Downill Mountain Bike Geometry Creates A Trickle Down Effect
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The last 15 years have provided some major breakthroughs in mountain biking. Wether it is brakes, rim material, suspension designs, suspension systems from dampers to chassis refinements almost all the major findings come from the Downhill segment. This is where athletes push themselves and the equipment to the outer limits reaching insane speeds over rough terrain and just pounding the piss out of the products. Everything trickles down from Downhill and spreads into the other segments of the sport including Enduro , AM and even XC. This includes bike geometry which has becomes longer and lower over time.
Take a look at the chart above these are all medium bikes. Over the years the TT and WB has become longer while the BB has become lower. The biggest difference is probably in the HT angles they have slackened a fair amount and Mondraker even had a production bike in the 62 neighborhood a few years back! These traits will help add stability, improve cornering and make steep sections more manageable.Many of todays trail bikes in the 6" segment have been following the same trend.
There are a few Enduro bikes out with 65 degree HA and boasting wheelbases in the 48" range. That is slack and long by any stretch. These 160mm bikes by virtue of geometry alone are a better handling bike than many dedicated DH bikes were from a decade ago. They have caught up to the older generation of downhill bikes in stability but the new dedicated gravity bikes are even longer and lower still with the added travel and braking power afforded by more travel.
Having trail bikes become lower, slacker and longer will allow riders to tackle terrain that used to be downhill specific. This can have both good or bad consequences in the long run. Will trails once ridden by a few small handfuls become the trails ridden by the majority some of which may not have the skills to be riding on in the first place? Maybe this will show new trails to riders that are responsible and will help to maintain the system and keep its location a closely guarded secret?
There are some trail bikes out now like the GT Sanction or the Guerrilla Gravity Megatrail that are much closer to a Downhill Bike in terms of geometry. These two bikes are at the far end of the trail bike spectrum. They are trail bikes for Downhillners not trail bikes for XC riders.
As downhill teams spend the money finalizing suspension designs, platforms,and bike geometry the rest of the Mountain Biking world waits in anticipation to see what the fastest on the planet have learned. These findings will typically be implemented into production Downhill bikes and eventually some of these changes will find their way onto the Enduro bikes or even the XC race bikes lines.
Mondraker Bikes is using a geometry they call Forward Geometry. Read a bit below about it...
"Mondraker is relaunching a new geometry concept that offers clear advantages in any category compared with a traditional geometry as all its benefits are focused on improving control, handling and confidence.
Forward Geometry is evolving, in combination with the new 27´5” wheel in All Mountain and Enduro, and 29er in Trail and Marathon, to provide a more democratic compromise and greater customisation options for all users. The basis of the FG concept remains unchanged; the geometry has longer top tubes that are completely balanced with shorter stems. The additional top tube length is the same as the stem loses, so as a result all contact points between the rider and the bike remain in the same position as in a traditional geometry; the only difference lies in the front wheel axle that is moved forward. There is no change in the rest of the geometry.
- Security in steep areas
The front axle is more advanced that in any other geometry making almost impossible to go over the bar in steep sections, it feels more secure and confident due to the slacker angle perception.
- Confidence at high speed
The longer wheelbase makes the bike much more stable over any terrain.
- Direct steering
The really short 10 mm, 30 mm or 50 mm stems mean much less handlebar movement to get the same front wheel angle, thus improving steering precision and making the bike extremely reactive.
- Uphill precision
The front wheel keeps the contact on the ground avoiding wheelies due the longer front-center length.
- Stability on rough sections
The FG defends a new weight balance between front and rear wheel making possible to load the front wheel a lot more than with a classic geometry. This possibility change your handling giving better grip in cornering and improving the control.
Forward Geometry offers new sensations in any category from Marathon to Downhill, as after a short period of adaptation to the handling of the bike overall control improves more than you had imagined. The new geometry makes your riding more stable, reactive and confident, giving you the chance to go faster"
Dave Weagle
2013 DRD Team Announced
Escondido, CA (January 17, 2013) – Dean Racing Development (DRD) is proud to announce our factory downhill mountain bike race team for the 2013 season. Team DRD will be comprised of an elite 3-person roster consisting of former US & Pro GRT Champion Cody Warren, as well as young & rising talents such as Mikey Sylvestri, & John Keep. The DRD team will be competing downhill and enduro disciplines in the USGP, Sea Otter Classic, US National Champs, Crankworx, select World Cups, World Championships & select Enduro specific events.
Cody Warren returns to the DRD team for his 3rd season. As a veteran rider, Cody has a plethora of victories & titles under his belt. Cody’s highly regarded resume will lead the team domestically as well as being a mentor to the younger riders.
“I’m pumped for another year with DRD,” stated Cody Warren. “Racing the USGP’s is where I want to put my effort. This team is the best program to tackle that series. 2013 is a new exciting year for DRD and I’m pumped to be a part of it. The team is growing with experience and structure. There are a couple of changes to the roster and sponsors that are going to make it an exciting year.”
Joining Cody will be 23 year old Mikey Sylvestri. Touted as one of the most gifted US prospects in recent years, Mikey has shown glimpses of his talent, besting many of the world’s top racers at highly competitive events.
