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Some riders adapt to a bike more than wanting the bike to adapt to them. They seem to get focused more on changing the bike as they get older (more experience of what they want). Younger guys are happy to have support and just push through. I think some riders over think it and some riding styles don't mesh with certain designs/suspension kinematics. I really believe that there isn't any "bad" bike on the W.C. circuit, just some more suited based on riding style.
"Find your perfect match"
So interesting thing from the MS Intense Racing announcement that raises questions about Gwin's situation. John Hall is now Technical Director for Intense.
I know it was kinda eluded too earlier that Hall had a more permanent position with Intense, but now it's official.
Take a look at Brook's results from 2018 on at Rootsandrain and you'll see the bike has little to do with it
From various interviews and statements over the years, Gwin wants a bike that allows very precise sizing and setup, and a rear suspension that has low anti-rise (or just "rise"), a flat, falling, predictable leverage rate around 30% progression, and not too heavy or too light. I know the Neko podcast rules it out, but man it sounds like a Frameworks would be perfect for him haha
Neko said Gwin did say "Maybe I will" to finish the discussion. LONG shot, but fun
So cool to see a local ripper making good, can't wait to see what Ryan does next year!
different bike (last one made by Cesar Rojo)?!
Forum member was saying Brook didn't get well with the Mondraker Proto. That's not the story Rootsandrain tells us. Bulldogs prime year was 2018( two podiums and another couple of Top10s). 2019 was good too, just not that brilliant, after that it came a big dip to the 30/40 places and that's the level he's been at for the last years.
If you want to point fingers at Mondraker you have to do it since 2020.
Huh. Weird. Something must have happened during the 2019 WC season for Brook.
I'm sure you'd have a 'dip' in performance after being paralysed. Would you place 30/40th in the world 12 months later though? Didn't think so....
I thought he had a huge injury, broke his back didn’t he?
Lol you are missing the point.
Ollie Davis to atherton!
Dak back to Trek, Quick Stop Bike Shop and PC Tooling.
You didn't say how old...
Via The OTB Podcast Instagram…
Just casually Shilling your own podcast??
Source? Would be really cool if he would join the team.
If the bike on the right is Roanan's bike, he probably isn't riding for Mondraker since they don't run Conti tyres or Dt wheels.
They already have Dom Platt, Charlie, Andy, Gee and Rach. I don’t see Gee and Rach doing a full season so there might be a place for a new rider. Davis had some good results last season, with a strong team like Atherton behind him he can achieve his true potential.
From a mates mum who knows the friend of the uncle that served coffee to ollie back in march.
NO ONE GIVES OUT SOURCES.
OD on Atherton would be awesome but He was riding a brand new commencal frame December. Source - my eyeballs 👀
Danny on a new bike looks like Nukeproof
Wasn’t the prototype designed by Brooks mechanic?
Don't really know, started following DH a couple of years ago. I was responding to a few forum members worried about Dak signing for Mondraker bikes cuz Brook wasn't happy about the proto.
Since Bulldog's dip in performance coincided with an horrific back injury there's a good chance physical and psychological factors played a big part in his downgraded performance - and perhaps his troubles with the bike's design were just an externalisation of said problems.
DH is a high risk sport, riders are threading a very fine line between speed and danger, therefore confidence plays a big role in performance. We have seen it numerous times, a podium can propel an athlete to a run of several top results, at the same time an injury can destroy the confidence and trigger a regress in performance.
At the very limit of grip, where top DH riders battle for that extra tenths that decide the victory, things get fuzzy. The colossal speed of inputs is so high that most of the adjustments are done on the subconscious. So, when a rider is setting up his bike/ suspensions there's is also, besides the real physical attributes of chassis/suspension dynamics vs terrain, a psychological aspect at play...
Following this line of reasoning is obvius it'd be better for Dak, in terms of confidence, to keep riding the Intense, but, listening to him these two last years , it seems he has reached a great level of maturity and, if he ends riding for Mondraker, I believe he would adjust quite well to the change of bikes.
We heard, 15 other times.
(Searches Internet for a movie quote about kicking an oblong ball made of pigskin)
Yep.
I know we've got some brilliant minds on here, but I've got pals on the WC circuit who are all chasing the 2 very distinct items. Anti-squat & anti-rise (one of which Neko referred to in his video).
Biggest thing these designers are battling is the shelf/stair/loading dock hits the WC tracks dish out.
The design guys all know which frames cause issues for racers at speed in the steeps. The whole "Bulldog is the issue" thing is just an awful take. Zero fan boi bias on my part. 100% issues being openly discussed about the proto. Someone who knows that link well can chime in, but was told anti-squat is a big issue on it.
But it is the Buldog issue. After the injury he changed, understandably. From top 20 guy to not qualified, its pretty sure its mostly riders fault.(injury, mindset, preparation...)
The new mondraker team is going to be fine.
they have good suspensions (fox), good tires (maxxis), good geometry (proto bike has adjustment), lots of team support and staff. They have a race engineer and I’m sure they can modify the bike if needed.
if the bikes antisquat is slightly off that is not going to ruin someone’s career.
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