You mean won the World Cup overall?
Other than the 2 seasons he was out hurt, 2012 was the only time in his entire senior career that Hill finished the WC overall in less than 2nd place.
2012 team rumour and speculation
- Thread starter Straya
- Start date
Other than the 2 seasons he was out hurt, 2012 was the only time in his entire senior career that Hill finished the WC overall in less than 2nd place.
So you can say, that he isn't only one of the fastest guys ever on a DH bike, but also one of the most consistent.
I am excited to see him on a new bike and definitely want to see him on the top step again.
I am excited to see him on a new bike and definitely want to see him on the top step again.
While bike performance isn't nearly as important as rider skill and ability (as GL alluded to above), I do think it matters. In fact when you're talking about the best riders who are often only separated by split seconds, I don't think it makes sense to ignore the finer details.
To give you some workable examples on the points you brought up:
- A better pedaling bike (i.e. good AS curve) will require lower spring + damper rates to accelerate at a given level, thus possibly allow for higher traction and less rider fatigue
- Better bump absorption via frame kinematics (i.e. high leverage ratio early in travel and/or more rearward axle path) will mean less reliance on soft spring/damper rates for a given level of traction / comfort
- Better mechanical bottom out resistance (i.e. low leverage ratio near end of travel) will reduce dependence on shock - i.e. no need for position sensitive damping, no need to run overly firm spring rates to prevent bottoming
- More stability in dynamic geometry will mean higher predictability and require less rider compensation for unexpected changes (eg. 1. similar travel numbers front and rear so the bike maintains geometry when weighted / unweighted, 2. not relying on an excessively rearward axle path alone for bump absorption - to prevent large changes in CS length and thus rear wheel weighting as bike moves through travel)
Even though WC level setups are usually quite firm like you say, everything that differentiates one bike from another still matters - in fact I'd argue it matters even more, because the harder you push a bike (i.e. the faster you ride), the more critical the fine lines between things like chassis stability and bump absorption become. If you can build a bike that has better bump and pedaling performance than the competition for an equal level of stability (on all fronts - eg. chassis stability, stability of dynamic geometry), you've given your rider an advantage.
Every design is a compromise in some way, but a clever design will maximise performance while minimising pitfalls.
So you can say, that he isn't only one of the fastest guys ever on a DH bike, but also one of the most consistent.
I am excited to see him on a new bike and definitely want to see him on the top step again.
I am excited to see him on a new bike and definitely want to see him on the top step again.
Will they need to add more stays to the Nukeproof to cope with the extra speed/yaw/shims SH brings to the team?
I wonder when we'll hear a bit more detail about the deal? Whether he'll be on a new proto Nukeproof (carbon?), whether Jacey stays with Sam or Troy - the same goes for Sean Heimdal (probably spelt that wrong) those two have been with Sam for years, surely Sean will stay with Troy? (not a bad thing at all, nige seems like a great manager!), whether we'll see any videos of him testing the Nukeproof in Australia etc, wonder how he managed to do that testing without anyone seeing him!
I'm guessing after the first of the year. Sam's contract runs out this year...no idea when exactly, but announcing it in 2013 when the 2012 contract is up seems to be typical.
Same way that managed it with him testing for specialized
This isn't high profile formula 1 testing here!
I guess, but no one even got any sneaky testing videos this time unlike 2008/9!
it's awesome when people don't know wtf they're talking about.
He's been riding them someone on the australia forum rotorburn.com mentioned they knew and someone said how do you know and he replied saying one of the perks of living and riding in western australia.
Not all people would get the camera out and snap a pic and you'd have to catch him first
2009 was his first year on the demo, which he won the overall that year.
see what I did there?
When was his first year on a demo than?
what are you missing here it's not too terribly difficult to follow the thread?
2009 was his first year on the demo, same year he won the overall.
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This. You put didnt. I was under the impression you were saying he didn't win the 2009 series.
So it's your fault, not mine. cool.
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?????
dude read the damn sentence. I can only assume Japan means english isnt your native language, and in that case you get a pass for terrible reading comprehension. But just try reading it outloud.
Sam, Bulldog, Needles, Cedric, Rat Boy, Beer, Troy, Smith, World Champ (probably a junior), and Brannigan all supposedly up for new contracts.Pretty cool to look back to this... Most of it makes sense now... Still some I dont understand.
Sam (CRC)
Bulldog (In Limbo still apparently)
Needles (Giant)
Cedric (Isnt it his own team ?)
Rat Boy (Be good to see him move on, still over shadowed by minnaar and peat)
Beer (No idea)
Troy (Spesh)
Smith (Cant see him going anywhere)
World Champ (probably a junior) (Holly Fenick?)
Brannigan (Signed for 23degrees managment so maybe take the free spot at Trek?)
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bulldog to trek n polygon is entering the scene (bicycle w odd shaped wheels).
new thread for the '13 season? 66 pages is kinda cool.................
Noob, should only be 25 pages!
I don't know how people internet without having forums set to max posts per page!Noob, should only be 25 pages!
^this
Yeah, good one.
Oh snap 
Hill loves a really low BB, I wonder if they managed to get that thing to "Hill Height" or if he's getting a one off