Nah, Smith won fair and square. Gwin was too hurt to ride, that's racing.If Gwinn had been bothered he would have won. Put an asterisk beside Smiths name in the record book..
Nah, Smith won fair and square. Gwin was too hurt to ride, that's racing.If Gwinn had been bothered he would have won. Put an asterisk beside Smiths name in the record book..
^ this. women's racing this year was superb drama, and controversial. The battle between Ragot and Rachel+UCI was fascinating, but got sideswiped by the babymonster that is Charre. Her winning was nearly as epic as Hart's domination of worlds last year. The one big pity in the mens was not having Brosnan ride out the season. That boy was primed to throw seriously large depth charges in the shark tank that is the top 5. Good seeing Brannigan and others throwing it down. HOpefully, top 5 next year becomes a 10 horse photofinish.I really think the top girls have been amazing this year and I enjoy watching them as much as the men.
FTFY. As far as I can remember he was fine on the old bike, and there were definitely grumbles in the first season of using the current one^ this. women's racing this year was superb drama, and controversial. The battle between Ragot and Rachel+UCI was fascinating, but got sideswiped by the babymonster that is Charre. Her winning was nearly as epic as Hart's domination of worlds last year. The one big pity in the mens was not having Brosnan ride out the season. That boy was primed to throw seriously large depth charges in the shark tank that is the top 5. Good seeing Brannigan and others throwing it down. HOpefully, top 5 next year becomes a 10 horse photofinish.
but seriously, wtf is wrong with Blenki? Ever since he has been on the Lapierre Pendbox, it's like he has lost his mojo. Not saying it's the bike, but for some reason, he has just faded into the background. Very sad. The next Ben Reid? Always 'winning practice', but nothing else?
I was just thinking the same. He always looked awesome blasting through stuff on the Yeti with his rad style. More of a plow bike, less pedal feed back and on flats. Never seemed the same on the La Pierre. That being said Cam is doing OK on it. Makes me wonder how much styles suit bikes. You always hear " that pro could win on a huffy" but i wonder how much of a difference the bike/rider relationship makes at this level. I suspect it's a big difference but a pro rider is not going to diss their ride.but seriously, wtf is wrong with Blenki? Ever since he has been on Lapierre, it's like he has lost his mojo. Not saying it's the bike, but for some reason, he has just faded into the background. Very sad. The next Ben Reid? Always 'winning practice', but nothing else?
There are no better or worse bikes on the ec circuit. That time is long gone and manufacturers did their homework. And I think suspesion and ergonomic setup has more influenc on how a bike rides than the kinematiks of a frame. Geometry is also pretty much variable.You always hear " that pro could win on a huffy" but i wonder how much of a difference the bike/rider relationship makes at this level. I suspect it's a big difference but a pro rider is not going to diss their ride.
with any luck we'll have @teamrumours in full swing soon.A long wait until next season starts, the first DH world cup race in 2013 isn't until June 8/9th in Fort William.
Y'all have short memories (or selective ones). He switched to the new bike mid-season in 2010 at Leogang. Qualified in 1st, finished 4th in its debut. Another 1st/4th at Champery, a 3rd at Windham, and 3rd overall in the World Cup. 3rd at Champery last year.FTFY. As far as I can remember he was fine on the old bike, and there were definitely grumbles in the first season of using the current one
Agreed. I think Loic and Cam's results alone speak for the validity of the design. That said, Blenki may just not get along with the design. To think that the bike has no bearing on the success of the rider is foolish.He definitely seems to have lost a bit of his pace but you can't really blame the bike given his initial results on it and the current results of his two teammates.
not sure thats true there was an article in bike i think a few months back were they made a point to say how fit he is. the article was saying how he was keeping up/passing a top xc dude on like a 2 hour relentless climb. it does seem that he's lost some speed thoughBlenkinsop keep stuffing himself in the off-season. He's also probably not quite as fit as the regular top-tens anyway.
That bronze at 2011 Worlds is nothing to scoff at.
Also, he's got killer style. Reminds me of Cullinan, and it's not just the naked hands.
Allow myself to repeat myself: "He switched to the new bike mid-season in 2010 at Leogang. Qualified 1st, finished 4th in its debut. Another 1st/4th at Champery, a 3rd at Windham, and 3rd overall in the World Cup. 3rd at Champery last year."Agreed. I think Loic and Cam's results alone speak for the validity of the design. That said, Blenki may just not get along with the design. To think that the bike has no bearing on the success of the rider is foolish.
the difference is irrelevant considering the other variables. It's all in your head.Yeah, an 8" and 10" travel bike ride exactly the same. As do a linear and progressive bike. As do a high pivot and low pivot.
