Phil Atwill's Propain Rage Carbon - Bike Check

Jun 8, 2017 at 16:08

by Richard Cunningham

BIKE CHECK
Phil Atwill's
PROPAIN RAGE
CARBON

This one is a bit stiffer to ride, for sure. You can notice it rails a bit faster. The ally' one had a lot of travel - ten inches, I think. This one has eight and a half inches, but plenty there still.

Phillip Atwill stands just over six feet (182cm) and only weighs about 154 pounds (70kg), but he says he's running the suspension on his new Propain Rage Carbon pretty stiff for Leogang's (now) relatively smooth course, with settings near those of the very pedally Fort William course the downhill circus left behind last week. Phil rides the larger of the two (long or short) sizes Propain offers for their new carbon-framed DH machine. Further lengthening the chassiss, Atwill has the two-position headset cups set 10-millimeters forward, and the two-position rear-axle chips set back for another ten millimeters of wheelbase bliss.

Atwill was very vocal about his disdain for Leogang's apparent lack of challenging terrain, but he's still planning on going fast. His rear tire is a Schwalbe Rock Razor, which is almost a racing slick on top, while his front is a the Addix compound Magic Mary - a very grippy option, probably to counter the flat, off camber corners on course. And, both have ProCore liners installed. He also plans on lowering his stem, but there was not talk about a remote shock lockout, an option that we've seen from both Fox and RockShox.

Schwalbe Rock Razor rear tire with a Magic Mary up front - both protected by ProCore liners.

It is actually embarrassing that Leogang could present this track to the world as as their World Cup course. It is a joke.

Funn 785 millimeter wide Fatboy Supreme handlebar with soft-tip locking grips.

X-Fusion RV1 fork with firm spring with 6 Euro coins used as preload spacers. Sticky compound Addix rubber Magic Mary tire. Zelvy PDL DH carbon rims (30mm IW) on both ends.

Fifty millimeter stem clamps with ten millimeters of spacers. "I may take those out for the race to lower the bars."

The Propain frame has a switchable head set chip that can change the wheelbase by ten millimeters. Atwill prefers the longer of the two.

Phil prefers the flat lever angle that is gaining popularity in the pro ranks.

SRAM Code RSC brakes with the lever blades set quite far from the grips.

X-Fusion Vector Coil shock with a Super Alloy 475-pound spring.

Funn crankset, chain guide and Mamba pedals. The chainring is a 36-tooth.

A close look at the two-way axle chip - set long to add ten millimeters to the wheelbase.

SRAM Centerline rotors, 200 millimeters on both wheels.

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89 Comments

201 3

feardabeast (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:07)

But where is the hardtail?

50 0

iamamodel (Jun 8, 2017 at 21:09)

From both a publicity and protest point of view, it would be a smart decision.

33 1

medievalbiking (Jun 8, 2017 at 21:11)

Phil mentioned that the higher ups might not be too happy with him, but the sheer propain publicity would surely outweigh the thrown race?

17 0

anotherstoneinthewoods (Jun 8, 2017 at 21:20)

@medievalbiking: Wyn asked Ben Reid (Phils manager) and he said go for it

27 0

kornbrot (Jun 9, 2017 at 3:30)

According to instagram Atwill currently at top of track with number plate on HT.

15 41

chriskneeland (Jun 9, 2017 at 3:35) (Below Threshold)

With all the pussy wheels and now this pussy track, this guy could single handedly save downhill by racing a hardtail. There's no room for pussies is this sport.

squarewheel (Jun 9, 2017 at 6:46)

@kornbrot: www.instagram.com/p/BVF_u_zFYXS/?taken-by=phil_atwill

joshb96 (Jun 9, 2017 at 10:07)

A 29er Hardtail at that. Nino Schurter anyone???

84 2

panaphonic (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:35)

Richie Rude should show up on his SB6 and take the win.

40 2

dtax (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:26)

Gwin on a Jeffsy FTW!

