Leogang Worlds: Pits ‘n’ Pieces

September 6th, 2012

This years World Championships seemed to be the ideal excuse for quite a few of the manufacturers to get into the swing of things and get their riders on and in some patriotic themed factory bikes and kit. Cruising the pits and seeing what’s about is the perfect way to grab a fill of what the world’s best riders will be riding come Sunday’s big show and take some rad photos for you all to check out. Here’s a little of what was about…

Photos: Nathan ‘Nate Dog’ Carvell & Burgtec’s Dave Barton | Words: Olly Forster

The GT pits were nuts (as ever) all week-end with the hustle and bustle of one of the sports most professional teams readying their riders bikes for what could be one of their most important races. Attention to detail is the name of the game here and check out the paint and graphics on this GT Fury carbon…

This fender is two things. Firstly it’s hideous and secondly, it works better than anything out there. Needs must sometimes?

More custom hand made calipers from the big blue factory in Japan – Syndicate pits article coming…

Joe Smith’s Pulse gets the GB treatment with a little love for his native Wales too. Check the old THE fender; making a comeback?

Carbon Yeti 303 DH getting a gearing tune up – check the stars and stripes decals!

Ritchie Rude Jnr is a certified pinner! The next Aaron Gwin?

Nice boots Mik! Weather was pretty shitty leading up to finals, but it was only the press and fans moaning about it…

Sean from MES adjusts the Sram signing session after someone pointed out it conflicted with the 4X. I guess these guys have gotten used to not having the 4X guys around doing their thing on a Saturday, but the fans were mad for it come the big show – we got some pics, but they weren’t that great, but next year we’ll try and get Nate-Dog a UCI vest so he doesn’t get stuck in a quagmire of eager fans sat on a slopestyle course.

Mitch Ropelato is one of the coolest kids in MTB right now! Monster team and Monster helmet – this guy deserves it!

Everyone was stoked to see Troy back on the big bike and pulling some wild shapes on the course too. This kid has way too much in the skill department – speedy recovery mate and see you next year!

Sam Hill’s ride. 100% factory as fuck!

Sram do everything they can to help their riders and teams co-ordinate their rides from top to bottom – pimping Boxxer decals on Sam’s S-Works. Cut Storm tyres too.

Originally the MES team ran a 6 speed block, but they’ve added one more, just like what you get on the production S-Works – what does this mean for joe public? Hopefully availability of this pretty special set up!

Big ‘ol pins on Sam’s bike!

This is pretty much what you’ll see when you look at the floor in some factory pits. The bi-product of making some special one of a kind tyres.

This is how muddy it was on Friday and Saturday and yes, that’s an SDG Storm saddle.

Nigel Reeves hard at work dialing a factory Devinci Wilson in.

Stevie’s custom wet weather Five Tens…

Riders were coming off the mountain covered in mud and wet through, but with tales of hairy moments – the mood was far from gloomy, these guys love it when things get wild!

Flat Pedal Thunder – the quintessential ‘pro level’ flat pedal out there.

Coolest looking clips pedal out there? 2013 Mallet DH’s.

New Shimano flatties.

Just a few DeeMax’s in the MS/Mondraker pits.

Emmeline Ragot’s Summum with a little Red, White and Blue.

Brook adding the personal touch to his Summum.

Burgtec as always hook their riders up with special pedals and components – Brook got some Gold Penthous Flats…

…and so did Luke Strobel. Luke’s another rider rocking the new Avid X0 Trail brakes on his DH bike, which were on most of the Sram sponsored bikes. Lighter than Codes and equal power maybe?

Everyone’s favourite Slovenian – The Polcster’s Undead (and Uprising) were everywhere, but this guy is never too far from any one of his pride and joys and he’s never too far away from the action.

It’s hard to describe how rad these bikes are in the flesh. I’m not exaggerating either!

Little note hanging up in the Team GB pits.

Tracey Mosely’s latest sponsor is Wild Wolf – a new energy drink made from natural ingredients (apparently) and it should be out in the shops pretty soon – insert wolf howling noise here!