Repeating something over and over doesn't make it true...
The difference is relevant. And since we can't do blind tests you can't claim there is no difference.the difference is irrelevant considering the other variables. It's all in your head.
lawn dart in one of the rock gardens - ouchy his hand/wrist.what exactly happened to Gwin crash in practice, cant seem to find what happened exactly.. what did he hurt?
See hthe time gaps in the top 5? How many fractions of a second would you consider to be frame design related?The difference is relevant. And since we can't do blind tests you can't claim there is no difference.
Quote For ze Truthyeah, an 8" and 10" travel bike ride exactly the same. As do a linear and progressive bike. As do a high pivot and low pivot.
Repeating something over and over doesn't make it true...
You are the one to speculate here with no info. I won't go that way without any data. The differances may even out on the whole track or may have some influence track vs track. Without any measurments who are you to say they are even?See hthe time gaps in the top 5? How many fractions of a second would you consider to be frame design related?
Bike design doesnt matter. Gwin would win on a ProFlex. Carbon is stupid, Shock placement is irrelevant (somehow rider + bike becomes a combined and consistent mass in special world) Gears are for fools. Who needs brakes, I butter mine....You are the one to speculate here with no info. I won't go that way without any data. The differances may even out on the whole track or may have some influence track vs track. Without any measurments who are you to say they are even?
Isolating variables to see if frames mean different times is the easiest thing possible. The only thing that is hard is making the tests double blind but we talked about it in the other topic and I think it's possible even if hard.You wouldn't even be able to do scientific research in a realworld environment simply because you could not isolate such insignificant variables especially when they ineract with differnet shock setups.
Also have you made a study of patterns? Or do you think you will see patterns just by seeing results. If you think that's how it's done you are mad. I've just finished quite a long pattern analisys debunking quite a few "I observe so I know what's right" myths.
8 seconds if I remember right.Wasn't DW stating, that Hill went instantly about 2-3 seconds faster with the Sunday when they introduced it?
They rode it back to back with the old frame (forgot the name) to see, if the advantage in frame design was really that big.
Sure. Probably Specialized also claims he got 10 secs faster on the Demo after he switched to that. It is called marketing!8 seconds if I remember right.
Fvck that's huge...8 seconds if I remember right.
It's not marketing it's just not an SGS The 8s was lost because it probably broke mid run and sam had to ductape it fast. Though yeah the number seems too high. On the other hand I remember that measurement Steave (Socket) did where a firmer suspension meant 5% better time on average.Sure. Probably Specialized also claims he got 10 secs faster on the Demo after he switched to that. It is called marketing!
Do you think that the mountain bike industry is the Devil? Or is it just marketing within the industry?Sure. Probably Specialized also claims he got 10 secs faster on the Demo after he switched to that. It is called marketing!
That's the whole point. Factory support or even lesser supported riders will tune their bike to their needs. To say the frame design alone has a big impoact on how fast a bike can be is just stupid when there are other variables that are much more impotenat and more variable among the riders and their personal tastes aquired through routine, development of riding style and their anatomy.But I also think with the factory support they get, they can tune almost every bike to suit to their personal preferences.
Stevie Smith made the switch and it payed off for him, so did Gwin.I really would like to see Hill clipped in, I really think the guy would be faster. He has the speed in him.
Marketing is not a bad thing. Bad is that people on here take marketing BS as facts just because it came from DW.Do you think that the mountain bike industry is the Devil? Or is it just marketing within the industry?
Marketing helps me decide.
Really, I thought Steve Smith was always on clips, when did he switch?Stevie Smith made the switch and it payed off for him, so did Gwin.
bbbbut sheeple...Why do these threads always have to go "Full Retard". Everything is important..period. To say one element is more important than another, for EVERY rider is rediculous. Everybody is different and certain things will affect each person differently. The more the sport is refined, the more the details matter. When it comes to Blinky..none of us know for sure but the fact remains that his results have waned and it seems that once that happens, rarely does it reverse itself. As the field gets faster, those top spots are harder to land in.
Yeah, seems like he's been clipping in for years.I saw Steve Smith wearing clips at the US Open back in 2007 I think it was.