Alex Fayolle's Polygon DH9 – Bike Check

Jun 1, 2017 at 13:41
by Vernon Felton  
Alex Fayolle s Polygon

While the downpour in Lourdes had many people weeping bitter tears, Alexandre Fayolle wasn’t one of them. Fayolle took his first World Cup win at that race. While some people have dismissed that result as a fluke of the weather, there’s no denying that his 2:52:758 winning run was a blazer by any definition or circumstance. Fayolle was simply killing it aboard his Polygon DH9. Will Fayolle do the same this weekend? People will be watching, that much is certain.

Photographer, Dave Trumpore, captured these shots of Fayolle’s rig in the lead-up to Fort Bill.



Alex Fayolle's Polygon Collosus DH9 Details

• Polygon Collosus, 27.5" wheels
• Frame Size – XL
• Suntour RUX fork – 200mm travel
• Custom rear shock – 203mm travel
• Spank Spike 800 Vibrocore aluminum handlebars (cut down to 770mm) and Spank stem
• Trickstuff Direttissima brakes/Galfer rotors
• E13 LG1R carbon cranks
• Shimano Saint rear shifter
• Box One 11-speed rear derailleur
• E13 LG1R wheels and integrated cassette
• Kenda Hellkat Pro 27.5x2.4 tires
Alex Fayolle

Spank Suntour Box and TrickStuff make up the front end
Following the mayhem at Lourdes, Fayolle comes into Fort William in the top slot. Nothing like a little pressure to get things cooking.

A very similar system to what we have seen Loic Bruni using for the past few years.
Testing, testing, testing... a little data acquisition goes a long way.
Telemetry hooked up to Alex s practice bike.
Telemetry hooked up to Alex's practice bike.


a left-hand shifter is an uncommon sight on a DH bike these days.
A left-hand shifter is an uncommon sight on a DH bike these days, but this XT lever actually locks out Fayolle's custom rear shock.
Custom machined and built shock by Alex s mechanic Hugues Postic complete with lockout. It doesn t get any more cuts then that.
Alex's mechanic, Hugues Postic, machined and built this shock, complete with lockout. It doesn't get any more custom than that.


Personalized ODI Grips
Custom ODI's... a nice touch


For a little extra grip no matter how much it rains.
Just in case it rains again... A little extra grip never hurts. Fayolle is running Trickstuff Direttissima brakes.
Galfer pads and rotors.
A set of Galfer rotors help bring the stopping power.


E13 cranks and chain guide.
There's a fair bit of E13 componentry kicking around Fayolle's race bike, including the company's carbon-fiber LG1R crankset.
E13 hubs and carbo rims.
Team manager, Fabien Cousin, says E13's LG1R wheelset is the strongest the team has ever used. The integrated cassette is pretty trick too.


BOX rear derailleur.
A Box One rear derailleur mated to a Shimano Saint shift lever handles the clicking bit of the equation.


Sun tour RUX front fork
Suntour's 200-millimeter RUX fork takes on the hits, up front.
Kenya s new DH tire... No Sharpie required.
The Hellkat is Kenda's latest gravity tire, developed with input from UR Team pro riders such as Fayolle.


Photos by: Dave Trumpore
MENTIONS: @Polygonbikes


Author Info:
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Member since Apr 11, 2014
202 articles
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63 Comments
  • 115 0
 I love that bike, it's such a mix of brands and a lot of components almost nobody else uses. Also custom shock.
  • 36 0
 That thing is a true racer - all hodge-podge and purpose-built. That's what you see in the pits at car races.
  • 10 1
 I agree, its nice to see a mix-nutz build rather than the usual pint by colors scheme.
But, anyone else sick and tired of these dark, black background photo shoots? Just askin..
  • 3 0
 haha yeh, those brakes cost more than his fork I bet.
  • 1 0
 Like F1. From past...
  • 64 1
 When your mechanic hand-builds your shock, you probably can't question the devotion. Haha, amazed, would love to get some details on it.
  • 53 1
 People at Ohlins with a massive trailer full of people and techy stuff must be happy with a winning bike equipped with a handmade shock.
  • 1 0
 Sure we are all expectant to see what is inside!
  • 6 0
 Just a stab in the dark, but I'm going to guess there is at least half a bottle of K-Y in there
  • 3 0
 @Pichy: Ohlins started in a way not so different to this. I'd bet they are actually smirking with excitement about this shock and reminiscing about the "good ol' days"
  • 49 0
 So much talk about 29ers and barely a mouse peep about a remote lockout rear shock on a winning DH bike and the second saving implications it likely has. Flipping wheel size warriors.
  • 3 0
 I'd like to know when that comes into play during these races. If at all
  • 9 0
 @fr3er1d3r: right at the start?
when others crank that hard that the chain snaps, a lockout might help to get even more acceleration.
  • 1 0
 @squarewheel: ah! That would make sense.
  • 1 0
 People don't get angry about this. Media needs "reactions"
  • 1 0
 @fr3er1d3r: he used it a couple of times in his winning race run at Lourdes.
  • 1 0
 @rideonjon: I'm sure, but I'm asking in what moments?
  • 1 0
 @fr3er1d3r: Well i'm going to guess,on the flats.
  • 35 0
 Good luck for Sunday Alex. Show us Lourdes wasn't a fluke.
  • 22 0
 Nothing against any other ricer, but I would love to see him podium. The DH scene would go nuts!
  • 4 0
 **racer not ricer** oops
  • 21 0
 @bman33: I think they're called Tuners nowadays.




