If You Haven't Done It, Try It | How I Started Downhill on a Hardtail — Unauthorized 33rpm 6th [Staff Bike Feature #03]
Downhill Was Fun When I Didn't Push It
This is the third installment of our staff bike feature.
Today, we introduce Nishigami's Un Authorized 33rpm Project 6th Gen.
Click here for the previous article (#02) 👉 The Most Beautiful Bicycle is the One Being Used — My Partner, Sig.Rando
The reason I started riding this bike was a phone call from Masuda-san of Diatech.
I think it was around Golden Week in 2024.
Masuda-san is known in the MTB community as the "God of Hardtails" and is also involved in the development of 33rpm.
So, this was a situation where the God of Hardtails was personally recommending a hardtail that he himself had brought into being. That said, I'm sure for Masuda-san, it was just one of his usual sales calls.
"Would you like to try it? You need one, right?"
To begin with, I'm an "enjoy MTB rider" who primarily rides in the city, with MTBing just for fun, and road cycling for exercise.
I thought the 33rpm was for serious riders, and irrelevant to me.
However, turning down a call from Masuda-san was like refusing a divine message.
Let's try something I've never done before.
Before I knew it, I had replied, "Yes, please."
I Only Secured the Frame and Fork, Then Assembled the Rest with Stock and Used Parts
From there, I only procured two things: the frame itself and the front Öhlins RXF36 m.2 (air spring).
For the rest of the parts, I completely entrusted everything to Grumpy's MTB Leader, Shimizu-san.
He essentially combined the store's inventory and used parts he acquired to put together a single bike.
From the beginning, I wasn't thinking of building a "full-spec, state-of-the-art downhill machine."
It was just meant to be a bike to try out.
Once assembled, it turned out to be a very cool bike, looking nothing like it was built primarily with used parts.
The 33rpm's characteristic style, a hardtail with a generously long-travel fork, was impressive, and I completely fell in love with it.
By the way, the downtube logo was made by Grumpy's painter, Takenoshita, using cutting sheets.
This frame, in its normal state, has no decals on the downtube, which is simple, if you will.
However, it felt a little plain, and I happened to have some cutting sheets with an aluminum foil-like texture, so I had him make it with that.
Divine Guidance: "Your Riding is Bad"
The 33rpm is a frame designed for descents, so climbing is honestly tough.
Especially on climbs, the front wheel tends to lift easily.
Some time after assembling it, I complained to Masuda-san, "This is a bit hard to climb with."
"Nishigami-san, your riding is bad. Put more weight on the rear tire."
That was guidance from the God of Hardtails.
As instructed, I've been riding while focusing on putting weight on the rear tire and thinking "how can I climb this," and recently, I've even started enjoying it.
...However, honestly, I still can't climb well. I think I just need more practice, but I find this bike interesting, even with all the trial and error involved.
June 2024, Tokusagamine: Where I Discovered "Fun"
The first time I took it out after assembling it was to Tokusagamine Wood Park in June 2024.
It's a downhill course located on the border of Yamaguchi and Shimane prefectures.
I've also uploaded footage of that time to YouTube, so please take a look if you're interested.
What I realized after actually riding it was that downhill isn't an "immediately dangerous sport."
Don't push it, don't overdo it, enjoy within your skill level. If you stick to that, it's perfectly enjoyable.
This was quite a significant discovery.
First a Rodeo, Then a Sense of Control
However, to be honest, when I first rode the hardtail on the slopes, it was almost like a rodeo.
Since there's no rear suspension, the unevenness of the ground is directly transmitted to your body, and you feel like you could be thrown off at any moment.
When descending, you stand on the pedals, but at first, I genuinely felt like I was going to be thrown off.
But then, there's a point where if you shift your weight forwards and backwards, it suddenly settles down.
I've recently started to think that this is what they call the "center of the bicycle."
The trial and error of trying to find this point while riding is more interesting than I expected.
What I particularly liked was how easy it was to unweight on turns and bumps.
Because the rear is stiff, when you unweight at the right moment, the bike moves smoothly.
It feels less like "riding" and more like "manipulating" it, and that's simply enjoyable.
November 2024, Wheels and Brakes Refreshed
Initially, I was just observing, but it became more and more enjoyable with each ride.
Then, in November 2024, I decided to replace two parts.
However, this time too, I didn't actively decide "I want to change them!"; the impetus for both changes came from external sources...
Wheels Changed to ENVE M6
The reason for choosing ENVE M6 wasn't that I was dissatisfied with the performance of the wheels.
In fact, I had no complaints at all about the Reynolds carbon wheels I had been using previously.
This was also a phone call from Masuda-san.
"You need them, right?"
It was right around the time ENVE released their MTB wheels, and the selling point of this particular model was that it had not only achieved lightness but also a suitable amount of flexibility.
Carbon wheels generally have a reputation for being light and stiff but harsh on impacts, but this model supposedly overturned that perception.
As a result, I clearly felt the lightness.
The carbon's inherent lightness makes the bike agile on both climbs and descents.
However, regarding the advertised "flexibility," I honestly couldn't quite tell.
The honest truth is that with the already wide tires and low air pressure, I couldn't discern the softness of the wheels themselves.
Brakes Replaced with TRP EVO PRO
When it was first assembled, it had SRAM 4-pot brakes, and I had no complaints about them at all.
