World Cup DH Bike Check: Brendan Fairclough's Scott Gambler

Jun 14, 2014
by Mike Kazimer  

Practice day at Leogang
BIKE CHECK
Brendan Fairclough's
Scott Gambler

Although Brendan Fairclough hasn't quite managed to unlock the secret to climbing onto that top podium step at a World Cup downhill race, the British rider consistently finishes in the top 30, and his effortless whips and nac nacs have made him a fan favorite. World Cup commentator/heckler Rob Warner has taken to teasing Fairclough about his career as a 'freeracer', which might be the best description for Fairclough's career, especially given his Red Bull Rampage canyon gap and performance in Brandon Semenuk's Rad Company. At this weekend's race in Leogang, Fairclough is riding the revised 27.5" Scott Gambler we first caught a glimpse of at the British Downhill Series last month. Scott is still being cagey about releasing the full details of the bike, but we were able to snag some more detailed shots of the frame as well as the unique crown that the bike was fitted with.

Practice day at Leogang
   The Gambler's Floating Linkage suspension configuration remains, but the rear shock is now mounted much lower on the seat tube. As a whole, the frame is reported to be much lighter than the previous version due to changes in the front triangle, but a titanium spring is in place on the Fox DHX RC4 shock to shave even more weight.


Scott Gambler custom crowns
  Scott has been experimenting with using offset crowns custom made by Fox to improve the bike's handling. We haven't been able to verify the new bike's head angle, but the 26" version sat at a very slack 62 degrees. Adding offset to the crown increases the amount of rake, which in turn decreases the amount of trail, a change that should quicken up the bike's steering without losing the benefits of the slack head angle.


Scott Gambler 2015
  There are two rear wheel positions along with two rear shock positions, making it possible to change both the wheelbase and bottom bracket height depending on the demands of the course.


Fairclough bike check
  A 'First Ride' set of Schwalbe's Magic Mary tires are mounted on a DT Swiss wheelset. It looks like the wheels may have been adapted to use a version of Schwalbe's new dual chamber tire system - there are two valve stems sticking out of the rim. Take a look at that note near one of the stems: .8 to 1.6bar equates to 12-23psi, which is low pressure no matter how you measure it. Those two buttons at the back of the Fox Air 40 fork are bleed valves to release any air that may have built up internally.


Fairclough bike check
  Like most riders on the circuit, Fairclough is running a seven speed cassette, with a custom spacer taking the place of the missing three cogs. Shimano's Saint gruppo handles shifting and braking duties - note the two different caliper mounting positions to be used when changing the bike's wheelbase.


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157 Comments
  • 140 2
 look's like a... ohh no wait... it doesn't! and that's why i like it... it's unique!
  • 15 2
 Good point.
  • 3 55
flag LSDbrand (Jun 14, 2014 at 16:38) (Below Threshold)
 Wait! Yeas it does!!! Same color as Knolly but with out the hard core attitude. Knolly has had the electric blue and orange for a while and now my new WARDEN came in that color. It is sick!!!!!
  • 2 5
 Looks like Brendawg likes it shorter in the back for better whip action. Does that mean he has a steeper HA too?
  • 5 4
 @lsdbrand aka sherlock holmes Big Grin
yeah!
its all about the colours... they really tied the room together, did they not? Big Grin Big Grin Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Well it looks like a Sinister Splinter MX....frank the welder came up with this years before scott.
  • 62 2
 Color is sick......looks like an electric blue!
  • 8 69
flag thrice (Jun 14, 2014 at 14:30) (Below Threshold)
 Just positive propping the other mexican in the room, cheers!
  • 6 20
flag DC981 (Jun 14, 2014 at 16:57) (Below Threshold)
 Raciest prick....! (thrice)
  • 7 1
 ummm what?
  • 42 1
 12-23 psi ! thats nuts.
  • 12 1
 I guess we all should start running that psi...
  • 29 2
 Maybe that's why he's not winning!?
  • 4 1
 Pretty easy to run that pressure when the valve is open like that! hope they closed it before the next run Smile
  • 7 6
 how is 23 psi upfront nuts? 27.5 is slightly larger volume too
  • 44 1
 I would love to run 12-23 psi but I have to pay for my rims...
  • 4 3
 I run 18psi front on my magic mary 23x2.35 (650b) and 20 psi on my rear 22x2.35 magic mary (26in). No flats and I run xc tubes with the super gravity casing. Of course, I weigh 65kg with fully dressed...
  • 2 0
 lol at neg props, oh no a completely reasonable yet mildly contrary opinion to OP! or you all tough guys running 30-35psi upfront
  • 1 1
 I run 26pis front most the time , but to me anything under 20psi is a flat tire basically , surely it's gonna roll big time in corners ? Unless he has some different carcass in the tire to give it more support ?
  • 1 0
 I'm thinking re-enforced sidewall, most likely normal carcass under the tread so the lower psi can work grip magic. Pretty awesome that schwalbe's experimenting with different designs to push tire tech.
  • 2 0
 @game, I guess the negative props are because you dared to mention 650b Wink

