Vallnord DHI 2013...
- Thread starter slyfink
- Start date
some guy names Nicky V won a handful of races on BOS
I find it somewhat suspicious that we haven't heard from a certain RM member, and AG sponsor, in regards to AG. Normally this person doesn't post much in the off season but chimes in a lot during the WC season. There does not seem to be any insider info and comments on Gwin's current results.
That being said, I think he is heading in the right direction. If he did indeed crash and is only 4 sec out,..that is not bad at all. In regards to the bike, I own one and I don't think the bike is incapable of winning races at the WC level..Look at Sam( who nobody seems to recall his W.Champs title on Spec) and Troy..who as young and small as he is KILLS it on that bike. BUT, I do think that the bike is the reason for the slump. I think winning a WC takes a bit of luck, tons of skill and equal amounts of confidence. I think Gwin hit all three on his first race with Trek and steamrolled with that confidence from there on. Let's not forget that he not only switched bikes but came off an injury, and a loss at World Champs. His confidence is not where it was prior to those things..we'll see how long it takes to get it back..if he can.
That being said, I think he is heading in the right direction. If he did indeed crash and is only 4 sec out,..that is not bad at all. In regards to the bike, I own one and I don't think the bike is incapable of winning races at the WC level..Look at Sam( who nobody seems to recall his W.Champs title on Spec) and Troy..who as young and small as he is KILLS it on that bike. BUT, I do think that the bike is the reason for the slump. I think winning a WC takes a bit of luck, tons of skill and equal amounts of confidence. I think Gwin hit all three on his first race with Trek and steamrolled with that confidence from there on. Let's not forget that he not only switched bikes but came off an injury, and a loss at World Champs. His confidence is not where it was prior to those things..we'll see how long it takes to get it back..if he can.
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I know who Olivier Bossard is, but I think Nicky V's SUNN-Chipie stuff was branded Chaos or something. Is this the first win for BOS branded forks.
He also ran suspension labelled under the in-house Sun brand, Obsys, for a while...
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El...Oh...El...
No idea who you're talking about but it sounds like Trek got to him and it's SABOTAGE!!.
watch his interview in the specialized team edit. he crashed twice in his race run. so he crashed twice and one was 'off the track and in the trees' and only 4 secs down? if any other racer had two crashes with at least one of those off track and was only 4 secs down, half this place would be giving props instead of sh|t.
ACC won a few as well.....
what loads of BS
You only defend it because you own Demo.
What do you think he crashes more often? Lack of training? then he shall pay for his "arrogance". Due bad bike? Well, Spez shall pay for its overrated FSR crap.
I think CS plays some roll as it does something with rebound thing. A large guy like Gwin on Spez fails to find good tune while Brosnan, small guy work better on proportionally "right" CS size. Sam Hill won only 1-2 times then crash. I think Hill would not won overall WC anyway.
Re Trek, Gwin had not only good luck. Team manager was crucial factor and I got bigger respect for Trek manager after all this. He is sort of Shawn guy from F1 mercedes team.
my two cents.
where did he say he crashed? i can't understand him quite clearly, if some native speaker could transcript what he excactly says that would be great...
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well if that's to be believed, then I expect to see him crushing it again. Its too bad there is no split time to confirm that, cause I'd like to see him dominate everything from here on out.
he said that he made a mistake and got balled up in a tree, (or stuck in a tree) and then did it again right after.
he said that he made a mistake and got balled up in a tree, (or stuck in a tree) and then did it again right after.
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Have you ever heard the term "smart swede"?what loads of BS
You only defend it because you own Demo.
What do you think he crashes more often? Lack of training? then he shall pay for his "arrogance". Due bad bike? Well, Spez shall pay for its overrated FSR crap.
I think CS plays some roll as it does something with rebound thing. A large guy like Gwin on Spez fails to find good tune while Brosnan, small guy work better on proportionally "right" CS size. Sam Hill won only 1-2 times then crash. I think Hill would not won overall WC anyway.
Re Trek, Gwin had not only good luck. Team manager was crucial factor and I got bigger respect for Trek manager after all this. He is sort of Shawn guy from F1 mercedes team.
my two cents.
I can only assume that any semblance of sense is lost in translation, albeit your English is certainly better than my Swedish.
I'm not sure how you've determined that the opinion of someone else is BS while yours is valid... Maybe stick to F1 as that seems to be your point of reference.
And honestly, I could give a sh1t if the demo ever wins a race. I don't race but I could have bought any bike I wanted. I bought the Demo because I live on the east coast, ride mostly park or tight trails and it was said to be a great DH bike for that type of mix. I'm pleased with the decision.
