098 - A technical look at Norco's mountain bike design approach. (Guests: Norco R&D Engineers - Colin Ryan & Kirk McDowall)

Mountain Cog

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In this episode of The MCP, hosts Josh and Dane dive deep into the science of mountain bike suspension with Norco development engineers Colin Ryan and Kirk McDowall. The conversation explores Norco's different suspension platforms with detailed explanations of axle path, anti-squat, and anti-rise properties. The engineers reveal how these technical elements directly impact riding performance, particularly in technical terrain with square-edge hits and rock gardens.

The discussion also highlights Norco's innovative RideAlign bike setup system, which uses rider metrics to provide personalized suspension, cockpit, and tire pressure recommendations. Kirk and Colin share insights from their development process, including how they balance data acquisition with rider perception, World Cup racing feedback, and mule testing.

The episode concludes with teasers about upcoming Norco releases, including continued development of their downhill race bike (note that Kirk is a 2 time Downhill Canadian National Champion and accomplished Downhill World Cup racer) and hints about a new shorter travel bike that will complement their expanding acoustic and pedal assist mountain bike lineup.

Norco Bikes: https://www.norco.com/

Norco's Ride Align Bike Setup Tool: https://www.ridealigned.com/

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Chapters

1. Cactus Encounters and Plant Ambushes (00:00:00)

2. Meeting Norco's Engineering Team (00:01:12)

3. Understanding High Pivot Suspension Design (00:04:32)

4. Anti-Squat and Pedaling Efficiency (00:09:40)

5. Anti-Rise and Brake Dynamics (00:18:48)

6. Ride Aligned Setup System Explained (00:28:07)

7. Future Projects and Team Updates (00:41:01)

8. Final Thoughts and Riding Invitations (00:59:35)