nigelhicks

25km or camera cabling! ... NUTS ... Add to this 3 cables for DH timing running the length of the track (3 x 3km) ... Thats a LOT of cabling!

The UCI rules are different to that of CSA's and we have to abide by CSA regulations - the use of Go Pro cameras during world cup DH finals has had a slight shift for 2014 as the UCI and Red Bull are looking at implimenting LIVE ONBOARD camera shots during racing on specific pilots (similar to what they do in Supercross) for live broadcast. The riders are selected and given an option to wear the device on their helmet during their race run - they are not obligated to do it and it is up to them. The device is then installed by a Go Pro representative and removed by one at the finish - this footage goes to Red Bull and the UCI and only after production is offered to the riders sponsors. Should make for cool footage at races - but this is all at the discretion of the UCI

So although the UCI is ok with the use of Helmet cams during events - CSA is not - and we fall under CSA regulation at all of our events (except the World Cup or World Champs).

Compared to the UCI's rule for Downhill 4.3.014 Cameras are not permitted during qualifying rounds and finals. The riders are responsible for securing the fixation of the cameras in order to avoid any danger. The UCI can decide to allow a camera during finals but only for the usage of the TV production company. Comment: 1 see also, in particular, articles 1.3.001-1.3.003 and 1.3.031 2 cameras may be used during training sessions (article 4.3.021) under the conditions laid down in this article. (text modified on 1.02.12; 1.07.12; 1.10.13)

CSA's ruling 14.03 Forbidden devices In all forms of mountain bike competition: 14.03.001 Radio links: The use of radio links or other remote means of communication with riders during a race is forbidden. 14.03.002 Music players: The use by any rider of any form of music player, audio device or other similar device (e.g. iPod, MP3 Player, walkman, mobile phone) is forbidden during all events and competition as these devices restrict hearing and are considered dangerous to the rider and other riders 14.03.003 Cameras: No form of camera may be mounted or worn by the rider on any part of the body, and may also not be mounted on the helmet of a rider

How the Camera stuff works at a world cup http://dirtmountainbike.com/news/behind-the-scenes-red-bulls-world-cup-live-coverage.html?l=OrMCe04Lcp0lOEFOBz8_rBIK287-R0NMEAk5T51GQCsR6kdPA0c_rBQOuEsHOZPJxfQiUmcjxE_yFyVUmUA50Wt1wLSB3TlT6u3tL04LMuVVaUh7Tgs?l=OrMCe04Lcp0lOEFOBz8_rBIK287-R0NMEAk5T51GQCsR6kdPA0c_rBQOuEsHOZPJxfQiUmcjxE_yFyVUmUA50Wt1wLSB3TlT6u3tL04LMuVVaUh7Tgs

"Hi Our names are Headshot and Hairy! ... and we dont seem to read Nige's informative posts on UCI rule changes and Camera position issues!" .... :whistling: ... See page 7 for Greg DQ issue and Page 9 for Camera issues

Market just isnt big enough unfortunately - especially here in SA where the focus is primarily on Marathon events - we have had people ask us already - why on earth would you want to shuttle up the hill? just ride it! .... Also then there is the legal side behind paying customers - there need to be indemnities with the landowners (council), land operators (NCT), public, course operaters (KZNMTB) and shuttle operater for liability purposes. Then also the issue that the drivers and vehicles would need to conform to the health and safety act .. and have PDP's etc. Also then who would be responsible for road and vehicle maintanence etc .... And the list goes on and on - at the moment it is just not sustainable

PMB (and neither Cairns AFAIK) have dedicated "out of race" shuttle services - you are on your own to make a plan to get up the hill - this is unlike Euro where a number (but not all) ski lifts operate during summer. It must be remembered as well that even in Europe - some WC level tracks are not maintained or kept open unless there is a race on ... Champery - is not maintained and the lower section over Danny's jumps are closed!!! (unless there is a race on) ... Same with Schladmings finish area - this is a parking lot for the chairlift. SA on the otherhand has a contract to keep the DH and XC tracks cleared and rideable ALL-YEAR-ROUND ... with regards to transport at WC EVENTS - the regulations state the following Transport 4.3.025 The organiser must provide transport capable of carrying 100 riders and their bikes per hour to the top of the course. There is no stipulation to the style of transport - just the turn-around capacity ... Because of this we had a fleet (20 odd) minibusses so that there was always a buss waiting for a rider group.

