Video: Specialized Racing World Cup DH3 - Vallnord

Jul 30, 2013 at 10:22
by Mike Kazimer  


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60 Comments
  • 49 6
 Everyone seems to put alot of the blame for Gwin's 'struggles' on the bike. That's more than fair considering he's made a change after each of the first two world cups. Going to a large then back to a medium with the longer wheelbase. But also keep in mind he didn't exactly finish out the year real strong last season. He won the overall by dominating 4 of the first 5 races and basically had the thing locked up after Windham. But after that his results weren't exactly stellar (for him anyway). He had a bad crash in practice and then finished 5th is Val De Isere, finished out of the running at the world champs after his crash and the most highly publicized mechanical failure in the history of mountain biking, and then skipped the final in Norway after a practice crash. So while the easy target is the bike, he hasn't been really on top of his game since well before his switch to Specialized. I have no idea what the reason is for him no longer dominating, but its just something to consider before immediately blaming the bike.
  • 26 16
 It's quite obviously is the bike , some one who dominates for 2 seasons does not just drop that far off his old pace in such a short time frame.

Tried a medium , didnt like it , tried a large and didnt like it , went back to a medium but with longer chain stays , doesnt sound like some one whos happy with the bike to me.

Granted he done his bit of damage limitation for Specialized saying its now dialed , but shouldn't it of been dialed from the start ?
  • 13 0
 Like I said, thats all fair, and clearly he isn't comfortable on the bike yet, I was just pointing out that he wasn't lighting it up on the Trek either towards the end of the season. Just saying it might not be all the bike's fault.
  • 15 2
 What God giveth, God taketh away Wink
  • 17 2
 Both bikes are top bikes. I don't think riding a demo 8 or a session will change your results that much ! Racing is a lot (if not mostly) in the head, confidence... etc
None of us know Aaron Gwin well, maybe he's depressed/had enough of racing dh/doesn't feel great... Who knows ?!
But I doubt it is because of his new bike...
  • 6 1
 Can't really blame the bike because Troy has been riding well on it. But can blame Aaron not getting himself used to a new bike after switching over from Trek.
  • 10 1
 He went down and still got 10th? I think this confirms its not the bike. If anything he is still learning the limitations of the bike. Shame on him for not putting more time in the off season and shame on Specialized for not forcing the pimp hand. They did however make a change to the geometry on the bike and his first race he goes down and still gets a respectable result. It may take another race or two but I'm sure he's back in the top 5 before we know it.
  • 8 3
 Hey sino428, does Spesh have a good benefits package for their employees? Been thinking about applying.
  • 1 0
 I wonder if he is getting burned out. From what I remember reading about him, yes he works incredibly hard, but is also incredibly naturally talented at just about whatever sport he picks up. Pitched a perfect game, QB'd his high school football team to a championship, and if I remember right he also traced motocross successfully as well. I'd love to see him continue to perform well, I just wonder if, like the other sports he has competed in, he's reached the top which led to burn out.
  • 1 0
 Tom, I have no idea what the benefits are like at Specialized. I think it would be awesome to work for a bike company but unfortunately I don't work at one. To be honest, I've never even ridden a specials bike of any kind.
  • 2 1
 Yeah for sure Sino, can't blame an awesome bike like Specialized! Gwinny will settle in soon and lookout! Just get those bugs out of ya head Gwin and you'll be dominating in no time!
