Aaron Gwin Switches to Large Specialized Demo 8 at Val di Sole 42

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Aaron Gwin Switches to Large Specialized Demo 8 at Val di Sole
After a last minute decision, Aaron Gwin is switching from a medium to a large Specialized Demo 8 frame just prior to qualifiers. He's searching for more comfort and more room to move around. Will it be the change he needs? Or is this something that should've been worked out during the off-season? We'll find out when tomorrow's times roll in...
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Turman
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Pit Bits: 2013 Val di Sole World Cup
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42 comments

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anotherbikerguy
10 years ago
from the photos of practice, looks like gwin has switched to TLD's shorts instead of pants. don't know if it's just the weather or if he's making more changes than only the frame.
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Triber66
10 years ago
Is this because Gee won on his XXXL(if traditionally sized lol) sized bike?
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Maverickdh005
10 years ago
I blame that hideous paint job he had at Ft bill, plain black is plain fast, wasn't his 9.9 black, anyway lets see where the cards lie after this round, either well be fucking spiders and all you US Gwin fanbois will be giving it to us up the jacksee, or he will be retiring after this one haha
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UpDawg
10 years ago
Wow... I don't know what's better. Everyone (explaining acronyms) or the amount of comments? Is this Pinkbike? It. Is. WC Racing! Let it speak for itself. It's only race #1. Keep Littermag comments functional and factual.
"It's 3AM and I'm up like an Owl" Hoo Hoo
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Pininator
10 years ago
To say this race is crucial for Gwin's WC overall chances would be a massive understatement. Hard to say if he'll get the "W", but I feel good about his chances of making the podium. Good luck...great racing!
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Mr. P
10 years ago
If Gwin wins...

I'm going to sell my current sized frame and get a larger one.

P
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bizutch
10 years ago
I like the ski analogy. Got to test ride a 27.5 Intense Carbine (carbon) tonight on my home trails and lengthy bikes slow the trail down, but dang...mid race is pretty wild.
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Stiksandstones
10 years ago
I am on a large carbon demo, didnt think I wanted a "big ass bike" but man is it comfy and agile. He was looking at bit cramped in scotland.
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donch15
10 years ago
What are the odds they had a Size Large, S-Works frame lying around.....just in case?
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donch15
10 years ago
Based on the interview I just watched on Pinkbike...in which Jacy says they were lucky that Specialized was there doing a media day and happened to have a large frame THAT THEY COULD BORROW...it's doesn't seem like they have a half dozen or so frames lying around. Sooo...yeah.
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GnarHuck
10 years ago
longer frame on the steep = stability. I think every single rider on Santa Cruz is on a XL frame. Not just because of their heights either.
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Ian Collins
10 years ago
Specialized sizing is a bit wonky. I'm 6' and the large demo felt uncomfortably short and small to me.
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JCL
10 years ago
They're huge out of the saddle. Look at the reach/stack. I guess they don't make them for in the saddle pedalling?
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Ian Collins
10 years ago
It didn't feel stretched out enough at all....I felt like a goober riding it. Still good fun tho. It was a rental so I just raped the thing anyway Smile
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Yippee_Ki_YayMF
10 years ago
As JCL said, the reach and stack is quite big. I'm 6'3" and it is really comfy. Much more room than my previous Glory.
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dcm6861
10 years ago
I know what you mean... I had a large scratch. And it was obvious not a full scale DH bike but the feel of the geometry compared to my medium demo is way different. I bet the large will make a huge difference for Gwin. The DEMO is far from broken.
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jeff.brines
10 years ago
I know its apples to oranges but in the same way I don't grab a WC DH ski when I go ski my local mountain on a hardpack day, these guys too should be on a bigger more stable steed for what they ride compared to a "normal" DH track. I guess in some ways their suspension already mimics my "WC DH ski" analogy but still, as Plake says, long skis truck, short skis suck. Same for bikes right? At least on burly fast courses...

Hate to add fuel to the fire but if Gwin has another rough race at VDS and Brooke again finds his way to the podium that combo could be some awesome TWR (Trek) advertising. As in better advertising than if Gwin stuck on Trek and kept winning. I know, I know its too early. Just pumped for another WC!!! Woot!
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Adam_Schaeffer
10 years ago
Seems risky to make such a drastic change the day before qualifying, but I've been saying this for years: WC Pros should be riding bigger bikes. Gee and GT got it figured out and look at the results. A WC track is wide and fast for the most part, you don't usually need something small and whippy. Hopefully Gwinn will help redesign the Demo like Gee did the Fury and add some length to the chainstays.
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SEGA
10 years ago
I also think it's the short chain stays as well as Demo's poor pedaling efficiency that's hampering Gwinn
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JCL
10 years ago
I think he's trying to get stability and predictability from the longer wheelbase but he's just making the problem worse. The far too rearward weight distribution of the Demo is the problem. The suspension is phenomenal. Put 445mm or so Chainstays on it and it'd be great. That said, it shouldn't matter as much as other tracks on the consistently steep terrain of Val-di-Sol.
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SEGA
10 years ago
I presume Specialized engineers must be thinking about this after Ft William, there's no way Aaron lost his skill or didn't put in enough offseason work to go from a winner to 10 seconds back. When he switched to Trek, he was fast right away.

I started thinking about this when someone mentioned that Gwinny keeps landing on his back wheel a lot in that awesome red bull video, also in one of his recent "techy" interviews Fab Barel mentioned that you need front and rear balance to get most out of a bike. Demo's chainstays are by far the shortest compared to other DH rigs, although new Fury, which appears to be a very well thought out and executed rig, is right between demo and session (or a V10).
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SpokeApparel
10 years ago
Agreed GT / Gee obviously got it dialed...however...the guy bumping him into 2nd place for the past how many races came in 20th......with Gwin "figuring it out" the podium is blown w-i-d-e open. You couldn't write a better story than what race 1 showed us.....support from me to all the riders. Thanks for the show you guys. Have a good race everyone.
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Iggz
10 years ago
I don't get how he didn't figure this out before the season started...
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Pininator
10 years ago
It's not like he had 6 months to figure this out. Wait...he did?!?