Tracey Hannah Bike Check - Val di Sole 2012

Jun 7, 2012 at 15:50
by Ian Hylands  
Tracy Hannah with her custom Makulu from Morewood. The bike uses an XC top tube instead of a DH tube set in order to save a bit of weight plus Tracy s light enough to be able to get away with using the lighter weight tubing. April Lawyer s Intense frames used the same trick. Cables and hoses run externally on the frame.

Tracy Hannah with her custom Makulu from Morewood. The bike uses an XC top tube instead of a DH tube set in order to save a bit of weight; plus Tracy's light enough to be able to get away with using the lighter weight tubing. April Lawyer's Intense frames used the same trick. Cables and hoses run externally on the frame.


Flashing the pearly whites at Val di Sole.

Flashing the pearly whites at Val di Sole.


Tracy runs a 50mm offset on her stem

Tracy runs a 50mm offset on her stem


E-13 crankset and chainguide with a 36 tooth chainring at Val di Sole. Tracy s running Crank Brother s existing mallet pedals vs the new mallets that her brother Mik s running.

E-13 crankset and chainguide with a 36 tooth chain ring at Val di Sole. Tracy's running Crank Brother's existing mallet pedals vs the new mallets that her brother Mik's running.


Tracy is rocking the Kashima coated rear shock but not a ti spring. Yet. As Justin Frey from Fox Racing once quoted to me Ti springs aren t given but rather earned. Cable and hose route through the interrupted seat tube and below the rear shock.

Tracy is rocking the Kashima coated shock, but not a Ti spring. Yet. As Justin Frey from Fox Racing once quoted to me, "Ti springs aren't given, but rather earned." Cable and hose route through the interrupted seat tube and below the shock.


X0 rear derailleur.

X0 rear derailleur


Mid rise Spank bars with custom laser etchd ODI lock on grips. Formula RO disc brakes for stopping power.

Mid rise Spank bars with custom laser etch'd ODI lock on grips. Formula RO disc brakes for stopping power.


A cloer look at the Makulu linkage for the rear swing arm.

A closer look at the Makulu linkage for the swingarm.


Direct mount rear brake caliper with 203mm rotors.

Direct mount rear brake caliper with 203mm rotors.


Standard 10 speed hollow pin chain.

Standard 10 speed hollow pin chain.


Hutchinson Toro DH tires for Val di Sole.

Hutchinson Toro DH tires for Val di Sole.


Velcro tape has been liberally applied to the chainstays and seatstays to quiet the chainslap down a bit.

Velcro tape has been liberally applied to the chainstays and seatstays to quiet the chainslap down a bit.


Tracy opted to run tubes on her Mavic Dee-Max wheels.

Tracy opted to run tubes on her Mavic Dee-Max wheels.


A close look at the straight pull beefy spokes of the Mavic wheels.

A close look at the straight pull, beefy spokes of the Mavic wheels.


Words and Photos by Colin Meagher

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IanHylands avatar

Member since Jun 23, 2008
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70 Comments
  • 78 4
 Tracy is rocking the Kashima coated shock, but not a Ti spring. Yet. As Justin Frey from Fox Racing once quoted to me, "Ti springs aren't given, but rather earned." Cable and hose route through the interrupted seat tube and below the shock.

