2015 Specialized S-Works Demo

“I've been on the bike for about a month now," says Gwin about the completely redesigned World Cup bike he and teammate Troy Brosnan will be debuting at Mont Sainte Anne this weekend. "We got on it right after the National Champs because we wanted to get on it right away for comparison to the old bike on the same track."

"The thing I noticed right away was just how fast it was," says Gwin. "It’s a really playful bike, but it’s a race bike through and through." Gwin believes this bike "reacts quicker than any bike he's ridden before."

"It accelerates fast because of the [lack of] weight and the stiffness." Gwin says. "You can plant it and change directions really quick because of how your feet sit on the bike... there are not a lot of pivots so when you put force into the bike it reacts straight away."

One of the interesting points Gwin makes about the new Demo is how the single-sided seat tube allows for easy in-and-out access to the rear shock.

"The switch was really easy and setting up suspension was easy," says Gwin."It's something non-racers might not have to deal with very often. But anyone who races seriously knows how often you need to service, set up and remove your shocks. The access on the Demo makes it so easy, plus I just think it looks rad."

Specialized Signs Aaron Gwin

The mountain bike off-season is almost as interesting as the hockey/football/basketball off-seasons, with transfers and team changes becoming as talked about as the racing itself.

It was obvious something was moving in Aaron Gwin’s camp. The rumbles and murmurs had been building. Then when it was revealed Hill was moving on from Specialized, leaving a gap in the roster of one of downhill mountain biking’s most powerful teams, speculation roared as to who would replace the man who used to be the most dominating and frightening downhill racer.

In the past two years, Gwin has grasped the crown as the most dominant downhill racer. He has trampled on the competition, becoming the most successful American downhill racer of all time, and in record time. He won the World Cup overall in 2011 and 2012, becoming the first American to ever win an overall, and being the first man to win five World Cup DH races in one season. That was in 2011, in 2012 he only won four WC races. Gwin joins Specialized riders Troy Brosnan and Mitch Ropelato.

“I’m super excited to start this new chapter in my career with Specialized bicycles,” says Gwin. “The entire Specialized staff has welcomed me with open arms and I’m blown away by the level of support they’ve shown me. This is my dream program and I can’t thank them enough for this opportunity. Bring on 2013!”

Team manager, Sean Heimdal, is equally upbeat about Gwin joining the team. “The combination of Aaron Gwin and the Specialized brand have an American storyline written all over it that was always meant to be,” explains Heimdal. “Aaron will not only bring another element to the program, but it’ll be amazing watching this trio ripping down the tracks together. We can’t wait to get started with this new exciting opportunity and look forward to the season ahead.”

Smooth Is Fast

There is a saying that has been around since cyclist took to the dirt. It still holds true after all these years riding. Riding the Ross bike back in the day it held true. Getting serious into Mountain Biking and riding a Specialized Stumpjumper Comp made out of Steel in the States it held true as well. My next bike was when I began to build descending skills more and it was a Gary Fisher AL-1. This was an Aluminum tubed XC bike that was mid range but at that point I thought I had my hands on a Ferrari. 

The Litespeed Obed saw many miles crunched into it. I had that bike for about two years. I sold it eventually and took some time off. Then in 1996 I bought a Specialized FSR Elite. It was my first foray into full suspension. The meaning of the original term became somewhat muddier while riding around with suspension to absorb my mistakes. Once the speeds increased and the trails became rougher then it once again rang true.

I had that bike until lat 1999 and then in early 2000 I got an Orange Patriot LT. The bike was wicked, stiff, light, responsive and stuck like glue. It was a whole new level of bicycle for me. My first real ride on it was down a few trails in Santa Barbara. So it may have had 6.5" of rear travel but the big rocks still made the old saying true.

Since 2000 I have had over 15 different bikes and almost every one was of the Downhill variety. Sometimes out on the trail things just flow together like water over rocks and that trail with the knee high rocks feels like a sidewalk. Your mind drifts away and the decades of riding and fast muscle memory take control. So next time you are out on a ride look for the smooth lines, ride loose, lay off the brakes and glide. It's as if you are in a dream and it feels oh so smooth and oh so fast.

2012 Specialized Demo II

With two downhill World Championships already to its name, the Demo 8 II is the world's fastest downhill machine. With 200mm of travel, a Cane Creek Double Barrel shock and a RockShox World Cup fork, it oozes premium downhill performance.

2012 Specialized Demo II