[NAYR]

I just think the bar has been raised. Looking at Minnaar's near crash, and both Brook's and Hart's crashes, these guys are riding at the limit of what is possible, and have definitely all stepped up their game from last season. Usually Minnarr is very smooth, and it seems rather uncharacteristic of him to be getting that loose in one of his race runs. That alone is very telling of the pace of this years top guys.

I don't buy the "there's no good trails to train on in the US" excuse that Gwinn is making. There's plenty of good stuff. He is just a little off pace now that everyone else has stepped up their game, and is looking to put the blame on something. That said, the medium Demo was definitely holding him back. After listening to the Dirt interview, I think he basically had the same things to say about the Demo that I wrote about in my review of the Demo that everyone gave me S### for. This year, I got a large Demo(on warranty) and I was immediately faster/more comfortable riding high speed stuff compared to the medium, and Gwinn's result today seems to support my thoughts.

I'm hoping he gets it back together and starts 'gwinning' again, but I think it might take a few more races. I'd imagine that he probably has some major mental hurdles to climb over after his performance Ft. Bill; not to mention that he seems to have gone from riding on the offensive(destroying everyone in the races by considerable margins) to the defensive(holy crap I just got 20th and have to step it up just to place top ten). It's hard to win when you are thinking like that.

 

[supercow]

lol
Funny how that works huh,

Indeed, for the agnostics like me ... when things go sh!t, I'll maybe consider sending up a prayer, just in case it works.
Funny how Christians do it the other way around, and thanks the Zombie for when things go well.

How off-topic was that?!

 

[tabletop84]

I just think the bar has been raised. Looking at Minnaar's near crash, and both Brook's and Hart's crashes, these guys are riding at the limit of what is possible, and have definitely all stepped up their game from last season. Usually Minnarr is very smooth, and it seems rather uncharacteristic of him to be getting that loose in one of his race runs. That alone is very telling of the pace of this years top guys.

Might be also the long off-season. Minaar said that he really had trouble finding his mojo in Ft. William and his first Splits show just that.

 

[PJivan]

sam hill is gonna have a problem free run one of these days and smash everyone like the old days

THIS and to be fair...he deserve it

 

[Tomasz]

The US is crap for DH............ There's a reason we all have to go to Canada...

 

[intensified]

no secret it was a 6 race season, no time to get up to speed, Almost at the midpoint already.

good point about not giving congrats to the podium racers on gwins behalf by Kevin, being a poor sport is lame.

Maybe he can salvage some pride with a win at the worlds, going to be tough too catch up with the leaders.

 

[trap121]

THIS and to be fair...he deserve it

I was hoping Sam would pull it off too

 

[Floor Tom]

good point about not giving congrats to the podium racers on gwins behalf by Kevin, being a poor sport is lame.

He didn't straight away but the camera cut from him, he might have gone over after it cut away.

The look on his face at the bottom suggested that it might be more than 'just riding bikes' after all, and he certainly didn't look like he was 'having fun'.

 

[Beef Supreme]

I didnt even see him congratulate the top 3 like most riders did. For me thats being a self centered douche.

Well, true, but I am still ready to go back to Gee's particular brand of poor sportsmanship and douchiness.

 

[sundaydoug]

I was hoping Sam would pull it off too

This. No Sam Hill 10-plus second win at VDS to make up for 2008 world champs, no care. All I wanted to hear during Sam's run was Warner screaming at the top of his lungs "He's gonna smash it!!!".

Congrats to Gee and Rachel though, coming out guns blazing in the first 2 rounds. Great showing for their team and GT's new bike.

 

[monkeyfcuker]

GT and Specialized are having very different meetings right now....

 

[William42]

Looks to me more like he's trying not to blame the big change in his team, the bike. I like the demo a lot. It's a really fun bike. But anybody who has ridden a new one knows it rides better off the back with a bunch of bike in front of you, and it looks pretty clear with the size change that gwin is compensating for that with WB because sitting back isn't comfortable for him.

Also, I'll add that if you ride tighter, twistier trails, short chainstays could very well ride faster, and that gwin might have been testing faster on his hometown trails then he was on the trek. Anybody who says the demo is outdated doesn't know what they're talking about, but I do think there might be something to it not working well for him.

Heres to some geeking out.