how has she not earnt a ti spring?!?
  • 15 0
 As a shop once said, you can go out and buy a ti spring from anywhere. No such thing as earning one... Waning your country's colours on your arm... Yes, springs... No Smile
  • 12 11
 Yea recently Fox became a legit gobshyte - good products but what a gob... as if they were giving out Steel coils. It's a pity they and Shimano bought up Syndicate, things became really unbalanced, they already brag about getting the whole podium in Val Di Sole - not because they sponsor so many top riders - it's because they put so much work into their products - gobshyte!
  • 15 2
 Its such a light weight spring that a Ti one will save virtually no weight. Otherwise she would cetrainly have it on already. She probably only weighs like 50kg.
  • 9 0
 @Waki - RS did the same. Its marketing. Dont overreact.
  • 3 2
 at 50kg wouldn't she have to run something like a 100# spring for the Makulu?
  • 5 0
 Milohead ...you won't be far wrong. I'm 83 kilogram without gear and on a 250. WC racers however tend to run their bikes a lot stiffer than us mere mortals.
  • 1 0
 Thanks mate Smile
Which one, I've had a few Wink
  • 24 0
 Personally I think anyone that's won two world cups probably deserves a Ti spring.
  • 14 0
 lol, how tight, just get her a Ti spring ffs.
  • 12 0
 You gotta be fucking dreaming if you think she hasnt 'earned' a Ti spring.
  • 5 0
 Because of the Makulu's motion ratio (wheel travel to shock travel) they require softer spring rate than normal on most bikes and at these rates (circa 250lb) the weight advantage of a ti spring is usually negated.

Quite literally, a pinkbike!
  • 1 0
 The weight saving made because the spring rate is lower is itself offset by the fact it takes a massive 3.5" spring. I don't know whether the UR guys are running Ti springs but Rennie and Delfs have run them on Makulu's on the past. The frame isn't particularly light so if I could find one at a decent price I'd probably be running a Ti spring on mine.
  • 3 0
 They forgot to mention those Toro DH tyres are prototypes! You can get Toro tyres only for XC but not DH like the Hans Damf (which will soon come out in a DHesque casing)
  • 1 0
 cant wait to see you bombing cannonball again. even on a pink bike so fast n smooth. hope you take it all the way keep up the hard work. you deserve both the rainbow jerseys after everything thats happened
  • 5 0
 nice bike looks sick Big Grin
  • 1 1
 Im no engineer, but why do they drill such large holes in the brake rotor? Its more than needed for mud clearance (especially for racers who can replace their rotors every race if they wanted to) and it seems to me that it just reduces surface area by quite a bit.
  • 1 0
 For dumping heat I would guess, and lower rotational and unsprung weight as well
  • 1 0
 yea its so they can cool down faster, and u don't want to touch them they will burn
  • 1 0
 Does it really cool it down? I remember reading something by RC back when he was on the other magazine that will not be named that it really doesn't affect heat all that much. And if unsprung weight was an issue, there are alot of other ways to lighten a wheelset, like center lock rotors
  • 2 1
 custom top tube to save weight... bet a ti spring would have been quite a cheaper alternative to save just as much or more...
  • 6 0
 A Ti spring would never save that much weight, especially at the spring weight she'd be running.
  • 8 0
 ^ true that - even at 250lb I saved just a few ounces - but everyone has to be super bent out of shape on this issue. It is THE critical issue for Pinkbikers right now. 2012 - the year of the no Ti spring saga.
  • 1 0
 Beautiful!... the bikes not bad either. NIce to see her get setup with on of the prototype fox RAD 40's. Good luck too tracy and her bro at fort william this weekend.
  • 1 1
 Can anyone explain me why the unitride team uses 2 valves per wheel? I have seen them in Winterberg IXS race but hadn't the possibility to ask.
  • 4 0
 One valve lets the air out, the other lets the air in. Simples.
  • 11 0
 I think one lets air in, and one is for the helium charge to offset the weight gain of the steel spring vs. Ti spring.
  • 2 0
 ^^lolz^^
  • 2 0
 There's a small tube pushing out against the walls of the rim/tire so the tire won't burp air when running tubeless. Pretty pointless, but that's what it is..
  • 1 0
 Nice to see Tracey on a minty fresh Makulu....good luck for the rest of the season
  • 1 1
 ern a ti spring? erm.....no!

red bull sponsorship yes!

ti spring......no!
  • 2 2
 The bikes nice the TI springs will barely help her she is probally really light!
  • 3 5
 Looks really gaudy to me, too many clashing colors, with no overall color 'theme'. But that being said every individual part looks well worth owning. Are they black and gold RO's on there? edit, ahh. yes RO is on the lever.
  • 1 3
 Get rid of the blue bits and voila, nice colour scheme!
  • 15 0
 It's a bike, not a fashion show
  • 1 2
 That's very true, but manufacturers sponsor riders to advertise their parts, with it i presume common knowledge that more stylish and desirable items selling better - I made that up, but it makes sense?

