Aaron Gwin's Prototype Carbon Trek Session by mikelevy

122 Comments

Score Time

+ 114

huddersfieldfreerider (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:43)

So hes already taking 5 seconds off the other top pros and now hes going carbon, there is no hope

BIGJoe29 (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:24)

dude i kno right?!^^^

+ 22

dh0023 (Jun 30, 2011 at 17:04)

what about a carbon Tr450. haha thatd be sick

mnorris122 (Jun 30, 2011 at 17:13)

YES! Transition ftw!

carter-hill (Jun 30, 2011 at 18:02)

Thaaaat's what he needs. Now he'll shave time off and win, oh wait... The competition is already being teabaged regularly by Gwinn... And really Trek? A lighter DH frame?

- 52

spyretto (Jun 30, 2011 at 22:30) (Below Threshold) show comment

Actually now there's some hope...that his frame snaps in the middle of his run...

+ 16

konakid1993 (Jul 1, 2011 at 1:23)

Shame on you, spyretto. Shame on you.

jakeheath (Jul 1, 2011 at 2:59)

You know you can get carbon clothes, god forbid gwin finds out about it!

cDizzle27 (Jul 1, 2011 at 11:20)

@spyretto thats a ridiculous comment and lets be honest, carbon is alot stronger than ali :/

spyretto (Jul 1, 2011 at 14:14) (Below Threshold) show comment

Ok...my bad.... I meant in the end of his run...

- 10

spyretto (Jul 1, 2011 at 14:15) (Below Threshold) show comment

It is stronger yes, but what about little rocks flying towards the frame?

+ 10

TomasK (Jul 1, 2011 at 15:22)

u've been hit by one of those Big Grin

spyretto (Jul 2, 2011 at 5:38) (Below Threshold) show comment

lol

jakeheath (Jul 2, 2011 at 13:10)

carbon looks cool though

webbrider12 (Jul 3, 2011 at 22:28)

spyretto its not like its weak Carbon you stupid f*ck!! it could be even stronger!

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+ 55

FireBallDHR (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:45)

i wish My collar bone was carbon fiber and I wish I had spares

cdbfree (Jul 4, 2011 at 0:02)

one of mines titanium now Smile

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+ 52

bumjump (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:50)

carbon demo needs to happen now

+ 11

IH4LIFE (Jun 30, 2011 at 17:02)

Its coming now when trek does something inovative specialized has to match it, Demo carbon is soon on its way.

moutnbiker (Jun 30, 2011 at 21:53)

After that, a carbon Glory?

bubbaleech (Jul 1, 2011 at 0:52)

Or before.

radleyy (Jul 1, 2011 at 11:00)

carbons obviously the new up and coming thing in DH then!

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+ 13

brit-100 (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:09)

*Apparently* Carbon Demo and Carbon Glory (don't forget, Giant make the carbon V10 for SC) also in the works, currently in testing but not race ready. 2012/13 is going to be massive for carbon DH.

slipalongtrevaskus (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:18)

Cant see why a carbon demo isnt in the works... its not like spesh havent used carbon before on a million other frames.

Rohaan (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:21)

Carbon glory would be bloody light - It's already lighter than a carbon V10^^

fantaman (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:48)

Cant see no problem that Specialized & Giant whanna hop on the carbon DH bandwagon to keep up with Trek & the other top brands that are having carbon DH bikes,carbon DH frames are the next big thing in DH for the next 5 years to come.

Joelrider (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:55)

It was Giant who made thecarbon v-10?

My 2008 glory works well Big Grin

Carbon Glory will be a Dream!

xetal (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:56) (Below Threshold) show comment

Carbon is expensive and fragile. Unless you got cash to spare id stay away !

+ 12

Ryanlak (Jun 30, 2011 at 17:08)

^^Not when ts engineered correctly.

- 13

xetal (Jun 30, 2011 at 17:13) (Below Threshold) show comment

All it takes is one hit in the right place. Then the structural integrity of the frame is compromised !

+ 16

eleventyfive (Jun 30, 2011 at 18:20)

Same would happen with an aluminum frame .... DERP

KJS9 (Jun 30, 2011 at 19:16)

I know what you mean Rohaan. I just weighed my 2011 Glory 01 and it weighed in at 39.12 lbs. which to me is super lite for a DH rig. The carbon bikes are going to be lite but what about the life of the framr, and the price?

deadatbirth (Jun 30, 2011 at 20:16)

Giant doesnt make the V10c.
and who knew CF is fragile. wow

hankyman (Jun 30, 2011 at 20:28)

http://youtu.be/Y_O9PLorYPA

check this out you guys, carbon fiber for the win!

iamamodel (Jun 30, 2011 at 20:53)

Carbon frames can be repaired. They've been repairing road bikes for years - can't see why MTB isn't any different.

