{"id":65524,"date":"2024-06-06T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-06T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/7f708c5c-1413-4afd-8eb6-433abfcc9583"},"modified":"2024-06-06T16:25:23","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T14:25:23","slug":"taylor-vernons-zerode-g3-brings-the-gearbox-back-to-downhill-racing","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/taylor-vernons-zerode-g3-brings-the-gearbox-back-to-downhill-racing\/","title":{"rendered":"Taylor Vernon\u2019s Zerode G3 brings the gearbox back to downhill racing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">We take a closer look at Vernon&#8217;s futuristic Zerode G3 <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Thursday, 06 June 2024 at 14:00 PM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"He RACES An Electronic Gearbox!? | Taylor\u2019s Zerode G3 DH Bike\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y5D2hSrf9Js?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><p>Taylor Vernon\u2019s Zerode G3 downhill bike has been turning heads at the UCI World Cup this year and we caught up with the Brit and his machine at the opening round at Fort William.<\/p><p>Vernon\u2019s Zerode is one of the most innovative bikes in its field, with a gearbox connecting to the rear hub via a Gates Carbon belt.<\/p><p>This has led to claims that it&#8217;s the quietest bike on the circuit, with chain slap and gear changes almost silent.<\/p><p>Let\u2019s take a closer look at Vernon\u2019s Zerode G3.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-gnarly-gearbox\">Gnarly gearbox<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This is Taylor Vernon\u2019s first season on the Zerode G3. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>With a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/news\/pinion-e-drive-gearbox\">Pinion Smart.Shift<\/a> gearbox at the centre of the bike, the Zerode G3 is certainly a break from convention.\u00a0<\/p><p>While this is new technology, it\u2019s not the first time we\u2019ve seen gearboxes used in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/fitness-and-training\/downhill-mountain-biking-explained\">downhill racing<\/a>, with the iconic and somewhat mythical Honda RN-01 G-Cross proving the concept back in 2004 under Greg Minnaar.<\/p><p>That bike was kept under tight wraps and all existing stock was supposedly melted down after the season to prevent the technology being shared.<\/p><p>We now know the system was essentially a traditional derailleur being used within the confines of the front triangle.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/O5A9893.jpg\" alt=\"Taylor Vernon\u2019s Zerode G3 with Pinion Smart Shift gearbox at Fort William 2024\" class=\"wp-image-866646\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gearbox systems are more common on trekking and urban bikes. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Pinion\u2019s Smart.Shift gearbox employs a different design that&#8217;s more akin to the gearbox found in your car.<\/p><p>Spur gearing is used with two sub-units that are connected in sequence, meaning the individual gear ratios are derived by matching the two sub-units with various cog pairings.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/O5A9907.jpg\" alt=\"Taylor Vernon\u2019s Zerode G3 with Pinion Smart Shift gearbox at Fort William 2024\" class=\"wp-image-866655\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">While electronic, the system is not wireless. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>This iteration of the gearbox is electronic, meaning shifts are faster than on previous generations.<\/p><p>Vernon says this enables him to change gear before entering a feature without needing to pedal, meaning he\u2019s always in his preferred gear.<\/p><p>The system also moves weight to the bottom bracket area, giving the bike a lower centre of gravity and reducing unsprung mass by removing the cassette from the rear wheel.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/O5A9903.jpg\" alt=\"Taylor Vernon\u2019s Zerode G3 with Pinion Smart Shift gearbox at Fort William 2024\" class=\"wp-image-866652\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many riders add weight to the bottom bracket area of their bike for better handling characteristics. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>This should make the bike better in the corners and faster to accelerate, although gearboxes tend to add resistance to pedal inputs \u2013 less of a problem on a downhill track.<\/p><p>A Gates Carbon belt is used instead of a chain, silencing the bike when going through rough terrain.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/O5A9904.jpg\" alt=\"Taylor Vernon\u2019s Zerode G3 with Pinion Smart Shift gearbox at Fort William 2024\" class=\"wp-image-866653\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The system decreases unsprung mass. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Belt drives also last longer than traditional chain drives, and thanks to the interlocking interface between the belt and belt rings, there&#8217;s a reduced chance of dropping the belt.<\/p><p>Zerode has been able to incorporate this while retaining its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/what-is-a-high-pivot-mountain-bike\">high-pivot suspension<\/a> design, which gives the rear suspension a rearward axle path. This should help the bike absorb impacts without losing too much momentum.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/O5A9895-1.jpg\" alt=\"Taylor Vernon\u2019s Zerode G3 with Pinion Smart Shift gearbox at Fort William 2024\" class=\"wp-image-866647\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fox&#8217;s Factory 40 fork has been given the Midas touch for the brand&#8217;s 50th anniversary. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Vernon has specced his bike with a 200mm Fox 50th-Anniversary Factory 40 fork on the front and a Float X2 controlling the rear linkage.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/O5A9896.jpg\" alt=\"Taylor Vernon\u2019s Zerode G3 with Pinion Smart Shift gearbox at Fort William 2024\" class=\"wp-image-866648\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">We&#8217;ve seen many unsupported riders using these purple-painted stoppers. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>He has also chosen to run <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/components\/brakes\/disc-brake-systems\/hayes-dominion-a4-brakes-review\">Hayes A4 Dominion<\/a> brakes, an increasingly popular choice for riders of downhill and enduro disciplines.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/O5A9902.jpg\" alt=\"Taylor Vernon\u2019s Zerode G3 with Pinion Smart Shift gearbox at Fort William 2024\" class=\"wp-image-866651\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Burgtec focuses on downhill and enduro components. &#8211; Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>A Burgtec cockpit is used with a Ride Wide DH bar atop a Title stem.<\/p><p>The bike rolls on a mullet setup, with a 27.5in wheel on the rear and a 29in at the front.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/maxxis-mountain-bike-tyres-guide\">Maxxis tyres<\/a> find traction, with Vernon running the DHR II on both the front and rear of his bike for Fort William.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We take a closer look at Vernon&#8217;s futuristic Zerode G3 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":65525,"template":"","categories":[1,36],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/06\/taylor-vernons-zerode-g3-brings-the-gearbox-back-to-downhill-racing.jpg",1600,1067,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/06\/taylor-vernons-zerode-g3-brings-the-gearbox-back-to-downhill-racing-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/06\/taylor-vernons-zerode-g3-brings-the-gearbox-back-to-downhill-racing-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/06\/taylor-vernons-zerode-g3-brings-the-gearbox-back-to-downhill-racing-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/06\/taylor-vernons-zerode-g3-brings-the-gearbox-back-to-downhill-racing-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/06\/taylor-vernons-zerode-g3-brings-the-gearbox-back-to-downhill-racing-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/06\/taylor-vernons-zerode-g3-brings-the-gearbox-back-to-downhill-racing.jpg",1600,1067,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We take a closer look at Vernon's futuristic Zerode G3","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/65524"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}