Looking at the average chainstay length of the top 10 bikes
GT 1: 432mm
Devinci 1: 430mm
Santa Cruz 2: 439mm
Lapierr 1: 435mm
Specialized 2: 421mm
Mondraker 2: 440-455
Polygon 1: 435-445

Average CS length of the top 10 is 433.2 assuming mondraker and polygon were in the shortest settings.
If you discount specialized, it jumps up to 436.25. Further, the trek he was previously on had stays with options between 439-441, a wopping 20mm longer. Having owned a session for a few years and getting some ride time on a demo, they ride pretty different in where the sweet spot is. Also, looking at Sam Hill on nukeproof/ironhorse/specialized, we seem to be seeing the same story. Short chainstays may be more fun, but they don't seem to work out as well for Gwin/Hill.

I'm betting we see Gwin with some custom stays at the next WC race.

 

[trib]

Gee may be on the road to becoming the UK's Brian Lopes, but he's clearly still in love with the sport. His shirt off, arrogance on, style may not be everyones cup of tea but at least he speaks to the other guys on the podium and after last seasons constant 2nd and 3rd places he went off, trained, figured out a bike that could be ridden fast and came back strong.

Gwin pissed off his old sponsors, caused the biggest fuss in mtbiking since HB cut the course and now says 'it's just riding bikes' in an effort to get the media off his back. A media which is expectant solely because of the way that Gwin, Spec and Whitely acted in the off season. People forget that Gwin is actually a young man with the face of 40year old. He doesn't deserve to have this level of flack from people, but he's not made it easy for himself.

Overall, I don't like to see just one rider dominate the year (and 2 races in is too soon to really discuss dominations) but Gee spent all last year on an outdated bike getting results that weren't as good as they could have been, he's allowed to get a bit carried away. Ideally Smith, Hart, McDonald, Hill, Minnaar, Brosnan et al will grab some number 1 spots between them, but I find it hard to be annoyed that a world class athlete has worked hard in the off season and as a result is doing better than the other racers.

I think rather than discuss Gee and Gwin's new turns of form we should look at some of the faces that should have achieved by now and think about what they're bringing to the team...

Fairclough has barely finished in the top 15 let alone challenged for a win in the last season. Bryceland has two of the most successful riders in history as mentors, when's that potential going to start winning races?

I just re read that all and actually edited most of it out because it was such pointless drivel. I should really delete the whole post, but this is the internet. If I can't rant my uninformed, speculative dross here, where can I?

 

[tabletop84]

I wonder how $ will try to cover up.

 

[William42]

I wonder how $ will try to cover up.

cover up what? a 5th and 6th place finish? Thats not really all that bad, particularly with top riders at a really high and fairly level speed right now. Although Gee is totally killing it, and I'm pumped to see him work his ass off and get rewarded rather then discouraged.

Bryceland seems to be coming to. It is unsurprising to see a top 10 finish from him at all, but I agree, I think specialized/sam Hill were the best things to happen to fairclough, and I think freeride or dirt jumps might be his future of MTB. DH doesn't seem to be working for him ever since that gnar crash in PMB that blew up his knee.

Anybody else pumped to see Loic going so fast his first year as a senior? And this isn't even his first podium. People were excited about troy, but I think Loic has as much potential or more, dude is a monster.

Also, I remember when I was first getting into DH and hearing about how steve smith was crazy fast and that if he could just stay on his bike he'd be a top dog, and kept thinking yeah yeah, whatever, but it looks like vital crew and transend are having the last laugh, looks like he figured out the consistency thing Hart is still struggling for.

 

[trib]

Seeing guys like Smith and Mcdonald do well keeps the races exciting.

I really do think that Fairclough has hit his best results. Seems unfortunate to say, but all that natural talent doesn't seem to be transferring to winning times. He's been on teams with Peat, Hill & Minnaar, ridden bikes that have won World cups, yet he's missing part of the puzzle.

I'm sure he'll make a decent living off of throwing whips on DH bikes and finishing mid pack, but he could be so much better.

 

[tabletop84]

Well it's still a bit of a marketing disaster for Specialized. Buying the fastest guy in a shady looking deal and then he's suddenly way slower. I just wonder if they will introduce longer or adjustable stays silently or be like "well the bike needs to fit the rider, specialized, performance, more carbon, lighter, stronger yaddayadaa".

 

[chillindrdude]

Well it's still a bit of a marketing disaster for Specialized. Buying the fastest guy in a shady looking deal and then he's suddenly way slower.

Funny how karma works...

 

[William42]

shady looking deal? Whitely told gwin to go **** himself when gwin asked for a raise after two years of domination, so gwin moved on. It surprised everybody because it sounded like gwin was going to re-sign, but there wasn't really a whole lot "shady" about it.

