Final week, Gamux Manufacturing unit Racing made the journey from Switzerland to Scotland, to race Spherical 2 of the British Downhill Sequence in Fort William. They have been in good firm; the Santa Cruz Syndicate, Madison Saracen Manufacturing unit Racing, Commencal Muc-Off, Nukeproof Manufacturing unit Racing, and Canyon Collective FMD all rocked up on Aonach Mòr to get some invaluable time on the observe that can crown the 2023 Downhill World Champions.
Gamux Manufacturing unit Racing Staff riders, Lino Lehmann and Mike Huter, got here geared up with an up to date prototype from the Swiss producer, a prototype that stood out within the crowd not simply due to the belt-driven Pinion gearbox it was sporting. Because of its building, the CNC-machined body has a relatively distinctive aesthetic about it, notably on the swingarm.
The stealth body, uncommon alternative of drivetrain and fantastically machined hyperlinks and loafer pulley had us rocking up on the Gamux Manufacturing unit Racing pits to study extra concerning the bike from Mechanic and Sporting Director, Romeo Cairoli. Sadly, detailed photographs weren’t but allowed.
Gamux Sego Belt-Pushed Gearbox Downhill Bike
The Gamux prototype in query is known as the Sego, an Outdated Celtic phrase that means “to win” or “profitable”. With intentions clearly set out, Junior rider Mike Huter did his utmost to realize that aim, sending it into P2 on Sunday with a time of 4:42.523. That’s a means off Henri Kiefer’s profitable time of 4:36.476, however nonetheless very admirable within the context of this being Mike’s first race down the notorious pinball-like rock gardens of Fort William.
The Sego piloted by Mike and Lino final weekend is an extra growth on the bike that was raced by the crew final season; it’s stated to have the identical geometry and kinematic, however some huge adjustments within the manufacturing course of, and the linkage design, are stated to have elevated its bike’s general stiffness significantly.
The bike has undergone one thing of an overhaul since final season. It’s nonetheless a linkage-driven single pivot, with a structure not vastly dissimilar to that seen on the Nukeproof Dissent, however the swingarm has a wildly totally different building that includes triangulated struts, presumably to ship excessive power and stiffness properties whereas additionally serving to to maintain weight affordable. The brand new swingarm design was essential to accomodate the belt drive.
By the way, Specialised’s prototype DH bike additionally noticed final weekend sees an identical triangulated structure on its chainstay.
Gamux DH Prototype Kinematic
Gamux stay tight-lipped on key particulars across the body’s geometry and building however Founder, Romeo, and Body Designer, Pascal Tinner, have been joyful to reply a few of our questions across the kinematic.
Tinner informs us the kinematic is comparatively unchanged since final yr’s iteration of the Sego. The leverage curve of the its 200mm rear wheel journey sees an general development of round 27%. On this prototype, the entrance shock mount is interchangeable to permit riders to seek out the appropriate degree of development within the linkage, however this facet is prone to be fastened on the manufacturing body.
The rear axle tracks a rearward path for about 100mm, earlier than arcing ahead once more to the complete 200mm. At bottom-out, there isn’t a web change in efficient rear-center size. Thus, Gamux contemplate the linkage to be of the mid-high pivot taste.
On this prototype, Gamux are nonetheless experimenting with totally different loafer pulley configurations, however on the bike you see right here, anti-squat is alleged to be across the 100% mark at sag, whereas anti-rise values are described as “fairly” at sag.
Belt-Pushed DH Bikes at the moment are UCI-Permitted
Clearly, a serious change for this season is the swap from a gearbox with a series drive, to a gearbox with a belt drive. Wording of the UCI laws on this matter was up to date on the first January 2023; downhill mountain bikes can now be both chain-driven or belt-driven. Earlier than this date, the UCI permitted solely chain-driven mountain bikes to compete in downhill.
Romeo tells us the Gates belt-driven choice was all the time the model’s most well-liked choice, ever since they first partnered with gearbox producer, Pinion. The prototype raced at Fort William runs the Pinion C1.6 Gearbox, with 6 gears delivering a 295% gear vary. The gearbox might be configured with a grip- or paddle-shifter; Gamux has unsurprisingly opted for the latter on this DH bike.
At this stage within the bike’s growth, Gamux continues to be capable of swap out the swingarm dropouts to permit the riders to decide on between a 27.5″ or 29″ rear wheel; for Fort William, each Lino Lehmann and Mike Huter opted for the complete 29″ arrange.
When are you able to order one?
We’re instructed the Gamux Sego is due for manufacturing on the finish of this season. Two sizes are set to be accessible, certainly one of which is able to boast a attain of 485mm. That received’t be fastened, nonetheless; the Sego will run a 56mm headtube to permit to be used of reach-adjust headsets.
When it comes to improvements, the Gamux Sego is without doubt one of the most fascinating downhill bikes beneath growth proper now. We;ll be protecting an eye fixed out for any additional evolution of the bike this season, and protecting readers up to date all through.
