2013 Zerode G2 Announced

Zerode has been listening to both its riders and the community as a whole. People wanted more choices in size, slacker, lighter, shorter headtubes. They took this all in and added a few other changes to create the Zerode G2. Check out below what was happened the the Gearbox bike from New Zealand.

Not content with re packaging the status quo. Zerode have gone back to the basics of suspension design. The revolutionary use and placement of a gearbox allowing Zerode to revisit concepts such as optimised wheel path, sprung to un-sprung ratios and mass centralisation…. concepts long ago discarded by the competition because of the limitations of the drive train we all know and hate.

With two seasons under our belt and a new manufacturer on board we have been able to make a bunch of refinements to the Zerode DH frame for 2013. Designated the Zerode G2, here are some of the changes from the old G1:

1) The geometry has had an overhaul for the G2. 3 sizes, shorter head tubes, longer top tubes and slacker head angles mean a race ready chassis for all body shapes and sizes.

2)  With lessons learned from the G1 we have shaved over 300grams off the frame. Some of this is unsprung weight in the chainstay, axle and rocker further improving the Zerode suspension performance.

3) The down tube yolk has been redesigned to increase the ground clearance by 20mm, increase chain ring clearance for a better primary chain line and incorporates a sturdy shock guard mount so your shock and frame are protected from stray rocks.

4) Each Zerode will come with 2 shifters. The standard Alfine unit and a modified SRAM unit. You choose which one you feel most at home with.

5)  A new rectangular down tube is stiffer, lighter and stronger than the old round tube.

6) The chainstay has been redesigned to increase tyre, crank and chain tensioner clearance.

7) Reduced travel from 9.25” to 8.3”. With less unsprung weight and an efficient axle path we felt a little less travel would give a more lively feel, reduce weight and make a great pedalling chassis even better without sacrificing it’s superb bump eating ability.

8) New colours….The G2 is  Bead blasted and anodised in Black or Charcoal with four decal options. Custom Anodising is available.

Already proven and tested on the NZ DH circuit, the G2 can be yours soon!

HUTCHINSON UNITED RIDE TO POLYGON BIKES

2013 race season : Hutchinson UR team partners up with Polygon for the team frames and travels to Indonesia for the team launch

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A holiday in Indonesia and it looks to be all official, Hutchinson United Ride move from Morewood to Polygon bikes and gain a team member. Full press release below including pics from I’m pretty sure on this the wonderful Tim Bardsley-Smith. Hopefully we’ll see some Polygons this week at Aus Champs….

After a great 2012 year during which the team made it on to more than 34 podiums throughout the season, Hutchinson UR has some important goals for 2013. The team has chosen Polygon as frames sponsor and welcomes the recently crowned female junior world champion, Holly Feniak.

Sometimes decisions regarding bike partners are difficult to take. But signing with Polygon was an easy choice for the team. Yannick Granieri and Sam Reynolds, friends of the team and slopestylers already riding for Polygon told the team that the brand was very professional and passionate about racing. After some testing with different bikes in Whistler last Autumn, Fabien and Mick realized that the Polygon DHX was the fastest bike that they had been riding. The team went to Indonesia in October to visit the factory and it became clear that Polygon and Hutchinson UR share the same goals and values. On top of that, Polygon is giving the riders a lot of liberty to develop the gravity range and to make all the bikes even faster.

To officially launch this partnership, Mick Hannah, his sister Tracey, Fabien Cousinié, Guillaume Cauvin and Holly Feniak all met up in Surabaya in Indonesia to launch the 2013 season at Polygon HQ accompanied by their title sponsor Hutchinson Tires.

Fabien, the team owner and also rider for Hutchinson UR says : “I’m very excited to have all the riders here together for the first time. It’s essential for us to be able to meet here in Indonesia to set up the Polygon bikes and have a look at the new Hutchinson tires we will be riding this season. I’m eager to get the racing started, from now my goal it’s to be more a rider than a manager, i’m so happy to have found a good staff to help all the riders and myself focus on racing.”

Yustian Nimara from Polygon says : “We are very excited with the signing of the team to represent Polygon in the World Cup circuit for the first time and it’s a dream come true to work together with outstanding athletes like Mick & Tracey Hannah and the junior world champion Holly Feniak. This will be an exciting time for both the team and Polygon to step up to the next level and to follow our strategic plan of working with young and outstanding athletes.”

Jérome Dumartin from Hutchinson says : “After the good season in 2012, we are proud to support our team again and we expect lots of great results especially since the arrival of Holly Feniak. Our presence on the mountain bike downhill scene is an essential strategic choice for Hutchinson ; our DH range is more and more complete every year in order to respond to the teams and customers needs.”

The Hutchinson and Polygon partnership is very helpful for the team’s improvement in racing and product development. Hutchinson will be providing tires for all of Polygon’s downhill and enduro range.

The team would like to thank the following sponsors to keep being part of the adventure for 2013 :

Hutchinson for tires, AllTricks.com as official bikeshop, Fox for suspensions , Formula for braking , Spank for cockpit, Bluegrass helmets and protections, Crank Brothers for pedals and seat posts, Zodiac Watches, 100% for goggles and sunglasses, Mavic for wheels, E13 for cranks, chain guides and chain rings, Zéfal pumps and chain lubs, Blackmountain snowscoot, ODI grips, FiveTen for shoes and Kronos titanium springs.

