[cali4niabiker]

Alright... I've known and heard about Super D for some time but never really bothered to find out what it is all about, so I just did a Google search a while ago. Based on the google search, what I know now is that it is a cross between XC and DH. You basically fly down the mountain (lift assist???) and then climb some. How does it work and what types of bikes would normally be used for Super D? Would something along the lines of a FR bike be good for that (i.e., Giant AC, IH SGS FR, Ells Ids, etc)?

Alright monkeys, lecture me on what it is about and how do they go about in the race (i.e., do they start @ top then climb, etc). :dancing:

 

[downhillzeypher]

I think it's like pedalfest DH.

Kinda "old school DH"

 

[Jm_]

elbows

 

[cali4niabiker]

elbows

Elbows? I'm confused.

 

[Jm_]

Elbows? I'm confused.

The super D courses that i've seen so far were like mountain cross courses, just longer with pedaling-meaning that they were ridden by a bunch of racers at once. I'm sure not all super D courses are like this though...

 

[Wumpus]

~o~o~

NORBAs definition...

"The Super D is a hybrid cross-country/downhill competition. This race can be contested with individual starts, as in downhill events, or a Le Mans mass start. The course should be 12-20 minutes in length and the start should be higher in altitude than the finish line. Courses should have significantly more descending than climbing, be void of any jumps, and not be extremely technical. A full-suspension cross-country bike would be ideal for this type of race.

 

[Dartman]

It's all about fun!!!

They basically choose a long course that is mostly DH but with about 10 percent climbing. This'll give you about a 10-15 min run. It is either individually timed like DH or uses a Le Mans type start where everyone in their class runs to their bikes and bombs down the course all at once.

The courses favor trail bikes with about 5in travel front and rear. I used my Bullit set up with a LRP chainguide. It spun out on the DH as I could've used a bigger chainring but it did alright and I got 3rd at Snowshoe.

Mike

 

[MikeD]

Discussed in detail here and here

 

[MikeD]

The super D courses that i've seen so far were like mountain cross courses, just longer with pedaling-meaning that they were ridden by a bunch of racers at once. I'm sure not all super D courses are like this though...

Super D is a one-up event, just like DH, with the riders seperated by a time interval. Over the length of the race, though, there's bound to be a lot of passing, especially given the variety of light and heavy bikes and the particular requirements of the course.

 

[cali4niabiker]

Discussed in detail here and here

Thanks for the info, y'all. Might as well consider putting this thread in the dumpster.

 

[MikeD]

Hey, if you're looking at the Big Bear DH, it was pretty much 2N10/Town Trail (fireroad)/lower 1/8 of Summit run one time I did it. A fast guy on an XC bike, who could manage it through the last bit on Summit, would probably win easily over the guys on Bullits or (like me) Big Hits. A trailbike like an ID or an Enduro, especially if it was set up to pedal and climb efficiently, would have a good chance as well.

MD

 

[cali4niabiker]

Hey, if you're looking at the Big Bear DH, it was pretty much 2N10/Town Trail (fireroad)/lower 1/8 of Summit run one time I did it. A fast guy on an XC bike, who could manage it through the last bit on Summit, would probably win easily over the guys on Bullits or (like me) Big Hits. A trailbike like an ID or an Enduro, especially if it was set up to pedal and climb efficiently, would have a good chance as well.

MD

I'm curious about Super D because I do have a '02 Giant AC frame packed in a box and I could swap out the parts from my XC bike and I basically would have a bike built up specifically for Super D as long as there are some DH type runs and some non-technical climbs...

I've never done it before so I don't know what to expect and how to start off, you know what I mean?

 

[MikeD]

An AC frame built up really light, with light wheels and 2.2-2.3 singleply tires and a good geometry for climbing (short fork and longish stem, short travel setting), would probably be a good Super D bike anywhere in the country. A swinger air shock or something would be icing on the cake.

Then again, as much as NORBA won't admit, the Super D is mostly (IMHO) intended for newer or seriously old-school riders who are scared by, unfamiliar with, or unwilling to buy proper DH stuff, yet are intrigued by the idea--especially, say, younger kids whose parents won't shell out the dough for a DH bike. It's a gateway event, if you will. So, in my opinion, it'd be pretty wierd to build a bike just for Super D, as it's intended as the ultimate run-what-you-brung, all inclusive kind of event. If you're already into DH, I'd put down money that the Super D probably won't excite you.