  • 1 0
 I don't think he is depressed because of how excited he was to join specialized. I think some of it is the bike. Gwin won the very first World Cup event that he road the Session in. But that just means the Session worked better for Gwin. Its possible that some riders would fit the Demo better than the Session. I am biased to the Session though after reading about both bikes. Intension technology blows me away!!!
  • 36 3
 Troy, Danny; you are the future. But ask your dads to teach you how to shave!
  • 22 1
 Troy is doing so well considering his injury.. and Arron seems happier, I sense a win soon
  • 9 0
 Gwin will put it together. I really believe his is just pushing a tad too much and its costing him some mistakes. He knows that the level of competition is so tough this year that he has to take some risks probably out of his comfort zone. I think he might just tone down the risk taking and end up first on the podium with a very clean run before the end of the year. Gwin's riding so far this year kind of reminds me of Danny Hart's, Danny is an amazing rider but come race day he is incredibly loose and risky and in the end mistakes cost him. Anyways, Specialized have an amazing team. I hope all 3 stay on the team for the next few years to come.
  • 3 0
 Agreed ^^
  • 1 4
 there is absolutely no way you just compared those 2 riders............
  • 1 0
 At what point did I compare them?
  • 1 0
 you didn't - he did
  • 16 4
 Troy is the next big thing
  • 9 1
 Isn`t he already quite big thing.
  • 9 0
 I think he means World Cup Champion big.
  • 4 0
 Well, the next "small" big thing. Seriously, he's so tiny. Fits easily into most overhead storage compartments.
  • 3 0
 Yes, but not for long. I think he's hitting puberty now.
  • 1 0
 yeah that is what i meant apioqm cheers man
  • 1 0
 One he gets his ' man strength ' in his mid 20's he will top step stuff. He's already one of my fav riders and always in my dirt fantasy team , i just know he will be winning sooner than later
  • 9 1
 Gwin has a great attitude... sounds like he had 2 crashes in his race run, so 10th place is not too shabby. MSA is going to be rowdy!
  • 9 0
 Looking at his splits and speed gun, it was more than 2 mistakes.
He looked good on certain parts of the track but not others.
Gwin liked the former track tapers tracks, wide and easy.
He was found wanting towards the end of last season when they started to get tighter and more technical.
We have timed him twice in the woods at fort bill on race runs and he was amongst the slowest.
2 years ago he took 13s for where Josh smashed the field in 8s (his speed and commitment was nuts)! Most were taking high 9s to 11s.
He may come back, but Gee aint puncturing, Greg aint injured and Stevie got faster...
  • 1 0
 Gwin does have a good perspective, and looks like he is flying again. He says he feel feels faster than ever, so hopefully the fastest man to ever race a mountain bike downhill is ready to win again. Brosnan is also a contender for a World Cup race win this year, but Gwin might be the one who keeps that from happening.
  • 1 0
 Only time will tell. Gwin is saying what he has to say. He looked happy on the hot seat, I guess he thought he had done one looking at the qual times, there was no hint of crashes, mistakes, etc at that point, he was beaming. The excuses only started after the rest came down. Msa suits his old style better, so long as it is taped wide again, but being pedally and looking at what the gt does under Rach and Gee when that is the case.
  • 7 2
 I don't think Gwin is happy with the Specialized, he seems to be over-emphasising that he's happy and it's quite unconvincing
  • 1 0
 Yep it was typical PR damage control , seemed very unlike he usual honest and humble interviews
  • 7 1
 Is it bad that i really want to see Gwin on top of the podium again? :L
  • 10 0
 No, why would it be bad to want to see any of the riders win? It's a good thing.

