olympic mtb course your view?

sigorman85

whats you view on the mtb course? i like the 2-3 optional route on the technical sections...i have herd that they will be opening it to the public after the olympics

bails87

It looks good to me.

The "wah, I'm super gnarcore and a much better rider than any of these full time professional riders" brigade will be along to say it's really easy.

Like I said in another thread, it doesn't matter if it's easy (which I don't think it is), it's about competition. The challenge is doing it faster than the best riders in the world, not necessarily just doing it.

ddraver

Really enjoying it, even though the frenchie has made it a procession...

Great ride by her though!

sigorman85

The coverage of the race is grate I think and a lot of info coming from the commentators

gezebo

Think they've done a good job given the venue/terrain they had to play with.

I wonder how much it will change/develop when its open to public, and cost?!

supersonic

I think a few more of the rocky sections would have been nice, and roots! Especially on more flatter sections.

sigorman85

They said they wer taking a few of the big ones out :-(

mcnultycop

I thought I'd heard they were just putting in more easily accessible sections, to make it suitable for disabled riders.

sigorman85

Yeah something like that like addin more routes around certain bits of the track

rockmonkeysc

The tech sections look good but it would have been better if the track wasn't as perfectly surfaced. Even world cup xc courses are a lot more technical than the Olympic track. I'm surprised no one used a cx bike.

Roostoids

Fave bit was the two choice boarded section. Gap jump over the rocks on the left or round and under the tree on the right. The 2nd longer rock garden looked tough as well...so many line choices.

For sure they will make it easier for general public use, hopefuly just by adding chicken runs to the uber bits.

rockmonkeysc

It's no more technical than any trail centre red trail. Leave the tech stuff, add some more and build chicken lines. Making it too easy will make it boring.

ddraver

With you Rockmonkey, although I fear the worst...

paul.skibum

RockmonkeySC wrote:

It's no more technical than any trail centre red trail. Leave the tech stuff, add some more and build chicken lines. Making it too easy will make it boring.

I dont think many people in the olympics are using 160mm forks and 2.4 tyres like you see at the trail centres though. I think they are riding those o-so not that tricky bits, on hardtails with short travel forks, 20lb weight and tubular tyres - everyone should give Afan a go on one of those - might make trail centres a little more exciting!

lawman

paul.skibum wrote:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

It's no more technical than any trail centre red trail. Leave the tech stuff, add some more and build chicken lines. Making it too easy will make it boring.

I dont think many people in the olympics are using 160mm forks and 2.4 tyres like you see at the trail centres though. I think they are riding those o-so not that tricky bits, on hardtails with short travel forks, 20lb weight and tubular tyres - everyone should give Afan a go on one of those - might make trail centres a little more exciting!

What centres have you been too? the majority of riders I see at centres have hardtails or 120mm trail bikes. Of the 40 or so riders in our uni club, very very few have long travel hardtails or sussers, or even 2.4 tyres for that matter. You can ride most things on such a light bike, I know having done it on such bikes, it might not be as fun but its not impossible for us amateurs as you say it is...

gezebo

lawman wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

What centres have you been too? the majority of riders I see at centres have hardtails or 120mm trail bikes. Of the 40 or so riders in our uni club, very very few have long travel hardtails or sussers, or even 2.4 tyres for that matter./quote]

Have to say I see loads of full sussers and longer travel hardtails. In fact I'd say basic hardtails are the minority!

omegas

They should take down some of the spectator barriers and have it like the ToF on some of the climbs with the crowd shouting them on only inches away, would create an even more exciting race.

paul.skibum

I'm with you, my last trip to Afan I was on my 100mm hardtail and had a blast - but at the cafe my bike was the only hardtail there and most of the other bikes were 150mm all mountain jobbies with fat tyres and fatter riders.

I havent been to any of the other trail centres in a while (being in Canada) but my last trip to afan definitely set my views.

lawman

paul.skibum wrote:

I'm with you, my last trip to Afan I was on my 100mm hardtail and had a blast - but at the cafe my bike was the only hardtail there and most of the other bikes were 150mm all mountain jobbies with fat tyres and fatter riders.

I havent been to any of the other trail centres in a while (being in Canada) but my last trip to afan definitely set my views.

I agree the amount of people who are way way way over-biked for that they do is huge, and alot of these riders are fat/unfit/shit as you say.

Whilst some find the kinda stuff seen at hadleigh tough, I'd say the majority of riders on here wold have no problem getting round on a hardtail, christ I thought it looked no worse than cannock and thats piss easy even at night!

cooldad

lawman wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

I'm with you, my last trip to Afan I was on my 100mm hardtail and had a blast - but at the cafe my bike was the only hardtail there and most of the other bikes were 150mm all mountain jobbies with fat tyres and fatter riders.

I havent been to any of the other trail centres in a while (being in Canada) but my last trip to afan definitely set my views.

I agree the amount of people who are way way way over-biked for that they do is huge, and alot of these riders are fat/unfit/shoot as you say.

