Show off your Mountain Bike!!!

REALLY weird to see Hill jump ship to NP/CRC, but I'm thinking it was more Spesh not seeing results from him on their Demo---even after spending years designing it around his specs. The tribute/farewell video (this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF_UO60hZ1E) Specialized put out thanking Sam Hill could be taken as a kiss ass cover up by Spesh, but who knows.

Either way, it'll be exciting to see Hill on a single pivot DH Scalp Nukey---hopefully staying super competitive this coming season! Even though NP/CRC may not have pure capital like Spesh, they ARE pretty formidable in accessibility to ANY components Hill may desire specifically.

Lots of big names being thrown around to replace him at the big S, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I went tubeless on my primary trail bike last year('12 Nomad C), and I will never look back. It's not as messy as people may say---at least not in my case. The tires will "sweat" sometimes, but even then it's no biggie. Zero pinch flats ALONE make going tubeless worth it.

 

He had a number of top 10 finishes which makes me think it wasn't performance based

 

Yeah I thought it was weird he made that move too. Ill be honest Im a Gwin fan too, although I didn't mind seeing Minnaar winning world champs last season. He is definitely one of my favorite riders too, im just a fan of the whole syndicate in general, they seem like a great bunch of guys, not to mention the v10c is a sick bike

yeah you might still need rim tape, but the shop would definitely be able to tell better

Yeah hopefully he does better, it definitely makes me more excited for the season to start. Its gonna be a good year, very competitive. I want to see Gwin take world champs this year, he's just been unlucky with his injuries and falls.

 

Well with such a monster sponsor backing like Specialized, I don't think they were throwing money to R&D with Hill just to be completely satisfied top 10 finishes. They wanted the big trophies.

I'm pulling for Gwinny, Steve Smith, the OG Peaty -AND- all of his Syndicate teammates for this coming season. I predict Minnaar will be fierce again as well, his training ethic for his age in the sport is phenomenal!

 

On a sad note, I'm finally shipping out my recently sold NEVER USED, NEVER UNWRAPPED '12 V10c frame to someone who actually has time to build it up and use it.

 

How much r&d was there really..it existed before he rode for specialized and then its angle changes and chain stay shortening to stay modern

 

I converted my Fuel EX and loved it so much I converted my Sawyer shortly thereafter, and I will probably never go back to tubes. I was a skeptic on how much difference there would be, but I am sold. Traction is noticeably better -- I would venture to say that a crappy tubeless tire set at 30psi provides better traction than a good tubed tire at 40psi (the psi I always had to run to keep from pinch flatting).

My Fuel came with DT Swiss rims and they required a rather expensive kit from DT Swiss that came with a rim strip, stem and sealant. Their sealant is ridiculously expensive but works really well. I use Stan's now, though, you get a big bottle to do several tires with for half the price of enough DT Swiss sealant for 1 tire! Stan's seems to work fine for me.

My Sawyer came with TLR Bontrager rims and I had to get a special black rim strip from Trek, but they are only about 10 bucks.

I have a high-volume Topeak Joe Blow Mountain floor pump that works fine for seating the bead. I highly recommend this pump, it also has a better gauge on it for low-pressure tires.

 

Even if R&D wasn't a major expenditure, a big company like Specialized probably won't take top 10 and be completely "satisfied" when some smaller companies(relative to them) are grabbing 1st place finishes.

On the other hand if it purely Sam Hill's decision to move over to NP/CRC, one could only guess as to why. Design? Less performance pressure from sponsor? Falling out internally?

It's easier I guess to draw conclusions looking at it from Specialized's possible point of view: they want 1st or bust. Given that the frame has SEEN top 10 finishes, it's more than likely not the frame design IMO. Big companies usually have big expectations.

 

took the dh bike out for the first time!

 

I went ahead and ordered all of the stuff I need to go tubeless. I must have had at least 3 flats on my mountain bike last year. I had 3 flats on my road bike as well but that will have to wait to go tubeless.

 

The simple answer is his contract was up. So either it wasn't renewed or the decision was his to leave the team. I have to believe the separation was mutual given all the suck face that's happening.

I'm more curious to see how the new relationship works out though.

 

This thing has bloomed into a badass bike, glad you're hitting the trails with her! Looks ridiculously plush to ride just sitting there haha

 

thanks, im ready to hit some real trails where i dont have to push it up hills though and it is really plush i love it!

 

Looks like a good time too.

 

thats a waste of time IMO

stick with tubes or save up for tubulars

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42DncXWQkxc&feature=player_embedded

 

^^^^ WTF just happened?! Gwin on Spec.?

 

ha ha! Good one!

 

Yup, Specialized signed the Gwintimidator....this season just got more exciting!!!

Sam Hill will be out for S-blood on his Nuke I suspect hahaha

 

my jaw literally dropped when i saw that. i didnt think it was going to happen. I didnt want him to do it but i want to see how hes going to do on the demo 8....we will see who has the better bike now haha