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the 2023 DH racing thread!

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,824
5,661
Ottawa, Canada
Seems like Crankworx Rotorua is kicking us off...
and despite some winging about the flat boggy bits, seems like a pretty legit course with a good mix of steep, tech, slippery, and big jumps. I'd watch it live...
 

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,824
5,661
Ottawa, Canada
anyone know what the deal is with the light by the left-hand lever on Loic's handlebar? Does the UCI allow "flight deck"-style adjustments on suspension now?

nice to see some racing again, and nice to hear Eliott and Rob commentating... will definitely miss them on the WC circuit. Fingers crossed for Neko, I hope he has a most excellent season...
 

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
56,153
22,190
Sleazattle
anyone know what the deal is with the light by the left-hand lever on Loic's handlebar? Does the UCI allow "flight deck"-style adjustments on suspension now?

nice to see some racing again, and nice to hear Eliott and Rob commentating... will definitely miss them on the WC circuit. Fingers crossed for Neko, I hope he has a most excellent season...
Well Crankworx isn't a UCI race, so perhaps they allow a little more tech. I think there were rumors of him running a lock out in other races and as pedally as this one was it makes sense, perhaps it was just a visual indication.
 

Gary

my pronouns are hag/gis
Aug 27, 2002
8,573
6,484
UK
anyone know what the deal is with the light by the left-hand lever on Loic's handlebar?
It's just a small kryptonite crystal used to slow him down just enough so super hero DNA survives another day undiscovered. (wireless lock out switch seems the obvious guess)

Blenki looked back on it until his little misshap
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
89,137
27,308
media blackout
anyone know what the deal is with the light by the left-hand lever on Loic's handlebar? Does the UCI allow "flight deck"-style adjustments on suspension now?

nice to see some racing again, and nice to hear Eliott and Rob commentating... will definitely miss them on the WC circuit. Fingers crossed for Neko, I hope he has a most excellent season...
It's been well discussed over on vital for at least a year, some kind of suspension lockout
 

Avy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2006
1,426
469
So,what will the Riders Sponsor say/do if they crash and get hurt? Do some of them want no part of this? I am surprised Bruni is there,as the current World Champion.

Avy
 

toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,875
5,241
Australia
It's been well discussed over on vital for at least a year, some kind of suspension lockout
Someone on Vital suggested it might be some kind of split +/- indicator as well as a lockout button but I thought that wasn't allowed? Also being Loic, I'd imagine the red LED might never actually need to be used.
 

Gary

my pronouns are hag/gis
Aug 27, 2002
8,573
6,484
UK
So,what will the Riders Sponsor say/do if they crash and get hurt? Do some of them want no part of this? I am surprised Bruni is there,as the current World Champion.

Avy
get a grip Avy.
 

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
56,153
22,190
Sleazattle
I’m serious,this ain’t UCI. Not that I care,I Love it.

Avy
So riders normally train by riding around closed parking lots with training wheels on?

To be rude fast you have to ride fast. Except maybe Minaar, but his first few races of a season tend to be shit.
 

Avy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2006
1,426
469
on a scale of 1-10, how naive are you really?

Ok,I was playing Devil Avadoct here,Fuck. The other side of the coin? I know about the Street Race. Tell me sethimus,who was in that Race that was top 20? I am talking about This New Series. Never mind .

As for Westy,I have no comment.

Avy
 

Avy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2006
1,426
469

that one?

i‘d guess that’s a 10 then
sethimus,I was talking about that street race that I saw not to long ago.

Other than Cranwokz,and the respective Country Title race,I do not know of race circuit that the Top 20 race?

Yes there is Hardline,which is After the season is over. Then there is Rampage, which in the old day’s had a lot more UCI Riders. The DH Urban,and I am sure there are more.

Forgive me Monkeys,I thought that Red Bull was starting a New DH Series,just like UCI. I thought this was the First Race with more to come,as the UCI has not begun yet. Hell,do we even know when yet? If I am wrong about this Circuit,please fogive me. I thought this was Red Bull competing against UCI?

Avy
 

toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,875
5,241
Australia
Red Bull hasn't officially launched an alternative series (yet). Its been speculated that they might, but its more likely going to be outside of the regular season if they want to attract the top riders.

I don't think sponsors care what the riders do as long as the coverage and publicity is good. I think race results aren't as significant a contributor to bike sales as they used to be.
 

Gary

my pronouns are hag/gis
Aug 27, 2002
8,573
6,484
UK
Sooo... turns out DH ain't dead. YaY! :banana:

Headed down to a sunny, dry and warm Innerleithen for a quick ride and to watch a few mate's race runs from the 1st SDA round of the year this Sunday.

