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Downhill Bikes

The downhill bikes of Core Bike Show

Long travel finds at Core

Photos: Kat Georgudis

Core Bike Show sits in racers’ country. Just a few miles down the road from sleepy Silverstone village (and its eponymous race track) sits Whittlebury Hall, home to one of the UK’s biggest mtb trade shows.

In conference rooms with names such as Mangy Cours, Spa Francochamps and Hungaroring, we searched for racers of a different kind. No less specialised than the Formula One cars that are built in these parts, downhill bikes are becoming rare beasts at industry events.

When more people watch downhill than ever, you would expect a few show pieces to be around but the show was unfortunately lacking for gravity steeds. Here are the slim pickings we found among the carbon road bike wheels and women in white dressing gowns.:

The Athertons’ new Trek Session

Renthal were displaying the Trek Factory Racing Session for 2018 at their stand. This is Gee’s bike that was running 27.5 wheels and scratched (despite never being ridden) due to a courier fuck up.

Racing red remains the colour of choice but Hope and Renthal components now decorate the frame for a strongly British package.

Adam Brayton’s Scott Gambler

My God, Hope really put on a show with this! This is the first time we’ve seen Brayton’s custom Gambler in the flesh and it was well worth the wait.

There’s laser etching and fancy anodising all over the Keswick Kesterl’s steed and it’s a real shame it’s only going to be given one real race run in anger.

Brayton finished Cairns as the highest ranked Brit Down Under, finishing in 13th place.

Bernard Kerr’s Pivot Phoenix

Desert Camo was the name of the game for Bernard Kerr in Cairns. Strange choice in the jungle but maybe that’s the joke that’s gone waaayyy over our heads.

Anyway, here’s a few more snaps of the bike that Bernard was repping in Oz.




Polygon Colossus DH9

Unfortunately we din’t get a look at the new R3ACT bikes Tracey and Mick were riding at World Champs but the ever-reliable DH9 was on display at the Moore Large stand.





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