“I’m excited to be a part of the DRD program this year,” exclaimed an excited Mikey Sylvestri. “Being a part of a strong and sound team is going to help me get to the next level of my racing career. I’m excited to race with my teammates Cody & John, and am anxious to work with my new team manager, Jeremiah Dylan Dean “
22 year old John Keep also joins the DRD program, but is a familiar face to the team. John was an original founding member of the DRD program in 2010. John has grown to be a competitive figure in southern California, & has his sights on a full national tour.
John Keep said, “2013 is going to be a great year for the DRD team. I’m excited to work with such a great group of guys. Knowing that we have the best sponsors & products supporting us is such an asset for any rider who is looking to be competitive.”
The 2013 DRD team will see numerous improvements & changes, not only in personnel, but with sponsors as well. A new title and frame sponsor will be named in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned for upcoming race reports, photos & videos from the newly redesigned DRD race team!
2013 Transition Carbon Covert Announced
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Transition Bikes unveils the new carbon Covert. See the bike in action as well as some of the new features and design inspiration that went into creating Transition Bikes first carbon bike.
The 2013 Carbon Covert is Transition Bike’s first carbon frame offering. The 160mm travel Covert was the perfect candidate to bring to carbon as it allowed the bike to shed weight, improve strength, add new features, and update the look at the same time.
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“In my mind, this bike really represents the ultimate no holds barred quiver killer. It's really everything I would want in a single do-everything type of bike and we've tried pretty hard to ensure all the right features are there without including things that don't really matter. A big goal of ours with this project was to develop something with very unique lines that you don't often see in bicycle frame design...and we feel we've really accomplished that. This was a long development effort so we're pretty pumped to finally unveil our first carbon frame.” Says Kyle Young, Transition Bikes owner.
Transition Bikes took the essence of the previous Covert but started from the ground up to produce something all new and extremely exciting. For design inspiration they looked outside the bike world towards Italian super cars. The carbon material allowed a no compromise design approach that allowed them to achieve exactly what they envisioned; powerful lines and a unique bold look. The frame uses some exciting new materials and an evolved suspension platform for the best possible performance on the trail.
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The 2013 Carbon Covert is the first bike on the market to offer both C.O.C.K. and B.A.L.L.S. technology. The Completely Optimized Carbon Kinetics utilized in production of the carbon structure are an industry first; only available on Transition Bikes. The careful use of C.O.C.K. makes the Carbon Covert one of the strongest frames on the market today. The Basically Aligned Linear Leverage System suspension works with the shock making the suspension incredibly easy to tune; once again, only available on Transition Bikes. Our B.A.L.L.S. are only there to make sure you have fun on the trail. Unlike other suspension systems, our B.A.L.L.S. aren’t overly complicated, it’s just the right suspension technology to keep the ride smooth and predictable.
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“When we first met in the lab to develop these new technologies, I didn’t realize just how big they would become. I am proud to see this bike released so everyone can experience the ultimate package.” Says Sam Burkhardt, Transition Bikes product manager.
Working in conjunction with the B.A.L.L.S. suspension system, the 2013 Carbon Covert features a longer 8.5” x 2.5” custom tuned Fox CTD Adjust rear shock. The longer shock helps contribute to improved suspension performance and easier shock setup for riders of any size. The rear travel has been increased from 150mm to 160mm further expanding the performance in gnarly terrain. For riders looking for ultimate downhill performance, an optional Fox RC4 coil shock is available as well. The B.A.L.L.S. suspension system uses a higher main pivot placement for improved pedaling performance with modern 2x10 and 1x10 drivetrain setups. An all new hardware system, with single allen key tightening, has been developed to keep the pivots tight. While the front triangle features full internal cable routing, including the Reverb Stealth routing for clean looks and integrated performance.
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FEATURES
- Carbon Front Triangle with Carbon Seatstay and Alloy Chainstay and Rocker
- 160mm Rear Travel
- 8.5” x 2.5” Fox CTD Adjust Custom Tuned Rear Shock
- Optional Fox RC4 Coil Shock Available
- All Front Triangle Cable Routing is Internal
- Reverb Stealth Seat Post Routing
- New Pivot Hardware System
- 12 x 142mm Dropouts (10 x 135mm Dropouts Sold Separately)
- Press Fit 30 Bottom Bracket Shell
- Frame Weight 6.75 lbs (Including Rear Shock and Rear Axle)
- PRICE: To Be Announced
- C.O.C.K & B.A.L.L.S Technology (Only Available From Transition Bikes)
GEOMETRY
Head Tube Angle: 66.5 Degree (Fox 36 160mm) / 67 Degree (Fox 34 160mm)
Chainstay Length: 430mm
Seatube Length: Sm 563, Md 593, Lg 623mm
Reach: Sm 378mm, Md 406mm, Lg 431mm
Wheelbase Length: Sm 1106mm, Md 1137mm, Lg 1169mm
Bottom Bracket Height: 349 mm
"This is definitely the most exciting bike we have ever done. It took much longer than we anticipated but when doing full suspension carbon you can't rush anything. Seeing carbon bikes being produced in person really makes you appreciate the massive amount of work that goes into each frame. I think there is a misconception that these bikes just pop out of molds and are good to go and that couldn't be further from the truth. Each frame is like a sculpted work of art.” Says Kevin Menard, owner of Transition Bikes.
The 2013 Carbon Covert will be available in three colors (Lemon Lime Metallic, Stealth Black & Matte White) with multiple build kit options to meet different rider preferences and price points.
- TRANSITION BIKES
- 2641 Delta Ring Rd.
- Ferndale, WA 98248 USA
- (360) 366-4960
