[FREE SPEED] Can A World Cup Mechanic Make Me Faster? ⏱

In the world of competition Downhill and Enduro the mechanic and rider relationship is very important. Some team mechanics wear many hats, similar to a world tour golf caddie, but all in the name of one thing, to help extract the fastest race times from the rider! But what setup changes do they make to the bike?
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[@itsaflyboything]

"the only difference between screwing around and science, is writing things down" - Adam Savage

[@gmbn]

Amen 😅

[@sikkness]

I'm convinced! I'm about to head out for some weekend trails, I'll pick you up in 30, Owen

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

I have a new set of wheels to assemble I'll drop them off in 30, no worries you can do them after sikkness ride 😊

[@gmbn]

Uh-oh! Ummmmm... guys, let's talk about this 😅

[@JohnBreezy22]

@@sikkness How much of the time difference has to do with the technical changes, vs the rider getting familiar with the trail, and the rider’s muscles and nervous system getting warmed up?

[@thinkskater007]

This needs to be a series. Thought processes and how to setup bikes for race applications is so mystical.

[@GelMibson-u2y]

dont fall into the dropping pressure and adding tokens trap when trying to gain small bump sensitivity! you'll end up sitting in half your travel all ramped up and stiff. sometimes MORE pressure is needed to make it feel smoother!

[@10100110101]

This !

[@BenSch100]

Yeah, especially when you go faster and rougher trails.

[@garryhaines3066]

Owen is an legend great at explaining things and so good to have someone who is a complete expert explaining it all. Asset to GMBN

[@OwenBikeNerd]

Thank you - huge honour to help out on the channel - and super pleased that me explaining my insights helps - cheers Owen

[@freeryder9743]

Getting to know the track your riding is also key to understanding how your bike is working❤

[@Mtb9r]

Crackin video gents. It’s time to go racing for you two. It’s 🎉 Enduro season.

[@danielbotev6365]

Great video, very fun to watch this in the context of the current DH championships to understand just how much work the team crews put in. Would have loved to see multiple repeat runs being done with each setup to average out any small human errors that could have been made by Rich while riding down.

[@JeffMTBinVA]

Great vid. For myself and maybe many others knowing what is not right or feels right to fix it or have a mechanic fix it is the issue. Rich can explain what he feels, it's too linear or I'm not getting small bump sensitivity. Maybe a video breaking down if you see this or feel this then it means this.

[@dannyk3718]

really great video giving a brief set up guide and then seeing the timed results after each small change ...thanks guys

[@gmbn]

Glad you liked it!

[@raphaelwolff8205]

Owen and Rich that was so good,really learned some great tips and how good was the times as you dialed things in.

[@OwenBikeNerd]

Cheers! Glad we helped - good luck on the trails - Cheers Owen

[@Borsitheblade]

Nice video guys. Really love the detail and how well it's explained. 20 seconds over 3mins is massive! Looking for a mechanic to make me 10% faster so I can do 10% fewer intervals.

[@gmbn]

Or...hear us out here... 110% as many intervals, plus the mechanic = 130% faster?

[@srstrand01]

I REALLY like Owen!

[@OwenBikeNerd]

Thank you!

[@nomadic_dad]

As an ex pro World Cup mechanic I thought Owen would have also used a digital suspension pump for accuracy like he did for the tyres 🤔 Great video though guys 👏

[@8o8ertmtb]

Don't need the same level of accuracy, 5psi increments is usually plenty. Whereas tyres you definitely want the 1psi increments.

[@soldier2gud4me]

@18:23 I've been telling this that there's barely any sag setting video that tells to setup tire pressure, no one mentions that, since low or high pressure can affect the way the rear shock sag's. I thought i was just over thinking. There you have it straight from the mouth of the mechanic. I even posted in Reddit seeking some answers.

[@OwenBikeNerd]

Thank you! Yep as you say setting tyre air pressures then suspension sag is super important - as you say tyre pressure will affect the way the forks and shocks will function - so for optimising suspension and the bike dynamics starting the with the first contact point and first spring in the system is pretty much essential! Cheers Owen

[@claremontinteriorsmw]

Simply explained vid that you can relate to quite easily Cheers guys

[@richardpayne5176]

Thanks mate, the pleasure was all ours 👊

[@guetunes]

This combination of Owen and Rich is golden 💯🫡

[@OwenBikeNerd]

Why Thank you!

[@gopro_vlogs]

I use a digital tyre pressure gauge all the time because my floor pump is way off, it is off by about 20-30 psi

[@Monkey_slapping_keys]

If it is consistently off then you just offset. Also, how do you know the digital is accurate?