 

[Tomasis]

one thing I can add that I understand that Gwin doesnt care about the commercial aspect. He is simple guy and enjoys of riding. I see how the interview with him put of some people.

I remember I read one article how Gwin got in proffesional sport of DH. Before that he was just ordinary guy who enjoyed to ride, also he was fast. Very good at opting the shortest line at any track.

He may long back to the roots of riding. Without distractions and get close to the core of MTB. It may sound weird when you just drop him in mtb and he takes the bike and rides without need to prove his theories for base of fanboys that he know everything about history. Yikes.

 

[Beef Supreme]

Anybody else pumped to see Loic going so fast his first year as a senior? And this isn't even his first podium. People were excited about troy, but I think Loic has as much potential or more, dude is a monster.

Me. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him become a consistent podium threat by the end of the year.

Keeping with the theme of unnecessary dickishness, maybe then Team Lapierre can land an acne cream sponsor.

 

[William42]

one thing I can add that I understand that Gwin doesnt care about the commercial aspect. He is simple guy and enjoys of riding. I see how the interview with him put of some people.

I remember I read one article how Gwin got in proffesional sport of DH. Before that he was just ordinary guy who enjoyed to ride, also he was fast. Very good at opting the shortest line at any track.

He may long back to the roots of riding. Without distractions and get close to the core of MTB. It may sound weird when you just drop him in mtb and he takes the bike and rides without need to prove his theories for base of fanboys that he know everything about history. Yikes.

I don't think he's the village simpleton...

Pretty much every interview and post race win chat he has talked about how well his team did, and what a great team effort it was, and how well the greatest bike/fork/product that he was riding in the world performed so much better then anything else could possibly have. The dude reps the products hes paid to rep pretty avidly.

 

[epic]

Can I just give a shout-out for Matt Simmonds? I didn't know he could be this fast - and what a save on that tank-slapper.

 

[chillindrdude]

Keeping with the theme of unnecessary dickishness, maybe then Team Lapierre can land an acne cream sponsor.

weren't we all pimple-ly at that age?

 

[Beef Supreme]

weren't we all pimple-ly at that age?

Of course. I am just bitter because I am currently in need of a chiropractor sponsor but have nothing to offer in return.

 

[bismojo]

2013 is the most #nipples season (with or without band aid) ... by far!

 

[weedkilla]

I distinctly remember being at Hill's first race on a specialized (an aussie nats) they had built prototypes for him with different length chainstays right up to the 17.25 of a Sunday. After testing Hill chose standard demo length. I have no reason to doubt that Specialized wouldn't build a proto anything gwin wanted.
The fact that appears to have not happened in a long off season is the disturbing part. I simply cant fathom the idea that a professional team had such a lackadaisical attitude towards dialling in a new ride.
Specialized fly TB to things like interbike just to sign autographs and glad hand, but they didnt dedicate time to ensuring they covered every base with Gwin? Makey no sensey - even with Gwin's insistence that he was the one who was happy in the off season. A diligent employer would have expected that backed up with some times in testing.
Quite simply, last years times at vds show everyone who stayed up going faster and Gwin going slower.
Bike or not, things aren't great in the specialized camp. (Unless you're Troy, then its quietly smile and enjoy beating your team mate. The most obvious competitor in non team sports.)
As to the "its just racing bikes" thing. Whatever headspace works for a racer......stressed, calm, doesn't matter.

 

[William42]

I distinctly remember being at Hill's first race on a specialized (an aussie nats) they had built prototypes for him with different length chainstays right up to the 17.25 of a Sunday. After testing Hill chose standard demo length. I have no reason to doubt that Specialized wouldn't build a proto anything gwin wanted.
The fact that appears to have not happened in a long off season is the disturbing part. I simply cant fathom the idea that a professional team had such a lackadaisical attitude towards dialling in a new ride.
Specialized fly TB to things like interbike just to sign autographs and glad hand, but they didnt dedicate time to ensuring they covered every base with Gwin? Makey no sensey - even with Gwin's insistence that he was the one who was happy in the off season. A diligent employer would have expected that backed up with some times in testing.
Quite simply, last years times at vds show everyone who stayed up going faster and Gwin going slower.
Bike or not, things aren't great in the specialized camp. (Unless you're Troy, then its quietly smile and enjoy beating your team mate. The most obvious competitor in non team sports.)
As to the "its just racing bikes" thing. Whatever headspace works for a racer......stressed, calm, doesn't matter.

Or its as simple as "they did test, and back to back the shorter stays were faster on his local trails, and when he got to yurp and was riding faster, more wide open tracks rather then trails with tight berms and corners and very little wide open, the bike was no longer excelling as much."

