nigelhicks

some other pics

their main rock garden http://flowmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/TTNQ_Smithfeild_98-710x473.jpg

hahahaha Cairns is cool - but it is also getting torn a new one by the keyboard jockeys. Its similar to here with flow rather than tons of tech. There are 2 short uphill sections so the UCI told me - but you come into them so fast that you just roll through it I think its pretty cool Will be interesting to see what the teams think of the logistics behind the event as their shuttle is by 4x4 with trailers (similar to us) but if it rains it is very difficult to get up the hill on the uplift. There is a gondola near there but they cant use it as it doesnt stop in the correct spots ... So i think it will be an interesting round

wow peach ... after being a Rabbit for the World cup last weekend the worlds doors really have opened up for you.. good man ... You can allways come down to KZN and show everyone your trials move off Wagon Wheel Wobbly ... 180 to nose pick off a 5foot drop ... Even Thomas Slavik (World 4x champ) was impressed

sorry not sure why this did 2 - admin - please delete this thread. Thanks

As the heading says what to get.... Will be looking for 2 ... 1 for me and one for the father in law as he is also ready for an upgrade... So to start - Santa Cruz Bronson - AWESOME - But too much cash and some of our mates have them already... So .... what about ... Cannondale Jekyll 27.5 OR Scott Genius LT OR Yeti SB 75 OR 2014 GT Force OR do we wait for the new Sanction?? THEN - the holy grail - BUT you can only get it in like August YT Capra WHAT ARE YOUR GUYS THOUGHTS????

1. - yes - but the venues are small and often have not had big event experience. 2. - no the crowds dont travel - thats why many of the Europ Wprld Cups only have 4000 spectators over a weekend - still costs lots in Europe to go and watch - even with good public transport etc 3. - Again not always the case - Fort Bill is different as this always draws the crowds as the venue area (Park) is so great - they are 4 hours by train from Glasgow and 9 hours by car from London! ... they are in the arseend of nowhere but still manage to draw teh crowds because of their great advertising campaigns 4. - Yes - due to a crap advertising campaign IMO 5. - any of the flights are bad no matter where you go in the world - they all take their toll. Thats why the trams want a centralised "World Cup" 6. - no not always cheaper - remember that in Europe and the USA the teams have their huge pantecknicon rigs that have sleeping quarters etc and all their tools etc. Remote destinations mean they have to bring everything with them and this costs an IMMENSE amount of cash - in europe or the USA on the otherhand the mechanics drive the vans from venue to venue while the riders fly - this again saves cash as they have no handling fees for luggage as it is all on the trucks.

when all the dust has settled, I am wanting to propose to Nigel a question If you had a choice to design a world cup course anywhere in the country, where would you do it?. - If it had to be in SA - probably Stelenbosch area But in all honesty i dont think SA has the elevation to host a true DH event - XC yes - as this can be done almost anywhere - but DH ... no I am not 100% familiar with whats available in Cape town, but from what I understand the ones for nationals this year is too short? - Track has to be the following: XC - 4 to 5km lap - total race time of 1:30min DH - Course length 1500m to 3500m Duration of the event 2 to 5min Most of our tracks are too short - need an average elevation drop of ~400 to 600m Also, you have to take logistics into account - it has to be a near a reasonably major centre. For example, I think you could bang a much better XC and DH course together in Karkloof - but its simply too far away from general popular to attract uniformed passer by's - NO - this is incorrect. Many of the venues are 2 hours or so away from major hubs ... the biggest logistical issue is if the event is a double or triple event or just a single. If its a single its no issue - but if its a 2 or 3 event then the venue needs to be able to cater for ALL the events in one spot. So Karkloof would not work as the DH would be way seperate from the XC - also the big trails at karkloof are at min 5km away from the Club in one direction (remember that the XC is max 5km long - and needs proper climbing in it). So Karkloof (although having cool trails would be a terrible venue as the courses would be too far removed from the event venue. That is why Ski resorts work well as everything can be centralised around a race village It has to have the drop and the overall distance - Yes - see above It has to have a place to have a race village - Yes - see above - this is KEY! It has to have space to be able to build a XC course - Yes and no - can be really compact course that actually doesnt take up too much area It has to have sufficient network coverage (hence the need to be close to a reasonably big centre) - Yes and no - the event organisers often bring in their own upload links and facilities with dedicated satellite feeds as the reception in the mountains of Europe is often not the best.

