Author Archives: Justin Fox

Last week I saw a ‘Wanted To Buy’ listing on Facebook Marketplace for an Iron Horse Sunday. The listing used a photo of the incredible build by Austrian downhill racer and machinist, Julian Neubauer.

I thought to myself, yeah right! Good luck with that mate! But I noticed that someone had replied to his listing with some photos of a Sunday frame with the iconic Sam Hill 2008 Val Di Sole World Championship Edition livery.

Julian Neubauer’s Sam Hill replica Sunday rebuilt with modern geometry. Full feature here.

The guy who posted the photos of the frame commented “how much are you willing to pay?”. I direct messaged him right away and he let me know that the guy who posted the WTB listing had already contacted him and was mega keen on it, but that he would keep me updated if the sale fell through.

I nudged him a little over the next few days, and it was looking like the sale was wrapped up as he was getting a shipping quote. Fair call I figured as I wasn’t the one who put up the WTB post.

Fast forward to this week I got a message from Robert to say the sale fell through and the frame, forks, shock and wheels were mine if I still wanted them. He left a number, I called!

Turns out Robert is a collector that has way too many bikes and builds on the go. He’s sad he didn’t get to finish the build but he’s got ore than a few dream bikes he wants to get going on. We had a great chat with more than a few laughs (I swear our chat felt more like an Al‑Anon meeting!). The legend also threw in a spare shock, extra decals, the original headbadge and a Ti coil spring from a small bike (that should suit my weight better).

In 2008 I went to watch Sam Hill race at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Stromlo and took this photo of his bike in the wash bay.

I was a huge Sam fan (still am!), so much so that I had Sam Hill 5:10 shoes and even bugged him for an interview for BMU (Bikes Move Us Forums) a year after Worlds. There are dream bikes, but I honestly never dared to dream of owning his Sunday though. I’ve actually never owned a downhill bike (just nowhere to ride one close by), but I’ve always been tempted by Giant Glorys, Konda Stinkys and Orange bikes that pop up on FB Marketplace, but this thing takes the cake!

I’m chuffed, but I’m also well and truly in the red. It’s not the first time I’ve had multiple builds on the go, but I really should focus on the Yeti SB66 build first, so for now this Sunday is on display as art.

Servicing Charlie’s Fixie, it’s hilarious!

Sam Hill (born 21 July 1985) is an Australian professional downhill mountain biker. He was two time consecutive UCI World Downhill Champion during years 2006-2007. He also won the 2007 UCI Elite Mens Downhill World Cup. He currently rides for the Monster Energy Specialized Downhill Team for the 2009 season.

Personal Details
Date of Birth: 21 July 1985
Place of Birth: Viveash WA
Resides: Glen Forrest WA
Occupation: Professional MTB rider

Major Awards/Honours
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Australian Male MTB Cyclist of the Year
2003 Australian Junior Male MTB Cyclist of the Year
Two time consecutive UCI World Downhill Champion 2006-2007
Winner 2007 UCI Elite Mens Downhill World Cup

BMU Interview 15/02/09

JF: Hi Sam, many people loved riding bikes when they were kids, but lost it somewhere along the line. Many riders out there have only just recently gotten back into biking and it doesn’t take long for them to hear of “Sam Hill”. How does that recognition make you feel?

SH: I THINK ITS REALLY COOL. IT MAKES ME FEEL HONOURED THAT PEOPLE WOULD ASSOCIATE ME WHEN THINKING ABOUT MOUNTAIN BIKING.

JF: Why do you ride? We know you love downhill riding and racing, but do you have a genuine passion for bicycles? Do you own and ride other bikes apart from DH bikes?

SH: I PRETTY MUCH HAVE A FULL COLLECTION OF BIKES. I JUST LOVE TO RIDE ANYTHING REALLY. SOMETIMES JUST FLOWY SINGLETRACK ON MY XC BIKE OR A MELLOW ROAD RIDE. I JUST LIKE BEING ON A BIKE. I USUALLY TAKE A BIT OF TIME OFF IT AT THE END OF EACH SEASON JUST TO KEEP IT FRESH WHEN I DO RIDE.

