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Specialized took their time developing the new Demo 29, but it has paid off handsomely already, with Loic Bruni currently leading the World Cup overall and now a four-time World Champion thanks to an epic run at MSA this past weekend. Loic runs his bike in 27/29 combo mode, with Öhlins suspension, Magura brakes, DT Swiss wheels and a Joystick cockpit featuring in the build. The team does not have a drivetrain sponsor in place which explains the blacked-out SRAM components, and there's more magic marker in play when it comes to the Maxxis tires as well.
Credit
Dan Hearn
Related:
Mont Sainte Anne, Canada
PIT BITS
Loic Bruni
Winning Bike
Downhill
Joystick
Öhlins
Magura
DT Swiss
Thomson
Specialized
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Winning Bike: Loic Bruni's Specialized Demo 29
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19 comments

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jeff.brines
5 years ago
Tire profile and the fact Loic often runs 2.3" tires.

Narrower rims are going to give the tire a taller & rounder profile. "but but, its going to squirm, the internet told me so".

Yeah, no, 25mm is going to work great especially with DH casing.

This will allow the rider to tip the bike over further without losing his/her edge. Be aware, this is pretty much a "pro only" level thing. And by "pro" I mean "mega elite". Just my experience.
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TEAMROBOT
5 years ago
If we're to believe what we're told, he's also got cushcore inserts front and rear. Hard to roll a tire, on any rim, with 250 grams of foam noodle holding the tire's shape. I also heard from someone who knows stuff that the wider rims are too stiff feeling for a lot of the athletes, that the bigger cross-section takes away flex and compliance, but that's hearsay.
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slyfink
5 years ago
I'm also go out on a limb and claim a few things:
- narrower rim = lighter.
- narrower rim also allows you to run narrower tires, which also = lighter.
- wider tires = higher volume. if you think of tires as suspension, higher volume equals more linear spring rate; ergo narrower tire = more ramp up (similar to adding tokens to your air spring). [Higher volume only = more grip at slower speeds.]
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jeff.brines
5 years ago
I wouldn't subscribe too far to the "tire ramp up via tire size" thing. While something like cushcore will provide something of a "progressive feeling tire" the smaller tire/rim giving a more progressive tire feel may be true in theory, but in the real world, it is basically non-material .

Weight too is hardly a concern for these guys. In fact, I'd argue a bit of weight is helpful at a place like MSA - I don't want a deflection prone wheel/tire/bike setup.

The narrower tire Bruni runs likely has more to do with Bruni liking the way it rolls and liking the way it "cuts" into soft surfaces.

This isn't XC - weight reduction can be just as much of a penalty as it is an advantage.
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Tristan_Mayor
5 years ago
I'd be interested to know what size frame Loic rides.
Of the new Demo's available in shops, they don't seem to go very large. And the similar-ish new Enduro has larger frame sizes available, just wondering why the Demo doesn't have the same size range
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Zac_Youngson
5 years ago
Could be a custom size? considering its alloy. Have noticed loic seems to run smaller looking frames for his height
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slyfink
5 years ago
I believe DH bikes are generally much shorter in reach and TT length than enduro bikes. in part because they don't need to pedal for long distances. geometry is optimised for one direction (down) rather than up, down, and all around.
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TEAMROBOT
5 years ago
@slyfink, that's not a thing. Reach for descending position = reach for descending body position. Enduro and DH bikes are both optimized for descending.
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Benjamin
5 years ago
Reigning World Champ, current World Champ & World Cup series leader and NO drivetrain sponsor?? Errrrrrr WTF!
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onenerdykid*
5 years ago
It's probably more that he wants to use XO-DH and nothing else from Sram, therefore no sponsorship.
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Benjamin
5 years ago
I'm pretty sure thats simply down to Specialized still yet to produce a tyre with a 29" casing, at least that's what I've read
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Zac_Youngson
5 years ago
Funny they produce a 27" dh tyre but its not on the rear, almost like the athletes have discovered what a good tyre is and no longer want to run spesh