2018 Racing Rumors

Big Bird wrote:

I think that it was about '96-7 when Rock Shox came out with the 4 inch travel DHO with double triples. I think it was the first 20mm through axle too.Still have mine.

bramlett321 wrote:

Wow I have been under a damn rock!!! I need a wholesale parts site where are you guys doing all your online purchases at ??

grinch wrote:

The Judy dho was released in 96 and I seem to remember that being 9mm quick release. I think whyte and hannebrink and a couple other small companies had triple clamps and thru axles out before that. Not very good forks for dependability and they needed constant cleaning and lining to keep them working well. I first saw the 6” Boxer with 20mm thru axle at the ‘96 mt st. Anne World Cup. An early WC that year so June 15. I quickly realized my specialized fsr with 4” Judy and msr coil springs and the just released v brakes wasn’t quite up to snuff. The boxxer was pre released to several top pros(lopes on an intense m1, mike king on the pre released gt lobo w boxxer, Michael ronning on a super slacked out fisher custom bike that might not even be slack by modern standards and despite it being a ust bike seemed incredibly plush, and a few others). Most had triples and disc brakes or atleast the competitive ones. Even recent top dogs that didn’t have them were suddenly nowhere. Kawasaki even had a bike with an adjustable kx80 fork. I heard it was 6-8 inches but they were riding it at 6 because they thought 8 was too much(crazy talk). Tattoo Lou was their rider

grinch will not be allowed to captain any vessel iI am on. He'd run us aground.

bramlett321 wrote:

Wow I have been under a damn rock!!! I need a wholesale parts site where are you guys doing all your online purchases at ??

grinch wrote:

The Judy dho was released in 96 and I seem to remember that being 9mm quick release. I think whyte and hannebrink and a couple other small companies had triple clamps and thru axles out before that. Not very good forks for dependability and they needed constant cleaning and lining to keep them working well. I first saw the 6” Boxer with 20mm thru axle at the ‘96 mt st. Anne World Cup. An early WC that year so June 15. I quickly realized my specialized fsr with 4” Judy and msr coil springs and the just released v brakes wasn’t quite up to snuff. The boxxer was pre released to several top pros(lopes on an intense m1, mike king on the pre released gt lobo w boxxer, Michael ronning on a super slacked out fisher custom bike that might not even be slack by modern standards and despite it being a ust bike seemed incredibly plush, and a few others). Most had triples and disc brakes or atleast the competitive ones. Even recent top dogs that didn’t have them were suddenly nowhere. Kawasaki even had a bike with an adjustable kx80 fork. I heard it was 6-8 inches but they were riding it at 6 because they thought 8 was too much(crazy talk). Tattoo Lou was their rider

bizutch wrote:

grinch will not be allowed to captain any vessel iI am on. He'd run us aground.

Can never have enough suspension , especially if ya run a ground. Could’ve used our fancy toys then. I may single handedly been responsible for the introduction of quails . Luca should thank me now. A nomad should suffice

Ive just seen another picture of the new boxer next to the 1998 boxxer, and for teh life of me I don't know why Rockshox/SRAM didn't make a 20th anniversary boxxer like the one I have just mocked up.

The advertising around the fork was history and they totally missed the boat, they did it for the 10th anniversary but why not the 20th and more significant date.

Who here agrees with me ?

@peecee I'm totally with you, dude! I think current day RockShox graphics are among the most boring and non-creative I have ever seen, but then again the entire industry is at fault in this respect, if you ask me. I don't know how this exactly works internally, but I am sure SRAM has an army of gifted graphic designers who can pull of the most awesome of graphics. It might be fantasy, but if I was in charge somehow at SRAM, I would supply each aftermarket fork with three different sticker kits, so everybody can do something of their own taste. It can't be that expensive to add those to a package! Hell, I'd even make a contest and give a prize to the guy who comes up with the best stickerjob and draw a shitload of social media attention, but maybe this is just a dreamy perspective in an actually pragmatic world.

