Danny MacAskill | Bike Check

Feb 21, 2011 at 14:28
by Alasdair MacLennan  
Pinkbike takes a look at what goes into the bike of trials megastar Danny 'Megaskills' MacAskill
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Danny MacAskill, who's he then? Well, for those of you who have clearly missed out on perhaps the most successful transition from underground sports star to being understood by the average man on the street, he is simply one of the most stylish and free-thinking riders of our time. Hailing from the majestic and unforgiving landscapes of Skye, a west coast Scottish island, he has hit it big in both the media and with his tricks and continues to impress everyone who watches him ride. What's even more impressive than his antics is the walks of life from which his fans come. Quite simply, it's everyone from fellow riders and drunks on the street through to young kids and grandparents. Everyone who sees it appreciates the magnitude and grace with which he moves the bike around during his silky and breathtaking displays, and the skill it takes to get them looking so effortless (just so long as you avoid the bloopers reels!).

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On the 20th February Red Bull organised an event in his current city, the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, for a night of presentations, videos and live music. With one foot still firmly on the ground Pinkbike took the opportunity to have a quick chat with the man to see what makes him and his bike tick and to see if we couldn't steal just a little bit of that for ourselves. On the latter there we failed but luckily for you we have a bike check and an upcoming interview for you all to read.

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Let's start with the bike. Given the abuse that it goes through Danny has been pretty specific in his component choices, running a fusion of trials look and downhill parts built for strength and reliability. Hear directly from the man himself on he has to say with the following audio clips.

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So there you have it, the warts and all that go into making the bike of 'Megaskills' MacAskill tick. Keep your eyes peeled for the interview about the man himself which will be coming up shortly!

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118 Comments
  • 56 2
 It's really awesome that Danny stays with the old company. He seems to see more in life than just getting labels all over him. Thumbs up Danny, for keeping it real!
  • 36 6
 I really hope he doesn't end up as a walking advertpost. It would be awesome if shows the people and the industry "the other" way. It really gets mad with those Slopestylers and DHillers, i don't see them anymore. Latest Dan atherton interview - you barely see the face of the guy through these huge sunglasses! Is it a sport, a World Cup or Top Model reality show? It's just a disgrace to a human being

Go Danny!
  • 8 44
flag DownHillCooper (Feb 22, 2011 at 7:44) (Below Threshold)
 yea and wat kind of bike do you ride WAKIdesings?
  • 7 1
 SC Nomad, Kona Jake, why?
  • 4 0
 What he means is its good that despite his massive success he hasn't ditched the small bike company he currently rides for a big name sponsor that would pay him way more.
  • 11 19
flag DownHillCooper (Feb 22, 2011 at 9:40) (Below Threshold)
 why? because thats how every sport is, big fans, big paychecks and big sponsors. and not to mention fashion. you have to understand that hes not riding a world cup of dh or something... theres not as much people that want to see him ride as there would be to go see a world cup.... and dont get me wrong, i think dannys great but the sport of trials is so small that not many people know about it. remember not everybodys a member of pinkbike. but yes, you are right.
  • 13 0
 There are kids hopping about everywhere on street and trials bikes over here! Guess things are different in different parts of the world.
  • 1 7
flag jsawatzky (Feb 22, 2011 at 10:12) (Below Threshold)
 why no rear disc now?
  • 21 1
 DownhillCooper: I don't know about that. 20-30 million hits on youtube for his videos. I have guys at work that have never ridden a mountain bike that know who he is because somebody sent them a link to his videos at some point. A little advertising and he could fill a stadium (so to speak) here in BC. Could you get these people to stand on the side of a trail at a World Cup? No, not a chance, Gee who? Steve Peat who? Outside of mountain bike circles, few know a World Cup racer, at least here in Canada....and quite possibly 20 million people have seen a mention of Danny MacAskill worldwide.
  • 10 0
 The guys have to eat at some time, a logo will help them do that.
  • 2 0
 Heh, about the mechanism U talk about I agree it is that way most often. However that doesn't mean it serves any of us, especially riders any good. But please don't go into that "world's made that way" thing. It is not natural in any way, nature is good, that isn't (mkaaaay Wink Some people made it so and not necessarily care for something else than their own profit. Most of all it doesn't mean it should be made that way and we must passively accept that.

