If the XC guys would loop up and down the DH course, it may actually be an event worth watching.
World Champs 2012 Thread
- Thread starter epic
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so an enduro race?
Nah, they gotta do it while they are running the DH race.
the funniest part with all this amateur course speculation is that you guys pretty much are clueless....rode with one of the syndicate mechanics last weekend during crankworx and he said most people forget that the whole top portion of the course is actually really rough and really fast and there's really only the last section that is "easy"...but whatever, you guys know everything, so carry on.
then they should tell red balls to put their cameras there
How much time do you figure Grubby stands to lose in the rock gardens on a "mountain bike" vs. a downhill bike? More than, less than, or par with what he'll be putting in to the rest of the field ball-pedaling his arse off on the flat sections? As for big jumps, this is a dude who would train for 4X by rallying a hardtail dirtjump bike down A-Line at mach chicken speeds. He's also a dude that has regularly sent a rigid 20" bike off jumps as big/bigger than anything on that Worlds track. Just saying, if Graves doesn't hit the podium or even the top 10, I doubt it's the bike that's holding him back. But that's just like, my opinion, man. I've definitely got him as a box contender. The only thing I could see being to his detriment is how effing fit he is, in the slightly wrong way. He's enduro fit, and has been training and racing for a bit longer of an effort all year. The rest of the field is going to have more of that DH specificity coming in to Worlds.
Aside from the Graves e-speculation, I think all the usual suspects have a good shot. Smith is on a tear. Gee, Hill, Hart, Minaar: always possibilities. Blenki has had some good results this year, hasn't he? I don't think Gwin can be counted out, seems like the struggles he's had are working themselves out a bit maybe he'll get sorted and pull a good result as well. Ah yes... Worlds.
You make a good point with your "logic" and everything. Please stop, it's ruining it for the rest of us.
i'm just making asinine comments. PMB is an awesome track to watch. on video, not that i've ever been there in person.You make a good point with your "logic" and everything. Please stop, it's ruining it for the rest of us.
Same with the French. They will have to watch out for those guys from Mauritius though!
Of course you are. It's the internet.
Got it. So if you're from Botswana or Mauritius then the field is weaker, I agree. You still may come in last place, but it will be 60th, not 281st.
If you're a top contender at any World Cup, then I can't see how this weaker field makes it any easier for you.
I'll go with
Minaar
Gwin
Gee
Mick
Stevie
Minaar
Gwin
Gee
Mick
Stevie
The only thing that stopped Stevie once he got on a roll last season was the end of the season. 
This is too easy -
1. Gwinner...The South African terrain is much more similar to his home in California, much more so than teh gnar-brah tracks in Yurp & Canadia. Since it's smooth and easy, he'll race an XXL Spesh CX bike with a couple extra seat stays for extra pedaling efficiency.
2. Minnaar & Peat...They will be on their specially modified Caberra V10s, doubling their already prodigious pedaling power
3. Gee...feeding off the RM e-hate, he smashes out a stellar run, only to be undone by his inch-worming URT design.
4. Peregrine Falcon...Holding a huge lead over the field for first half of the course, it is slowed considerably by a freak, but brief, thunderstorm. It is also later suspected of using an unsanctioned shuttle method to ascend the mountain, and much shame is cast upon the raptor genus.
5. Nelson Mandela...national pride bitches...
1. Gwinner...The South African terrain is much more similar to his home in California, much more so than teh gnar-brah tracks in Yurp & Canadia. Since it's smooth and easy, he'll race an XXL Spesh CX bike with a couple extra seat stays for extra pedaling efficiency.
2. Minnaar & Peat...They will be on their specially modified Caberra V10s, doubling their already prodigious pedaling power
3. Gee...feeding off the RM e-hate, he smashes out a stellar run, only to be undone by his inch-worming URT design.
4. Peregrine Falcon...Holding a huge lead over the field for first half of the course, it is slowed considerably by a freak, but brief, thunderstorm. It is also later suspected of using an unsanctioned shuttle method to ascend the mountain, and much shame is cast upon the raptor genus.