JF: What bikes do you currently have in your collection?

SH: I HAVE A SPECIALIZED DEMO 8, P.3 HARDTAIL, STUMPJUMPER FOR XC RIDING AND A ROUBAIX ROAD BIKE,

JF: What’s your earliest memory of riding?

SH: I JUST REMEMBER BEING ABOUT 3 OR 4 AND RACING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY ON A LITTLE 16″ BMX AND THROWING IT SIDEWAYS IN THE GRAVEL, GETTING A DRIFT GOING AND THEN DOING IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

JF: “Tall poppy syndrome” is a sad part of Australian culture. There always seems to be haters out there trying their best to cut successful people down, what are your thoughts on this, does this pressure affect you and how do you deal with it?

SH: I JUST TRY TO BLOCK OUT THE PRESSURE AND NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. I HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE FROM MYSELF RACING SO I TRY NOT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN PRESSURE FROM OTHERS. I JUST DO MY OWN THING.

JF: Lance Armstrong goes as far as weighing the pasta he eats. What’s your diet like?

SH: I DEFINATLY DONT WEIGH IT. I DO TRY TO EAT HEALTHY. WHEN I’M AT HOME I EAT PRETTY GOOD BUT IT’S ALOT HARDER WHEN WE ARE ON THE ROAD. I PRETTY MUCH JUST TRY THE BEST I CAN DURING THE SEASON AND THEN DONT WORRY TOO MUCH DURING THE OFF SEASON.

JF: A lot of people dream to be paid to do the things they love most but a common reality is that work and play don’t mix too well, and that work could actually destroy a passion. How do you find riding for work?

SH: THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE FELT A BIT OLD TO ME, BUT I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS SEASON, ITS ALMOST LIKE A FRESH START WITH MY NEW SPONSOR SPECIALIZED SO IM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. TRAINING FEELS LIKE A JOB BUT WHEN THE RACES COME AROUND ALL THE WORK IS DONE AND IT’S A BIT LIKE A RACING HOLIDAY.

JF: Thanks so much for the interview Sam, you’ve made some amazing marks in your career and we hope you continue making more marks in future.

Works Components -1.0 Degree ZS44-ZS56 angleset (102g).

Installed.

Really happy with the quality of the Works Components angleset I put on the Chisel so I ordered another one for the Yeti.

With the longer 160mm 27.5″ fork I plan to put on the bike it should slacken the head tube angle from 66.7° to 64.6° and correct the slackened seat tube angle (from installing a longer fork) at least a little bit (71.7° to 70.8°).

On install I noticed the head tube shape isn’t round, but a unique almost boxy shape (you can see the unpainted surface around the upper head cup). I freaked out for a second thinking I might be missing some sort of headset to frame interface but on inspecting other SB66 builds online and zooming into photos it turns out this is how it is.

His first MTB ride since I last took him out in 2009!

Everything looks better at magic hour.

Package from YETI.

SRAM BB and OneUp bash guard and chain guide installed.

So awesome that YETI have a whole bunch of parts still available on their online store for the SB66. I was tempted to get the bearing kit and a derailleur hanger, but the main thing I needed was the ISCG05 mount. The Ergon saddle was on a clearance sale so I added that to the cart too.

OneUp Components ISCG05 V2. I bought this ages ago for my Norco Torrent (long sold), but it turned out that the Torrent only had 2 tabs so it’s been sitting in my parts bin ever since. Funny how the chain guide happens to be turquoise! #itwasmeanttobe

My fave grips. So gummy, so ergonomically right.

OneUp Components V2 Carbon 35mm rise.

Peaty’s Holeshot Fast Flow 42mm valves.

Race Face 28T from my parts bin (was meant to go on the Chisel when running with the 29″ setup).

Race Face Turbine SL, 35mm clamp, 50mm length. I think this stem looks sexy as! Only meant for XC, but hey I’m light so it should be fine.

HT Components ME03. My fave pedals.

SRAM DUB BSA 73mm.

Be with someone who makes you feel the way you do when you receive bike parts.