I am actually running about 1.5 bars up front but I definitely need more in the back if I want to keep my wheels round for more than a weekend...
  • 2 0
 the hell's a bar psi or die :p
  • 1 0
 ha yea, could be and I dont even like the forced "650b revolution". I'm not opposed to experiments and change in equipment, but there's been no grace to it at all. Like how about letting the racers decide if its faster or not until you force feed it to us, its so ass backwards. Maybe someone's running script that neg props anypost containing 27.5 or 650b....haha
  • 1 0
 hahaha, 1 bar is 14.5 psi, guess its a british-european thing. Its actually the neutral pressure of our atmosphere, we're all under 14.5 psi at all times, but word, 3barsordie pussies
  • 1 0
 probably should've paid a little more attention in science...
  • 1 0
 Bar is a place you get a drink at ;-)
1.5 bar is around 21.7557 pounds per square inch.
  • 1 0
 he can run that low psi because he has that new dual chambered tire.
  • 3 0
 The bike in the photo above doesn't have four valves so no he isn't. But other non-schwalbe sponsered pros also run tire pressures under 30psi...
  • 1 0
 huh yea i see that he only does have one valve per wheel, which is weird bc the caption says he has the dual chambered system..
  • 2 0
 Fairclough is running the Schwalbe Procore system. It's hard to see, but take a closer look at the photo - the white tape marks where one valve stem is, and the other is on the opposite side of the wheel where the red tape is.
  • 1 0
 I see it on the rear wheel but not the front.
  • 1 0
 oh yea I see it now... haha I thought it said that he was running dual chamberes.
  • 37 3
 That picture of the suspension linkage is probably the most beautiful piece of art I have seen.
  • 17 33
flag Padded FL (Jun 14, 2014 at 13:46) (Below Threshold)
 You obviously have never seen a Knolly
  • 5 0
 Yes, that caught my eye as well. Nice lighting and color on that pic.
  • 9 1
 It's bloody hard to clean though haha
  • 4 1
 is it just me or is the suspension design the same as what Giant used to use but instead of behind the frame now it's inside the frame main triangle...?
  • 1 1
 Looks like it...
  • 5 3
 I'm still trying to picture what happens to the knuckles as the rear wheel goes through it's travel. What direction do the linkages move to compress the shock. I think a slow-mo video of the rear shock at work would be awesome.
  • 4 0
 It is much simpler than you think
  • 16 3
 A knolly? No offence but imo knolly have an ugly ass dh bike. But thats just me
  • 2 2
 Beautiful, but a b**** to work on.
  • 4 0
 Three lefts to make a right on that linkage...
  • 6 0
 Correct me if i'm wrong (like i have to ask for that), but isn't that just a REALLY complicated singlepivot?
  • 1 1
 yah I love it.
  • 4 1
 For those of you that don't understand the linkage, its an mx style link, not a swing link ala rocky mountain transition or the old giant. The middle "floating" link is tugged by the main swingarm and drives the shock, the link attached to seat tube alters its position relative to the main swingarm, this changes the leverage ratio making the shock ramp up to resist bottoming. This also drives the shock nearly straight down with barely any rotation at the eyelets or sideload on the shock shaft. Hope this clears things up a little for the naysayers that think its a useless system, its probably one of the most effective as far as bump performance goes.
  • 26 2
 More Bikes Check
  • 13 1
 I believe the term is "freeracer"
  • 5 0
 Hey Mike! Are we sure that these don't have Schwalbe's dual system??

