Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing) is competing with a new Shimano Saint Shadow Plus rear derailleur prototype, complete with a friction band-controlled pulley cage for reduced chain slap and better chain retentionJames Huang/Future Publishing
The chunky machined aluminum parallelogram links on Aaron Gwin’s (Trek World Racing) prototype Shimano Saint Shadow Plus rear derailleur has clearly already taken some hits but it seems to be holding up wellJames Huang/Future Publishing
The look of Aaron Gwin’s (Trek World Racing) prototype Shimano Saint Shadow Plus rear derailleur is admittedly a little rough but we expect production versions to look much sleekerJames Huang/Future Publishing
The large lower knuckle on Aaron Gwin’s (Trek World Racing) prototype Shimano Saint Shadow Plus rear derailleur houses the friction mechanism to control the pulley cageJames Huang/Future Publishing
Gwin’s prototype Shimano Saint brake calipers are attached with titanium bolts.James Huang/Future Publishing
Shimano sticks with two-piece construction for the new Saint caliper body.James Huang/Future Publishing
The differential piston diameters on Shimano’s revamped Saint four-piston caliper is expected to be both quiet and powerfulJames Huang/Future Publishing
The more open back of Shimano’s next-generation Saint brake calipers should help keep the pads cooler than the current versionJames Huang/Future Publishing
Some Trek World Racing downhill bikes were fitted with more production-ready versions of Shimano’s revamped Saint four-piston brake caliper – but with logos blacked out, of course. Note the more open back, two instead of four bolts holding the caliper halves together, and the more sculpted bodyJames Huang/Future Publishing
The new Shimano Saint brake calipers will apparently work with finned pads, too, but Aaron Gwin doesn’t seem to be using them right nowJames Huang/Future Publishing
Aaron Gwin’s (Trek World Racing) Shimano brake levers aren’t marked but they’re similar to the current XTR Trail models with a new tool-free reach adjust that differs from the consumer version. Note the texture on the lever blade, tooJames Huang/Future Publishing
The reach adjuster on Aaron Gwin’s (Trek World Racing) Shimano brake levers differs from the current versionJames Huang/Future Publishing
A bit of machining adds some extra finger grip on Aaron Gwin’s (Trek World Racing) Shimano brake leversJames Huang/Future Publishing
Trek World Racing team mechanic ‘Monkey’ Vasquez says Aaron Gwin’s shifter pull lever is slightly shorter than normal for better access to the release leverJames Huang/Future Publishing
Note the textured finish on the cable release lever on Aaron Gwin’s (Trek World Racing) custom shifterJames Huang/Future Publishing
Trek World Racing downhill star Aaron Gwin is hoping for another incredible season this year aboard his Trek Session 9.9 carbon fiber downhill bikeJames Huang/Future Publishing
A big rubber plate guards the down tube of Aaron Gwin’s (Trek World Racing) Trek Session 9.9 from rock impactsJames Huang/Future Publishing
The Trek Session 9.9 frame can be run with either internal or external routingJames Huang/Future Publishing
The rear derailleur housing and rear brake hose exit the down tube just ahead of the bottom bracket shellJames Huang/Future Publishing
Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing) wears the number one plate for the opening UCI World Cup round in Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaJames Huang/Future Publishing
New bright blue seals are features on Aaron Gwin’s (Trek World Racing) Fox Racing Shox 40 downhill forkJames Huang/Future Publishing
Stanchion stops are built into the tapered head tube on the Trek Session 9.9James Huang/Future Publishing
Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing) is running a tight 12-23T Shimano Dura-Ace cassette on his Trek Session 9.9James Huang/Future Publishing
Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing) is running his Trek Session 9.9 in the higher setting at PietermaritzburgJames Huang/Future Publishing