[@gopro_vlogs]

@@Monkey_slapping_keys whenever I use the floor pump and I feel the tyre it just feels to soft to be the pressure it says it is where as the digital pressure gauge seems to give you more of the exact pressure. I can’t remember by who but there is a video of someone tested a few digital pressure gauges and they all where within 1-2 psi of each other

[@АлександрДорофеев-ь6р]

Было бы не плохо чтобы в конце в описании было написано что стояло на велосипеде 🚴🏼: покрышки, давление ( аморт, вилка, колеса ). Вес гонщика и краткое содержание что есть на велосипеде 🚴🏼. Спасибо 🙏.

[@BigBlueMTB]

That's why being a PRO in everything's is levels above as regular people who know how to fix a few things in our bike, insane! -18s in the final run that's massive specially If it is an actual race!

[@bobpotts73]

Great video, very informative. 👍

[@TheMTBRider96]

the first set up has a dumb tyre combo, fast front and aggressive rear, perhaps meant to go backwards?

[@ZOB4]

Yes, free speed that comes from changing tires, which are of course free.

[@mitchf3202]

Less expensive than tires but that's like $15 worth of sealant and a $20 pack of spacers to add onto the "free" total too.

[@junka1975]

I would love to see the same sort of video but with Blake on his trusty hard tail and Owen setting that bad boy up. Obviously rear tyres and tyre pressures makes a huge difference there. But front forks, is the approach the same or slightly different? On a different view, when I blew out my front suspension on my 2013 Giant Anthem X29er, I went straight to the Giant mechanics, told them what I was riding, how the bike was being abused, problems I found. They fixed the suspension, then sat me on the bike, set up sag and everything to my weight and the bike became so much more capable and is still one of my favourite bikes out of the 9 bikes I have. But the tyres were a game changer for sure. The original xc tyres were puncture city. They set me up with a slower rolling but stronger trail tyre, grip went up and punctures literally became a thing of the past. I highly recommend going to your bike mechanic, especially if they have their own race teams, they know what to do.

[@creekboi7]

Owen in his prime! Im here for it.

[@gmbn]

Thanks for watching!

[@PiloMegaTron]

Now we need a spreadsheet with what data to take note off... Mind sharing, @Owen???

[@alexh.4068]

What size is this Propain and how tall is Rich. Is it a Large?

[@williamfowler5260]

Just so you know, that massive hornet wasn't a hornet. It was a wood wasp, which although they look scary are actually harmless. And the bit that looks like a sting is just the ovipositor for laying her eggs.

[@tomc803]

That is 100% a Hornet. Are you from the Wood Wasp Preservation Fund?

[@harreson1968]

Its a European hornet, a very docile creature, sting is mild like a honey bee sting and actually on the endangered species list as they're often mistaken for Asian hornets and killed. We have quite a few in south wales and I often see them alongside honey bees in the flowers. They eat garden pests, wasps, caterpillars, moths so are generally beneficial in yiur garden! Although I admit they do look pretty scary when you see one for the 1st time

[@justsayin3600]

I shyed away from CC because every review I've read through my own searching hasn't been great. I'd expect for that price to be equal to Ohlins, EXT, and Push SV-8. I'm not convinced CC is there yet.

[@azoazo5112]

Do inserts in the tyre also work like tokens in the fork?

[@RobbyNowell]

Owen is the Edd China of GMBN 🤘. They definitely have the same barber!

[@glenn9843]

What is the timing system you used guys? Cheers

[@OwenBikeNerd]

Great Question - We used the BYB Chrono system Cheers Owen

[@danielalfakher2548]

i would not have expected that the bike will be clamped via the dropper seat post on the bike stand

[@vidamj]

Now start with the good calibration and go backwards in setup and see if the times and feel of the bike correlate.

[@yuglobalcitizen2246]

I feel that it's so hard to shred even 2-3 seconds off from my rides in my local trail no matter how I push it. Maybe it's time to make some adjustments...

[@h_xgaming4115]

YO i have the same brakes on my bike as the ones on yours!

[@theodyce]

Owen looks both 20 and 40 at the same time😄

[@OwenBikeNerd]

Thanks - I think?

[@keasone]

LOL, thought the same, cool bloke!

[@uselessmountainbiking3342]

What’s also amusing is that I do all three of those trails you mentioned on a hard tail with 150mm travel lol. I will be there this weekend if you dont believe me 😂

[@Paul-q3q6u]

Always worth watching, I have learnt something. Question though. On something like an entry level bike with the generic suntour suspension with a preload and a lock out dial is it possible to set up in a similar way or are the forks set at a point that supposedly suits all. The forks in question are on a Trek marlin 6 so not the most sophisticated of bikes anyway.

