Pro bike: José Antonio Hermida’s Merida Big.Nine

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Former woꦡrld c🧸hamp talks bike setup, wheel sizes and baggy shorts

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José Antonio Hermida and his 2014 Merida Big.Nine Multivan Merida team bike

Jos&eaꦯcute; Antonio Hermida and his 2014 Merida Biဣg.Nine Multivan Merida team bike (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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Standard quick release on the front saves a little weight and makes for a slightly faster wheel change. Either way, Hermida's new RS-1 fork certainly has a thru-axle

Standar𒐪d quick release on the front saves a little weight and makes for a slightly faster wheel change. Either way, Hermida's new RS-1 ꦡfork certainly has a thru-axle (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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Keeping the front end low is a height-reduced RockShox 80mm fork

Keeping the front end low is a hei𝓡gꦿht-reduced RockShox 80mm fork (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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The Spanish national colours feature on Hermida's Prologo saddle

🐈The Spanish national colours feature on Hermid🗹a's Prologo saddle (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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Time ATAC XC12 pedals feature a titanium axle and carbon body construction

Time ATAC XC12 p💫edals feature a titanium axle and carbon body construction (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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A name very familiar to many mountain bike fans

A name very familiar to many mountain bike fans (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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height David Rome / Future Publishing Pro bike Jos Antonio Hermida s Merida Big Nine The Big.Nine frame uses a 132x12mm thru-axle. Hermida's bike features a super-light aftermarket skewer from FRM

height David Rome / Future Pub🔜lishing Pro bike Jos Antonio Hermida s Merida Big Nine The Big.Nine frame uses a 132x12mm thru-axle. Hermida's bike features a super-light aftermarket skewer from FR♔M (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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Getting down: Hermida rides with the headset bearings exposed in order to lower his handlebar height

Getting 🎶down: Hermida rides with the headset bearings exposed in order to lower his handlebar height (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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his carbon 29er wheel is definitely a prototype – we expect the wheels to weigh in 1300g region

his carbon 29er wheel is definitely 🐭a prototype – we expect the wheels to weigh in 1300g region (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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The Maxxis Aspen rubber is fast rolling and still provides reliable grip. Hermida was using this in thick mud, stating the track will dry out as the race progresses

The Maxxis Aspen rubber is fast rolling and still pr𓄧ovides reliable grip. Hermida was using ꦑthis in thick mud, stating the track will dry out as the race progresses (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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Hermida was riding a RockShox SID XX World Cup, but most recently has been seen ripping on the newly released RS-1 upside down fork

Hermida was riding a RockShox SID XX World Cup, but most recently has been seen ripping on the newly released RS-1 u🎶pside down fork (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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Hermida sits atop a Prologo Scratch CPC saddle. The CPC adds a high-level of traction to the seat's surface

Hermida sits atop a Prologo Scratch CPC s🐻addle. The CPC adds a high-level of traction to the seat's💦 surface (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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Hermida uses ESI Racers Edge silicone grips in a suitable green shade

Hermida useꦆs ESI Racers Edge silicone grips in a suitable green shade (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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The 11-speed XX1 rear cassette provides a 10-42T gear ratio

The 11-speed XX1 rear cassette provides a 1♕0-42T gear ratio (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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The direct-mount front derailleur mount goes unused with this SRAM XX1-equipped bike

The direct-mount front derailleur mount ♏goes unused with this SRAM XX1-equipped bike (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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SRAM XX1 crank with a relatively large SRAM X-sync 36T chainring

SRAM XX1 cran🐻k with a relatively large SRAM X-sync 36T chainring (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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They're not so common anymore, but Hermida still uses bar ends at every race - claiming it opens the chest and gives greater leverage

They're not so common anymore, but Hඣermida still uses bar ends at every race - claiming it opens the chest and gives greater leverage (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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Hermida chooses the Big.Nine over the smaller wheeled Big.Seven because of its extra control, speed and roll-over ability

Hermida chooses the Big.Nine over the smaller wheeled Big𒉰.Seven because of ཧits extra control, speed and roll-over ability (Image credit: David Rome / Future Publishing)
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José Antonio Hermida at the World Cup round three in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, riding the new upside-down RockShox RS-1 fork

José Antonio Hermida at the World Cup round three in Nove M♚esto, Czech Republic, riding the new upside-down RockShox R﷽S-1 fork (Image credit: Tour of Japan)

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