We need new sort of heroes in this sport and in general. Might be good if they start with not wearing those stupid sunglasses indoors and hats in the summer :d
  • 7 0
 downhillcooper are you serious, not as many people want to see him ride as a dher? his video has 20million views on youtube! random people who have never heard of mountain biking are amazed by him
  • 2 0
 I agree with betsie, Scotland has a very narrow minded view of bikes with only a fraction of even Englands good bike parks, you make do and from Danny's background in Skye he must have had to do the same, after all its not as if a halfpipe or table top is waiting round every corner so trials is a major player here, i suppose with whistler and woodward etc. on the other side of the pond they go unnoticed and tucked away.... just an opinion guys Smile
  • 3 0
 DownHillCooper's obviously never heard of YouTube or the term "viral video."
  • 5 16
flag DownHillCooper (Feb 22, 2011 at 14:08) (Below Threshold)
 way to be captain of the obvious team. and i know wat utube is ya dumbshit. alright for everybody here- do you see whistler with mountain bike riders or a paved whistler with thousands of trials riders? i wouldnt know, being suck and apparent idiot, but why dont you tell me where i can to find thousands of trials riders everyday grouped together.

and can somebody give me a list of trials parks the size of some bc bike parks, and i also want some trials movies, and also i would like to know where i can go to see a trials competition similar to the uci world cups, and world championships.

o yea, and while your at it, find me the names of at least 25 other trials riders around as good as he is. and then you can go and think about why watching a video and doing the sport are different!
  • 8 0
 people who don't care about mountain biking would watch him ride, whereas only those who care about mountain biking would go watch a world cup. His sport isn't big, but he has sponsors like red bull that care about him, and a HUGE audience. He can be successful where he is, and thus I don''t see why it matters. I can't give you the name's of anything trials related, because I am a downhiller. I still find him memorizing to watch, and would pay to go see him. There aren't thousands of trials riders grouped together because it is a relatively small sport, but that doesn't mean he should give up on it to go race on the Downhill circuit.
  • 5 1
 DownHillCooper, you dont see thousands or trials riders grouped together because in my opinion trials riding is much more unique and takes more skill, thats why there may not be as many of them and we dont all live near trails. his riding is not just riding as fast as you can down a hill but making the best of your surroundings and doing amazing things with it, no hate meant to downhill riders out there, i dont care what you do, its all on bikes and its all awesome
  • 2 0
 I don't see why this is such a big deal to DownhillCooper. He's a 90 year old man who thinks he's awesome. and I don't think he knows how big Pinkbike really is
  • 1 0
 stooky nailed it I think. I hear ya WAKI, you don't want to see people sell out, but sometimes its the only way to do what you love and put still fill your belly.
  • 2 2
 No it's very rarely the only way, especially in "better world". Say that to people in India or China that you don't have any other way to do what you love. If you don't have anything to put into your mouth you don't buy a bike for jumping and tricking don't you?

Is that really good, really just? Don't you do live that passion only for yourself? Deeper you live it more alone you are? How empty is life lived just for yourself.