110 0

Ron-C (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:41)

@dtax: Minaar on the Nomad, I mean Bronson, I mean LT Hightower, oh, I don't know anymore...

13 3

jeff444 (Jun 8, 2017 at 21:00)

@Ron-C: u mean 5010?

15 0

Robbie907James (Jun 8, 2017 at 21:55)

@Ron-C: Bromad maybe? Homad seems like a lawsuit just waiting to happen...

79 23

Dustfarter (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:54)

If the track is that easy go win and then bitch about it.

37 11

rowdycash (Jun 8, 2017 at 20:38)

*cough* Bruni...

16 3

krisrayner (Jun 8, 2017 at 21:30)

come race day, I'd wager that the people on top of the podium won't be saying it was "too easy and bike parky"

54 1

ajayflex (Jun 8, 2017 at 22:11)

Thats not really the point though. They all cut their teeth on steep, rocky, greasy, root infested madness to get to the top of tbe sport, then race on a bmx track. I can understand the gripes.
It does however make for tight racing

ryanandrewrogers (Jun 8, 2017 at 22:43)

@ajayflex: I agree with this guy. It may still be a race and a challenge but it's not the challenge these riders prepared for and due to that fact might create a race that does not finish with results fair to each riders respective amount of skill.

Lagr1980 (Jun 9, 2017 at 3:22)

@ajayflex: exactly. and if there is a tame track, go faster until it stops being dull

lincoln3 (Jun 9, 2017 at 5:57)

How true is it that Red Bull have had an input into making all the tracks easier to make the races closer for its TV coverage?
Could it be that sponsors are destroying our sport?
If this is the case, it mean's sponsors are responsible for the new DH29er which seems weird...

justindisgustin (Jun 9, 2017 at 6:59)

Its too easy to ride for everyone, so winning is harder. Very little room for error, very minimal time differences. On a course like val di sole the gaps are much larger. Basically the faster peddlers will do better making a dull race. Not what I want to see in DH

Mattin (Jun 9, 2017 at 9:43)

@Dustfarther: That doesn't make any sense. I think road cycling tracks are easy but that doesn't mean I can win on them. The whole point is that 70% of the track is not downhill worthy and not technically challenging, which is exactly what downhill is about. This track is rather about who is most roadie (purely who has the most leg power) rather than who has most bike control, what downhill is all about.

krisrayner (Jun 9, 2017 at 12:48)

@Mattin: Right, leg power

That's how Gwin won with no chain, all that pedaling he got in out of the starting gate

kiksy (Jun 9, 2017 at 13:05)

@Lagr1980: but by that logic you could have a smooth road course that simply gently meanders left to right down the hill. Not what people want to see in a dh race I'd of thought.

trialsracer (Jun 9, 2017 at 17:34)

@Mattin: I understand what you are saying but I think @justindisgustin has it correct. It's not a road race, but more like a BMX race. The track isn't difficult but riding it with the most speed possible is still hard. It just comes down to a lot smaller time differences... e.g. the guy who made it through a couple corners .05 seconds quicker. So yes it's more about pedaling and just squeezing out as much speed from the track as possible, which certainly takes bike control and skill and is challenging, it's just that it makes

lccomz (Jun 10, 2017 at 19:16)

@justindisgustin: you think the course favors "faster pedalers" and yet it was won last year chainless? Makes a lot of sense...

justindisgustin (Jun 11, 2017 at 0:21)

@lccomz: Haha good point. What I'm getting at is it should be about who can be the fastest through the techy stuff, not who can gain a split second tucking on a motorway. Basically put the tracks back in the forest with a little piste section to finish on... Expect further rants at bmx park lenzerheide

Mattin (Jun 11, 2017 at 5:00)

You guys do know all the fuss about the track is because they changed it for this year? They've made it much smoother and easier. So it's a bit unfair to say it's not a pedaling track because last year Gwin won on a track that was much harder than this one. Comparing it to last year is missing the point about all the riders complaining how they changed it this year.

lccomz (Jun 11, 2017 at 16:44)

@Mattin: it is the job of UCI pro DH racers to show up race week, evaluate the track, practice, and on race day try to get safely down the track in the fastest time. That is the challenge. Complaining that you don't like the track is pointless. Wasting a practice run on your hardtail is pointless and borderline unprofessional. And people wonder why 95% of these guys struggle to make a living at it...

kiksy (Jun 11, 2017 at 23:34)

@lccomz: I would argue that the job of a pro DH racer is to promote the brand that pays them. This can be done in a number of ways, most obviously by winning races. However, Phil has promoted himself and his sponsors with the whole hardtail thing, so I don't think this is unprofessional at all, quite the opposite.