OK - CAMERA ANGLES AND HELMET CAMS! Camera is a HUGE issue at World Cup events. It is impossible to capture an entire run as in most instances there are 3 riders on track at one time. So what happens in most cases is as follows Camera 1 to 4 Either Pre-recorded from Qualification or - what RB have been doing lately since PMB is time-delaying live feed. So the camera films the sections of the start and Cloud 9 and holds the images as pre-record Then there is a live delay cam at Dr Evil and the Tables which is posponed for 40seconds till airing (to compensate for the pedal section) - this is then added to the live feed - the live feed can only occur within the lower minute of the track as the riders are generally at 1 minute intervals ... so this gives 20 sec of pre-record feed and 40 sec of live feed. At 3 minute intervals this allows for extra cameras for pre-record and live feed to be utiliised as you would see in the RB feed. RB actually always have 13 cameras on track but these are broken down to include one Jib-boom ... 1 slow mo cam .. and one finish arena hand held - leaving 10 cameras on track to cover the start, pre-record and live feed. So in all instances the main clump of cameras are at the bottom of the track. Going to 5 minute gaps still wouldnt really help as it would still need more cameras as well as taking a HELL of a lot longer to film and air - remember that even live streaming costs money - LOTS of money! So to Helmet cams These are being implimented by RB to get to similar things like supercross have with live feed from onboard cameras - There will be 3 or 4 designated Go-pro pilots who will ride with go-pros during their runs that RB can then patch into to use as live-feed from course - the riders are given the opportunity and are under no obligation to use the cameras if they dont want to. But this is a step in the right direction IMO

Ok again Duane - have you looked at the profiles of all the world cup tracks or IXS tracks that are currently in use? NONE of them are 1000m elevation drop in 4km ... Mont St Anne - 600m descent in 3km Fort Bill - 580m in 3km Windham - 400m in 2km PMB - 414m in 3km Cairns - 320m in 2km Leogang - 472m in 2.2km Champery - 630m in 2km Maribor - 450m in 1.7km The UCI rules state that a track needs to be : . Minimum Maximum Course length 1500 m 3500 m Duration of the event 2 minutes 5 minutes So to have a 1000m drop in 4km would probably take more than 5minutes duration - which is too long for todays standards

Duane - stop being like a 14 year old pinkbike columnist and think about it for a second. ... YES it would be great to have all the events at ski-assisted bike parks etc. Everyone would love it. But this is not the reality. Can you explain why Val di Sole, Maribor and Schladming are not on the UCI calendar but are hosting IXS races? ... NO? ... Ok i will explain (like i have done to all the pinkbike complainers) All events go out to tender with the initial upfront fee payable to bid for an event being in the (i think) 300 000 EURO range ... As most events that are hosted at Ski Resorts are NOT funded by local government (as PMB and i believe Cairns were) it is expensive for the resort to pay for the hosting rights. On top of this the organisers need to cover the TV costs infrastructure costs and other UCI costs that will be incurred. As this is a Global Tour. Needless to say venues like Val Di Sole, Schladming and Windham have all in the past stated to the UCI at one point or another that they dont have the cash to host the events. So then who has the cash to bid? So who then Bids? If you dont bid how can the UCI choose you? SO ..... Your complaint is invalid for a number of reasons. 1. the shuttle access at Cairns was faster than most of the skilift assisted access events 2. in some instances even PMB is on a par with Fort Bill's access dependant on the queue for the lift system. 3. In the past there have been a number of shuttle assisted venues - Canberra, La Bresse to name 2. 4. Many of the bike parks with ski lifts are exactly that - bike parks - which the UCI want to try and avoid as they are looking for less groomed tracks 5. (and this is the main one) the UCI are limited to choosing from those venues that bid for an event. No bid = you cant have an event. The UCI cant just say to Threadbo "we have an event coming to AUZ - here you organise it" ... it just doesnt work that way! So then before you say "Yes but look at the IXS and how good their venues are" ... remember that the IXS is a Euro Cup (the equivalent of which is our African Continental Champs) ... So there is far less infrastructure that is required to host these events. So therefore the series can utilise venues that may not have the funds to host a World Level event. SO before trying to make up your own rules for the UCI think of the issues that they face first. There are big issues that no one bids ... so what can they do?

