tinker was a BMX hero of mine when I was a kid and I'm no spring chicken. BMX influence on MTB goes well beyond 30 years.
  • 1 0
 @DHhack: Seems to be a really US thing though. At my large school, I knew one guy into BMX, a few more were skateboarders.
Ball sports were 100% the thing over here.
  • 11 0
 Frank has a BMX Welding background.
  • 3 1
 @peterman1234: next up you can learn sarcasm… Not everyone watched that hot mess of a reality show this year on here.
  • 1 0
 @FUbob: I still refuse to admit to how long ago my childhood was
  • 43 1
 Damn... Neko looks FAAAAAST on that thing! Can't wait to see more!
  • 20 0
 I was at Kanuga a few weeks ago and saw someone FLYING on a custom/raw looking bike, and was like who the hell is that? That's the fastest by far I've ever seen someone going down that trail. Then found out it was Neko on this bike. He's crazy fast on that thing.
  • 27 0
 Some shots at Steber in here? "I've assembled a bunch custom frames over the past couple years that have not gone together very straight, so it was really nice to see this on the first try everything being really smooth"
  • 19 0
 SO SICK! Neko is such an amazing ambassador for the sport, it is really cool to see him doing his own thing. Brilliant guy. Can't wait to see how the season unfolds.
  • 3 2
 And a BMX background
  • 16 1
 Always felt like he flew under the radar - but this is genuinely the most exciting thing happening in the 2022 DH season. Wishing him all the best to show up some of the big guns. Can't wait to see how it all plays out. Now.. any chance Dak might be on the team too???
  • 14 1
 Goosebumps!

FTW is an absolute legend.

Neko rides Kanuga Bike Park like he built it himself! :-)

I'll be glued to his progress throughout the season.

