The Pinkbike Podcast: Episode 43 - Dangerholm's Wildest Custom Mountain Bikes

Jan 26, 2021
by Mike Levy  
Pinkbike Podcast
Art by Taj Mihelich.


There are bike dorks and then there are bike dorks. Today's podcast sees Gustav Gullholm, AKA Dangerholm on Instagram, take us through some of his wildest creations. How about a sub-30lb Scott Gambler downhill bike? Or his take on down-country, a 100mm-travel Spark that employs an ingenious dropper post integration system that ties into the bike's rear-suspension? Of course, all of these crazy machines have also been scraped down to bare carbon... with a big ass knife. Yeah, we had questions for Gustav.

If you're a bike dork, Pinkpod 43 isn't one to miss.



THE PINKBIKE PODCAST // EPISODE 43 - DANGERHOLM'S WILD CUSTOM BIKES
January 26th, 2021

Yeah, but wouldn't he save even more grams by scraping off some carbon as well?


Scott Gambler world s lightest
Gustav's raw Scott Gambler weighs less than 30lb and, according to him, very practical. That weight includes proper downhill tires with inserts, four-piston brakes, and even 200mm rotors.


photo
2-in-1 Rear Shock and Dropper Remote

by bicyclerider
Views: 15,762    Faves: 6    Comments: 3

Another of Gustav's bikes uses a heavily modified TwinLoc remote that controls not only the rear shock but also the dropper post. Oh, but not the fork.


Hosted by Mike Levy (usually) and featuring a rotating cast of the editorial team and other guests, the Pinkbike Podcast is a weekly update on all the latest stories from around the world of mountain biking, as well as some frank discussion about tech, racing, and everything in between.




Previous Pinkbike Podcasts
Episode 1 - Why Are Bikes So Expensive?
Episode 2 - Where the Hell is the Grim Donut?
Episode 3 - Pond Beaver Tech
Episode 4 - Why is Every Bike a Trail Bike?
Episode 5 - Can You Trust Bike Reviews?
Episode 6 - Over Biked Or Under Biked?
Episode 7 - Wild Project Bikes
Episode 8 - Do We Need an Even Larger Wheel Size?
Episode 9 - Why Are We Doing a Cross-Country Field Test?
Episode 10 - Getting Nerdy About Bike Setup
Episode 11 - Are We Going Racing This Year?
Episode 12 - What's the Future of Bike Shops?
Episode 13 - Are Bikes Too Regular Now?
Episode 14 - What Bikes Would Pinkbike Editors Buy?
Episode 15 - What's Holding Mountain Biking Back?
Episode 16 - Who's Your Mountain Biking Hero?
Episode 17 - XC Field Test Insider
Episode 18 - Electronics on your Mountain Bike: Good or Bad?
Episode 19 - The Hardtail Episode
Episode 20 - MTB Conspiracy Theories
Episode 21 - Stuff We Were Wrong About
Episode 22 - Does Your Riding Style Match Your Personality?
Episode 23 - Grim Donut 2 is Live!
Episode 24 - Why Even Buy a DH Bike?
Episode 25 - Fall Field Test Preview
Episode 26 - The Three Most Important Mountain Bikes
Episode 27 - The World Champs Special
Episode 28 - All About Women's Bikes
Episode 29 - Freeride or Die
Episode 30 - Would You Rather?
Episode 31 - Wet Weather Riding Tips & Tricks
Episode 32 - What Needs to Change in the Bike Industry?
Episode 33 - Behind the Scenes at Pinkbike Academy
Episode 34 - Grilling Levy About Field Test Trail Bikes (and His Bonspiel)
Episode 35 - Story Time - Stranger Than Fiction
Episode 36 - Grilling Kazimer about Field Test Enduro Bikes
Episode 37 - The 2020 Privateer Season with Ben Cathro
Episode 38 - Editors Defend Their 2020 Best-Of Picks
Episode 39 - Predicting the Future of Mountain Biking
Episode 40 - The Pinkbike Awards!
Episode 41 - Racing Rumours and Team Changes
Episode 42 - Mountain Biking's Guilty Pleasures

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech The Pinkbike Podcast Brian Park Gustav Gullholm James Smurthwaite Mike Kazimer Mike Levy


