Brendan Fairclough (Gstaadt-Scott) races on a standard large-sized Scott Gambler frame but with a few front-end tweaks to produce the handling characteristics he wants
Brendan Fairclough (Gstaadt-Scott) races on a standard large-sized Scott Gambler frame but with a few front-end tweaks to produce the handling characteristics he wants - James Huang / Immediate Media
Although the rear end is effectively a basic single-pivot layout in terms of axle path, the complex linkage allows for a carefully prescribed shock rate as the wheel moves through its travel range - James Huang / Immediate Media
Those polished links are definitely not stock. Team mechanic Ben Vergnaud says it took him about ten hours of hand polishing to get them to look this way - and Fairclough told us that he's super happy with how they look - James Huang / Immediate Media
Fairclough toyed with both the short and long chainstay settings during practice (the short one is shown here) but ultimately decided on the longer setup - James Huang / Immediate Media
There are also two available settings for the rear shock position. Needless to say, the paint has been taking a beating - James Huang / Immediate Media
Fairclough isn't on one of Fox's new RAD rear shocks but it's been factory tuned nonetheless - James Huang / Immediate Media
A burly Fox 40 Float is used up front, again with a factory tune that makes it remarkably supple. Team mechanic Ben Vergnaud says that partly because of Fairclough's preference for flat pedals – he likes the front suspension to be markedly softer than the rear - James Huang / Immediate Media
Factory tuned Fox forks typically bear a personalised sticker on the arch - James Huang / Immediate Media
A carefully trimmed decal keeps mud from packing up the back of the arch - James Huang / Immediate Media
Fairclough runs custom CNC-machined fork crowns with an additional 10mm of offset relative to stock models. The increased rake lengthens the wheelbase for more stability at high speed but also decreases the trail to maintain fluid handling. It's a geometry trick that's often seen on road bikes used for cobbled classics such as Paris-Roubaix - James Huang / Immediate Media
The Shimano Saint cranks are bolstered with an e13 LG1 chain guide - James Huang / Immediate Media
Downhill team mechanics are big fans of stick-on Velcro strips to quiet down chain slap - James Huang / Immediate Media
How big a deal is Brendan Fairclough? He gets his own signature pedals from DMR. Note his pin setup, too, which exaggerates the concave surface and looks to provide heaps of grip - James Huang / Immediate Media
A chunk of moto foam keeps debris from filling up the hollow spindle - James Huang / Immediate Media
Fairclough uses the direct mount option for the Shimano Saint rear derailleur. We find it hard to believe that the hanger and derailleur can actually flex enough to hit the chain stay but there's a bit of stick-on rubber padding in place just in case - James Huang / Immediate Media
We weren't able to get details on what sort of secret rubber compounds Schwalbe used for Fairclough's front tyre but it certainly smelled different - James Huang / Immediate Media
Fairclough's DT Swiss Gravity rims bear two valves - the telltale sign that he's running Schwalbe's new dual-chamber tubeless system, which features a higher-pressure inner core that firmly locks the tyre on to the rim. According to Fairclough, the system has allowed him to drop pressure out back about 3psi relative to his old setup - James Huang / Immediate Media
Union Jacks are littered throughout the bike - James Huang / Immediate Media
The rear tyre is a standard Schwalbe Magic Mary but again with the company's trick new dual-chamber tubeless system - James Huang / Immediate Media
Fairclough uses just seven cogs on his Shimano Ultegra cassette. Given how common the practice is, we're surprised DT Swiss hasn't made a downhill-specific rear hub with a shorter freehub body and wider hub shell to increase the spoke bracing angles - James Huang / Immediate Media
Cables are routed on the top of the down tube where they're protected from impact. The head tube angle can be adjusted between 61 and 65 degrees but Fairclough opted for the standard 63-degree setup for the Windham course - James Huang / Immediate Media
How hard does Fairclough ride? The tyre rub on the seat stays should provide a bit of a clue - although it also suggests that the frame could do with a tad more clearance - James Huang / Immediate Media
Scott Bicycles recently debuted a totally redesigned Gambler downhill frame that incorporates all of the geometry tweaks that once had to be produced custom for star rider Brendan Fairclough (Gstaad-Scott). Even so, Fairclough's rig at the World Cup round in Windham, New York still featured a set of custom fork crowns to help give him an edge on tracks with lots of speed but plenty of flowy corners, too.