[@TitoJoebs]

@gmbn how about Owen riding his fine tuned bike on a timed lap on the same track that Rich went through?

[@OwenBikeNerd]

Oooft - now thats a challenge! Cheers Owen

[@TitoJoebs]

@@OwenBikeNerd awaiting your next gmbn tech show! Cheers!

[@bimfred]

Rich - what sag did you set front and back on the Spindrift, please? Ta

[@iestyndavey4192]

Great information

[@user-EdAlber]

When Rich was talking about brakes 15:57 you showed GUIDE pads, they do fit right in the CODE brakes BUT they dont line up with the rotor! I did this, I know.

[@niklasramstedt1971]

Owen sounds like Richard Hammond.

[@chrisarksey]

Owen is the Linus Tech Tips of bikes.

[@ElliotNiro]

Love the video lads! That derailleur knock hurt my soul though..

[@gmbn]

Us too 😬

[@mrpachuco696]

To be fair the mechanic didn’t do anything he just did what the rider suggested(except for the tires). Skill with phill has a great video where the mechanic pushes back and tells him no u wrong.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

That's why the greatest Formula 1 and Nascar drivers, moto champions, etc are also good at "reading the machine" so setup doesn't take the whole qualification runs 😂

[@madtownangler]

Luckily i'm slow enough that it wouldnt change much LOL

[@OwenBikeNerd]

I'm slow too - but working through set-up changes step by step can really help gain some extra confidence - its well worth a try - cheers - Owen

[@jameseverett8206]

Campagnolo made that chair?

[@peteypops]

Check…tyres have air in; suspension, hard tail; brakes, what?; brain, foggy…..good to go

[@ExplosiveNotes]

22:58 You can't replicate what's going on up there, but based on some previous video, you can get somewhat there with bog brush and googly eyes.

[@NickFoxQuixand]

There's deffo some novelty toilet brush merch opportunities here

[@birdbro1990]

Swiss card?

[@parkinkevin]

I have a top question. Why the hell are you boosting the jumps on a speed run ??? 🤷

[@uselessmountainbiking3342]

There isnt a single shop in the country or brand that can put a bike together which doesn’t need reworking later because it’s falling apart after 1 or 2 rides. I have little faith here.

[@ChrisWilmshurst]

12:17, did anyone else think he said bollock is ready? or was that just me? haha.

[@amol6785]

Why Propain ?

[@Ricksta_83]

Be good if you used Owens technical knowledge on the finer details to make the 3.00 min run faster. You didn’t need a World Cup mechanic to change your tyres!

[@ChrisJohnson-ld3wq]

why does everyone wear roost vests over their kit??

[@fomrug]

Who is Mo?

[@cityproofdad]

this guy wig looks comic

[@Blowfeld20k]

World cup it?!?!??! ......... Wheres all the beer cans??

[@edwards8383]

Tyre choice was obveously wrong intentionally 😅😅😅

[@joakiminnala2264]

😄🙌👊❤️

[@jesperhamalainen7423]

Hi

[@gmbn]

Hello

[@CaptainCoolpants101]

Propa jew fro there

[@sp00n]

Good that you explained that you've ridden the track before, and also before doing the timed runs. That's a major issue if you don't already know the track, as subsequent runs will almost always be faster. On the other hand there's also a positive feedback loop when you feel more comfortable on your bike. You can then suddenly do different lines that you couldn't do (or didn't want to try) before.

[@gmbn]

Yeah definitely important to use common ground when it comes to testing!

[@mlee6050]

​@@gmbn what is that gadget to time it? I like to know to compare time from my home to bike project on what I change on road bike

[@chrisridesbicycles]

I think a good bit of it is that Rich as an experienced rider can describe well how the bike felt and what he was missing. Would be cool to try this with some random, less experienced riders hanging around in the bike park.

[@DirtlovR]

Rich is now Owen optimised™

[@richardpayne5176]

And Owen is now “Rich acclimatised” 😂

[@biggertree7063]

Haven't watched GMBN content for over a year. I'm glad Rich embraced the inevitable. Also, Owen reminds me of A-a-ron.

[@jjartiagamtb7049]

hahahha

[@ΒαγγέληςΣαμαράς-τ8ω]

THAT SPINDRIFT IS 🔥🔥

[@richardpayne5176]

It’s a looker ain’t it 🔥😍

[@renatoribeiro5032]

The question is: can we make a World Cup Mechanic faster?

[@alexh.4068]

Looks like a nice short cockpit. Long reach has been overdone in the past few years. Glad to see bike fit dialed back a bit.

