Quantcast

World Champs 2012 Thread

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,289
5,029
Ottawa, Canada
Any idea what happened to Gee? In one of his pre-race interviews he was saying he hoped it would get slippery again, to restore the advantage to big bikes again. It sounded to me like the wheel size debate had gotten to his head and he wasn't confident in his equipment. This is definitely after the fact armchair quarterbacking, but still.. I wonder what he was thinking. His early season was so dominating and now to not even be on the podium? Sounds more like a headspace issue than physical to me.
 

William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
3,908
634
Any idea what happened to Gee? In one of his pre-race interviews he was saying he hoped it would get slippery again, to restore the advantage to big bikes again. It sounded to me like the wheel size debate had gotten to his head and he wasn't confident in his equipment. This is definitely after the fact armchair quarterbacking, but still.. I wonder what he was thinking. His early season was so dominating and now to not even be on the podium? Sounds more like a headspace issue than physical to me.
well, he's been sick all week
 

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
Anyone else find it interesting that the entire podium was 30 years old or over? Isn't DH supposed to be a young man's sport? On that note, how the hell is Peat still able to get top 15?!
 

William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
3,908
634
Anyone else find it interesting that the entire podium was 30 years old or over? Isn't DH supposed to be a young man's sport? On that note, how the hell is Peat still able to get top 15?!
I noticed both of those things. But I think the peat thing can easily be attributed to black magic.
 

samdemo

Chimp
Aug 8, 2007
98
8
I think fitness peaks in your late 20's to early 30's, maybe this could explain why on a pedally track older riders did better???
 

shirk007

Monkey
Apr 14, 2009
499
354
Conspiracy theory.

Minnar and Peaty both retire from WC DH at the end of the season. Both move on to race Enduro World Series. Syndicate no longer on the WC DH circuit. Ratboy forced to find a new team.
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
Was Graves on 26"? At least once during the broadcast, a few riders after Graves' run, Nigel and Rob talked about Graves being on Yeti's new 650b frame. But sometimes they don't have all the correct info...
 

CBJ

year old fart
Mar 19, 2002
12,862
4,160
Copenhagen, Denmark

'size

Turbo Monkey
May 30, 2007
2,000
338
AZ
Was Graves on 26"? At least once during the broadcast, a few riders after Graves' run, Nigel and Rob talked about Graves being on Yeti's new 650b frame. But sometimes they don't have all the correct info...
in every interview and picture caption he says he was on the same bike he's been riding all year - the SB66 carbon.
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
in every interview and picture caption he says he was on the same bike he's been riding all year - the SB66 carbon.
I thought it was the same bike (26") but I also heard them say the comment about Gwin being on 650b so I thought maybe Nigel and Rob had insider info on a couple of the bike setups...
 

'size

Turbo Monkey
May 30, 2007
2,000
338
AZ
I thought it was the same bike (26") but I also heard them say the comment about Gwin being on 650b so I thought maybe Nigel and Rob had insider info on a couple of the bike setups...
yea i heard them say gwin on 650b as well but i think they just didn't know who was on what or were confused about who was on what.
 
Last edited:

CBJ

year old fart
Mar 19, 2002
12,862
4,160
Copenhagen, Denmark
With Greg running single ply tires I guess it still wasn't a full on DH bike that won. Isn't the biggest story Mick getting second on stock 26 aluminium bike?

Rachel also on a stock aluminium 26 bike.
 
Last edited:

RayB

Monkey
Jan 31, 2008
744
95
Seattle
With Greg running single ply tires I guess it still wasn't a full on DH bike that won. Isn't the biggest story Mick getting second on stock 26 aluminium bike?

Rachel also on a stock aluminium 26 bike.
Wouldn't go so far as labeling Mick's bike "stock".

Article here: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Prototype-Polygon-Mick-Hannah-World-Champs-2013.html?trk=rss

It starts with the bike's special race-focused aluminum tubing, which the team readily admits plays a role in this frame not being what they'd want an average rider using for multiple seasons. For one or two big races, though, under the watchful eye of Mick's mechanic, it is just one design point that many teams happily embrace to give their racers an edge.
 

General Lee

Turbo Monkey
Oct 16, 2003
2,860
0
The 802
But not anything special for that one race.
Lighter front wheel and a special thinner, mini-knob version of his usual tires on the rear. But really, that's not that much different from the sort of thing that goes on at all the world cups. Everyone is always looking for an advantage and the term 'stock' bike is a bit dubious. Even when the frames/components appear to be standard they often are not.

It's all gotten a bit silly if you start trying to discern who was on a 'real' DH bike based on their choice of sidewalls or frame material.
 

tabletop84

Monkey
Nov 12, 2011
891
15
The silly part starts when everyone is asking who was on which wheelsize as if it was relevant to the race-outcome...
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
The silly part starts when everyone is asking who was on which wheelsize as if it was relevant to the race-outcome...
If it influences your time it is relevant to the race outcome as much as you like it does influence time. Though I don't think it always makes you faster.
 
Last edited:

DH Dad

Monkey
Jun 12, 2002
436
30
MA
Any word on Hill? The way he was moving after that crash I'd have to assume a concussion which is not good. Gee had a bad concussion last year or the year before and was not the same the remainder of that season. Honestly Gee hasn't looked the same since his two crashes up at MSA.

Amazing how Minnaar has been able to go so long without any major injury, guy's a machine though I'm bummed Mick couldn't get his rainbow jersey, may have been his last chance.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Any word on Hill? The way he was moving after that crash I'd have to assume a concussion which is not good. Gee had a bad concussion last year or the year before and was not the same the remainder of that season. Honestly Gee hasn't looked the same since his two crashes up at MSA.