Brendan fairclough (gstaadt - scott) races on a standard large-sized scott gambler frame but with a few front-end tweaks to produce the handling characteristics he wants: brendan fairclough (gstaadt - scott) races on a standard large-sized scott gambler frame but with a few front-end tweaks to produce the handling characteristics he wants
Brendan Fairclough (Gstaad-Scott) got his geometry wish list on the new Gambler but even the new bike has a set of custom fork crowns now, too
Fairclough's new frame may bear a resemblance, in profile, to the old Gambler – but the 210mm-travel alloy platform is in fact a ground-up redesign built around 27.5in wheels. Key for Fairclough is the longer front end, but there's still an enormous range of geometry adjustability available to suit the day's course.
For Windham's short but fast track, Fairclough went with the standard 63-degree head tube angle, a low 343mm-tall bottom bracket, and the longer 440mm chainstay setting. On paper, that would tend to yield quite a long, low, and slack geometry that would benefit all-out speed over the ability to turn. But Fox steps in with a set of custom 40 Float crowns that lend some extra manoeuverability without overly sacrificing stability.
Fairclough runs custom cnc-machined fork crowns with an additional 10mm of offset relative to stock models. the increased rake lengthens the wheelbase for more stability at high speed but also decreases the trail to maintain fluid handling. it's a geometry trick that's often seen on road bikes used for cobbled classics such as paris-roubaix, too: fairclough runs custom cnc-machined fork crowns with an additional 10mm of offset relative to stock models. the increased rake lengthens the wheelbase for more stability at high speed but also decreases the trail to maintain fluid handling. it's a geometry trick that's often seen on road bikes used for cobbled classics such as paris-roubaix, too
An extra 10mm of offset in the custom crowns speeds up the handling while maintaining a long wheelbase
Compared with the standard 40 Float's forged aluminium crowns, Fairclough's special CNC-machined bits are offset an extra 10mm, which adds to the already-long and confidence-inspiring wheelbase but shortens the trail figure to actually improve front-end nimbleness. It's a trick we've commonly seen on road bikes specially built for cobbled classics such as Paris-Roubaix – and one we expect to see more of in downhill as racers continue to seek out even more tweakability for a given track.
There are a few visual twists, too. Stock frames feature black-anodised shock links but mechanic Ben Vergnaud has taken the time to hand polish them to an immaculately brilliant shine. He told us that he ultimately wants to give the custom crowns the same treatment, but given that they first have to black anodised and then still polished, it'll have to wait until time allows – and it'll be a fair chunk of time, too. According to Vergnaud, just the links took about ten hours to do.
Those polished links are definitely not stock. team mechanic ben vergnaud says it took him about ten hours of hand polishing to get them to look this way - and fairclough told us that he's super happy with how they look: those polished links are definitely not stock. team mechanic ben vergnaud says it took him about ten hours of hand polishing to get them to look this way - and fairclough told us that he's super happy with how they look
Got an extra ten hours on your hands? Then maybe your Gambler links can look like this, too
Fairclough is among the flat pedal devoted faithful and his signature-edition DMR platforms wear an aggressive pin setup that exaggerates the concave profile for better grip. Vergnaud says Fairclough's pedal preference also influences his suspension setup. Because he needs to more heavily weight the rear end to keep his feet attached, the custom tuned Fox 40 Float fork has a fairly soft tune but the rear is rather firm to give him a more responsive platform. Both ends have a very dramatic ramp-up, too.
That rearward bias produces a more pronounced differential between Fairclough's front and rear tyre pressures, too – although here Schwalbe has come to the rescue with its slick new dual-chamber tubeless system, which Vergnaud sets up on the custom-built DT Swiss Gravity wheelset with a second set of valve holes. With a second air chamber dedicated solely to locking the tyre beads on to the rim, there's more freedom to play with pressures to ideally suit the conditions.
We weren't able to get details on what sort of secret rubber compounds schwalbe used for fairclough's front tire but it certainly smelled different: we weren't able to get details on what sort of secret rubber compounds schwalbe used for fairclough's front tire but it certainly smelled different
Fairclough is running Schwalbe's new dual-chamber tubeless system, plus a special prototype tyre up front
"It helps more in the rear than the front," Fairclough said. "I used to run about 30psi in the back but now I can do down to 26 or 27."
We weren't able to get the bike on a scale, but Vergnaud says it weighs about 16.6kg (36.6lb) depending on setup.
Fairclough uses just seven cogs on his shimano ultegra cassette. given how common the practice is, we're surprised dt swiss hasn't made a downhill-specific rear hub with a shorter freehub body and wider hub shell to increase the spoke bracing angles: fairclough uses just seven cogs on his shimano ultegra cassette. given how common the practice is, we're surprised dt swiss hasn't made a downhill-specific rear hub with a shorter freehub body and wider hub shell to increase the spoke bracing angles
James Huang is BikeRadar's former technical editor. After leaving BikeRadar in 2016, he worked at CyclingTips and Escape Collective. He now runs the Substack cycling publication N-1 Bikes.
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