[@Jean-jk4zv]

Where can I find a cheap World Cup mechanical online ?

[@OwenBikeNerd]

Ha ha ha - Great Question - but you don't want a cheap mechanic! Don't forgot you can always ask me any questions - via the - #ASKGMBNTECH Cheers Owen

[@tmill2001]

How do we reserve Owen? Plan a trip to US guys!!

[@gmbn]

We'll get the GMBN Bike Nerd consultation website off of the ground asap 😉😅

[@speed2live]

Informative yes. Now I want to return to BPW!!! I'll start with Popty Ping thank you.😊

[@OwenBikeNerd]

Glad that this helps! Cheers Owen

[@AchrafRa]

Where can we order our Owen ?

[@gmbn]

www.rentanerd.co.uk/ 😉😂

[@davidbrown8888]

Probably repeating someone, but meh. Owen, they're called Flush Cutters. They are THE tool for zip ties.

[@Johnvdubable]

I have had a lot of success using a shockwiz. It allows you to see the difference between static and dynamic sag. Also, encourages playing with different settings for different environments. Only issues I've had are when you don't get all the dial options. Quite difficult to dial in then. For example some sid forks I've got that only have rebound settings.

[@beesung2052]

I typically use Sam pilgrims suspension settings because they are always “the best!”

[@KingNiky]

Im first can i get a pin

[@gmbn]

📌 sure thing!

[@JP1THUG]

Great video guys.

[@bearjewmtb4827]

How bad I wish I lived there

[@hereticyogiexpectationsups4037]

When did you become bald like me? 😆

[@lukepricephotography]

Surprised that when setting the fork pressure and rate profile there wasn’t monitoring of travel utilization.. knowing if the tokens are just preventing bottoming out can help with the decision on pressure vs more linearity.. also always good to rerun the original or one of the earlier settings at the end to confirm consistency of times and take rider improvement or fatigue out of the equation…

[@Robin-jh5km]

@@lukepricephotography this☝🏻 Also what threw me off was „its too linear“. But thats basically exactly what you want 😅 linearity means support at any travel utilization. Perfect linearity without ever bottoming out while using 99% of your travel would be the definition of a perfect suspension 🤔 yeah i know thats not achievable, but „too linear“.. bruv 😂 I personally only use one token on both my enduro as well as on the downhill bike. Working with pressure a lot. But tokens for bottoming out safety 🤷🏻‍♂️ trutune incoming, im stoked

[@a8f235]

I got the same tyre pressure gauge and I always carry it on every trip as well. That said I got a Park Tool INF-2 shop inflator and it is off by 2-3 psi compared to this digital gauge, and I have no method to check which is more correct. That's why I just stick with one of the two and use that every time to adjust pressures after, and that's the gauge simply because it's portable. The shop inflator is just to boost up the pressure quickly and be in the ballpark, and then adjust from there with the digital gauge. One extra nice thing with that Topeak D2X is that it doesn't drain the battery when it's not in use like a lot of other items do. I put a battery in it 2 years ago and it still works no issues. It's not about the cost of batteries, but reliability in which you can trust the tool to work for X amount of time.

[@jamesroberts7906]

Isn't it all about balance, the rider needs to know the course, the more time rides it the better he knows the course, The mechanic just needs to know what the rider wants stiff/softer suspension, faster rolling tiers,

[@asifitmatters1]

Bike mechanics… lol! The definition of under qualified and over payed! There is absolutely nothing that a bike mechanic can do that a normal rider can’t. The mechanics of a bike are so simple and technically primitive that quite literally anyone can master it.

[@hannes6114]

Hmmm, they definetely are better at it and absolutely worth it for racers. So - yeah you can do verything yourself but they are better and faster and take the stress away from you.

[@GelMibson-u2y]

all mechanics are simple when you have the right tools and knowledge. Pro teams employ bike mechanics not because wrenching on bikes is hard, but to free the racers up to race.

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

​@@GelMibson-u2yA rider I sponsor has a dozen batteries to check and six data collection points on her mtb .

[@GrumpysGarageDave]

I used to laugh at guys like you that used to come into the Harley Davidson dealership i was a tach at for 20 yrs .. 1st of all you have no idea how much I make .. 2nd you have no idea what I know or how to do it .. 3rd you didn't have to pay for the 100k of tools I own to fix your junk ... 4th you think hiring a good tech is expensive GO hire a cheap one and see how expensive it can really get with somone who doesn't know what they're doing ... guys like you are the ones who refuse to spend the money on a service manual but constantly ask techs questions about how to do their jobs .. to cheap to buy tools but want to come to the shop and borrow mine NOPE ain't happening clown