Mattin (Jun 12, 2017 at 3:30)

@kiksy: +1. Times are changing, winning races gets less value for sponsors, while creating a huge (online) fan base is slowly taking over. Phil is becoming a personality in the sport, which is exactly what you'd want as a sponsor. And at the same time he's an extremely talented new young gun, who I expect will end up on the top 3 winners stage plenty of times soon.

34 0

jaame (Jun 8, 2017 at 22:32)

I like Phil atwill. I think he's a right funny fucker. Good luck Phil if you're reading this!

14 0

ryanandrewrogers (Jun 8, 2017 at 22:44)

yeeeee more edits from phil pls @caldwellvisuals

11 0

caldwellvisuals (Jun 9, 2017 at 2:09)

@ryanandrewrogers: Soon!!

lccomz (Jun 11, 2017 at 16:37)

Is he a comedian, or a professional bicycle racer?

jaame (Jun 11, 2017 at 22:33)

@lccomz: I think he's a bit of both. That's what's so appealing about his edits. Let's face it, a lot sportsmen could do with a bit more personality.

22 0

qldmtb (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:04)

Should of bike checked this one for that track

www.instagram.com/p/BVF_u_zFYXS

shredright (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:21)

I've just ordered one haha

17 1

aoneal (Jun 8, 2017 at 21:25)

Ok, Ok. I love my natural gas, but after seeing this, I'm switching to Propain.

iamamodel (Jun 9, 2017 at 0:06)

Propain's a helluva bike.

12 0

lumpy873 (Jun 9, 2017 at 7:17)

I wish I could sell these in the shop just so I could say "I sell Propain and Propain accessories..." on a daily basis..

16 1

okavango (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:03)

Hey Propain, any sales plan in the US market soon? I'd love to try Tyee!

ejopdahl (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:36)

+1 to this. I'm dying for a spindrift but not sure how to get my hands on one!

Downdahill (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:43)

@ejopdahl: Want me to ship you one over? in 1 month germany

loolilon (Jun 8, 2017 at 23:56)

Amazing suspension, small brand but we spoke several times and always they are there rider for rider, have a tyee raw carbon 5 mounts ago , stokes, small details ...
They are mostly on line brand
You know that they won't ship to the USA?
You can always asked them

ejopdahl (Jun 9, 2017 at 11:15)

I'd be down! I'll pm you. @Downdahill:

robbety (Jun 9, 2017 at 1:45)

From PROPAIN:

3 position headset adjustment and 20mm in total that is.

And yeah we currently do NOT ship to the US because of insurance issues. We are working on it but it will not happen this year I think.

Cheers for the great feedback on our bikes.

I m off to Leogang now...

okavango (Jun 9, 2017 at 13:57)

Thanks for the heads up! Then, is it possible to order and pick up a frame at your headquarter?

DHaddict82 (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:16)

I think it's gorgeous! Super clean. Moto style.

cherouvim (Jun 9, 2017 at 4:49)

@Loki87

> it is not a proper track to challenge the worlds best

The steep rooty section in fort william did challenge the world's best (half of them walked it or OTBed) and many of those world's best still complained.

I feel that people just want to complain.

cky78 (Jun 9, 2017 at 5:11)

I often wonder if Phil was named after the old Ice Cube album Kill at Will....

phdotd (Jun 9, 2017 at 5:48)

but will it hold a large water bottle in the front triangle?

spaceofades (Jun 8, 2017 at 20:57)

whew... Sram Centerline and 200 millimetres blurred together to make 200 centimetre rotors... nightmares...

