Felt downhill bike

Described in a Cycling Plus magazine as a pioneer of downhill hill biking, Felt’s item manager Scott Sharples agrees.

“I most likely ended up being. When I started operating downhill it absolutely was following I did the ‘Uphill Race’. You rode within the mountain and then you had to decrease the mountain, so that they might as well time you. Sometimes we would cheat and put our seats down.”

These standard beginnings had been one of several beginnings of sanctioned downhill racing.

Like numerous bikers of their generation, Scott began his rushing career in BMX. From there he transitioned to BMX freestyle. Scott graduated to rushing mountain bikes and ended up being one of the first Australians to race mountain bikes regarding the worldwide scene.

At a young age Scott has become a tinkerer, which can be well suited for this place at Felt due to the fact Mountain bicycle item Manager. “I think my very first mountain cycle ended up being whenever I ended up being 13. I experienced a road bike I always check-out school on. We took some pipe and made (straight) handlebars from the jawhorse because I Was Thinking this is how handlebars should feel like.”

While Scott is well known primarily for their downhill rushing abilities, he originally ended up being a cross-country racer. As a professional racer, Scott’s resume includes two Australian national titles.

Once his professional biking job ended Scott transitioned into coaching. He coached the Australian nationwide downhill team plus 1996 ended up being named Australian mentor of the season. Scott was also the Australian national advisor for the 2008 Beijing Olympics BMX group, and training most of the legendary bikers for the recreation, including former downhill globe champion Sam Hill.

Whenever asked just what recommendations he’d give a hill biker, he was certain to point out the basic principles.

“You’ve reached have the principles of cornering and absorbing the landscapes mastered and top fitness is at the pointy end for the battle industry, ” said Scott. “However you also need to focus on areas to boost your confidence. In addition should work with power, agility, and challenge your self. You can view the world’s most readily useful on a tricky little bit of this course and additionally they too can look amateurish in the first place. However, they're not going to keep challenging until it’s mastered.”

While Scott nonetheless dabbles in mentoring, he joined the bike business as somebody with the dust qualifications to enhance a mountain bicycle line. After working for a number of cycle businesses the Perth native joined Felt during the early 2013 as the Mountain Bike item management.

“i-come up with an item range for numerous hill cycle groups. I spec the bicycles and work out certain we’re producing best bike feasible.”

Section of that's having his ear into the ground along with realizing what's new and essential in this constantly developing sport.

While Scott is not racing any longer he nonetheless likes to ride hard on their mountain bike whenever given the possibility.

Currently Scott is visible in neighborhood trails on a Compulsion with 160mm of front and rear travel, kitted on with whatever requires examination.

“If I’m operating with some one I would like to get fast, however to race all of them. Going quickly is much more about challenging myself, and establishing a drift, first and foremost.” stated Scott. “That’s the reason we ride – it is enjoyable plus it seems good. Mountain cycling is feeling based, it’s about phrase, it's about residing life.”