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75 Comments
  • 27 0
 As a huge bike dork, I love Dangerholm content! Will have to enjoy this tonight with a choice beverage in hand. Great to have the podcast format to avoid the inevitable thigh envy!
  • 25 1
 Haha thanks for the support man! Best regards from both me and the thighs.
  • 15 0
 @mikelevy So if pinkbike sent Dangerholm a Grim Donut to make as light as possible would the project be titled “Slim Donut” or “Danger Donut”?
  • 7 0
 Grim Danger?
  • 2 0
 I think the best thing would be to send @mikelevy with the Grim Donut to Mora, then he and @dangerholm could test each others bikes out in the local bikepark "Gesunda" (Levy should be warned though, Gustav is a podium contender in both national level XC Marathons and local DHs).
  • 11 0
 Love the podcast, keep em coming! The pinkbike crew is always fun to listen to.
  • 9 0
 "PinkPod" may be almost as bad as "Pinkers"
  • 24 0
 *as good
  • 8 0
 oh, how I would love to have that shock.
  • 4 0
 yeah same
  • 4 0
 Gustav, you are a huge inspiration for me! Between you and Martin Grey (ETOE) I've gotten the balls to hack apart some bikes of my own and pull some carbon off. Bike #2 coming this spring! Love your work Gustav.
  • 6 1
 Thank you for your kind words, happy to hear you're doing some cool stuff and that I could be a source of inspiration. Keep up the work/hacking!
  • 3 0
 @dangerholm: I was hoping your thighs could be an inspiration too but mine just won't grow like that....
  • 1 0
 Gustav, Your bikes rock and I like your unabashed dedication to functional super-light mountain bikes. I was interested in your remark about having the opportunity of building a premium titanium hardtail. Do you see advantages in using this material with a small weight penalty compared to carbon?
  • 4 1
 I've never understood why he uses all that twinloc stuff on his bikes. He could make his bikes even lighter by taking that stuff off.
  • 8 0
 I think it comes down to the Scott bikes that use TwinLoc being designed around a lockout, so they might be a bit too active for some riders without.
  • 7 1
 Like you hear me say in the pod, I honestly do like the system for XC and trail bikes and wouldn't want to build one without it. If it's more about descending I totally get why you wouldn't want it, for example I'm hoping myself that Scott some day release a non-Twinloc Ransom with killer suspension.
But when it comes to XC training and racing it's just so good with a remote traction/lock-out system since you spend so much time out of the saddle pedaling.
  • 4 1
 @mikelevy: the gambler should be single speed, so much weight saved that way and I never use my gear at the park, only need to push that last part to get to crank it up.
  • 1 0
 PODCAST QUESTION FOR THE NEXT ONE:

1) What tires, inserts and tubeless accessories do you use on your personal bikes?

PS -I love Dangerholm just like everyone else but have to actually listen to the podcast prior to commenting on that.
  • 2 0
 I'm usually using the stock tires that came on the bike I'm testing, but I do have 2.35" Hans Dampfs on my cross-country bike. I get why inserts make so much sense, especially as it's rocky where I live, but I'm kinda meh about them. I have a few of most types of inserts and have been meaning to do some sort of comparison video in the future. Besides that, I always put on some nice aluminum valve stems and add one cap that has a built-in core tool in case one comes loose on a ride.
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy: Thinking of trying rimpacts as the EXO casing tires I use always get destroyed at the rim interface rear only. Double downs are a little overkill until our friendly neighborhood Penticton rock kills the lighter tires. As you have figured my WOKE tire pronoun is "Max". I identify as a Maxxis user. Smile

I have a feeling that in 5 years we will all have some lightweight version of them - at least rear only on most bikes. Curious for you to have a group discussion on this!

Ride safe and hard Mike!
  • 2 0
 @dldewar: For sure, inserts currently make too much sense, no matter what I say about them. But yeah, hopefully there will be some sort of even lighter and better-integrated solution in the future.
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy: foreshadowing
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy: I have the pink pepis inserts in my xc tires. They are quite light. I'm surprised they have not garnered more attention thus far. I'm curious about all the new shapes and materials, and how they'll affect ride feel. I'm excited for you all do do some testing as I'm curious, but current set-up works, so I can't be bothered to mess around with it.
  • 1 0
 @aquanut: Mr. Aquanut - I have been looking at Pepi's inserts but could not find anywhere in North America that sells them. Curious where you got them from?
  • 1 0
 @dldewar: I think it was Bike24. I ordered them along with a boatload of Maxxis tires which more than made-up for the shipping costs (~$25usd). They shipped quickly even during the pandemic.
  • 1 0
 I will be buying a Marshall because it’s made in Canada. It’s not even exactly what I wanted, but this is very important to me, even as a budget buyer. I had my heart on a Norco Sight AL frame. That’s how much NA manufacturing means to me.
  • 1 0
 Chris King? Please, still incredibly good.
Question for them is: I see lot of love these days for fast engagement hubs. I’ve been a die hard Chris king guy for year but have recently tried i9 and newer fast engagement hubs and had reliability issues. My question is do you go for the fastest hub you can afford, or do you spend money on hubs that don’t die. Cause y’all never talk about King
  • 1 0
 Oh, and why are a lot of hubs so damned noisy? I understand the mechanism but they do not need to be that loud
  • 1 0
 Question!!!