5. Nelson Mandela...national pride bitches...
As a spectator, PMB is one of my favorite courses - 9/10 times you can't really see how steep or "gnar" something is, and off camber rooty goodness that is extremely difficult to ride fast in person looks boring and tame frequently. PMB has high speed (easy to see) and biggass jumps (also easy to see) and lots of them. Companies and athletes should be concerned with this, not whether you're a professional bike racer who gets paid to fly all over the world riding your bike, and then finding at one place you have to pedal really hard for a full minute and a half on a course.
I would buy one regardless of whether or not gwin wins, if I could afford it.
why does graves have both a hydration pack and a down tube water bottle?
I'd be happy if he won Worlds while sporting either/or.
I'd be happy if he won Worlds while sporting either/or.
My guess would be water in the pack, some sort of electrolyte or sport drink in the bottle. At least that's what I do for long days endurinating on the bike, so obviously that's what Grubby does too. And agree it would be ridiculous and awesome to see him win or even top 10 with either/or. Derp.
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Doesn't the usual suspects always get on to no matter what course the ride?
Profile of the 2011 course, don't think it has changed much.
Drops 1230 feet over 3.12 km.
Drops 1230 feet over 3.12 km.
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How many meters of elevation is that? How many miles is the course?Profile of the 2011 course, don't think it has changed much.
Drops 1230 feet over 3.12 km.
Good point- I only ride in metric units, so I am interested in this as well.
well, that and gee atherton dominating the first several races.The only thing that stopped Stevie once he got on a roll last season was the end of the season.
Not to mention his roll only got started because Gwin fycked his hand and decided it wasn't worth it to race. I like smith, don't get me wrong, but I don't really have him pegged as the dominating rider of his generation.
As far as I know, Gwin and Gee were on the start list at MSA.
He is as good a bet as anyone for PMB and a nice kid to boot.
What does that even mean? There's really only one guy who was ever that to his generation in DH
Graves will ride his Enderpo bike for worlds:
http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/World-Championships-Bikes-and-Gear-2013,6282/Jared-Graves-to-Ride-Yeti-SB66-at-2013-DH-World-Champs,62143/sspomer,2
http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/World-Championships-Bikes-and-Gear-2013,6282/Jared-Graves-to-Ride-Yeti-SB66-at-2013-DH-World-Champs,62143/sspomer,2
Drop - 410 meters/1230 feet.
Length - 3.12 km / 1.94 miles.
Perfect! I had completely forgotten about R&R
Well apparently the guys that actually raced the course have decided to run non-traditional DH bikes, dropper posts and airshocks (Brosnans bike is posted on FB)...but they are not mechanics so what do they know.
I was just watching the 2011 freecaster video this past weekend and was reminded that this was Gwin's coming out race (as in his first WC win). I agree that he has started to get the bike dialed and I'm sure he's hungry for a win...especially a World Championship which would silence a lot of the negativity. We'll see.
As far as Graves goes; wasn't he supposed to destroy the field when 4x was bagged and he started to train for DH? I speculate he will not be on the podium and it will in fact be one of the usual suspects.
^ Has he gotten better? I think there is only 5 steps on the podium.
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3 steps at World championship.
Ehh, my guess is the vast majority of guys will be full-on DH bikes, even if they have dropper posts. As for air shocks, I think they will become more common on practically every course anyway, as I believe Remi was on an air shock when he won Vallnord. Maybe a handful of guys will give it a go on "Enduro" type bikes, but I suspect they will be in the minority. Out of the likely podium contenders, I'd say that Minnaar, Geebus, Smith, Sik Mik, will all be on DH bikes. That said, it will be interesting to see how Brosnan, Gwin, and Grubby perform if they're all on enduro bikes.
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Specialized team looks to be on DH bikes as well according to photos. I think that's where the smart choice is. It's still a DH track, and DH bikes offer more traction and stability at speed, something this course has in spades. People often forget that one of the biggest advantages of more travel is more traction at speed, not just absorbing impacts. Expect lots of other little mods in place.