Interview with Elias Schwärzler: Guinness speed record on the Scott Gambler
Laurin Lehner
· 05.12.2022
FREERIDE: To build up your Scott Gambler - What is series, what is custom?
Elias Schwärzler: This is a standard frame, as you can buy it in the shop. I'm small, I ride a size M. Instead of 29-inch wheels, I put 650B wheels on the bike. That makes the bike more manoeuvrable. I'm also only 1.70 metres tall. I ride Marzocchi suspension. At the front, I rely on saddle, grips and handlebars from my sponsor SQlab. Overall, my bike with pedals weighs 15.6 kilos. That makes it lighter than some enduro bikes.
Do you have any particular preferences for the cockpit?
For me, wide 800 mm handlebars are nothing. Because what few people know: You should make the handlebar width dependent on your shoulder width. My shoulders are rather narrow (unfortunately!), so I shortened my handlebars to 770 millimetres. I get on better with that. The handlebars have seven per cent backsweep and 25 millimetres rise. I have found that the backsweep in particular helps enormously against arm pump. I use the smallest diameter grips available - because I have small hands. The pressure point on my brakes has to be fast and hard.
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When adjusting your suspension - do you go by feel or by plan?
By feel. I'm not a fan of lots of adjustment options. That's why I celebrate my Marzocchi suspension. I've got rebound and compression - that's it! The rest of the stuff might be needed by the worldcuppers, but not me. I can't say it often enough: as a non-racer, you don't need all this wheel madness. I change the shock spring relatively often. For big jumps I use a really hard spring: 650 -700. A softer one for downhill riding. I run the rebound stage conspicuously slowly, especially at the rear. Many people are surprised by this, but it suits me. I adjust the fork rather quickly.
Many freeriders swear by flat pedals. I ride clickies. They keep your feet firmly on the ground, even in the rumble of roots. So cool!
Have there been any speed record modifications to your bike?
My record bike is in my house and is only there to look at. It's also a Scott Gambler, but with a number of modifications. To achieve the record of 272 km/hI unscrewed the gearstick. Finally, I had the record towed by a racing motorbike. I also put a single crown fork in the head tube and fitted cross-country tyres. As a result, the bike weighed just 13.2 kilos.
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Do you prefer to wrench on the bikes yourself or do you have them wrenched?
I worked in a bike shop for quite a while and therefore have the skills to repair the bare essentials on my bike. Fortunately, I enjoy the privilege of being able to take my bike to the bike shop for a service every now and then. I'm always happy when I pick it up again. Because afterwards it rides like new - great!
Does the MTB nation share a preference for cleaning or dirt?
The bike doesn't have to be picobello, but you won't find dirt-encrusted bikes in my bike cellar. I've learnt my lesson. If you don't do the basics after a park ride, you'll soon get your revenge. So I at least hose down my bike and oil the chain.
Tubeless or inner tube?
Everyone raves about tubeless tyres, but I don't care. I like tubes in my tyres. No re-inflating, no changing milk, no mess. I rarely get flat tyres anyway. So I can burp into the bend without having to worry about air escaping. I usually run 1.6 bar at the front and 1.7 bar at the rear. On big jumps I pump up to 2.5 bar. My bike has carbon wheels from E*Thirteen, which I like because they are not quite as stiff as other carbon rims.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
