[Heath Sherratt]

True Competition is when the best of the best come together to reach goals unachievable by solitary efforts. Keep your attitudes at home. Let's go out there and achieve the unachievable, not try to one up each other and prove whose best and shiite. One day you'll be up and another you'll be down(litterally). So share your ideas, your experiences and your tire pressure with your brothers. I hope you all have an amazing, safe, but not too safe, race season this year!! See you at the races!

 

[chicodude]

True Competition is when the best of the best come together to reach goals unachievable by solitary efforts. Let's go out there and achieve the unachievable, not try to one up each other and prove whose best and shiite.

But that's why you ride/play better when you have competition. you are trying to prove your better than the other guy. THAT'S WHAT COMPETITION IS!

 

[Tully]

Best of luck to you, too, this season. BTW, if I'm not mistaken, isn't your avatar by Dali?

 

[Metal]

So share your ideas, your experiences and your tire pressure with your brothers.

But some of us sport whack tire pressures (I don't know what I run, just give it the squeeze with my hands), bike set-ups, and race line such as myself.

 

[dhtahoe]

But some of us sport whack tire pressures (I don't know what I run, just give it the squeeze with my hands), bike set-ups, and race line such as myself.

Funny but I have a measuring device for just about EVERYTHING. Except for my tires. I go by T.F.A.R. (That feels about right)

 

[neversummersnow]

Sanjay...II'm doing what you did last season and paying more attention to riding my bike than setting it up....but i'm broken right now...8 weeks on crutches...I'm going to have an ebay/ridemonkey/mtbr sale to try and make a bunch of money since I can't even be a high school girl lurking Starbucks Barista...

edit: I am only 19, high school is still legit right?

 

[Fury]

I measure out my tire pressure but only so I know if I'm leaking any air out of my UST's before my race run. However, it's been a while and I don't remember what pressure I run... 25psi on some Michelin comp 24 2.5"s S.A.R. (sounds about right)

I'm still learning to race against the clock. When I pracitce I can keep up with riders that put in much faster times than me come race day. On my race run I tend to choke a bit. As soon as I hear the beeping in the start gate I get all stiff. I dunno what it is.. any suggestions to fix this?

 

[Metal]

Sanjay...II'm doing what you did last season and paying more attention to riding my bike than setting it up....but i'm broken right now...8 weeks on crutches...I'm going to have an ebay/ridemonkey/mtbr sale to try and make a bunch of money since I can't even be a high school girl lurking Starbucks Barista...

edit: I am only 19, high school is still legit right?

Jeff, now that the race season is only a matter of 3-4 months away, you should start to slowly integrate Top Ramen into your diet. My the time you have raced about half the season, money will definitely start to run low. If you try to go on only Top Ramen then, it will probably be a shock to your system. Also I have found that for liquids, the cheap soad in the 2 liter bottles here in the OC are cheaper than water. Another thing, get used to sleeping on the floor and making your body turn into a pretzle. Someone will say that they don't have any extra room for you in their car. In most cases you will somehow fit. I gues it is good being 5'-6" 145lbs for this. Also get used to riding broken or roached parts...(Sanjay's ghettorific tip of the day) 1. If your spokes are too long, don't go out and buy new ones, just twist them. 2. If you break your derailleur and are broke, don't go out right away and buy a new one. This gives you the perfect opportunity to force yourself to do coaster runs. Best way to learn how to turn fast. Same applies for rear brakes. I have tried to ride without a front brake and it is way too scary.
And remember a cracked rim still has life. Someone I was staying with in Whistler threw away a couple day old 321 because it had like 4 cracks in it. When my Tioga turned into an oval, and then into a square, I laced up the 321 (Using the twist spoke technique) and it is still going strong.

Check your PM's. I have some tips that are for homies only.

 

[neversummersnow]

The Ramen thing did shock my system at Durango, I went on a ramen binge then felt like I was dreaming from all the salt/dehydration come race run...it was like drugs man...drugs...

Good thing we're not in Europe, soda is way expensive, then it's water....but the cheapest is by far beer...like 3 oz of beer to one oz of water...life could get rough

I bought a car that I can sleep in...and is still a car...read 35+mpg when drafting SUVs...but you're right, sleeping in Rocket Boxes and bumming rides is a far better idea.

I can add to this...

1) This may be a bit too ballr but combining JB weld and factory pros rims=greatness. They toss there rims away at the end of every weekend...maybe a few dings and a crack or two but with JB weld, a hammer and a wrench, you can have a stronger-than-new rim.

2) Zip Ties and Duct tape...I can't believe this hasn't been hashed on yet. Broken derailleur...pshh...just zip tie it together. seat ripped off? naaawww just duct tape it back on...

