2017 World Cup Downhill Bikes

5/22/2017 4:20am
Fariz wrote:
[b]I think that bike industry should come down to this: Downhill Racing bikes: 29 inch wheels 200mm and above travel Freeride or park bikes: 26 or...
I think that bike industry should come down to this:

Downhill Racing bikes:
29 inch wheels
200mm and above travel

Freeride or park bikes:
26 or 27.5 wheels
180-200mm travel
With the move to 29" wheels, you will most likely see companies make bikes with 200mm or less, not the other way around. Despite Minnaar's bike, I think this will generally be true once companies make dedicated 29" frames.

But regardless, why does it matter? Such restrictions aren't a part of XC racing- racers are allowed to run either as long as both wheels are the same size (which even the UCI said they aren't opposed to changing this rule). They should have both at their disposal, not limited to one.

As for freeride & park bikes, if the market is even big enough to need it, they will make whatever sells the best.

5/22/2017 11:31am
Only thing I'm interested in is dropping the rule mandating same wheel size F+R. Let the 29/27.5 staggered bikes loose, IMO they will be the ultimate DH weapon.
dirt lover
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5/22/2017 8:12pm
Only thing I'm interested in is dropping the rule mandating same wheel size F+R. Let the 29/27.5 staggered bikes loose, IMO they will be the ultimate...
Only thing I'm interested in is dropping the rule mandating same wheel size F+R. Let the 29/27.5 staggered bikes loose, IMO they will be the ultimate DH weapon.
Please no.... There's already enough 'standards' around, don't make me have to also have tyres/rims/spokes for two different sized wheels.
Big Bird
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5/23/2017 8:04am
Only thing I'm interested in is dropping the rule mandating same wheel size F+R. Let the 29/27.5 staggered bikes loose, IMO they will be the ultimate...
Only thing I'm interested in is dropping the rule mandating same wheel size F+R. Let the 29/27.5 staggered bikes loose, IMO they will be the ultimate DH weapon.
Bring it on.
jeff.brines
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5/24/2017 8:11am
Threadjack (sorry) but does anyone know Gee's expected recovery time? Out for season? Was psyched to see him rally the big wheeled Trek this year!
sspomer
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5/24/2017 8:43am
Threadjack (sorry) but does anyone know Gee's expected recovery time? Out for season? Was psyched to see him rally the big wheeled Trek this year!
hearing *maybe* world champs return. super gutted b/c i was stoked to see him rip that bike, too!
jeff.brines
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5/24/2017 8:48am
sspomer wrote:
hearing *maybe* world champs return. super gutted b/c i was stoked to see him rip that bike, too!
dang. And with the UK talent it'll probably be hard for him to make the team at this point...
5/25/2017 1:13am
dang. And with the UK talent it'll probably be hard for him to make the team at this point...
But he'll probably be able to join the British Cycling team, like Peaty did? Not sure how many points are needed for that, but it seems like the only real option?
dirt lover
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5/25/2017 5:29pm
But he'll probably be able to join the British Cycling team, like Peaty did? Not sure how many points are needed for that, but it seems...
But he'll probably be able to join the British Cycling team, like Peaty did? Not sure how many points are needed for that, but it seems like the only real option?
Wouldn't happen for World Champs.

The national teams like what Peaty used last year are for when there aren't enough uci points to qualify for a World Cup (selection criteria are different for champs). UCI points are valid for a year (from memory) so Gee would still have all his points from last season if he races again this season. The only time this may be an issue would be if he doesn't race again this year so next year he doesn't have enough points. Even then that shouldn't be an issue because he placed 10th in Lourdes so has early some. Peaty on the other hand missed basically a whole season and hadn't place well enough that season to earn enough points.

For world champs each country has different criteria. Some countries base it off best rest, some overall standings etc. While Gee came 10th at Lourdes, some might put more credit on someone who's sitting 11th in the overall by the time teams have to be announced even though Gee has had one better result. May not be the case as happened with Bernard Kerr last ear when he sat higher in the overall than another British rider but only got picked as a reserve, but shows that there's more depth in the UK than other places making selection harder.
6/4/2017 7:34pm
It seems like everybody is freaking about about wheelsize (boring....) can we talk about the amount of bikes running lockouts?? I'm surprised nobody has raised a fuss about them... from what it looks like, there were at least 3 or 4 different guys running them this weekend... and Gwin's bike seemed to have an extra cable in some of the pictures i saw.

With some of the long motorways, i can see the advantage... It would be interesting to see some data on them, although thats likely never to happen Tongue
sspomer
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6/4/2017 7:39pm
It seems like everybody is freaking about about wheelsize (boring....) can we talk about the amount of bikes running lockouts?? I'm surprised nobody has raised a...
It seems like everybody is freaking about about wheelsize (boring....) can we talk about the amount of bikes running lockouts?? I'm surprised nobody has raised a fuss about them... from what it looks like, there were at least 3 or 4 different guys running them this weekend... and Gwin's bike seemed to have an extra cable in some of the pictures i saw.

With some of the long motorways, i can see the advantage... It would be interesting to see some data on them, although thats likely never to happen Tongue
gwin from qualis - note lever/cable on left side. he had it on at u.s. open too.



sspomer
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6/4/2017 8:13pm
here's a better shot from finals today that just came in by Sven


bturman
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6/5/2017 11:51am
Threadjack (sorry) but does anyone know Gee's expected recovery time? Out for season? Was psyched to see him rally the big wheeled Trek this year!
Here's some insight on Gee's injury, hopes on returning, 29ers, and more. Props to Wideopen Mag.


mnebraska
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6/6/2017 5:58am
Norco's Ft. William team video mentioned that they have a 29er ready to go when they decide to use it.......

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