You continue to bash a design with absolutely no valid points, or even plausable statements, to back up what you are saying. It is, however, amusing to read your jibberish..so carry on.
you mean Brawn? i dont see any similarity b/w him and Whiteley
In Tissot's site there are only 2 split times, then the finish. Only 2 splits in a 4min+ track?
Ic8rice, I assume you know the career of Brawn.Then read Whiteley words in interview that tells about influence on riders and level of MTB. 
"We have built three teams from scratch, and all of them have won titles. If you have a solid reputation and you know what you're doing, people are attracted to that, so as I say, we've been fortunate from the beginning to have been successful in putting together programs that work, and therefore attracting clients that benefit from our services. But it's still a small enterprise. I don't have an office full of staff, it's a cottage industry specializing in MTB in the management world. If it were baseball, two top players would have me set for life!!* "
"We have built three teams from scratch, and all of them have won titles. If you have a solid reputation and you know what you're doing, people are attracted to that, so as I say, we've been fortunate from the beginning to have been successful in putting together programs that work, and therefore attracting clients that benefit from our services. But it's still a small enterprise. I don't have an office full of staff, it's a cottage industry specializing in MTB in the management world. If it were baseball, two top players would have me set for life!!* "
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Just to get a full picture - what bike do you ride at the moment and on which WC Tracks do you ride it on a regular basis? Must be a hell of a great bike!what loads of BS
You only defend it because you own Demo.
What do you think he crashes more often? Lack of training? then he shall pay for his "arrogance". Due bad bike? Well, Spez shall pay for its overrated FSR crap.
I think CS plays some roll as it does something with rebound thing. A large guy like Gwin on Spez fails to find good tune while Brosnan, small guy work better on proportionally "right" CS size. Sam Hill won only 1-2 times then crash. I think Hill would not won overall WC anyway.
Re Trek, Gwin had not only good luck. Team manager was crucial factor and I got bigger respect for Trek manager after all this. He is sort of Shawn guy from F1 mercedes team.
my two cents.
Cam Cole broke T7 vertebra + a tooth 
http://esmtb.com/22864/la-brutal-caida-de-cameron-cole-en-vallnord/
http://esmtb.com/22864/la-brutal-caida-de-cameron-cole-en-vallnord/
That is SO a photo that I took when we went to Leysin in 2001
I want to see Gwin back up there, but at the moment I'm taking everything he says with a massive pinch of salt. He's being TOO positive. To me it seems clear that his words come from Specialized, and are fabricated as damage control from a company that knows this is going to be hurting their Demo sales.
I'm not sure I buy the crashes either... just off the pace would be my bet.
I hope I'm wrong
I'm not sure I buy the crashes either... just off the pace would be my bet.
I hope I'm wrong
Thinking of SH, to date has podiumed different dh bikes in the WC circuit.
No problems, switching to dh bikes with different suspensions, and quickly adapts to it.
that's pure talent.
Will AG change his frame sponsor next year as it is not compatible with his riding style?
No problems, switching to dh bikes with different suspensions, and quickly adapts to it.
that's pure talent.
Will AG change his frame sponsor next year as it is not compatible with his riding style?
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That's why he changed the game 6 years ago. Alltime favourite rider.
IMO Gwin was lazy and now he has the salad
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very interesting sector by sector analysis: http://www.nsmb.com/look-at-the-stats-vallnord-analysis/
Gee said it himself that he "couldn't get on with the bottom section of the track", but it's surprising how much trouble it gave him... And it's amazing how fast Thirion was in therer. He pulled back close to three seconds on Gee in that last minute of course. amazing.
Gee said it himself that he "couldn't get on with the bottom section of the track", but it's surprising how much trouble it gave him... And it's amazing how fast Thirion was in therer. He pulled back close to three seconds on Gee in that last minute of course. amazing.
You think he's lying?
Wait, what?
There was a 25% spread in the WC field alone.
I'd bet the average Demo owner couldn't get down that course in twice AG's time.
I liked the Demo before the new blue paint. Now it won't match my shoes, so it's out of the question.
This is exactly how I felt when watching the Specialized video on Vallnord. Seems like a PR blitz.I want to see Gwin back up there, but at the moment I'm taking everything he says with a massive pinch of salt. He's being TOO positive. To me it seems clear that his words come from Specialized, and are fabricated as damage control from a company that knows this is going to be hurting their Demo sales.
I'm not sure I buy the crashes either... just off the pace would be my bet.