'll see myself out.....
  • 26 0
 hey @pinkbike won't you have an interview with Hugues (Alex ´s mechanic) about handcrafting a shock for his ridee ?! his technical background, where comes from this idea, machines available in his private workshop ? else? won't you imaginate what kind of pron it would be for us, readers?
  • 6 1
 Nope, PB readers prefer to fight over Ebikes, tire casings or 29". A handmade shock winning WC ? Can't be arsed
  • 17 1
 Cool to see a build with atypical WC DH parts!
  • 10 2
 Not a 29er? #getwiththetimes Razz
  • 31 1
 Not even carbon, how does he survive!
  • 2 0
 @jaha222: A madman!
  • 3 1
 @jaha222: Rear triangle is carbon though Wink
  • 1 0
 @Euskafreez: Yeah I thought it was, isn't it usually the other way round with the front carbon and rear triangle alloy or aluminium?
  • 9 1
 with a name like DH9 i was expecting a 29er
  • 6 0
 so.... how about details on:

-- the custom shock? I'm sure they're pretty tight lipped about it, but still-- MOAR!!!
-- integrated cassette?? Whuuuuutt?????
  • 5 0
 good to see someone have a go at something different.. lockout on the shock.. box derailleur..
  • 7 2
 This is one of the best spec and looking bike out there. Don't care for carbon or 29'ers. Damn !
  • 4 0
 I love some non-vanilla builds!
  • 4 0
 A tip for Fort Bill- you won't want to use the rear shock lockout.
  • 7 0
 I be the you he uses it in a few places. Out the gate for a start then the sprints in between the motorway.
  • 2 0
 @Wheelersmtbholidays: Yeh, maybe. Good point.
  • 3 0
 so that's where those stolen box components went, eh? for real though, what a gorgeous mountain bicycle
  • 2 0
 Prepare for the podium again. And in the rear shock it looks like an oil drill ヽ(*´з｀*)ﾉ
Good Luck Fayolle ( =①ω①=)
  • 2 0
 That remote lockout shock is interesting, wonder if that'll become more of a trend or not.
  • 3 0
 Favorite bike build so far
  • 2 0
 I'd love to build a data acquisition device like that. Anyone know what model of linear pot they use?
  • 3 0
 this thing looks like a god damn dirt bike! Love it!
  • 1 0
 This^^ I bet that shock has MX internals also not like the rest of the garbage that Fox and RS make!
  • 2 0
 Nice. Kenda and SR Suntour have some decent products!
  • 3 0
 goodluck alex!
  • 2 0
 that rear shox looks titanium
  • 1 0
 o yeah, ti for sure with welds that pretty
  • 2 0
 What a shock, just that weld was enough to get me drooling!
  • 1 0
 Box has same pull as shimano? Can do a xtr shifter with a box rear derailleur???
  • 2 1
 The Galfer rotors look really minimal. Almost XC minimal.
  • 1 0
 @tacoma
www.thehive.com
yes integrated, comes off with the whole axle.
  • 1 0
 still waiting on Polygon Collosus DH29 Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Sick
  • 1 0
 Not a 29er? Interesting.
  • 1 0
 sup wit dem tyres doe??
  • 2 3
 No comments on the apparently cracked chainstay (Box derailleur photo)?
  • 3 0
 its just a scratch no big deal, i've seen way worse on some of the demo bikes i work on and they are holding up great. A lot of my reserves about carbon have been resolved seeing the damage they can take and still feel and work great. although I still prefer alloy for my personal bikes because money, and just love metal.
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