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Windham Patriot bike rally thread

csermonet

Monkey
Mar 5, 2010
942
127
****in right Neko. Proving that the podium result in the rain at Cairns wasn't a fluke, hope he can get on the podium tomorrow.
 

jackalope

Mental acuity - 1%
Jan 9, 2004
7,604
5,912
in a single wide, cooking meth...
Top 10 separated by 4.5 seconds...That's actually more than I was expecting.
I wasn't really sure what to expect after some of the derisive "only one line" comments and a few PB'rs claiming it will be a complete crap shoot, but it looks about the same as most quali results in terms of time differential and who's fast.

Seems like Sam (and perhaps Minnaar and Gee) may be playing possum to some extent, but there's no doubt Rat Man and Rock Mithras will be tough to beat tomorrow. Bummed it looks like Peat either had a mech or his flex wheeled V10 threw him off course, but maybe he will get to spend some time on the hot seat tomorrow. Same goes for Cam, but I don't think he is protected like Peat.
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
I wasn't really sure what to expect after some of the derisive "only one line" comments and a few PB'rs claiming it will be a complete crap shoot, but it looks about the same as most quali results in terms of time differential and who's fast.

Seems like Sam (and perhaps Minnaar and Gee) may be playing possum to some extent, but there's no doubt Rat Man and Rock Mithras will be tough to beat tomorrow. Bummed it looks like Peat either had a mech or his flex wheeled V10 threw him off course, but maybe he will get to spend some time on the hot seat tomorrow. Same goes for Cam, but I don't think he is protected like Peat.
I went back and looked at the 2012 Finals results and the top 10 were separated by 4 seconds so I guess qualifying today wasn't that big a difference. Just watched the Red Bull practice edit and forgot how much on the ragged edge the riders are going down the big hill under the lift then trying to hold it together going into the woods. It also made me remember how much I miss the Parkin Bros making full length movies….
 

shelteringsky

Monkey
May 21, 2010
307
257
It seems like there's a pretty huge variety in the tracks this year. Even with one line, straight tracks, the guy who rides that one line the best and fastest will win. At least it's bumpy.

Shlt tracks like cairns get me more annoyed that one line mountain biking on actual mountain terrain. At least there aren't any of those circus monkey loop de loopy 270 turn things at windham.
Having seen both the tracks in person, from a spectators point of view, Cairns is the better track. Moar features and lines, moar roots and a whoops section for drunk spectators to crash Adam Brayton's bike on. Agreed that the variety of tracks on the circuit is necessary, but Windham isn't world cup worthy IMO.
 

jackalope

Mental acuity - 1%
Jan 9, 2004
7,604
5,912
in a single wide, cooking meth...
So would you consider the Cairns course WC worthy? That was a looooong pedal slog at the end, and there seemed to be several sections that were relatively tame/featureless. It certainly had some epic roots and mud, but I'm not an expert on what the makes a WC worthy course.

I enjoy the variety, so I'm easy like Sunday morning.
 

shelteringsky

Monkey
May 21, 2010
307
257
So would you consider the Cairns course WC worthy? That was a looooong pedal slog at the end, and there seemed to be several sections that were relatively tame/featureless. It certainly had some epic roots and mud, but I'm not an expert on what the makes a WC worthy course.

I enjoy the variety, so I'm easy like Sunday morning.
Yeah, the pedalfest at the end of the Cairns track was sh1te, no arguments there. They probably could have thrown a few jumps in at the end to make it more interesting. Still, it's a longer track, moar line options, moar of a spread between riders which I think makes it a definite cut above Windham and yes, world cup worthy (in my non-expert opinion).

A prominent photographer (who'll remain anonymous) remarked that he was glad race day is tomorrow because he's "just about all out of angles." Speaks volumes.
 
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slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,316
5,070
Ottawa, Canada
I'm drawing a blank here for whatever reason... But what happened to Sik Mik? I missed him at MSA and there's no mention of him here either. I'm guessing injury, but when and where, and when's he gonna be back?
 

csermonet

Monkey
Mar 5, 2010
942
127
I'm drawing a blank here for whatever reason... But what happened to Sik Mik? I missed him at MSA and there's no mention of him here either. I'm guessing injury, but when and where, and when's he gonna be back?
Separated shoulder at the Bill
 
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William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
3,913
647
Do we think he's going to have a sponsor next year?
I hate to wish ill on him, but hopefully not. Hopefully its a reality check, and he figures out the pressure he puts on himself for racing isn't making him go faster, and he needs to go make videos with Semenuk. Then he finds a new sponsor and everybody is happy watching him doing what he was born to day, slaying it in freeride videos.
 

csermonet

Monkey
Mar 5, 2010
942
127
I hate to wish ill on him, but hopefully not. Hopefully its a reality check, and he figures out the pressure he puts on himself for racing isn't making him go faster, and he needs to go make videos with Semenuk. Then he finds a new sponsor and everybody is happy watching him doing what he was born to day, slaying it in freeride videos.
He's still a regular in the top 30 in what is arguably the most competitive field downhill has ever had... that's nothing to be ashamed of. Scott isn't letting him go anywhere anytime soon. He's still a racer, and still doing well. Just because he's not getting wins or even top 10's doesn't mean he should stop racing and become a "freerider".
 

vikingboy

Monkey
Dec 15, 2009
212
2
Do we think he's going to have a sponsor next year?
I just dont think he has the fitness to be top 10 regularly and the only way he'll get that is with physical training. Look at the physical gains made by the likes of Hart, Brosnan....even chubby Hill of a few years back went and got fit.
IMHO, I don't think Scott can afford to have a regular top 30 rider because top 30 doesn't sell bikes. He has the style to win fans but not the race pace and you need both to sell bikes. Freeride doesn't sell bikes, podiums (plus some marketing) do.
 

ianjenn

Turbo Monkey
Sep 12, 2006
3,001
704
SLO
how can they have the best weed in cali and still design stuff like that? #thingsidontget
That is why whatever designer they are using is so high neon orange and yellow look like muted colors to them I would guess.
 

William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
3,913
647
So I'm watching redbulls live feed and don't know how the womens shook out, other then that ragot just put 7 seconds on Hannah??!?!?!?!?! dafuq?!