Are Pro MTB Race Bikes THAT Different from Stock? We Asked a Team Manager

Ryan Gaul is the Trek Factory Racing DH team manager and technical director. He’s been at Trek for about 10 years and is based in Madison, WI.

• How close to stock do DH and enduro riders run their bikes?
• Which aspects of a bike are modified to suit track conditions, and what stays the same for every race?
• Do World Cup racers take many risks when it comes to equipment, or are they pretty conservative?
• Is it common to run test parts, or prototypes in races?
• Is it difficult to convince athletes to try new components on their bikes?
• What type of race information is useful for product designers at the brand? How do you collect and communicate that information?
• How many spare parts/bikes do you bring to a World Cup race for each athlete?
• Are most athletes pretty involved in working on their own bikes?
• What’s the most stressful part of a World Cup weekend for you?

Keep up with the Trek Factory Racing team at racing.trekbikes.com.

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