DH world cup round 1

rockmonkeysc

http://dirtmountainbike.com/featured/20 ... e-set.html

Is this really where downhill should be heading? A track where a 29er trail bike can be faster than a downhill race bike.
The track is all about speed rather than hard, technical riding.

Personally I don't think this track is right for the top downhill series in the world. It's just not a technical test for the riders.
What's your opinion?

ej2320

I don't mind it personally

I can see everyone's point but perhaps just one stage with a much faster track and a longer track adds a bit of diversity?
Obviously if all stages were like this it would be shocking

lawman

Personally I think 27.5... is the amount of fucks I don't give about the course.

On a serious note, I can see why people are bitching about it, but usually from those that aren't good on the flat, pedally tracks. DH needs variety, sure supergnarrrr, steep, rocky, loose as censored tracks look cool, but changing it up a bit is still important and I think if all the tracks were the same kinda trail it'd get pretty boring.

supersonic

Yep, variety is good.

Anyone know of any non starters before a censored up my Fantasy Team?

lawman

Stevie Smith is out afaik, thats about it!

jfry94

Tracks like pmb are good but they should have to be ridden on a dh bike

The Northern Monkey

is PMB the track that Peaty said was basically a big DJ track?
I seem to think it was Germany though, no sure.

Shame they got rid of Val di Sole, was a good track! Steep, dusty and loose with some pedally bits!

rockmonkeysc

Yes Peaty said that about PMB although he's a machine on the cranks so it should suit him.
A few of the tracks are going this way now, even Mont St Anne has been tamed.
The tracks are getting more about big speed and big jumps than technical downhill.
Fortunately Fort William is still a proper downhill track though I can see that being replaced by Antur Stiniog in a year or two. The UCI have complained about the length of Fort William for years but until now there hasn't been an alternative.
A lot of the riders are against tracks like PMB and Cairns because they just aren't downhill tracks.

Thewaylander

I have to say, DH isn’t wide open paths, berms and jumps to me, but is technical steep terrain. If it just one on the calendar it’s not so bad. But there are a couple of the bike park style tracks coming into the series and it’s just not as good.

It’s just more speed and jumps for the non mtber as this is what they understand and impresses them.

lawman

Thing is downhill means different things to different people, there is no definitive definition of what it should be, so is always open to interpretation. Some folks love the steep gnarly tracks, some folks like fast jumpy ones but it needs variety so everyone is happy. I actually find tracks like PMB pretty cool, because even though I'm a total mincer I reckon I could get down it easily enough, something that could not be said of Champery or some of the others!

rockmonkeysc

Champery takes a lot more skill to ride fast than the big table jumps of PMB.
Bikes and riders have moved on a lot and your average ameture dh racer can fire a bike over 30 foot jumps. These races are supposed to challenge elite riders.

DCR00

Thewaylander wrote:

I have to say, DH isn’t wide open paths, berms and jumps to me, but is technical steep terrain. If it just one on the calendar it’s not so bad. But there are a couple of the bike park style tracks coming into the series and it’s just not as good.

It’s just more speed and jumps for the non mtber as this is what they understand and impresses them.

I'm with you on this. I think one race is fine, but no more.

lawman

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Champery takes a lot more skill to ride fast than the big table jumps of PMB.
Bikes and riders have moved on a lot and your average ameture dh racer can fire a bike over 30 foot jumps. These races are supposed to challenge elite riders.

No denying that, but sometimes it's cool to think mere mortals could ride what the pro's do, of course seeing tracks like Champery, Val di Sol and Fort William get absolutely hammered is also damn cool!

rockmonkeysc

Race 2 looks just as bad at Cairns. Once Fort William is replaced with Antur Stiniog you won't see downhill bikes in world cup races any more.

welshkev

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Race 2 looks just as bad at Cairns. Once Fort William is replaced with Antur Stiniog you won't see downhill bikes in world cup races any more.

DH1 anybody?

lawman

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Race 2 looks just as bad at Cairns. Once Fort William is replaced with Antur Stiniog you won't see downhill bikes in world cup races any more.

Can't see them doing that. Fort William is downhill's equivalent to Monaco in F1. I know the UCI is full of pricks but the backlash would be huge! I also didn't see anyone of the top guys at the BDS at Antur on anything but a full on DH bike...

Thewaylander

UCI are buttfaces though, so i wouldnt put it past them.

Should be in Fort Bill again this year, but my god its a long trip!

rockmonkeysc

UCI aren't happy with the length of the Fort Bill track. They have been complaining for years but the UK hasn't had another alternative until now.
If it wasn't for the lack of a big enough finish area and pit area Bike Park Wales could have been up to the job.

Thewaylander

I think the longer course is a great thing though, got put some effort in :P i mean they are the top guys, so a tough long course from a competetive POV surely sorts the men from the jessers...

rockmonkeysc

It nearly killed me doing full runs under 6 minutes. I was just dead by the time I got to the jumps at the end, I had no chance of getting the speed to clear them. Thats why fat, unfit old farts like me don't race DH world cups. It would be a real shame if they ever went away from Fort Bill. I still think it's the ultimate test of a DH racer.

DCR00

See Dirt are no longer allowed to film at the DH events

That's a bit of a bummer. I quite liked their edits.

Red Bull have said only teams racing can film

welshkev

DCR00 wrote:

See Dirt are no longer allowed to film at the DH events

That's a bit of a bummer. I quite liked their edits.

Red Bull have said only teams racing can film

I saw that, but surely the dirt/orange team are racing there? or have I missed something?

DCR00

ah yeah, forgot about that

why would they have a article saying Dirt TV wasn't filming there. Seems odd.

Proutster

Check out Claudio's course run - hilarious!!

http://www.redbull.com/en/bike/stories/1331644807825/course-preview-uci-downhill-world-cup-2014-pietermaritzburg

Doesn't look too flat to me either...

Thewaylander

Bit smooth in places,

but they have put a load of new rock gardens in at ths start which is cool.He sounded farked by the end there!

supersonic

Anyone got a link to qualifying results?

WindyG

Proutster wrote:

Check out Claudio's course run - hilarious!!

http://www.redbull.com/en/bike/stories/1331644807825/course-preview-uci-downhill-world-cup-2014-pietermaritzburg

Doesn't look too flat to me either...

lol he's so funny

ej2320

supersonic wrote:

Anyone got a link to qualifying results?

I don't have a link but I know Gwin was 1st, Ratboy 2nd, Greg 3rd and Bruni 4th

welshkev

ej2320 wrote:

supersonic wrote:

Anyone got a link to qualifying results?

I don't have a link but I know Gwin was 1st, Ratboy 2nd, Greg 3rd and Bruni 4th

And manon, rach and ragot for the women

Tahnee seagrave was way off the pace in 7th I think

ej2320

welshkev wrote:

ej2320 wrote:

supersonic wrote:

Anyone got a link to qualifying results?

I don't have a link but I know Gwin was 1st, Ratboy 2nd, Greg 3rd and Bruni 4th

And manon, rach and ragot for the women

Tahnee seagrave was way off the pace in 7th I think

Either Manon was on a great run or Rach was still feeling ill but 9s is quite a big gap

supersonic

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/results-pi ... tions.html

Hannah must have exploded, Potgieter, censored knows - but rest good.