look at the advertising of the new Demo - judging by the e-erections in various forums it has impressed a lot of people, having a a well presented bike and color scheme will only aid sales - they probably payed an entire team of people to work out their 'theme'. This bike looks like they are trying to make every part stand out, and it makes it a riot of conflicting color and style, it doesn't work for me, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
  • 2 0
 everyone's thinkin it
  • 1 0
 Aww yeah
  • 2 0
 so beautiful, i mean, the way the spokes are mounted into the hub. its beauty astounds me
  • 1 0
 @jdotr

Yeah, that's not what we were thinking......
  • 1 0
 sry guys but i preffer summer.
  • 2 4
 Really, no one mentioned the fuzzy Velcro chain protection? Hello? Forget the coil get that girl some real frame protection!
  • 8 0
 why, who needs that crap when Velcro works best for chain stays. not everything needs to be super aftermarket hyper bling over advertised useless shat
  • 2 1
 Truth, yet why not when obviously that is the look they are going for.
  • 1 0
 Agree. I'm using a tube that is cut through the center. It protects better than an bike shop purchased protector, was free, and keeps the noise down. Also, very durable.
  • 1 0
 Okay, but can someone explain to me the benfits of using the loop-side of velcro tape as frame protection? I suppose it would be fairly lightweight, but it seems like it would also collect lots of dirt and wear out real quickly, requiring replacment every couple of days or so. While I'm sure the team mechs don't care about replacing the stuff regularly, I can't see weight savings being that important, given that she can't even bother to run a Ti spring on her shock.
  • 4 0
 The Velcro tape has a hard backing which is very durable and because the Velcro loop is also nylon it's far more durable than you think, plus the fuzzy part dampens sound well. It's a good choice and lasts longer than you think
  • 1 0
 The Velcro works really good, keeps the noise down and being adhesive backed it can be cut and applied to any shape tubing. It does collect mud a bit, but cleans out really easily. It lasts really well too, I'm going into my second season with Velcro on my stays and it still looks new. Also it's fairy low profile so it will not take away tire clearance.
  • 6 0
 "given that she can't even bother to run a Ti spring on her shock" why would she, the weight saving is negligible and the performance (steel v Ti) is debatable in many respects at such a light spring rate AND is it like trying to find the golden fleece tracking down a super light rate Ti spring at those dimensions. Good luck with that....and WHY is everyone so super bent out of shape over the issue of a Ti spring. You should all be concerned about why she hasn't got custom brake levers and a laser etched top cap and alternating pink and blue spokes.
  • 1 0
 its common practise amongst wrenches (mechanics) working for World DH teams to use velcro to silence the rear of the bike, and moto-foam in cavity areas to prevent mud build up (which adds weight during a run)

these guys have lots of tricks to help their racers go faster

this is Devinci's Global Racing's Team wrench Nigel in my shop here in the UK last season

ap1.pinkbike.org/p4pb6310659/p4pb6310659.jpg
  • 1 0
 Hey Gnar,

No ones bent out of shape about the Ti spring. The question was about the whether there are actual benefits of using velcro for chainstay protection.

And yes, I am very concerned about the entire lack of personalized lazer-etched levers and bar caps. Seriously, how can she even claim to be racing on the WC circuit without these vital components? ;-)
  • 1 0
 Serious bike!
  • 1 0
 that bike is dope!!!!
  • 1 3
 Rockshox steel spring on a Fox shock? Yes. Fox Ti spring on a Fox shock? No.
  • 3 0
 no, it's a fox spring, fox springs have "fox shox" written on them, rock shox springs has a noticeably bigger diameter and wouldn't fit a fox properly.
  • 1 1
 I like pink bikes lol
  • 1 1
 I have the same pedals!
  • 2 0
 So how do we report comments as spam, please?
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