Overall it’s completely different both visually and mechanically to last year’s production V2 and the modified version that Gee rode, although Nico pointed out that whilst the new bike might feel more progressive this is due to chain tension as the progressivity of the link remains the same. We were able to get four versions of the Supreme for direct comparisons. All in size large. We assembled:
-2010 Production Supreme
-Gee Atherton’s World Cup Supreme
-2011 Supreme V3 Proto 1
-2011 Supreme V3 Proto 2
Nearly everywhere you look there are changes to the bike that the Athertons have relied on for the past few years. This bike is much lower and slacker than the previous production version, but interestingly the numbers turn out to be very close to the modified Supreme that Gee won last year’s series on.
Nico pointed out that they wanted a bike with lower bottom bracket because this characteristic is important for super quick directional changes resulting in what he says is “increased stability and manoeuvrability and better feel for the terrain”. I only wish other companies worked on similar wavelengths. Check out the numbers below (Note that –1 refers to slacker head angle offset cup whilst mid is the standard setting).
IMPERIAL COMPARISON| Model | Wheelbase | Headangle | Bottom bracket | Downtube | Weight |
| 2010 Production Supreme | 47.25” | 64.2º (mid) | 14.25” | 26.5” | 41.2lb |
| 2010 Atherton Bike | 47.5” | 62º (–1 set) | 13.38” | 26.5” | 40.3lb |
| 2011 Proto 1 | 46.85” | 63.5º (–1 set) | 13.5” | 26.5” | 42lb |
| 2011 Proto 2 | 48.62” | 61.2º (mid) | 13.7” | 27” | 40.3lb |
| Model | Wheelbase | Headangle | Bottom bracket (mm) | Downtube | Weight |
| 2010 Production Supreme | 1200mm | 64.2º (mid) | 362 | 675 | 18.68kg |
| 2010 Atherton Bike | 1205mm | 62º (–1 set) | 340 | 675 | 18.28kg |
| 2011 Proto 1 | 1190mm | 63.5º (–1 set) | 343 | 675 | 19.05kg |
| 2011 Proto 2 | 1235mm | 61.2º (mid) | 350 | 685 | 18.28kg |
No major changes on paper for 2011 then, except more space up front as the large grows in wheelbase to just over 48.5” and a marginally slacker head angle, but still with the option of adjustment. How would it ride?
With a strict timetable for testing of the new bikes, Gee, team manager Dan Brown and Seb got to work on swapping parts from his championship bike, fresh (well dusty at least) from Rampage, for the World Cup winner to evaluate – and for us to wrestle away from, which proved very difficult. Bear in mind a month or so prior to this Nico had visited the Athertons with version one of the prototype bikes, which although perfect for Rachel it certainly needed modifications for the second version, it having been a bit steep and short. Given he was super busy having to appear in various places for everyone post season, it’s no wonder Gee was eager to get the new bike right before it went off to get built.