As someone pointed out above - in testing the V10c was the first frame they couldn't break. GT hit the Fury's downtube with a hammer and broke the hammer's handle.

FastDHR (Jun 30, 2011 at 21:38)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvk63bmVpck&NR=1

hankyman (Jun 30, 2011 at 21:44)

screw that video

Joelrider (Jul 1, 2011 at 3:12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrjId0-K-Ts&feature=related Hard Hammering on alu and carbon forks

flat4split (Jul 1, 2011 at 9:25)

I heard the V10 carbon broke the machine that tests the frames to distruction.

hankyman (Jul 1, 2011 at 13:36)

carbon is way sexier too

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+ 12

ummevan (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:41)

"Now gossip amongst yourselves with speculation..."

UncleCliffy (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:42)

I know right? Watch the comments for this get nutty as usual...

tom-cuthbert (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:49)

Any publicity is good publicity.

We're talking about it, so that's free advertising for them.

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rdgrider (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:04)

Rumored frame cost is around 3500 to 4ish. Complete bike near 7. The frame is super strong and the major kinks have been worked out of the sessions through tons of r&d money. Very reliable source...

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lely-pie (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:07)

i dont think my parents will be happy if i sold the house to buy one..

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mozarle (Jun 30, 2011 at 23:43)

Trek session 88 carbon...mmm...I guess it would be tested in an air tunnel as well, as the 'alu' session 88. mmm carbon & air tunnel...apart Gwin who's gonna ride this bike Michael Schumacher.

mozarle (Jul 3, 2011 at 13:57)

By the way, apart from Santacruz, Trek has a carbon frame as well and it's riders are on the process for its development. So, why the MS-Evil guys don't do the same with the 'undead' carbon frame?

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ElVenezuelan (Jun 30, 2011 at 17:30)

This bike its sick!!!!! for sure the bike to have next year, and remember boys Trek already have been maing the best carbon road bike for many years, it was about time they used the knowledge for their DH rigs. This looks like my next bike.

iamamodel (Jun 30, 2011 at 21:02)

Not just road bikes - they've made excellent XC race bikes too. Before I had a full-suspension bike, I raced my club DH races on my XC race bike - Trek Pro 9600 Carbon hardtail. I put riser bars on it and a shorter stem.

That was such a strong frame. When, after years of racing, it had to go into the trash I laid the frame sideways on the ground and stood on the rear stays thinking they would snap. They didn't. I had to jump up and down on them real hard to make them go. The rest I couldn't brake no matter how hard I tried so I had to use a hacksaw. Very strong frame.

Mind you, back then Trek carbon frames were made in the USA, but I guess now they will be made in Asia.

Varaxis (Jul 2, 2011 at 0:26)

All Trek OCLV is made in Waterloo, as far as I know. I think Gary Fisher OCLV was made in Asia (ex. '10 Superfly 100), so it's a possibility. Funny that the '10 Superfly (mainly in size 17.5) had issues with its chainstay bridge cracking due to the layup method used... with such experience, I personally think they'll keep it made in USA.

Will Brandon Semenuk get a carbon bike next? Big Grin

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WagonWheel (Jul 3, 2011 at 21:03)

For all the carbon haters out there why does easton have a two year unconditional warranty on their carbon rims???And the V10 has more than proven itself in carbon. If carbon is used for strenght and not weight loss the results are awsome!!

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stevecabrera (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:41)

dam my session is light now i cant even image a carbon one!!

prevail (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:44)

two more pics

http://fotos.mtb-news.de/p/926194

http://fotos.mtb-news.de/p/926192

iamamodel (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:51)

Perhaps Trek went the GT Fury way and made it the same weight but stronger.

mtnbyker Plus (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:54)

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/6797528/

Dirt-HQ (Jun 30, 2011 at 20:03)

Err, that's my photo you've pinched there!

prevail (Jul 1, 2011 at 1:44)

sorry i only shared the links. that's not my "mtb-news" account. if you want i ask the admins to delete my comment

cyrix (Jul 1, 2011 at 9:03)

He didn't mean you prevail, he meant mtnbyker.

mtnbyker Plus (Jul 1, 2011 at 12:40)

The photo has been taken off of PB, but yes the credit goes to Dirt-HQ for the pic...

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Fozzube (Jun 30, 2011 at 23:23)

people who are worried about carbon bikes should actualy ride and crash one repeatedly, i own a second hand scott ransom which is three years old and i've put into a number of trees, stumps, rocks, and other solid objects and the frame is still in one piece, unfortunatly my outer chainring lost a quarter of itself the last time i hit a tree, but the frame is still in one piece and fully functioning.

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katoom250 (Jul 3, 2011 at 18:43)

I don't get where people get the idea that carbon is so weak, on the moto's we use it for skid plates and other protective guards with the intention of smashing it between rocks and 200+ lb bikes. The stuff is incredibly strong

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Varaxis (Jul 2, 2011 at 0:42)

Trek must feel really happy with their geo to start making tools for carbon molding.