Amazing how Minnaar has been able to go so long without any major injury, guy's a machine though I'm bummed Mick couldn't get his rainbow jersey, may have been his last chance.
I wonder if riding with another top 20 rider in the team would help him on some tracks.
 

ritche

Monkey
Dec 3, 2011
311
19
GM has no major injury that's because he does not CRASH on his race run!
congrats

*last time it was 07 WORLDS FT. WILLIAM dislocated, fractured shoulder painful 4th place.
 
Last edited:

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
I gotta say I think Troy Brosnan has become my favorite rider! Granted he was only 10th, but for a kid that size, riding a full DH bike, on a track that certainly favors the big powerful riders, that is a hell of a result if you ask me. The kid is always smiling and happy and just tears it up. It will be interesting to see if he is ever able to cross that threshold into a consistent podium guy.

And damn..those guys were moving! Hills wreck was indeed scary!

Also want to add; Richie Rude would have been 14th in the Elites, edging out Neko...Another kid that will be very interesting to watch.
 
Last edited:

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
bikes aside, polygon, a relatively 'newbie' underdog in DH scene, is only 0.3x seconds slower than SC and at least 3.3x seconds faster than Yeti and the rest... that's nice and good development. ( i try to be not annoying in my biased opinion )
It may not be Polygon. Mick can ride the wheels off anything. Remember how well he rode that piece of crap Haro 357?
 

DH Dad

Monkey
Jun 12, 2002
436
30
MA
So how many top riders no longer wear gloves? Gwin and Blenki didn't have any but Minnaar, Gee, Peat, Hannah, Graves, Smith... all seemed to be wearing them. Guess that extra feel for the bar you get with bare hands didn't slow down anyone on the podium.
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
So how many top riders no longer wear gloves? Gwin and Blenki didn't have any but Minnaar, Gee, Peat, Hannah, Graves, Smith... all seemed to be wearing them. Guess that extra feel for the bar you get with bare hands didn't slow down anyone on the podium.
Has it really gotten to this? We're comparing podium places by who was wearing gloves?

Quick someone make me a list of the rankings of everyone by their goggle tint!
 

Dogboy

Turbo Monkey
Apr 12, 2004
3,208
581
Durham, NC
Has it really gotten to this? We're comparing podium places by who was wearing gloves?

Quick someone make me a list of the rankings of everyone by their goggle tint!
Seriously. Nothing but personal preference, no performance gain or loss either way.
 

DH Dad

Monkey
Jun 12, 2002
436
30
MA
Has it really gotten to this? We're comparing podium places by who was wearing gloves?

Quick someone make me a list of the rankings of everyone by their goggle tint!
Where in my question do you see a complaint? I was simply inquiring for my own interest. I could care less personally but a friend had asked me if the trend was to stop wearing gloves while downhilling. Why so much hate?
 

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
Also want to add; Richie Rude would have been 14th in the Elites, edging out Neko...Another kid that will be very interesting to watch.
No way, you can compare the times meaningfully. He went on a different day in totally different track conditions. Hard to say whether he would've done better or worse.
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
Where in my question do you see a complaint? I was simply inquiring for my own interest. I could care less personally but a friend had asked me if the trend was to stop wearing gloves while downhilling. Why so much hate?
Not hating, I just think it's funny when everyone talks about differences in wheel sizes, frame material, tire compound, suspension travel etc. Then we throw gloves/non-gloves on top of it.

As some have said before I think all of these changes/modifications is what makes world's fun every year. Some chose to ride the DH bike they've been riding all year, some chose their trail bike they've been riding all year, some chose single ply tires, some semi-slicks, some had one-off bikes with bigger wheels, some didn't change a damn thing from MSA. There were probably 20 different bikes and riders that could have won that race with any number of trick parts/setups, I'm just glad it was a great race with a little drama. Glad Greg won on home turf and I enjoyed his win even more when I saw his tribute to Mandela.
 

FlipFantasia

Turbo Monkey
Oct 4, 2001
1,659
492
Sea to Sky BC
But there is clearly a measurable lack of traction when not wearing socks.
I'd like to think the fashion karma gods struck Stevie hard and fast for that choice....

...I also think it's funny that people think different wheelsize/bike choices somehow affect making mistakes...people eff up sometimes no matter what they're riding, fact.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
I'd like to think the fashion karma gods struck Stevie hard and fast for that choice....

...I also think it's funny that people think different wheelsize/bike choices somehow affect making mistakes...people eff up sometimes no matter what they're riding, fact.
^ I bet a lot more riders crashed on 26ers than 29ers this last weekend!

(that's sarcasm, folks).
 

DH Dad

Monkey
Jun 12, 2002
436
30
MA
I'd like to think the fashion karma gods struck Stevie hard and fast for that choice....

...I also think it's funny that people think different wheelsize/bike choices somehow affect making mistakes...people eff up sometimes no matter what they're riding, fact.
Likely not the wheelsize but possibly the fact that it's something new to the rider could cause mistakes as they're not as familiar with it. I thought it was strange how Gwin changed to 650b wheels so close to the race and on a bike that wasn't designed for them unlike Smith. I've switched back and forth between a 650b bike and a 26r all summer and there are subtle differences in how they handle. I think we've seen now that twice Team Syndicate has made the right choice of running the same bike for Worlds that they guys run all season. The V10 was enough at Canberra as well.