Bike Check: Brett Rheeder's Prototype Trek Ticket S
Trek's Emil Johanssen and Brett Rheeder have been putting on a show at Innsbruck Crankworx. While most slopestyle riders opted for hardtails in Austria, Brett and Emil bucked the trend, bagging first and second, running with rear suspension. But, Brett wasn't riding a standard Trek Ticket S. He's been working for the past "six to eight months" to produce a bike that can compete with the lighter, nimbler hardtails that have started to dominate slopestyle. Clearly, it seems to have been working well for him.
We caught up with Brett to have a chat after the slopestyle finals.
We caught up with Brett to have a chat after the slopestyle finals.
What changes did you make from the standard Ticket S?
Rheeder: We've had a couple of versions actually. They made the Ticket S a couple of years back and then it wasn't working for us, as slopestyle was changing. We wanted to lengthen the top tube, steepen the head tube angle and lower the bottom bracket. That's what I've been riding for the past two years.
As [slopestyle] changes, more riders are coming out on hardtails, but the benefits of a [full suspension] slopestyle bike are still incredible for this sort of stuff. It gives you more leeway for screwing up, landing deep, or coming up short, so we didn't want to get rid of it.
Ticket S Details
Frame: Aluminum 85mm dual-suspension, (custom slopestyle geometry)
Shock: Fox Float DPS, 85mm
Fork: Fox Factory 36, 100mm
Wheels: We Are One Composites The Coup, 26"
Tires: Maxxis Ikon, 2.2x26"
Drivetrain: Singlespeed, Shimano XTR crank, SB One G3C DH Chain Tensioner
Brakes: Shimano mechanical disc brake
Cockpit: Title prototype handlebar (734mm), Title prototype stem
Size: Custom
Frame: Aluminum 85mm dual-suspension, (custom slopestyle geometry)
Shock: Fox Float DPS, 85mm
Fork: Fox Factory 36, 100mm
Wheels: We Are One Composites The Coup, 26"
Tires: Maxxis Ikon, 2.2x26"
Drivetrain: Singlespeed, Shimano XTR crank, SB One G3C DH Chain Tensioner
Brakes: Shimano mechanical disc brake
Cockpit: Title prototype handlebar (734mm), Title prototype stem
Size: Custom
We shortened the shock for 85mm of travel, shortened the chainstay again, lengthened the top tube, lowered the BB and then they shaved about 200 grams off the frame. So now this bike is comparable to all the other guys who are on hardtails. It's finally a contender with the weight and the benefits, it's pretty cool.
They also made the shock more progressive too, so we can run less psi. It's more supple on the top and ramps up way harder on the bottom end. We can run the shock in open mode, we were running them completely locked out with tons of psi before, just to get a stiff enough rear end. Now it feels like an active bike, it'll soak up small chatter on the slopestyle course, but it will still hold up when we push off for a flat drop flip or a big impact.
When you say slopestyle has changed, what exactly do you mean by that, is it the tricks that are being pulled?
Yeah, riders like Nicholi, Emil and Dawid Godziek are doing crazy stuff that involves a really light bike, a really small and short bike. Those guys are riding hardtails because you can jam the back wheel as close as you can until it's hitting the frame.
Can you give us some exact numbers?
I can't give you exact numbers, no. I measured it when I was at home with a tape measure just to confirm the numbers a while ago. This has been in the works for 6-8 months so I don't remember the exact numbers now.
The rear end of this bike has been shortened from Rheeder's previous Ticket S. The shock is custom made. It no longer has a trunnion mount and is specifically tuned for slopestyle.
The head angle remains the same, but it's now a bit farther forward thanks to a lengthened top tube.
Not much is known about Title components at the moment...
...Except that Rheeder is involved and they're still in the prototyping stage.
Rheeder was running his shock at 350 psi in training, but backed it off for finals to around 300 psi.
The fork pressure is also super high: 165psi.
A cable-actuated disc brake is all that's needed for this build, especially because it works with the gyro.