in Photo #1 (full size) I spy a second valve marked with with a red piece of tape opposite the valve marked with a white piece of tape. Different valve location than in the original release article - possibly to keep things balanced?
  • 1 1
 If you go back and zoom in on Stevie's whip photo (rear wheel)

www.pinkbike.com/photo/11065704/?s6

Looks like he may be running them as well (or theres just a very shiny bit of spoke at the bottom), just not as obvious without the tags
  • 2 1
 stevie is running a tube to tubeless system in tires if and i think brendan is as well because a lot of the guys do that just incase the get a puncture in the tube they are able to finish there run without loosing a huge amount of air
  • 2 0
 @tkrug - Good eye. It does appear that the bike is using the new dual chamber system. One valve is to inflate the inner chamber to a high pressure, and the other is for the low pressure outer chamber.
  • 8 0
 I just want to sleep next to it cuz it looks so dope!
  • 12 6
 "Rob Warner has taken to teasing Fairclough about his career as a 'freehiller'"

WTF is a Freehiller Wink

Warner has been calling him a "Freeracer"!
  • 20 1
 Hate to make you feel a tit but it says freeracer?.....
  • 6 0
 Lol.. how did he get props for that? But hold on, freehilling!? Ebikes on uphill freeride courses!? Boosting step up after step up on your downhill mobility cart. Sweet.
  • 11 2
 The first line was a direct copy and paste from the article....

