Headshot

It is going to be a suffering festival looking at the climbing involved on my 16kg bike. Coupled to that I hardly know the Plumber and after hurting myself on it last weekend I'm more than a bit nervous of it and the rocky bit of Iron Monkey which I found stupidly tricky after riding the whole thing blind on a previous enduro and not having too much trouble. Morne - you're a spring chicken at 39.

I like the idea of slightly shorter stages taking in more of what's on offer at JH. I also had a fat crash on Plumber last weekend. Unlike Phil, my bike survived fine, but I'm quite beaten up. I was owned by those two drops in quick succession about 1/4 way down. Took me a good few seconds to breathe properly after that and my ribs are still tender...

As you may have seen, I have also changed the bars on my bike and now ride with a far higher rise than before. I felt that this more than the tyres has had a massive effect on how the bike handles steep bermed corners, partly because I am now able to run the fork a bit softer without feeling as if the front is too low. The lack of hand pain and numbness was incredible. The inserts also make a marked difference - even with lower pressure than normal, the Exo Aggressor showed no signs of burping - just good grip and a cool little skid on the exit some times.

I'm running the Assegai 2.6 Max Terra 27.5 up front and an Aggressor like yours out back, both with foam inserts. Loving the Aggressor out back after a break on a WTB Trailboss. The Assegai isn't noticeably slow rolling up front but I can't compare it to a DHF which I guess probably is a bit faster. This combo was great in the faster stuff at Jonkershoek last weekend.

With a HT, the weight shift onto the front wheel is more pronounced than a full suspension bike. That said, front end grip is usually easy to achieve without resorting to super knobby tyres. How about a Maxxis Ardent up front? They roll reasonably well and grip very well on firmer terrain.

Except that that free coverage is not live broadcast WC DH. Enduro coverage is pretty average and the presenters lack the ability and enthusiasm of Rob W, who despite his faults was able to convey his enthusiasm for the sport and the antics of the rider on track like no other.

And how many deaths due to black clothing? Aren't decent lights far more important?

https://www.hennesseystavern.com/locations-dana-point

What as a matter of interest is their reason?

Ya, minus at least 5k for b@ll crusher saddle position 🙂

i watched Kerr's practice video - he took a couple of runs to get vaguely comfy on this track. Its so rough - imagine doing multiple runs on it... Quali should be interesting later today.

Unbelievable - there is no way that that piston failure should not be dealt with under warranty. Have you read the actual terms and conditions of the warranty? It may be that Coolfreak have just made that part up?

Thanks I found it. It looks like he messed up even before the attempted steezy whip. Eish what a hero to zero moment...

This looks even better than Les Gets

Ok, seen it now. There is no way you can see what happened on that drone footage of the crash and yet you and DnD seem to be able to determine the cause in minute detail 🙂

I always enjoy a good crash and I must have missed it on that replay you speak of - when roughly did it happen? Lovely without commentary I thought.

Softer compound up front and harder out back for durability is how I usually try and do it.

I suspect VDP would have crashed dropper or not - he really messed up on that one. As for Gaze, he does seem to have his share of bad crashes. Always does a proper job.

Compared to a 7 and up GoPro, that is pretty terrible. I can't watch this or my own videos anymore because of the jumpy bumpy video quality.

Too low, remember this is a "pair of forks" so x 2 🙂

just needs to learn how to ride properly... or stick to the road?

Oh ya, and Pidcock should take some lessons from Nino - he has a tree problem it seems. Or his bars are too wide?

Look no amount of PEDs will make you descend like elNino and just blow DVS away on the downhills like he just did. Nino is godlike and should take up #enduro and #DH in his spare time.

Damn right - 10 demerits for you son. 🙂

The biggest development in action cameras in the last few years is image stabilization IMO. My Hero 3 Black is basically now a still camera or for diving or swimming. On the bike its terrible compared to the newer ones. I suspect the knock offs also lack the stabilization of the GoPro cameras from the 7 on up.