Rheeder was training with 50psi in his tyres, but upped it to 55 for finals so he could carry a bit more speed off the start drop into the first jump. Brett has apparently been playing around with lower tyre pressures for a while to find a bit more traction on courses like Innsbruck's.
The chain tensioner by SB One components.
Carbon We Are One 'The Coup' wheels were unveiled at Sea Otter just a few months ago
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Something that has an S size frame version preferably.
Ah, yes, of course, not getting a prototype Ticket S anytime soon, was wondering if there are the analogs of Jeffsies and Spectrals in the world of DJ. Something good, reliable and affordable.
I'd get something second hand, does it matter if its steel or alu?
From practicalities, get anything with an air sprung fork (you want it hard as fuk) and strong rims. Save some for fast rolling tyres, cockpit adjustment and pedals. You may also want 30$ for a chainring or cog to dial the gearing. Fit, hard fork, hard, fast tyres are more important than some style mumbo jumbo.
-Not that I would ever try, I mainly use it for pumptrack and the foampit. Still saves my scrawny ankles tho...
(Luckily I got some awesome deals and built it for less than $1000)
www.instagram.com/p/BzEKdm6g0wX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Props for sending Rollercoaster wo casing. I find upper Roller really tricky and yeah, the berms before the photo-table (also known as Kjelsrud-hoppet) are really hard/scary to keep your speed up in. Fun fact: the Photo-table was a birthday present from my friend Snorre, who built most of Hafjell, to another friend of mine, Erik Kjelsrud, who is one of Norway's best action photographer and proper OG.
Especially considering the twists that his housing it’s going to see.
And the title pic has different fork/shock decals than the close ups
Sick bike regardless ...
Rheeder: We've had a couple of versions actually...
As [slopestyle] changes, more riders are coming out on hardtails...
Smurthwaite: When you say slopestyle has changed, what exactly do you mean by that, is it the tricks that are being pulled?
Rheeder: Yeah, riders like Nicholi, Emil and Dawid Godziek are doing crazy stuff that involves a really light bike, a really small and short bike. So we've been trying to turn it in to a BMX.
I can’t make out what’s printed on the label
lp1.pinkbike.org/p0pb17347160/17347160.jpg
I am saving up for a pike, I almost pulled the trigger on it this year but for some crazy reason I got a profile z coaster hub and rebuilt my wheels. The poor pseries wheels that come with that bike got clapped out in a matter of a couple months for me. I assume it’s mostly a lack of skill but my size definitely has something to do with it
I'd venture to guess that it has as much to do with knowing that hard tails work, having more hard tail options in regards to sponsorships, being more comfortable with it and they're easy to have custom built to spe.
Not that many companies make a FS bike that works for it and no one besides Trek is really working with it's athletes the way they are with Rheeder to get a bike that works right.
I'm sure if there were more options out there more guys would be riding them.
Some guys likely will never change. Some guys ride both. Some guys will probably change if better options are available. Especially if Rheeder and Emil keep crushing them on them.
A lot fo slope and speed and style guys are already on them. Reed Boggs. T-Mac. DJ Brandt. Carson Storch. Cam Zink. Kaos. Etc.
I may be wrong on this but I believe in his early days he ran a small sized remedy until he and trek developed the Ticket S. I don’t know how much he is still working with them on it, especially because Rheeder seems to have taken over the dev but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that he still has some input in it. With him not competing in Crankworx it’s reasonable to believe that Semenuk is probably not very/if at all involved.
All in all I would say you’re right, I work for a lbs and I’ve had a chance to ride a pslope and good lord I’d hang on to my p3 over that any day. Again though I want to emphasize that my riding level and the type of stuff I ride is no where near what these guys do. I originally got a dj because I was tired of paying to rent at the indoor park I ride at during the winter and while I know Rheeder/McCaul and David Liebb have amazing edits at Ray’s I can’t do anything they do there lol. I’ve also been inspired recently by The Rise and so many bmx edits that I’ve been trying my hand at broadening my horizons and riding a lot of street/skatepark stuff.