Everything is for sale, they want you to believe so. Sell al your assets, sell yourself. It's just, what do you have left of yourself afterwards. Where is that personality people talking about in reality shows? In customized bike, snowboard, tuned car? Where is the sacred piece of a human being? Few wise people said: your body is a sanctuary of God - it doesn't belong just to you. "Commercialism" finds it as a huge discomfort. Higher the value you have to yourself, then they can't buy you cheap, maybe they can't buy you at all. What do they sell then? They tell us that this is the true freedom, some find it a prison of selfperpetuating monster inside you constantly needing new things as soon as he satisfies hunger. And more he sees more he wants.
  • 1 8
flag DownHillCooper (Feb 23, 2011 at 8:19) (Below Threshold)
 I'm not trying to make this a big deal I'm just tryingto say that alot of people would rather ride something else because as one of u said before trials is very hard. No I couldn't do it for my life but maybe that's y I'm not seeing the big picture.or watever ur saying. Now instead of making this a big deal let's stop because who really cares? I mean seriously talking like I'm not here and watever like ur trying to scare me away or something really isn't working.
  • 3 1
 I'm not trying to scare anyone. I'm just saying: "who cares" doesn't work. Never did, never will. It f*ks you up big time at this very moment, along with pretty much everyone regardless of the political, spiritual beliefs. And more "who cares" we have, more crap we take straight to our mouths. Do you swallow, yes you do!
  • 2 9
flag DownHillCooper (Feb 23, 2011 at 9:00) (Below Threshold)
 Who cares? O sorry I didnt mean to say tht! O too bad! Bla Bla bla!!!!!!!
  • 3 0
 not to be a complete ass and this is meant in the utmost respect downhillcooper but in ur second last comment it was as if u were trying to defend what u said and apologize for whatever u said before but then in ur above comment ur being a complete ass... which is it lol? :L
  • 1 3
 this may sound stupid- both
  • 1 0
 oh ok i was confused for a minute lol Smile
  • 1 0
 mind fuck...
  • 1 1
 who r ya talkin to JD95
  • 1 0
 no one in particualar, just reading over all of this and finding it interesting and rather confusing Smile
  • 1 0
 o hahha
  • 1 0
 @anfanny1888 if your from scotland why do you have videos from swindon... and its crap here in swindon?
  • 2 0
 erm maybe i lived there before for 2 year? :L
  • 1 0
 plus if u think swindons crap you should try here when i was there their was lydiard, croft, purton skatepark, purton dj, swindon oasis skatepark, Swindon Oasis DJ Trail, motion if you took the train to it... the list goes on - up here within an hour and a half radius of a cycle i have blantyre skatepark and airdre skatepark which are maybe a few qps and a half pipe and u need to leave before 7pm if you like to be un-stabbed lol that wasnt put in to act hard im trying to make a point about a comment i made before saying scotlands a difficult place to ride in before i get neg propped D:
  • 1 3
 what is swindon
  • 1 0
 place in england mate
  • 1 3
 o...im never goin to england
  • 2 0
 why?
  • 1 4
 i cant stand the accent at all.... and i hate the words mate and rubbish
  • 2 0
 Indeed DownHillCooper you made us believe so. Go thy ways to the nunnery!
  • 2 0
 that's it?! you'd miss out an opportunity to see an amazing country because you don't like the word mate? i never use the word rubbish anyway
  • 2 2
 yo WAKI u need pot
  • 1 2
 I don't need stimulants. I work in "creative sector" and I feel specially gifted among others here - I don't need any stuff, My mind is properly pref**ked, I challenge anyone when it comes to stupid creativity - drink absinth, take mushrooms, acid, LSD smoke whatever, I mean any crap, that you believe makes you look cool in the group - I'll beat the crap out of you!!! Speaking of which you should specifically not try me in "crap" department or you will never take a poop again after what you will hear.