The team is also proud to welcome as partners :

• Polygon as Bikes sponsors
• Alpinestars for racing and casual clothes
• Fizik for saddles
• Sony for helmet cam
• VP Components, for headsets
• JetBlack Products for trainers
• Clear Protect for frames protections

Rider quotes :

Mick : “This trip to indonesia is a perfect way to start the 2013 riding season. I’m happy to be riding a Polygon bike this year, as I’m confident that their downhill bike is easily capable of winning. In addition to that, Hutchinson is working very hard on providing us with the best possible tire choices. I’m working hard to be in top form for the World Championships in Pietermaritzburg in South Africa.”

Tracey : “I’ve just started riding my new downhill bike a few days ago. The recovery from my broken femur is going well and I’ve already got some great confidence on the bike. My first race will be at the Australian National Championships in Canberra this weekend. I’m eager to start racing again to see how strong I am.”

Holly : “This is the first time I’ve travelled to Asia and also my first trip so far on my own. The whole team really are amazing riders and a great laugh. I’m getting on with them so well. This year I will be doing the full world cup season along with other important international races that I have never competed in. It’s going to be a great challenge to discover and race all these new tracks. I can’t wait to get started!”

Guillaume : “This year will be my first in the Elite category. I want to do my best at all the races and see where that gets me. Mick and Fabien always help me a lot in training, scoping the right lines, checking the braking areas and setting up my bike. I know I have all the right ingredients to go fast. After being 2nd in Elite at the French Cup race last year, I would like to go one better this season.”

Brook MacDonald Wins First Ever National DH Title

Trek World Racing's new signing Brook MacDonald (pictured here with team mate Neko Mulally in New Zealand, courtesy of Carol Stacy) took his Trek Session 9.9 to a first ever Elite National Title on the Rotorua course earlier today. The former Junior World Champion and World No.5 has had a busy couple of weeks both preparing for this event, racing in Hunua and filming in Queenstown for Anthill Production's new project.

Brook qualified fastest after his main world class rival Sam Blenkinsop, who's won the last 3 rounds of the NZ National Series, flatted in his seeding run. This meant Sam set an early time that was good enough to keep him in the hotseat until Brook hit the track. Sam's time of 2m 49.90secs looked solid and placed him ahead of team mate and current Junior World Champion Loic Bruni (FRA), but Brook crossed the line more than 2.5secs quicker with a 2m 47.22secs and was understandably ecstatic.

"It's my first ever National Champs title so I am pretty stoked. I made one pretty big mistake up the top and I was pretty sure I was going down. I dont know how I rode that out, so I was pretty lucky and I knew from there I had to make up time. For the amount of training I've been able to do with a back issue and a lot of travelling, I still have my fitness so it is super cool and great to be back on the top step. To be able to wear the national jersey for my new team Trek World Racing will be sick."

The team's other downhiller from New Zealand, George Brannigan, did not compete as he is still recovering from knee surgery.

Crank Brothers Introduces The Mallet DH Race

   
The original crankbrothers mallet has long been the most raced pedal in the dh World Cup circuit. It has landed athletes on many World Cup podiums, not to mention a few World Championship titles along the way. When crankbrothers redesigned the mallet in 2011, it featured a slimmer body that became very popular among all-mountain riders. However, it left the dh racers missing the platform they had been racing on – and winning on – for years. With direct feedback from World Cup athletes, crankbrothers has added a new pedal to the mallet family. It's a premium, downhill race pedal with the same shape and feel of the original mallet, but with many improvements to functionality and durability. It's a pedal designed specifically for World Cup dh racers.

Introducing the mallet dh/race.

The mallet dh/race pedals are already being raced by some of the best dh racers in the world. They were put to the test on the 2012 World Cup circuit, and their strength and durability were proven again and again during a year of prototype testing without a single failure. After a season of taking the pros to countless podiums – and even taking Greg Minnaar to a World Championship – the mallet dh/race pedals are now available to take you down your favorite dh courses as you chase some podiums of your own. As Steve Peat says, with the mallet dh/race, "you'll have the right tool for the job."

weight	479g per pair
platform	extruded/machined aluminum
wings	investment cast steel
spring	300 series spring steel
spindle	forged scm435 chromoly steel
spindle q factor	increased 5mm per spindle
inner bearing	needle + cartridge bearing
outer bearing	cartridge
traction pins	8mm adjustable
release angle	15° to 20°
cleat	premium brass cleats included
color	red
warranty	5 years
msrp	$140 / €140

"It's been great to work with crankbrothers on the new mallet dh/race. I would consider this to be the market leader in function for dh and trail riding, and being able to improve on the design was exceptional. Having feedback from the racers using the pedals is key, and we did our best to put it through its paces. At the World Cup level, a season of racing is extremely hard on gear, and to go a full season on one set of pedals in all conditions really speaks for itself as far as durability goes. Mud clearance is better, the design supports your feet well, and axle strength is just right."
- Justin Leov

  Learn More ABout The Mallet DH Race

2013 CRC/Nukeproof Pulse Frames

We don't think there's been a more eagerly awaited year of racing than the one ahead, with team shake-ups, new signings and controversy surrounding the pro downhill scene during the off-season.

Websites, forums and magazines have been full of speculation, opinion and debate so we're looking forward to letting the racers do their talking on the hill. Speaking of, here's a sneak peek at the Nukeproof Pulse race frame that Sam Hill, Matt Simmonds and Joe Smith will be on board this year.