I hope I'm wrong
But I am sure you all remember when Cedric was the only racer on Commencal and they brought in the Athertons. Cedric liked the shorter stays and the Athertons hated it, said they couldn't ride it for squat and had longer rear ends made for their bikes. Good or bad bike aside, I still can't believe people can claim that this part of the bike doesn't matter based on rider preference. The real question is, how much is the bike and how much is in Gwin's hands?
where have these "crashes" happen? he was already 1.6sec down after 20% of the race and lost another 3secs on the course. even if he pushed the NOS button after section 1 he needed to be very fast if his 2 crashes slowed him down only 3secs. or the crashes were only small mistakes and he didnt come to a complete stop
I'm neither advocating for or against neck braces, but if the damage is to or near T7 vertabra then there is nothing a neck brace could have done to prevent that. If I'm not misstaken a neck brace is designed to protect C1-C5 vertabrae, which means a protection from death-Quadriplegia. All else is par for the course.Cam Cole broke T7 vertebra + a tooth
http://esmtb.com/22864/la-brutal-caida-de-cameron-cole-en-vallnord/
Each individual is different and for Gwinn it is part the bike, but I put most of it on Gwinn's arrogance for going will his own suspension set-up. I wonder if he even tested the bike speced with the DB/WC Boxxer or Ohlins prototype/WC Boxxer or even with his desired all Fox set-up before putting ink to paper. Even Sam Hill was not arrogant enough to make such demands going to a small outfit like CRC. I don't know and don't claim to know anything about this, maybe someone can enlighten me, but why would someone throw out all that accumulated suspension data out the window for a shock 2yrs removed and a fork that has never been equiped to a factory sponsored Demo? I'm sure Gwinn will get back up to speed, but he is only to blame for the drop off....not the bike.
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There doesn't seem to be any specific info on the nature of the vertebral fracture. It could be spinous process fracture from actual impact (which may have been prevented by armor) or the injury could be due to spinal hyperflexion in which case there is no way to know for sure whether a neck brace would have helped (although looking at the wreck and the way his face was pressed all the way into his chest it is not a huge leap to think a brace would have been beneficial). In the end I'm just glad he's basically OK and should make a complete recovery. May I never see a wreck like that again.
Probably the second one. The word is that he came off course and/or to a stop (or nearly) twice in the race. Who cares if those are actually "crashes"? It doesn't take much to put you off the back.
Shows ya how close these guys really are, and how you need to be pretty much flawless to pull off a winning run at that level. It's all about finding that balance between absolutely pinned but still in control, eh?
Anyone know if he's got an earpiece with someone yelling in his ear about his split times? Being off the pace could make someone push a little too hard...
He probably heard me from here yelling at the live timing on the computer.
I wonder if people aren't putting enough emphasis on team and team fit. I mean, consider brosnan and fairclough. Fairclough was chasing sam hill and learning from his teammate the whole time and did well. Now he's individual and perhaps can't progress. On the flipside, brosnan is learning from gwin, he gets to chase the best in the world, and he's improving.
And then there's the mechanics, i know that everybody loves that monk-dog guy, so maybe there's more to him than just his good looks. I also have been led to believe that part of a mechanics job is interpreting what a rider wants and applying it, vs. allowing that rider to have full control.
Then there's tires...is specialized forcing the use of their butchers, and maybe they aren't up to snuff?
And finally, has anybody considered that the amount of yellow on the bike+kit directly correlates to placement atop the podium? I mean the only reason remi won was because of the fluoro...
And then there's the mechanics, i know that everybody loves that monk-dog guy, so maybe there's more to him than just his good looks. I also have been led to believe that part of a mechanics job is interpreting what a rider wants and applying it, vs. allowing that rider to have full control.
Then there's tires...is specialized forcing the use of their butchers, and maybe they aren't up to snuff?
And finally, has anybody considered that the amount of yellow on the bike+kit directly correlates to placement atop the podium? I mean the only reason remi won was because of the fluoro...
Cam Cole's wreck was nasty, the way his neck bent then when he reached for his face/head made my stomach lurch. I hope the dude makes a full and complete recovery.
Why has the UCI changed the number board set up? I find it incredibly irritating for some reason....
Is Brosnan fully healed yet?
Why has the UCI changed the number board set up? I find it incredibly irritating for some reason....
Is Brosnan fully healed yet?
I think your giving Gwinn waaay to much credit it the few months he's be part of the specialized team, and dismissing Brosnan's talent. Don't forget Troy rode behind Hill for a considerable time and has been battling injury until recently.
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One could argue that Gee lost the race on the top of the track, gassing himself and being too weak at the bottom.
One could argue that Peat was actually the best rider on the hill, but made 1 miscalculation over the entirety of the track that added up to his placement and that everyone above him simply a better than average run.
One could argue...infinity.
One could argue that Peat was actually the best rider on the hill, but made 1 miscalculation over the entirety of the track that added up to his placement and that everyone above him simply a better than average run.
One could argue...infinity.
ahh black hole!