Whilst some find the kinda stuff seen at hadleigh tough, I'd say the majority of riders on here wold have no problem getting round on a hardtail, christ I thought it looked no worse than cannock and thats wee-wee easy even at night!

So what. It's riding a childrens toy on some bumpy stuff.
Not like it's actually important or anything. Like world peace and cake.

lawman

cooldad wrote:

lawman wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

I'm with you, my last trip to Afan I was on my 100mm hardtail and had a blast - but at the cafe my bike was the only hardtail there and most of the other bikes were 150mm all mountain jobbies with fat tyres and fatter riders.

I havent been to any of the other trail centres in a while (being in Canada) but my last trip to afan definitely set my views.

I agree the amount of people who are way way way over-biked for that they do is huge, and alot of these riders are fat/unfit/shoot as you say.

Whilst some find the kinda stuff seen at hadleigh tough, I'd say the majority of riders on here wold have no problem getting round on a hardtail, christ I thought it looked no worse than cannock and thats wee-wee easy even at night!

So what. It's riding a childrens toy on some bumpy stuff.
Not like it's actually important or anything. Like world peace and cake.

Not saying its wrong, just agreeing with him The only time it pisses me off is if anybody is just being an arse and clogging up the trails.

cooldad

lawman wrote:

cooldad wrote:

lawman wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

I'm with you, my last trip to Afan I was on my 100mm hardtail and had a blast - but at the cafe my bike was the only hardtail there and most of the other bikes were 150mm all mountain jobbies with fat tyres and fatter riders.

I havent been to any of the other trail centres in a while (being in Canada) but my last trip to afan definitely set my views.

I agree the amount of people who are way way way over-biked for that they do is huge, and alot of these riders are fat/unfit/shoot as you say.

Whilst some find the kinda stuff seen at hadleigh tough, I'd say the majority of riders on here wold have no problem getting round on a hardtail, christ I thought it looked no worse than cannock and thats wee-wee easy even at night!

So what. It's riding a childrens toy on some bumpy stuff.
Not like it's actually important or anything. Like world peace and cake.

Not saying its wrong, just agreeing with him The only time it pisses me off is if anybody is just being an ars* and clogging up the trails.

I can understand that, you being a world class riding god.

Oh sorry, I forgot you're not.

rockmonkeysc

I try to avoid trail centres, queing to start each trail section is not my idea of fun, I would much rather ride the Quantocks.
My memory of trail centres is 75% Orange Fives, 20% Lappierre Zesty's and a few others. I have even seen someone at Afan on a Specialized Big Hit wearing a full face helmet, he looked like he regreted it 100 yards in to the first climb.

cooldad

I've never had to wait at trail centres, maybe because when inferior riders see me coming they genuflect (look it up) and make way for my earthshattering skills which are obvious to all. As it should be.

Shackster

Having been there today, one thing I can say is that the hills are definitely bigger than I was expecting - maybe not huge, but certainly bigger than the nay-sayers would have had us believe beforehand, and bigger than they seemed in photos/videos.

lesz42

one day i will be as good as cooldad ( great bumper sticker!)

lawman

cooldad wrote:

lawman wrote:

cooldad wrote:

lawman wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

I'm with you, my last trip to Afan I was on my 100mm hardtail and had a blast - but at the cafe my bike was the only hardtail there and most of the other bikes were 150mm all mountain jobbies with fat tyres and fatter riders.

I havent been to any of the other trail centres in a while (being in Canada) but my last trip to afan definitely set my views.

I agree the amount of people who are way way way over-biked for that they do is huge, and alot of these riders are fat/unfit/shoot as you say.

Whilst some find the kinda stuff seen at hadleigh tough, I'd say the majority of riders on here wold have no problem getting round on a hardtail, christ I thought it looked no worse than cannock and thats wee-wee easy even at night!

So what. It's riding a childrens toy on some bumpy stuff.
Not like it's actually important or anything. Like world peace and cake.

Not saying its wrong, just agreeing with him The only time it pisses me off is if anybody is just being an ars* and clogging up the trails.

I can understand that, you being a world class riding god.

Oh sorry, I forgot you're not.

How would you know? :P I don't claim to be a god, just a decent rider.

cooldad

lesz42 wrote:

one day i will be as good as cooldad ( great bumper sticker!)

I would buy one.

YeehaaMcgee

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I try to avoid trail centres, queing to start each trail section is not my idea of fun, I would much rather ride the Quantocks.

Eh?
I've only ever seen that happen a few times at Llandegla, and even then it's not so much a wait as a group of riders all stopping in the same area to talk sh*t.

Razor1548

cooldad wrote:

So what. It's riding a childrens toy on some bumpy stuff.
Not like it's actually important or anything. Like world peace and cake.

What a silly little self important child fetishist rant.

waby1234

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I try to avoid trail centres, queing to start each trail section is not my idea of fun, I would much rather ride the Quantocks.

Eh?
I've only ever seen that happen a few times at Llandegla, and even then it's not so much a wait as a group of riders all stopping in the same area to talk sh*t.

I've only really seen people stop at the top of big climbs, no queues as such.