He is, you can see the outlines of the brake lever & stuff under the bar (the bolt and the bearings for example) and two hoses between the frame and fork, one being the shifter cable, the other the brake hose.
We're huge fans of Sam Hill here at Vital, so we're extra gutted to report that his recently sustained shoulder injury has turned out to be worse than initially hoped for, and left Sam needing surgery. A huge blow to what was considered one of the absolute biggest threats to the overall 2015 World Cup title, and a loss for us racing fans. We wish you a speedy recovery Sam!
From Chain Reaction Cycles / Paypal:
We’re sorry to bring you the news that Team Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal rider Sam Hill’s recent shoulder injury has turned out to be worse than he first expected, and after flying straight home from the Lourdes World Cup and having an MRI scan back in Perth, Australia, he’s had to undergo surgery.
Everyone at Chain Reaction Cycles wish him all the best for a speedy recovery, and while he's getting back to 100%, Mike, Joe and Elliott will continue as they started the season - motivated to take Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal to the top of the World Cup podium!
Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal Team Manager Nigel Page said: "Sam is a tough cookie and doesn't complain too much or show that he is in a lot of pain, but I figured it must have been pretty bad if he didn't try and race in Lourdes. It turns out he has torn a ligament off the bone in his shoulder and torn another one so he is going to have to have surgery to repair his shoulder. This has come as a huge disappointment to Sam, his family and everyone on the Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal team as Sam was super motivated after last season where towards the end of the year he was back to his winning ways with first places at two out of the last three World Cup rounds and close to winning the World Champs in Norway if he hadn't crashed in the final rock section.
This past winter Sam had been training harder than ever and was in the best shape of his career ready to try and reach his goals this season, his fitness showed in the first EWS race in Rotorua where he placed ninth overall and won the final stage there. So, Sam's first goal to win the World Cup overall this season has come to an end before it even started, this sport can be very unfair sometimes, but he is having surgery today and will be working towards his second goal of the season which is the World Championships in Vallnord at the beginning of September.
I am personally going to miss having Sam at the races for the first part of the year as it is great having him around and he is so motivational for us all on the team and fun to hang out with. I know Sam feels like he has let himself and all of us down, but he hasn't and we all know he will be back stronger and faster than ever as soon as possible. Get well soon bud."
While Sam is recovering the rest of the team will continue with the great early season success we have had with words of advice and encouragement from Sam back in Australia.
Mike Jones is currently in third place in the World Cup standings and now established as one of the very fastest racers in the world and will be challenging for the overall world cup title which was Sam's goal and Joe Smith and Junior rider Elliott Heap will be trying to push up the rankings at the next races.
Sam said about his injury: “The weekend before the first World Cup I was getting in a few DH runs at my local track just getting settled in on my new race bike. I washed the front end out on a loose corner and slammed my shoulder and arm into the ground. I was hoping to still race in France but was unable to and since returning home I have found out the damage is worse than I thought. I'm getting surgery and then will be doing all I can to be back 100% fit and healthy at the races again hopefully sooner than later.”
anyone notice that walker shaw was on a V10 at cwx? does that mean the whole TLD/SRAM team is on santa cruz?
Negative. Finsterwald is on Trek. Walker is on a V10 for DH. I'm not sure what Luca is on or what Walker will choose for non-DH.
Not only can this team choose whatever bikes they want, and it's the athletes' choice not the manager's, but they can choose independently of each other. Pretty cool actually; race what you are most comfortable with, not what's given to you.
Both the Shaw Brothers are on V10s, 5010s, Jackals, etc. Full Santa Cruz set up. Seemed to work well for Luca at the first WC with an 11th in his first elite race.
What I got mostly from comments its the moto factory that is shutting down, nothing said specifically for mtb division which is rumored to keep on kicking ass. I'll try to ask our national distributor, he is great guy and real forum warrior so if he has any info he will probably share !
It'd be a bummer if the MTB division goes too. Some great products recently and they've provided a huge amount of support to up and coming racers in BC.
"For reasons we cannot discuss, unfortunately Alex Bond will not continue racing for The Orange Dirt World Team this season." It sounds to me like lawyer talk for there was a "Discussion of differences." aka a yelling match or fight. Just guessing.
Isak only joined the Orange team at the Fort Bill BDS.
He was on another bike (Mondraker I think????) at the Lourdes world cup.
Speaking of world cups, what do you guys predict for the top5?
Gwin seems on fire, but he's bever been amazeballz in Ft Bill. He did win there once, but not in true Gwin fashion (0.8sec is a pretty small winning margin for him). Brosnan is hard to predict because he hasn't raced in a while (he did do Ft Bill BDS, but does a 1min20sec race really count). Danny will probably once again make everyone look like amateurs at the top and then lose the race at the bottom.
