TitusTi

I have been forced to raise awareness of the shocking service from Stoke Suspension. I once went in on a Friday afternoon at 16:30 and had to bleed my own brakes while Drew² gave me free beer, and then they had the audacity to not charge me while we complained about the sorry state of the world. The gaul of some people! I left to find my wife at home horrified that something this simple had taken 6 beers and 2 hours. @droo

The progression happens so quickly there you should be cleaning A-Line by day 2, it is amazingly well designed for that.

Have started the planning for my next Whistler trip, listen to what is being said. A-Line is big, find a video of the Moonbootr on A-Line, it may provide perspective. GLC drops at the end is about 5-6 foot, all of it is rideable but not blind if you only ride here. Freight Train is a big jump line, cool to go watch the pros hitting it, Crab Apple is a step up from that. But yes, these descents are longer amd bigger than anything we are used to here, 10-12 runs in a day and you are wrecked. When is your trip? See if you can get a run down Top Of The World. If the trail is marked double black or red, stay off of it, made that mistake once.

And for clarity, not trying to put you off, trying to make sure that you know what to expect to enjoy the ever living hell out of what I can only describe as adult Disneyland. I have been a few times, it is phenomenal fun. Oh, make sure you have hard shell pads, knee and shin at least.

Stating the obvious here, Tygerberg != Whistler. The run from the top lift back down can be upwards of 30 minutes depending on how you stick it together. We do not have those types of trails to ride here, it can be quite relentless. Added to that a Whistler XC bike is 140 rear, 150 front.

Hyrax will be fine on the valley trails (kill me thrill me, comfortably numb, etc), you'll be okay on A-Line (most of it) and heart of darkness but if you want to ride in deep, clown shoes, top of the world and any of the other nearly 60 trails you will not be enjoying your life that much. If your plan is to ride the park exclusively leave your bike at home and rent a DH bike there and get used to riding flats before you get there. And yes, A-Line is iconic but it's only 1 trail off the bottom lift, there is so, so much more. Also, have fun, it's an iconic place to ride.

Been tested a couple of times, just the usual pee in a cup thing, was so proud the first time I got called up for a drug test, meant I was finally fast enough for someone to think I was doping, turns out it was just random, still going to hold onto that though.

Anyone that said anything was branded a "hater" (him and wonderboy) , I know, I said, was told I was just jealous, not so much.

The trail brakes are awesome, don't see any reason to run the race brakes?

That was a nice fun course, less climbing in the end (185m per lap) which was fine by me.

Rode it last year, used a 32 X 17 on a 29'er with no issues, another used a 36 X 16 on a 26'er without any issues, course was very flat last year, spun out alot even with that gear but a heavier gear would have damaged you on the opening 2 little climbs. We were also racing, so if you want to chill a bit more 32 X 18 on a 29'er is fine and 32 X 15 on a 26'er should also be spot on.

Hmm, may have to build the SS up for this. Sweet, thanks for the heads up then.

Hard, yes, blah, blah, blah, is it fun though? Is the course awesome?

Where do we enter?

Dude, seriously, where those bank details at?

They're made by the same company so I would say there's not much to choose between the 2, which colour do you prefer.

I use a 26-40 with an 11-36 out back, I climb okay but even then the easiest gear with that setup starts to bite a bit on long steep climbs, maybe a 24-38 or 36 is a better option for you? Although that depends on how many long open flat roads there are?

I quite enjoy this route, yes there are potholes but then again where aren't there pot holes, a bit unrealistic for traffic officials to allow us the use of the N2 and the R62.

I'd like to hear that explanation as well.

Hopefully the route is like the one in New Zealand, madly technical the whole time, 20 km lap X 2, 2 beer stops per lap, ideal format.

How long is that string again? For racing it used to be 560mm - 580mm, you could barely find a straight bar wider than 580mm, nowadays you can get anything up to 700mm+, interesting how trends change.

If that's how Näf feels, then that makes me happy. He really looks like he's been shot out of a canon he descends so quickly, very, very skillful rider that.

I'm glad they're putting stuff like this into XC courses, especially World Champs level courses, it's not balls that are required for that, it's just plain old fashioned skill with a dash of momentum. Also remember that none of the guys are riding this blind, they've got a few days to hang about and practice this section so that come race day the line is dialled.

It's short and it's easy to ride, we ride worse tar roads.

They are still going to have to win the selection events though, we just have to make sure that he gets into the selection event.