Looks similar to the floating pivot point system on the Giant, even has a similar 'Glory Hole'.
2 different bolt on replacable lower shock mounts to change bottom bracket height and head angle.
Prototype Formula brakes.
08 Fox 40's with new internal cartridge.
5 speed cluster.
XTR cranks with custom 83mm bottom bracket shell with 163mm arms only made for Nico
Mavic 819 XC front rim
Mavic DeeTraxs rear rim
Michelin tubless tyres.
Fox DHX 5 prototype rear shock.

Check out the photos below.

Looks hot, lets see what Nico can still do!

mob: Sweeet! The 5sp setup, is that to save weight?

Interesting!

the Bog standard one is here http://www.cycles-lapierre.fr/lapierre/ ... ons/DH-230

Good to see the specific customisations that someone like Nico does to his race rig.

Is that the ex world champ Nico Vouilloz(?) or a new Nico?

One and the same..

phunk wrote: mob: Sweeet! The 5sp setup, is that to save weight?

A little bit, a mate did that on his glory last year. You don't need the top few cogs alot of the time. I've been thinking about doing it too when I get a new drivetrain

mob: Rather than just running a roadie cluster?

Long(ish) chainstay, 65 headangle, good bb-height for the amount of travel (230mm).
I wonder how the suspension was designed - it looks like it'll have more rearward wheel movement than most 4-bars.
Dammit - I wish I could see how long that lower link is (and what angle).

Good luck to Nico.

Holy crap - after sag his head angle is about 63 degrees with an 8" fork.
bb is ~300-305mm after sag.

I've found the axle path goes from an S curve (vpp-style) to a very different one just by lengthening that lower link.
Dammit - now I need to search for better images to see that damn lower link.

http://www.cycles-lapierre.fr/lapierre/ ... pp2_worker

ah crap - bb height i put in was a bit too high - which means that his bb is even lower after sag!
That bike is off the hook.

I saw that geom pic and didn't even look at it properly...cheers

[edit] and now that I look at it properly are you guys sure it's a VPP? It seems that it's a single pivot (i.e. that isn't a link at the bottom) that lines up just above the chainring to help with pedalling.

phunk wrote: mob: Rather than just running a roadie cluster?

Lots of in-between gears you don't need.

I ran six speed on my slammer a long time back, was quite cool because I could tweak the chainline even further to run with the chainguide and I wasn't thinking about shifts as much.

Wobbler wrote: It's a link at the bottom.

Ah yeah I see now.
Awesome - check out the manual, it shows that all the FPS2 bikes have a sticker and marker on the swingarm which tells you how much sag you're getting. Fucking awesome.
Also they refer to correct sag as "Nico's sag"

And Nico runs really fast rebound (although running spds helps)