All the other riders are hard to predict because they were injured and it's hard to judge teir recovery (Gee, Ratboy), or because they're simply unpredictable riders (Mick, Loic, Simmonds, Sambo, Minnaar, Loris, Fearon, Jones,...).
Ok the sadness starts of no more world cups to watch. Where are the rumors to keep us busy until 2016 season? Bueller?
Who are confirmed to be in contracts already?
I heard Claudio during the commentating on Sunday mention that despite the rough season they are keeping Neko onboard
http://instagram.com/p/0zRtERKVvG/
But seriously... No brakes? Wtffffff
Will start... https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=133&v=tO99Pe7tJ8E
http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/New-Commencal-DH-Bike,28575/sspom…
His twitter and Instagram have nothing.
dave
http://www.vitalmtb.com/features/FIRST-LOOK-Commencal-Supreme-V4,860
From Chain Reaction Cycles / Paypal:
We’re sorry to bring you the news that Team Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal rider Sam Hill’s recent shoulder injury has turned out to be worse than he first expected, and after flying straight home from the Lourdes World Cup and having an MRI scan back in Perth, Australia, he’s had to undergo surgery.
Everyone at Chain Reaction Cycles wish him all the best for a speedy recovery, and while he's getting back to 100%, Mike, Joe and Elliott will continue as they started the season - motivated to take Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal to the top of the World Cup podium!
Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal Team Manager Nigel Page said:
"Sam is a tough cookie and doesn't complain too much or show that he is in a lot of pain, but I figured it must have been pretty bad if he didn't try and race in Lourdes. It turns out he has torn a ligament off the bone in his shoulder and torn another one so he is going to have to have surgery to repair his shoulder. This has come as a huge disappointment to Sam, his family and everyone on the Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal team as Sam was super motivated after last season where towards the end of the year he was back to his winning ways with first places at two out of the last three World Cup rounds and close to winning the World Champs in Norway if he hadn't crashed in the final rock section.
This past winter Sam had been training harder than ever and was in the best shape of his career ready to try and reach his goals this season, his fitness showed in the first EWS race in Rotorua where he placed ninth overall and won the final stage there. So, Sam's first goal to win the World Cup overall this season has come to an end before it even started, this sport can be very unfair sometimes, but he is having surgery today and will be working towards his second goal of the season which is the World Championships in Vallnord at the beginning of September.
I am personally going to miss having Sam at the races for the first part of the year as it is great having him around and he is so motivational for us all on the team and fun to hang out with. I know Sam feels like he has let himself and all of us down, but he hasn't and we all know he will be back stronger and faster than ever as soon as possible. Get well soon bud."
While Sam is recovering the rest of the team will continue with the great early season success we have had with words of advice and encouragement from Sam back in Australia.
Mike Jones is currently in third place in the World Cup standings and now established as one of the very fastest racers in the world and will be challenging for the overall world cup title which was Sam's goal and Joe Smith and Junior rider Elliott Heap will be trying to push up the rankings at the next races.
Sam said about his injury:
“The weekend before the first World Cup I was getting in a few DH runs at my local track just getting settled in on my new race bike. I washed the front end out on a loose corner and slammed my shoulder and arm into the ground. I was hoping to still race in France but was unable to and since returning home I have found out the damage is worse than I thought. I'm getting surgery and then will be doing all I can to be back 100% fit and healthy at the races again hopefully sooner than later.”
Not only can this team choose whatever bikes they want, and it's the athletes' choice not the manager's, but they can choose independently of each other. Pretty cool actually; race what you are most comfortable with, not what's given to you.
Does anyone know what happened with Alex Bond ? He left Orange Dirt team ? Why ?
http://dirtmountainbike.com/news/british-downhill-series-llangollen-201…
He was on another bike (Mondraker I think????) at the Lourdes world cup.
Speaking of world cups, what do you guys predict for the top5?
Gwin seems on fire, but he's bever been amazeballz in Ft Bill. He did win there once, but not in true Gwin fashion (0.8sec is a pretty small winning margin for him). Brosnan is hard to predict because he hasn't raced in a while (he did do Ft Bill BDS, but does a 1min20sec race really count). Danny will probably once again make everyone look like amateurs at the top and then lose the race at the bottom.
All the other riders are hard to predict because they were injured and it's hard to judge teir recovery (Gee, Ratboy), or because they're simply unpredictable riders (Mick, Loic, Simmonds, Sambo, Minnaar, Loris, Fearon, Jones,...).
Who are confirmed to be in contracts already?
I heard Claudio during the commentating on Sunday mention that despite the rough season they are keeping Neko onboard
Who is available for change?
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