ok so to define the beers issues etc. Spectator numbers have steadily decreased every year we have had the event ... 2009 and 2011 we had over 20000 spectators over the weekend. This year was about 8000 for the 2 days (BUT - at many world cups if you have 4000 over a weekend thats good going - so we werent too bad - but its just that people have been last year so dont think it worth it the next year) The Beer - the beer garden had an issue with the liquor act so that put paid to the beer on site. The same vendor had had stands at the tables the past 2 years and he said that it wasnt worth his while to have them again as he didnt make any money off them. We had previously offered a shuttle sevice to the tables in years gone by but it ended up being a logistical nightmare and okes complained about paying R15 to be taken up to the tabletops. The advertising in my mind has always been shoddy since the first one - but this year was exceptionally bad. But again with all the voting posters up on lamp poles the moment no one would read a banner on a pole anyway. So it is not finalised but it appears that DH is no longer in PMB - we may get the world cup again sometime but there are lots of speculations so lets wait and see what happens. Basically the Teams are saying its too expensive to have 2 "exotic" destinations in one year - so with Cairns having Worlds in 2017 - they would rather go there and build up to that like they did here. In my mind this is a good idea as a couple of years quiescence may stimulate spectator numbers again if we get it back. But we also have marathon worlds and the potential of BMX world cup again? So lets see what Alec has up his sleeve

pros - top section is way better - will keep the trail bikes off ... a couple of racers and the uci Cons - not flowy enough

wait for Claudio's course preview that should be out tomorrow - sh..t that guy is insane I took him up this evening for it - came through the first rocks pinned - smashed a rock - (we thought he had punctured) ... then takes the next corner nearly bins it .... He said he overjumped every jump as he was too scared of casing them ... He even said it was friking wild ... so that should be a hoot to watch

NO DEFINITELY NOT! - sorry track is closed and will be detaping on sunday - so definitely NO

hey all - hi from the man with the 14hour a day job ... hahaha The course preview that Tiaan did is REALLY REALLY inaccurate from about 3:50 to 4:15 as he takes the old Worlds Line and not the new lines ... so thats changed Also the entry into Cloud 9 is now straight with 3 main line options Feedback from Course walk today had both pros and cons - so lets see what storm comes up on the WWW later HAHAHAHA - I was taping track at the top when Mitch walked down - so i told him i had renamed the top of the track after him - "Wagon Wheel Wobbly" ... he laughed so hard - took pictures under the sign too hahahah classic

for those of you who cant make it the event in person here are the broadcast times on Supersport

IMO - go for Hope Pro2 Hubs ... best IMO ... work well for DH as well as trail riding

which version of the force is it? If its the new ones you will be running a 12x142mm as it runs a thruaxle rear. If it was an older version force (2009 to 2011) you will have a quick release so will need a 10x135mm

said road ... is now FIXED!!!

there were a couple of ruts here and there - but the tracks were largely unaffected ... They have been designed to be sustainable even if it pisses like that ... There were just a couple of trees that were down.

No Course preview .... keeping it stealth this year ... :ph34r: Stevie Smith will miss the first 2 rounds due to injury - so his world cup overall is out the window before it began ....

contact Dellah Paul - she will be able to tell you ... 0827815656

option for Brendog? http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/2011-scott-plasma-3-triathlon-time-trial-bike01.jpg

new upgrades to the pedal section we made last month :ph34r: :whistling: http://images02.olx-st.com/ui/16/84/69/1384849906_567817569_4-Tar-surfacing-resurfacing-road-markings--Services.jpg

good 15day forcast has changed since yesterday

only thing in the back of my mind is how much testing has he had on it??? He has won convincingly on the V10 in previous years .. so i donno

only UCI trade teams still on 26" Santa Cruz Syndicate ... but with the release of the new Nomad?? Lets wait and see Evil Vengence Tour ... no details here Hutchinson UR All the riders will be on 26" Prototype Polygon DH bikes AFAIK