As for English guys here: I just watched "A room with a view" - fu**in brilliant! Proper mind f*ck! Not much films today are so pure, so fresh with being simply BIZARR' !
  • 1 1
 are u tryin to say that im gonna do some shit because its makes people look cool or something? or wait but it sounds like ur saying that u would do drugs in a challenge with someone? in that case....
  • 1 0
 I meant that I can challenge a tripping guy on tripping ideas without taking any drug. And I do believe many people get high for socializing purposes. Because they are prohibited and percieved way more "bad" than alcohol, there must be a high degree of show-off involved, especially among "young people". When I was a teenager smoking ganja (which i tried myself) was a huge show off rather than, something fun to do. Times may change but I seriously doubt if suddenly kids are more " keep it real". Considering crap they are stuffed with by internet and media, it's the opposite. Drugs are bad mmmkay
  • 2 0
 seriously what the hell are you on about? you managed to turn a compliment to danny's riding into a rant about kids and drugs
  • 1 0
 ^good point
  • 1 0
 after ordering my DMR moto RT i didnt know if i made the good decision, now i know i made the good decision Wink
  • 5 1
 Nice bike build. Being a bike mechanic too, while loving DH, street and trials, I say to you (Danny), I could not have done a better job. Your bike is tightly set up. Keep it rolling!
  • 1 0
 this is ░░░░░░░░░░░░
░█▀▀ ░█▀█ ░█ ░█▀▀ ░
░█▀▀ ░█▀▀ ░█ ░█ ░░░
░▀▀▀ ░▀ ░░░▀ ░▀▀▀ ░
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  • 1 3
 thats awesome
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know how much his bike weighs? I'm curious to see compared to standard bmx bikes. But then again of course this is Not really a Bmx bike.
  • 2 1
 I know I would never ever ride like him, but I just want his bike...such a nice and cool ride, even if is just for hanging it in the wall....
  • 2 1
 plus if you get really thirsty I hear water is a great drink Wink

DANNY rules.. I'm sure he knows his shit when it comes to bikes..... just sayin. Salute
  • 1 0
 That bike is sick Danny keep riding my gran even talks about you after we saw u out in Edinburgh Razz :L
  • 3 0
 what pedals..
  • 3 13
flag mattf (Feb 22, 2011 at 1:04) (Below Threshold)
 they look the same shape/size as the superstar/nukeproof... but that's not exactly an accurate answer for you.

I'm a little embarrassed to hear him say how his old Magura was water filled and his bikes take forever to put together... Water's just lazy, for no real benefit, and ffs wasn't he a bike mech before he turned megastar?
  • 10 1
 Firstly, many trials riders use water in their systems as it gives a faster reacting, lighter & sharper feeling lever response.

Secondly, building the average bike up is a pretty quick and easy thing to do. But to do the same with a bike like this will always take longer as so much of what makes these bikes special isn't just the componentry but the way in which their assembled too. There's a lot of detail in the setup and this is what takes the time. It'll be bolted together quickly, it's those final touches that will take so much longer...
  • 2 4
 The over priced inspired ones, the superstars, kona's and inspired, are all the same pedals, just a different brand name and price
  • 5 4
 Clover... I'm not a trials rider, but I have ridden (briefly) a bike with some water filled HS33's. I couldn't personally feel any difference to a regular 'royal blood' filled Magura. The kid who's bike I was on had no reason for the water fill other than "I didn't have any oil". It's good to know there is actually a valid reason behind it though.

Regarding the build - you say bolted together quickly. That's not how it comes across in the audio, but it could just be me being picky. The final touches aren't really part of the "build" as such for me... more just little tweaks once it's built to get it how I want it.

and james.... that was my point.. It could be any of about 6 different pedals (possibly more), but essentially they're all the same.