.... which has now just had a ninja edit Wink

I do like the idea of freehilling though on ebikes. Perhaps Mike Kazimer could explain what he had in mind when he originally typed "freehiller" to clear up the uncertainty surrounding this new exciting niche Smile
  • 22 0
 Freehilling is a secret underground niche of the sport. I'm not ready to disclose the details yet - it's still in the prototype stage.
  • 8 0
 Shuttle moochers who never chip in for fuel...Freehiller?
  • 3 0
 Will we get special freehilling "innovations"?
  • 3 2
 Ha ha Smile Good on you Mike Smile Ever the tease for these new and exciting innovations in our beloved sport!
  • 1 3
 Freeride downhiller
  • 6 0
 Can the 27.5 model still do backflips!!?????
  • 7 0
 Yeah, faster ones lol.
  • 15 0
 and 360.5s
  • 3 1
 ha I see what you did there
  • 2 0
 I'm torn between this and the norco aurum, the two im looking at are the same specs ( just ) but the scott looks a bit to slack to me. I need some help guys what do i go for?
  • 2 0
 I've heard the BB on the norcos are quite low :/ . personally id get the Scott just because it's the dogs bollocks haha
  • 1 1
 I've only ridden the Aurum however it has a great rear suspension that tracked well even when my dbair was set up like crap. i also have very few pedal strikes and the ones i have are usually my fault for pedalling where I shouldn't.
  • 1 1
 I'm assuming the Norco is cheaper so you might as well grab it, the Norco has a fairly standard 63 HA. Plus the Norco looks awesome! I ride a Commencal V3 so I'm not biased for the record.
  • 1 1
 I also was torn between those 2, chose the norco and could not be happier with my choice. Good mix of maneuverbility and stability. From flowy bikepark jumptrails to rough downhills. it is not not as hard to dial the ccdb..it is a blast on this bike. And i dont see the disadvantage of a low bb!? I think you cant go wrong with either. Have never ridden a gambler. Think maybe the norco is better for jumps and fun in parks and the gambler is the better bike for shredding straight through rough stuff...but that is just an assumption.
  • 1 1
 the norco is sick, but I feel like the tubes look too skinny
  • 1 1
 Okay i went to my local bike shop that has both in stock and rode both, not its even freaking harder i think i might just have to flip a coin, but i would rather the fox 40s that come on the Norco over the boxxers on the scott.. but its just the forks they are the same price ish norco is £3300 scott is £3380.... still torn... might go with the norco as the colour is nicer lol thats all the difference in it...
  • 1 1
 Oh tough one ;-) I chose the norco because i have heard it is a little more nimble and jumpy (pften read in tests that it is more a race bike), also fell in love with the colour scheme of the 2013 LE when i first saw it. and it supposed to be a bit lighter. Dont you have a preference riding wise or maybe frame shape/colour?
  • 1 1
 My riding style suits the Norco more logic i should take the norco.... but i cant get over the scott either but i have heard of a few people cracking their norcos but i dont know what they where doing when that happened, but i have seen a pic on a facebook page where a guy snapped the head tube straight off the scott ( ive been googling a LOT ) but i think im going with the norco. I will post pics of my new steed when i get hold of it.
  • 2 2
 Oh.. I meant the scott is more of a race bike (according to tests)..probably misunderstood that.
Yeah i think you always find pictures of cracked frames when you are looking for it. Good luck with your decision. They are both great for sure and you wont regret either decision. Which norco model would it be? And if you really want a gambler i would go for the 2015. those changes make sense.
  • 1 0
 what about the spesh status? any thoughts on the 10x135 rear end? Thanks
  • 1 0
 I had a quick blast on my mates one and it tracked so well and feels solid through rough corners the lot.
  • 1 0
 Norcos gonna pedal better with that fsr, scotts going to jump, mash and smash better with the linkage driven shock. 62 headangle works better than most ppl think, even if you're not ultra fast or riding champery dont be scared to try it out, its adjustable with cups too.
  • 1 0
 I've gone with the norco just placed my order here's she is m.evanscycles.com/products/norco/aurum-61-2014-mountain-bike-ec053912
  • 2 0
 nice choice..dont forget to set the double barrel with its base tune for the aurum on cane creek's homepage, if they haven't done that yet. it is a good starting point and helped me a lot to get the final setting to my liking. and who ever neg-propped all norco involved comments...go get a life...so pathetic!!
  • 1 0
 Looks like a kona
  • 1 0
 that welded part in the seat tube looks like it can break quite easily. i dont know how strong aluminium welding can be,but that looks intuitively snappy. please somebody explain. am i wrong?
  • 3 0
 Um... Yes please. I want that rear shock adjust!
  • 2 1
 Dammit!!!!! Now ill have to get off my arse, an get a job. This is one hell of a sick rig.
  • 4 1
 Better vote for independence then.
  • 2 0
 snazzy piece of kit for a snazzy sick ass rider!
  • 2 1
 Do the two wheel and brake mount positions also allow for a 26" wheel in case he wants to get more moto?
  • 2 1
 i know you're joking but, motocross tires have a 27.5 inch outer diameter front and rear, with a smaller rear rim to compensate for the larger tire in the back...
  • 2 1
 my mistake, you're right the fronts range from 27.5-28, rears 26.5-27.5 or so(atleast for kenda who actually list the O.D.)
  • 3 1
 Moto's look moto because they have smaller rims(18"-21"). So now bike wheels roll over things easier because they're bigger and better; and the tracks are smoother and more sculpted. Too bad it's making professional downhill look even more boring on the broadcast. Seems like we need to make the sport look cooler, not more goofy. But at the end of the day it's mountain biking, which will always be a little goofy, not quite roller blading or razor scooter goofy, but goofy none the less.