Back to oldschool fork stickers, I have seen a few days ago on that other site, cough-cough, a Morpheus with a Pike DJ that was made to look like a '97 Judy SL and it made me smile. First of all, I just got myself '97 Judy SL stickers in 1.2x size for my Lyrik and it made me feel good about myself. Second, everybody was praising the throwback, but I think it was rather bland and missing the point. Why? Because in 1997-1998 RockShox had a factory riders only Judy DS that was made for Dual Slalom and sported a 20 mm through-axle plus a cool red color like the Judy DH/DHO and a deep blue core made from decals. Now THAT would've been a nice throwback, especially for a DJ bike.

Anyway, I also just got 1.2x size DHO stickers for my 2016 Boxxer which will have painted lowers in the next couple of weeks. Plus Slayer-themed decals for my M9. Stay tuned! :D

I just want to add that RockShox did a stellar job with the new Boxxer what the crowns are concerned and I am sure the way the fork works too, but I just can't understand the utterly boring graphics. And I can't believe my favourite design of RockShox forks these days is that stealth black on black...

Peace of from Transylvania,
Mx

Having a small amount of simple designs instead of weird designs from the community gives a cohesive brand and/or product outlook, making you instant recognizable.

What do you think is on a bike, if you see a completely black fork with yellow/gold knobs? Or a yellow coil spring? What about an orange spring or golden stanchions on a fork/shock? What about a golden cassette with a black largest cog?

Etc. It might be boring, but it's instantly recognizable.

But, does anyone remember custom Boxxer graphics from the 32 mm days? The ones factory riders got after a big win.

Maxipedia wrote:

@peecee I'm totally with you, dude! I think current day RockShox graphics are among the most boring and non-creative I have ever seen, but then again the entire industry is at fault in this respect, if you ask me. I don't know how this exactly works internally, but I am sure SRAM has an army of gifted graphic designers who can pull of the most awesome of graphics. It might be fantasy, but if I was in charge somehow at SRAM, I would supply each aftermarket fork with three different sticker kits, so everybody can do something of their own taste. It can't be that expensive to add those to a package! Hell, I'd even make a contest and give a prize to the guy who comes up with the best stickerjob and draw a shitload of social media attention, but maybe this is just a dreamy perspective in an actually pragmatic world.

Back to oldschool fork stickers, I have seen a few days ago on that other site, cough-cough, a Morpheus with a Pike DJ that was made to look like a '97 Judy SL and it made me smile. First of all, I just got myself '97 Judy SL stickers in 1.2x size for my Lyrik and it made me feel good about myself. Second, everybody was praising the throwback, but I think it was rather bland and missing the point. Why? Because in 1997-1998 RockShox had a factory riders only Judy DS that was made for Dual Slalom and sported a 20 mm through-axle plus a cool red color like the Judy DH/DHO and a deep blue core made from decals. Now THAT would've been a nice throwback, especially for a DJ bike.

Anyway, I also just got 1.2x size DHO stickers for my 2016 Boxxer which will have painted lowers in the next couple of weeks. Plus Slayer-themed decals for my M9. Stay tuned! :D

I just want to add that RockShox did a stellar job with the new Boxxer what the crowns are concerned and I am sure the way the fork works too, but I just can't understand the utterly boring graphics. And I can't believe my favourite design of RockShox forks these days is that stealth black on black...

Peace of from Transylvania,
Mx

I've still got an old Judy DS too. The shop that I used to work for was just up the street from the old Santa Cruz Rock Shox location. We'd get the new goods sometimes before the Pros did, just because we were a walk up the street away instead of days away for shipping to Pros like Peatty. I'd already mated some DHO lowers to Judy DH uppers and just had to bribe my connection at Rock Shox with a fat burrito to get the limited edition blue stickers.

@Primoz - Of course, it totally makes sense. But I still think a special occasion now and then won't hurt the recognizability of the brand. Speaking of this, besides the black stanchions what do you think makes a RockShox a RockShox, looks-wise?