Elite top 10 results
1st8Danny HART (elt)4249592:59.28312:58.90812:58.9081-
2nd4William BRODIE9995302:59.55723:00.03822:59.55720.649s
3rd3Adam BRAYTON454535Hope Factory Racing3:02.50733:02.71133:02.50733.599s
4th9Calum MCBAIN10746603:03.15743:23.217123:03.15744.249s
5th7Jamie EDMONDSON725880Chilli Racing Brigade3:11.21583:03.61643:03.61654.708s
6th6Ben CATHRO431165Pinkbike Racing3:08.04153:04.64353:04.64365.735s
7th1George GANNICOTT4473203:08.69963:06.55663:06.55677.648s
8th10Luke MUMFORD9673113:13.27593:08.89473:08.89489.986s
9th5Drew CARTERS709410Scottish Downhill Association3:09.47373:13.23993:09.473910.565s
10th12Joe CONNELL457944Privateer Bikes3:13.282103:12.36483:12.3641013.456s


Full results https://www.rootsandrain.com/event11000/2023-apr-2-sda-dh-1-innerleithen/results/
 
Feb 21, 2020
964
1,334
SoCo Western Slope
Sooo... turns out DH ain't dead. YaY! :banana:

Headed down to a sunny, dry and warm Innerleithen for a quick ride and to watch a few mate's race runs from the 1st SDA round of the year this Sunday.

Elite top 10 results
1st8Danny HART (elt)4249592:59.28312:58.90812:58.9081-
2nd4William BRODIE9995302:59.55723:00.03822:59.55720.649s
3rd3Adam BRAYTON454535Hope Factory Racing3:02.50733:02.71133:02.50733.599s
4th9Calum MCBAIN10746603:03.15743:23.217123:03.15744.249s
5th7Jamie EDMONDSON725880Chilli Racing Brigade3:11.21583:03.61643:03.61654.708s
6th6Ben CATHRO431165Pinkbike Racing3:08.04153:04.64353:04.64365.735s
7th1George GANNICOTT4473203:08.69963:06.55663:06.55677.648s
8th10Luke MUMFORD9673113:13.27593:08.89473:08.89489.986s
9th5Drew CARTERS709410Scottish Downhill Association3:09.47373:13.23993:09.473910.565s
10th12Joe CONNELL457944Privateer Bikes3:13.282103:12.36483:12.3641013.456s


Full results https://www.rootsandrain.com/event11000/2023-apr-2-sda-dh-1-innerleithen/results/
Looks like Cathro is still rocking the Dorado. That thing must be pretty noodly for those long ass limbs!
 

Gary

my pronouns are hag/gis
Aug 27, 2002
8,573
6,484
UK
No idea. Never ridden a modern dorado and didn't see him to speak to on the day.
a few interesting titbits from the race in no particular order:
Despite those noodly long limbs and his 6ft 7" height Ben cut his bars down to 760mm.
Calum McBain taking 4th in Elite on a 140mm trail bike!
Young William Brodie just 0.2 behind Danny's first run time and the only other rider to go sub 3min
Even younger Eli Shearer (16) and Stan Nisbet (17) in 6th and 8th overall
 

Avy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2006
1,426
469
No idea. Never ridden a modern dorado and didn't see him to speak to on the day.
a few interesting titbits from the race in no particular order:
Despite those noodly long limbs and his 6ft 7" height Ben cut his bars down to 760mm.
Calum McBain taking 4th in Elite on a 140mm trail bike!
Young William Brodie just 0.2 behind Danny's first run time and the only other rider to go sub 3min
Even younger Eli Shearer (16) and Stan Nisbet (17) in 6th and 8th overall
Gary,I really like the first guy talking on the video? Does he do the actual race? Bloddy Hell,he could be the next UCI guy trying to step in the shoes of Rob?

Avy
 

Gary

my pronouns are hag/gis
Aug 27, 2002
8,573
6,484
UK
That's Grant Murdoch. (the same guy with the mic interviewing folk at the end) He does a bit of commentating and promotional stuff for the SDA. He's a sound, funny enthusiastic guy. (some Scots are :brow:) He races DH too. In Masters. He's quite quick.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,503
1,719
Warsaw :/
No idea. Never ridden a modern dorado and didn't see him to speak to on the day.
a few interesting titbits from the race in no particular order:
Despite those noodly long limbs and his 6ft 7" height Ben cut his bars down to 760mm.
Calum McBain taking 4th in Elite on a 140mm trail bike!
Young William Brodie just 0.2 behind Danny's first run time and the only other rider to go sub 3min
Even younger Eli Shearer (16) and Stan Nisbet (17) in 6th and 8th overall
I think everyone on RM already got the memo that unless you have wide shoulders 750-760 seems the sweet spot. Or did I miss it and some people still insist on riding super long bikes with super long bars?

Also since you probably know more than us. Will William Brodie race any world cups?
 

