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Industry Bike Check: Hope’s Rachael Walker and her Juliana Roubion CC

Anyone who has been lucky enough to walk round the factory floor at Hope will remember it with the same excitement as Charlie when he first visited Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. CNC machines hum rhythmically, and the air is acrid with the smell of burnt aluminium and anodising chemicals. While being shown around by Hope Technology’s marketing manager, Rachael Walker, we noticed her bike resting in her office and had to take look!

Rachael is no stranger to competitive racing, travelling around the world to represent the Hope Factory Team in events like the Andes Pacifico, Enduro World Series and countless other enduro and downhill events. With a schedule as busy as hers, she needed a bike that could do everything and the 150 mm Juliana Roubion seemed like a perfect match. However, working in Hope has it’s many advantages and there was nothing standard about the build.

The 150 mm Roubion is the Juliana-SRAM teams bike of choice for their Enduro World Series campaign
The 150 mm Roubion is the Juliana-SRAM teams bike of choice for their Enduro World Series campaign
Rachael Walker is the marketing manager at Hope Technology, and the bike is blinged out with Hope goodies.
Rachael Walker is the marketing manager at Hope Technology, and the bike is blinged out with Hope goodies.
Rach has changed out the standard drivetrain for a Hope Crank and new Cassette, all in matching purple.
Rach has changed out the standard drivetrain for a Hope Crank and new Cassette, all in matching purple. Complemented by custom decals on the Hope Enduro wheelset.

The Juliana Roubion’s Öhlins Suspension

When we asked Rachael about her unique suspension she was quick to praise the Öhlins setup. “I’ll hold my hands up – I’m no suspension geek like a lot of guys out there, but with the Öhlins set-up I can tell it’s different and feels amazing. It’s the reliability, performance and silence which stand out for me. I run a TTX shock on my Roubion, I had one on my previous Nomad and Demo 8. Each time I have been blown away by how consistent and reliable the shock is. When riding down rough and rocky tracks in the Lake District the shock never ever feels like it has reached the end of its travel, it’s smooth and so quiet. The traction the shock gives is pretty amazing too.”

The heart of the bike is the Öhlins TTX shock, keeping the rear end under control.
The heart of the bike is the Öhlins TTX shock, keeping the rear end under control.
Twinned with a 160 mm Öhlins RFX 34 fork, offering customisable spring rates.
Twinned with a 160 mm Öhlins RFX 34 fork, offering customisable spring rates.
This is the third bike Rachael has fitted an Öhlins TTX shock in. Öhlins understand suspension and the TTX is one of the best on the market.
This is the third bike Rachael has fitted an Öhlins TTX shock in. Öhlins understand suspension and the TTX is one of the best on the market.
The 10-44 tooth 11 speed Hope cassette adds some range and colour to the back end.
The 10-44 tooth 11 speed Hope cassette adds some range and colour to the back end.
Having a factory full of CNC machines and anodising baths mean you can have unique touches like these team green bearing covers.
Having a factory full of CNC machines and anodising baths mean you can have unique touches like these ‘Team Green’ bearing covers.

Custom Hope Tech 3 E4 brakes

Another highlight for Rachael is the Hope Tech 3 E4 brakes fitted to the Juliana Roubion. “I may be slightly biased but it’s the reliability and the adjustability that win for me. I have small hands so the ability to adjust the reach and bite point so easily without affecting the performance of the brake is a massive bonus. The reliability is another one. Heading to a race or an event I sort of feel smug sometimes. You often see people messing and bleeding brakes. My brakes weren’t bled once last year in a whole year of racing BES’s and EWS races”

Custom colours! You can have these awesome Tech 3 E4 brakes in purple, but in purple and green? No chance!
Custom colours! You can have these awesome Tech 3 E4 brakes in purple, but in purple and green? No chance!
Team green floating rotors add to the exclusivity.
Team green floating rotors add to the exclusivity.
The Roubion has a long reach allowing Rach to fit a short 40 mm Hope stem.
The Roubion has a long reach allowing Rach to fit a short 35 mm Hope stem.
Coming soon to a race near you! Rach Walker and her crazy Roubion.
Coming soon to a race near you! Rach Walker and her incredible Roubion.

In our new series “Industry Bike Checks” we take a close look at the personal bike builds of industry insiders and show you how they run their bikes. If you enjoy the format, check out our bike check overview page.

Words and photos: Trev Worsey

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