38 0

Bluefire (Jun 8, 2017 at 21:48)

username checks out

prophetwarning (Jun 9, 2017 at 12:58)

As a fellow 1.82m person, it's not just over 6 foot, it's just under.

What wheels do they run? The hubs sound great.

ginger-wheels (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:22)

Dam thats a sexy bike, put that thing on a ship and get it for sale stateside!!

Gabber (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:02)

Propain bikes are awesome. I love my Spindrift

Werratte (Jun 9, 2017 at 0:34)

...and i LOVE my Tyee! The Spindrift would be easily enough for this track. Imagine, Phil would give this a go...

samty (Jun 9, 2017 at 10:29)

@Gabber How does the Spindrift pedal (for a 180mm bike)?

johnbelling (Jun 9, 2017 at 12:28)

@samty: Better than most 160 enduro bikes I've owned. Done a few 40km+ spins on it now with well over 1000m climbing and its been no problem at all.

Gabber (Jun 9, 2017 at 18:51)

@samty: I´m very happy with my Spindrift. For a 180mm bike it pedals very good, but currently I´m injured ( fotos.mtb-news.de/p/2146323 ) and before this I only rode two days. Thus I wasn´t able to test it enough. But until now I´m not disappointed. My use is mosty for bikeparks. I use two rear wheels. One with a High Roller and 7 speed casssette and one rear wheel with a lighter tire with the Xg1150, which was on the bike when I got it. So I don´t need two bikes (All Mountain/Enduro for uphills and a downhiller for downhills). With this bike I can ride everything.

src248 (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:16)

That fork is money

Ron-C (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:42)

Anybody else have feedback on X-Fusion DH forks? I haven't heard much and would like to hear peoples' experiences and comparisons.

32 0

wpplayer18 (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:44)

@Ron-C: i've heard they're money

loopie (Jun 8, 2017 at 20:36)

@wpplayer18:... I too heard they are not free

src248 (Jun 8, 2017 at 23:19)

I was just making a joke about using coins as volume spacers... no clue how it performs but the one x-fusion fork I've tried felt really good.

ibishreddin (Jun 8, 2017 at 23:43)

@Ron-C: had one for a couple seasons with out the roughcut damper, just the normal h and l compression on the bottom.

Well made, tight tolerance internals. Stictionless, and loves to keep traction on the ground. The spring rates are very soft though. I was running xxfirm spring at 160lbs with still 18% sag.

Otherwise it is very plush and has a tendancy to dive in its travel a bit more than I liked on steep terrain, but stayed high in its travel. This forks damping over rough ground is money. Feels like an oil filled cadilac, wallowy and smooth as hell!

llarrggee (Jun 9, 2017 at 2:45)

@src248: €6 coins in the forks for preload spacers. Brilliant.

MSVF (Jun 9, 2017 at 2:12)

Well maybe he should stop racing if he does not like the tracks, that's better then just just jumping on the hate-train without giving any pro-active feedback.

Ohlalaa (Jun 9, 2017 at 11:07)

i think his feedback actually was pretty pro-active... if something like that is even possible.

xblitzkriegx (Jun 9, 2017 at 14:15)

Phil rode the hardtail down the track.

www.instagram.com/p/BVIifyNlWi1/?hl=en

rrsport (Jun 10, 2017 at 2:50)

Why does this not have more likes

norcalocal (Jun 9, 2017 at 8:19)

This thing reminds me so much of my old Giant DH ! Anyone think the rage rides/feels somewhat similar ?

kyytaM (Jun 9, 2017 at 3:52)

Hmm...SRAM brakes...IIRC he used to ride Formula brakes before, or not?

tommyr87 (Jun 9, 2017 at 8:55)

Gotta love the rockshox spacer! Free advertising there

hollowing2000 (Jun 10, 2017 at 2:56)

Damn that's a good looking machine right there.

pjeeta (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:09)

PeoCore liners?

