What is it with downhillers

They are a friendly bunch on the Chase. Turning up at Stile Cop on a hardtail wearing a hoody and jeans often helps break the ice.

There are also quite a few that venture outside their natural habitat, all kitted up with CF full face and the latest Troy Lee Designs or Royal Racing pyjamas, pushing a 40lb Fox 40-equipped rig up the green trails. Can't resist a cheery 'hellooooooooooo' as I ride past.

Meh, most downhillers I've met either keep themselves to themselves, or are pretty cool. Whenever I ride round Cannock, I have an extended route that goes over to the S.E.A and down the Red Run at Stile Cup, then back over for the rest of FTD. Everyone I've met is cool, and I even stayed for a bit and chatted with some lads who helped me out with lines and stuff.

Everyone's different at the end of the day, but pigeonholeing people either way gets us know where.

Ha, ha, I like the bit about you being a motorcross champ!

It always amazes me in mountain biking that there are various factions which seem to think you either xc or downhill, and cant be both.

Some of the best xc racers have raced downhill, just as some have raced roadies. Its all good, and people really should keep an open mind.

Xtreem wrote:

People who don't have enough stamina choose the DH, because they think they'll be better in that discipline.

Not always of course, but I do get your drift. It's ironic though as, whenever I watch any of the better (ie pro racer) DHers, I'm always left thinking "how do they get that tank moving so fast, let alone get out of teh saddle and sprint the damn thing!"

Takes all sorts, I ride road, XC/trail/endoru/whatever is the term of the month and a bit of DH in my spare time (when I'm probably about as good as the guys the OP describes, but then that's not all I do)

hopefully once you'd convinced them that you were "worthy" you stuck around to pass on some wisdom? If not, they'll just be sore for a week then be staring down the next XC guy who comes past the top of their chute.

That look is often caused by a few factors:

1. Some day-riders still insist on wearing head-to-toe lycra. That's fine on the road or at a race. But on a normal day on a normal ride there's just no need for you to flash your package at us. We've only got little willies and the socks down your pants intimidate us.

2. (May apply mostly to cannock)
This happens several times a day, and has done for quite some time: Cross Country rider/riders turn up. Look at downhill course. Mince around for a few minutes. Ride the Red course at walking pace, skidding their way down the hill.
Or: Cross Country riders show up, big up their former motocross skillz, ignore the signs saying "Full face helmets, body armour, dropping your saddle reccomended", blast off down the red course like they know what they're doing and crash on the first jump. After that it's "Would you mind letting the ambulance in/clearing the landing area for the air ambulance Alex? Oh, and then filling out a forestry accident form and generally taking an hour or so out of your ride to fix the problems one rider has caused?"

Last weekend I had to interrupt my ride twice to take care of fallen riders at the downhill course. Both were blokes on cross country bikes who were patently out of their depth, had ignored signs at the top and bottom of the hill telling them that they were out of their depth and were both lacking in safety equipment or common sense.

That "look" isn't disgust, it's "Here we go again".

If you're capable of crossing disciplines, good for you, and I'm glad you assessed that your cross country bike wasn't suitable for riding down a downhill course. I think it's a rather good reflection on the downhillers in question that they were willing to lend you, a cross country rider who'd just been given a "look of disgust" a bike though.

djvagabon wrote:

Why do most downhillers think all other forms of mountian biking is pants by comparison? Give them a downhill bike and they think they are Sam Hill or Steve Peate.
. I was mocking their lines and braking points.

never given it any thought before, but after reading that I think I'm on the downhillers side.

djvagabon wrote:

Why do most downhillers think all other forms of mountian biking is pants by comparison? Give them a downhill bike and they think they are Sam Hill or Steve Peate.
I was out on Sunday and I rode past the top of a course. They all looked at me in disgust, like I had no right being there.
I couldnt resist a dig so I stopped and watched them. I was mocking their lines and braking points. 1 of the guys said "if you can do any better, you have a go" I borrowed the guys Patriot and ended up beating 8 out 10 of the guys on the course. They all looked totaly shocked.
I forgot to mention that I was an ex A.M.C.A British motorcross champion. Perhaps in future they wont think all XC guys are lycra wearing poofs only good for riding down the canal.

No offence mate but if you had turned up mocking my line choices you would have got to the bottom of the DH course without the need for a bike :twisted:

Yes that is what I am thinking as well. No doubt he wowed them with a double backflip and 360 tailwhip as well Hmmmmmmmm :roll:

And dont forget that every story needs a montage

Hehe. Paton's regularly out at Cannock, quite a few of the shropshire elites get out to toddle round the dog too. It'll only get worse as we open up the new trails too, before long you won't be able to have a pootle without being mowed down by some world cup racer or other.

Now,now girls play nicely

I've cycle in the Lakes quite a bit (nowhere else really except the odd trip to Scotland) and I have never met a downhiller. Not on Garbun, not on Walna Scar - nowhere. Do they only ride centres? Don't they ever push to the top of such passes? Or is this just coincidence & the fact I don't do bank holidays?

Anyway, I'm sure their alright really.