Bar and stem setup is critical here on the punishing World Championship track at Val Di Sole. The relentless collisions with rock and root over three-and-a-half minutes leads to sore hands and arms which can affect line choice and flow.
Unlike many tracks most riders pay close attention to fatigue levels on their body and adjust the bar height and tilt to make the ride as comfortable as possible. The steep lower sections can also lead to increased weight transfer particularly on tired bodies.
Here’s a quick look at who’s doing what up front:
Greg Minnaar
The three-time World Champion riding Santa Cruz has arguably paid the most attention to the front end of his bike. Greg has gone up and down on bar height with the fork set high and added spacers to get the bar quite high. Note the bar has a 7.5 backsweep where many are running a 9 degree sweep. The Enve bar has a 4.5 degree tip. Like many he’s opted for 31.8mm bar.
Bar width – Enve 31.8, 810mm
Bar rise – 25mm
Stem length – 45mm