It's funny how some people (not you, but some, well a lot actually...) are happy he's having a bad season. When before, we'd be bummed for anyone who had a bad season and be happy when they got back up. That's what the real fans do, shout and scream for every rider coming down the mountain to absolutely smash it. Because that's racing, and that's why we love it.

Being happy anyone is doing bad is just really shitty.
  • 2 0
 cyrix, I agree with you 100%.
  • 3 1
 Hel run the demo into the ground with different parts, sizes the lot this year. If there are no front page results to shout about the big S will no doubt build him a custom dh bike. They cannot afford to sign such a high profile rider and simply not get results. I suspect at the moment specialized are saying what is it about the bike that's not right. End if the year they'll be saying 'what bike do you need to win?' The GT is the perfect example of this. You cannot take away his dominance of the last two years though. Right bike, right frame if mind = Machine!
  • 5 0
 What are you talking about? This bike talk is getting old. He went down twice on his run and still got tenth! Does that mean the bike is slow? Seriously, ask yourself that question. It's him pushing too hard and still learning the bike. He didn't put the time in when he should have and now he is paying the price. This happens all the time in the United States to athletes who win a championship...most likely the next year is a "hangover" year.
  • 6 0
 Give time to Gwin...This guy will be on top again, no doubt!
  • 5 1
 Gwin don't have the Big S forged in his mind cause it's protected by a shield Trek Shield!!!
  • 1 0
 To repeat the phenominal success of his first two seasons is very difficult - he isn't much slower, as much as everyone else has step-up'ed their game. Gwin was (is) the man, everyone trained for to beat. It takes near pertfection to win a WC - the rider who comes down super clean and fast will win - Gee had over two seconds on Remi up top, but had mistakes on the lower part - Remi was a clean machine throughout. Gwin had one too many mistakes as well. Like Schwarzneggar says - "He'll be back!"
  • 1 0
 That's it - the only way that the bike debate will end is if he can win a race on the demo. Otherwise, yeah, a supple single pivot with a built in floating brake seems to beat FSR; geometry aside...
  • 2 3
 I wouldn't mind betting that he is only on that bike for this season and that next year there is a "new demo" that is completely designed around him. I wonder of the reason his current bike is not dialled is because he is spending time testing and not just riding the stock bike.
The athertons were on a different fury last year and didn't have a great season, this year, new bike and instant step up!
  • 1 1
 But lets not forget that the Athertons had a big say on the new Fury. It was pretty much built for them. Spec is doing the same for Aaron.
  • 3 0
 One thing to keep in mind is that the bike the Athertons were racing, the old Fury was a pretty out dated design. The carbon demo on the other hand was just released last year. That would be a pretty big undertaking for them to come out with an entirely new, completely redesigned DH platform again next year.
  • 1 0
 great point sino and i would go with that ....

BUT it's probably cheaper for Spesh in the long run to get a new design out....who knows maybe with 650 wheels, maybe that will help the lad go fast again?
  • 2 0
 Nobody has taken into account that Aaron is now running avid brakes that just lack any power.
  • 1 0
 OH. has anybody told Avid?
  • 4 0
 Stoked for Troy!
  • 5 3
 gwin : im riding amazing , probably better than i,ve ever ridden ... dont think so mate !!
  • 1 0
 Nothing wrong with 10th place, only two seasons dominator destroyed peace taunt controversial transition to S. Big show and big problem after all
  • 2 0
 No one rider is bigger than a team. Specialized wont make a new dh bike next year.
  • 1 0
 i love it how gwin is so relaxed this season and just seems to be having fun now
  • 2 0
 I think Gwin will take first place on the next race.
  • 1 2
 i think he won't.
  • 1 4
 I said this before; he should have stayed with Trek for one more year. We don't know the details about that situtation but i think he made a clear mistake there.
Also as someone else mentioned in one of the previous races (timing comparison of the 2012-2013 season); everyone else (especially Gee) improved themselves this season. Nobody stays on top forever in any sport anyway. Gwin had his fun, now it's somebody else's turn, which is a good thing. Also for example i'd love to see Brandon on top for once than Gwin taking it for the 3rd time.
By the way as much as i love watching downhill racing, i find it a little bit unfair the way things are in these races. In my opinion there's just too much luck involved in DH. Rocks, roots, weather condition etc.. One wrong line choice or late braking and it's kaput. I think in every race, there should be 2-3 runs allowed for the top 5-10 riders after the regular finals, and the top 10 results should be based on the average time of those runs. To me currently this feels like doing only 1 lap of Formula 1 and whoever passes the flag first is the winner of the race :S Atheletes do one run in 100 meters but they start together, which is not the case in downhill racing for the obvious reasons. Maybe it's just me tho' and everyone else is happy with the way things are. But i'd really love to see additional runs for the top 5-10 riders. It would be more enjoyable to watch (yet more demanding for the riders of course)
  • 3 0
 Without being smart, have you ever raced dh. Part of the challenge is putting it on the line for one run. No re runs if you stuff up. It just would not have the same appeal to me watching guys have three goes. Runs like Sam hill, Danny hart and Aaron gwinn have had to me are so great because they laid it on the line and succeeded.
  • 2 1
 Yes there is an element of luck involved, but its mostly about skill. If it was all about luck you'd see the standings all over the place each race, but thats not the case. Look at the podiums each race, its always the same guys. Gee, Minnar, Smith, Hill, Gwin etc. Thats because they are the best riders and the cream always rises to the top.
  • 2 2
 Someone give him a Session, so he can start Gwinning again.
  • 4 5
 Needs longer chainstays.
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