It was 25 degrees at Windrock Bike Park the other day. There was even snow on the ground. Thankfully as racers arrived to the 2026 Tennessee National, the weather decided to cooperate and forecasts are calling for summer-like temps by race day. Before anyone hits the track, their bikes have to be ready for this, the first national-level downhill race of the season. Due to sponsor changes, many riders are on new equipment, so this will be a test to see how their preparation has paid off. Dig into the gear about to be abused at Windrock thanks to Jack Rice.
ARI with the diaper.ARI without the diaper."You better watch that diaper talk," Berkley.Canyon. Aletha Ostgaard's Sender sitting pretty after a week of testing with the SRAM crew.The Big Bertha Cherry Case.Crestline Pits. Alden Pate's jumbo e-bike to gravity conversion bike is so big, it hardly fits in the pits.Fisheye required for Alden's XXXL.When there used to be an e-bike screen in your downhill bike.Brake adapter doggy style.Since the U.S. penny has been discontinued, there are plenty of copper resources left for other things.More like AviNOT, am I right?No motor = custom cover.The big guy likes the shake weight.Anna Newkirk's Frameworks vs. Alden Pate's Crestline.Gavin Tomlinson's reasonably sized Crestline.Trevor Mejia has over 10,000 steps this morning as he goes from front to back looking over Alden's bike.Anxo Perez's tools at Frameworks.Frameworks goes full Italy. Matteo Natti's mech setup.Anxo on plumbing duties.Mikey D's FrameworksNeed an Ohlins service? Hit up the B lot.Dante Silva's Intense.Ronan Dunne's Mondraker Summum.Rob Warner is in the house!Dak's Scott Gambler with some additional heft.Customized and save (yourself from arm pump.)Still a prototype for Dak.
SR Suntour's John Wells has a fun little project going on.Evan Warner's kit.Taylor Ostgaard's Sender.Asa Vermette's bike is going to stay clean this weekend as he's out with injury.
Don't miss Unc Chats where Luca Cometti grills the pros during track walk
Thank you to Shimano, Maxxis and SR Suntour for supporting Vital's #USDH National coverage in 2026
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View replies to: PIT BITS - Tennessee National 2026
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