Skills With Phil – Bike History

Over the past four years Phil has had a variety of different builds with NOBL Wheels.

Skills with Phil

Phil has carved a niche out for himself. The former UCI World Cup DH racer has channeled his years of experience and expertise into his YouTube channel ‘Skills with Phil’  Featuring a mix of well produced how-to, bike tech and vlog style videos, Phil’s unique and accessible brand of content is sure to resonate with anyone from a novice, to seasoned veterans. With over 350k subscribers, Phil is an innovator of creative and exciting content creation.

2020 GT Sensor

This GT Sensor is Phil’s first 29er. He chose it in order to try something new. Technically a trail bike, the Sensor has 140mm front travel and 130mm rear travel.

Parts List

Fork & Shock

Fork: Fox 36 Elite Fit 4 (140mm)
Shock: Fox DPX2

Cassette

Cassette: SRAM XG-1295, X01 Eagle, 10-50

Bars & Stem

Bars: Spank Oozy Vibrocore 780mm/31.8
Stem: Deity Copperhead 50mm

Rotors

Rotor: TRP 2 Piece rotor
Front: 203mm Rear: 180mm

Saddle & Dropper Post

Dropper: PNW Rainier 3 (31.6mm/200mm)
Saddle: Ergon SM Pro

Pedals

Pedals: Deity T-macs Gen 1

Chainring and Cranks

Chainring: 32t Rotor Q-ring
Cranks: 170mm Rotor Hawk

Brakes and Grip

Brakes: TRP Slates 4 Piston
Grips: Ergon: GD1

Fork: Fox 36 – Elite Fit 4 – 140mm; Shock: Fox DPX2; Front Rotor: 203mm TRP 2 Piece; Rear Rotor: 180mm TRP 2 Piece; Dropper: PNW Rainier 3 – 31.6mm 200mm, Saddle: Ergon SM Pro (small/med); Bars: Spank Oozy Vibrocore 780mm – 31.8; Stem: Deity Copperhead 50mm; Brakes: TRP Slates 4 Piston; Grips: Ergon: GD1; Chainring: 32t Rotor Q-ring; Cranks: 170mm Rotor Hawk; Cassette: SRAM XG-1295, X01 Eagle, 10-50; Mudguard: Groundkeeperfenders with @drawwwiings; Pedals: Deity T-macs Gen 1

Phil’s Custom Wheelset

Phil opted for our TR37 wheelset. It features Onyx Vesper hubs with his custom “Skills with Phil” logo engraved on the hubshell.  He uses Sapim Race spokes and Sapim alloy nipples to tie it all together. This combination makes for a light yet burly wheelset that can handle the shredding that Phil is capable of.

Wheel Size

Spoke Count

GT FORCE

Phil Kmetz’s GT Force Pro from 2019 remains part of his fleet, despite his new Sensor. This  Enduro Frame features 150mm rear travel. It’s front is carbon, while the back is aluminum. This build uses a medium frame and 27.5″ wheels.

Parts List

NOBL TR38s paired with Onyx Classic hubs make for a burly wheelset that are built to be pushed to the limit. Phil paired this wheelset with Maxxis Minions DHR II 2.4 tires.

Wheel Size: 27.5″ Spoke Count: 32h

Fork

Fox 36 Grip 2

Dropper

Fox Transfer

Shock

Fox DPX2

Brakes

Shimano XT

Drivetrain

Shimano XT

Bars

Spank Vibrocore 785mm

GT Force Parts List

Fork

Fox 36 Grip 2

Shock

Fox DPX2

Drivetrain

Shimano XT

Brakes

Shimano XT

Bars

Spank Vibrocore 785mm

Dropper

Fox Transfer

Wheels

NOBL TR38s paired with Onyx Classic hubs make for a burly wheelset that are built to be pushed to the limit. Phil paired this wheelset with Maxxis Minions DHR II 2.4 tires.

Wheel Size: 27.5″ Spoke Count: 32h

Evil Calling

Phil Kmetz’s Evil Calling is a sweet build that uses components mainly from small companies. The Calling is a 650b trail bike with five inches of rear travel. Despite being a trail bike, it is a bike capable of crossing disciplines.

Parts List

What’s with those painted TR38s? Why is the NOBL brand on a hub? Don’t ask us, that’s too far back.

Wheel Size: 27.5″ Spoke Count: 32h

Fork & Shock

Cane Creek: Helm (Fork), DBAir (Shock)

Dropper

170mm Unbranded

Bars

Deity Skyline 787mm

Brakes

TRP Slates

Cassette

Shimano XT 11-42t

Cranks

Rotor Hawks 170mm

Evil Calling Parts List

Fork & Shock

Cane Creek: Helm (Fork), DBAir (Shock)

Dropper

170mm Unbranded

Bars

Deity Skyline 787mm

Brakes

TRP Slates

Cassette

Shimano XT 11-42t

Cranks

Rotor Hawks 170mm

Wheels

What’s with those painted TR38s? Why is the NOBL brand on a hub? Don’t ask us, that’s too far back.

Wheel Size: 27.5″ Spoke Count: 32h