The MTB thread

[northwind]

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

I think it must be a case of once you gone soft tail there is no going back hard.

So yesterday, I marshalled a downhill race at innerleithen... **** me some of these fast boys are fast. Very cool, we had a former junior world champ (Ruaridh Cunningham) and a future one (Lewis Buchanan), and a load of other world cup level riders all flinging themselves off the mountain like it was the most important race in the world. One guy in elites crashed so hard right beside me I was getting ready to call in an ambulance- over the bars into a massive tree which he just about knocked over and he just jumped back up, leaped back on with bars all squint and his saddle broken off, then takes off again and still came in 6th in class and only about 7 seconds down on the best time of the day. These guys are mental. I might **** about at downhill racing but if I ever start riding like that, I want someone to preemptively break my legs for me, I'll thank you later. We had to stop racing at one point because we ran out of ambulances.

But the upshot is, I get a free entry into the next round. But no point in trying to race properly at this level so instead I'm entered in the hardtail category where I'll actually have a chance of a podium on the grounds that there'll probably only be about 5 entrants and I know one of them is a total goon. Seems like a good way to improve my finishing record, there's no way I can be 33rd this time

[northwind]

Oh yeah and I forgot to post about it, here I am on my way to a triumphant 33rd place in category at the mini dh race:


Mini DH by Northwindlowlander, on Flickr

I am choosing to use the conditions as an excuse, since there was practically nobody else on the hill without mud tyres fitted but actually I'm just a bit slow

[maviczap]

Great pic of you Northy

So what if you were 33rd, at least you were having fun!

[northwind]

Oh yeah man, I was a wee bit down on where I'd hoped just because of the mud, I never really got my head round it well, but it's not like I'm there to compete hard and I had a great day despite that. Because of it maybe, it made it feel like more of an event, I wouldn't usually ride such a hard route in those conditions.

I treat them like trackdays I suppose, you don't want to be dead slow but you don't care that much if you're not fast.

Cool pic and report! Think I need to get more involved in my local trails, wharncliffe should be a good crack. Will need more exp before I get competitive though.

Hardtail dh might actually be fun, I did before I had the coiler do a fair amount of hill attack on my Kona stuff, was fun but man, your legs and feet felt it after a long decent. Let us know how it goes!

I honestly don't think I'd be fast. But I like just doin it, my brother is the sort that can go fast and is mental, though I have never been on as good a bike for till now so we'll see. Just need the crazy mud to **** off. Ha.

I have got some new tyres coming, maxxis minions 2 ply, soft front harder rear 2.5. The shwalbe big betty's suck SO bad on wet wood, roots, rock, metal any any other smooth surface, though good in deep mud. I've had enough recently, my local rides have wet roots and having the bike wash out at anything is just not cool! Sigh. Oh well, the maxxis sound great!

[Drew Carey]

Probably aware....but looks like RaceFace gone bust.

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/ar...-rumours-29633

Originally Posted by Drew Carey

Probably aware....but looks like RaceFace gone bust.

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/ar...-rumours-29633

thats a bit poo some of there stuff was class

Originally Posted by Drew Carey

Probably aware....but looks like RaceFace gone bust.

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/ar...-rumours-29633

Read the previous rumours on Monday via the Facebook feed for MBUK/Bikeradar. They made really good stuff. I wonder if their stock is going to be sold off cheap now.

[Drew Carey]

Originally Posted by Venom

They made really good stuff. I wonder if their stock is going to be sold off cheap now.

That's what I was wandering!!! Possibly some knock down parts for my new steed.

[northwind]

If someone doesn't buy out the IP and tooling I'd be amazed, the word is it's been brought down by bad financial management/ dubiousness rather than unprofitability so there's probably a savable company in there. Shame though.

Anyone fancy having a whipround and buying a bike company