@Big Bird - Such a cool story! I remember first seeing one in a German MTB mag on the bike of Stefan Herrman, a factory Rotwild RDS with Spinergys and Gustav M's, loaded with Race Face and Syncros bits, when Syncros was still Syncros and not what it sadly became today. I will look it up, if you guys are interested.

Mx

I agree on that part, of course. Special occasion stuff makes a brand much more interesting, like the orange lowers of FOX forks and the red lowers of the new Boxxer and Lyrik (i want a red Lyrik RC2! ). Honestly, i'm surprised the factory Sram support has gotten down to only engraved names on the brake levers, given the custom stickers in the days of 32 mm Boxxers. What else did Sram used to do custom for their riders?

Maybe canyon is after the throwback market. That proto looks like it uses the same construction methods/design as Palmers fsr dh bike circa mid 90’s. Canyon seems to have their numbers and kinematic dialed and all their racers are doing well on them but those are some ugly lines and cobby industrial looking constructions. Detail and smooth lines are seriously lacking

grinch wrote:

Maybe canyon is after the throwback market. That proto looks like it uses the same construction methods/design as Palmers fsr dh bike circa mid 90’s. Canyon seems to have their numbers and kinematic dialed and all their racers are doing well on them but those are some ugly lines and cobby industrial looking constructions. Detail and smooth lines are seriously lacking

Because the bike is a test mule, an actual prototype. While they have the kinematics dialed on their 27.5 Sender, the 29er version needs to be double and triple checked by the racers before carbon molds are launched. I'll be dollars to donuts this bike (as it is) will never see the light of day production wise and a polished carbon version will hit the market because every other Canyon bike has an absurd level of attention given to its industrial design. This proto is far too thrown together to be a finished design.

nikos023 wrote:

Why does that kid not have shoes?

oliosky wrote:

Why does that kid not have shoes?

Maybe Specialized sued him because he wrote the name of one of their models on them with no explicit written permission.

Can we not quote pictures? Thanks.

grinch wrote:

Maybe canyon is after the throwback market. That proto looks like it uses the same construction methods/design as Palmers fsr dh bike circa mid 90’s. Canyon seems to have their numbers and kinematic dialed and all their racers are doing well on them but those are some ugly lines and cobby industrial looking constructions. Detail and smooth lines are seriously lacking

onenerdykid* wrote:

Because the bike is a test mule, an actual prototype. While they have the kinematics dialed on their 27.5 Sender, the 29er version needs to be double and triple checked by the racers before carbon molds are launched. I'll be dollars to donuts this bike (as it is) will never see the light of day production wise and a polished carbon version will hit the market because every other Canyon bike has an absurd level of attention given to its industrial design. This proto is far too thrown together to be a finished design.

Yes you’re probably right. I like their line up. Wouldn’t mind a tourque. Sender 27.5 doesn’t have the cleanest lines though. Link looks unfinished compared to others and tubes could use more shape especially the seat and chainstays. Just comparing to YT, specialized, Santa Cruz. Sender does seem to work well though

loic riding the specialized demo 29er today in les gets. he has jack racing's data acq on it and from these photos by sven martin and dan hearn, his style isn't hampered one bit.

Wonder why he is riding a Maxxis dhf and dhr II tires, when specialized has already updated butcher even in 29" size, if I am not mistaken

jozef.gasso wrote:

Wonder why he is riding a Maxxis dhf and dhr II tires, when specialized has already updated butcher even in 29" size, if I am not mistaken

They only have the grid casing. Not the full Dh one

sspomer wrote:

loic riding the specialized demo 29er today in les gets. he has jack racing's data acq on it and from these photos by sven martin and dan hearn, his style isn't hampered one bit.