Gary

my pronouns are hag/gis
Aug 27, 2002
8,573
6,484
UK
I think everyone on RM already got the memo that unless you have wide shoulders 750-760 seems the sweet spot.
At least until the next memo. ;)

Yeah. AFAIK William will be continuing to race World Cups
 

jrewing

Monkey
Aug 22, 2010
436
303
Maydena Oz
I think everyone on RM already got the memo that unless you have wide shoulders 750-760 seems the sweet spot. Or did I miss it and some people still insist on riding super long bikes with super long bars?

Also since you probably know more than us. Will William Brodie race any world cups?
I liked 777 bars. Sounded good mostly
 

SylentK

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2004
2,650
1,095
coloRADo
I liked 777 bars. Sounded good mostly
Spank had/has a 777mm bar. The Bearclaw special edition. I had one. Still on Spank handlebars to this day. Try the vibrocore. Not disappointing.

 

djjohnr

Turbo Monkey
Apr 21, 2002
3,120
1,810
Northern California
I think everyone on RM already got the memo that unless you have wide shoulders 750-760 seems the sweet spot. Or did I miss it and some people still insist on riding super long bikes with super long bars?

Also since you probably know more than us. Will William Brodie race any world cups?
I can't remember the podcast/video, but there were some EWS riders that said they cut down the bar width due to the blind riding but that it was narrower than their preferences.
 

mykel

closer to Periwinkle
Apr 19, 2013
5,517
4,243
sw ontario canada
I know it also has to do with shoulder width, arm section length and elbow angle blah blah as well....

6'2" officially, but I'm starting to shrink, so down to 6'1"
So guess that makes the Ape index is 2,5 up from the previiois 1.5.

Trailbike bars are Syntace Vector 780mm (40mm stem, 477 reach)
DH bars are Spank Spike Vibrocore 800 at 800mm (50mm stem 435 reach)
Grips on both are Ergon GE1 Evo.

Have been wondering about taking the DH to 780, but it feels good most of the time after I acclimitize to oldschool geo. I do find myself a bit further forward than I would like on occasion.

The trailbike feels great on fast open bike park stuff, but too wide and cumbersome on the slowest narrowest of the local trails, but pretty good most of the rest of the time. I'm more on the fence here. I do have a 750 Easton carbon bar i could throw on, but that may not tell me much as it will be too narrow and its numbers are differnt. (I found it good, but wanted a bit more when it was on the 26" Endorphin. On a 29r, I'm skeptical.) Maybe I should break out the ODI rogues and do some grip inset narrow testing.
 

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
56,153
22,190
Sleazattle
Ideal bar width also has a lot to do with skill, strength and reflexes. A world cup rider is going to be able to get away with narrower bars than schmucks bench racing on the internet.

A good analogy is how modern fighter jets are inherently unstable so they can be super maneuverable. But it takes a fly by wire system with computers and actuators that are faster and stronger than a human pilot. A bit of an exaggeration compared with bike setup, but if you think your ideal setup is what the pros run, you are wrong.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,503
1,719
Warsaw :/
At least until the next memo. ;)

Yeah. AFAIK William will be continuing to race World Cups
Well true but someone has to guinea pig every dumb trend that pops up online and apparently RM is the testing ground.

I can't remember the podcast/video, but there were some EWS riders that said they cut down the bar width due to the blind riding but that it was narrower than their preferences.
A lot of DH riders use 750-770 too so it's not just EWS (though yeah some of them are mad and use weird lengths).


  • Troy is at 750
  • Dany is at 760
  • Kerr is 768
  • Ed Masters is at 770
  • Connor Fearon is at 760-770
Also shorter cockpits usually meant wider bars.

Ideal bar width also has a lot to do with skill, strength and reflexes. A world cup rider is going to be able to get away with narrower bars than schmucks bench racing on the internet.

A good analogy is how modern fighter jets are inherently unstable so they can be super maneuverable. But it takes a fly by wire system with computers and actuators that are faster and stronger than a human pilot. A bit of an exaggeration compared with bike setup, but if you think your ideal setup is what the pros run, you are wrong.
Naah. It's not "pros need magical gear". Good body position is a good body position. Simple physics applies to everyone. If you have too wide bars you shoulder length doesn't get narrower just because you got faster. Pros simply spend time to test different setups, we don't so we stay with what felt good in the past. That's why.

Also wide bars made more sense in the past. When bikes were shorter wider bars didn't stretch you out as much as they do now. They kinda helped to compensate for short TT. It's not surprising that with a different position we need a different bar width.
 
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ebarker9

Monkey
Oct 2, 2007
893
292
So, are you guys stating that at 5'-8" (170cm) I shouldn't be using my 820mm bar on a 29'er?
I'll always think of this series in terms of ridiculous bar width:


There's definitely going to be a range of personal preference to bar width, but there's also "this is so far outside of anything that makes sense that you can't possibly ride effectively".