Bibucc (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:18)

www.pinkbike.com/news/schwalbe-procore-review-2015.html

16 0

LuvAZ (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:22)

Fill yer tires with frozen peas. $100 per tire.

bbk7 (Jun 8, 2017 at 20:15)

foes

Foes2001 (Jun 9, 2017 at 6:26)

Almost but close

Levelheadsteve (Jun 8, 2017 at 20:32)

That's what she said?

dirkieuys (Jun 9, 2017 at 1:10)

So rad!! Take my money.

Below threshold threads are hidden

10 21

raditude (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:25)

I'm not sure if the guys down on the start list should be credibly commenting as to the technicality of tracks and how they aren't challenging. Clearly they need to focus on getting faster before they can complain about things not getting harder.

StanMarsh (Jun 8, 2017 at 18:47)

With bikes getting better and tracks getting tamer why shouldn't riders complain?

raditude (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:13)

@StanMarsh: if I made my meager living off of winning dh races, and I wasn't podiuming every race, I wouldn't be complaining that my equipment was making me go faster or that the course I had to ride was easier.

Those dudes are risking a lot having to go as fast as they are. I am surprised that isn't challenge enough

12 0

Loki87 (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:21)

Yeah, clearly he has no right to speak his mind as a competitor just because he´s not number one...o.O
What kind of logic is that? The track is shit, period. There´s no way to deny it is not a proper track to challenge the worlds best.
The dude wants to race on a track that is fun and challenging. Maybe he´s not gonna win the thing, but he damn sure has a right to ride a proper track and speak his mind about it.
Top athletes taking responsibility for where the sport is headed and speaking their mind publicly has become increasingly rare and i for one applaud anyone willing to do so in todays world where it may just as well fire back at you in an unexpected way (see Loic). It´s what keeps a sport evolving in the right direction, because opinions from the inside are what really matters. So if only those of the few in the higher echelons matter, you can bet it´ll create
huge problems in the future.

raditude (Jun 8, 2017 at 19:35) (Below Threshold)

@Loki87: with that logic though, this track should be exactly what they want because they have been shaping the sport through feedback, leogang is the result of that.

I think it was schladmig a few years ago when everyone was complaining about how dangerous the track is. Can't please everyone.

I just can't help but notice the guys who are winning aren't complaining about track difficulty, save for Bruni

Loki87 (Jun 9, 2017 at 3:54)

@raditude:
The reason for schladming not being on the tour is not rider feedback.
And Leogang taking out the rockgardens but not replacing them with anything worthwile certainly is not what any rider was asking for when they complained about them.
I've ridden that track. A lot. Line choice is exactly zero. It comes down to how willing you are to hold on for dear live and let the bike go as fast as possible. Not a pleasant thing to do for any guy who barely makes a living from riding his bike, if at all.
Yes, the top guys aren't complaining. Guess what, to them this is a job. Serious business. Their sponsors have expectations and the times of guys like Palmer saying whatever the f they want are long gone. If you wanna stay at the top you gotta play by the rules and be quiet. Just look at most other sports. Champions almost always keep their mouth shut, because being a rebel doesn't fit in with the clean images of most brands anymore.
Leogang is kind of a favourite, being an Austrian brand and all that. Do not underestimate this brands loyalty to it's country and the dedication to the Worldcup as their product. Certainly no RB sponsored rider will risk badmouthing the thing that their sponsor obviously has a huge interest in.
Now i'm certainly not the guy with the tinfoil hat claiming there's some corporate agenda behind this. But there sure as hell are expectations that need to be met by a lot of riders in order to keep sponsors happy.
Most of the guys are in it for the love of it. They want enjoyable tracks that represent the technical nature of the sport.
Also, as the winner would you go on an interview claiming how you did not need that 10k carbon superbike to win because the track was so easy? No, you go and sell the shit out of every victory, pleasanly ignoring all the negatives because they'd only detract from you and your achievement. They would complain just as everyone else. It's just not politically correct for them to do so.