The racing is about to start, so keep an eye on our new Singletrack at Fort William Twitter feed for results as they happen, but in the meantime here’s some more random snaps of new bits and bobs we’ve spotted in the pits…
Duvel - the super strong beer that makes you better in bed. In your head.
Surf Sales have the new Transition Bottle Rocket on show...
...totally redesigned for 2012. It'll be available as a complete bike for £2,500.
The original Bottle Rocket was getting on for eight years old so it's now come bang up to date with a tapered headtube.
Pity the fool.
The new Empire trail bike - 150mm of travel either end in a similar design to the AP-1 downhill bike. We're looking forward to riding a production model soon...
The frame on this proto is machined from solid billet - apart from the cast seat mast which it shares with it's bigger brother. The pivot is located to work best with a 38T ring, so perfect for single or double ring 10spd setups...
The headtube gives the option to run an angle adjusting headset and Chris plans to make extra links for the swingarm so you can alter travel and geometry.
Dropouts will use a system that'll accept QR, 135x12mm or 142 axles.
Stella Artois and fruit? Who could live in a pit like this?
New MRP 1x devices attach using Direct Mount derailleur mounts...
Purple spotty grips. Nice.
There are plenty of sweet styles on show
Awww - he's even got his own pass...
The ThisIsSheffield crew are here in force...
New Five Ten casual Spitfire Low shoes - suede may not be the best for riding in...
These are the new Maltese Falcon trail shoes - SPD compatible and lighter than the Sam Hill shoes too..
New pattern on the sole should be grippier in filth
A blast from the past here...
Rachel Atherton's one off 661 Recon helmet in Red Bull colours...
We got shown some sneaky samples of the new 661 range - loads of new colours and designs. Note the sticky silicon on the palms too...
..and some more in new colourways and designs
These look quite interesting - pull on knee and shin pads that use high density foam with a stretchy wraparound back.
Apparently they'll be very affordable too - around £35ish...
Tracy Moseley's pit bike - with World Champ zip ties...
Thanks to the sunshine, keeping hydrated is more important than ever...
Going with the Superheros theme for this year...
When the 4X track is packed you have to work hard to get a decent view of the action
Casting was cool (and proven in motorbikes for years). Whats the logic behind CNC? On the upside, I suppose custom bikes would be a piece of piss ot make, bash in a few numbers and hey presto “medium-medium/large top tube with a 0.5deg steeper head angle, ohhh suits you sir?”
Fork lowers were CNC for a while, then nearly everyone went cast magnesium alloy, why go against the (perfectly aligned if they opted for forgeing) grain.
With recent innovations in 3D printing, you can now powder print in metals, so I guess they’ll be 3D printing the production models.
Give it a couple of years to set up though, this is real cutting edge stuff.
How sturdy did those pads look and feel? I’m after something like that but they look a little flimsy in the photo.
I’m assuming the billet that the Empire bike is machined from is cast to shape first? If not, thats a helluva lot of swarf to tidy up…
Looks like you could get bits shaved off ya getting tangled in a spill with that Empire!
We’re going to head over the tops of the valley and go to see Chris and hopefully get a ride and in-depth look soon…
Bottle Rocket – Want.
Empire – Hmmmm, not so much.
looking at that empire makes my eyes hurt…
Casting was cool (and proven in motorbikes for years). Whats the logic behind CNC? On the upside, I suppose custom bikes would be a piece of piss ot make, bash in a few numbers and hey presto “medium-medium/large top tube with a 0.5deg steeper head angle, ohhh suits you sir?”
Fork lowers were CNC for a while, then nearly everyone went cast magnesium alloy, why go against the (perfectly aligned if they opted for forgeing) grain.
Perhaps the frame is going to be used as a pattern for the casting?
Wheres pit pics part 1?
“Rachel Atherton’s one off 661 Recon helmet in Red Bull colours…”
She’s really let herself go.
Iain – http://www.singletrackworld.com/2011/06/fort-william-random-pit-pics-pt-1/
‘CNC from billet’ is a popular way to make prototype parts in my business. I’m guessing that’s why it’s been done.
I like it a lot – I’d want a mudguard to protect the shock though.
We were chatting wit the empire guy for a while, seems there’s no advantage to making bikes that way other than ‘looks’.
Hey Tommy 2 lids, you wanna get off the MX bike and back on the DH mate. U know it makes sense!!
See you in Kilvey at the weekend.
With recent innovations in 3D printing, you can now powder print in metals, so I guess they’ll be 3D printing the production models.
Give it a couple of years to set up though, this is real cutting edge stuff.