3) If you're a manly man you can deal with a 50 lbs bike, more inertia going down, less broken parts, more burl look...better for the chicks

4) Brake pads are way overrated....if it's not sparking, its not time to replace them.

5) Tires---******************************************censored for homies only

 

[heikkihall]

derrailleur? who needs them? I made one out of zip ties at a collegiate race my freshman year.
Ive ridden wheels that had more spokes pulled out of the rim than were left in the wheel. It was still pretty true so I kept riding it.
I dont like lightweight bikes. They dont feel right to me. I usually aim to have mine around 44-46 lbs.

 

[biker3]

derrailleur? who needs them? I made one out of zip ties at a collegiate race my freshman year.
Ive ridden wheels that had more spokes pulled out of the rim than were left in the wheel. It was still pretty true so I kept riding it.
I dont like lightweight bikes. They dont feel right to me. I usually aim to have mine around 44-46 lbs.

I talked to heikki on the phone at evil, Thanks for going through BTI and QBP for me looking up that Gemini Adapter. We became an e13 dealer just so I could get that part HAHA, glad to be part of the team nonetheless.

 

[konahucker43]

derrailleur? who needs them? I made one out of zip ties at a collegiate race my freshman year.
Ive ridden wheels that had more spokes pulled out of the rim than were left in the wheel. It was still pretty true so I kept riding it.
I dont like lightweight bikes. They dont feel right to me. I usually aim to have mine around 44-46 lbs.

how the hell do you make a derailluer out of zipties?

 

[heikkihall]

how the hell do you make a derailluer out of zipties?

Well it wasnt exaxtly a derrailleur. It couldnt shift. My derrailleur broke and I really wanted to race and the course was not the best to run it chainless (I thought about it though). I didnt have a chain break either so I pulled the derailleur off and put a ton of zip ties around the chain to keep it sorta tensioned and prevent it from bouncing all around. It worked decently. I only needed it to work for 1 run. The gears skipped pretty bad but I didnt loose a chain and I was able to pedal for the sections that I needed it for. I think I got 4th in the A class.

 

[Fonzie18]

Jeff, now that the race season is only a matter of 3-4 months away, you should start to slowly integrate Top Ramen into your diet. My the time you have raced about half the season, money will definitely start to run low. If you try to go on only Top Ramen then, it will probably be a shock to your system. Also I have found that for liquids, the cheap soad in the 2 liter bottles here in the OC are cheaper than water. Another thing, get used to sleeping on the floor and making your body turn into a pretzle. Someone will say that they don't have any extra room for you in their car. In most cases you will somehow fit. I gues it is good being 5'-6" 145lbs for this. Also get used to riding broken or roached parts...(Sanjay's ghettorific tip of the day) 1. If your spokes are too long, don't go out and buy new ones, just twist them. 2. If you break your derailleur and are broke, don't go out right away and buy a new one. This gives you the perfect opportunity to force yourself to do coaster runs. Best way to learn how to turn fast. Same applies for rear brakes. I have tried to ride without a front brake and it is way too scary.
And remember a cracked rim still has life. Someone I was staying with in Whistler threw away a couple day old 321 because it had like 4 cracks in it. When my Tioga turned into an oval, and then into a square, I laced up the 321 (Using the twist spoke technique) and it is still going strong.

Check your PM's. I have some tips that are for homies only.

Hahahahaha, I just laughed so hard I scared my dog out of the room. Sanjay with your tips and tricks I am guaranteed a successful season Good riding with you today.

 

[SinatorJ]

I love to roll low budg just as much as the next guy, but why would you spend all the money getting to a race, taking the time off and just going through all the effort to go to a race just to blow it on your race run just because your rig is a POS? If there is a place to skimp on money it is NOT on your bike. Losing a race sucks, but losing because your bike was not properly maintained is unexcusable. Spend smart.
My tip of the day.

 

[Heath Sherratt]

But that's why you ride/play better when you have competition. you are trying to prove your better than the other guy. THAT'S WHAT COMPETITION IS!

That's why YOU ride and play that way, I do not need to be better than everyone else, just as good as i possibly can be. and sometimes that means i can learn from others and be pushed by their skill level and not my desire to be superior.

 

[Heath Sherratt]

Best of luck to you, too, this season. BTW, if I'm not mistaken, isn't your avatar by Dali?

The answer must be in the form of a question...judges? NNNNT. They will not take that as a sufficient reply. Bong. Yes contestant number 2- "Who Is Salvadore Dali"... That is correct for today's daily double.

 

[Heath Sherratt]

But some of us sport whack tire pressures (I don't know what I run, just give it the squeeze with my hands), bike set-ups, and race line such as myself.

It is impossible to please God without Faith- Sanjay, you please God.

 

[-BB-]

2) Zip Ties and Duct tape...seat ripped off? naaawww just duct tape it back on...

