A Tour Of Rotwild With Richie Schley
24 August 2017
 

ADP (Advanced Development Products ), the parent company of Rotwild bikes, also develops and manufactures folding bikes, electronic bikes, and currently has design plans to make the first all-mountain hand bike for paralysis athletes. On top of that, they produce frames for German juggernaut auto companies Porsche and Mercedes Benz. Pinkbike recently had the opportunity to hook up with team rider Richie Schley to check out one of the more dynamic bike brands at their head office in Deiburg, Germany.

     

Rotwild's first downhill prototype, developed in 1996, used a URT (unified rear triangle ) design with 130mm of travel. Equipped with a belt drive, electronic shifting, and a carbon legged fork, the RDH P1 was far ahead of its time. Internal cable routing was employed to create a smooth look but also to protect the electronic shift line.

   

Peter Schlitt, ADP's owner/operator, proudly shows off a magazine feature on the RDH P1. The bike's suspension design may have since been surpassed, but its electronically operated internally geared rear hub and belt drive are two design points that many of today's downhillers still feel would be nice to have.

   

Rotwild's Schlitt in is office, at the desk where the company's latest ideas are conceptualized. Images of both current model year bikes and future designs hang from the wall.

   

The simple component that kicked it all off: the carbon ADP ''Brake Booster'' from 1994. We may no longer require brake boosters on our bikes, but it was from this comparably straightforward accessory that the German brand grew from.

   

ADP has been working with Ottobock, Europe's top prosthetics company, to develop the worlds first all-mountain hand bike for paralyzed athletes. Keep an eye out for this announcement at this years Eurobike.

   

One of ADP's engineer hard at work.

   

The Rotwild's 175mm travel E1 enduro bike.

See more : https://www.pinkbike.com/news/Rotwild-Tour-Richie-Schley-2012.html