Ha ha, those sound like words of advice learned the hard way. And, yep, there aren't many gas stations around, but there sure are a lot of antelope and grasshoppers on the drive from I-25 to Cimarron.
Angel Fire to host 2013-2014 Gravity Nationals
- Thread starter Full Trucker
- Start date
Definitely worth noting. I had a friend clock one and apparently they measured the distance. Little bugger flew 180 feet...and it pooped on his bike.
And it is true, AF is pretty far out there. They only have a small grocery store so best to stock up on non-perishable food beforehand.
Did you come to Nationals?
If they go back to the old courses, they're fine. Even with the Pepper spray section, the best pro time was under 5 minutes in 2011 at the MSC race. In 2010, half the field was under 5:00 (no pepper spray). Not certain what lap times are on the newer courses, but they've got lots of options. Need to bring back the 4x course!
Point well taken, but the opportunity to ride a world cup 4X cross (angelfire) doesn't come around too often. Hearndon and the Beech Mountain crew built a nice DS for last year's nationals and if would fit in the first 2 straights of the Angelfire course.
fixed?Looks like the West Coasters care a lot more. Or are a lot better funded.
Damn straight, we crap carbon frames and wipe our azzes with 100 dollar bills out here in the Wild Wild West.
I visited Anglefire for collegiate nationals twice and it was a blast. Good place (a little remote), great trails & terrain, good times all around. Too bad they have to shorten the course, it is a crusher! Best part was plunking Tom Danielson w/ dinner rolls @ the awards banquet. Silly roadie....
I am sure Beech was great, but there is no substitute for real mountains to make a DH course.
I visited Anglefire for collegiate nationals twice and it was a blast. Good place (a little remote), great trails & terrain, good times all around. Too bad they have to shorten the course, it is a crusher! Best part was plunking Tom Danielson w/ dinner rolls @ the awards banquet. Silly roadie....
I am sure Beech was great, but there is no substitute for real mountains to make a DH course.
^^
Agreed, all DH races which do not take place in Champery are fraudulent. Thank you for clearing this up.
Real mountains aren't necessary. Building a proper track for the given mountain is all that is requried. If you only have 400 ft of elevation, don't try to make a 5 minute course. Check the UK stuff, not a lot of elevation, but the run their courses down the hills so it's not all flat traversing. I (and I think I speak for more than myself here) would much rather ride a 1.5 minute track that was fun and "DH" than a 5 minute track that had a bunch of traversing in an effort to make it longer.
-KT
this says to me that riders in colorado are to good to travel to other places. Really? only one pro from Colorado made the trip
For me a real DH course is one that beats you down so much that you use any kind of traverse for rest so you can hang on for another 2000' of gnar. I want to be scared for my life!
If your mountains are only mole hills, you can still have fun trails. Just not worthy of national champ status in my mind.
Like having DH Worlds in South Africa vs MSA.
this just in: 2015 Intergalactic Downhill championships to be held on Olympus Mons. With roughly 27 kilometers (nearly 90,000 feet) of elevation, it has been dubbed "the only REAL mountain in the galaxy". Top competitors are expected to finish in just under ten hours.
La Bresse dropped the World Cup this year because they were embarrassed that they didn't have a "real mountain" did you hear??
The Beech Nats courses use only ~50 meters of dirt road at the very end. True story...
I'd go, but I don't "have enough support" so I can't.
Just shows martian DH'ers care more, and are better riders anyway.
if you're nice enough to newt gingrich he might let you couch surf at his moon base on your way to mars
What about a DH race down Newt's head? It has to be bigger than Mons Olympus, albeit not nearly as charismatic.
maxxis doesn't make tires for mashed potatoes
I don't know if you are referring to AF or not, but there is no traversing, and the fire roads that have been discussed are not exactly fire roads. The high speed sections at AF are straight down the hill, and the only rest you will get
If they didn't have these sections and kept you in the woods, it would be a 15 minute sufferfest.
I did not map all participants, only DH Pros. I personally know a couple of people that made the trek 
I was only talking about pros. there are plenty of them in CO but i guess they only like their own mountains
sufferfest?!?!
a 15 minute downhill would be heavenly! Even at race pace, you'd be at threshhold aerobically or more, but still be damn fun i'd think...
whiteface's 5k isnt too far off that
but there are no "mountains" on the east coast. only west coast and colorado. 
I immediately thought of this.but there are no "mountains" on the east coast. only west coast and colorado.
You should have tried the old Alpha Woods/Pepper Spray route at AF years ago. While fun, I am glad it is only 2-3 minutes of the course.
They've removed some of the rocks and now call it Boogie/Pepper Spray. So the video that was posted earlier is the "smoother" version. Still rocky but easier to carry speed as they opened up more line options with less pedal bashing.
I dont see why they dont have it at diablow
I for one will not be bitching about the location or the drive. Our whole team will be there all the way from South Carolina. Super excited to ride in NM!!
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How about his wife's witch nose?
I know, seriously! No mountains here... just the occasional mound of rock.but there are no "mountains" on the east coast. only west coast and colorado.
Like Whiteface - 3216' vertical
and Sugarbush -2552' vertical
Actually, it would be really cool to have a race at Sugarloaf/USA. Supposedly that happened once upon a time.
Angel Fire is fun too though.
I'll race frickin' anywhere if I have money and time. Up yours if you think your mountains are the best. Douchebaggery is not exclusive to low lying areas.
I don't know if you are referring to AF or not, but there is no traversing, and the fire roads that have been discussed are not exactly fire roads. The high speed sections at AF are straight down the hill, and the only rest you will get
If they didn't have these sections and kept you in the woods, it would be a 15 minute sufferfest.
No, not a dig at AF, just sticking up for Beech. Too much hate on this forum for a track most have never ridden. Having a good mountain does not make for a good track and vice versa.
-KT
Just making sure all of you see this.
Understood. I won't take a dig at a mountain I have never ridden, but my limited experience is that the track quality has less to do with elevation and more to do with the trail crew. Sol Vista is 1000ft of sand with some of the finest trails you will ever ride
Agreed, and having ridden Beech, It's a great track (until the monsoons came and showed how little skill I have). Well thought out and got the best out of what they had to work with. Same with Sol Vista. It is a different experience on mountains with lots of vert, Not necessarily better, just different.Understood. I won't take a dig at a mountain I have never ridden, but my limited experience is that the track quality has less to do with elevation and more to do with the trail crew. Sol Vista is 1000ft of sand with some of the finest trails you will ever ride
I don't want to sound like I'm taking a dig at Hearndon's DS track, the 4X track at AF was one of the very few WC tracks we get to ride. Riding something that big and long is a treat. Hope they'll use it for nationals, but not holding my breath.
The 4X track at Angel Fire was bulldozed; they have since built a DS course, but last I saw (in October), there was no 4X course. Granted, with how fast those guys build down there, they could definitely make a new one in time for Nationals next year.
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Hey, I got my Mtb gravity card....so I'm in!haha Course looks FAST. That's my style....