Gwin's Race Run at Leogang 20

Aaron Gwin discusses his unbelievable race run at Leogang riding on rim. That's one heck of wheel build making it all the way down the course!
Credit: Specialized Bicycles
20 comments

View replies to: Gwin's Race Run at Leogang

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Big Bird
10 years ago
It's such a big deal because all of us privateers would instantly pull to the side of the trail so as not to have to pay for a new rim and we're all living vicariously through him to try and feel the grip of raw aluminum digging into fairly hard packed dirt. He really did handle some of those turns way more aggressively than some of the other properly shod riders.
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SlackerMcgee
10 years ago
Why is this such a big deal...someone rolled tire off rim...tire luckily didn't get caught up in drive-train allowing rider to ride on rim...rim held up like "most" aluminum rims would pretty much regardless of who built wheel...rider got last place...Blenki got a flat tire in FW last week, finished race and nobody discussed it when its harder to ride a flat tire on rim than on rim with no tire. NEWSFLASH: Josh Bryceland won this race "with" air in his tires!!
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Nicholast
10 years ago
People are stoked on it because Gwin didn't give up once he flatted. He continued to push as if he were still racing for something knowing that his chances of getting any points were very low. If he had throttled back and cruised like most racers would/do, no one would care. His determination and the fact he held it together are why people are impressed.
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SlackerMcgee
10 years ago
Definitely well said and agree about the determination factor...only a bit surprised that a flat tire has lead to so much talk when there's flats in many races and not many of the WC elites ever give up on their runs unless the tire wraps in drive-train...Blenkinsop didn't give up in FW the previous week and got the same placing as AG this week.

nismo325- of course I watched the entire run thanks!

JayDawger- Unfortunately, Gwin races in the men's category where beating the women doesn't count for much...some of those women if given a flat tire would beat most people on this board male or female
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shutter2ride
10 years ago
yup, most racers will try to finish their bad run on the bike instead of bailing. And he did throttle it back, just a smooth rider able to finish his run.
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nismo325
10 years ago
His pace for the last half of the course was retarded fast for having no tire thats why its such a big deal. did you even watch his whole run?
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Cant Climb
10 years ago
Bare rim actually digs in really well when cornering.....i raced bare rim on a single loop xc race when out of tubes. Wasn't too bad really. Was actually sketchiest on gravel fire roads, was good on the trail.
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shutter2ride
10 years ago
going to step out on a limb and be a douche perhaps but I didn't think it was such a big deal. Ha.
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tcmtnbikr
10 years ago
Testament to the rim, but certainly not to the tire or tire choice. The only flat of the day on a non rocky course.
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onenerdykid*
10 years ago
Not rocky, except for the stupid man-made rock gardens where he smashed the tire on. His tire choice seems to be working out well for him and Brosnon, so I wouldn't put the blame on that but rather on the silly rock gardens.
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JayDawger
10 years ago
It wasn't a flat. His tire rolled off the rim. Happens when running tubeless and cornering hard.
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Nicholast
10 years ago
To be clear, since that statement implies this is an issue unique to tubeless, tubed tires can also be pulled off the rim when cornering hard. Neither is impervious, unfortunately.