Imbbus

Lapierre v Kanadi

21. julij 2009

 

First I sat and chatted with Nico Voullioz as to his input to the design. It was great to hear how a top racer explains geometry and design in a rider's perspective. Simply put, after hours of extensive testing and development, Nico and Lapierre using the patented FPS2 suspension platform, created a downhill race bike that will hold stable at very high speeds and not lose momentum in the corners. The engineers set up the DH920's suspension for me. I went up to the Mt. Pleney DH course for a couple laps with Nico and I did several more after.

Zgornji tekst je zapisal gospod Clayton Racicot, človek z bogatimi gorskokolesarskimi izkušnjami. Piše za portal Pink Bike in tokrat je ocenjeval 2010 kolesa Lapierre. LP-jevi se bodo namreč pojavili na sila občutljivem teritoriju, v Kanadi. Če kje, potem material izdatno trpi v zibelki all mountain-a in freeride-a.

Predno se je s francoskim spustašem DH-920 spustil po terenu, je skupaj z Nicom predelal teoretični del vodilne znamke iz Francije (Nico Voullioz je 10-kratni svetovni prvak v spustu in v današnjih časih je težko verjeti, da bo še kakemu smrtniku uspelo ponoviti E.T.-jev dosežek. Tudi zato nadimek filmskega vesoljčka, ki predstavlja motor Lapierrjevega razvoja).

Clayton je spustaša iz štale znamke Lapierre ocenil takole:

I was impressed how fast the bike actually was and how smooth it rode. I did multiple sprints pedaling out of the saddle and the bike transferred my energy straight to the rear wheel. With a wheel base of 45.5 inches the bike was definitely stable in the high speed straights even with the deep braking bumps, I had no issues changing lines or moving the bike around on the course to set up for corners or the booter jumps.

Claytona je podobno kot spustaš DH-920 navdušil Froggy 718. Po njegovem mnenju si odlično oceno zasluži tudi Spicy 516 in njegovim očem ni ušla niti serija Zesty. Le pri XC-jih je bil rahlo nesamozavesten. Ni znal skriti, da prihaja iz gravitacijsko naravnane dežele in v zvezi s cross-countrijaši je zapisal samo sledeče (XC videozapis novinarja z naše strani Atlantika si je mogoče ogledati na tem mestu):

Lapierre's full suspension XC series using the patented FPS2 X-Control linkage system has two options that are available in both carbon or alloy, the 100mm which is the Race series with 3 different models to choose and 120mm which is the Marathon series with 6 models to choose from. Lapierre also has a complete XC hardtail series too.

Kakorkoli, v tej zgodbi je ogromno samozavest pokazal Lapierre. Na kanadskih trailih se evropske hiše namreč težko prijemljejo. Transport in carina evropejcem dvigujeta ceno, zato je njihova aktualnost za odtenek nižja od koles, ki pripadajo domačemu trgu.

Bo Francozom uspelo?