OK... I like all your tips except THIS one.
This is one area where you don't want to mess with the gheto setup b/c the consequences are WAY to high if it comes off.

 

[neversummersnow]

Well, I did it...SOC last year, worked fine...like HS says, FAITH

 

[heikkihall]

I love to roll low budg just as much as the next guy, but why would you spend all the money getting to a race, taking the time off and just going through all the effort to go to a race just to blow it on your race run just because your rig is a POS? If there is a place to skimp on money it is NOT on your bike. Losing a race sucks, but losing because your bike was not properly maintained is unexcusable. Spend smart.
My tip of the day.

But when you can win on a bike with the clap then it makes it that much better. I have found that by running a clapped out bike that there are not many mechanicals that will end my race run. Even if I break a chain, flat a tire, blow out a brake, somehow I still can manage to get down the mountain with a remotely decent time. And Sanjay is not the one to be telling this to because he could probably prove you wrong. He could probably have a mechanical and a crash and still beat everyone in the semi pro field and probably has.
If I was going to races to win every one of them then I certainly would spend more money on my bike and less on getting to the races but I like the competition and atmosphere of racing so I go to every one of them that I can possibly afford and then skimp on some other areas so that I am able to get to even more. Sure it sucks to drive to California and have an issue in your race run but that is not why I race. I like the atmosphere.

 

[BMXman]

don't let Sanjay fool you guys...he's in really good shape....he rode all of Gooseberry Mesa on his dh bike with a 38t up front and an 11-25 rear cog...that only shifted down five gears....there may be something to that ramen thing though ...D

 

[scottishmark]

The answer must be in the form of a question...judges? NNNNT. They will not take that as a sufficient reply. Bong. Yes contestant number 2- "Who Is Salvadore Dali"... That is correct for today's daily double.

good Glasgow painting that one

 

[Heath Sherratt]

But some of us sport whack tire pressures (I don't know what I run, just give it the squeeze with my hands), bike set-ups, and race line such as myself.

Hey Sanjjjj, did you send my hub back yet?

 

[Metal]

Hey Sanjjjj, did you send my hub back yet?

Sorry about lagging so much. I was in Mammoth last weekend and then tied up with a school project, so kept forgetting about sending you the hub. I will drop it off at the post office on my way back up to Mammoth tomorrow.

 

[chicodude]

I think you have compitition confused with just chilling and riding with other people. When I am riding with friends and such, we push each other and there's no compititon, But if we are racing, the point is to win.

That's why YOU ride and play that way, I do not need to be better than everyone else

So you don't like to win races?

 

[Damn True]

But that's why you ride/play better when you have competition. you are trying to prove your better than the other guy. THAT'S WHAT COMPETITION IS!

That is the exact opposite reason I DH race.

I tried XC racing and hated the me vs. 100's of others thing. Grumpy people hollering at each other etc.

A DH race is a time trial. I'm not really racing Heath, I'm racing my own ability to stay off the brakes, hit the right lines and not wad it up. For many of us we only want to have a good day and see our friends do well and not get hurt. Sure we want to measure ourselves, but I don't think about beating other people, I think about making a run that I can look back on and say, "That was the best I was capable of."

 

[chicodude]

That is the exact opposite reason I DH race.

I tried XC racing and hated the me vs. 100's of others thing. Grumpy people hollering at each other etc.

A DH race is a time trial. I'm not really racing Heath, I'm racing my own ability to stay off the brakes, hit the right lines and not wad it up. For many of us we only want to have a good day and see our friends do well and not get hurt. Sure we want to measure ourselves, but I don't think about beating other people, I think about making a run that I can look back on and say, "That was the best I was capable of."

To each his own I guess.........

 

[Heath Sherratt]

Read the original post, we come together to achieve OUR best. The competition is the driving force that causes us to excel beyond our own limits. Riding with friends can become just a social ladder. People may be skilled above the limits of those they ride with but they are intimidated or limited by their relationships and the "pecking order". When we come to compete we often have many new faces and new courses and a "neutral" setting to test our capabilities. Like True says I go out there to achieve MY best and if that happens to be better than everyone else's then great, I'll take the spoils, but if I "lose" to someone who is just plain faster or I have a bad race or a mechanical then such is life you know? There's always outside factors that we must consider when we go to race and trying to compare yourself to others is unhealthy and dangerous. You never know what is going on in others lives and you can really mislead yourself if you think you the man because you win some races only to find out your competitors have been dealing with grief or having a new baby or didn't train all year but still came within a second of your time. If they had trained you wouldv'e been off the back and it's just safer to only compare your performances with your own expectations. Only you knows really what's going on in your life.

 

[bballboy388]

i just like to ride my bike period