Also, in motogp(16.5" rims) or F1(25.9"dry tires, 26.3" wet tires) where rolling over things is not even an issue they use smaller wheels. If bigger wheels are faster, why do the fastest machines that humans race run smaller wheels than the new fangled push bikes?
  • 3 1
 You can probably run a rear 22in (that is the actual size of a 26in rim) on the 23in (that is the actual size of a 27.5in rim) gambler but running both would make the bb below 330mm...
A motocross front rim is 1 inch smaller than a 26in rim but the tire is bigger thus the overall diameter is like a 27.5in wheel. F1 and motogp run smaller diameters because they race on tarmac! You don't see small diameter rims on offroad vehicles do you? Last I checks they have pretty big wheel diameters!
  • 2 0
 As you said, you do see smaller rims on motocross bikes, maybe it's because they are stronger?
  • 1 0
 ^The rims on a moto are smaller due to the taller profile tires, its not about strength. Look how much taller the sidewall is on a rear moto tire than the front(or compared to a mtb tire). The OUTER TIRE DIAMETER is what matters in this comparison, and its very close on a moto to what a mtn bike runs, as it should be since we're riding nearly the same terrain at similar speeds. Some guys will downsize to an 18in rim on the rear in mx, so they can run a TALLER profile tire for extra sidewall give, not a smaller overall wheel diameter. Sintra, thanks for bringing the true size of a mtn bike rim into this, it really makes the comparison easier to understand for anyone confused with the math.
  • 3 0
 Personaly I'd like nothing better than people to start referring to rim size by their actual diameter. Either in inches or mm.
559mm/22in (26in)
584mm/23in (27.5in)
622mm/24.5in (29in)
By the way 24in rims are 20.5in/519mm
So a mx front rims is 2in1 making it between a 24 and a 26in.
  • 2 1
 That linkage looks meatier than the bovine Ed Masters was sliding around...
  • 1 0
 How to convert a 10 speed setup to a 7 speed one?
  • 1 0
 Get a 7 speed conversion kit from ti-springs.com
  • 1 0
 Do you reckon the new rear is retrofitable onto the old front
  • 1 0
 I doubt it, they've made some changes to the tubes themselves, plus the linkage mounts may be in different places to accommodate the lower-mounted shock
  • 1 0
 Probably not due to the new frame being made to fit the bigger wheels.
  • 1 0
 I'm wondering how much it weight? That bike look buff.
  • 1 0
 the stance is much better.
  • 1 0
 Any one know whats up with the new color of the fork?
  • 2 0
 dream bike
  • 1 0
 Mmmmmmm..those clamps,I want them Smile
  • 2 5
 Sic rig, Ive always like this rig, now the updates only make it on paper even better, now if only Brendon would put in the off season work that Troy Brosnan has, he might win one of these things, time is running out and no one remembers whips.
  • 1 0
 I'd say its hard for anyone that doesnt know him or train with him to say whether he trains to his full potential physically or not, not everyone can achieve elite athlete status, which the podium guys truly are.
  • 6 5
 I love everything about this bike, except the wheelsize...
  • 3 7
flag paulclarke (Jun 14, 2014 at 20:45) (Below Threshold)
 Bigger wheels roll over things better. Cannot understand why people do not understand that. We should all go back to cantilever brakes and 1" threaded headsets from what you're saying. Actually coaster brakes maybe. ...
  • 3 2
 Mountainbiking has become way too much about the bikes. I understand that a 27,5 wheel might be faster when rolling over roots and rocks but then why don't I just ride a motorcycle down the hill? Would be faster as well. I don't want to say we should go back to cantilevers and threaded headsets but I wouldn't mind if they would have never been invented
  • 2 2
 It changes cause people support the change. People buy the new stuff. If you dont agree with the new stuff then why do you ride a p3? You should get an old school xc bike and dj with it. Thats what people used to do ya know...
  • 4 0
 "my way is the only way" - Ted Nugent
lol
  • 3 1
 @paulclarke Of course people support the change. That's because of brand's marketing. Have you ever heard anyone saying "I wish my bike had bigger wheels so it rolls over obstacles faster" before 650b was introduced? Because I haven't. And I don't ride an old school xc bike on dirtjumps because new better bikes have been invented. What I wan't to say is that I wouldn't mind if all this "new" stuff would have never been invented. People had fun on these bikes back then so it was all good.
@ctmtb98 I don't say my way is the only way, feel free to ride whatever you want, I just want to point out that I don't like the direction mountainbiking is going these days. But that's just my opinion
  • 5 1
 @ridethree nah dude, i'm totally on ur side man, I just that was a funny quote that would go well in the conversation haha, sorry if it came across as offensive.
  • 2 0
 @ctmtb98 Looks like I got you a little wrong there. Nice to see some who shares my opinion
  • 3 1
 @ridethree yeah its all good man, 26 for life!! gave you a follow btw, haha
  • 1 2
 Did you ever hear anyone say 'i wish i had hydrolic disc brakes with 8 inch rotors' in 1982 when specialized put out the first mtb? No cause people would think you were a nut bar. Things come along way and people cannot even imagine what bikes will be like in 25 years.