That really does look like a transverse mounted equilink suspension (like what Felt uses on the Compulsion)

tubeofcaulk wrote:

That really does look like a transverse mounted equilink suspension (like what Felt uses on the Compulsion)

it does but id be really surprised if it was, the equilink is used to comment the upper and lower half of the rear triangle to increase pedalling effiecncy. something a 29er Dh rig shouldn't care about

The Enduro World Series has signed an agreement with the UCI. Rainbow jerseys will be awarded in 2019 and there's talk of anti-doping policies being put into place.

Read more: https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/Enduro-World-Series-to-Work-with-the-UCI,2192

bturman wrote:

The Enduro World Series has signed an agreement with the UCI. Rainbow jerseys will be awarded in 2019 and there's talk of anti-doping policies being put into place.

Read more: https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/Enduro-World-Series-to-Work-with-the-UCI,2192

Crap! We don't need the UCI screwing with a great racing series.

What does everybody else think about this?

Interesting how there is so much focus on the anti doping part of this. hummmmm

DubC wrote:

Interesting how there is so much focus on the anti doping part of this. hummmmm

Yeah it does, but f you're going to have a professional sport it probably needs to happen. Its not like cycling has the best reputation here. I think running an anti-doping program is really hard and would be a big ask for the current EWS crew to do on there own. I think it makes sense to reach out and work with the UCI here... I really hope this doesn't change the EWS vibe though

sspomer wrote:

loic riding the specialized demo 29er today in les gets. he has jack racing's data acq on it and from these photos by sven martin and dan hearn, his style isn't hampered one bit.

tubeofcaulk wrote:

That really does look like a transverse mounted equilink suspension (like what Felt uses on the Compulsion)

grundletroll wrote:

it does but id be really surprised if it was, the equilink is used to comment the upper and lower half of the rear triangle to increase pedalling effiecncy. something a 29er Dh rig shouldn't care about

Well, it’s a linkage design that allows them to very closely control wheel path (and, therefore, anti squat values). There’s no inherent reason they would focus on pedal efficiency. Similar to the way knolly focuses on tightly controlling leverage ratio at the shock, this is a way of altering/fine tuning leverage ratio at the wheel path (which requires an extra linkage without a fixed triangle)

sspomer wrote:

loic riding the specialized demo 29er today in les gets. he has jack racing's data acq on it and from these photos by sven martin and dan hearn, his style isn't hampered one bit.

tubeofcaulk wrote:

That really does look like a transverse mounted equilink suspension (like what Felt uses on the Compulsion)

It really looks like an FSR design with linkage driving the shock.

sspomer wrote:

loic riding the specialized demo 29er today in les gets. he has jack racing's data acq on it and from these photos by sven martin and dan hearn, his style isn't hampered one bit.

tubeofcaulk wrote:

That really does look like a transverse mounted equilink suspension (like what Felt uses on the Compulsion)

thejake wrote:

It really looks like an FSR design with linkage driving the shock.

It's just a beefed up version of the Canyon Sender. Longer links, lower shock, that's all.

tubeofcaulk wrote:

That really does look like a transverse mounted equilink suspension (like what Felt uses on the Compulsion)

thejake wrote:

It really looks like an FSR design with linkage driving the shock.

slimshady wrote:

It's just a beefed up version of the Canyon Sender. Longer links, lower shock, that's all.

I’d agree. I just can’t see white clear enough on my phone to decipher where the linkage is articulating from.

tubeofcaulk wrote:

I’d agree. I just can’t see white clear enough on my phone to decipher where the linkage is articulating from.

from the same pivot as the chainstay.

bturman wrote:

The Enduro World Series has signed an agreement with the UCI. Rainbow jerseys will be awarded in 2019 and there's talk of anti-doping policies being put into place.

Read more: https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/Enduro-World-Series-to-Work-with-the-UCI,2192

kwapik wrote:

Crap! We don't need the UCI screwing with a great racing series.

What does everybody else think about this?

Ews will run the race series and uci will accredited it and run the dope testing. Uci will not be running the races. Proper way to do things, dope testing is hard..