FLATLINE PRO Dissected

It all started after a mid-summer’s ride last year, when a few of my fellow nsmb team members and I had just finished an epic shred one of the North Shore’s oldest, and in my opinion, gnarliest trails with local legend and ultra nice guy Wade Simmons. That’s when the god father of Freeride himself (Wade’s alias) first asked about the program that I was on. Fast forward to 2009 and low and behold, I’m on a Rocky Mountain FLATLINE, as well as a Slayer SS and I am super STOKED about it! Since I’m dropping names, I have to give a shout-out to another North Shore legend and solid dude all around, Andreas Hestler. Both of these guys pushed for me to get on the Rocky program…you guys rule.

Now that I am abusing the local mountains with my new FLATLINE PRO, I thought I should put together an exposé if you will, of my new ride and how I built her up. So buckle in, take a deep breath, and don’t worry, because this article was screened for the H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu).

The 2009 FLATLINE PRO in all her beauty, built up with a little help from Fox, Syncros, Avid, Race Face, Sram, and Maxxis. Photo: Eamonn Duignan

THE FRAME

The FLATLINE offers a fairly slack ride with a head angle of 64.6” and a seat angle at 69.2” (for a medium anyways), which makes this bike feel very stable at speed and on gnarly terrain. The FLATLINE also has a generous stand over height of 29”, with a fairly long wheelbase of 47”, and a 23” (John Holmes eat your heart out) top tube. Another very cool and obvious feature of the FLATLINE is its distinctly “kinked down tube.” The kinked down tube and the linkage design place the shock absorber in a low and center position in the frame, which not only looks bad-ass, but makes it easier to rotate the bike in any direction. In a nut shell, all of these angles, lengths and fancy tubing equates to a ride that tears it up when pointed downhill.

Exploratory shredding on the North Shore with my new FLATLINE. Photo: Jerry Willows

SUSPENSION DESIGN
The FLATLINE utilizes what Rocky calls the LC2R (Low Centre Counter Rotating) suspension design, which as stated on Rocky’s website, ensures “… a laterally stiff design that offers a highly predictable ride in all conditions.” As certain as pork prices are dropping (due to a certain virus), this frame is as stiff as anyone who took a little blue pill just moments before.

According the techs at Rocky the FLATLINE’S kinked down tube along with its counter rotating link permits for a low and center positioning of the shock absorber in the frame, which allows the bike to rotate in any direction faster, while looking uber stylish at the same time. Photo: Jerry Willows

The FLATLINE essentially utilizes a single pivot suspension design, with the main pivot located just behind and above the bottom bracket. This combined with the FLATLINES near to the ground and concentrated suspension mass gives the bike a low center of gravity, which in addition to the FLATLINES already slack angles makes the bike very stable when screaming down the mountain side. And that is a good thing.

The linkage. As stated on Rocky’s site, the FLATLINES counter rotating top link creates a more laterally stiff swing-arm for increased control in tight corners, while its tug-links increase suspension sensitivity to small bumps, which I’m guessing is why this bike feels so smooth when shredding. Photo: Jerry Willows

SUSPENSION
On my rear Fox DHX 5.0 shox, I am using a 325 pound spring, which is a considerably low spring weight when compared to other bikes of this calibre. However, this is due to the FLATLINES linkage and LC2R suspension design, which utilizes a more linear rising rate. Basically, you can run a softer spring, because your linkage rate is more linear than most DH rig’s. Kind of a cool idea in theory, and in practice it feels so good. As for the way I run my rear DHX, I usually have my ProPedal fairly open when charging, probably 8 or 9 licks out of a possible 15, and fully closed when climbing. I find this feature crucial when faced with those nasty climbs. I also run my bottom-out compression 3 turns in, for a more progressive rate at all times. In addition, I run about 125 psi in my air reservoir, and I typically set my rebound faster than slower. Of course this constantly changes depending on the terrain.

The rear squish. Fox has this ride dialled thanks to its DHX 5.0. Photo: Jerry Willows

The Fox 40 RC2…what I can say about this fork? The 40 RC2 is the bomb and thanks to James at SuspensionWerx, she always feels great. As far as tuning goes, I generally run my low-speed compression a little firmer, my high speed compression a little softer, my rebound a little faster and my preload somewhere in the moderate spectrum. Are those descriptions vague enough for ya?