 

[toowacky]

Was gonna sell my medium Demo... but now not so sure. So confused, where art thou win, rock jeebuz. <sigh>

 

[Trekrules]

Taylor Vernons brutal crash

 

[kidwoo]

I don't think there's a worse sound in existence than the sound of someone with the wind knocked out of them.

I'm pretty sure when someone gets their pelvis blown off the vocals are no different.

 

[HAB]

I don't buy the "there's no good trails to train on in the US" excuse that Gwinn is making.

Don't the Athertons generally spend a bunch of the winter in Southern CA? Seems like they're getting by alright.

 

[HAB]

I don't think there's a worse sound in existence than the sound of someone with the wind knocked out of them.

I'm pretty sure when someone gets their pelvis blown off the vocals are no different.

I distinctly remember the first time I got the wind knocked out of me. I was playing catch with my dad in our front yard, and he decided to pretend to slide into a base as I covered it, and proceeded to completely knock me on my ass. He's about 6'5", 210lbs, and I was about 6. I thought I was dying.

 

[HAB]

I'm watching the live stream from my laptop tethered to my 4g phone from the parking lot of snow summit while I wait for the lifts to open. Life is awesome.

I did that, only from my hotel in Whistler.

 

[valve bouncer]

I'd say young Mr Vernon's urine may have a slight pink tinge for the next few days. Alright though apparently which is good to hear.

 

[gemini2k]

I did that, only from my hotel in Whistler.

Only SLIGHTLY jealous...

 

[tabletop84]

shady looking deal? Whitely told gwin to go **** himself when gwin asked for a raise after two years of domination, so gwin moved on. It surprised everybody because it sounded like gwin was going to re-sign, but there wasn't really a whole lot "shady" about it.

I wrote *looking* deal. I didn't intend to say that it was shady or the demo is a bad bike.

I distinctly remember being at Hill's first race on a specialized (an aussie nats) they had built prototypes for him with different length chainstays right up to the 17.25 of a Sunday. After testing Hill chose standard demo length. I have no reason to doubt that Specialized wouldn't build a proto anything gwin wanted.
The fact that appears to have not happened in a long off season is the disturbing part. I simply cant fathom the idea that a professional team had such a lackadaisical attitude towards dialling in a new ride.
Specialized fly TB to things like interbike just to sign autographs and glad hand, but they didnt dedicate time to ensuring they covered every base with Gwin? Makey no sensey - even with Gwin's insistence that he was the one who was happy in the off season. A diligent employer would have expected that backed up with some times in testing.
Quite simply, last years times at vds show everyone who stayed up going faster and Gwin going slower.
Bike or not, things aren't great in the specialized camp. (Unless you're Troy, then its quietly smile and enjoy beating your team mate. The most obvious competitor in non team sports.)
As to the "its just racing bikes" thing. Whatever headspace works for a racer......stressed, calm, doesn't matter.

They bought THE fastest guy who smashed the field two years in a row. Why think he wouldn't do that if he's happy?

(I also think it's very difficult, even for the racer itself, to calculate his speed in the offseason. Even at off-season-races where you never know if your wc-opponents let it all hang out or not)

I don't think there's a worse sound in existence than the sound of someone with the wind knocked out of them.

I'm pretty sure when someone gets their pelvis blown off the vocals are no different.

I'm usually way calmer when that happens and it looks like he was in intense pain at the back. When I get the wind knocked out of me it just feels like I can't breathe. Not pleasant but not unbearable pain either. But once I kissed a tree with my head I got a bit of an idea how it could feel to overstretch my spine.

Also:

I bet this guy doesn't even think about shimz:

 

[Cant Climb]

Don't the Athertons generally spend a bunch of the winter in Southern CA? Seems like they're getting by alright.

They stayed homebase this winter like the old days. That's what Rachel said in one her interviews.

 

[intensified]

gwin should have been more precise in the off season testing when getting on the demo. the legend nico wouldn't have rolled that way if it's even really the route of the problem (bike size,tracks,etc.).

 

[DH Dad]

I distinctly remember being at Hill's first race on a specialized (an aussie nats) they had built prototypes for him with different length chainstays right up to the 17.25 of a Sunday. After testing Hill chose standard demo length. I have no reason to doubt that Specialized wouldn't build a proto anything gwin wanted...

Wasn't the Demo aluminum when Hill started with Spec? Much easier to build custom length stays for an aluminum frame than a carbon one though I imagine if anyone had the resources to do so it would be Spec or Trek.