I ordered 3 bikes last fall for me and the family. 2 from Rocky Mountain and 1 from Santa Cruz. Do you actually think they are going to show up in the spring? Or do you think this parts shortage will effect these companies and I will be the last to know?
  • 3 0
 Great components, with an engineering eye for assembly and detail. Like Singer for mtb
  • 4 0
 You missed the pics of the pube bike in the article
  • 1 0
 100% too much grease on those Dt ratchets caused them to not engage fully and slip. I don’t recommend it but put my ratchets in a parts washer and only put Dt grease around the edges
  • 1 0
 I used to get by with *regular* application of tri-flow on DT star hubs.
  • 2 0
 @dirtyburger: Same here, or any other thick liquidy lube that's not wax-based. I love the loud buzzing, especially when I'm behind someone so they know that I'm just coasting haha
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy: I've got a love/hate thing with loud hubs, currently hate. Very keen to lace up one of those Box silent hubs, way cheaper than the other fancy silent hubs. Out of stock of course.
  • 1 0
 Very enjoyable podcast, but you negelected to ask @dangerholm the question on all our lips:
How on Earth do you pay for all that trick gear (the stuff that's not supplied free anyway) on a bike shop wage?
  • 1 0
 He's sponsored by Scott, which helps Smile
  • 3 0
 @chakaping Like Mike says, these days I get the frames from Scott and also have help from several other companies. But up until 2019 everything was paid for by me, which for example includes the two World's Lightest XC bikes, the Genius and my Klein inspired hardtail. It was simply a matter of work hard play hard, and also getting rid of old builds to be able to purchase new ones.
  • 1 0
 @dangerholm: mega respect to you for your builds and your attitude to it all. Train hard, Build hard, Ride hard. I love the DIY roots of it all
  • 1 0
 @aer0: Thanks man, I really appreciate the encouragement!
  • 3 0
 Do the bike work? or are they all numbers and looks?
  • 4 0
 According Dangerholms’ his bikes are 100% ride and race ready.
  • 4 0
 You can find video of him jumping the ultralight spark at the bike park... pretty clear evidence it works!
  • 2 0
 #BuiltToPark

jk
  • 1 0
 He rides them all
  • 1 0
 Those stickers on the swingarm look like they’re undoing some of your fine work by unnecessarily adding weight to the bike :-)
  • 1 0
 Would have been interested o hear more about his training regimen. Sounds like he is a pretty competitive rider in multiple disciplines.
  • 2 0
 @mikelevy episode 44? ... god damn straight from the future
  • 2 0
 Bah, I gotta stop calling out the episode number. We recorded this one after the other podcast that's going up on Friday... The one I probably call 43 dammit
  • 2 0
 Just came here to say that Volkswagen is not Swedish.
  • 1 0
 yeah I heard "v-" and went VOLVO in my brain.
  • 1 0
 Understandable as you were chatting with a Swede after all. My annoying nitpicking aside, love the podcast! The more times Levy can work in a WRC mention the better.
  • 1 0
 @trailsquatch: We all just want to talk about cars haha
  • 1 0
 was thinking the same thing...
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: I’ll click ALL THE ADS if you wrote that HSP comprehensive look at the current crop....
  • 1 0
 @maximumradness: I'll see what we can do.
  • 1 0
 @maximumradness: @mikekazimer Smile
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy - Did you ask @dangerholm if he is interested in modding a Mini?
  • 2 0
 He did mention that he sticks to bikes, not cars. I think the Mini is already around 600kg or something Wink
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy: That is a shame! But yeah, i guess mini's are already kinda pocket sized Smile
  • 1 0
 Tiktok:

Come for the dancing, stay for the opinionated millennial yelling at the internet.
  • 1 0
 Awesome listen Gustav, great to get some insight in these builds! Inspiration!
  • 1 0
 Currently buying a huge knife to wreck my carbon frame lol
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy: oh I already have the knifes, check my blog
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy You didn't answer my question about riding with a dog :'(
  • 2 3
 This Gustav guy seems like the biggest hack ever!!! @bicyclerider is the MoFo Pimp up in here!! But my session was still lighter!!!!! lol
  • 1 0
 Whahahahaha!!!

Your frame was XXS with 22” rims, ofcourse it was light hahaha
  • 1 0
 Where I put that middle finger button???
  • 1 0
 Keep em coming everyone, easily my favorite podcast these days!
  • 1 0
 Oh eff yes! This will be a great listen
  • 1 0
 damn i still want that gambler
  • 1 0
 Is Dangerholm not A natural fit as an engineer at YT?
  • 1 0
 wait I though Dengerholm was sponsored by Scott??
  • 1 0
 oh wait he is, lol nvm







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