Thanks Neko!
  • 10 0
 Wow, the speed and flow of him going down that trail in the end! Footage of pro riders going down the kind of trail that I could see myself taking on is so humbling!
  • 7 0
 Good to see Neko take his career into his own hands, and what a story. Capitalizing on his talent as well as storytelling ability now rather than after his career is done. Should bode well for him after his retirement from racing.
  • 10 2
 No content from the PB longttimers staff in 3 weeks is getting a little scary.
Vacation ? I'm done ? or Baa bye.. Or is this a normal winter event?
  • 4 0
 Agreed. Yes, this time of year is typically slow. However, the last few weeks is very suspicious. The Pink Bike staff is a talented bunch. Hoping all works out well for them
  • 9 1
 Neko and Frank the Welder FTW
  • 4 0
 Cool project. I imagine that bike will become an extension of his body more than any of his others, even if it's not perfect. Riding your brain child has got to make you go faster.
  • 7 0
 Grim Donut? Nah, round here we call it Neko’s Gitty Biscuit.
  • 1 0
 Grimshit-n-Bravely
  • 5 0
 Where can we buy shirts to support the program!! All the best this year Neko. But seriously, how can we support you!? For all that you have done for Dh.
  • 6 0
 Bike model should be called the Pop! Like the Mullally Pop
  • 3 0
 That whole video, especially the riding segment, took me back to the good old days of anthill films. Stoked to see the rest of this series and Neko race this season! Congrats Neko!
  • 3 0
 wow - that was really well done. Congrats. Absolutely cheering for you this year. Bike was working well, balanced, composed despite the nature of the ass haul'n that was going on.
  • 2 0
 Seems like what he’s building is an out and out race machine to his own liking. Can’t wait to see how he does in it. Alll the best!
He was pretty specific regarding performance under braking. Makes me wonder if other commercially available DH bikes raced at WC’s have more compromises in their design, trying to satisfying multiple team riders and the DH bike buying public?
  • 2 0
 Great point. It will be fascinating if his results are majorly different from years past.
  • 4 0
 Been into bikes for 16years, a ftw bike has forever been on the list. I hope this leads to a fresh generation of Frank's works.
  • 3 0
 Awesome stuff, can't wait to follow him during the World Cup season. I think the fact that he's designed his own bike is so interesting, go Neko!
  • 3 0
 This is a really exciting project and after hearing you on Downtime I have really been looking forward to the video series. #shredumentary
  • 6 0
 looks like a gambler
  • 1 0
 That is just every sort of fucking sick. So stoked to see this develop and to watch him race next year. Neko's been bringing the energy we need for years as he develops resources and community in the Southeast alongside his racing but this is on another level.
  • 2 0
 I think this is the coolest part of the 2022 season already, having a frank the welder bike make here in the east coast, just cannot get any better. Loving it!
  • 3 0
 The video is really well done as well. Nice combo of good music while still hearing the bike there at the end.
  • 1 0
 I was thinking the same thing. Nice music and the terrifying sound of a wheel hitting a sharp rock at high speed. Makes me want to ride again.
  • 1 0
 Dude isn't faffing around either, he's going all out. Hopefully he can get some results and sponsors to put a team together in the future where he can work with the riders to get the bikes they want to race.
  • 1 0
 So does it ride the way you hoped Neko? I mean to be fair, you could probably ride fast and stylish on a farm gate, but does this ride like intended? I am unbelievably jealous of the project!
  • 1 0
 Really inspirational. You have already done your sponsors proud, such a well done video, buzzing for the next episode and to see it in action at Lourdes! Good luck Neko
  • 3 0
 If that ain't rad, nuthin is.
  • 1 0
 Looks like a.....nice rig to rip DH on!! Take an apparently easy going and experienced WC dh racer, add in Frank the Welder, good thing coming for sure!
  • 3 0
 Neko, this is rad. excited to see more! you were ripping on that bike
  • 2 0
 Hell yeah Neko! Really excited to watch this series and see you racing these bikes. Also great work on the video!
  • 2 0
 So stoked for this series. Such a rad dude and excited to see how the bike develops over the season.
  • 2 0
 Really excited to see how this develops. Video is great and really cool to see someone doing their own thing.
  • 1 0
 Great video! Love rooting for Neko and damn this makes me want to ride Kanuga... best thing to happen for WNC mnt biking in quite a while. Thanks dude!!
  • 1 0
 Man, i remember those old-school FTW frames. Always had miy sights on getting one of those. Really hope this comes to something, it could be so awesome!
  • 1 0
 Dope!!!!! also he's riding at Kanuga bike park in North Carolina if anyone was wondering
  • 1 0
 Such an awesome place. Everyone should ride it if they ever have the chance.
  • 5 0
 It only says it on the sign, his shirt, and he owns it. But yeah. He is riding at Kanuga.
  • 1 0
 This is going to be so cool! The filming of the biking sequence and the editing is just so good!
  • 1 0
 This is so inspiring to watch someone doing what they love! Already waiting for the next episode
  • 1 0
 He looks more aggressive and in control already! Can't to see how he does racing this year
  • 2 0
 That little itty bitty seat tube bugs the heck out of me.
  • 5 0
 But who doesn’t like a itty bitty teeny weeny yellow pokeadot bikini?
  • 2 0
 Good luck. So cool and the bike looks incredible already.
  • 1 0
 So unbelievably stoked for this. Might be my first year to watch worldcups live.
  • 2 0
 This is so cool. Neko is already winning.
  • 2 0
 Agree with the man, and will definitely watch
  • 1 0
 genuinely excited about this, and i really wish him the best of luck on it!
  • 2 0
 I wished he talked more about the kinematics and geometry decisions.
  • 2 0
 There are a couple podcasts where he does.
  • 1 0
 I’m certain he will later in, especially when comparing the high pivot and standard pivot bike. Gotta save content for the whole year.
  • 5 0
 Suspension is squishy and less squishy at the end. The angles are geometry.
  • 2 3
 Slightly off topic but does anyone weld here that would be willing to weld me a rear triangle for a SC nomad that could fit a 29in wheel? Just an idea I had that I thought would be really cool.
  • 2 0
 Name checks out
  • 1 0
 Try Tobys Cycle Works in Vancouver BC - he has built prototypes and customs for the local brands here like Kona and such.
  • 2 0
 Umm... get a Megatower?
  • 1 0
 I'm 100% confident I will watch each of these twelve videos at least five times each
  • 1 0
 Awesome, something to look forward to this season, when there is so little to get excited about. Really great!
  • 1 0
 I always loved the idea of simple but working very well bikes. This one seems exactly like that.
  • 1 0
 I have a FTW Yeti Ultimate that still gets used a lot. It was a classic from day one and it will never get old.
  • 1 0
 Jeep FC spotted.
That’s a rare bird, which that bike would look good in the back of.
  • 1 0
 Awesome content...flawless welds and riding...what else does a mtb addict need? Smile
  • 2 0
 Yeah Vermont!
  • 3 1
 I love these.
  • 3 1
 Looks epic.
  • 2 1
 Exciting project, great to see something different!
  • 2 0
 Stoked on this!
  • 1 0
 Maybe Levy can source the parts for Neko..
  • 2 0
 Just do not ask Jason to do it.
  • 2 0
 This is actually sick
  • 2 0
 So stoked for this!
  • 2 0
 So great to see this!
  • 2 0
 Boss x2
  • 2 0
 #weldporn
  • 1 0
 That may be the best I've seen him ride.
  • 1 0
 I have to wait for Februrary 2nd for the next one!? Noooo
  • 1 0
 This guy is doing cool stuff and is always interesting to follow.
  • 1 0
 Hoo boy that was good! Glad there is more coming
  • 1 0
 As a framebuilder, this is the coolest thing you can watch on the computer
  • 1 0
 This is gonna be a good one to follow!
  • 1 0
 Could use an actual engineer.....
  • 1 0
 I love my FTW bikes!
  • 1 1
 Poor guy, he didn't watch PB and still thinks that pedal kickback exists.
  • 1 0
 @lkubica where did he talk about pedal kickback? Anti-rise is what he was focusing on.
  • 1 0
 @ak-77: he talked about it in some of the podcast interviews he’s done recently about the project.
  • 1 0
 can I buy one?
  • 1 0
 So Cool!
  • 1 0
 Rooting for this guy.
  • 1 0
 dude is a rocket ship
  • 1 0
 FTW FTW!
  • 1 0
 That berm just quivered
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