I feel some more neg props coming on Wink
  • 2 1
 No he runs the inspired ones, for a fact, i was just saying that elbry should look at the other ones if he wants to buy them
  • 1 0
 @mattf - when I say bolted together quickly what I mean is that it'll look like a bike quite quickly but to actually get it to the rideable state that it's in will take an awful lot longer.
  • 1 0
 he uses Inspired Team Pedal's got it off Inspired's website, here is the link: http://www.inspiredbicycles.com/danny_macaskill_r3.php
  • 1 0
 @clover: very true. it takes only about an hour to get a bike to look like a bike, but to actually build my rampant, start to finish, took me almost eight hours....
  • 2 0
 I'm still struggling to see how you can all take so long building bikes... Lets extend it to as long as possible and say you're building your own wheels even... say an hour per wheel, a hour to bolt the bike together.. no lets call it 2 hours for an awkward brake fitting... and then at MOST you should only need about half an hours worth of tweaks and adjustments before you can pedal out your front door =/
Eight hours? Are you kidding me?
  • 4 1
 considering we had to take it to the lbs to get a headset pressed in, cut the steerer, set up the suspension, had lunch halfway, and took way too many photos, i'd say it's quite reasonable....
  • 1 0
 Sold his soul? If someone offered to give you/pay you to run Saint cranks and XTR brakes.............you would say no???
  • 1 0
 what size rotors are those??? 180???
  • 1 0
 nice forks, looks like odsy director bu in 24 trial Razz
  • 1 0
 what inch wheels are they ?
  • 2 0
 twenny foah.
  • 1 0
 oh i see Smile
  • 1 0
 what size tire 26x? (the video didnt work for me)
  • 1 0
 "what size tire 26x? (the video didnt work for me)" sorry i ment 24x?
  • 2 1
 what's up with that weird setup on the rear wheel?
  • 6 0
 Weird setup? You mean the chain tensioner? Thats because he need a stonger axle than standard horizontal dropout can hold, so he needs to keep his chain tight with that because he can't move the wheel. Or do you mean the ground down wheel? That's because he used to run a rear rim brake, and I guess when he changed to disk rear, the wheel was still working.
  • 1 0
 Bolt through axle
  • 1 0
 Yeah I was referring to the tensioner, I've never seen a setup like that. Thanks.
  • 2 1
 QR in the front? I thought at least 15 mm
  • 2 0
 He says in the first audio, 20mm bolt through. Dunno where you got QR from
  • 4 0
 Yes he says that in the first audio, but if you see the fifth picture it looks like 9mm QR! or not?
  • 3 1
 the pic does look like a qr from this side, but its prob a maxle affair.
  • 2 0
 If it's not a qr I'll be a monkey's uncle. Big fat slot at the bottom of the dropout, a qr nut staring you in the face, and you can even see the lever poking out behind the rotor at about 2 o'clock.
  • 2 1
 Your a monkeys uncle. have you never seen a maxle or any newer 20mm with the lever...
  • 2 0
 I dunno actually. Despite him rnning a 20mm axle.. In the photo it does look very much like a qr.
  • 1 1
 Google 'RS maxle', go on images. That's what ridinfree0freeridin is saying Yes it looks like QR, and yes it's 20mm
  • 1 0
 Ah! The lever's off. I'm gonna go sit in a corner now..
  • 1 0
 You goof! Look closer - the fork is a qr fork with qr dropouts. A through axle system, maxle or otherwise, has a dropout that's enclosed (hence, 'through' axle), and in case you've never seen a Maxle, the lever is always on the right hand side. It's no big deal, just obviously the bike in the photos is a little different from what he's talking about in the audio. And my nephew, Mr. Bananas, totally agrees with me.
  • 1 0
 why dmr moto too heavy tires
  • 1 0
 Yea, but also very grippy and durable. And the folding ones are not quite that heavy, don't know if he's riding them though.
  • 1 0
 thats a lovely bike! hope danny will have a nice season out there!
  • 1 0
 Sooo … a chain tensioner and a 4mm front hub, maybe. That's awesome.
  • 1 0
 crazy stuff man
  • 1 0
 What chain tensioner?
  • 1 2
 HEY M8 HOW MUCH YOU Py for the bike its peng
  • 1 0
 C H A V
  • 1 0
 I did not know that. I would think you would get more of a gushy feeling from water but hey if it isn't broken don't fix it lol.
  • 1 0
  I did not know that. I would think you would get more of a gushy feeling from water but hey if it isn't broken don't fix it lol.
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