I really never gave their FS bikes a look until they started using their ABP design. I rode a few, and I'm starting to favor the fairly stable neutral balanced feel of their bikes. After riding a few bikes with more new-age, aggressive geo, which felt good doing one thing, but felt weak in another, I feel like I should just go back to the balanced bike. I really haven't felt that since the days of riding my entry level bike over a decade ago, which is still one of my favorite bikes (Giant ATX 860, the blue Tomac endorsed one). Not really a fan of some of the rear biased long travel bikes (a lot of my weight seemed placed over the rear) and, of course, not a fan of front biased bikes (if you put a beefy tire on the front of one of those, OMG do they feel like they're being dragged).

I kind of regret not giving their Remedy a better test ride. When I got on it, it felt like it had no personality. It looked great, with an awesome color scheme, but it didn't give me any feel like some other bikes gave (accelerates fasts, agile through tight twisty trails, stable enough to inspire confidence at speed, etc etc). I have picked up a number of bikes now, after getting sucked into the hype of new age suspension and geo, but miss having one bike that simply handled it all that was fairly light and looks great and has great support from a LBS.

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w-e-w (Jun 30, 2011 at 19:34)

carbon frames and bars are well established for DH now.. next are rims and cranks.. how long until fork lowers/steer/crown assemblies?... in short time we'll see 30lb legitimate DH race bikes... crazy.

DeVo694 (Jun 30, 2011 at 21:19)

Dorados, and the new X0 parts? Razz

rmesfcmdr9er (Jun 30, 2011 at 22:26)

yah the new xo dh cranks are carbon

immacaroni (Jun 30, 2011 at 23:46)

we just got the 2012 easton catalog into our shop and they are offering their havoc wheels in carbon....

cyrix (Jul 1, 2011 at 9:05)

So anyone notice a certain name that keeps showing up anytime someone speaks positively about carbon? mikenash is spamming the site up.

rmesfcmdr9er (Jul 3, 2011 at 22:22)

yah seriosly i wasent even being positve about it i was just stating a fact...o well if he wants to go out of his way to neg prop me i guess he has his right

immacaroni (Jul 4, 2011 at 11:27)

mikenash your a weener.

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jgottya1 (Jul 1, 2011 at 7:45)

35 LBS ???? How can one feel safe hammering through steep rocks at that weight ? SICK !!!!
It has to be a joy to toss around at speeds though !!
My XC bike is about that ......

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KennyKillsIt (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:58)

Me Gusta

If, I mean when this beast hits production I will pray to the frame Failure gods to grant me favorable warranty outcome for my 2011 88

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digital-criminal Plus (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:43)

theyre gonna start making replacement bones out of carbon soon.... or screws.

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caiocrz (Jul 1, 2011 at 6:06)

Specialized probably has greater technology than the US government...haha they are just working on them behind closed doors to release the best thing at the best moment.

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om1wan (Jul 1, 2011 at 11:03)

Yeap hugliest graphics, looks like tomac's influence too, maybe if he wins the champs he will earn to put an eagle like the tomac's

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funkymonkey144 (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:41)

NOM I want! Gwin on the win again hopefully at MSA!

+ 21

eastofski (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:57)

good patriotism

funkymonkey144 (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:08)

Haha sorry but even as a brit I have to say the guy is incredible! I don't know how he's pulling these crazy wins but man its good to watch

eastofski (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:09)

Hart, Peat, Atherton. Dream podium.

+ 10

panzer103 (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:12)

Funkymonkey knows where the moneys at!

KennyKillsIt (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:04)

He's a Gwinner

done12341234 (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:15)

Eastofski has it right, except Gee on th top, not 3rd...

BLIPDH (Jun 30, 2011 at 19:46)

you cant deny it

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gnarbar (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:40)

wondering why Gwin has really stepped it up since leaving Yeti...was the 303 holding him back THAT MUCH ?

mercenarie501 (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:01)

Hes only started DH a few years ago so every season he got way better. I dont think it was holding him back but Trek has a lot more money in there program so he got better trainers in the off season and he put in a lot of work and its really paying off. the 303 WC is a awesome bike that for all i can see wont hold anyone back since the rear wheel goes straight up and can go over things faster because of that.

KennyKillsIt (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:03)

I have been thinking the same

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mike-hight-wizz (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:52)

lets just hope the proto works well and maybe we will see one in the future as a production item

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crasht (Jul 1, 2011 at 7:41)

buddy of mine had a carbon trek hardtail in 98 and beat the crap out of it . it held up im sure its still going today

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ScottB-408 (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:43)

I'm waiting for some chump to comment: "So how much will it cost?"