To sum up the Fox 40 RC2’s in a few words: light, stiff and plush. Photo: Jerry Willows

COCKPIT
A nice big cockpit is what I had in mind when building up my FLATLINE. I accomplished this by using the Syncros FR 31 wide bars. Not only do these bars look sweet with the grunge graphics, but they are also perfect for anyone looking for more leverage and control. I cut my bars down to about 29” which is plenty wide for me, and with a relatively minor rise of 20mm and a sweep of 9 degrees these bars set you up nice and low. To maximize strength and stiffness, and to keep my control center nice and tight, I am using a Syncros FR 50mm stem, with an 8 degree rise. In aids of getting front end even lower, I am running a Syncros FBI headset, which is designed to convert the inner diameter of my 1.5 head tube to a 1 1/8”, so I can run my Fox 40’s while reducing the stack height to a minor 4.5mm. As for grips I am running the Syncros 4 bolt lock-ons. I find these grips provide a great feel and add to the overall control of my ride, when combined with my FR 31 Bars, and the FR Stem.

The control center. A full Syncros suite, including: FR 31 wide bars, FR stem, FBI headset, Lock-on grips, AM saddle, and FR seat post. Check out the grunge graphics on my Syncros FR 31 wide bars, so rad. Photo: Eamonn Duignan

Last, but not least, is my sweet and stylish looking Syncros AM Saddle. I generally like to have my saddle positioned with the nose pointed slightly up, which helps with control as well as allowing me to easily move back on my bike when I need to.

BRAKES

This will be my second season of running the Avid Codes with 8” rotors, and I have to say these brakes are the most powerful and responsive I have every used. I know that is somewhat of a blanket statement, but these brakes have stood the test of time and more than demanding and abusive conditions. I like to have my brakes set-up about an inch and a bit away from the inner edge of my grips. I find that this position sets me up perfect for one finger breaking. The best part about the Codes in my opinion is that they are extremely adjustable, ultra powerful, and when they just don’t feel right anymore, they’re super easy to bleed.

WHEELS
If you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s all about the colour white for my FLATLINE, and my wheels are no exception. For my machine, I have opted for the ultra bomber Syncros FR 32 rim for the rear, with a 150-12mm thru-axle FR rear hub. And for my front wheel I went with the slightly slimmer and lighter Syncros AM DS28 rim, and the FR front hub. These wheels are indestructible, very sexy, and completely white.

DRIVE TERRAIN
The nsmb team got a stellar hook-up from Race Face this year, and we were lucky enough to get a pile of Atlas FR cranks and bash guards. These cranks are stiff as they are light, in fact, according to the Race Face website, the “… Atlas FR cranks weigh 40g less than Shimano Saint, while maintaining equal strength and stiffness.” Impressive facts no doubt, but I truly think the most impressive thing about these cranks is that they are manufactured locally in British Columbia, Canada. I am running a single 36 tooth chain ring for my set-up, which I find optimal for the Shore as well as for Whistler.

Light and stiff…Race Face Atlas FR Cranks in two words. Photo: Eamonn Duignan

For pedals I am running the Syncros Meathooks. These pedals are super durable – they can take a beating, and only weigh in at 490 grams. But be careful, if you don’t run shin pads and if your feet happen to slip, well, let’s just say there is a reason why they call these pedals the ‘Meathook.’

Thanks to Sram components my FLATLINE is pimped. I am running a Sram X.O rear derailleur (short cage of course), and a X.O rear trigger shifter that both feature a 1:1 actuation ratio, which guarantees crisp shifting every time. I am also running a Sram 9-speed power-chain, and Sram 9-speed power-glide II steel with red anodized alloy spider cassette, with a gear ratio of 11-34. I find this ratio ideal for the Shore, where you have no choice but to climb out after those gnarly descents.

One hundred and ninety two grams of goodness. Titanium spring, sealed bearings, outside facing limit screws, 1:1 actuation ratio, and direct route technology, may I introduce the Sram X.O rear derailleur. Photo: Eamonn Duignan

TIRES
Fox suspension, Syncros parts, Avid brakes, Race Face cranks, Sram components; how could this bike get any sicker? Well simply, in just one word, Maxxis. I chose Maxxis’s top DH rubber the Minion DHF 2.5’s- 3C Triple Compound Technology in a wire bead. I am actually running two fronts on my rig, and I also find that these tires perform better with higher air pressure. Snipe cornering and increased straight line control are what you should expect when you run these tires. The Minions rule for sure.

Since these tires were designed for the loose and muddy conditions of the NORBA downhill series I thought they would handle their own on the Shore, and trust me they do! Photo: Jerry Willows

EXTRO
If you were wondering, my FLATLINE weights in at about 44 pounds, which is not bad for an 8.7” travel bike. There you have it. My FLATLINE PRO dissected. She’s low, long and fast. Built up with pretty much the sickest gear around, and she’s all mine. As the saying goes, don’t hate the playa, hate the game. Thanks again to everyone at Rocky that made this happen. You guys are the cat’s ass!

Pre ride bike inspection. Photo: Jerry Willows

What do you think about Eamonn’s new ride?  He’s been charging hard on it with a big smile on his face.  Let us know here…