You say all these 'new' things. You ride a 'new' thing. Its called a dirt jumper. They did not exist in 1995. Your logic is ritarded.
  • 2 1
 jesus guys, if someone wants to ride a 29er, a 650b, or a 26, thats their choice, quite frankly all i give a damn about is if I have the option to buy parts and bikes in my favorite wheel size. If 29ers get you shreddin then go for it man. As long as we are having fun is all that matters. It shouldn't matter to each of us what some other random guy on pinkbike rides...
  • 3 0
 Dear paulclarke, Please give up on analogies. thank you.
  • 2 0
 @ paulclarke would you mind if brands would just stop inventing "better" stuff ? Cause I woudn't. Look at bmx, their bikes almost haven't evolved at all over the past few years and none of the bmx riders complains about their wheels being to small or anything, they just ride and have fun like it's supposed to be.
  • 1 2
 Im agreeing with them slowly changing the sport. It happens with everything. Just saying people who will not open their eyes to 27.5 wheels just dont make sense.
  • 1 0
 Very precise piece of engineering
  • 1 0
 Anyone know if he uses the largest size they make?
  • 1 0
 i know the previous large was basically his signature frame made to his specs, so I would think the new one is too?
  • 1 0
 the new large is has a longer top tube. and yes he does
  • 1 0
 Wow... Its its so beautiful...
  • 2 2
 bikes are so fucked now! i stop looking at pinkbike for 1 year and come back to this, what the fuck! mind blown
  • 1 0
 Keep the Bike Checks coming PB! Always awesome!
  • 1 1
 thrice you idiot.. will someone in his hometown beat his ass
  • 1 1
 Dammit!!!! Now i gotta get of my arse, n get a job. This is one sick rig.
  • 1 0
 looking good!
  • 1 0
 that looks amazing...
  • 1 1
 looks sweet.looks heavy.whats the lbs?just wondering
  • 1 0
 I'd ride that
  • 3 3
 I love my Gambler:-)
  • 4 5
 Think I would have gone for a 203mm rear rotor
  • 5 2
 If he doesn't need it, neither do you!
  • 3 0
 That's what I was saying, surely he does need them. I remember a couple of years ago people were a few people were running 220mm at like Val di Sole and Champery, and I know the courses are slightly different, but still.
  • 2 0
 Deathgrip for the win
  • 3 0
 The new shimano brakes can be run with a rotor size down and have the effectiveness of a larger rotor due to the cooling properties of the rotor/ pad combo. They are awesome brakes.
  • 1 1
 thats a sexy bike
  • 1 4
 Head angle is a little more... normal
  • 1 1
 unfortunately, ah well theres always the angle cups they come with
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