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biking435 (Jun 30, 2011 at 19:01)

I am sorry but the v10 carbon is not made by Giant. Carbon is the future! Very nice bike, Trek has done a great job.

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DHDean (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:30)

i had an idea there was a carbon trek going about now when do these thing get up for sale to a get one

rmesfcmdr9er (Jun 30, 2011 at 22:29)

they were testing a 88 29er prototype i wonder how that is going

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BLIPDH (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:53)

well now the WC season is going to be really predictable...

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slandrews (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:00)

the trek was about £4000 new, nows you can get it for like double the price Big Grin

smike (Jun 30, 2011 at 21:24)

Not necessarily. The carbon V10 was only marginally more expensive than the alu one.

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mountguitars (Jun 30, 2011 at 22:31)

gwin on a carbon DH rig? unstoppable!

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mongoosemaniac (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:14)

You dont know the specs of the bike yet? Its simple. Everythings the same on it apart from the frame is carbon.

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Jierdan (Jul 3, 2011 at 9:51)

Still I see no reason to replace my Demo...

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dyalnger9 (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:44)

Yeah baby

I knew it would happen eventually! So stoked

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caste1200 (Jul 6, 2011 at 14:38)

my dh bike has carbon Big Grin

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natasdemo9 (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:12)

whats the weight of the trek now?

EddyDave (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:21)

my mates session 8 (brand new stock '11) is bout 39lbs

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teamdoa (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:27)

My bike is made from gold pressed latinum.

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tdoyle1995 (Jun 30, 2011 at 23:22)

carbon demo and corbon V3 thats what the world needs

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sngltrkmnd (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:24)

Wasn't he running one in practice at Fort Bill???

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BLIPDH (Jun 30, 2011 at 17:51)

i love gwin, but he has one of the ugliest helmets of all time

rmesfcmdr9er (Jun 30, 2011 at 22:30)

your really gona judge a rider by his helmet?

BLIPDH (Jun 30, 2011 at 22:33)

no, i said i love gwin, and i really do. I just dont like the graphics of his helmet

rmesfcmdr9er (Jul 3, 2011 at 22:24)

ahh shit my bad missed that must have been drunk or really really tired

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caine (Jul 3, 2011 at 13:05)

Winner bike Wink

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sa1nt (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:30)

Is Gwin on flats? Those other pictures shot flats.

shastasc (Jun 30, 2011 at 20:11)

look closley at the other ones theres a clip there

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vinniezemie1188 (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:56)

soo sick !

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over9000ninja (Jun 30, 2011 at 19:09)

i knew it!

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panzer103 (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:08)

Forget the M9 This will be the bike to have.

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flikende (Jun 30, 2011 at 19:00)

still don't like how it looks

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Below threshold threads are hidden

- 12

D-ponko (Jun 30, 2011 at 14:54)

not to sound cynical, but trek has always been known to make light bikes, but not have a lot of strength in their frames...(the breaking problem with the alum sessions). It just seems to me that they are asking for more fragility and less strength (or it could be the opposite and im totally wrong)

Steamer19 (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:08)

Are you sure you've got some statistically significant data to support that comment. Anyone can throw out a comment like that but let's face it, there are a lot of Trek mountain bikes out there. A report here and there on the internet about a cracked frame does not equate to disaster.

GingaCal (Jun 30, 2011 at 15:54)

With carbon, they can make it MUCH stronger while keeping the weight similair (just a little lighter), or they could keep the strength similair and keep the weight way down. Its pretty much up to them because they can make the carbon as thick or thin as they would like. Santa Cruz explains this pretty well in some of their videos. The Carbon V-10 was supposedly the only frame that Santa Cruz hasn't been able to break in their in house testing which is pretty impressive. There arent really any down sides to carbon frame except the durability to rock deflections hitting the frame, and the outragous price of the frames...

cedrico (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:11)

the prices will get better since carbon is getting cheaper and cheaper and metal is getting costlier.

GingaCal (Jun 30, 2011 at 16:44)

Sweet! Hopefully they get to around where the prices for Aluminum frames are right now in a few years

kyphoto (Jun 30, 2011 at 17:47)

Carbon isn't really getting much cheaper. Mountain Bike mag did a great article about carbon a few months back and part of it talked about pricing of carbon. Basically saying that the bike industry would never have the volume purchases of materials it would take to really lower the pricing (there's more to it than that- I'm simplifying). And on top of materials is the craftsmanship. Anybody can make a carbon fiber frame. To make it durable and to get the advantages of the material it takes a really well designed layup pattern and very skilled builders. When you combine all this to get a good quality light & strong frame it means it'll be fairly expensive.

cedrico (Jul 1, 2011 at 11:07)

you're right, but as we get good at getting the advantages out of the material it will cost less to produce good frames since the technologies will be developed and by then, we'll be good at making stuff out of carbon. I hope that made sense...

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