A look into the future

Dangerholm's latest work is once again a blend of artwork and innovation. The charm of Italian racing stables, paired with the striking ‘Rosso Corsa’ colour. Plus the clustered expertise in integration from Synchros, SCOTT and TRUMPF, as well as Dangerholms own Know How from the last years, created this devilish red highlight. But let's take a look at the details one by one.

A lot has happened in recent years, especially in the MTB sector, which has had a huge impact on the riding experience and performance. Dropper posts, 1x drivetrains, new wheel sizes or geometries, electronic shifting and suspension - all of these areas have significantly changed the range of use of today's MTBs compared to their counterparts 10-15 years ago. The Visione now presented gives us a glimpse into a possible, even more ‘integrated’ future.

Bike Presentation

A Spark RC acts as the basis for this structure, which finally has an official ‘flight assistant’ inside. In addition to the hidden damping, the Spark is also a perfect platform for integration in other respects - including internal cable management, of course.

This time it was exciting for Dangerholm at the point where the ‘challenges’ arise: the steering centre. SRAM and Rock Shox played right into his hands. The electronic shifting and now also the Flight Attendant System imply, that many previously required cables become no longer necessary. What remained were the brake hoses, which now had to be sensibly integrated. The futuristic concept handlebars went through several development phases. Dangerholm's original idea was a semi-integrated solution, in which he did not route the brake hoses through the bar, but rather through channels on the underside, which were hidden or covered by flaps. The developers around Maxime Lallemand (Syncros Components Engineer) and Quentin Beauregard (SCOTT MTB Lead Designer) took this idea and refined it further. They dispensed with the covers and developed a cable channel, in which the brake hoses can snap in at defined points and thus be held securely. Quick and easy removal is still possible, whether for maintenance reasons or for an upcoming flight.

It would have been possible to use the Pod Controller for the rear derailleur, seat post and suspension without any problems. However, Dangerholm is so convinced by the Zirbel Twisters and their minimalistic design, that he wanted the necessary controller unit to be integrated into the handlebars. Unfortunately the blipbox usually used for this is quite large and would not be easy to integrate into the handlebars. The Syncros/SCOTT team found a solution for this too, taking the blipbox circuit board and placing it on a specially manufactured frame, that easily can be pushed into the handlebars. The battery can be changed in no time at all by pulling out the element again. The battery usually lasts about a year.

The concept of the stem/handlebar unit could have been realised in a more elaborate way, e.g. in carbon production. But the expertise of the German company TRUMPF offered an even better solution. TRUMPF is a leading company for machine tools, laser technology and electronics in the industrial sector. They are specialized in machines, that print metal in 3D, so they had exactly what it took to produce the handlebar for Dangerholms project. Always under the premise that, the handlebar must be rideable, while beeing a design study, TRUMPF used a high-strength 6061 aluminium alloy for it. The finished products were also already sent out for ISO testing and certification.

Shifting is done with an XX SL transmission - in addition to the unrivalled durability and longevity of the components, you get perfect shifting even under load. Refinement is achieved with products from Ceramicspeed. In addition to the rear derailleur cage, the bottom bracket from the same company also finds its way to the Spark and ensures the best possible efficiency.

In the crankset from 5DEV, the crank arm halves are made from titanium before being welded together and finished once again. The result is lightweight and still stable.

The brakes are fitted with Piccola Carbon, where Dangerholm has dedicated itself to the original carbon brake levers and replaced them with prototypes made from 3D-printed titanium levers. The specialists from TRUMPF also had their fingers in the pie again here, producing a design that delivers outstanding grip, as well as top ergonomics.

Did someone mentioned titanium? Meti is of course also involved and supplies not only the brake calliper bolts, but also the thru-axles in this impressive material. While the rear thru-axle is the regular Meti version, the front wheel uses a specially manufactured, particularly lightweight version. Added are the fine and extremely lightweight bottle cages from Geek Components. These are made out of printed titanium and Dangerholm's favorite alternative to his beloved Tailor Cages from Syncros.

The bike is equipped with a Bike Ahead Composites saddle, so it`s also enjoyable on long rides. In addition to the low weight of just 70g, Dangerholm is impressed by the super-flexible saddle shell and the rounded edges. The overall result is a surprisingly comfortable saddle with a great minimalistic look.

For the wheels, Dangerholm opted for ZIPP 1ZERO HiTop SW. The 1ZERO wheels offer an excellent combination of durability and riding comfort, which is something you don't need to hide on a 130mm trail bike. The TyreWiz sensors help to quickly locate any leaks or to easily check the tyre pressure before setting off.

SCOTT Spark RC Visione