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/13/139190/3263454-impliedfacepalm.jpg

Hey guys - the rules changed at PMB for this year ... last year and before the rule was that if you leave the track you cannot be deemed to have gained any advantage. However this leads to speculation as what is an "advantage". So at PMB the rule was changed at the Managers meeting to the following - "If you leave the tape you need to rejoin where you exited the track" ...... NO 2 ways around .... The rule change was mentioned to all team managers and communicated by official communique. So it was Gregs fault. The new rules were obviously not communicated to Rob Warner and the TV guys who still thought the old rules stand. In Gregs instance he left the tape and missed a pole. If you look at the video he breaks the tape going out but then picks the tape up over his head to rejoin as it was still connected to the pole. So therefore he came in below where he left. So thats it DSQ.

http://flowmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/WEB_NEWS_CAIRNS_WC_THUR_DH_DB-2.jpg http://flowmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Cairns2014-ThursdayDHpractice-38.jpg http://flowmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Cairns2014-ThursdayDHpractice-15.jpg http://flowmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Cairns2014-ThursdayDHpractice-23.jpg http://flowmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Cairns2014-ThursdayDHpractice-35.jpg http://flowmountainbike.com/post-all/tropic-thunder-mother-nature-aint-nobodys-friend-today/

http://flowmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Cairns2014-XCE-14-1.jpg http://flowmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Cairns2014-XCE-24.jpg http://flowmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Cairns2014-XCE-12.jpg http://flowmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Cairns2014-XCE-2-1.jpg

SOme XCE Goodness http://flowmountainbike.com/post-all/cairns-2014-xce-horsepower-and-traction-control/

http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb10868127/p5pb10868127.jpg http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb10867974/p5pb10867974.jpg http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb10868092/p5pb10868092.jpg CARNAGE

look at some of those sections where they trying to pedal through the gloop and they just not going anywhere Thats horrible. Cant believe they are running 1 minute slower than they should in the dry. EISH

Quali's video

So from the interwebs i have gleened ...... Hill is on his Pulse Brendog is on his Gambler so it seems from the Woodchip media vid Brosnan on the 175mm EVO (so i would presume that Gwin is too)

That just looks CRAPPY ... i am glad im not racing in that

hmmm - not so sure about that speed trap - unless RAchel was HAULING she was clocked at 75km/h - whereas the rest of the girls were in the 50's Also the variation in the guys is immense Remember that the speed trap is actually done by some dude pressing a button (not sure how that works) but also the riders have to be on the ground for 20m - the longer the spacing between the 2 transponders the more accurate the reading - so maybe the dude pressing the button was too worried about being eaten by snakes and spiders to do his job - the timing guys are German and Swiss - so maybe ...

WOW! hows that speed!!! Thats NUTS - I thought the Gully was fast - obviously not!

Ok i agree with you for the Elite and Junior ranks at Provincial level - but for the youngsters and ballies - we need those alternative lines to encourage new people into racing. So if you think about it as it stands - overall - everyone in the top 10 will be taking the A-line no matter what as it is faster .... but in Sub-vet - maybe 2 riders will take it as its too daunting for most of the guys so then your podium is made up of guys who take the b-lines - and in this instance to have close racing is better IMO ... So it also comes down to your age and category