However, since the shop had just stocked the new TRP EVO PRO, I decided to try them on my own bike first before recommending them to customers, so I swapped them out.
And I absolutely loved them.
The stopping power of the 4-pot calipers is, of course, solid, but what I particularly liked was that the brake levers could be adjusted without tools.
I could quickly change the reach and bite point even while wearing gloves.
It's a small detail, but it subtly simplifies the setup before each ride.
In downhill, the sense of security provided by the brakes directly determines how much you can "attack" the trail.
In that sense, it feels like I've got a reliable set on hand.
I also like the bronze-like texture, and my spirits lift every time I glance at the cockpit.
Changed Suspension from Air to Coil
And just recently, I swapped out the fork again.
I replaced the initially installed Öhlins RXF36 m.2 (air spring) with the latest generation Öhlins RXF36 m.3 coil version.
The reason is simple: I wanted to try a coil spring.
Also, as someone who recommends products to customers on behalf of the store, I don't want to say "it's good" if I haven't ridden it myself.
So, I decided to take the plunge and swap it out to try it myself.
To put it simply, this coil spring was absolutely amazing.
Öhlins forks are already known for their smooth action, but changing to a coil takes that action to another level.
From the smallest road chatter to large impacts, everything moves smoothly, as if connected by a continuous line.
A hardtail with this coil fork was a much better match than I had imagined.
Since there's no rear suspension, the front has to do more work.
This fork handles that perfectly, greatly increasing the line choice freedom even on a hardtail.
The grips are UnAuthorized 110 NEVER EVER GRIP HALFCARAMEL, in PINK/BLUE.
These were also new grips released just when I was building the 33rpm, and I received a sample.
I tried them out and completely fell in love with them.
It's also nice that they're from the same UnAuthorized brand as the frame, giving it a coordinated feel.
What I particularly like is the design of the grip end caps.
The pink and blue have a subtle, blended color, which I find charming and appealing.
The shorter 110mm length is designed to fit Japanese hand sizes, making it easier to position the levers.
The compound is their unique "NEVER EVER," which feels tacky but surprisingly not sticky.
Inside, there's a 3mm cushioning layer, which helps prevent hand fatigue even on long rides.
Plus, it even has an "aroma" component, so it subtly smells good every time you grip it.
I think it's quite rare to find grips with this level of detail.
Drivetrain Area
The tires are Maxxis Minion.
However, I'm running "front" tires on both the front and rear.
According to Shimizu-san, "It rolls lighter that way, and it's more fun for trail riding."
It's a subtle but reliable choice from the leader.
The rear cassette is e*thirteen.
This was also Shimizu-san's selection, apparently because "it's more reasonable than genuine SRAM."
This kind of cost control was another thing I was glad to leave to the leader.
The crankset is FORMOSA, and I believe the length was 165mm (sorry, I'm a bit hazy on the exact detail).
It was around the time short cranks were starting to become popular, so I decided to ride that wave and chose a shorter one.
I like the ride feel so far, and if I get the chance, I even want to try an even shorter one.
Specification Summary
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Frame | Un Authorized 33rpm Project 6th Gen (Hardtail) |
| Front Fork | Öhlins RXF36 m.3 (Coil Version) *Initially m.2 Air Spring |
| Wheels | ENVE M6 (Upgraded November 2024) |
| Brakes | TRP EVO PRO (Upgraded November 2024) |
| Handlebar | Renthal |
| Grips | UnAuthorized 110 NEVER EVER GRIP HALFCARAMEL (PINK/BLUE) |
| Crankset | FORMOSA (165mm / Short Crank) |
| Tires | Maxxis Minion DHF (Front and Rear) |
| Intended Use | Downhill / Trail / All-around Mountain Riding |
Even Starting Near 50, New Fun Can Be Found
The best thing about building this bike was probably breaking down the wall where I had convinced myself that downhill was not for me.
Don't push it, don't overdo it, maintain your pace.
That alone makes it a thoroughly enjoyable activity.
The hardtail also suits me very well right now.
Since I can't rely on rear suspension, I have to think about how to use my weight, and that's interesting.
And before I knew it, in 2026, I finally got my first full-suspension DH bike.
The Orbea Rallon DH.
Again, the biggest motivation was that I had never done it before and wanted to try it.
As downhill became more interesting, I naturally wanted to try full suspension.
In the end, for the same reason I built the 33rpm, I ended up with another new bike.
By the way, this isn't about full suspension being "a step above" hardtails.
Hardtails are still fun as hardtails, and full suspension offers a different kind of fun.
It's more accurate to say that I've added a new genre to my cycling.
I never expected it to expand this much, all thanks to the 33rpm.
I've gained another new hobby.
For those who are "interested but think it might be too difficult," I urge you to try it once.
You'll probably enjoy it much more than you expect.
I'm Already So Excited for the Next Bike
The 33rpm is already in its 7th generation, and it's lighter than the 6th.
Honestly, I passed on the 7th initially—but the 7th we recently delivered to a customer was incredibly cool, and I became extremely envious. I definitely plan to buy one next.
Furthermore, a new model called the 78rpm is scheduled to be released soon, and I can't wait.
I recently got to ride a prototype that Masuda-san was on at Bikeland Onomichi, and it was absolutely fantastic. It's probably a frame designed for 120mm travel, but riding it rigid, like Masuda-san does, also seems like fun.
Next Time Preview
The next staff bike feature, #04, will showcase another staff member's bike.
Look forward to it.